Chapter 8
Amelia shuddered, goosebumps rising across her skin.
She mustered all her strength to shove him away. “Get out! Leave me alone!”
Theo’s face darkened for a moment before he plastered on a sickeningly sweet smile. “Your mother’s still in the ICU. Shouldn’t you go see her?”
Adrenaline shot through Amelia, propelling her out of bed.
Despite catching a chill from the river, her body was resilient–she’d only come down with a mild cold.
But Evelyn was a cancer patient, and such an ordest could be devastating.
Amelia rushed to the ICU.
Through the window, she saw Evelyn lying motionless, her face ghostly pale, drained of all color. She looked hauntingly lifeless
The sight wrenched at Amelia’s heart, filling her with unbearable pain.
She leaned against the glass, wanting to cry but unable to shed a single tear.
The weight of her misery pressed down on her, bitter and suffocating, like being steeped in wormwood with no hope of sweetness..
Then approached, steadying her trembling body.
His voice was both mocking and cold. “Amelia, this is the result of your stubbornness
“If you hadn’t exposed Damon at the hotel and deliberately embarrassed me, I wouldn’t have been forced to retaliate.”
His tone sharpened, his words cutting like ice. “Why can’t you just behave!”
Amelia let out a bitter laugh. “Behave? You mean let you control me without question?”
Outside the ICU, other family members stood with heavy expressions, their sighs filling the tense air.
Among them. Theo stood out like a beacon of misplaced confidence.
With his chiseled features and sharp jawline, Theo’s striking looks often drew attention.
Dressed impeccably in a tailored coat, he exuded charm and composure.
But he wasn’t there out of concern. He was there to enjoy the spectacle.
Theo basked in his sense of superiority, watching his opponent in their marital power struggle fall apart.
Arnelia almost laughed at the cruel irony. She had lost. Lost completely.
Three years ago, their love had been met with resistance from both families due to their starkly different social statuses.
Back then, slae’d been foolish enough to believe that love could overcome anything
Now, reality had drenched her in ice water, leaving her frozen to the core.
As Amelia finally faced the reality of divorce, she understood that an insurmountable chasm would always exist between her and Theo.
Armed with wealth and influence, Theo could easily use the dirtiest tactics–smearing her reputation, draining her resources, and leaving her with nothing–to force her out of his life and home.
She had no power to fight back. She was too weak to resist.
After a long silence. Amelia spoke sofily, her voice–steady but subdued. “You win I’ll agree to your terms.”
Theo’s smile brightened with satisfaction. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his fingers trailing upward to caress her pale, elegant neck,
The gesture felt condescending, like he was stroking a compliant pet. “That’s my good girl, he purred.
Leaning a
against
the wall, Amelia swallowed her pride.
1/3
9:26 AM
Chapter 8
Her tone was low, almost pleading. “My clothes are soaked, and you’ve drained my accounts. I have nothing left. I just want to go home and pack a few fresh clothes. Is that too much to ask?”
Seeing her finally bow her head. Theo’s mood soared. With a smug laugh, he agreed. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Striding ahead. Then led the way while Amelia followed, her steps slow and deliberate.
Before leaving, she stopped to ask a nurse to keep an eye on Evelyn, ensuring her mother wouldn’t be left unattended.
Only then did she feel comfortable leaving the hospital.
In the parking lot. Theo opened the car door. A distinct scent wafted our–a familiar perfume that hinted another woman had recently been there.
The fragrance tugged at Amelia’s memory, but her mind was too clouded to place it,
Oblivious to her realization, Theo reminded her, “The divorce agreement is with my lawyer. As long as you agree to relinquish all claims to marital assets, I’ll give you one million as compensation.
“This is generous é
enough. But you must promise me one thi
me one thing–cut ties completely.
the street, walk the other way.
“No bothering me, my family, or my life. If you see me on th
Amelia nodded firmly. “Fine. I agree to everything”
Silence hung heavy between them as they drove, an oppressive quiet stretching all the way to the house.
When they arrived, Amelia noticed the locks had been changed.
She couldn’t help letting out a bitter laugh, one tinged with sarcasm. Theo’s eagerness to erase her from his life was obvious. He couldn’t wait to shut her out completely.
Swallowing the fury boiling inside her, Amelia walked briskly to the bedroom.
She collected a few clothes and personal items, packing quickly and efficiently.
In just ten minutes, she was ready to leave.
Her decisiveness seemed to catch Theo off guard. He folded his arms, watching her with mild surprise.
“Need a ride back to the hospital?” he asked, his tone dripping with mock concern.
Amelia shot him a cold glare. “No. Keep your cheap charity to yourself”
Lifting her chin, she strode put of the house, suitcase in tow, and flagged down a cab on the street.
Though forced out by her husband, Amelia walked away with her pride intact.
Her face was shadowed by bitterness, but her unyielding defiance shone through.
The moment she settled into the taxi, Amelia’s demeanor shifted entirely.
The gloom melted away, replaced by sharp focus and quiet determination,
er suitcase, she retrieved a laptop and a small black box.
Opening her
Plugging it in, her fingers moved deftly across the keyboard.
Before long, the screen in front of Amelia flickered to life, displaying a live feed from Theo’s home.
A sly smile tugged at the comers of her lips. She had done it
Her trip back home had never been about packing clothes–it had been a carefully crafted excuse to install hidden cameras.
Amelia knew Theo’s eagerness to finalize their divorce wasn’t just about ending their marriage. It was about clearing the way for his mistress to take her place.
And knowing Theo’s arrogance. Amelia was certain he and his lover would eventually meet at the house, convinced it was now secure.
was wait
All Amelia had to do was
2/3
9:26 AM
Chapter 8
She spent the entire day glued to the screen, her focus unwavering,
The anticipation was suffocating, but patience was her weapon now.
Finally, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the moment arrived
The door to the house opened, and a woman’s silhouette appeared on the screen.
Seconds later, Theo entered the frame, rushing forward to greet her.
They embraced, their bodies intertwining as they spun playfully in the middle of the room.
Amelia’s heart pounded in her chest, her fingers gripping the edge of the laptop
She leaned closer to the screen, her breath catching as the woman’s face finally came into view,
The sight hit her like a bolt of lighting. Theo’s mistress wasn’t some stranger or faceless rival.
It was someone she would never, in her wildest dreams, have suspected.
3/3
