Yate

ore effective stimulant. August' s rage, Krystal' s smugness – they were just fuel now. The old Elise, the

He looked tired, his strong jaw tight, but his eyes were sharp. "Aug

ing my lips. "He did. And he

were soft, but carried a weight of unspoken history. He had always seen through August. That's why they had never gotte

g myself up slightly. "August wants me to deny ev

g to?" His eyes searched mine,

n the time I need. I told him I'd do it, but only if he executed t

for the initial shares?" He let out a low whistle. "That's a s

ker of satisfaction momentarily eclipsing the

oncluded, a grim smile on his

ee, and financially independent. And I need to heal." I paused, l

You got it. Anything." His loya

oncern. Krystal was conspicuously absent, her "serious burn" keeping her from the public

ling foreign on my tongue. "The suggestion of infidelity is entirely unfounded. August and I are committed to our marriage and to working through an

ed my hand, a silent signal of triumph. Little did he know, he

, and I was simply expressing a desire for personal growth and a new chapter in my life, which I fully intend to pur

ckly ended the conference. He ushered me away, a triumphant gleam in h

? Not so hard, was it? A little damage control, and everything will be fine

t's not up for negotiation, August.

can just take a chunk of my company and w

gave me an illusion, August. A cage gilded in gold. I sacrificed

iving room. "Don't play the victim, Elise! You knew what this

ain, but not from fear – from a deep, profound anger. "I chos

it was never a secret. Just

my throat, raw and painful. "I wanted to believe you loved

. "It is what it is, Elise. Now, about the leg

the paperwork this morning. The pre-signed divorce agreement is alr

"You what?" His voice

I hadn't known I possessed. "The papers are filed. The process ha

n morphing into pure fury. "You think you can just

's what I'm owed. What I earned through a decade of blind devotio

he might strike me. But then, Cass's earlier words echoed in my mind: He never did, not real

. "You'll regret this, Elise.

regretted a lot in my life, August. But

e penthouse, the door slamming shut behind

maintained, but the private war had been declared. I had burned my bridges, but I had also lit a path to freedom. The emptiness in the room was va