EX-HUSBAND'S BOSS FOR VALENTINE

KIDNAPPED

MELANIA:

Today is the first day of the court hearings. I’m nervous—more than I want to admit. I have no idea what tricks Brady has up his sleeve, and even though I’m prepared, it still feels like I’m walking into a battle I might lose.

As I button the sleeves of my shirt, my phone rings. I grab it instantly, checking the screen. It’s Sylvie. I walk to the door, cracking it open to see if Royal is anywhere in sight. When I find the hallway empty, I shut the door and step into the closet, a safer place to take the call.

I pick up.

“Good morning, Mrs. Montclair. Brady called. He’s willing to offer me thirty thousand dollars,” she says. A slow smile creeps onto my lips. I’m surprised he even has that much to offer a lawyer just to keep his wealth intact. Last I checked, he was still struggling to push his net worth to a million dollars.

“You’ll receive one-fifty once this is done.” As I say this, I hear Royal’s voice from outside the room.

“Melania!”

“Goodbye. See you in court.” I end the call at once, slipping my phone into my pocket just as the door swings open.

“There you are,” he says, striding toward me.

I force a small smile, standing still as he closes the distance between us.

“I know you want me off the case, but if something goes wrong, I can’t promise I’ll stay out of it. My thoughts aren’t at ease knowing you’ll be in there with a—”

I press my lips against his, cutting him off mid-sentence. The kiss is brief—just enough to silence him. When I pull away, he exhales sharply, placing his hands on his waist.

“I’ll be fine. Callum will be there, and he’s armed. What more do I need?”

He runs a hand down his face. “I guess you’re right.”

“Yeah. So don’t worry about me.” I place a reassuring hand on his cheek before stepping away, walking to the mirror to reapply my lip gloss.

**

The courtroom is cold—but not as cold as the stare from the fake Brady. He sits across from me, legs crossed, jaw tight, wearing the same arrogant smirk Brady always does. It’s like he cloned himself. I still can’t believe he found someone who looks just like him—then again, he is the devil, so I shouldn’t be surprised.

My hands clench in my lap, nails pressing into my palm as I try to keep my mind focused.

Judge Lawson adjusts his glasses. “We are here today for the private divorce proceedings of Melania Montclair and Barry West. Attorney Grant, you may proceed.”

How could I forget? Brady isn’t even his real first name. I should have known he was crazy, because only a psychopath would have two names that start with a ‘B.’

Sylvie Grant rises beside me, and my heart steadies slightly.

“Your Honor, my client has suffered years of emotional and psychological abuse at the hands of Mr. West. He controlled her finances, isolated her from friends, and disregarded her autonomy. Furthermore, we have evidence of infidelity and instances where my client was coerced into s****l acts against her will.”

Brady’s lawyer, a polished man in an expensive suit, immediately shakes his head. “Your Honor, these accusations are exaggerated at best and defamatory at worst. Mr. West provided for his wife, ensured she had everything she needed, and any suggestion of coercion was baseless.”

A bitter laugh escapes me. “Baseless?” My voice wavers slightly, but I hold my head high. “Barry, do you remember the night after your corporate gala last fall? When you came home drunk and didn’t care that I was crying, telling you no?”

His jaw tightens, but his lawyer steps in before he can respond.

“Ma’am, I advise you to let your attorney speak.”

Sylvie places a warning hand on my arm, but I shake her off, my chest rising and falling with unsteady breaths.

“No, let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about all the times you cheated. The fact that I was humiliated at that banquet just so you could be with Portia! You’d cheat with different women, then come home and still force yourself on me because you thought being my husband meant you owned me.”

Tears burn at the edges of my eyes. I shouldn’t have spoken, because Brady is probably enjoying this moment from wherever he is watching, and I hate that.

The courtroom falls into a tense silence. Brady’s lawyer exhales sharply, straightening his tie before clearing his throat.

“Your Honor, these are heavy accusations with no substantial proof. We request that this line of argument be dismissed.”

Sylvie squares her shoulders. “We have medical records, witness testimonies, and documentation that back up my client’s claims. These aren’t just accusations. They are facts.”

Judge Lawson folds his hands, studying both sides. A long silence stretches between us before he finally speaks.

“Given the nature of these claims, I will need to review the submitted evidence thoroughly before proceeding further. This case is adjourned until a later date.”

With that, he strikes the gavel.

Brady’s double doesn’t even glance my way as he rises, buttons his suit, and walks out like this is nothing more than a minor inconvenience. My fingers curl into fists, and I swear to myself that this isn’t over.

“Are you okay?” Sylvie asks softly.

I force a smile. “I’m fine. Thank you for today, and I hope things get better from here. I think I’ll just head home. We can talk about this tomorrow or later.” I press my fingers to my temple. “My head aches.”

She nods. “Very well then, Mrs. Montclair. Have a nice day.”

I rise to my feet and head for the door, but I don’t get far before I spot Brady and his double in a secluded corner, deep in conversation. I ignore them, walking straight to my ride.

The moment I slide into the passenger seat, I turn to Callum. “Did you get it?”

He nods, handing me a flash drive. I pat his shoulder before tucking it safely into my bag. As we drive off, I allow myself to exhale.

When we arrive home, I reach for the door handle, but before I can open it, Royal swings it open. The fury in his eyes makes my stomach twist.

“Sylvie Grant has been kidnapped.”

My mouth falls open, but no words come out.