Watch The Jilted Ex-Wife Take Everything

t in The Browning Group. Kaelynn brought them a tray of coffee, sheknew this was another of hi

ard was saying. "The banks have tightened their lending requirements across the board.

on, Richard. These are difficult times for publishing. But I need

corner of the desk, her smile fix

ced at her. "Tha

s, the desperate hope in his eyes every ti

from nothing over five decades. Now it was crumbling, and he

competitors long ago. As a result, her parents had become increasingly deferential toward him

etly, closing th

s face drawn but carrying a glimmer of cautious optimism. Richard's shou

e sitting room. "Dane has agreed to the inves

ugh her, so intense it nearly made

s around his mouth that suggested the negotiations had been grueling. "Bu

ething about that request didn'

," her father said. "He said he wanted

he unease coiling

ard and Elizabeth sat on one side, Kaelynn on

elynn could feel the tension radiating from her parents. They had spent hours i

down his wine glass and cleared his thro

reviewed the terms thoroughly, and I'm pleased to say that I'll be p

ng for hours. "Dane, I can't tell you what this means

laced her hand over Kaelynn's, squeezing

seemed to lift. Her parents were safe. The company was saved. Whatever happened betwee

t. But before she could bring it to her lips, Dane spoke agai

been... complications in my personal life that have become public. Th

ound, a slow, heavy rhythm

d matter-of-fact, "and to provide a more stable environment for Dotti

ps. Elizabeth's face drained of color, her hand going to her chest.The things t

hink it would be best if you relocated to the guest wing. Th

er her like ice water. And then, in a flash

t. He had been waiting. Waiting for this moment-dinner, with her parents present-to lay down his terms. He had d

agreed to save her family's company, and in exchange, she was expected to surrender her home, her dig

slack with shock. "Dane,

interrupted, his tone brooking no argum

ighten on her hand, an anchor in the storm. She could feel Elizabeth's

re-was now bound to Dane's goodwill. If she made a scene, if she refus

tory. Let him bring his mistress and her child into this house. Let him thi

ce steady and soft. "I'll

He had expected resistance, tears, a scene.

r said, her voice trembl

said, squeezing her hand. "It

tension drain from his shoulders, almo

nds. Dane was at his desk, a glass of whiskey in his hand, scrolling through his p

erential. "These are just the quarterly asset reports and th

on his desk, the divorce agre

up. "Just show

ing through the pages. He glanced at the first few documents-a landscapi

over. He stopped

bled his powerful, arrogant signature

le at the top of the page:

ribs. She held her breath as his pen moved ac

and pushed the folder back toward her wi

older. She forced a small, grateful smile.

measured and slow. She was terrified he would ca

st the cool wall of the hallway, dragging in a hug

signature on the most important document of her life. A single tear esca

triumph. The firs