The velvet trap

e had come to dread. She gazed out over the sprawling estate-her estate now-where the once lush gardens and pristine vineyard lay u

everything she was worth: her wealth, her family's estate, her trust. Elena had given him everything, only to realize that what he truly desired was her bank account, her title, and her con

t, sharp and calculating. She had learned long ago that no one

thoughts. She looked down at the screen,

an D

email seemed so much easier, less painful. But a strange mixture of ang

e said, her voice c

ain," he said quickly, the urg

in himself out of the mess he had created. "Explain? What exactly is there to explain, Julian? That you've been sl

efore Julian's voice returned, softer now. "I never meant for it

lian. You were just hiding behind a mask of charm and lies. I let you in, I trusted you-and you

his voice cracking slightly

y were just empty promises, words he had said countless times before. She had been blind to the signs for so long, hoping that

been in weeks. "This marriage is over. I'm done with your lies and dece

l. There was another long silence, but this

" he pleaded, but

ies. No more li

ecision she had just made. She had spent years building her life, only to have it shattered by the one person she had trusted the most. But now, as she

he other women in her circle-tougher, more independent. But she had also believed in love. Or, at least, she had believed in the pos

ad once seemed like her soulmate was just anoth

ke control of her own destiny. Elena wasn't going to let Julian's betrayal de

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called in her legal team, instructed them to start the process of divorcing Julian and taking full control of the estate. She had

threatened to derail everything she had worked for. The estate, her investments, the companies under her name-all of it was entangled with Juli

The more she learned, the more determined she became. She wasn't going to let Julian wa

of the paperwork. The estate, the finances, everything was within her grasp. But there was one las

-

of P