Chapter 3

Donna’s POV

I stared at the signed divorce papers on the table, with so much fulfillment in my eyes.

But it wasn't enough to just sign them. To trigger the Property Reversion Clause and strip Michael of everything, the dissolution of the marriage needed undeniable fault.

I pulled out my phone and opened a folder. It was almost as if I had been preparing for this day. I had loads of photos of Micheal and Angela kissing and in compromising positions. I wonder how I had all of these in my past life and still chose to pray he would change.

Months ago, I knew about the affair and had a PI confirm it for me with all of this evidence. But I was a coward and I never confronted him, he would cut off the medical funding Simon desperately needed. I had swallowed my pride and hid the evidence, waiting for a day I thought would never come.

That day was today.

I attached all of it to the email, and sent the entire file directly to David.

My phone rang less than ten seconds later.

"Got them," David said, his voice struggling to keep up and remain professional but I could hear the jolly satisfaction in them. "I’m forwarding everything directly to the board of directors and the legal department right now."

"Do it," I said, leaning against the wall. "What's going to happen?"

"Total collapse, immediately too." David replied, the clicking of his keyboard echoing over the line. "Michael used your new tech project as the collateral to get loans from the banks to expand his empire. The second the board sees these divorce papers and the affair evidence, the reversion clause is officially activated and everything transfers back to you."

"And the loans?" I asked.

"They default instantly," David said with a cold laugh. "Without your patents, his company's valuation drops to zero. He is in immediate breach of his loan contracts. The banks will not like that and freeze all accounts, strip him of his executive power,, and immediately seize all his personal assets to cover the debt."

"Including this mansion," I added, looking around the place.

"Exactly. They'll send a team to lock those doors by tonight. You need to be out of there, Donna."

"I’m already packing," I said. "But we need a place to go. And we need to prepare. David, I need you to sell my new shares to his competitors. I don't care about the price, I just need the cash today."

"Done. What are we buying?"

I grabbed a notepad from the table and began writing as fast as I could. This wasn't just about finding a new house. The apocalypse was coming in exactly ninety days. 

"I need a fortress," I ordered. "Find a property at the highest point in the state. I want something with a firm foundation, preferably an old bunker or maybe a mountain estate. It has to be completely immune to floodwaters."

"I know just the place," he replied at once. "The Apex Ridge Facility. It’s an old military bunker, but was changed to an estate. It’s been on the market for months because the location is too hidden for the luxury buyers."

"Buy it in cash right now. Put it under a shell company. And David, I need supplies."

I quickly explained everything I was going to need to be added for the upgrade of the house and I'm sure David was pretty confused about how I knew all of what I needed and what I was preparing for, but he never questioned me.

"You're talking about millions of dollars for this…" David warned.

"I have the money now," I replied coldly. "I want all of those things delivered right away. I don't need questions, David. Just get it done."

"Understood, Boss. I'll text you the access codes to Apex Ridge in five minutes. Drive safe."

I hung up the phone and walked back into Simon's room. He was already standing by the door with a bag on his shoulder. He didn't pack the toys or the designer clothes Michael had bought for appearances. He had only packed his books, his sketchboards, and the small wooden carving I had bought him for his birthday years ago.

He was ready. Good.

I didn't bother going back to my bedroom. I didn't want anything from there. I simply grabbed my purse, my ID, and the keys to my SUV and headed out swiftly.

“Ready?” I signed with my free hand.

He nodded firmly.

We left the house and I didn't feel an atom of sadness. Finally, I was leaving this cage.

The drive was silent and peaceful and minutes later, just when we were almost there, the access code chimed on my phone.

I smiled as I looked around the world from the mountains. In ninety days, it would just be water.

A few minutes later, I was at the gate and pulled up.

I punched the code into the keypad. The gates slid open to reveal the Apex Ridge Facility.

It was outstanding, not in its beauty, but in its strength. It looked like a bunker designed to withstand the end of the world.

Because it was.

I parked in the garage and turned off the engine. Thereafter, Simon and I headed in, exploring the beautiful interiors of the living room.

I turned to look at Simon and he didn't look scared. For the first time in years, that fear in his eyes was gone.

He turned back to me with a bright smile spread across his face. 

“It It feels safe.”

I felt a warmth in my chest. I walked over and pulled him into a tight hug.

"It is safe, baby," I whispered aloud, resting my chin on his head. "No one is ever going to hurt us again."

I stood there holding my brother, looking out the window at the city below.

Right now, Michael was probably standing in a charity auction, holding Angela’s hand, unaware that his empire had fallen. He thought he had left a helpless orphan crying on his floor.

I couldn't wait for him to swipe his black card.