Out Of Her Ex-Husband's Shadow, Into The Tycoon's Embrace

Hailey froze for a moment, piecing everything together. So that was why Kieran had rushed out yesterday—Malinda's so-called suicide attempt. Her grip on the phone tightened. "What does that have to do with me? I haven't done a damn thing wrong." "Hailey!" Kieran's tone cut through the line like a blade, cold and brimming with fury. "You destroyed Malinda's life—took everything from her! If you hadn't lied to me back then, she'd be the one standing beside me today. So what if she stole your work? Consider it payback for what you did." Rage surged through her chest. Once upon a time, he hadn't been gentle, but at least he'd shown a trace of warmth—an illusion she now realized had never been real. That facade shattered the moment Malinda appeared, claiming she had been the one who pulled him from the wreck years ago. From that lie onward, this marriage unraveled. Kieran saw her as a sham—a greedy opportunist who had stolen someone else's glory. "For the last time, I was the one who saved you," she said, forcing her voice to stay even. "If you're determined to overlook the holes in her story, that's on you. But leave me out of your delusions." Drawing a slow, steady breath, she sharply warned, "And if you refuse to sign the divorce papers today, don't accuse me of being ruthless later. I've got plenty of proof of your affairs. Imagine what would happen if that leaked while Riley Group's stocks are still climbing..." Throwing threats like it was nothing? She'd learned how to play that game too. Years of secrecy had made her an unwilling witness to countless moments between Kieran and Malinda—intimate glances, whispered exchanges, the kind of chemistry even paparazzi joked made them soulmates. But what would happen if the world learned Kieran was already married? "Are you out of your goddamn mind, threatening me like that?" His voice bristled with wrath. "Nothing ever happened between Malinda and me—we never took it that far." "Is that how you justify it now? You think emotional cheating doesn't count?" Whatever calm Hailey had left was thinning fast, slipping through her like sand. "Cherish whatever dignity you have left in this marriage. If this turns into a scandal, you'll be the one ruined." Without another word, she ended the call and deleted every trace of him from her phone. She had always imagined that the day she let go of Kieran would be agonizing—but instead, the weight lifting off her chest brought an unexpected calm, as if she had finally set down a burden she'd carried too long. On the other end, Kieran's face darkened, the lines around his mouth tightening until his expression looked carved from shadow. Even through the phone, he could sense Hailey's indifference—sharp, clipped, and laced with the same coldness she'd shown him the night before. Gone was the tenderness that had once flickered in her eyes. Now there was only frost and distance, a chill that hadn't existed in the three years they'd been married. The woman who had schemed her way into his life by claiming Malinda's credit now dared to demand a divorce? A low, humorless laugh escaped him as his eyes narrowed. He'd make sure Hailey found out exactly what the hell it cost to go against him. All day, Hailey waited for any word from Kieran about the divorce, but her phone stayed silent. Still, with Chris's formidable legal team backing her, she felt little worry and headed to the Fuller Group right on schedule. That morning, she chose a simple, clean look—light sweater, slim jeans, and her camera bag slung over one shoulder. At the reception area, the assistant greeted her with a polite smile. "Good morning, Ms. Bennett. Here are the requirements and reference materials for the craft film shoot. Mr. Fuller's still in a meeting, so you may need to wait a bit." Hailey eased back into the sofa, the faint scent of fresh coffee lingering in the air. "Sure," she murmured, flipping through the stack of documents the assistant had just handed over. The proposal for Chris's public service film painted a stark picture—the unforgiving reality of children struggling in the remote mountain regions. Despite years of donations and relief efforts from countless benefactors, the aid barely scratched the surface. Their lives remained bound by poverty and isolation. But Chris's intent went far beyond charity. His vision was to reveal the area's untapped potential, drawing in investors who could create long-term change instead of fleeting sympathy. That idea piqued Hailey's interest. It was a clever, unconventional approach. She had just finished reviewing the materials when the sound of footsteps drew her attention. Chris approached, his jacket still crisp from the meeting, a faint trace of cologne following him. "Done looking through the materials?" His tone was relaxed but expectant. "If anything feels off, or you have suggestions, now's the time." Hailey thought for a moment, tapping the papers lightly against her knee. "I do have a few ideas for the shoot," she said thoughtfully. "But I'll need to visit the site first. It'll help me refine the concept." "That works," Chris replied, his gaze dropping briefly to meet hers. "This project carries a lot of weight for the company's image, so I'll be personally supervising the entire production." She gave a subtle nod. "Alright then, let's head out." "Okay." Only once they were on the road did Hailey realize how far they were going—their destination lay in a remote mountain village more than four hours away from the city. Midway through the trip, the paved highway gave way to a narrow, uneven dirt path worn down by countless travelers. Vehicles couldn't pass through, so the crew had to haul the supplies on foot. The ground was slick from a heavy rain the night before, each step sinking into the soft mud. Hailey trudged carefully but still slipped on a loose stone, pitching sideways. "Careful!" Chris reached out instinctively, catching her around the waist and pulling her against him. For a fleeting moment, she was close enough to catch the faint, cool trace of mint clinging to him.