After picking up the divorce papers, Callista headed straight to the company.
Alexander hadn’t been home once since Vanessa returned a week ago. If she wanted his signature, the office was her only option.
She waited in the lounge for three full hours. Finally, unable to take it any longer, she stood and walked toward Alexander’s office.
Just as she reached the door, Vanessa stepped in front of her. “Ms. Katsaros, Mr. Throne is working right now. No interruptions allowed.”
Everyone at Throne Globals knew Vanessa’s status. Staff greeted her as “Mrs. Throne” without hesitation. She even insisted on calling Callista as Ms. Katsaros with intent. Yet, Callista didn’t care anymore.
“I just need a minute. It’s about paperwork. He just needs to sign.” Calista then stepped forward.
Vanessa blocked her again, voice sharper now. “I said he’s busy. No one gets through without permission. And if you keep pushing it, I’ll have security escort you out.”
Callista had tried to stay calm, but this was too much. “This is Throne Globals and Alexander is still my husband. I don’t need a secretary’s permission to see him!”
She continued, “Vanessa, I’ve tolerated you long enough. Don’t push me.”
Once the divorce was signed, she could let Vanessa parade around all she wanted.
Callista stepped forward, ready to walk past her—but before she could take another step, Vanessa slapped her. Before she could react, Vanessa raised her voice and flipped the situation against Callista.
“Enough, Callista! You came here just to check up on him, didn’t you?”
“I told you! I have no interest in stealing your husband. If you can’t control him, that’s your problem. Don’t drag it into the office.”
“You look desperate. Pitiful, even. Is this really how you want to appear in front of everyone?”
Callista was stunned. Even at the worst of their fights, when Alexander had used Dimitri as leverage, he had never laid a hand on her. But now Vanessa had.
Rage swelled in her chest. Callista turned sharply, hand raised to strike back, but Alexander appeared just then, grabbing her wrist mid-air.
“What the hell are you doing?” he snapped.
Callista’s heart dropped. He didn’t ask about the red mark on her face. He didn’t see her shaking. He didn’t ask what happened.
Ah, of course not. When love fades, everything your loved ones did had become wrong.
Vanessa looked over at him coldly and said, “You need to control your wife.”
Alexander’s jaw tightened. He turned to Callista with a dark glare. “This is a workplace, not your personal stage. From now on, don’t show up here without my permission.”
Callista laughed quietly to herself. She’d waited hours outside his door, he hadn’t cared. Vanessa slapped her, he hadn’t come out. But the moment she raised her hand to defend herself, that’s when he stepped in.
Just because Vanessa complained.
Vanessa always claimed she didn’t want to be a mistress. Yet she accepted every gift Alexander gave her without hesitation. The jewelry, the designer clothes, the nights in his bed.
Three months ago, when Callista first suspected something, Vanessa had approached her herself.
"Ms. Katsaros," she’d said coolly, "I have no interest in your husband. Maybe you should focus on keeping him in line."
Callista had believed her. She’d thought the problem was Alexander. But that same night, she’d seen him deliver a box of luxury jewelry to Vanessa and kiss her under the moonlight.
Vanessa didn’t want to be the other woman. She wanted to be the only woman. She wanted the title of 'Mrs. Throne.'
That memory cut too deep... Callista didn’t want to remember anymore.
Once Alexander signed the papers, they would have nothing left to do with each other. Whatever he did after that was no longer her concern.
Callista calmed her breathing, pulled the divorce agreement from her bag and held it out. “Sign it.”
Alexander frowned, about to ask what kind of contract it was, but Vanessa stepped forward at the same time, presenting a document of her own.
“Mr. Throne, I’ve prepared my resignation. Since it’s become impossible to work in peace and my name keeps getting dragged through the mud, I’d rather leave and clear my name.”
A small crowd of onlookers had gathered by now. Whispers turned into pointed jabs, all directed at Callista.
“Tch. A full-time housewife jealous of a younger employee? Pathetic.”
“Exactly. If you can’t keep your man, maybe focus on that instead of going after other women. Honestly, who would want to marry someone like her?”
Every cruel word landed like a slap, but Alexander didn’t stop them. Instead, he grabbed Vanessa’s resignation form and tore it in half without hesitation.
“I hired you. You don’t answer to anyone else here. No one can force you to leave, except me.”
As the shredded paper fell to the floor, Callista felt something inside her break with it.
Alexander turned to her, eyes cold and voice even colder. “This is all happening because of you. Apologize to Ms. Delacroix. Now.”
Callista stared at him in disbelief. This was the same man who once knelt down just to tie her shoes, smiling as he told her, “A princess should never bow her head.”
Now he wanted her to bow to Vanessa.
So much for love. So much for promises.
Callista met his eyes, unflinching. “I’ve done nothing wrong. I won’t apologize.”
Alexander’s gaze darkened, his voice sharp with warning. But Callista’s lips curled into something between a laugh and a sneer.
“What? You’re going to do to me what you did to my brother?” At the mention of that night, Alexander’s posture shifted just slightly.
Callista pressed the papers into his hand and spoke clearly. “Sign it. From now on, I won’t step foot in this company again. Exactly what you wanted.”
She flipped straight to the last page for him.
The moment he heard that promise, he signed without hesitation. Alexander was usually meticulous with documents, but this time, for Vanessa’s sake, he didn’t even read it.
Callista watched him, hollow inside. This wasn’t some fling. He loved Vanessa—deeply. That much was clear.
As if on cue, her phone buzzed with a message: [Ms. Katasros, your record deletion has been completed.]
Out of the corner of his eye, Alexander caught a glimpse of her screen.
His brow furrowed. “Record deletion?”
