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 sound of the baby monitor was the only thing that made noise in our master suite as I adjusted the collar of my charcoal-grey bespoke suit. I stared into the mirror, my hands pausing on my silk tie as Octavia's reflection appeared behind me. She looked tired, her shoulders carrying the residual weight of the midnight hours.


Although, it was a lot better than it was last week. Lael was sleeping better at midnight than before.


"He completely shattered, Franklin," Octavia said softly, leaning her back against the wardrobe, her arms wrapped around herself. "It wasn't a lie. I am sure I know the difference between an act and a body failing under pure psychological terror. I had seen it before. He was suffocating on his own fear and I am sure something triggered it."


I turned around, looking down at my wife, my chest tightening with a complex, dark knot of emotions. "And he mentioned someone's voice? He said she was suffocating him?"


Chapter 286 - ~ 285