Lahat ng Kabanata ng Winning My Ex Wife: Kabanata 151 - Kabanata 160

Edward’s pov“My answer is no,” I said firmly. “As long as I have a say, the answer is no.”“And as long as I have a say,” Carlson countered smoothly, “the answer is yes. Don’t forget, Edward, we’re equals here. Equal shares, equal votes. Your word isn’t law.”I turned toward him slowly, eyes narrowing. “This isn’t about shares. This isn’t about Frank. This is about you. You’re dragging him back in here to spite me.”Carlson’s smile sharpened, wolf-like. “Spite? No. Strategy. You’ve gotten too attached to certain staff, Edward. It clouds your judgment. Makes you weak.”It was a deeper cut than I’d intended. But he’d drawn it, expertly.“Mind your words,” I said.He leaned back, hands folded across his chest, satisfied. For a long second, the room was tense… silent but for a hum like live wire. Frank sat there looking smug as a goddamn bullfrog, Carlson grinning like the devil, and I caught right in between, wondering why I shouldn’t put both of them through the window.At that moment

Charlotte’s povHer head snapped to the side as she looked back at me slowly. In that second all noise ceased. Pans still hissed on the stove, appliances continued their low thrum, but no one moved. Her eyes glared at me with pure hatred.“That was a mistake,” she said.“Maybe not. But it did feel good to put you in your place.”Sandra gasped. “Charlotte…”Eloise lifted her chin. “You think you’ve won because you slapped me? You think that makes you powerful?” She shook her head, slowly. “All it shows is how terrified you are.”The words dug under my skin, sharp and raw.The sound of it was still ringing in my ears when she jerked her head back to me, that look in her eyes. For a second I thought she might slap me back, that’s how hard she was shaking her hand at her side… I almost wished she had. But no.She turned around and removed her apron as she walked out.Sandra came to face me. “Are you high?”“I handled that well.”“Handled it?” She took a step closer, her face looking pale

Edward’s pov“You were not,” she said. “You were not there when I needed you the most. You were absent.”“I was scared,” I said. “I was scared of being sick. I thought I would make things worse if I stayed. I thought I was protecting you. I was wrong.”Her eyes found mine. For a second there was that fragile look that meant something. “You told me once you would not let me go. You said our deal would be more than papers. Where did that man go?”“He is here,” I said. “He never left. He was stupid. He hid behind work and pride. He was a coward. But he is here now. I can prove it.”Her mouth moved, like she might say yes or no. The air between us rose. This was the moment when a life could bend back into place. Or break.“I want us to be truthful,” she said finally. “Can we be truthful? No more lies to each other, Edward. No more secrets.”My throat closed. I tried to speak and the words would not move. How do you promise that when you have kept so much? How do you promise when your body

Eloise’s povHe looked at his hands. They trembled a little. “I was sick, Eloise. I was scared of being weak in front of you. I thought if I told you I was sick you would suffer because of me. I thought I would make your life worse. I thought if I left… if I walked away, you would be free of this. Free of the pain of seeing me sick.”“You left because you were sick?” I whispered. “You left me because you were sick and you thought that was protection? You left me with nothing to fight for. You left me with a paper that said we were done.”He nodded. The tears were in his eyes now. “I thought I was protecting you. I thought if I pretended to want someone else… if I pretended Charlotte and I were together… You would go on. I tried to push you away so you could be better without me.”I stared at him. “So you lied. To me. You lied about me. You let me think you were cheating. Let me think the worst of you. You let me sign the papers. You let the world think I was nothing. All to protect me

Bryan’s povHe sat back, staring at me in silence. The kind of silence that stretched too long. Then he sighed, shoulders slumping. “You think she can handle it?”“She already is handling it,” I said, my voice low but firm. “She’s been running herself ragged for you, for the hotel. She’s stronger than you give her credit for. But she won’t stand a chance if Charlotte and Carlson get the upper hand. You know that.”Edward rubbed his temple, eyes closing. “Damn it, Bryan. You really know how to corner a man.”I didn’t smile. “This isn’t about cornering. This is about survival.”He opened his eyes again, sharp, resigned. “Alright. Draft the files. Make it official. She’ll be my stand-in.”Relief fluttered through me, but only for a second. Then his mouth twisted into a smile I didn’t like. “But don’t tell her.”I blinked. “What?”“Don’t tell Eloise any of this,” he repeated, calm but firm. “She doesn’t need the weight on her shoulders. Not yet.”“So you’re putting her up as your stand-in