Lahat ng Kabanata ng CUTTING THE CORD: my ex-husband regret : Kabanata 101 - Kabanata 110

The dim light flickered above me as I stepped into the secluded bar. The air was thick with stale beer and cigarette smoke, a perfect setting for clandestine meetings where secrets went to die—or, more likely, explode. This was where I was supposed to meet him—the person with answers. Oliver had tried to talk me out of coming alone, but I knew better. The fewer people involved, the safer we would be. Or at least that’s what I told myself. Deep down, I knew this wasn’t about safety. It was about control. And right now, control was slipping through my fingers like sand.I glanced at my watch: 11:52 PM. Eight minutes to midnight. The figure—whoever they were—had asked to meet at midnight. I pulled my coat tighter around me, the unease settling in my bones despite the heat. Every instinct told me this meeting could go horribly wrong. And yet, I was here. Because I needed answers.The bartender gave me a wary look, but I waved him off. “I’m meeting someone,” I muttered, sliding into a c

I stared down at the folder on my coffee table, my heart heavy with the knowledge that I was holding something dangerous. The kind of dangerous that changes everything. The kind that costs lives. I could feel Oliver’s steady gaze on me, his concern palpable, but all I could think about was Marcus Aldridge. How long had he been working against me? How much of what I thought we built together was a lie? The betrayal stung more than I wanted to admit—like a dagger slowly twisting in my side. And the worst part? This wasn’t just about Marcus No. As I started sifting through the documents in the folder, I realized it was much, much bigger. The conspiracy stretched further than I ever imagined—beyond Marcus, beyond the boardroom, and deep into places I never thought it would touch. Page after page revealed a tangled web of offshore accounts, falsified financial statements, and encrypted emails exchanged between Marcus and several high-profile figures. I recognized the names instantly—po

The air between Sophia and me hung heavy with unspoken tension, thick enough to choke on. A storm was building inside me—a chaotic swirl of anger, distrust, and the smallest sliver of reluctant hope. Trusting the woman who had betrayed me wasn’t just a gamble; it was madness. But if what she said was true, there was no winning this battle alone. I needed someone who knew the enemy's playbook from the inside. Sophia leaned back in her chair, her sharp features bathed in the dim glow of the private club's chandelier. Cool and composed, as always. It was infuriating how she could sit there, utterly calm, while my entire life had been upended. But beneath that exterior, I caught the slightest tremor in her fingers as she traced the rim of her wine glass. It was the first crack in her mask.“I’m in,” I said, the words falling from my lips before I could overthink them. Sophia’s gaze snapped to mine, surprise flickering in her eyes. For the first time, she looked unsure. “You’re serious?

The world around me spun, the impact of the jump jarring my bones. I scrambled to my feet, adrenaline surging through my veins, but as I turned to help Sophia up, I felt a sharp sting on my neck. What was happening? My vision blurred, and the ground rushed up to meet me again, this time more forcefully. The last thing I heard was Sophia’s frantic shout, “Emily!” before everything faded to black.When I finally regained consciousness, the air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and something else—fear. I blinked against the harsh fluorescent light, trying to piece together what had happened. My wrists were bound tightly to a chair, and I could barely move. The room was stark and cold, with bare concrete walls and a single table under the flickering light. A heavy door creaked open, and Marcus stepped in, flanked by two men in black suits. My heart dropped as I realized where I was: in the belly of the beast, the conspiracy’s lair.“Welcome back, Emily,” Marcus said, his voice

Darkness enveloped me like a suffocating shroud, pulling me deeper into its abyss. But just as I thought I was lost, an insistent beeping tore through the silence, pulling me back to consciousness. My eyes fluttered open, the harsh fluorescent lights above piercing through my haze. Pain radiated from my shoulder, sharp and searing, reminding me of Marcus and his betrayal. I tried to sit up, but a heavyweight pinned me down.“Easy there, Emily,” a familiar voice murmured softly. I turned my head and found Oliver hovering beside me, his expression a mix of relief and concern. “You’re safe now.”“Safe?” I croaked, the word feeling foreign against my tongue. I glanced around, taking in my surroundings. I was in a small, dimly lit room, the walls lined with crates and makeshift barricades. The faint sounds of chaos echoed outside—yelling, gunfire, and the unmistakable sound of destruction.“What happened?” I demanded, my heart racing. The adrenaline surged, urging me to push through the pa