Chapter 2

Sydney dropped the act too, her words laced with catty sarcasm. "Mandy, you're past your prime, don't you think? Maybe it's time to let go of the 'Mrs. Gilmore' title.

"And come on, after all these years you still haven't given him a child. Can't blame Alonso for that, can you?"

Back before we even tied the knot, I made it clear to Alonso—I wanted a child-free life, and he said he was totally on board.

But now, suddenly in his version, I'm the barren wife who can't give him an heir.

Alonso didn't even bother to refute Sydney's words. Instead, he coolly slid the divorce papers back across the table to me, his eyes cold and unyielding.

"After your mom passed, you never did anything for the company. I've been running the place since day one, so it belongs to me. You don't object, do you?" Alonso said harshly.

'So this is it—he wants me out with nothing. He really means to wipe me out entirely.

'Alonso had clearly been plotting to get his hands on my mother's company for a long time. No wonder he pressured me into using her name to set up that charity foundation after she died.

'Turns out, he was just using the whole charity facade to reel in investors for his business.'

I refused to sign, but Alonso seemed confident he had this all figured out.

"There's one more thing you don't know," Alonso said, voice icy and unfeeling. "Your brother hurt someone a few days ago—turns out the victim is Sydney's little sister. Whether he ends up behind bars depends entirely on Sydney's letter of forgiveness. So, it's all in your hands."

My heart lurched. 'My brother's just a high school kid—how could he hurt someone?'

Sydney let out a gleeful, mocking laugh, her eyes sparkling with malicious delight. "Just sign them already. Your brother's almost eighteen, right? Wasn't it always his dream to join the military?

"Well, if he ends up with a criminal record, you can kiss that dream goodbye forever."

Rage coursed through me, my whole body trembling. 'These two—there's nothing they won't do to seize my family's legacy.'

Now, with only my brother left in this world, I gritted my teeth and signed the divorce papers.

After I signed the papers, it hit me—they hadn't even left me a single share in the charity foundation. They really took everything, even that.

I raised my head, teeth grinding, barely holding back my outrage. "This charity foundation was built in my mother's name. What gives you the right to cut me out?"

Alonso glanced at my signature with a smug, satisfied look, then snatched the papers up like he'd just won the jackpot.

Then he hit me with something even more vicious. "Your mom? Her reputation was the only thing she ever had going for her—she never brought any real value to the company.

"Setting up that charity foundation in her name? Trust me, that was the biggest favor I ever did for her."

My mom was always passionate about charity, and thanks to her, tons of people in our circle invested in the company just out of respect for her name.

That foundation? It was the lifeline that kept Alonso's tiny company from going under.

Before we got married, Alonso talked about joining my family, but I couldn't help but feel for him. Determined to make it on our own, I pushed for us to start something together—and that's how the company came about.

But things only went downhill; we kept bleeding money until my mom stepped in and saved us with her own funds. The only thing she asked was to put my name on the company.

Blinded by love, I ignored her advice completely—and even went so far as to put Alonso in charge of everything, turning my back on my own mother.

"Your mom? Even at her age, still trying to shack up with other men. Honestly, she should've been burned to ash ages ago—would've done us both a favor," Alonso spat, pure malice in his voice.

"What did you just say?" I snarled. I couldn't believe Alonso would bring something like that up himself.

"After everything my mom did for you," I shot back, anger burning in my words.

"So what? She was just some party girl in her day. Isn't that how she built up all those connections for the foundation? Sure, she's no spring chicken, but you know how it is—some guys actually dig older women." Alonso laughed coldly, his tone laced with mockery.

Hearing this, I felt a surge of rage explode inside me, my mind going blank with fury.

I lost it—screaming as I hurled myself at Alonso, ready to claw his face off—but he shoved me away brutally, sending me stumbling.

Finally, Alonso just waved in the security guards and let them haul me out of the building like I was nothing.

I was trying to head home, still reeling from everything, when I stepped outside—only to be greeted by sheets of pouring rain.

Just as I reached for my phone to call for a ride, bad luck struck again—my battery was stone dead.

Just then, Sydney strolled up in a tiny skirt and killer heels, Alonso following right behind like her shadow.

"Well, well, can't even manage to hail a cab now, can you?" Sydney sniped, a smirk playing at her lips.

My anger exploded—I charged at Sydney, ready to slap that smirk off her face. But Alonso snatched my wrist and wrenched my arm painfully behind my back, forcing me to my knees.

The pain was so sharp that words died on my lips; I simply gaped, helpless and mute.

Sydney sidled closer to Alonso, gloating as she clung to his arm, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "You really think you're still some pampered princess?

"You're broke now—what makes you think you can even lay a finger on me?"

Looking at those two shameless homewreckers, I just wanted to throw up.