My Ex-Wife's Bitter Brew

nto the background of my life, a dull

sday. It was my mother

our father. He's h

pping the steering wheel. The family business, Hughes

edical emergency, but from business. A group of men in s

corporation, a rival," she whispered, her face pale. "They're stagin

tical strategist, a shark who knew exactly how to dismantl

table but weak. The distillery was bleeding money. The rival corporation, fronted by a shell company

ng to lose

of cash we needed, fast. I had to go ba

on in Louisville for the world's rarest spirits. It was a plac

o support Nicole's career. But my name, "The Pala

with old money and new power. People turned to stare. I saw the whispers, the smirks. They remember

I saw

n my car. She was a political powerhouse now, one of the most sought-af

ce was in his eyes. He had clearly returned from his "exile."

. There was no flicker of recognition, no hint o

ng a slow, deliberate line across her

hone at a nearby table, her voic

and predatory. "Just so we're all clear on tonight's proceedin