Chapter 1 - The Divorce Papers
Nadia's POV
"Sign them," I said, sliding the papers across the marble table.
Adrian's coffee mug stopped halfway to his lips. His gray eyes scanned my face like he was looking for the punchline to a joke that wasn't coming.
"What is this?" His voice was calm. Too calm.
"Divorce papers." I kept my hands steady even though my heart was racing. "I want out."
The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of our penthouse, making everything look golden and perfect. Just like our marriage had looked from the outside. Beautiful and fake.
Adrian set down his mug slowly. "Is this about last night? Because Sarah means nothing—"
"Sarah?" I laughed, but it came out bitter. "Which Sarah? The one from your office? The model from Milan? Or maybe the Sarah you were with two nights ago at the Ritz?"
His jaw tightened. For three years, I'd watched him come home with lipstick stains and perfume that wasn't mine. For three years, I'd smiled at charity events while he flirted with other women right in front of me.
"You knew what this was when we got married," he said finally. "A business arrangement. Your father needed the merger, my family needed your connections."
"Yes, I knew." I stood up, my silk robe swishing around me. "But I'm done playing the perfect wife while you treat me like furniture."
"Nadia-"
"I found out something interesting yesterday." I walked to the window, looking down at the city thirty floors below. "My father's company? It's worth three times what your family has. The merger? We never needed it. My father lied to me."
Silence. I could feel Adrian's eyes boring into my back.
"He wanted me married to you because he thought you'd make me happy. Can you believe that? He actually thought the great Adrian Caldwell would love his daughter."
I heard his chair scrape against the floor. "What do you want?"
"Nothing. I don't want your money, your houses, or your cars. I just want my freedom."
"And if I don't sign?"
I turned to face him. His dark hair was still messy from sleep, his white shirt unbuttoned at the top.
Even now, even hating him, he was beautiful. It made me angry.
"Then I'll tell everyone the truth. About how the perfect Caldwell heir has been bleeding money from his company. About the debts you've been hiding. About how you've been using my family's money to cover your tracks."
His face went pale. "You wouldn't."
"Try me."
We stared at each other across the room. Three years of marriage, and this was the most honest we'd ever been with each other.
"Fine." He walked back to the table and grabbed a pen. "You want out? You've got it."
He signed with quick, angry strokes. When he was done, he threw the pen down and looked at me with something dark in his eyes.
"But this isn't over, Nadia. You don't just walk away from me."
"Watch me." I picked up the papers, checking his signature. "I'll be gone by tonight."
I walked toward the bedroom, but his voice stopped me at the door.
"You'll be back. You think you hate me now, but you have no idea what it's like out there without my protection. Your father's enemies, my family's rivals —they'll come for you."
"I can take care of myself."
"Can you?" He was suddenly right behind me, close enough that I could smell his cologne. "What about Williams Kendrick? You remember him, don't you? The man who swore to destroy your father's company?
He's been waiting for a chance to get to you." My blood ran cold. Williams Kendrick was dangerous, everyone knew that. But I wouldn't let Adrian see my fear.
"That's my problem now, not yours."
"Nadia." His voice was softer now, almost gentle. It was the voice he used when we were first married, when I still believed we could make it work. "Stay. We can figure this out."
For a moment, I almost weakened. Then I remembered all the nights I'd waited for him to come home. All the mornings I'd woken up alone.
"No. We can't."
I went to the bedroom and started packing. My hands shook as I threw clothes into my suitcase. Three years of my life, and it all fit in two bags.
When I came back out, Adrian was standing by the window with his phone pressed to his ear.
"I don't care what it takes," he was saying. "Find out everything about her plans. Where she's going, who she's meeting, everything."
He hung up when he saw me.
"Having me followed already?" I asked.
"You're still my wife until the divorce is final."
"Not your wife. Never was, really."
I grabbed my bags and headed for the door. My hand was on the handle when I heard him say my name one more time.
"What?" I didn't turn around "You're making a mistake."
I opened the door. "No, Adrian. Marrying you was the mistake. This is me fixing it."
I walked out, letting the door slam behind me. But as I waited for the elevator, I heard something crash inside the penthouse. Then another crash.
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside. As they closed, I caught a glimpse of Adrian standing in the doorway, his face dark with an emotion I'd never seen before.
The last thing I heard before the doors shut completely was him on the phone again.
"Mr. Matt? This is Adrian Caldwell. We need to talk about my wife."
