like tiny knives carving her chest open. Her heart sank with every sent

e saw the proposed settle

d, though her voice trembled

dless meetings, and dawns where she stumbled in half-awake with coffee as her only strength. After all the sacrifi

g, and this was how he repaid her?

e you do anything." Cora wasn't having any of it

dollars for Silverwood. Billions! Yet I'm treated like a servant. I'm pa

Cassie before-warned her that Trent and his family were parasites, fe

the woman who wanted so badly to please, had chosen to close he

hter-in-law. She always wanted to please others, putting them

ason for the divorce. "'Irreconcilable differences due to the

's a

ay, your husban

agree. He's blaming me for the divorce. He's sayi

he always put his needs before her own. And this was how he r

bailed him out, covering up his mistakes

in the company, and everyone knew it was bec

tossing the agreement onto the be

m. He'll be your counsel and I can com

right. I do deserve better. I deserve a fair s

You've made that company what it is today. You'

trayal. "Billions, Cora. We're talking billions of dollars. And he t

way, Cassie. You need t

et him get away with this. I'm go

, but he wasn't answering. She tried again and

on't I call a divorce lawyer I know? She's really

"I don't know...I've always deal

ho can help you now. Besides, divorce lawyers are a dime a dozen in

before nodding. "Okay, go ahea

.

a set up a meeting with Trent on Cassie's beha

e room with her counsel, Rachel, b

h a smug look on his face. But what really caught Cassie of

doing here?"

is my girlfriend now.

iliation. Was Trent always this c

their meeting? It was a blatant di

et him get to you," she whispered. "We're here to

s. She focused on the task at hand, her eyes locked on

could finally meet," he said. His voice dripped with conde

sie's eyes she could

ing eyes with Trent. "Let's

cument. "This is my offe

t. "This is a joke," she sai

to discuss this further.

r. "I'm being very generous,

ted just as much to this marriage and to your

ancial records and other documentation

hand over the documents. "I'll have my

o see them now. I want to

ne. "Fine. I'll call my lawyer and

now, spoke up. "Trent, do we hav

on softening. "No, it can't wait.

. You're more concerned with your girlfrien

ry. "Do not refer to my woman

han ready to throw hands w

take a break. This mee

other to bring a lawyer. His audacity shocked Cassie. A fair s

thinking. You were only with

in shock. "What? You d

all about your little spending habits.

ed. "I am not in a good m

ing back, what have you contribut

burned. "Ho

se power. "Because I'm the one who holds the cards. My pare

turned and walked

nts, but neither of them answ

out of here," Cora

llowed Cora out of t

adows fell across them-uniforms, bad

an am

r embezzlement and money laundering,"

ng with the officers.

d, his hand in one pocket. "You see, I've been keeping track of all the 'loans' you've been taking f

cut like glass.

ile coiled. "Just business,

her away, Cassie's gaze

mphant. Un

de her-something deeper than rage,

already dialing the phone. "And I'll

eyes fixed on Trent's smu