He threw money on the bed after our one-night stand.
I threw it back in his face at his own inauguration.
By sundown, we were engaged. By the week's end — married.
Franklin Flemington needed a wife to secure his empire. I needed a miracle to save my family. For two years, we played our parts flawlessly — the golden couple the whole city envied.
Behind closed doors, I was invisible to him.
When the two years were up, I handed him divorce papers without blinking.
He stared at me like I'd lost my mind. "I've given you everything a husband should. What more do you want from me, Octavia?"
I smiled, signed my name, and walked out.
I thought that was the end. I thought I'd finally won.
I forgot one thing — Franklin Flemington has never lost anything in his life. And he has no intention of starting with me.
Game on.

The office felt different now. Everything looked the same,but something fundamental had shifted. Maybe it was me. Maybe it was the weight of knowing that someone out there wanted to destroy what I'd spent months rebuilding.


I hadn't told Octavia about the email yet. I kept telling myself I would, but every time I looked at her glowing face after her promotion, after the pregnancy reveal, I couldn't do it. She deserved to be happy without the shadow of Bella Washington hanging over her head.


Besides, I was handling it. I had to be.


The first order of business was finding a new secretary. Anthony's absence had left a void, and while the administrative team had been covering, I needed someone I could trust completely. Someone vetted, investigated, thoroughly checked.


Chapter 221 - ~ 221