flash
The grandfather clock in the master hallway chimed 2:00 AM. In the absolute silence of the Vale estate, I slipped out of my twin-sized guest bed—twenty feet away from Adrian’s sprawling king suite—and knelt beside the loose floorboard in the closet. / Chapter 7 / 10

Chapter 7 - The ConfessionI stood up slowly from my chair, buttoning the thrift-store jacket that Vanessa had mocked just days ago. I walked to the center of the boardroom, pulled the burned silver locket from my handbag, and laid it gently on the glass table right in front of Adrian.

"You told me I was only your contractual wife," I whispered, tears stinging my eyes but my chin held high. "You told me not to mistake it for love. You were right, Adrian. I don't love you. And after everything you've put me through, I never will."

Adrian fell to his knees, his fingers brushing against the scorched metal locket. He let out a raw, broken sob that silenced every single executive in the room.

"Lily... My God... Lily, it's you..."

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