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 the images burned into my retina, accompanied by that single, mocking sentence, the world around me turned into a blur of static. I felt my eyes stinging, a hot tidal wave of tears threatening to spill over.


 Without a word, I turned and walked away from Mr. Rice and Victoria, my heart hammering a frantic, painful rhythm against my ribs.


"Hey, Octavia!" Victoria called out, her footsteps hurrying to keep pace with mine. "Is everything okay? Octavia, talk to me!"


I stopped abruptly and turned, forcing my features into a mask of cold composure. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice from trembling. "Everything is fine, Vic. I just...I need to be alone right now."


"Why? Did something happen?" she asked, her eyes searching mine with a mix of pity and curiosity.


"No. Everything is fine," I repeated, the lie tasting like ash. "I just need some space. We'll talk later."


Chapter 78 - ~ 78