Billionaire Heiress: You Chose the Secretary over Me

In the company's fivehundredperson group chat, my husband's secretary, Jade, tagged me directly. [Daphne, regarding the five dollars you charged to Lawson's account for boba yesterday, please reimburse it by five PM.

Finance needs to balance the books.] My thumb hovered over the screen. I bought that boba using the joint credit card Lawson gave me.

What did finance have to do with our personal expenses? Before I could type a reply, Lawson—my husband of five years—chimed in. [Rules are rules.

Don't use the company account for personal matters. Daphne, next time you need money, run it by Jade first. Don't make her job difficult.] The chat went dead silent.

Then, a flood of [Copy that] messages and loaded emojis filled the screen. Jade sent a cute cat emoji. [Thank you for understanding, Mr. Lawson.

I'm just doing what's best for the company. @Daphne, Venmo or Zelle?] I stared at the glare of my phone screen. A dry laugh escaped my throat. Lawson forgot something.

I provided the startup capital for this entire company. The deed to the very office he sat in had my name on it. I sent the five dollars. I tapped the keyboard. [Sure.

There won't be a next time.] Half an hour later, I called my lawyer. I revoked all my personal financial guarantees for Lawson's corporation.

Then, I listed the office building they currently occupied for sale. Let's see how long his rules held up without his personal ATM. Chapter 1 The group chat was dead silent.

Five hundred people were just staring at their screens, eating up the drama. Jade accepted the five dollars instantly.

She followed it up with a screenshot of the transaction. [Received. Thank you for your cooperation, Daphne.] Cooperation, my ass. I didn't type a reply.

I just swiped out of the app. Lawson's name flashed across my screen. I let it ring. A text popped up seconds later. [Daphne, don't overthink the group chat thing.

We're in the middle of Series B funding negotiations. Finance has to be strict, and Jade is just following protocol.] I left him on read.

Another text came through. [Mom wants us over for dinner tonight. She says she has something to discuss.] His mom. Not mine. My mother passed away three years ago.

Before she died, she transferred all her real estate and savings into my name—including the very office building Lawson currently operated his business out of.

Back then, I was stupid enough to hand it over on a silver platter. I told him, "Lawson, my mom gave me the building.

The company won't have to pay rent anymore." He pulled me against his chest and kissed my forehead. "I swear I'll treat you right for the rest of my life." Three years.

Three years of playing the devoted wife. I faded from being Daphne, the sharp investor, into simply being Lawson's spouse.

I traded my seat at the boardroom table for a spot in the background, morphing from a major stakeholder into just another family member.

Yesterday, I left my wallet at home and used his Apple Pay for a boba. Five bucks. Just five bucks. And today, Jade dragged me in front of five hundred employees over it.

Lawson even backed her up, ordering me to run my own expenses by his secretary. A cold laugh scraped the back of my throat. I had spent three years being far too obedient.

I still drove to the family house for dinner that evening. I didn't go for Lawson. I went to see exactly what kind of stunt Nancy was trying to pull this time.

I pushed the front door open. The living room was packed.

Chapter 2 Lawson's parents, his brother Tyler and his wife, his sister Payton and her husband, along with a few relatives I barely recognized, crowded the living room.

They were sipping wine and picking at a charcuterie board. Lawson stepped forward. "Daphne, you're here.

Have a seat." I walked right past him and claimed an empty armchair in the corner. Nancy shot me a sidelong glance before turning back to Tyler's wife. "…this Birkin?

Lawson had Jade source it from Europe. Cost him a small fortune.

He told me I worked hard and deserved a treat." Tyler's wife nodded, eyes glued to the leather. "You're so lucky, Nancy.

Lawson treats you like royalty." I kept my eyes on my phone screen, my thumb swiping aimlessly. The cushion next to me dipped.

Lawson leaned in close. "Daphne, Mom wanted us to get together today to iron out the company shares." My thumb stopped moving.

I looked at him. "Shares?" "Yeah." He dropped his voice to a whisper. "Series B funding.

The investors want a clean cap table." "Mom thinks the equity you're holding should be transferred under the corporation's name for now. Just a formality.

We'll transfer it right back once the ink dries on the term sheet." I stared at the man sitting beside me. The lines of his face suddenly looked foreign.

Five years ago, this was the same guy who stood outside my office building every single day with a bouquet. My mother had hated him.

She said Lawson came from nothing, that he couldn't match my lifestyle.

I had gripped her sleeve and begged, "Mom, all that matters is how he treats me." She had sighed and finally caved.

After the wedding, I drained my savings accounts to fund his startup. My mother handed over a commercial office building as my dowry. The company took off. He became CEO Lawson.

I became Lawson's wife, the woman who was told to just relax at home. And now, he wanted my equity. "Just a formality?" I asked. "Exactly.

A formality." His gaze flicked away from mine, landing on the coffee table. "The lawyers already drafted the paperwork. All you have to do is sign." I didn't agree.

I didn't decline. I just kept my eyes locked on his face. "The group chat today.

Did you know she was going to do that?" He blinked. "Do what?" "Jade tagging me for the five dollars." A muscle in his jaw twitched.

His brows snapped together. "Daphne, I already explained that. It's corporate finance protocol—" "I asked if you knew beforehand." He fell silent.

It only lasted two seconds, but it was enough. I stood up. I kept my face blank. "I'll think about the shares." Nancy caught the tail end of that.

She pitched her voice across the room. "Think about what? We're family." "You think Lawson is trying to screw you over? You're just being petty.

You broke the rules today, and Jade was right to call you out." "Five dollars is still money. Business is business." I looked across the room at her.

The corner of my mouth tipped up. "You're right, Nancy. Five dollars is still money." The sarcasm sailed right over her head. She kept talking. "Exactly.

Lawson runs a massive operation now." "He has to enforce the rules, and as his wife, you should be supporting—" Lawson grabbed her arm. "Mom, enough." I slung my purse over my shoulder and walked out the front door.

Heavy footsteps pounded against the porch behind me. "Daphne!" Lawson snapped, his voice thick with suppressed frustration. I didn't turn around. I kept walking.

The next morning, my phone buzzed.

It was my lawyer. "Daphne, I pulled the records you asked for." "Go ahead." "Over the past three years, Lawson's corporation took out a total of eight million dollars in bank loans.

The collateral used was the commercial building your mother left you. Furthermore, a multimillion dollar estate was purchased in cash last year.

It's registered under his mother's name, Nancy." I stood by the floortoceiling windows, staring out at the city skyline. Eight million dollars. An estate paid for in cash.

He leveraged my building to buy his mother a mansion, but he demanded I pay back a fivedollar coffee in front of his entire company. Unbelievable.

Chapter 3 "Is the listing live?" "It is. We have an interested buyer at sixteen million." "Negotiate." "Daphne, that building is currently leveraged.

We'll need to clear the debt first…" "I'll handle the discharge fee.

Sell the property, settle the loan, and transfer the remaining balance to my personal account." "Understood." I disconnected and dialed a different extension. "Marshall, it's Daphne." "Daphne!

It's been a while. Any instructions for me?" "I have several personal guarantees tied to Lawson's corporation. Pull the files.

Revoke every single one of them." There was a pause on the other end. "Daphne, Lawson is your husband.

Are you certain?" "I am." I silenced my phone and booked a oneway ticket to Cabo. The family group chat was buried under ninetynine notifications.

Payton was busy posting photos of her kids. No one mentioned yesterday. No one asked why I hadn't said a word all morning. Fine by me.

Back when I first married Lawson, he promised me a honeymoon. Then the startup took off, and he said he couldn't leave. Then he promised the Maldives once things stabilized.

Things stabilized, and he said he had to entertain clients. Eventually, I just stopped asking. Sitting on that plane, it hit me. I wasn't waiting for a vacation.

I was waiting for him to prioritize me. He didn't. He never had. When the plane touched down, I turned my phone back on. Twenty missed calls. A dozen texts.

The last one was from Lawson. [Daphne, where are you? Mom says you didn't come home. Are you at your parents' place?

Didn't you say you have no one left there?] I typed three words. [Cabo San Lucas.] Then I blocked him. In the family chat, Payton piped up: [Lawson, is Daphne in Cabo?

Alone?] Lawson didn't answer. I posted a photo of the ocean to the group. Caption: [Solo trips are the best.] The chat exploded. [Daphne, you're in Cabo?

With who?] [Why would you go that far alone?] [Daphne, does my brother know about this?] Lawson finally appeared. [Daphne, what is the meaning of this?] I replied: [Vacation.

You said you were too busy for me, so I'm keeping myself company.] His reply was instant. [You…] He didn't finish the sentence.

I knew what he wanted to say. "You're crazy." I wasn't crazy. I was just awake. The next morning, I woke up when the sun hit the balcony.

The ocean stretched out to the horizon, the breeze warm and smelling of salt. I brewed a cup of coffee and leaned back in a lounge chair. My phone buzzed. It was Payton.

I picked up. "Hello?" "Daphne, which resort are you at? Lawson told me to ask.

He said…" "He said what?" "He said…" Payton's voice wavered. "He said once you've had your fun, come home.

The company needs you to sign some papers this week." "Sign papers?" "The equity transfer.

The lawyers said it has to be you." I looked out at the waves and smiled. "Tell him to wait." I hung up and texted my lawyer: [Stall the shares.

We'll deal with it when I get back.] Chapter 4 [Understood. Also, Daphne, the bank confirmed.

Without your personal guarantees, Lawson's corporate loans require immediate reassessment. There could be an issue.] [What kind of issue?] [Lawson's cash flow isn't strong enough.

Without your backing, the bank might call in the loan.] I stared at the screen.

A slow smile curved my lips. "Call in the loan." Music to my ears. [Let them.] I set the phone face down and looked back out at the water.

That afternoon, the family group chat lit up again. It started with Payton: [Mom, is that bag real? My coworker said there's a massive waitlist for that style even in Europe.

How did Jade get her hands on it?] Nancy replied: [Of course it's real. Why would Lawson lie to me?] Payton sent a shrugging emoji and dropped it.

Someone tagged me: [Daphne, when are you coming back? Any plans for New Year's?] I typed: [No plans. We'll see how I feel.] The chat stalled.

Lawson suddenly appeared. [Daphne, enough. Stop throwing a temper tantrum in front of the family.] A sharp laugh slipped out. A temper tantrum. He thought this was a tantrum.

I typed back: [Not a tantrum. I just haven't decided.] He didn't reply. That evening, I was halfway through a lobster dinner when my phone rang. An unknown number.

I answered. "Daphne, it's me. Jade." Her voice was pure sugar—a complete 180 from her strict, corporate tone in the group chat. "What do you want?" "Lawson asked me to reach out.

We have an urgent situation at the office and need you to come back and handle some paperwork." "Also… I wanted to apologize for the group chat the other day. I was being too rigid.

Please don't take it personally." I stabbed a piece of lobster meat with my fork. "Apologize? No need. You were right. Five dollars is still money.

Business is business." She choked on a breath. "Daphne, please don't be like that—" "I'm just stating facts." I swirled the lobster in butter. "Jade, how long have you been working for Lawson?" "Three years." "Three years." I chuckled. "Do you even know how Lawson's company got off the ground?" Silence on the other end of the line. "If you don't, go ask the finance department whose bank account that initial startup capital came from." "Daphne—" "I'm eating.

Goodbye." I ended the call and took a bite of my dinner.

The next morning, my lawyer texted. [Daphne, all hell broke loose at Lawson's office.] [What happened?] [The bank served them notice.

Because your guarantees were revoked, they're reevaluating the debt. They might demand full early repayment by the end of the month.] I leaned back against my lounge chair.

Early repayment. Eight million dollars. How exactly was Lawson going to pay for that? I replied: [Got it.

Keep watching them.] Another text came through. [Also, the buyer for the commercial building is finalizing the terms.

They bumped the offer to seventeen million.] [Sell it.] I exited the chat and opened a new message to Payton. [Payton, the estate your brother bought last year.

He paid cash, right?] Payton replied almost instantly. [Yeah, why?] [And the deed is under your mother's name?] […Yeah.

How did you know?] [Just wondering.] I locked my screen and tipped my face up to the sun. By that afternoon, the family group chat exploded again.

Chapter 5 This time, it was Lawson's brother, Tyler. [Lawson, what's going on with the bank? They want early repayment?] Lawson didn't reply. Nancy popped up. [What early repayment?

Lawson, what is going on?] Lawson still didn't reply. I posted a selfie.

The Cabo sunset painted the ocean gold behind me. [The sunset is beautiful today.] The chat went dead for several seconds.

Then Payton slid into my DMs. [Daphne, what happened with my brother? Mom is freaking out.] I tapped the screen. [No idea. I'm on vacation.] She sent a speechless emoji.

I locked my phone and tossed it onto the mattress. The next three days were pure bliss.

I ate fresh seafood, baked in the sun, got hot stone massages, and browsed the designer boutiques. I only glanced at the family group chat occasionally.

It was a war zone of "bank loans," "company collapsing," and "what do we do." Lawson was spamming the chat, tagging me over and over. [Daphne, pick up the phone.] [Daphne, when are you coming back?] [Daphne, we are family.

We can figure this out. Don't push this too far!] [Daphne! Are you trying to destroy this family!] [Daphne! Just you wait!

Do you think I can't touch you!] I left every single message on read. My lawyer called every day with updates. "Daphne, Lawson's company is scrambling for cash.

But eight million isn't pocket change. They won't make the deadline." "Daphne, the buyer for the commercial building wired the deposit.

We close next week." "Daphne, Lawson asked his mother to sign over the estate. She refused. They had a massive blowout." I stared at the city skyline out my hotel window.

A laugh ripped out of my throat. She refused. That estate was bought with my equity. Now he needed it back to save his own skin, and his precious mother wouldn't hand it over.

Fascinating. A week later, I flew back to Manhattan. I didn't tell a soul. I took a black car straight to my own apartment—the penthouse my mother left me.

It was a premarital asset. Lawson had zero claim to it. I had barely dropped my suitcase in the foyer when the doorbell rang. I pulled the door open.

Payton stood in the hallway. "Daphne! You're finally back! My brother is losing his mind!" I stepped aside and let her in.

I walked to the kitchen and poured her a glass of water. "Slow down." She chugged the water like she'd been running a marathon. "The company is going under!

The bank called the loan! Eight million dollars!" "Lawson scraped together three million, but he's short five million!

He says if he doesn't get it, the company is dead!" I leaned against the marble island. "And?" Payton blinked. "And… don't you have cash?

Can you front it to him until he bounces back?" A slow smile spread across my face. "Payton, do you know what collateral was used to secure that eight million dollar loan?" She shook her head. "The commercial building my mother left me." The color drained from her face. "Do you know how much your brother spent on that estate he bought for your mother last year?" She shook her head again. "Three million.

All cash." Her skin turned a sickly gray. "Do you know where that three million came from?" Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.

I picked up my own glass and took a sip. "He leveraged my building for a corporate loan, then siphoned off three million to buy your mother a mansion." "Now the bank wants their money back, he's broke, and he wants me to bail him out?" Payton's face flushed a deep red, then went pale again.

She stood frozen in the kitchen. I reached out and patted her shoulder. "Payton, this doesn't concern you. Stay out of it." Chapter 6 She stood up.

Her mouth opened, but she didn't say a word. She turned and walked out.

I locked the door behind her and dialed my lawyer. "What's the status on Lawson's corporation?" "They pitched to a few investors, but no one is biting. Their cash flow is a mess.

Also, did the transfer on the commercial building go through?" "It's done." "Then we wait. They won't last much longer." I ended the call.

I stood by the window, staring down at the city grid. "Eight million dollars." Let's see you fix this, Lawson. The next day, my phone rang. I swiped to answer.

It was Nancy. "Daphne!" Her volume spiked, vibrating the phone speaker. "Where are you hiding?

Lawson is going crazy looking for you!" "Do you need something?" "Do I need something?" she demanded, her voice climbing higher. "Lawson's company is in crisis, and you run off to Cabo without a care in the world?

Do you have any conscience at all?" A dry laugh escaped my throat. "Nancy, I used my own money for my vacation.

I didn't touch the corporate accounts." A sharp intake of breath hissed through the line. "Besides," I dragged the word out. "What does Lawson's company failing have to do with me?

I'm not an employee. I'm not a shareholder." "You…" Her voice shook. "Daphne, what kind of nonsense is that? You are his wife!" "Right.

I'm his wife." I laughed out loud. "But Jade made it very clear.

Business is business." "If I have to reimburse a fivedollar coffee, what does an eightmilliondollar loan have to do with me?" Dead silence filled the line for three seconds.

Then, the call dropped. I tossed the phone onto the counter. That afternoon, Lawson showed up at my door. He stood in the hallway.

His hair was a tangled mess, and his eyes were bloodshot.

He looked wrecked. "Daphne." His voice was raw like sandpaper. "I was wrong." I leaned against the doorframe, keeping my arms crossed. "Wrong about what?" "I shouldn't have let Jade call you out in the group chat." He dropped his gaze to the floorboards. "I shouldn't have told you to run expenses by her.

I shouldn't have… treated you like an outsider." I stared at him. The sheer absurdity of it almost made me laugh.

Five years of marriage, and this was the first time he had ever admitted he was wrong—not out of love, but out of bankruptcy. "What else?" I asked.

His head snapped up. "What else is there?" "The loan." The color drained from his face. "Daphne, I can explain the loan—" "Save it," I cut him off. "I already know.

You leveraged my building, secured a corporate loan, and bought your mother a mansion.

Right?" His skin turned an ashen gray. "How… how do you know that?" "How do I know?" A cold smile stretched across my face. "Lawson, did you forget whose name is on the deed?

Did you really think the bank wouldn't notify the property owner when you used it as collateral?" He froze, paralyzed.

I didn't stop. "I revoked my personal guarantees, and you panicked.

I sold the building, and you lost your mind." "Your mother refused to hand over her new estate, and now you're pushed to the brink.

Lawson, are you standing here begging for my money, or are you begging for your life?" His face flushed dark red, then drained white. His lips parted, but no sound came out.

I watched him standing there, choking on his own words. A hollow silence settled in my chest. I had poured my entire life into this man.

I funded his dreams and stayed quiet in the background. Now, it was all laid bare. Five dollars for a coffee had shattered the whole facade.

I looked him dead in the eye. "Lawson, I want a divorce." His head snapped up. "Daphne