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 moment I stepped back into our suite, I sank onto the edge of the bed with a long, happy sigh. The hours Franklin and I had just spent on the beach felt nothing short of magical. I couldn't help but wonder: was he truly changing for me? Were those whispered confessions on the sand genuine, or was this some elaborate new stunt? I shook the doubt away, letting the warmth of the evening bubble up inside me.


Then, my mind drifted to Clinton. A pang of guilt hit me. How would he feel when I eventually told him that Franklin and I were actually... okay? He had seen the worst of how Franklin treated me; he had been my anchor during the storm. 


I felt torn, a quiet conflict brewing in my chest. I'll deal with that when we get back to Manhattan, I decided. For now, I just wanted this fragile peace to last.


An hour passed, then two. Franklin hadn't returned.


I picked up my phone to call him, but it went straight to voicemail.


Chapter 76 - ~ 76