Lahat ng Kabanata ng Kneel Before Me, Ex-husband: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

I filled my lungs with air, but Nicolai's words settled over her like a dark cloak. It was tempting to have someone in her corner, someone who understood the stakes. The catch in his offer made my mouth twist with a bitter aftertaste, though."So, what's the game, Nicolai?" I demanded, crossing my arms in self-defence. "You think you can just come in here playing knave? Knight and shining armour and all that rot?"Nicolai leaned back in his chair and flashed me a sly smile that made me snap up with a twinge of annoyance at his air of ease."Not at all," he said, leaning forward, his hands clasped together between his knees."I'm offering you a partnership. We both want justice, and if you agree to marry me once we've secured that evidence, then it's a win-win."My heart thudded fast, but this time anger washed over my face instead of excitement. "You are using my pain as a bargaining chip." Words just spilt out of my mouth, which sounded spiky and accusatory."I'm just being practical

GIDEON’S POVIt was like a thick fog that sank in and covered everything within its sight. A minute to collect my thoughts was a must since my chest had knotted up. Mr. Apollo was our lifeline. He was the kind of investor who could keep us afloat during such times. But now, it was a death sentence for Grayson's company at a time when sales hung by a thread.“Get him on the phone,” I urged, pushing my voice to sound normal, mayhem churning inside me. "I need to speak to him now," I say.I would pace that small office in my head, getting ready to make a pitch to Mr. Apollo. I will convince him that we were still worthy of investment. This period had to end; we had a way of dealing with it. The figures trended upward. I could already see them in my head: forceful marketing, revamping the sales, maybe a new partnership that would set things on fire once again.A knock on the door brought me out of my daze, suddenly. My secretary entered, looking worried. "Mr. Apollo's on the line for you,

Amethyst POVI woke up to my phone ringing, Victoria's name flashing on the screen. My heart raced as I wondered what could be so urgent. I scrambled to get ready, taking a quick shower and mentally bracing myself for whatever awaited me at the office.When I arrived, the sight that greeted me was astonishing. My office was a riot of color—flowers spilling from every corner, vibrant blooms suffocating the air with their sweetness. I stood there, momentarily breathless.“What’s going on?” I asked Victoria, my confusion palpable.With a grin, she replied, “It’s a surprise from Nicolai Montero.”I rolled my eyes. “Of course it is. His obsession is getting out of hand.”Victoria chuckled, but I could see the sincerity in her eyes. “He wanted to show you how special you are, even while he's away. I helped arrange it.”Frustration bubbled inside me. “This is just another way for him to exert control. I want nothing to do with romantic entanglements. My grandmother’s revenge plans are enough

GIDEON’S POVThe next morning I woke with a heaviness about my chest-one attached to me like an unwilling shadow. I hardly slept at all, as the raciness in my brain whirled ideas about Nicolai Montero and the apparent betrayal against my ex-wife, Amethyst. Of course, I knew I had no right to this feeling. I was the one who cheated on her, who betrayed her trust. And yet here I was, waking with restlessness and thoughts for her.I rolled over in bed, trying to wash away images of the past: laughter, warmth, and the way she once looked at me. Those were soon drowned out by the look of Nicolai's smirk as he taunted me when we crossed paths. I tried to tell myself to let it go. I was now married to Alexa, and my life with her needed to be focused, but nagging concerns about Amethyst would not let me.Against my better judgment, I dressed, wordlessly left the house to Alexa, and could feel my heart racing against every turn as I moved towards Amethyst's company.I was approaching that buil

I went home, sent one of the maids out for chicken soup, and then sat quietly in my room. It was a warm smell around me, like being blanketed with a warm, encompassing blanket. So sharp was the contrast as my body began to freeze as well. That small little smell was some form of consolation as I endeavored to shake off the load of the day.After a quick shower, warm water enveloped me, and I hoped it would wash away some of the troubles that stuck to my mind. Even as I stood there, with steam swirling around me, my thoughts kept floating back to Gideon.His voice boomed in my head, yelling and squeaky, demanding my attention when I was unwilling to let him have it. It galled me that so much sway he had over my emotions even when he didn't know a thing about it. “It has nothing to do with him,” I said to myself, acrid resentment churning beneath the surface. A fever crept through my bones like a reprimand for letting his opinions mean a little-only to me.I slipped into the soft robe,