days

r, casting long, bloody streaks of light

er computer screen illuminated her face. Her features

ypted email from he

d: Post-nuptial Asset Separat

suring every trap, every loophole, and every concession was perfectly in place. The document effectively stripped Ber

s fla

hit

rner hummed to life. The pa

dges against the desk to align them perfectly. She c

oom. She placed the document dead center on the glass coffe

wn on the velvet

he electronic lock on

or swu

ie was loose, his hair was messy, and he was ca

sour stench of whiskey and stale cigar smoke h

a crooked, arrogant smile, thinking the th

h his arms slightly open. "Three days. Are

d in to

away so sharply her neck cracked. The smell of the alcohol mixed with a

His smile vanished, repla

onto the sofa next to her. T

a bitch. I'm trying to b

e pointed a perfectly manicured finge

gn

ick stack of papers. He picked it up, his

a loud, moc

was a toddler holding a toy gun. "Are you ou

nt back onto the tab

your credit cards. Without my family's trust, you couldn't afford th

er eyes were flat, cold

she said evenly. "Yo

cessed her coldness as a desperate bluff. He thought

wanted to crush her bluff. He wanted

rdball?" he sneered.

ook at the clauses. He flipped the thick

up the Mon

er and aggressively scrawled hi

red against the glass. "You're separated. Let's see how long

t. Her heart gave one massive, triumphant thump

her leather briefcase a

ne, resting on the sid

t through the tense

een. The caller ID read:

ayden's face. Her stomach dr

he grabbed the phone

el

ker, tight and urgent. "It's your grandmother. Her v

stopped working

om her fingers, clat

abbed her car keys from the bowl

demanded, his voice thick with

ok at him. She yanked

ying," she choked ou

and slammed her hand ag

room. He watched the door clo

d to the empty room. "You

anter on the bar cart and poured

he floor numbers tick down. Her chest he heave, and hot, silent tears s