Chapter 9
Fonda got a life sentence, thanks to my legal team.
Afterward, I subtly steered public opinion, spinning the kidnapping into high–society scandal gold. People couldn’t get enough of the messy drama, diving into my history with Tom like it was a soap opera,
Unsurprisingly, Tom Luke’s name blew up online, trending for all the wrong reasons. His company took a massive hit from the infidelity backlash, while I became the poster woman for independence and resilience. With all the positive press, SP Corp’s stock soared.
It didn’t take long for Tom’s struggling company to end up on the chopping block. I was right there at the table, knife and fork in hand, ready to claim my share.
Tom tried to contact me at first–calls, emails, even showing up uninvited. But eventually, he gave up and disappeared.
As for Fonda, I heard years later that she got an early release for good behavior. Not that it mattered. By then, we were in entirely different worlds, and I never saw her again.
I buried myself in work and stayed single. After Tyler’s confession, he left the country, passing his domestic business to his brother and going all–in on international markets. I figured that was the end of our story–that he’d build a new life abroad, far away from me.
And for a while, it was.
Until I turned 36.
A business deal brought me overseas, coincidentally to the country where he’d settled. Somehow, he heard I was coming.
The night before I flew home, after finishing my meetings, we walked along the Rhine River together.
The lights shimmered on the water, soft and dreamlike. He walked beside me quietly, the air between us warm but unspoken.
Out of nowhere, I asked, “Do you still love me?”
He stopped, his gaze lingering on the river. After a pause, he said softly, “I still like you.”
For some reason, that made me smile. A weight I didn’t realize I’d been carrying lifted. “Let’s give it a try,” I said.
That night, Tyler handed over his remaining affairs. The next day, he flew back with me. Our story wasn’t over–it was just beginning.
Chapter 9
+25 BONUS
Chapter 9
Fonda got a life sentence, thanks to my legal team.
Afterward, I subtly steered public opinion, spinning the kidnapping into high–society scandal gold. People couldn’t get enough of the messy drama, diving into my history with Tom like it was a soap opera.
Unsurprisingly, Tom Luke’s name blew up online, trending for all the wrong reasons. His company took a massive hit from the infidelity backlash, while I became the poster woman for independence and resilience. With all the positive press, SP Corp’s stock soared.
It didn’t take long for Tom’s struggling company to end up on the chopping block. I was right there at the table, knife and fork in hand, ready to claim my share.
Tom tried to contact me at first–calls, emails, even showing up uninvited. But eventually, he gave up and disappeared.
As for Fonda, I heard years later that she got an early release for good behavior. Not that it mattered. By then, we were in entirely different worlds, and I never saw her again.
I buried myself in work and stayed single. After Tyler’s confession, he left the country, passing his domestic business to his brother and going all–in on international markets. I figured that was the end of our story–that he’d build a new life abroad, far away from me.
And for a while, it was.
Until I turned 36.
A business deal brought me overseas, coincidentally to the country where he’d settled. Somehow, he heard I was coming.
The night before I flew home, after finishing my meetings, we walked along the Rhine River together.
The lights shimmered on the water, soft and dreamlike. He walked beside me quietly, the air between us warm but unspoken.
Out of nowhere, I asked, “Do you still love me?”
He stopped, his gaze lingering on the river. After a pause, he said softly, “I still like you.”
For some reason, that made me smile. A weight I didn’t realize I’d been carrying lifted.
“Let’s give it a try,” I said.
That night, Tyler handed over his remaining affairs. The next day, he flew back with me. Our story wasn’t over–it was just beginning,
