\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 22\u00a0<\/p>\n
He glanced at the screen, and everything drained from his face in a second, like the color\u2019d been pulled straight out of him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDad?\u201d he answered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t hear everything, just fragments, panic bleeding through the speaker.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Collapsed. Heart. Hurry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Colt stood up fast. Too fast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked down at me, his hand brushing mine, squeezing once, quick and loaded with too many words he didn\u2019t say.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStay here. Rest. Don\u2019t be stubborn.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then he was gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The door shut softly behind him, like the room didn\u2019t want to admit how empty it suddenly felt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ax stayed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned against the chair, arms crossed, eyes sharp with concern he tried to hide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou scared him,\u201d he said after a moment. \u201cAnd you scared me too.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I exhaled slowly, staring at the sea, letting the waves do what my mind couldn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t keep pushing your body like this,\u201d Ax continued. \u201cYou\u2019ve been under extreme stress. Another collapse like that and you won\u2019t walk away so easily next time. You\u00a0<\/p>\n
need to slow down.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled faintly. Dangerous. Tired.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to leave this country, Ax,\u201d I said softly. \u201cFar from David. Far from Colt.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His brows pulled together. \u201cWhy? This is the safest place for you. Colt won\u2019t let anything happen to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s exactly why,\u201d I said, my voice dropping. \u201cI\u2019m falling for him. And that\u2019s not safe for me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ax shifted closer. \u201cFalling for him isn\u2019t a crime.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is when he doesn\u2019t feel the same,\u201d I said, swallowing hard. \u201cHe\u2019s using me. Using my anger. My revenge. He wants David destroyed too, and I let him because I want that ending just as badly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned my head to look at Ax, eyes sharp, steady, deadly calm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I want to destroy David on my own terms,\u201d I said. \u201cNot as someone\u2019s tool. Not as someone\u2019s shadow.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ax studied me for a long moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Ryle?\u201d he asked quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRyle and I need to go,\u201d I said. \u201cSomewhere quiet. Somewhere mine. I need to find myself again before I lose everything chasing men who only see war when they look at me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence stretched between us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ax kept staring at me like he was weighing something heavy, then he finally nodded, slow and resigned. \u201cI get it. I really do. But promise me you\u2019ll be careful. You can\u2019t keep throwing yourself into danger like this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I bit my lip, forcing a small smile. \u201cI will. I swear. I\u2019m done being reckless. I just need space.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated, then looked at him straight on. \u201cAx\u2026 can you lend me money for a plane ticket? Just enough to leave. I\u2019ll pay you back once I find work abroad. I just need to breathe. I need to figure out who I am without all this blood and mess chasing me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He studied me for a long moment, then let out a tired sigh. \u201cYou really don\u2019t know how bad you are at asking for help.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He pulled out a card and slid it into my hand. \u201cTen million dollars. Don\u2019t argue with me. You don\u2019t owe me a thing. If you need me, you call. No disappearing, no stupid pride.\u201d My throat tightened. I nodded. \u201cThank you, Ax. I won\u2019t forget this. Ever.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That night, I packed quietly. Nothing dramatic. Just clothes, documents, the things that still felt like mine. Every movement was careful, controlled, like if I slowed down l might change my mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ryle sat on the edge of the bed, arms crossed, eyes red. \u201cMom, I don\u2019t want to go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knelt in front of him, brushing his hair back gently. \u201cI know you don\u2019t. But we need this. Just for a while.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He shook his head hard. \u201cWhat about Uncle Colt? What about our house? I like it here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled softly, even though it hurt. \u201cSometimes liking a place doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s safe. Sometimes leaving is how you survive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He swallowed, voice small. \u201cI\u2019m scared.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know,\u201d I whispered, pressing my forehead to his. \u201cBut I\u2019ve got you. Always.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I passed Colt\u2019s room on the way out. His coat was still hanging where he left it. Clean. Untouched. My chest tightened, sharp and familiar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGoodbye, Colt,\u201d I murmured under my breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I left a note on his nightstand. Simple. Honest. Thank you for everything. For saving\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:14 Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before dawn, I stopped by the lawyer\u2019s office. Signed the divorce papers without ceremony. \u201cSend these straight to David,\u201d I said calmly. My hands trembled a little, but my voice didn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then the taxi came.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ryle sat beside me, holding his backpack tight. I clutched my new passport. Nadia Joseph. A clean name. A blank page.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was almost smiling at the thought when the world exploded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The crash was violent. Metal screamed. Glass shattered everywhere. Ryle cried out, his small body thrown against the seat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMom!\u201d he screamed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRyle!\u201d I reached for him, pain ripping through my side as the car spun. My head hit hard. Everything blurred.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another car screeched to a stop. Doors slammed. Voices shouted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI need help,\u201d I gasped, trying to stay awake. \u201cPlease\u2026 my son\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ryle\u2019s hand slipped from mine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then darkness took us both.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I woke up in pitch black.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The kind that presses against your eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My wrists burned when I moved. Tied. My ankles too. The air smelled sweet and metallic, perfume layered over something rotten.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Candles flickered to life one by one.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roxanne stood there, smiling like a demon who finally got her prize.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really thought you could destroy my life and walk away?\u201d she said softly. \u201cYou really thought I\u2019d let you disappear with my husband\u2019s name still stuck to you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I breathed slow, steady. \u201cWhere is my son?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her smile widened. \u201cSafe. For now. He\u2019s in the next room. Crying for his mommy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My jaw tightened. \u201cIf you touch him, Roxanne, I will rip you apart.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She laughed, circling me. \u201cStill threatening people while tied up. You\u2019ve always been like this. Even as a kid. Pretty. Smart. Thinking you were better than me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was,\u201d I said calmly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes flashed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:14 Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think David choosing you makes you special?\u201d she hissed. \u201cYou think you won? You didn\u2019t win anything. I\u2019m going to make you beg. I\u2019m going to break you so slowly you\u2019ll wish you drowned for real.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A heavy shadow stepped forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Troy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bald. Scarred. Ugly in a way that made my skin crawl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou owe me extra for this one,\u201d he said, grinning. \u201cKid and all. Took effort.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roxanne waved him off. \u201cYou\u2019ll get paid. Just do what I say.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I twisted my wrists against the ropes, testing them. \u201cYou\u2019re pathetic, Roxanne. You couldn\u2019t beat me when we were kids, so you had to grow up and hire monsters.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stepped close and slapped me hard. My head snapped to the side.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHit her,\u201d she snapped. \u201cLet\u2019s see how brave she is without anyone coming to save her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Troy cracked his knuckles, smiling wide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lifted my head slowly, blood on my lip, eyes calm. Deadly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think I\u2019m afraid of pain?\u201d I said quietly. \u201cYou think fear is what keeps me alive?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roxanne hesitated. Just for a second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI survive,\u201d I continued softly. \u201cI always do. And when I walk out of here, you won\u2019t have anywhere left to run.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She recovered, laughing sharply. \u201cStart with her face, Troy. I want to ruin that first.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Somewhere behind the wall, I heard Ryle scream, \u201cMom!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:14 Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
I woke up to darkness again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Prepare the divorce and ruin your husband by Mark Twain 22 \u00a0 Chapter 22\u00a0 He glanced at the screen, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-his-regret-my-victory-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23553"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23553\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23553"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}