Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Danielle's POV:

I didn’t waste time.

If the universe was going to hand me a second chance to rewrite my story, I wasn’t

going to spend it crying over what was coming.

Rue was the first person I called. “Dani?” Her voice was filled with sleep.

“I need you to listen to me carefully.” I said. “Find someone discreet, a private

investigator, or a freelancer and have them tail Barry 24/7 . Every time he breathes

near another woman, I want to know.”

She sat up on her end of the line; I could hear the rustle of sheets. “You’re serious?”

“Dead serious.” I said. “And Rue… don’t ask questions. Just get it done.”

In a few days, the evidence was sitting in my inbox. Barry, looking like the polished

corporate darling he always was, except his hand was sliding up a waitress’s thigh

in one video, and his mouth was on Victoria’s neck in another.

And there was more. God, there was always more. I didn’t even feel rage anymore,

just emptiness.

A few days ago, I took it upon myself to file for a divorce behind Barry's back but I

was asked to come to visit the lawyer with him. Not wanting to start the fight without

enough evidence, I backed out and decided to wait for Rue. Now I had everything I

needed to start the war and I wasn't going to back down.

Tightening my hand around my phone, I rushed out of the room and headed for

Barry's study.

I had spent the past few days trying to act unsuspicious and calm, but now I had all

the right to be as wild as I can.

When I arrived, Barry was seated before a pile of documents and he looked startled,

seeing me. “Danielle…”

“I want a divorce.” I said, tossing the manila envelope onto his desk.

The color drained from his face. “What?”

“I’m not going to cry, I’m not going to scream, and I’m not going to create a scene.” I

said, calmly. “I just want this over with. You can keep your precious Victoria, but I’m

walking away with twenty percent of the shares you hold in Guang Enterprises.”

His brows drew together. “Twenty percent? Danielle, that’s all I own in Guang

Enterprises and besides what's this about Victoria? I thought I already made it clear

that we just reconnected as friends?”

“Consider the shares a fair exchange for my silence.” I cut in. “You know as well as I

do that if I leak what’s in that envelope, your public image will be dead in the water.

The gentleman entrepreneur? The devoted husband? Gone.”

“That's…”

I held up my hand. “Also, I already know about your relationship with Victoria. So

you don't have to lie to me. Just make a decision between letting those pictures in

that file get released to the press coupled with evidence of all the shady deals you

got involved with or you let us get divorced peacefully and compensate my loss with

the Guang shares.”

He leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing. “You’ve changed.”

I smiled without humor. “You have no idea.”

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Two days later, it was done. The divorce papers were signed, and the shares were

transferred. Yet Barry still looked like he was waiting for me to fall apart, to throw

myself at his feet and tell him I’d made a mistake.

Instead, I walked out with my head high and a suitcase in hand. But before leaving, I

made one last stop at Victoria’s apartment.

She opened the door, wearing a silk robe and a smirk. “Hey, how…”

I didn’t let her finish. “Listen carefully.” I said. “I have divorced Barry just as you have

been secretly begging him to, so you’ve won your little prize, congratulations. But if

you try anything sneaky—anything at all—I won’t hesitate to burn you to the ground.

And that’s not a threat, that’s a promise.”

She arched an eyebrow, still smug. “You’re all bark, Danielle.”

I leaned in just enough for her to see the coldness in my eyes. “Try me.”

With that, I turned around and hailed the very same cab I boarded all the way from

Barry's house to hers. Only this time around, I was heading straight to the airport.

The plan was to go anywhere and start over.

The rain had started by the time we hit the freeway, and I was halfway through

planning which country to disappear into when I heard the blare of a horn, the

screech of tires, and then a massive trailer came careening toward us.

For one split second, I saw the exact moment my life ended in the last timeline.

Not this time.

I shoved the door open and hurled myself out. As I fell, my head slammed into

something hard, and everything went black.

When I woke up, it was to the sound of beeping machines and the smell of antiseptic. My head throbbed and my arm ached where the IV was taped down.

A middle-aged nurse in light blue scrubs was adjusting the drip when she noticed

my eyes open were. “You’re awake! That’s a miracle, considering the accident.” She

said, smiling.

I tried to sit up, but she gently pushed me back down. “Easy. You and your baby

need rest.”

I blinked at her. “My… what?”

“Your baby ” She said, as if I’d misheard.

“But… I am definitely not pregnant.” I snapped.

“We did a full scan to check for internal injuries and discovered that you’re pregnant.

It’s in an early stage, but it has a strong heartbeat.”

My chest went tight. “That’s not possible,” I said, sharply. “I’m not pregnant.”

She chuckled softly. “Trust me, I’ve been a nurse for fifteen years. You’re pregnant.”

Pregnant? For Barry James—the man who had betrayed me, humiliated me, left me

for dead. Suddenly, I felt heat rise in my chest, but it wasn’t joy, it was fury.

“I want it gone.” I said.

The nurse froze. “What?”

“I want to abort it. Schedule the procedure. Now.”

Her smile faltered, replaced by a frown. “That’s… a big decision. Maybe you should

take some time…”

“I don’t need time.” I snapped. “This child is tied to a man who ruined me. I won’t let it exist not for one second longer than it has to.”

She hesitated, then nodded stiffly. “I’ll

… inform the doctor.”