Chapter Two: The Beginning of My Revenge

“What the hell has gotten into you, Elliot?” Edward thundered.

I stood beside the sofa. “I want a divorce.”

He laughed. “From me? Look at yourself. Without my family, what are you? A spoiled heiress who’s never worked a day.”

I almost smiled. He had lived off my family’s wealth for years.

“My family gave you society,” I said. “My money paid for your lifestyle. My connections won contracts you couldn’t win. What have you contributed besides insults?”

His face darkened. “You ungrateful bitch.”

There it was—the real Edward. Not the charming husband or devoted son. Just a selfish man who believed a woman who paid for everything still owed him obedience.

“Watch your mouth,” I said.

He stepped closer. “Or what? You’ll divorce me? Go ahead. Your mother will disown you before you embarrass the family.”

In my previous life, that threat terrified me. My mother had always urged patience, convinced a wife could save her marriage. She never knew what he did behind closed doors—or what he would do when the world ended.

“I’ll take my chances,” I replied.

“What?”

“You’ll hear from my lawyer.”

I turned. He caught my arm. “Don’t walk away while I’m talking to you.”

“Let go.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No. I’m giving you a chance to remove your hand before you embarrass yourself.”

He released me with a scoff. “You’ve become useless. I should never have married a woman who thinks her father’s money makes her important.”

I climbed the stairs. He shouted after me. “Elliot! Get back here! You can’t just walk out because you woke up in a bad mood! Your mother will abandon you. Don’t come crawling back when you have nowhere else!”

At my bedroom door, I looked back. “Edward, worry less about where I’ll go and more about where you’ll stand when I’m finished.”

I shut the door and locked it. His fist struck the wood. “Open this damn door! You think you can humiliate me in my own house?”

I called my lawyer. Mr. Bennett answered after two rings. “Good morning, Mrs. Elliot. Is everything all right?”

“No. But it will be. Prepare divorce papers immediately. Review every financial agreement between me and Edward, including the documents he gave me yesterday. Audit all joint accounts, company transfers, properties, and investments connected to my family’s assets. Identify anything transferred without my authorization and tell me what can be recovered.”

“Understood. Freezing accounts depends on ownership, agreements, and legal grounds.”

“Then build the strongest case you can. No unauthorized transfers. No more money disappearing.”

I ended the call. Edward roared outside. “You’re nothing without me!”

Keep telling yourself that, I thought.

I opened the door. He nearly stumbled in, fist raised, face red. “Have you forgotten who you’re married to?”

“No. That’s why I’m leaving.”

“Where are you going?”

“To take care of my business.”

“Our business! Everything you have belongs to this family!”

I paused on the stairs. “Then you shouldn’t have been so careless with what was never yours.”

A shrill voice rose below. Edward’s grandmother appeared in a silk robe, diamonds glittering. “What is all this noise?” She looked at me. “Elliot! Must you turn this house into a marketplace?”

In my previous life, she had perfected making me feel like a guest in my own home. She criticized everything while my money paid for her jewelry and trips.

“What has she done now?” she asked Edward.

“She refuses to sign the documents and wants a divorce!”

“Divorce?” The old woman turned on me. “Have you lost your shame? Do you think marriage is a toy?”

“I think marriage is a partnership. This one is over.”

“You ungrateful wretch! Do you know how many women would kill to marry into this family?”

“Then Edward should marry one of them.”

She gasped. “How dare you! After everything we’ve done for you?”

I tilted my head. “Please remind me what you’ve done for me, Grandmother.”

Her face reddened. “Edward! Are you going to let your wife insult me?”

“Apologize,” he said.

“No.”

“Elliot, apologize now.”

“No.”

Grandmother’s eyes widened. “You shameless little—”

“Enough.” My voice cut through hers. “I have listened to your insults for years. I’ve paid your bills, funded your luxuries, and watched you treat my family as beneath you. That ends today. From now on, every cent I spend will be accounted for. Nobody in this family will touch my money without my permission.”

She laughed. “Your money? Edward is your husband! What’s yours belongs to him!”

“Then ask him to fund your next shopping trip.”

I turned to the door. Edward barked, “If you step outside, don’t bother coming back!”

I looked at him one last time. “Edward, that’s the first sensible thing you’ve said all morning.”

Then I left.

Outside, the sky was blue. Streets were busy, unaware the world had fourteen days left. I fought the urge to scream at them.

In my previous life, reports of unusual plant decay were dismissed. Then toxins spread. Flights grounded. Cities panicked. By the time authorities admitted the scale, it was too late. The infected didn’t all die. Some changed. Their minds deteriorated. Their bodies became unpredictable. The streets filled with creatures that attacked the living.

This time, I wouldn’t wait.

I drove toward Elliot Holdings, the company my father built. Before my marriage, I had been majority shareholder. Edward’s family had maneuvered into influence, convincing me to transfer control to strengthen our marriage. I had believed them. Now I needed to know how much they had taken.

I listed what I needed: long-shelf food, water purification, medical supplies, protective suits, air filtration, generators, solar panels, fuel, communication equipment, tools, seeds. A place with its own power, underground water, reinforced entrances, room for my daughter and trusted family. An underground survival base.

In my previous life, desperate survivors traded everything for a few nights behind reinforced walls. Private shelters existed, but by then roads were impassable and prices impossible. This time I had money and fourteen days.

My mother called. “Edward just called me. He says you’ve threatened divorce and accused his family of stealing.”

“That’s correct.”

“Elliot, what is going on?”

“Don’t sign anything Edward or his family sends. Don’t authorize transfers. Don’t let anyone access our assets.”

“You’re frightening me.”

“I know. I’ll explain soon. Trust me.”

She hesitated. “Is Edward hurting you?”

For years I had hidden the worst behind clothes and rehearsed smiles. “He has hurt me enough. I’m done letting him.”

Her voice softened. “Tell me what you need.”

“Don’t let anyone touch our money until I’ve spoken to the lawyers.”

“Be careful, Elliot.”

“I will.”

At Elliot Holdings, the silver logo gleamed. Employees greeted me. I went straight to finance.

Mr. Collins looked up. “Mrs. Elliot! What brings you here?”

“I need an urgent review of my personal holdings, liquid investments, and every account connected to my share of the company.”

His smile faded. “Is there a problem?”

“I want a complete breakdown of what I own, what I can access immediately, and how quickly eligible investments can become cash. Nothing goes to Edward or his family without my explicit approval.”

“May I ask what you’re planning?”

“I’m preparing for an emergency.”

I couldn’t tell him the world would end. He would think I was mad.

“First report within the hour,” I said.

In my office, I locked the door. My father’s desk still bore the scratch I’d made at sixteen. He had laughed then, saying a good business survived damage. I wished he were here.

I researched underground shelters, bunkers, reinforced safe houses, remote properties with independent utilities. Most were useless. Then I found it:

Private Underground Protective Base — Immediate Transfer Available.

Reinforced steel doors. Separate ventilation. Water storage. Sleeping quarters. Medical room. Generator chamber. Remote but accessible. Price: $50,000.

I read it twice. It sounded too good. I requested ownership documents and noted an independent inspection.

Mr. Bennett called. “I’ve begun reviewing the accounts. I’ll send a preliminary report.”

“Prioritize assets Edward could transfer without my knowledge. I may buy a property today. Review the sale documents before I release funds.”

“What kind?”

“An underground protective base.”

He paused, then said calmly, “Send me the listing. I’ll have it reviewed.”

He didn’t ask why. He didn’t laugh. That was why my father trusted him.

I forwarded the listing. Minutes later he replied: Don’t release payment until we verify title, access rights, and seller’s authority.

I called the seller. “Is the base still available?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Can it be inspected today?”

“Yes. We have another interested buyer.”

“Send the documents. My lawyer will review before I commit.”

The documents arrived. I forwarded them to Mr. Bennett and stared at the photographs. Reinforced doors. Independent ventilation. Water storage. Backup power. A place my daughter could sleep without me checking if she was breathing. A place where I wouldn’t beg a man who claimed to love her for a vaccine he meant for someone else.

I pressed a hand to my mouth. “Not this time, baby. Mommy will protect you.”

Outside, the company continued normally. Phones rang. Someone laughed. The world was still normal.

But I knew what was coming.

And I would be ready.

I called the seller again. “Once my lawyer confirms the documents, I’ll arrange inspection and discuss terms immediately.”

“Understood, Mrs. Elliot.”

I opened my calendar and planned the next fourteen days. Secure the base. Stockpile supplies. Bring my daughter and trusted family somewhere safe. Recover every asset Edward’s family had taken.

When Edward came looking for the woman he’d abandoned, he would find someone he no longer recognized.