Six years ago, Hubert had thrown me a wedding so lavish it made international headlines.
Under a thousand spotlights, he'd dropped to one knee, his gaze burning with sincerity, and made me a promise: "Vinnie, from the moment I first saw you in high school, I knew you were the only one for me. From this day forward, I will treasure you above all else. I will never betray you."
But beautiful things never last. Four years into the marriage, I walked in on him and his secretary in a compromising situation. I stormed into his office demanding answers, and she accused me of assaulting her.
Hubert slapped me across the face without a word. Ten years together, and that was the first time he'd ever raised a hand to me. Over another woman.
The shrill ring of my phone cut through the memory. I steadied myself and answered.
"Lavinia, I underestimated you. I thought you genuinely didn't care, but it was all an act. You have fifteen minutes to get to the hospital and apologize to Clarissa Nolan. Otherwise... you won't like the consequences."
He hung up before I could get a single word in.
Not half a sentence. He wouldn't hear it.
I assumed Hubert was just running his mouth. I was wrong. Fifteen minutes later, his bodyguards dragged me to the hospital entrance and forced me to my knees.
I tried to stand. Two massive guards pinned me down.
My kneecaps cracked against the concrete. The pain was sharp enough to steal my breath.
"Hubert said he wanted to see me," I ground out. "What the hell is this?"
One of the guards sneered. "The boss says you have zero manners. Seeing as you're the girl who got both her parents killed, and nobody ever taught you how to behave, he figured he'd teach you himself."
The words "got both her parents killed" hit me like a fist to the chest.
Of course. My parents died young. It was the deepest wound I carried, and he knew exactly where to press.
I knelt in the blazing sun for six full hours before Hubert finally granted me permission to enter the hospital room.
He noticed my cracked, bloodless lips. Not a flicker of pity crossed his eyes.
"Have you learned your lesson?" he asked, voice like ice.
My lips moved twice. I thought of the unsigned divorce papers and forced the words out. "I've learned my lesson."
Hubert scoffed. "Good. Now go apologize to Clarissa."
Every muscle in my body locked. My fingers curled into fists.