Twenty-four hours after walking out of my own home, I stood in the sterile lobby of the civil affairs bureau.
"You beat my legal team to the punch."
Alexander Blackwood strode through the glass doors, a sharp smirk cutting across his face. He wore a tailored charcoal suit that commanded the room, but his eyes locked entirely on the stamped document in my hand.
I held up the freshly printed divorce certificate.
"I just received the termination files Daniel drafted," Alexander said, stopping inches from me. "I expected Ethan to put up a fight. Men like him usually cling to their meal tickets."
"He thought he was winning," I replied, sliding the booklet into my purse. "He believes Sophia controls the board now. There was no point in wasting time."
Alexander raised a dark eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over my calm expression.
"Did you bring your identification?" I asked, checking my wristwatch. "We should finalize the marriage certificate while we are here."
He let out a low laugh, a sound entirely out of place in a government building. He snapped his fingers over his shoulder.
His secretary, Lucas, hurried forward. The young man produced a thick stack of documents from a leather briefcase, his eyes wide as he looked between us.
Alexander handed me a silver pen. "The prenuptial agreement. Half of Blackwood Group, just as I promised."
I took the pen. I flipped straight to the final page and signed my name on the bottom line. I did not bother reading a single clause.
Alexander caught my wrist before I could hand the paperwork back. His grip was firm, his thumb resting over my racing pulse.
"You are signing away your future without reading the terms," he noted, his gaze turning calculating. "Aren't you afraid I might deceive you?"
A hollow chuckle escaped my throat.
"I have nothing left to be tricked out of," I said, pulling my hand back. "Let us get this done."
By eight o'clock that evening, I stood in the center of Alexander's penthouse.
The space was massive, all sleek lines and dark marble, overlooking the glittering city skyline. I stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the headlights blur into rivers of gold below.
"I should head back to the estate tomorrow to pack my wardrobe," I said, breaking the quiet.
"No."
Alexander walked into the living room, loosening his silk tie. He tossed his suit jacket over a nearby armchair, rolling up his sleeves.
"Can you guarantee Sophia never touched those garments?" he asked, his tone flat.
My stomach twisted. The image of my sister wearing my red silk robe flashed in my mind. A wave of absolute revulsion washed over me.
"Leave it all," Alexander instructed, crossing the room to stand beside me. "Tell me what you need. I will purchase everything brand new."
I looked away from the window, meeting his gaze.
"The only thing I want," I said, my voice dropping to a harsh whisper, "is for Ethan and Sophia to get their retribution. Quickly."
Alexander smiled, a sharp, dangerous expression that transformed his handsome face into something lethal. He pulled his phone from his pocket and unlocked the screen.
"Then you will enjoy this," he said, handing the device to me.
I took the phone. The screen displayed the top trending entertainment news.
The live stream from my bedroom had exploded. It was no longer just a scandal; it was a national spectacle. The comment sections were filled with thousands of voices tearing Ethan and Sophia apart.
*Catherine Walker built that company, and her sister repays her by stealing her husband?*
*Look at the mistress acting like a victim. Trash. Both of them.*
*Boycott Walker Group. If the CEO cheats on his own wife, he will cheat his investors.*
"Look at the financial index," Alexander suggested, pointing to a tab at the bottom of the screen.
I tapped the icon. Walker Group's stock chart looked like a cliff edge. The line plunged straight down in a sea of red, wiping out millions in market value in a single afternoon.
"The market hates instability," Alexander murmured, stepping closer. "Your sudden departure triggered a massive panic sell-off. Investors know you were the brains behind the operation."
Before I could respond, my own phone shattered the silence.
It vibrated aggressively against the marble kitchen island. The caller ID flashed my mother's name.
Alexander gestured toward it. "Showtime."
I walked over, picked up the phone, and swiped to accept the call. I did not bother with a greeting.
"Catherine!" Evelyn screamed, her voice shrill enough to echo through the expansive room. "What have you done?"
"I filed for divorce," I answered smoothly. "Just as you wanted."
"The board is threatening a vote of no confidence!" Evelyn shrieked. "The stock is in freefall! Sophia has been crying for hours. She cannot even leave the house because reporters are swarming the gates!"
I leaned against the cool marble counter, completely unfazed by her hysteria.
"That sounds like a management issue," I said. "Sophia is the boss now. Let her handle the press."
"You need to fix this!" my mother demanded, her breath hitching over the speaker. "Issue a statement immediately. Tell the press you and Ethan separated months ago. Protect your sister!"
"I am not targeting my sister, Mother," I replied, tracing a finger along the edge of the counter. "I am targeting the mistress who fucked my ex-husband."
Evelyn gasped, the sound sharp and ragged. "You are destroying Walker Group!"
"That company belongs to Sophia now," I reminded her, my tone completely devoid of warmth. "Why are you all panicking?"
"Catherine, if you do not fix this right now, I will ensure you never work in this city again!"
"The real show is just starting," I interrupted.
I pressed the red button to end the call, dropping the phone onto the glass table.
Alexander slid a freshly printed hostile takeover bid across the marble counter, his finger tapping the dotted line.
