Chapter 2

The car made its way back toward the city in the dark.

At home, the bedside lamp cast a soft glow over their wedding portrait. Olivia remembered how tightly Henry had held her hand as they posed for the camera, his eyes full of tenderness.

Now, she stared at his face in the photograph and barely recognized the man she married.

Alone in their bedroom, Olivia began destroying everything that reminded her of their marriage. She smashed the matching candlesticks and the ornate mirror, tore apart the decorative pillows, then grabbed their wedding portrait and hurled it to the floor.

She kicked the broken frame aside. A jagged edge caught her ankle, drawing blood, but she barely noticed.

The crash of shattering porcelain and the sound of ripping fabric filled the room.

When there was nothing left to break, Olivia stepped over the wreckage and stopped in the doorway. She picked up the torch she prepared earlier and tossed it into the scraps of fabric and paper littering the floor.

Flames spread through the debris, sending a rush of heat against her face.

Olivia turned away from the room where she once thought she would spend the rest of her life.

"Olivia."

She heard the familiar voice behind her, then footsteps. A moment later, a calloused hand settled gently on her head.

"Feel better now?"

Olivia slowly turned. Henry stood beside her.

"Grace got into some trouble tonight. She's Tom's sister. I owe it to him to look after her."

Henry turned to Olivia, his expression calm.

The porch lights swayed in the breeze, and the fire behind them cast shifting shadows across her face. The last trace of warmth left her eyes.

"So you burned down Fairmont Manor for her."

Henry swallowed. For several seconds, he said nothing, then reached up to touch her cheek.

"I'll handle what happened at Fairmont Manor. Can you please stop throwing tantrums?"

"Tantrums?"

She gave a quiet laugh, her shoulders shaking.

"Henry, I fought and bled to get where I am. You think I'm afraid to make a scene? Nobody crosses me without paying for it."

She stepped closer and met his eyes.

"You'd better keep Grace hidden. Don't let me catch you with her again."

Henry's face darkened. He reached for her hand, but Olivia pulled away before he could touch her.

Her expression went blank. When she spoke again, she sounded almost casual.

"Because next time, I'll make her disappear for good."

Olivia got back into her car and rolled up the window.

Blaze, her most trusted subordinate, immediately handed her a tablet.

"Mrs. West, Grace is at Lakecrest Estate. She's getting the same level of protection Mr. West's personal detail provides. There are five teams around the perimeter and thermal cameras covering the whole property. No blind spots."

Olivia took the tablet, a faint smile touching her lips. "How thoughtful of him."

She swiped through the estate's floor plans and grounds layout. Every guard post and camera position was marked.

After studying the screen, she set the tablet aside and turned to Blaze.

"We paid off one of his bodyguards' gambling debts once, didn't we? Time to call in that favor. Have him bring Ms. Meyer over for a little chat."

Blaze hesitated, then nodded. "Got it, Mrs. West."

Olivia watched the streets pass outside her window, her smile hardening.

She meant every word she said to Henry.

If he couldn't protect Grace, he could blame himself for what came next.