o a celebrated tech CEO. I was the silent angel investor who funded his entire empire
ina, a woman from his past
my clothes, using my things, stealing his affection. Wh
d auction. He watched from the shadows as leering men bid on my body, only
delivered the final, soul-crushing blow
red to Katerina, not knowing I could
idea that as he spoke, our divorce was already being finalized.
ce calm and steady. "I'm
pte
Penning
cian with holes in his shoes into a celebrated tech CEO. T
e in a cheap floral dress. Her eyes, wide and watery, darted around our minimalist living room, a space I had meticulous
her back. It was a gesture I knew well, a possessive, comforting touch
tention of ever seeing again. But the way Katerina looked at Connor, a despe
s an in
t downtown under a modified name, trying to feel normal. I was just 'Harley Smith,' a freelance graphic desi
plastered his dark hair to his forehead, and his cheap jacket was soaked through. But it was his face that stopped me. He had the sharp
nor Tate, and he played me a song right there on the wet
soul that promised he'd conquer the world. He loved, I thought, me.
ecretly. Through a series of shell corporations and anonymous investments, I funneled millions into his dream. I was his a
he would give me the world. He' d buy me a house, a ring, a
y hair late at night, exhausted but triumphant after securing an
or Tate became a name synonymous with self-made genius. We moved into this glass-walled
e mansion, he was explain
grated on my nerves. "I couldn' t just leave her on the street. She' ll
aterina' s eyes lit up, a flic
s floor. The day after, my signature perfume lingered in the air after she p
ded lipstick, a shade created specifically for my skin tone. She was smearing th
apped. I snatched the
voice dangerously low
trembling. "I' m sorry. I jus
oilet and dropped the expensive tube into the
dn' t yell. He just looked disappoin
mine," I
wnstairs. She was holding a small, velvet box. She opened it to reveal a de
id, her voice a sweet, cloying melody.
rides, ripped the necklace from her hand, and slap
er hand flyin
open, and threw the necklace as hard as
no one," I said, tur
ling her face in his hands, checking for damage. He never even looked at me. He just held her, his anger radiating tow
terina was gone. No
d part of me satisfied with the outcome. A tense peace settled over the house f
s home office, his back to me, whispering into the phone. I couldn't hear t
e name on the screen befo
ew it was over. The love I had poured into him, the empire I had bui
tell him who I was, just that I needed to start the p
ed at the front door. She wasn't alone. This time, she wore a triumphant
ced, her voice ringing with f
es me, Harley. He always has. You were just a placeholder. Now
sfaction on her face, and a slow,
what you' ve just d
men in dark suits entered the house. They were polite, efficient, an
und me sitting in the dark,
ed, his voice shaking with
ised me the world, Connor. Yo
y child?" he roared, his concern solely f
even. "And then you brought her here. She flaunted my gifts, wore my clothes, and
through his hair, his panic palpable. "Please, just tell me where she is. I' ll do a
lly saw him for what he was: a weak, crue
stood up and walked to the bar, retrieving a set of documents my lawyer had deliver
ck at me, his face contorting wi
t survive without me. I made you. Everything you have, everything
he woman who had bankrolled his entir
ou want to keep the cars? Take them. Just accept Katerina. She and the baby will be a p
I felt nothing but a vast, empty coldness. He saw me as a posse
remind him who
thing without you?" I asked
h a cruel smirk. "Now, t
per. "Sign this asset transfer agreement, giving me
sound. "You're insane. Tha
ed him. "Sign it, Connor. Or you'll neve
r his company. Without another word, he snatched the pen and scribbled his signature on the doc
pat. "Now, w
ty' s best abortion clinic. The procedure is scheduled for
hy, furious red. "You
my phone. I pressed a single button, and a
ting from icy to warm. "Is our w
oice washed over me. "It can be tomorrow if you
aid. "I just need a little
s with a flourish, and slid them ac
led by morning," I said. "Congr
ht and away from the man I had made. The shattered pieces of our five ye
-