And Just like that, my ex-husband turned his back on me with glares that were too poisonous for me to keep staring at. He eventually helped Regina to push the cart away from me and before the two of them completely moved to the next aisle away from my sight, I clearly saw a glimpse of a devious smirk flashed across Regina’s face.It was clear how she took advantage of the situation to make me look worse before Justin’s presence. She obviously pulled out the plan to provoke me so that Justin would arrive seeing I was the one attacking her instead.“You really play dirty, bitch.” I uttered low that was enough for me alone as I stared at them exiting from the hallway. My hand clenched as anger flared up from within me that I had been trying to contain for a while.Come to think of it, I just couldn’t help but think that perhaps Regina may really have something to do with all the framing up that was done to me during Grandma’s birthday. There was no one else I could think of but her that
“If you think that it was just the right thing, then divorce him!” That was what Aunt Lou said during dinner. It had been hours after we arrived from the grocery and I had to help Aunt Lou a little with the preparation of our dinner. While the two of us were at it, I even told her everything that occurred earlier at the grocery mart. “You know what, they should be thankful that I chose not to meddle. Otherwise, you know that Regina? She would have suffered getting a two cents from me first.”It made me chuckle hearing Aunt Lou say that. I knew she was only trying to make me loosen all the tension I had earlier. I was able to release all my emotions in the car when I held her in my arms As a matter of fact, I could no longer feel the pain inside me. It does hurt a little but not like a while ago. I made myself a covenant that I would never forgive Justin for what he did and even if he begs me, the world would crumble first before he even gets my forgiveness.“Actually, Justin also
After hearing all of those things from Aunt Lou, I suddenly felt a surge of hope that somehow I now felt like having this decision to face my ex-husband in his office wouldn’t be so bad knowing that Aunt Lou would definitely have my back.“Thank you Aunt Lou, I highly appreciate that. I really thought—” But before I could even begin to tell her what I had in mind, Aunt Lou stopped me midway as she uttered, “How could I even dare to abandon you now that you needed a shoulder to lean on, huh?” “Well, you sounded like you were totally against me earlier. So I thought you would not let me go.”“Actually I am still against it.” Aunt Lou spoke of what was in her thoughts in all honesty. And I figured she would eventually tell me that regardless. She eventually heaved a sigh before uttering, “But I have to understand your situation. You’re not only just going there to sign papers but also face your nightmares once more. And all that I should do at the very least, was to be an additional st
I really thought Justin would be furious at me. Of course, he would have possibly since a moment ago he just told me that I shouldn’t even be expecting an alimony after our divorce has been approved. But to my shock, Justin bursted into a hoarse laugh instead.His laughter that sounded so annoying to my ear resounded inside the four brick walled corners of his office. It was like he was intentionally forcing it to become so loud to make me feel even more intimidated and annoyed at him.“I don’t see anything laughable about what I said, Justin.” I tried to tell him despite how he was still trying to make me feel like I was a fool for not being able to figure out why he was even laughing so hard.Justin then wiped the tears that had accumulated from the corner of his eyes as he once again tried to get into his senses to talk to me once more. “I can’t believe how idiot you are, Margarette. Not only were you trying to make me laugh by saying that you want to claim something was no longer
For the first in all the times that Justin pushed me away, this was the very first where I feel nothing but relief that he did want me to leave.I walked out of his office and before I completely got out, I told him something that he would surely feel more infuriated, “Oh, and just so you know, If you ever put this to court, just think of the stress and burden it will bring you having to deal not being allowed to see your mistress while the lawsuit is on going?”Justin’s eyes darkened as he glared towards my direction, “What do you mean?” he uttered. The tone of his voice was almost the same sound as a growl. And I could feel that what I just told him may have already clawed against him, slowly crawling up to his nerves and making him become more furious.That suite him just right. As a matter of fact, I was only just beginning. If I have more time, I would rather spend the whole day pestering my ex-husband but I wouldn’t risk getting physical hurt by him, and also waste anymore of Au
Regina was just a wanna-be bitch in my eyes.She always acts like she could stand up against me every single time that the two of us cross paths. However, I would always have my way to overcome her in the end which was why my encounter with her now would only be just the same just like in the past.“Is that what you really think? Do you seriously think I would crawl to my husband for his forgiveness?” I promptly answered her in a query while I drew myself towards the sink to wash my hands.Regina seemed to be a bit bold enough to walk closer to me so that she could provoke me more. “Well, what else were you even capable of any than always act like a dog waggling her tail to Justin for a little span of attention.”I titled my head a bit to face her as I replied, “Wasn’t that supposed to be role? I mean, you act like a bitch hanging around someone else’s husband, my husband.”“As far as I know, he is your ex-husband now. You are divorced.”“About to get a divorce. That’s a correction. U
The moment that I opened my eyes once more, I was confused to recognize that I was no longer inside the bathroom. Everything around me was blinding me with brightness of white. The four corners of the room eventually registered to me in that instance.A hospital?It made me rise from my bed, and the second I did, I was surprised that Aunt Lou was already helping me to get up.“Aunt Lou? How did we end up being here?” I had the urged to ask her right away.And she was just smiling back at me. We had to go and bring you here right away. “Why?” I was pretty much bewildered by what was going on around me. I really don’t know how I ended up being here.For some reason, I found myself having some kind of a gap within my memories. It was giving me the discomfort knowing I could not be able to recall what had happened to me at all.And to make things worst, Aunt Lou was not doing anything to help me ease the burden I was having at the moment. She remained silent as though refusing to tell m
“Nooooooo!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.I was sure it was too loud that my voice must have echoed even across the other rooms from where I was confined.Yes, I found myself waking up from what seemed to be a horrifying nightmare. It was just like that dream I had before but this time, it was truly a horrifying nightmare that I don’t wish to see again.I even had to pinch my face right away the moment I woke up just to make sure I was already in my reality. The pain I felt was surely enough to convince me that I was already up in the reality.It wasn’t even that long when Aunt Lou came rushing back inside to see me. “Marga? Child, are you alright? What’s the matter? We heard you screaming from outside.” She urgently stated the moment she was able to walk towards my side.Aunt Lou quickly held my hand and it was the right kind of warmth I was yearning to feel ever since I woke up from that horrible dream. The moment compelled me to feel the urgency to hug her right away. Aunt L
Nathan Calloway had always exuded a quiet menace, the kind that made people instinctively lower their gaze and step aside. But today, he didn’t bother with subtlety. He stood in my path like a hunter savoring his victory, his dark suit crisp, his expression one of smug satisfaction.“Margarette,” he said smoothly, like we were old friends. “Going somewhere?”I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to keep my expression neutral. My heart was pounding, but I couldn’t let him see my fear.“I was just leaving,” I said, stepping sideways.He moved with me, blocking my way. Behind him, two of his men stood by the black car, watching. Waiting.“Now, now,” Nathan murmured, tilting his head. “Let’s not make this difficult. We both know how this ends.”A cold rush of adrenaline flooded my veins. I could fight. I could run. But neither would get me far.Leon’s voice came through my earpiece, low and urgent. “Margarette, I’m coming. Stall.”I swallowed. “If you know everything, why are yo
Elise Grant was a woman born into privilege, but privilege came with its own kind of chains. She had spent her life learning how to play the game, but now she was realizing that the rules had changed—and I was the one rewriting them.I watched her disappear into the fog, but I knew she wouldn't be able to walk away from this. Not entirely. People like Elise didn’t just sit back and watch their world collapse—they fought, even when they didn’t know who the real enemy was yet.Leon let out a quiet sigh, his fingers flexing against his side. "She’s going to struggle with this."Dorian smirked. "Good. People make the best decisions when they think they don’t have any other choice."I pulled my coat tighter around me. The air was damp, the salty ocean breeze mixing with the lingering scent of gasoline from the fishing boats docked nearby. "She’s going to reach out again soon."Leon’s gaze flicked to me. "How can you be so sure?""Because she’s smart," I said simply. "And because she’s terr
The wind whipped through my hair as I watched Elise disappear into the night. A thrill ran through me, a mix of victory and anticipation. She had taken the bait, but we weren’t in the clear yet. Not by a long shot.Leon and Dorian flanked me, their expressions unreadable. The three of us stood in silence for a beat, the ocean waves crashing against the wooden pier below us.“She’s scared,” Dorian finally muttered, lighting a cigarette. The flame illuminated his sharp features for a moment before fading into the night. “Which is good. Fear makes people predictable.”Leon’s gaze remained fixed on the path Elise had taken. His jaw clenched, his thoughts miles ahead of us. “Fear also makes people desperate.”I turned to him. “You think she’ll run to her father?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he shifted his stance, slipping his hands into the pockets of his coat. “Not immediately. She’s smart enough to know that if she tips him off too soon, she’s collateral damage.”I nodded. “The
The moment Elise Grant’s fingers touched mine, I knew I had her attention. She was a woman who played in circles of power, who measured every interaction with precision. A single misstep could cost her everything.I held onto her hand for just a fraction longer than necessary, letting the weight of my words settle between us. Then, with a small, knowing smile, I withdrew, lifting my champagne flute to my lips.“Margarette,” Elise repeated, as if testing how my name felt on her tongue. “I don’t believe I’ve heard of you before.”I chuckled softly. “That’s the point, isn’t it?”Elise tilted her head, intrigued but guarded. “And what exactly do you do, Margarette?”I swirled the champagne in my glass, watching the golden bubbles rise to the surface. “I help people see things they’ve overlooked.” I lifted my eyes to hers. “Or things they’ve been kept from seeing.”Her smile didn’t waver, but something in her gaze sharpened. “That sounds dangerously close to a threat.”“Not a threat.” I to
The black SUV moved through the city under the cover of darkness, the tension inside as thick as the fog rolling in from the harbor. I sat in the passenger seat, my fingers drumming against my thigh, my gaze fixed on the glittering skyline ahead. Leon drove in silence, his grip tight on the wheel, while Dorian lounged in the backseat, casually checking his watch as if we weren’t about to walk into one of the most dangerous plays of our lives.“Elise Grant won’t be easy to approach,” Dorian mused, breaking the silence. “She’s got bodyguards, a strict schedule, and enough privilege to think she’s untouchable.”“That’s what makes her blind to threats,” Leon countered. “She’s never had a reason to look over her shoulder.”I exhaled slowly, my mind racing through the details of the plan. Elise would be attending a charity gala tonight, hosted at a high-end hotel owned by one of her father’s associates. It was the perfect opportunity to get close, to plant the seeds of doubt in her mind. Th
The cabin felt smaller now. Maybe it was the presence of this new stranger, or maybe it was the way my nerves coiled tighter with every passing second. Either way, the moment Dorian stepped inside, I felt it—the shift in the air.I gripped the revolver tighter, even as I pushed the door shut.Leon emerged from the hallway, still holding his phone, his dark eyes sharp as they flickered between me and Dorian. He didn’t look surprised. If anything, he looked… resigned."Dorian." Leon’s voice was clipped. "You took your time."The stranger—Dorian—chuckled, running a hand through his dark hair. "Traffic," he said, as if that explained everything. His green eyes met mine again, studying me with a mix of curiosity and something I couldn’t quite name.I didn’t trust him."You’re staring," I said flatly, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice.Dorian grinned, unbothered. "Just making sure you’re as sharp as Leon said.""Flattery isn’t going to make me lower the gun."Leon exhaled, pi
The car ride was silent except for the occasional hum of the tires against the pavement. Lillian sat in the driver’s seat, her hands steady on the wheel, eyes flicking between the road ahead and the rearview mirror. Every so often, I followed her gaze, expecting to catch sight of a shadow trailing behind us.Nothing.Yet the unease in my chest refused to settle.Leon had sent one of his private drivers to pick us up outside of town, just past the tree-lined outskirts where the city lights faded into darkness. The safe house was in an undisclosed location—secluded, heavily secured, and supposedly impenetrable. But after everything that had happened, I wasn’t sure I could believe in impenetrable anymore.Aunt Lou had been hesitant to let me go, but she knew staying behind was too dangerous. Uncle George had slipped a small revolver into my bag before I left, whispering instructions in a firm voice I had never heard from him before."Use it if you have to. Don’t hesitate."Now, as the he
i sat in the dimly lit room, my fingers trembling slightly as I clutched the warm cup of tea Aunt Lou had prepared for me. The fragrant steam curled upward, but even the soothing aroma couldn’t quiet the storm raging in my mind.No matter how tightly I wrapped myself in the comfort of my aunt’s presence, my thoughts remained restless, tangled with fear and uncertainty. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same thing—Leon, his jaw tight with determination, refusing to back down no matter the danger. His need to uncover the truth had set us on a treacherous path, and with Alexa hidden away for her safety, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong.Sleep had been a distant dream for the past few nights. Every creak of the house, every gust of wind against the window, sent my heart racing. I knew I was being watched. Maybe not now, in this moment, but somewhere out there, someone’s eyes were on me.A soft knock at the door shattered my thoughts.Aunt Lou
The room remained silent for a moment, heavy with the weight of what Lillian had just revealed. My mind raced, processing the implications of the forged document. Justin wasn’t just trying to intimidate me—he was trying to erase my claim entirely, to make it look like I had given up willingly.I clenched my fists, my pulse pounding in my ears. “How did you get this?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.Lillian exhaled sharply, pulling out a USB drive from her pocket and placing it on the table. “An informant within Justin’s circle leaked these to me. They overheard him discussing his next steps—he’s preparing to launder the stolen assets and shift everything offshore. If we don’t act now, your parents’ properties will be out of reach forever.”Uncle George muttered another curse under his breath. Aunt Lou, pale and shaken, placed a protective hand over mine. “What do we do now?” she asked, looking at me as if I had the answers.I swallowed hard, then turned to Lillian. “Do we have