Chapter 2

Jeff's face darkened. "What?"

"I said we're getting divorced," I replied.

He clenched his fists. "Winona, do you have to threaten me with divorce every time we argue? You do this every time we fight. What's the point?"

I didn't say a word. I pulled a piece of paper out from under my pillow.

It was the divorce agreement I'd asked the nurse to print for me. I'd already signed it.

Jeff glanced down, his face darkening. "You already had this prepared?"

"I signed it yesterday," I said.

He took a deep breath, crumpled it up, and tossed it aside. "I'm not signing.

"Winona, calm down, okay? I know I messed up that day, but you can't throw away three years of marriage over an accident."

He called it "an accident".

Sophie was sniffling softly in the corner. "Jeff, don't push Winona. She's upset right now. Maybe I should go."

Jeff glanced back at her, his voice immediately softening. "Don't cry. This has nothing to do with you."

Then he turned to me, slipping right back into that businesslike mask. "I'm not signing the agreement. Focus on recovering for now. We'll talk after you're discharged."

Then he escorted Sophie out of the room.

At the door, Sophie threw a glance over her shoulder at me. There was no guilt in her eyes.

Only certainty.

She knew she'd won.

I sank back into the pillow and shut my eyes.

My phone buzzed. A message popped up from Michael. [The plane just landed. I'll be there in twenty minutes.]

I texted back. [Okay.]

Twenty minutes later, the door to my hospital room swung open. There were four of them.

Michael led the way, his suit immaculate, but his eyes were rimmed red. Right behind him was the Lane family's private medical team.

"Winona." He came to my bedside, his voice hoarse as he took in the sight of me wrapped in bandages. "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner."

I shook my head. "You're right on time."

He crouched down and carefully took my uninjured left hand in his. "We're going home now. I've already arranged for the top burn specialist in Beloris. You'll get the best care there.

"As for Jeff, let me take care of him."

I looked into Michael's eyes.

Three years ago, I went against my family and married Jeff, turning my back on them.

Michael never tried to stop me. He only said, "If you ever change your mind, come home."

Three years went by, and I finally regretted it.

"Michael, I don't need you to handle him for me," I said. "I only want to leave."

Michael stood up and nodded. "Alright. Whatever you decide, I've got your back."

He paused for a second. "But Winona, you need to know that the assets under your name—"

"I know," I said.

Jeff had no idea who I really was. All he knew was that I was an orphan, working as an admin at some small company.

He had no clue I was the heiress of the Lane family.

He didn't know that the medical gear, emergency supplies, and even that brand-new training building for his station were all donated by the Lane Foundation.

He had no idea that the trophy he received at the annual awards ceremony, bearing the words "From an Anonymous Donor", had been approved and signed off by me.

I did all of this for him in secret after we got married because I loved him.

I thought his job was noble, and I wanted to help him in any way I could.

Now I only found it ironic.

"Pull everything back," I said. "Every donation currently going to Jeff's district. Every last cent."

Michael gave me a look, but didn't ask any more questions. "I'll have the legal team send out the letters today."

*****

Three days later, I boarded a private jet headed for Beloris.

To everyone else, the official story was that Winona Lane died from her injuries in the fire, and no matter how hard they tried, she couldn't be saved.

The death certificate was legit. Michael pulled some strings and covered every trace.

From today on, Jeff's wife was gone for good.

As the plane took off, I watched the city get smaller and smaller outside the window.

There were forty-seven missed calls and more than a dozen texts on my phone, all from Jeff.

He wrote: [Winona, where did you go? The hospital said you were transferred.

[Did you block me? What do you want?

[Winona, stop messing around. Whatever it is, come back, and we can talk.]

The last one came in an hour ago. [Did you leave with that guy who picked you up at the hospital? Winona, you'd better tell me what's going on.]

That guy? It was my brother, okay?

I switched off my phone and handed it over to my assistant. "Cancel this number."

"Got it, Ms. Lane," she replied.

I hadn't been called Ms. Lane in three years.

*****

When we landed in Beloris, our family's car was already waiting on the tarmac.

Michael helped me get in and passed me a folder. "The legal notice has been sent. All donations to Jeff's district will be cut off starting next month.

"That covers the training building's maintenance, annual upgrades for emergency equipment, and the scholarship fund for the firefighters' kids.

"Total amount was 8 million."

I took the file and flipped through a page. "Does he know it was me behind all those donations?"

"No. The letter says the Lane Foundation is ending the partnership for strategic reasons. Your name is nowhere in it," Michael replied.

"Good." I snapped the file shut. "Let him find out for himself slowly."

Michael glanced at me, his lips twitching like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only nodded.