11 Chapter 11 “Get out of the car!” Wright roared. He grabbed Lucia by the arm, dragging her from the seat and throwing her onto the cold asphalt of the driveway. Lucia screamed as her body slammed against the hard ground. Wright stood over her, his finger trembling with fury as he pointed it at … Read more
10 Chapter 10 Back at Yale, Rannie had been surrounded by a group of friends. But after she married him, she had slowly let those connections fade. 1 Wright felt like he was drowning. His lungs burned, gasping for air that wasn’t there. With trembling fingers, he unfolded the divorce papers one more time. Under … Read more
9 Chapter 9 “Ma’am, please be advised, your former U.S. identity has been officially nullified. All associated accounts and services are now inactive.” O I gave a simple nod and walked onto the plane without a single look back. From this point forward, the world was my canvas–and I was a ghost. When Wright returned … Read more
8 Chapter 8 “Rannie, darling. This is where our little one and I will be living. The baby’s father just bought it for us.” I ignored the text. Instead, I began the final stage of my plan. I called my financial advisor and gave the order to liquidate the entire high–risk investment fund that Wright … Read more
7 Chapter 7 I just turned a page in my book, dismissing her completely. She stood there for another moment, waiting, but my eyes never left the page. Finally, she broke the silence. “Rannie, if you don’t mind me asking… you and Mr. Charlotte have been married for ten years. Why have you never had … Read more
5 Chapter 5 Inside the study, Wright’s rage was a palpable force. O He pointed a finger at Lucia. “I told you to stay away from my wife. What possessed you to show up here?” Unfazed, Lucia stepped closer and playfully undid the sash of his robe. “The jet was too cramped. You weren’t satisfied, … Read more
4 Chapter 4 “And this sketch on the napkin–it was the first art you ever gave me, Wright said softly. “You just doodled it while we talked, and I saved it” He gave a small, self–deprecating laugh. “I remember commissioning that huge installation for you, and you ignored it completely. I told myself this little … Read more
3 Chapter 3 Lucia’s voice was slick with arrogance as she spoke about her own good fortune. O “A ring is just a ring,” she declared. “My boyfriend just bought me a limited–edition vintage sports car. It’s one of only three in the world.” I moved closer to the hallway, catching a glimpse of her … Read more
2 Chapter 2 Until some day, everything shattered without warning. A notification lit up my phone. It was an image of Wright’s collar, carelessly tossed on a chair. The fabric was pristine, but what seized my attention was the faint, unmistakable smudge of crimson lipstick. Not my shade. In that single moment, the harsh truth … Read more