Chapter 5

Natalie's POV

Leo looked away, a glimmer of guilt in his eyes, but he still forced himself to pull out another document.

"Ma'am, Mr. Vance has already handled everything. The investigation has been suppressed, and Ms. Sterling's exhibition will proceed tomorrow as scheduled."

"Mr. Vance said you've worked hard these past few days. As long as you sign this Non-Disclosure Agreement and swear under oath that this had nothing to do with Ms. Sterling, you can walk out tonight."

I didn't move.

My unfocused gaze drifted sluggishly over the paperwork.

My ears were ringing, and every inch of my body radiated searing pain.

Leo paused, then added, "As compensation, the south-side estate worth fifty million will be transferred to your name first thing tomorrow morning. After that, life will go on as usual."

"Life will go on as usual."

My cracked lips twisted slightly, and a low, humorless laugh escaped my throat.

He had personally thrown me into this hellhole, turning a blind eye as Chloe's hired thugs beat and tortured me.

And now that the storm had passed, he tossed a mansion at my feet, like throwing a bone to an obedient dog.

In his eyes, my life and dignity were worth nothing more than a piece of real estate.

"Leo," I said, slowly raising my head. "Hand me a blank sheet of paper, please."

Leo blinked, assuming I was going to write down additional financial demands. He quickly slipped a blank sheet of paper and a pen through the slot beneath the glass.

I picked up the pen.

The back of my right hand was mottled with dark purple bruises; even gripping the pen sent tremors through my fingers.

Yet when the tip met the paper, my strokes were resolute and unwavering.

At the very top of the page, I wrote four stark words: DIVORCE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.

Leo's face drained of color.

"Husband: Julian Vance. Wife: Natalie Hayes. Divorcing voluntarily due to the irreconcilable breakdown of marriage."

"The wife, Natalie Hayes, waives all spousal support, property division, and claims to the Vance estate. She walks away with nothing and wishes never to see Julian Vance again."

Beneath those lines, I signed my name with heavy, jagged strokes.

Then, I lowered my head and bit down brutally on my split, bleeding lip.

The metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth. Pressing my thumb against the wound, I slammed a bloody fingerprint right beside my signature.

A vivid, crimson stamp. It seemed to bleed out every drop of love, devotion, and humiliation I had endured over the past three years.

I shoved the bloodstained divorce paper, along with the unsigned NDA, back through the slot.

"Ma'am, what are you doing?!" Leo's forehead broke out in cold sweat as he stared at the bloody fingerprint. "Mr. Vance never mentioned a divorce! Throwing a tantrum right now will only hurt you!"

I looked at him, my eyes devoid of any emotion. "Tell Julian Vance that I don't want the title of Mrs. Vance anymore. He can take this paper and clear the way for his precious first love."

With that, I forced myself onto my feet. Without glancing back through the glass, I dragged my leaden legs back down the dim, narrow corridor, ignoring Leo's frantic calls behind me.

Late that night, the heavy iron gates of the detention facility finally slid open.

The street outside was deserted, save for the flickering streetlights cutting through the veil of rain.

The icy downpour soaked my clothes within seconds, sending violent shivers racking through my body.

Clutching my arms around myself, burning with fever, I stumbled alone into the endless, stormy night.

Dragging my legs like dead weight, I walked for what felt like an eternity until I reached a twenty-four-hour convenience store.

Using the last few dollars in my pocket, I bought a prepaid burner phone and dialed a number I hadn't touched in three years.

"Hello?"

From the receiver came a deep, steady male voice.

I leaned against the freezing glass window of the store, my body sliding slowly to the floor as the choked sobs I had held back finally broke through. "I want to come home."

The line went dead silent for a heartbeat, followed by the sound of sharp, steady breathing.

"Where are you? I'm coming to get you."