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.

 Since the moment I saw that photo, a toxic mixture of sadness and anger had taken root in my chest. I kept telling myself I had no right to feel this way. I have no emotional attachment to Franklin; we are strangers bound by a legal document. Yet, the sting was real.


Did I have the right to confront him? No. So, I did the only thing I could: I pretended I never saw it. I ignored Victoria's messages and tried to focus on my purpose within the Flemington estate.


Breakfast that morning had been a cold affair. Franklin offered no warmth, and I offered no conversation. When he demanded I join him in the limo to "play the part" for the public, I refused at first then reluctantly joined him because of the contract—and his sheer arrogance—forced my hand.


The moment I stepped into the office at JeffTech, Victoria was waiting. She didn't even let me reach my desk before dragging me into the hallway, her face twisted in a scowl.


Chapter 13 - ~ 13