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.

I had shut both women out of my life long enough. It was time to reach out.


I sat alone at a quiet corner table in my favorite restaurant, picking at my lunch without much appetite. The clink of silverware and low hum of conversations around me faded into the background as I stared at my phone. Octavia's name stared back at me. After everything that had happened, I owed her a proper conversation.


I dialed her number. Once. Twice. Three times. Four. No answer. Each unanswered ring tightened something in my chest. Was she angry with me? She had every right to be—we hadn't spoken in what felt like forever. On the fifth attempt, I was ready to give up and accept that maybe she needed space to focus on her recovery.


Just as I moved my thumb toward the end call button, the line clicked open.


Chapter 160 - ~ 160