Chapter 4

The car sped through the city, finally stopping at the "love nest" where Zachary and I used to live—a duplex right in the heart of downtown. The irony was that the down payment had come from my parents' inheritance, the interior was all my own design, and even Zachary's study—those shelves packed with business success books—had been put together by me, piece by piece.

I unlocked the door with my fingerprint and was greeted by utter chaos inside.

It was clear Zachary and Sasha had come back after I'd left the wedding, and things had gotten ugly. Shards of shattered porcelain were scattered across the floor, cushions were tossed around at odd angles, and the air was heavy with the sickly sweet scent of Sasha's favorite perfume, laced with a hint of tobacco.

I walked in with a blank expression. My eyes swept over what used to be the home of all my hopes for the future. Now, all I could see was filth everywhere.

"Zachary! Get your ass out!" I called out. My voice wasn't loud but full of determination.

There was no answer.

I let out a cold laugh and headed straight for the master bedroom. Sure enough, it was locked from the inside.

"Open the door, or I'll have security break it down. You'll have to deal with the consequences," I warned, my patience wearing thin.

There was a rustling sound from inside, and a few seconds later, the door clicked open.

Zachary stood in the doorway, looking nothing like the suave man from the wedding. His once-handsome face was haggard, hair sticking up in every direction, shirt wrinkled, and his eyes bloodshot—he was a total wreck.

When he saw me, panic flashed in his eyes for a split second, but it was quickly replaced by a wave of anger and bitterness.

"Whitney, what do you want from me?" he growled, his voice rough. "You already made a fool of me in front of everyone. Do you want to destroy everything I have left?"

"Destroy everything you have?" I laughed, like he'd just told the funniest joke. "Zachary, are you even worthy of that? I'm just here to take back what's mine."

"What's yours?" he sneered. "We're about to get married. What's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine. You're making a fuss now. What good does it do?"

Even now, he still thought he could bullshit his way out of this.

I didn't bother wasting any more words on him. I pulled a document out of my bag and threw it at him.

"This is the property settlement list. Sign it," I said.

Zachary's eyes widened in disbelief as he grabbed the document and flipped through it. When he saw the property settlement terms that would leave him with almost nothing, his face went livid with fury.

"Whitney, are you insane? Are you seriously going to leave me with nothing?" he yelled, hurling the papers to the floor and pointing a finger at me, his voice trembling with rage. "Don't forget, the Levine Group wouldn't have been what it is today without me. Who gives you the right—"

"Who gives me the right?" I cut him off, stepping closer and glaring at him. "The Levine Group was built from scratch by my parents. The money you used to 'grow' the company came from me selling off the antique paintings and calligraphy my grandfather left me.

"As for your so-called 'contributions,' all you ever did was trample on my hard work and trust, scheming behind my back and pocketing the profits."

My voice kept rising, every word sharper than the last, each one landing like a punch straight to Zachary's heart.

He backed away from me, step by step, until his back hit the cold wall—he had nowhere left to go.

"Y-you know everything?" For the first time, real fear flashed in his eyes.

"If you don't want your dirty secrets exposed, then don't do them in the first place," I said coldly, fixing him with a glare. "Zachary, do you really think I'm still that gullible idiot you could fool with a few sweet nothings?"

I paused, wearing a mocking smile. "Oh, by the way, while you and Sasha were together, I already had my lawyer launch a full investigation into Levine Group's finances. How much company money you've siphoned off, how many times you've cooked the books—we'll know soon enough. So get ready, because I'll see you in court."

"No! Please, don't!" Zachary was in full panic mode now, clutching my arm so hard that I thought he might snap it. "Whitney, listen to me. It was all Sasha. She seduced me. She put me up to this. I lost my head for a moment... You're the one I love!"

He broke down, tears streaming and voice shaking, but his whole dramatic act just made me sick.

"Let go," I snapped, yanking my arm free and stepping back like I'd touched something filthy. "Zachary, spare me your cheap tears and second-rate performance. Ever since that 'spectacular' conversation between you and Sasha went public at the wedding, there's only one thing left between us: settling the score."