CHAPTER 4

    Davina's POV

I blinked in confusion, staring up at the guard. A lawyer? My pulse quickened. I wasn’t expecting anyone—certainly not so soon. Slowly, I stood, my boots echoing against the concrete floor as I followed him out of the murky cell block.  

As we stepped into the hallway, my gaze landed on a young man in a sharp navy suit. He stood tall, exuding quiet confidence. His dark eyes locked on mine, and he offered a faint but reassuring smile.  

“Mrs. Campbell?” he asked, his voice calm and steady.  

I nodded, too stunned to speak.  

“I’m Cole Daniels,” he said, extending a hand. “Your lawyer.”  

I hesitated before shaking it. His grip was firm, his hand warm against my freezing skin. “Who… who called you?” I managed, my voice unsteady.  

He gestured for me to follow him down the corridor. “Your assistant, Jane. She’s worried about you and thought I could help.”  

Jane. A wave of emotion surged through me, tightening my throat. Despite everything, she still believed in me. I nodded slowly, fighting back tears.  

We entered a small, stark room with a table and two chairs. Cole pulled one out for me, and I sank into it, wrapping my arms around myself as if to ward off the chill. He sat across from me, placing a folder on the table.  

“How are you holding up?” he asked, leaning forward slightly.  

“I’m… managing,” I said, though it was a lie. “But you have to believe me—I didn’t hurt Courtney or her baby. I swear I didn’t. The whole family is just…” My voice faltered, breaking under the weight of the words. “They’re all against me.”  

Cole’s gaze softened, and he nodded. “I believe you,” he said gently. “But that’s not the only reason I’m here. There’s something bigger at play.”  

My stomach knotted. “What do you mean?”  

He exhaled, his jaw tightening. “Your in-laws are trying to frame you for something far worse than a family dispute. Jane caught them in your office and overheard them.”  

“What?” My voice rose, and I leaned forward, gripping the edge of the table. “What are you talking about?”  

“I can’t share all the details yet,” he said carefully. “But Jane and I have been digging, and we’re starting to piece things together. They’re trying to make you the scapegoat for something they’ve been covering up. I’ll make sure the truth comes out, Davina. You have my word. You’re not alone in this anymore.”  

His words left me reeling. Betrayal surged through me, sharper than I could have imagined. My thoughts spiraled. Could my mother be part of this? What could they be hiding, and why blame me?  

“When… when can I get out of here?” I whispered, barely audible.  

Cole’s expression darkened with resolve. “The police haven’t approved bail yet, but I’ll push hard for your release. You’ll be out by tomorrow morning at the latest. I promise.”  

I nodded numbly, my mind spinning. Cole stood, gathering his papers. “Hang in there, Davina. I’ll take care of this. And this is my number," he passed me the piece of paper his number was written, "You should call me if there's anything."

As he left the room, the guard returned to escort me back to my cell. I sat down heavily on the bench, staring blankly at the walls. My thoughts churned, trying to untangle the web my in-laws were weaving. No matter how hard I tried, none of it made sense.  

I had always been the one running this company. For the past three years, we'd been growing rapidly, competing with the top companies in the country. They wouldn't just discard all my hard work. Sebastian wouldn’t let that happen, would he?

Not long after, the guard returned and opened the gate, his expression unreadable. “You’re free to go now,” he said.

“What?” I stared at him in disbelief.

“The charges have been dropped,” he explained.

Relief flooded through me, but it was quickly replaced by confusion. Cole? Had he managed this so quickly? I hesitated as I followed the guard out.

When I entered the reception area, my heart sank. Standing there, his face an emotionless mask, was Sebastian.

I froze, my gaze locking on him. What was he doing here?

Just as I was about to turn and walk away, he stepped toward me. “I decided to drop the charges,” he said flatly, his tone void of any warmth.

My stomach churned with a mixture of anger and disbelief. “And am I supposed to thank you for that?” I snapped, my voice sharp.

Sebastian shrugged. “That’s not why I’m here.”

He reached into his coat, pulling out a file and extending it toward me.

“What’s that?” I asked warily, eyeing the folder.

“Divorce papers,” he replied, his tone cold and detached. “Sign them.”

The air seemed to leave my lungs. “You want a divorce?” I managed to ask, my voice trembling.

Sebastian didn’t answer. Instead, he walked over to a nearby table, placed the folder down, and pulled out a pen. “Once you sign this,” he said, “you’ll apologize to Courtney and my family for the scene you caused at dinner. I’ve had enough of your crap. It’s time I let go.”

I let out a bitter laugh, pretending I hadn’t heard his last statement. “Oh wow, apologize? For what? You want to divorce me because of Courtney who made your life hell those days?"

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t rise to the bait. “I’m not here to argue, Davina. Just sign the papers. Your alimony will be ready when you come to pack your things. Once you leave, I don’t want to see you again.”

Every word felt like a dagger to my chest. Was he really this cold because of Courtney, or was there something else going on in his mind? 

My hands shook as I took the pen, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. I signed the papers quickly, slamming the pen down when I was done.

“Listen, Mr. Campbell,” I said, my voice steady but laced with fury, “I don’t need your alimony. If I wanted, I could take 70%, maybe even 80% of your assets in court. After all, I helped get you to where you are today. But I’m not as cruel as you, Mr. Campbell.”

His eyes narrowed, his face darkening. “What the hell are you talking about? You got me where?”

I met his gaze, unflinching. “I don’t have time for this. We’re done here.”

He snatched up the papers, his movements sharp and jerky. Turning on his heel, he started to walk away, but then he paused. Slowly, he turned back, his expression softer now.

“I almost forgot,” he said, his voice quieter. “The Carpel Myles meeting is tomorrow. They want to discuss their proposal with the company. I’m sure they’ll want you there, so you should show up before you go pack your things.”

I stared at him, stunned. “Hold on, is this a joke? Why are you telling me this? The proposal is none of my business anymore. You deal with it yourself. We’re not partners anymore.”

Sebastian cleared his throat, avoiding my gaze. “Listen to me, young lady. These people won’t understand... this whole divorce thingy. I’ll explain to them that you'll be leaving the company but only after the meeting. Just show up. You don’t even have to say anything.”

    “No!” I snapped back. “I’ll have Jane submit my resignation letter today. I will not be there!”

       Sebastian’s face darkened with fury. He clenched his fists, his face turning red. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me closer and glancing around the station. “If you don’t show up tomorrow and I lose this deal, you’ll regret it... you know what I’m capable of.”

I jerked my hand free from his grasp. With that, he strode out, leaving me standing there, my thoughts a tangled mess of confusion and anger, watching him disappear through the doors.