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 soft, melodic ring of my phone on the coffee table broke the heavy quiet that had settled over the nursery. I picked it up, it was Victoria calling.


"Victoria?" I answered quickly, pressing the phone to my ear.


"Hey," her voice came through the line, sounding incredibly small, raw, and completely stripped of her usual vibrant energy. She paused, and I could hear her taking a shaky breath before she spoke again. "Is... is he around, Octavia? Is Flynn there?"


I glanced toward the large glass doors that led out to the courtyard, then down the long, empty hallway. "No. He's not here. He went out not quite long and said he wouldn't be back till night. Why? Victoria, are you okay?"


"I'm coming over," she whispered. "I need to see you."


Chapter 276 - ~ 275