The Billionaire's Forsaken Wife

Chapter 18

ROOSEVELT’S POV

"Swallow," he ordered, his voice rough. His thumb pressed down on my tongue, forcing it flat. "All of it."

I closed my eyes, a tear slipping down my cheek. I felt completely trapped by him.

Before I could even move, Zyran’s body went rigid.

The dark, hungry fire in his eyes vanished in an instant. It was replaced by a blank stare. He pulled his hands away from me so quickly that it felt like my skin had burned him.

He stumbled backward, his shoes scraping against the floor.

"Zyran?" I gasped, coughing as air rushed back into my burning lungs. I quickly pulled my clothes together, my hands shaking.

He didn't hear me. He grabbed his head with both hands, digging his fingers into his dark hair. His chest heaved and terrible groan escaped his throat.

The dark memory was back. The fire. The ashes.

"No," Zyran whispered to the empty room. His voice sounded like a scared little boy. "The fire... it's burning."

His knees buckled.

He didn't even try to catch himself. Zyran collapsed forward, his body hitting the floor with a loud thud.

He lay there, completely still looking like he fainted.

The quiet study was suddenly silent. The only sound was my own ragged breathing.

I slid off the desk. My legs were weak, but I forced myself to stand. I looked down at the most powerful billionaire in the city. He was lying helpless on the floor, right on top of the divorce papers.

My heart pounded against my ribs.

A part of me—the foolish, broken part that still loved him—wanted to drop to my knees. I wanted to hold his head, call his name, and wake him up. I wanted to comfort him from whatever that was going on with him.

But then, I placed my shaking hand over my flat stomach.

“I will lock you in this house. I will burn the whole world to ashes before I let you leave my side.”

His threat echoed in my mind. If he woke up, he would lock the doors and he would keep me as his prisoner, forcing me to watch him rush to Mina every time she cried while I stayed hidden in the shadows. He would destroy my mind and my baby's future.

I couldn't save him. I had to save myself.

I stepped over his unconscious body and I didn't look back.

I grabbed my purse from the desk. I made sure the Milan folder, my passport, and the emergency cash were inside.

I walked to the door. Zyran had locked it and put the key in his pocket.

I took a deep breath, knelt beside him, and carefully reached into his trousers. My fingers brushed against the key. I pulled it out, my hands shaking so much I almost dropped it.

I stood up, slid the key into the lock, and turned it.

Click.

The door opened.

I stepped into the quiet hallway. I pulled my phone from my purse and dialed the mansion’s internal security line.

"Yes, Mrs. King?" the head guard answered right away.

"Mr. King has collapsed in his private study," I said, my voice flat and cold. "He is unconscious. Call an ambulance and get the medical team here now."

"Right away, ma'am!" the guard shouted.

I hung up the phone.

Within seconds, the mansion erupted into chaos.

The security team was completely distracted. No one was watching the back doors.

I slipped through the kitchen, pushed open the glass door, and ran out into the cool night air.

I didn't stop running until I reached the edge of the King estate. I hid behind the tall stone wall, watching the flashing red and blue lights of the ambulance speed through the front gates.

They were going to save him. He would wake up. And when he did, he would realize I was gone. His obsession would turn into pure, hunting rage and he would use all his billions to track me down.

I couldn't just take a cab to the airport. His men would find me before I even bought a ticket.

I needed someone with enough power to hide me. Someone Zyran couldn't bully or buy.

I reached into my purse. My fingers found the business card with the gold letters.

I pulled it out and stared at the number.

Maverick Sterling.

He was Zyran’s biggest rival, he is dangerous. But right now, he was my only way out.

I typed the number into my phone and pressed call.

It rang twice.

"Sterling," a deep, calm voice answered.

"It's Roosevelt King," I whispered, looking back at the flashing lights of the mansion. "You said... you said if I ever needed a safe way out, I should call you."

There was a short silence on the other end.

"Where are you?" Maverick asked. He didn’t sound surprised.

"I am at the back gate of the King estate," I said, my voice shaking. "I need to disappear tonight."

"Walk two blocks down to the old oak tree on Elm Street," Maverick ordered smoothly. "My car will be there in exactly four minutes. Do not let anyone see you."

"Okay," I breathed out.

"Roosevelt," Maverick said, his voice lowering. "Once you get in my car, there is no going back to him. Are you sure you want to do this?"

I placed my hand over my stomach, I thought of the divorce papers, I thought of everything I've been through in mina's hand.

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life," I said.

I hung up the phone, stepped out of the hiding place, and started walking into the dark.