The divorce papers hit my chest with a cold slap.
My husband, Commander Carter, stood before me holding Chloe’s illegitimate son, demanding I step aside so he could protect her "ruined" reputation.
In my past life, I fought this betrayal, exposing Chloe’s lies, only to be framed, drugged, and driven to suicide along with my own three-year-old son, Leo.
Carter watched me die without shedding a single tear.
But this time, I didn't cry or beg.
I picked up the black pen and signed my name flawlessly on the dotted line.
"He's yours," I smiled, tossing the papers back at his shocked face.
I took Leo's tiny hand and walked out the door of the military estate.
What Carter didn't know was that the very empire he relied on didn't belong to him.
And the Supreme General waiting outside in the black armored SUV?
He had just become my new ally.
***
A heavy thud rattled the mahogany table. The divorce dossier landed hard, the thick stack of papers sliding across the polished wood until they nudged my coffee cup.
I blinked, the sudden noise jolting me from a daze.
Carter stood across from me, his military uniform pressed to perfection, the brass buttons gleaming under the chandelier. He wasn't alone. In his arms, he awkwardly cradled a small, squalling infant. Chloe's illegitimate son.
"Sign it," Carter ordered, his voice flat.
My gaze drifted from the papers to the child, then back to my husband of five years. The man I had loved. The man who had stood by and watched me die.
A phantom pain flared in my chest, sharp and agonizing. The memory of my past life crashed over me—the twisted metal of the car, the smell of gasoline, Leo's tiny, terrified screams. My three-year-old son. Carter had been there. He had watched us burn, his face as cold and impassive as it was now.
I forced down the bile rising in my throat. I wouldn't scream. I wouldn't beg. Not this time.
"You want me to leave," I said, my voice surprisingly steady.
"It's the only way," Carter replied, adjusting his grip on the crying baby. "Chloe's reputation is on the line. If people find out about the child... it would ruin her."
"So you're ruining our marriage instead."
"Don't be dramatic, Serena. It's a piece of paper." He tapped the dossier with one finger. "Five million dollars. That's more than fair. You take the money, you leave the city, and you never speak of this."
Five million. The price of my life, my son's life, and my dignity.
In my previous life, I had fought him. I had thrown the papers, cried, pleaded. I had clung to the illusion of our family. And it had gotten me killed.
I reached across the table and picked up the silver pen lying next to the dossier. The metal felt cool against my skin.
"Five million," I repeated, unscrewing the cap.
Carter frowned, his brow furrowing. "Yes. It's already in the escrow account. The moment you sign, it transfers."
"And Chloe gets to play the innocent victim, while you play the noble savior."
"Leave Chloe out of this," he snapped, his jaw tightening. "She's been through enough."
I almost laughed. Chloe, my sweet, fragile step-sister, who had orchestrated every misery in my life.
I pulled the dossier toward me. The baby wailed louder, a shrill sound that set my teeth on edge. Carter shifted uncomfortably, clearly out of his element.
"You're sure about this?" I asked, looking up at him.
"Just sign the damn papers, Serena."
I didn't hesitate. I pressed the pen to the paper and signed my name. Quick, fluid strokes. No trembling. No tears.
I flipped to the next page and signed again. Then the next.
Carter watched me, his eyes widening slightly. He had expected a fight. He had braced himself for tears and accusations. My calm efficiency unnerved him.
When I finished the last signature, I capped the pen and slid the dossier back across the table.
"Done," I said, standing up.
Carter didn't touch the papers. He stared at me, searching my face for some sign of a breakdown. "That's it?"
"That's it." I smoothed the front of my skirt. "The money better be in my account by noon."
"Where are you going?" he asked, his voice losing its authoritative edge.
"Out."
I turned toward the door. I needed to get away from him, away from the crying child, away from this house that felt like a tomb.
"Wait," Carter called out.
I stopped but didn't turn around.
"You're just going to walk away?"
"You brought me divorce papers and a five-million-dollar settlement," I said over my shoulder. "What did you expect me to do? Host a dinner party?"
"You're acting strange."
I finally turned to face him. "I'm acting like a woman who just got paid five million dollars to leave a miserable marriage. Enjoy your new family, Carter."
I walked out of the dining room, my heels silent on the plush carpet. I didn't look back.
In the hallway, I grabbed my coat and purse. My mind was racing, calculating my next move. I had the money. I had my freedom. But I also had a target on my back. Chloe wouldn't stop here. She never did.
As I reached for the front door handle, Carter's voice echoed from the dining room, harsh and demanding.
Carter narrowed his eyes. "Don't play games, Serena. You have nowhere else to go."
