LOGINNATALIEI’ve barely slept since yesterday. Kendrick’s words kept replaying in my head, each one sharper than the last.I want a divorce.Kendrick hadn't threatened me with anything. That was the problem. He hadn't shouted, slammed anything, or lost his temper with me. That cold, controlled expression of his told me he wanted to end our marriage as though he had already made the decision years ago.I lowered myself onto the sofa, lost in thought. After four years as Mrs. Kendrick Fernsby, living in the mansion, wearing the clothes, attending the events, sitting beside one of London’s most powerful men and watching everyone treat me like I had won some extraordinary prize, Kendrick wanted to take it all away.I clenched my hands together. No. He couldn't do that. Not after everything.I reached for my phone and opened my banking application. The numbers on the screen were still large enough to make most people gasp, but suddenly they didn't look as comforting as they had yesterday. Th
KENDRICKI saw the shock flicker across Natalie’s face, astonished I’d known all this time. Her expression changed, then she finally asked. “What did you expect me to do?”I gave a humourless laugh. “That's your defence?”“You're my husband.”“And?”Her expression hardened. “And I have every right to protect my marriage.”“You haven't been protecting this marriage, Natalie. Neither have I. That's the truth we've both avoided for years.”“We've been married for four years,” she argued. “Four years, Kendrick. You haven't touched me in four years. You barely speak to me unless it concerns Nalani. What exactly did you expect me to do?”I didn't answer immediately because there was some truth in what she had said, even if she was using it to justify everything else. Our marriage had been dead long before either of us admitted it. “When I was with you back then, years ago, I told you that whatever was between us couldn't become love.”Her expression faltered. “But—”“No.” I took a slow br
KENDRICK“What exactly did she say?” “Natalie told me to stay away from you,” she admitted. “She said you're hers.”Yulia wasn't angry as she spoke. She looked unsettled, and that bothered me more than anything Natalie could have said.I let out a humourless chuckle. “Yeah, right.”Natalie had always been possessive when it came to things she believed belonged to her. But hearing that she'd come to Yulia's apartment and tried to stake her claim made something hot and unpleasant crawl through my chest.Yulia continued, “She also said she doesn't want Nalani growing up with a single parent. She needs both parents.”“Natalie actually said that?”“Yes.”“Unbelievable.”Using Nalani to make Yulia feel guilty was exactly the kind of thing Natalie would do when she felt threatened.I watched Yulia nervously pick at her sweater. “Is that why you've been ignoring my calls?”She lifted her eyes to me. “I just needed a moment.”The way she said it made my heart skip a beat. I knew what that cou
YULIA“Natalie?”She stood in front of me, her arms loosely crossed, and a faint smile playing on her lips. “Hi, Yulia. We meet again.”Of all the people I expected to find standing outside my apartment after Kendrick had just left, Natalie was at the very bottom of that list.My heart gave an uncomfortable thud.I cleared my throat, trying not to let her see how unsettled I was. “What are you doing here?”Natalie tilted her head. “Won’t you let me in?”I huffed and pushed the door wider. She stepped inside without another word. As she crossed the threshold, I regretted letting her in.Her eyes immediately swept across my apartment, taking in every part of the room as if she knew Kendrick had been here.“I knew Kendrick was in here with you,” she confirmed.I surveyed her, then asked, “Did you follow him here?”She didn't answer, just glared at me. That was enough to answer.A strange mixture of irritation and guilt settled in my chest. Irritation because she had followed her husband
YULIAFriday nights had quickly become my favourite. Kicking off my heels and shutting my laptop after a brutal week at Regent Law Group felt incredibly satisfying. After changing into a comfortable, oversized top, I got cozy on the couch with a glass of wine in one hand and the remote in the other, ready for Netflix. I took another sip and relaxed against the cushions. A few minutes later, my phone suddenly buzzed on the coffee table.I reached for it. Seeing Kendrick’s name, I smiled.Kendrick: I miss you.My heart did that annoying little flip it always did whenever he texted me. I bit back a smile and typed.Me: I miss you too.Kendrick: Where are you?Me: Home.His response came seconds later.Kendrick: I'm on my way.My stomach fluttered instantly.Yulia: Okay.I put my phone beside me and tried to concentrate on the movie, but it didn't work. I watched the screen for about thirty seconds, then at the clock. Thirty minutes.Checked again after another few minutes. Twenty-six m
KENDRICKI was already inside the Security Operations Centre when Matthew finished pulling up the final set of files.The large screens behind him displayed layers of digital records: transaction histories, device logs, communication records, and a timeline we'd spent most of two days building.I folded my arms and studied the information again. Everything was finally starting to make sense. It was enough to tell a very different story from the one we'd been looking at previously.Matthew glanced at me. “Everything is ready, Sir.”“Good.”I looked toward the entrance. Yulia should be arriving soon. I tried not to think about that part, yet failed.The doors opened, and Alexander walked in with his lawyer and two team members.I straightened. “Alexander.”He approached me and extended his hand. “Kendrick.”We shook hands. “How are you?”“I'm fine. And you?”“Good.” His expression was serious. “I've been waiting to hear what you've found.”“You'll hear everything.”His lawyer greeted me
YULIA“We’re almost there, baby girl.” My father watched me as I angled towards the side window, lost in my thoughts.“I still can’t believe you eloped and got married.” I glanced at him, and he was smiling.“Well… I can’t be single forever. I’m ready to settle down and spend the rest of my life wi
KENDRICKI shouldn’t have kissed her. It wasn’t even a kiss worth overthinking—just her cheek, a brief moment of contact that should’ve meant nothing.But it did, and that was the problem.I ruffled my hair, staring blankly at the surveillance analytics displayed across my MacBook’s screen while ab
YULIA“This is it?” I asked, glancing around the parking lot filled with cars. “Yes.” Kendrick parked his car and turned to me. “Ever been to a street race?”I shook my head wildly, speechless all of a sudden. His expression barely changed, but his eyes said otherwise . “Then prepare yourself. Yo
KENDRICK“What were they thinking, letting her live with you?” Victor asked, leaning back lazily in the chair across from my desk like he owned the space.“Safety.” I shrugged, flipping through the folder in front of me without bothering to look up. “Apparently, her father thinks London will collap







