The CEO's Final Gift

ess marriage to a man who despised me. The entire house smelled

apers at me. He demanded my family's company as his comp

t to hold on, I lied and to

and called me

not to wear my late mother's perfume because Hettie was allergi

was the diamond necklace Brady had

ave much time left. That single, cruel act was the final blow. The last bit

calmly signed the divorce pap

. "I'm transferring all of my shares to Bra

pte

lilies fill

e. It clung to the curtains, the furniture, h

, his phone pressed to his ear. He didn't

ying, his voice low and soft, a tone he never used

an allergy, but the familiar ache of a hear

s ago, when my family's legacy, the Simon Group, was on the verge of ruin, the Kenned

Brady, this

that had shackled him. But I held on, fueled by the ghost of the boy I onc

ind a flicker of the boy I fell in love with. I told myself this gilded

ilence that followed was co

anila folder onto the marble coffee table. It slid ac

ce Pa

in stark, black ink a

ttie, his childhood sweetheart, had resurfaced two months ago, thi

h resentment. "Your family used this marriage to chain me down. Now the debt

ort she had made to be a good wife, to help him b

ce barely a whisper. It was a ref

the color of a stormy sea, were fill

Hettie is back. She'

blow against the frag

e, foolish plan had formed in her mind over th

gnant to

t was a short

ed a bed in three years. Stop this disgus

ing their scent deeply, a smile touching his lips for the

ed, clinging to Brady's arm, her eyes sweeping over the decor with a proprieta

Hettie's parents died, the Simons had taken her in, giving her a home, an education, a family. She had

own the stairs, B

me you wear," he said, not even

ate mother. It was the only thing in this house that felt truly hers. He was as

g against Hettie's skin, was the diamond necklace Brady had given Karissa for their first anniversary. A gift he had thrown at her, yes,

long shadow, flared under extreme stress. They had told her a major emotional shock could be dangerous. That single, c

by a cold, clear instinct for survival. Stay

calmly signed the divorce paper

he hadn't called in months

the papers. I've signed. It's time. Activate the 'Phoenix

ictory, frowned. The name sounded vaguely familiar

s tense with excitement. "Once this is do

plied, her eyes locked on Brady's confused face. "Let him have

before Darcy

the flicker of surprise in his cold eyes t

this?" he sneered. "Wh

cold smile. It was the first re

ice steady and clear. "It's called due dili