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 next morning, my hand trembled slightly as I reached for my cup of coffee. Franklin arrived at the dining table like clockwork, dressed in a sharp, three-piece black suit that looked like armor.


I couldn't stop thinking about the Polaroid photo. The photo of Franklin and I was etched into my mind.


 Who could have been close enough to take that? The thought of a lens following my every move, even inside the estate, made my skin crawl.


"My grandfather wants us to have lunch," Franklin announced, his voice cutting through the fog of my anxiety.


"Did you even hear a word I said?" He frowned, his eyes narrowing.


"I'm sorry, I'm just...lost in thought," I said, setting the half-empty cup back on its saucer.


"Whatever it is, I don't care to know the details," he said with a harsh, dismissive tone.


 "I said my grandfather wants us to have lunch with him today."


Chapter 26 - ~ 26