Chapter 188 You got her a diamond?

"Well played," Sarah said, a knowing smile on her face. "You handled that beautifully." Marie took a sip of her champagne, the bubbly drink doing little to lift her spirits. "It's a strange feeling," she admitted. "Throwing money around like this, pretending everything is fine." "Sometimes," Sarah said, her voice soft, "you have to play the game to win. Besides, you worked hard for that money, for your success. You deserve to enjoy it." Marie glanced around the room, her gaze falling on a group of young entrepreneurs exchanging business cards and laughing. A spark of determination ignited within her. "You're right," she said, her voice gaining strength. "I'm not just John's wife. I'm Marie Kings. And I'm going to build a life for myself, one that makes me proud." The rest of the evening was a whirlwind of introductions, polite conversations, and carefully masked emotions. Marie met other businesswomen, some sympathetic to her situation, others wary. She learned about potential in