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 peaceful breathing of baby Lael against my chest was the only anchor I had left in this world. I was gently rocking her in the nursery, when my phone rang out that shattered the silence. The screen flashed with Franklin's name.


I picked it up, expecting a quick check-in between his board meetings. Instead, the raw, breathless panic in his voice pierced straight through the speaker.


"Octavia, there's been an accident," he choked out, the background noise of the busy city streets humming behind him. "It's Flynn. He was involved in an accident on his way back from the clinic. He's alive, but they're transporting him to the trauma wing right now. I'm heading there."


My heart violently seized against my ribs. A sickening dread pooled deep in my stomach. "Is he okay? Franklin, what happened?"


Chapter 287 - ~ 286