Chapter 80
The message came through at noon–a short, curt text from one of his last loyal contacts in the city.”
No sign of her. No one will help. She’s gone.\
Colton stared at the words until they blurred, the realization settling in like a knife twisting in his gut. Nadia had vanished completely, and everyone knew it. Worse–no one cared.
No one wanted to help him. No one would help him. Because legally, she wasn’t his wife anymore.
He had no right. No claim. No leverage. She was just… gone.
With a snarl, he hurled his phone across the office. It hit the far wall with a sickening crack and slid to the floor in two pieces.\
He stood there, chest heaving, when another notification popped up on his computer screen–a stock report. Red numbers bled across the page like fresh wounds. The company’s shares were plummeting. Investors were pulling out in droves.\ And if that wasn’t enough, a follow–up email from the board appeared seconds later. Short. Cold.}
We request your resignation as CEO, effective immediately.”
His pulse thundered in his ears. They wanted him gone. Just like that. Years of work–ruthless deals, strategic moves, power plays–all unraveling in a matter of days.
Behind him, the office door slammed open. Beatrice stormed in, her heels clicking against the marble floor. Her face was pale, lips trembling–not with fear, but fury.”
What is going to happen to us?!” she demanded, voice shrill. “Are we going to be broke? Homeless? Do you understand what this means?!”
Colton didn’t even turn around. “Can you please just shut up for one second? I’m trying to fix this=“”
“Fix this? FIX THIS?!” she shrieked, throwing her arms up. “How? lost the investors, the board wants you out, and
Nadia’s nowhere to be found! Do you even have a plan?”
His temper snapped. “If you weren’t so stupid with that kiss cam stunt, none of this would’ve happened!”
Her jaw dropped. “What do you mean my fault?”
“I told you!” he shot back, spinning toward her. “I told you we shouldn’t go to that concert. Too many people. Too many cameras. But no–you just had to go. You just had to be seen. And now the whole world knows. They saw us together before the divorce. They saw you in the middle of this mess, and they connected the dots!”
“Oh, so it’s all on me now?” she snapped, stepping closer. “What about you, Colton? You’re the one who cheated in the first place. You’re the one who couldn’t keep your hands off me while you were married to her. You’re the one who started this whole damn mess!“}
His eyes narrowed. “You were part of it too.”
“And you think if Nadia was out of the picture, this would all go away?” she scoffed. “That woman should’ve died in that accident. We wouldn’t be here if she had. Everything went to hell the moment you married her!“}
The words hit him like a slap. Something inside him snapped. His hand shot out before he connecting with her cheek in a sharp crack.”
even registered the movement,
Beatrice stumbled back, her hand flying to her face in shock. Her eyes widened, not in pain, but in disbelief. “You… you slapped me?” Her voice was low, shaking. “For her? For that woman?”
V
“Don’t-” he began, but she cut him off with a bitter laugh.”
“You’re a fucking traitor,” she spat. “After everything I’ve done for you. After everything we’ve been through. You still care about her. You still want her.”
She turned on her heel and stormed toward the door, her voice echoing down the hallway. “You don’t deserve either of us.” The door slammed behind her, leaving Colton in a deafening silence.\
He sank to his knees, his hands pressing against the cool floor as if it could ground him. The office felt too big, too empty, the walls closing in around him.
For a long moment, he stayed there, his breath coming in slow, uneven pulls.
Then the sound of a breaking news alert filled the air.”
He looked up at the television mounted on the wall. The network’s anchor was speaking in a measured, almost smug tone. “Breaking news: Montgomery Industries has announced that CEO Colton Montgomery will be stepping down from his position effective immediately. This follows recent public controversies, investor withdrawals, and leaked evidence of corporate misconduct. The company’s stock value has dropped by thirty–five percent in the past week. Sources also report ongoing investigations into-”
Colton’s hands curled into fists.!
“No,” he muttered. His voice rose. “No, no, no, this can’t happen to me!”
He pushed himself up. pacing the length of the office. His reflection in the glass walls looked like a stranger–wild–eved.
212
32.0
4:03 PM
He pushed himself up, pacing the length of the office. His reflection in the glass walls looked like a stranger–wild–eyed, disheveled, desperate.
“This isn’t over,” he said to no one. “I’ll fix it. I’ll find her. I’ll—”◊
But the words faltered.§
Because deep down, beneath the anger and the denial, there was something else.”
Regret.”
It burned worse than the humiliation, worse than the financial ruin.
