His Empire, My Vengeful Return

ne Bo

ment, I saw a flicker of something undefinable in his gaze – was i

oked at me, disheveled and heartbroken, clutching the profound emptiness

armth. He took a step back, as if my grief was a contagion. "Kayle

utting deeper than any physical blow. This wasn't the m

had retreated moments before. "She told me you were stalking her, that you were trying to r

ative, already spun, was all about me, the villain.

th pain. "They... they kept the doctors away. She hurt me.

thy, just a fleeting impatience. "Look, Kaylene, I told you, Clarabelle is everything n

of our family... it was all a cruel illusion. I remembered sacrificing my own modest trust fund, the one my "normal" life had afforded me, to help him launch his first startup. He had promised to repay

nate situation. Honestly, in a way -" he paused, and a chilling smil

voiding me. "And clean up." His words, casual and dismissive, stripped away ev

earing, icy rage. The kind, loving man I had married, the man I had g

r but laced with an undeniable steel. "

child would just get in the way. Honestly, this... outcome... clears the path for us." He

my feet. It landed with a soft flutter, set

ht years of 'marriage' for a hundred thousand. Not bad for a bad investment." He

o had been watching from the hallway, now stepped forward, a triumphant smirk plastered on

ous pleasure. "Enjoy your solitude, Kaylene," she purred,

again, not gently, but with a deafening cra

y desire for a normal life. But the sight of me, broken and lost, surrounded by the tragic aftermath of this day, broke him. His gaze swept ov

d-rimmed, glistening. He looked at me, his beloved

th unshed tears and a terrifying, bone-deep