Chapter 21
Chase’s expression darkened.
“Dominic Faulkner? What the hell is she doing with him p>
His assistant hesitated for a second.
“Sir, it seems they’re… rather close. They don’t act like just friends. Do you think… Mrs. Whitmore might’ve
moved on p>
Bang!
Chase slammed his fist into the column beside him.
“No way! She’s my wife! She wouldn’t just run off with another man p>
The assistant handed over a folder.
“But sir… she filed for divorce days ago. The papers are all there–assets, custody, everything’s spelled out p>
Chase snatched the file and skimmed it–then flung it across the room in rage.
“No p>
He shouted like a man in denial.
“She would never divorce me! Nora loves me! She can’t live without me! She wouldn’t leave me! Not Nora.
Not ever p>
“S–Sir, the documents are p>
Before the assistant could finish, Chase erupted again.
He tore the divorce papers into shreds.
“If I don’t sign–we’re still married. She’s still mine p>
His eyes gleamed with desperate certainty.
“Yeah. That’s right. As long as I don’t sign, we’re still married. She can’t go anywhere p>
“I don’t care if she hides at the ends of the earth–Nora Langston belongs to me. Always has. Always will p>
He broke into laughter–shaky, hollow, unhinged. Then came the sobs.
That night, Chase collapsed onto the floor, drunk out of his mind.
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He downed glass after glass, until tears and whiskey tasted the same.
He was overwhelmed by regret.
Crushing, gut–twisting regret.
Why hadn’t he stopped Camila from hurting Nora?
Why had he treated her like she didn’t matter?
He used to think she’d never leave him–no matter what.
Turns out, he hadn’t just been wrong–he’d been blind.
Half–dreaming, half–drunk, he saw flashes of their wedding.
The day they got married, his company had been on the brink of collapse.
Nora had brought a third of the Langston family’s shares into the marriage–singlehandedly saving his
empire from ruin.
She never once boasted about it.
Never used it to hold anything over him.
To the world, she always said she’d married for love.
But he knew better.
What love had he ever given her in return?
In all those years of marriage, he never once remembered their anniversary.
Never remembered her birthday.
Never cared about her cycle, her likes, her needs.
Even the way she took her coffee.
Nothing.
She went to so much trouble planning little surprises… and he always bailed with the same excuse.
“I’m busy p>
He was trash.
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And he knew it.
Suddenly, through the haze of liquor and shame, a thought struck him-
Nora was just angry.
That’s why she left.
She was mad he’d ignored her.
Mad he brought Camila into their home.
If he just cut Camila off and proved his sincerity, Nora would come back. She had to.
Fueled by that thought, Chase stumbled to his feet and grabbed his phone.
“Find a few guys. Kidnap Camila p>
“Make her kneel for five hours. Then dump her in the lake. Then p>
“Then soak her with freezing water. And get someone to sleep with her p>
His voice was cruel and steady.
“Film everything. I want Nora to see it. It’s the only way she’ll forgive me p>
He hung up. In his mind, Nora had already forgiven him.
She’d see the footage. She’d come running back. Just like always.
She loved him that much.
She’d be thrilled to know he punished Camila.
She’d come back and be Mrs. Whitmore again.
Chase lifted his glass and kept drinking.
One shot after another.
Faulkner Estate
Upstairs, in the master bedroom.
Nora had finally slept through the night.
After everything she’d endured, she finally had a moment of peace.
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Just as she was waking up, Dominic walked in with a document.
“This is the bid proposal the Whitmore Group is fighting tooth and nail for. Interested in taking a look p>
“Sure p>
Nora took the folder and immediately began circling potential loopholes in the Whitmore plan.
The day she’d arrived at the Faulkner Estate, Dominic had gotten straight to the point:
“I’m CEO of Faulkner Group–your ex–husband’s biggest competitor p>
“We share a common enemy. Interested in becoming allies p>
She’d said yes without hesitation.
The enemy of her enemy was her friend.
He’d looked at her for a moment then–eyes dark, unreadable–but didn’t press.
“Pleasure doing business p>
“Pleasure, ” she replied.
They shook hands.
Her palm was burning hot, and she quickly pulled away.
She could’ve sworn he chuckled softly to himself–like he was in an oddly good mood.
“Your injuries–any lingering pain?” Dominic asked suddenly.
Nora paused, not used to him showing concern.
“Oh… better. I’m fine now. ”
He nodded.
“You know Whitmore Group better than I do. I want you with me at the bidding conference p>
Nora hesitated.
“Will Chase be there p>
“Very likely. But I’ll be there too p>
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