Hailey's POV:
I pushed open the door to the master bedroom, stepping into what was supposed to be my sanctuary.
The moment I crossed the threshold, a foul stench hit me. It was a cheap, overwhelming floral perfume, a harsh chemical mix of artificial roses.
I walked slowly toward the massive, custom-built bed frame.
The duvet was crumpled, the pillows haphazardly piled against the headboard.
I took a step closer, my eyes locking onto my silk pillowcase. A long strand of bleached blonde hair lay perfectly still against the dark fabric.
A chill rushed through my veins, the air in my lungs suddenly feeling thin. They didn't just flaunt their affair in public; they brought it into my private space.
They defiled my bed.
In that exact moment, the facade of the gentle, submissive wife I had maintained for five years shattered completely.
The true, ruthless nature of the Hogan family bloodline woke up inside me. My family didn't just heal the underworld; we solved problems. We eradicated diseases.
I turned back to the bedroom door, stopping to look down the long hallway.
Four heavily armed soldiers stood at attention near the staircase. They wore no Dorsey family insignias, just plain black suits.
They were my private mercenaries, paid directly from my personal accounts.
"Get in here!" I commanded.
The four men filed into the bedroom, lining up and waiting for my orders.
"Rip the mattress off the frame," I said.
The men sprang into action. They grabbed the heavy, custom-made mattress, gave it a brutal yank, and hauled it off the wooden slats.
"Throw it out the window," I ordered.
Two soldiers threw open the massive glass balcony doors. They hoisted the mattress over the railing and hurled it off the balcony. I watched as it plummeted three stories down, crashing into the manicured courtyard below.
"Toss the pillows, the duvet, and the sheets, too," I said.
The men stripped the bed bare, tossing the expensive bedding over the balcony.
I walked over to Jackson's side of the room, entering the massive walk-in closet, and shoved his custom suits aside. Stuffed in the very back was a row of cheap, brightly colored dresses and synthetic skirts. Amber had effectively moved her trash into my home.
I grabbed handfuls of the cheap clothing, ripping them violently from the hangers. I marched out to the balcony and threw them over the edge. The clothes fluttered down like colorful garbage, landing on top of the ruined mattress.
"What the hell are you doing?" a shrill voice shrieked.
Jordan, Jackson's younger sister, stood in the bedroom doorway.
She was wearing designer sweatpants that I had paid for, her face twisted in entitled outrage.
"Are you insane?" Jordan stormed into the room, screaming. "You're acting like a hysterical, jealous housewife. Jackson is going to lock you in the basement when he gets home."
I looked down at the floor near the nightstand. A silver-framed wedding photo had been knocked over during the purge.
I stepped on the frame. The sharp heel of my stiletto came down hard on the glass, shattering it with a sharp crack that echoed through the room.
I walked toward Jordan, my steps measured and deliberate, stopping only when I was inches from her face.
Her bravado crumbled instantly, and she took an involuntary step back, her heel catching on the edge of the rug.
"Jackson is a broke fraud," I said. "This estate doesn't belong to the Dorsey family. My name is the only one on the deed. I bought this house. I pay the property taxes. I pay the electric bill so your family can keep the lights on."
Jordan swallowed hard, the color draining from her face as her eyes darted from the stripped bed frame to the open balcony doors.
I turned my head to look at the captain of my mercenary squad.
"Go down to the courtyard," I told him. "Pour gasoline on that pile of trash and burn it all. I want the stench of trespassers purged from my property."
