Chapter 6

The lawyer had the papers drafted by early the next morning.

Selina went through the papers carefully once they were in her hands. The agreement left every asset she owned under her sole control.

She came out of the study and headed for the dining room.

Charles was sitting with Susie over breakfast, and there were several new bodyguards on the grounds, hired by Charles specifically to protect Susie.

Selina walked in.

There were fresh flowers on the table, the kind Susie liked, and the breakfast was everything Susie liked. There wasn't even a place setting for her.

Selina didn't say much. She sat down and called a maid over to bring her a place setting herself.

Only then did Charles notice the missing setting.

Since she had not complained, Charles assumed she had cooled off. He stood and picked up his suit jacket. "I thought you were working in the study and wouldn't have time to eat.

"I have a meeting at the docks soon, so I can't stay with you."

Selina's wrist stiffened. She looked up at him, then produced a document. "This is the medical equipment supply contract we closed at the hunting grounds. Sign it, and I'll hand it over to Don Winthrop today."

Charles's eyes lit up for a second. "You already closed it?"

He seemed to breathe easier.

"Sign it, they're pushing me for it. Right here." Selina opened the contract and pointed at the last page.

Charles didn't look it over. He put his name down.

Selina had always been the one to negotiate his deals, and by the time they landed all he had to do was sign, so this time he didn't think twice about it either.

Once he was done signing, Charles picked up his jacket to go.

Susie suddenly stood up and reached for her coat too, and said plaintively, "It isn't safe for me here alone. I'd rather go with him. There are more bodyguards that way."

Charles said, "Didn't you say you weren't getting involved? Then I'm the only one left to keep Susie safe."

"Let's go." Charles went out first.

Susie followed close behind him out of the dining room.

Selina was left sitting alone at the table, and none of it mattered anymore. With the divorce papers in hand, the knot in her chest finally loosened.

Once Charles and Susie were gone, Selina sent the signed papers to Adrian.

[I'm divorced. Nothing he does will affect me.]

After she sent the message, she packed up everything she owned.

One more day and she could leave this place.

But that afternoon, Charles's assistant, Marisa Cole, called her. "Something happened, Ms. Campbell. Mr. Romano was beaten by Susie's ex-husband. He's in the hospital now."

Selina knew exactly what had happened without asking.

Charles and Susie must have gone out together and run into Bruno, and Bruno had been carrying his grudge already, so he'd gone at them.

But Charles had ended up in the hospital, which meant it was bad.

None of it was her problem, though. She hung up and went on packing.

It took until dark to finish packing everything.

She was carrying her luggage downstairs when Susie came home. Her eyes were red, but when she saw Selina, her expression was composed and cold.

It was nothing like her usual manner.

When she saw that Selina had packed everything, her expression turned smug.

"I didn't expect you to know your place and move out on your own. From now on I'll be living at the estate, because Charles worries about me."

"Do whatever you want." Selina couldn't even be bothered to say more.

She had seen this face of Susie's clearly in her last life. There was nothing worth arguing about.

Selina's indifference darkened Susie's expression.

Susie stepped closer and forced herself to sound calm. "You should have moved out long ago. If I hadn't stepped aside for the two of you back then, you would never have had this life. Everything you have now is what I let you have.

"Charles loves me, and I wouldn't even have to say a word. He'd want to throw you out on his own."

Selina's wrists shook. Their parents had favored Susie since childhood and could not bear to let her near the family's illegal operations, so they put everything in Selina's name and exposed her to danger again and again.

As for the marriage to Bruno, Susie was the one who had insisted on it, because she wanted his power, and Charles had nothing back then.

Everything Selina had now, she had built herself, and here was Susie calling it a gift.

The fire Selina had been holding down finally got away from her. She raised a hand and slapped Susie across the face.

Susie never saw it coming and went straight to the floor.

Charles returned with his injuries at that exact moment and walked in on the scene. Fury swept through him. One hand pressed to his chest, he shouted, "What are you doing?!"

He went to Susie in a panic and helped her up.

Susie clutched her cheek and burst into tears. "It's my fault for opening my mouth. All I asked was why Selina hadn't gone to the hospital to see you, and she..."

Susie threw herself into his arms and cried harder. "And you're hurt. You need someone to look after you. I was going to ask Selina if we could take turns staying with you, but instead she's leaving with her suitcases."

Charles's face went black. His lips shook as he looked at the luggage beside Selina.

He closed his eyes, and there was nothing but disappointment on his face.

"Selina, I never knew you were this kind of person. Susie is your sister, something like this happens to her, and all you can think about is getting away. Are you that afraid of a little trouble?!"

Charles reached out and shoved Selina.

The shove sent Selina sprawling, her knee cracking against the floor and blooming red.

Pain shot through her and she sucked in a breath.

Her heart was pounding.

She forced herself up and kept her face calm. "Think whatever you like."

"You want to go! Then don't ever come back!"

Charles roared it at her.

Selina's grip tightened around the handle of her suitcase. That was exactly what she wanted to hear, and she was never coming back.

She did not hesitate. Ignoring the sting in her knee, she headed for the door. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the trace of a smile on Susie's lips.

Once she was outside she heard Charles say to Susie, "She has nowhere to go but the country house. Let her be."

Selina laughed coldly and disappeared into the dark.

At last she left Southport, and she would never come back.