Once Mine, Now His Ruin: A Wife's Revenge

Chapter 1 Divorce On Release Day

The prison gate groaned open, and Sally Zale stepped out, her frame thin and worn.

"Keep your nose clean. Don't come back," the guard muttered.

Sally was free, leaving behind the cell that had held her for three years.

Sunlight, bright and strange, warmed her skin.

A glossy Maybach waited nearby. Two people, one tall, one small, walked toward her.

"Sally, let's get you home," the man said.

She looked up, meeting their eyes.

It was her husband, Brad Zale, and their son, Nick Zale.

Brad paused, caught off guard.

Three years had changed her.

Sally was now frail, almost hollow.

The bold, lively woman he'd known was gone, replaced by someone fragile, uneasy.

He'd made sure she wasn't mistreated inside.

'So what's this?' he wondered.

Then he realized quickly—she was acting.

Flashes of three years ago surged back, and his face turned to stone.

'Even if it isn't an act, she's earned this,' he told himself.

"Hop in," he said, his voice cold as steel, no trace of remorse. "Three years in there should've taught you something. Don't mess up again."

Nick stared, then blinked in disdain.

Sally used to be stunning, vibrant, with a smile that could melt hearts.

Now, he barely knew her.

He shook it off, his face tightening. "Dad's right. Lena's too good; she let it go. But, Mom, if you hurt her again, Dad and I won't forgive you."

"Let it go?" Sally's voice was dull, her expression blank.

After a beat, pain and bitter irony flared in her eyes. She gave a harsh laugh, "You threw me in jail, and you think you get to talk about forgiveness?"

Her husband and child she'd poured her heart into were the ones who'd gotten her locked away three years ago.

Brad had saved her life once, and she'd been so grateful she'd sworn to marry him.

Back then, the Zales had less than her family, the Smiths. She'd brought money, connections, even fought her mom to marry him.

After the wedding, she'd quit her career as a talented healer with a gift for traditional medicine. Then she became a full-time mom.

She'd swapped her dreams for soccer games and bake sales, slowly turning into a tired, invisible housewife.

She'd thought her sacrifices would mean something. But Brad was always distant, icy.

Even Nick, her own son, kept her at a distance.

"Mom, you don't even work," he'd scoff. "You can't tell me what to do."

Sally figured they were just built that way, cool, reserved.

Then Lena Yasmin, Brad's old love, came back.

With her, Brad changed. The stiff, polished man softened, his smile warm and alive in a way Sally had never seen.

She realized then that he could look at someone like that.

On their anniversary, Sally was curled up in pain, an old postpartum issue flaring.

She'd called Brad, pleading, but he'd cut her off. He was too busy celebrating Lena's birthday.

Later, she'd flatlined on the operating table, dodging death by a thread. The hospital sent critical alerts, but Brad and Nick never showed.

When she finally limped home, the house was a wreck, Nick was sullen, and Brad didn't care.

"You're a terrible mom," Nick had snapped. "You're gone forever and don't even clean! Lena's so much better."

Sally's heart froze.

She'd nearly died, and no one had bothered to check on her.

She told herself Nick was just a kid, that Brad's coldness would fade. She thought that was what every family was like.

They had a son; divorce wasn't an option. He needed a home.

Then, at a charity gala, it all collapsed. Lena fell from a stage and blamed Sally.

Brad and Nick didn't even glance at the cameras. They took Lena's side, no hesitation.

Sally, clutching her stomach, had dropped to her knees, begging Brad to believe her. Gravel cut her hands, blood seeping out.

Brad just stood there, frowning, brushing dirt off his custom suit like she was a nuisance.

Nick pushed her back, his voice sharp. "You're a horrible person! You don't deserve to be my mom. If you'd died when I was born, Lena could've been my mom!"

Sally hit the ground, her heart dead. Then she laughed a raw, broken sound. She laughed at her own blind love, her own foolishness.

In the end, they'd had her locked up for assault.

She spent three years in a cell.

Prison was a harsh place, packed with sly, cutthroat inmates. For three years, Sally faced constant cruelty.

Brad and Nick never once checked on her, not even a single visit.

If it weren't for that woman... she'd have died in there.

Brad's voice sliced through, cold and distant. "Nick and I are ready to let your record slide and take you home. That's generous enough. Lena's waiting. Let's not keep her."

Nick fidgeted, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, Mom, stop with the drama. Lena's baking me those teddy bear cookies tonight. If we're late, the ice cream cake I got her will melt."

Sally stood frozen, their words hitting her like a dull ache. A sharp, bitter irony twisted inside her.

She heard him. Teddy bear cookies.

Nick probably didn't even remember Sally'd created that tricky recipe for him, tweaking it over and over just to see him smile.

Lena had just copied it later.

Even though it was the same recipe, Nick always swore Lena's were better.

And now, they had shown up to get her from prison, not because they cared about her, but because they were thinking of Lena.

When it came to her or Lena, Brad and Nick would always pick Lena, always trust Lena.

Even her son, the boy she'd carried for nine months, felt like a stranger now.

Sally raised her head, her voice steady. "I'm not coming back with you."

Brad's cold stare flared with annoyance and contempt.

"Not coming back?" he said, frowning, "You've got a criminal record now, Sally. What are you going to do without us? Three years, and you still don't get it?"

"That's my problem. You don't want a wife and mom with a record? Fine. I don't want a husband and son who threw me into hell."

Some people never change, no matter how hard you try to reach them. But life? One hard lesson from life is enough.

Three years ago, she'd loved Brad and Nick with everything she had. Even when they brushed her off, looked down on her, and fawned over Lena, she'd held onto hope they'd come around.

Now, after three years of suffering, her heart was done.

Her husband and her son... she couldn't hold onto them anymore, and she didn't want to.

Sally's voice was calm, resolute. "I want a divorce."

Chapter 2 What Sally Went Through

"Mom, you went to prison, and now you're asking for a divorce? What'll people say about you?" Nick shot back.

His words came out too harsh, too rehearsed for a kid.

Even Brad paused, glancing at his son.

He'd expected Sally to play the victim card, maybe demand some cash. After all, she'd married into the Zale family chasing their wealth. But divorce? That wasn't on his radar.

Three years ago, she'd fought like hell to stay with them.

Now, after three years locked up, this had to be some trick to make them feel guilty and beg her to stay.

Brad's tone was razor-sharp. "Nick's got a point. Where are you going without us, the Zales family? Sally, keep this up, and you'll just embarrass yourself."

Sally didn't blink.

She waved down a taxi, brushing off the driver's curious glance.

Before getting in, she turned to Brad and Nick.

"That's my business," she said, her voice calm. "I'll send the divorce papers soon. Congrats. You'll finally get to make Lena your wife and mom."

Her words were flat, carrying a faint, bitter edge.

Without looking back, she left.

Brad watched her thin, shaky figure vanish into the cab. A spark of annoyance flared in his chest.

He'd only come to get her because his grandpa and Lena had nagged him to.

And she had demanded a divorce.

The old Sally would've been groveling with gratitude.

'Fine. Let's see what a convict like her could do,' Brad thought to himself.

In the taxi, the dashboard TV blinked on, showing a clip of Lena's latest interview.

"Lena, you're a huge star now. Any plans to settle down?" the reporter asked with a grin.

On-screen, Lena's eyes drifted to Brad and Nick in the crowd, her cheeks pink. "I'm so thankful for what I have.

"These past three years, I've had two amazing guys by my side through the hardest times."

Their eyes locked, looking like the perfect family.

The driver, familiar with this route, piped up. "Just got out, huh? Bet you don't know her. That's Lena.

"Those Zale Group guys—her husband and kid. On her birthday, Mr. Zale lit up the whole sky with fireworks. Talk about a dream family, right? They're all stars."

Sally's gaze flicked to the screen, her frail body lost in baggy clothes.

She stared at Lena, Brad, and Nick, quiet for a long moment.

Finally, her voice came, rough and distant. "Stars? Nah. They look more like jerks."

While she was rotting in prison, they were propping Lena up, watching fireworks, and partying all night long.

Even after their coldness had dulled her, the irony still burned.

The driver muttered something, probably rattled by her comment and her hollow look fresh from prison. He didn't push back.

Sally leaned back, shutting her eyes, pretending to nap.

The cab stopped at a house under her name.

Sally grabbed some cash from inside to pay the driver, then hit the supermarket for essentials—soap, toothpaste, a few groceries.

Three years ago, her accounts were frozen when she went in.

Now that she was out, she had just enough to scrape by for a while.

The crowd's hustle felt like too much after so long.

When a cashier reached to scan her items, Sally flinched without thinking.

"You okay, ma'am?" the cashier asked, her voice soft with worry.

Sally shook it off, forcing a small, bitter smile.

She was fine. Just used to bracing for hits in prison.

Outside the store, her phone buzzed. It was Abigail Nell, her best friend.

When Abigail heard Sally was out, her voice brightened. "I was going to fly back early, but typhoons screwed up my plans. Are you back with the Zales, or..."

"I'm at Windmere Estates," Sally said.

Abigail's tone turned sharp. "Brad didn't come get you? You're still married, for crying out loud. He..."

"Abigail, I'm divorcing him," Sally cut in as she clutched the phone tight.

Her voice, when she said it, was almost a whisper.

Before prison, Abigail had been her lifeline. She'd begged Sally over and over to walk away from Brad.

"Your husband and kid shouldn't be your entire world," she'd said. "You're worth more than this. Dump him."

But Sally kept holding on, hoping Brad would change.

"What happened to you... in there?" Abigail's voice broke, fading out.

Abigail's chest tightened. She choked on her words.

That first year, Abigail had visited Sally as much as she could.

But then her job sent her overseas for war reporting.

Three years later, the woman who'd held onto hope for Brad's love was now set on divorce.

So Abigail couldn't help wondering, "What has shifted?"

Sally didn't answer, a flash of pain and emptiness crossing her face.

Abigail changed the subject. "After you got locked up, your aunt took over Willow Haven. Turned it into some tacky tourist spot. And Lena... Look, Sally, I'll be back soon. We'll figure this out together."

Sally nodded and hummed slowly.

In the second year of her marriage, her dad had passed away.

In prison, her mom had fought for her, crying herself nearly blind and getting deathly sick. Sally had pleaded with Brad from behind bars to help save her.

She'd waited, desperate, only to learn her mom was gone.

And now, even her family's estate had been taken.

Sally's eyes went cold.

Then, with effort, she forced them to soften into a strained calm.

Three years in prison had flipped her life upside down. She'd endured endless pain inside.

She knew taking back what was hers would take time.

Chapter 3 Calling The Police

The Zale family mansion was buzzing all morning.

When Brad and Nick got back, Lena had a full spread of food laid out on the table.

Hearing Sally didn't come with them, Lena let out a sigh.

"Brad, is Sally still upset about what happened three years ago?" she asked, "Is she holding a grudge against me? She just got out of prison—where's she going?"

"Let her do whatever," Brad said, his voice short.

Still, Sally's image stuck with him, and he frowned.

She wasn't just skinnier; she was different.

Her eyes had a hard, bitter edge.

'Has prison really been that rough on her? No chance,' Brad pushed the thought away.

Lena had said women's prisons were no big deal.

Besides, he'd pulled strings.

He made sure Sally had enough—food, clothes, the basics. For the mistake she made, three years was just a long timeout.

Lena's forehead creased with concern. "But what if she doesn't come back? What're you gonna tell your grandpa? He specifically told you to pick her up."

Years ago, Sally had saved Howard Zale's life, and he'd been crazy about her ever since.

He'd pushed Brad, his grandson, to marry her, even covering a huge dowry.

Even after Sally went to prison, Howard still saw her as his only daughter-in-law.

Brad brushed it off.

"Don't stress," he said, "She won't stay gone long. She's pissed at me, but she'd never take it out on Nick. His graduation's in a couple days; she'll show up."

Nick had skipped three grades. At nine, he was already graduating elementary school.

Everyone knew Sally adored her son. No way she'd miss his big day.

Nick sulked, cuddling up to Lena. "But I want Lena at my graduation."

Lena tapped his nose with a gentle smile. "Here's the deal... if you patch things up with your mom, I'll come too. With her record, she probably shouldn't be at an event like that anyway."

Nick blinked, pausing.

Patch things up... That sounded like that Lena was telling him to lie.

A flicker of doubt crossed his eyes, then faded.

If his friends found out his mom had been in prison, they'd drop him.

Seeing his dad stay quiet, Nick nodded like a good kid.

Lena smiled, glancing at the table. "What a shame. I made all this food for Sally, and now it's just going to waste."

Two days went by, and Brad's phone didn't buzz once. No word from Sally.

It was like she'd meant it—divorce, done with him and Nick for good.

Brad's jaw clenched. He grabbed his phone and called her number.

A robotic voice answered: the number was disconnected.

He froze as a realization struck him. 'Of course. Three years in prison—her old phone is long gone, her number probably wiped too.'

He had no way to track her down.

A weird mix of panic and frustration flared up.

Brad barked at his secretary, voice like ice. "Find her current address and number. She's out of prison; she can't be making this family look bad."

*****

Over those two days, Sally worked on settling into Windmere Estates.

Divorcing Brad would get her half his assets, but until then, she had to support herself.

So she decided to pick up her old hobby: carving crystal.

Windmere Estates, untouched for three years, was blanketed in dust.

Sally scrubbed it top to bottom, only to realize her two crystal lions were gone.

She called her property manager and asked.

"Three years ago, Miss Yasmin got hurt dealing with some crazy fans," the manager said. "She liked the statue, so Mr. Zale and young Master Nick gave it to her to make her happy."

Sally wasn't shocked. Not even a bit.

She'd poured her heart into carving that lion statue for Brad and Nick, spending weeks getting it just right. It was supposed to protect them.

Brad, however, had called it ugly and sent it back.

Now he'd handed it over to Lena—stomping on her work and passing it off as his own gift.

Sally hung up and called the police without a second thought.

When the line picked up, her voice was steady, flat. "I need to report a theft. Someone took something from my house."

Then she hung up waited for the police to come.

After giving her statement to the officers, she was wiped out by the time they left.

Only then did she notice the heat in her face, the ache in her bones. She was running a fever.

Sally dragged herself to the hospital for some meds.

The doctor checked Sally's wounds, his face grim with worry. "You've got a lot of old injuries, and they never healed properly. Bruises, blunt trauma, stick marks... even needle pricks.

"Your body's weak, barely hanging on. I really think you should stay in the hospital for treatment, or..."

"No thanks." Sally's expression was blank, her voice steady as she waved off the doctor's concern.

She knew her body better than anyone—trained in traditional medicine, she'd studied it for years.

In prison, the inmates were vicious but smart, leaving scars where guards wouldn't look.

If it weren't for her medical knowledge, she'd have died in there.

She'd survived hell. No way she was giving up now.

Still those scars were left by her husband and son. Just thinking that churned her stomach with bitter irony.

She was done with the Zales for good.

As the doctor swapped out her bandages, Nick caught sight of her across the room.

He yanked at Brad's sleeve, lips tight. "Dad, why's she in the hospital? Is she sick?"

Brad's eyes flicked to Sally.

His brow creased, a glint of disgust in his gaze.

Three years, and she was still pulling stunts, trying to hook him with a sob story.

"Sick?" Brad scoffed, "More like dying to get attention."

Chapter 4 Hospital Run-In

"What are you doing here?" Brad's voice cut through the air, sharp and cold.

Sally looked up. Brad, Nick, and Lena stood together, there for Lena's checkup.

The three of them, tight-knit and comfortable, looked every bit like a family.

Lena's eyes widened, her tone gentle but sharp. "Mrs. Zale, you don't need to sulk.

"If you want to talk to Brad, you don't have to track him down at the hospital. You just got out—people will start whispering..."

'Is Mom here waiting for us? Does she regret not coming home?' Nick thought to himself.

A tiny spark of hope flickered in Nick's chest, but then he remembered her words and frowned.

Then Mock said, "Mom, you're so fake. You can't handle being without me and Dad, but you've got to make a big scene instead of just coming home."

Brad smirked, his voice thick with mockery. "Thought you had some guts, refusing to come back to the Zales. Couldn't even make it two days before you're here pulling this act. Typical Sally."

Before he could go on, the doctor cut in, "Sally, here's your medication."

He handed her a bag, then shot a look at Brad's group, his face hardening with irritation. "Why're you blocking the way? Let my patient get her meds."

"You guys speak English?" Sally's stare was ice-cold as she faced them. "I'm here for my prescription. You three might want to get your heads checked."

Brad's expression darkened, her jab stinging. He frowned.

He frowned, wondering, 'Sick right after getting out... Is she...'

Sally turned to leave, but Nick grabbed her sleeve, lips tight.

"My graduation's in a couple days," he said, "Even if you're mad, you should be there. You're still my... mom."

The last word slipped out quiet, almost a whisper.

He glanced at Lena, nervous, like he was worried about upsetting her.

Sally didn't even glance at him.

She peeled his hand off, her voice flat. "You've got the wrong mom. That's not me."

She started walking away.

Lena stopped her. "I know you're ashamed about prison, Sally, and that's why you won't come back. But you can't just dodge your job as a mom. You've ignored Nick for three years. Are you gonna keep blowing him off now?"

Her words carried, loud enough for others to hear.

Heads turned. Murmurs spread—prison, deadbeat mom.

But then a man in a police uniform approached Lena.

"Miss Yasmin, someone reported two lion statues stolen from their home. Those statues showed up at your place on a TV segment. Please come with us."

The crowd gasped.

Brad's brow creased.

He had no idea she was back at Windmere Estates.

Lena's face went red, shock turning to embarrassment.

Before she could argue, Sally coughed, her pale face hard as stone.

She looked at Nick. "He's nine. He can choose whoever he wants as his mom. And I've got the right to say I'm not her."

The law only required child support; it didn't force her to love him.

Then she turned to Lena. "As for Miss Yasmin... those lion statues are mine. My so-called husband had no right to give them away.

"If you can't hand them back, you'll find out what prison's like soon enough."

Brad grabbed her wrist, his grip tight.

For a split second, looking at her face, he hesitated.

Her wrist was so thin, her skin scorching hot.

She was burning up.

But he shook it off, his voice harsh. "Have you lost your mind? You're calling the cops on Lena over three years in prison? I gave her those statues!"

"Yeah," Nick chimed in, glaring. "Great-Grandpa and Lena told me to give you a chance, and that's the only reason I'd want you as my mom. And now you're doing this to Lena?"

Nick gritted his teeth. She wouldn't even come to his graduation.

His anger flared, but a small unease tugged at him.

The old Sally would've done anything to make him happy, would've jumped at the chance to be at his ceremony.

She was like a stranger now.

Sally listened to their accusations, her heart numb, the ridiculousness almost funny.

To them, her three years of hell probably didn't stack up to Lena's stubbed toe.

Her fever muddled her thoughts, her body swaying, barely able to stand.

Sally yanked her hand free from Brad's grip, meeting his eyes with a sudden, sharp smile. "You've got a real knack for being disgusting. If it's so trivial, Mr. Zale, why don't you try a stint in prison?"

Her words cut deep, a far cry from the Sally of three years ago.

Brad stood frozen, caught off guard.

Sally left the hospital, wiping her hand where Brad had touched her.

One thought burned in her mind: 'She needed that divorce, fast.'

Every second tangled with Brad was pure torment.

Lena's drama dragged on all night.

Sally, though, took her meds and crashed.

She woke groggy, her fever haze parting to reveal Abigail, fresh off a flight and looking worried.

"You just got out, and you're burning up like this?" Abigail said, shaking her head. "I got here, and you were pushing a hundred and four. Lucky the fever's down now."

She handed Sally water and pills. "Anything you need, just say the word."

Sally had no interest in spilling the details of prison's toll on her.

Abigail seemed unchanged after three years, which warmed a corner of Sally's heart.

Her husband and son had let her down. Friends, though? They still had her back.

Sally swallowed the pills, her gaze dropping. "Draft me a divorce agreement. And help me find someone."

Chapter 5 A Million-Dollar Claim

"Find someone? Who're you looking for?" Abigail's brow furrowed, her voice edged with curiosity.

"A death row inmate's daughter," Sally said, her tone even. "The woman saved my life in prison. I owe her. She asked me to look after her kid once I got out."

Abigail nodded, careful. "What's the girl's name? How old?"

Sally touched her jaw in thoughts. "Lillian Simone. Six."

Her voice softened, her face a bit less pale.

"Got it. I'll get the divorce papers drafted fast," Abigail said, tucking the blanket around her.

She paused, and then went on, "As for the girl, I'll have people start searching. It might take some time, but I'll let you know the second we find anything."

"Thanks, Abigail..." Sally's lips curved into a weak, forced smile.

Abigail's eyes softened with concern, noticing the sickly pallor under that strained grin.

She patted Sally's hand. "Your only job right now is to get better. Everything else, especially Brad and Nick, can wait."

At the mention of those names, Sally's faint smile faded, her warmth cooling.

Abigail pushed on, unfazed by her silence. "If Brad and Nick could at least take a look at the footage before they sided with that woman...

"Just one look, you probably wouldn't have ended up in prison. And you wouldn't be dealing with all this now..."

She trailed off, her words heavy with sympathy for what Sally had been through.

Sally's lips twitched upward again, but she stayed quiet.

She'd made peace with it before facing them again.

Even if they'd found the footage, or if it had cleared her, Brad and Nick would've brushed it off, blaming someone else.

In the end, she'd have ended up behind bars anyway.

She'd died once, in a way. Lingering on the past was pointless.

"Sally..." Abigail's voice was soft, pulling her back.

Sally blinked, about to respond, when her phone buzzed, cutting through their conversation.

It was the police station. They'd found the lion statues and needed her to come by.

Sally hung up and tossed the covers aside, standing despite her wobbliness.

"What's so urgent?" Abigail grabbed her thin wrist, worried.

Sally slipped on her shoes, her expression hardening. "The police found the lion statues. I'm heading over now."

"But you're still feverish. You just took your meds—your body's not up for this," said Abigail.

"I'm okay." Sally squeezed Abigail's arm, firm but reassuring. "I've got this."

Abigail saw the determination in her eyes and gave in, walking her downstairs herself.

Half an hour later, Sally stepped into the police station and spotted three familiar faces in the distance.

They looked, for all the world, like a perfect little family.

"Mrs. Zale, we found your lion statues at Miss Yasmin's residence," the officer said, holding out photos. "They're too precious to move, so please confirm if these are yours."

Sally's brow creased as she looked over the images. No doubt—those were hers.

"Yeah, that's them," she nodded.

"Sally, I gave those lions to Lena. There's no theft here," Brad's deep, irritated voice broke in from behind her. "Stop making a fuss and clear this up with the officer."

She turned, meeting his dark, stormy glare.

"Dad's right!" Nick's small face tightened, copying his father. "Dad gave them to Lena. They're ours anyway—how's that stealing?"

Sally ignored her son, her eyes fixed on Brad, cold and steady. "Those statues are my property from before we got married. You had no right to touch them, let alone give them away without my permission."

"Name your price," Brad said, stepping back, his voice sharp. "I'll buy them. That good enough?"

Sally's brow twitched.

Fresh out of prison, with no job, she needed money. Badly.

"Besides," Brad said sharply, "you keep claiming these are your pre-marital property. Where's the proof they were yours before we got married?"

Lena jumped in, her voice soft but pointed. "Sally, Brad's got a point. You're married—everything's joint. Why fuss about before or after the wedding?"

"Mom," Nick added, his small face scrunched up, "those lions aren't even nice. Why do you care so much? You don't need them back."

Sally stood there as the three of them teamed up, their words stacking against her.

'How sweet,' Sally scoffed inside.

Then she let out a cold laugh. "I carved those statues myself. Are you going to pretend that didn't happen?"

Her words hit like a slap. Brad and Nick went quiet.

Lena bit her lip, eyes tearing up as she turned to Brad. "Brad, it's my fault. Those statues were on my show. It's not that I don't want to give them back, but..."

Returning them would make her look like a thief.

Brad's jaw clenched. He faced Sally, his tone like ice. "Enough! They're pieces of crystals. Name your price. I'll pay for Lena."

"Pay?" Sally's lips curled into a faint smile. "Fine. One million dollars."

Her lion statues were unique, irreplaceable.

A million? That was fair.

"A million dollars?" Lena's face reddened with outrage. "Sally, you're ripping us off!"

Brad snorted, his voice dripping with scorn. "So it's not about cash, huh?"

Sally didn't bother answering. Her face stayed blank, unfazed by their jabs.

Fresh out of prison, she needed to restart her life. That million would be her foundation.

"Give me your account number. I'll send it now," Brad said, his voice thick with irritation, his eyes burning with disgust.

'After refusing to come back to the Zales, Sally's making all this nonsense just to mess with me,' he thought.

She was so pathetic to him now.

If it weren't for his grandpa, Brad would have ditched her already.

Sally didn't flinch. She jotted down a familiar bank account number and flicked it to him.

*****

As Sally walked away from the police station, a familiar voice called out, "Wait up."

She stopped, turning with a blank look. "What now?"

Brad stared at her, his expression hard. "Grandpa misses you. Uncle Jaxon's coming back in a couple days, and we're having a family dinner. Be at the house Wednesday evening."

He didn't want her there.

A woman with a criminal record would only embarrass him.

But with her release lining up like this, and Jaxon's return, skipping out would piss off Grandpa.

Plus, Jaxon's clout was huge. If Sally didn't show, it'd look bad.

Sally paused, her mind flashing to Jaxon's sharp, almost captivating face.

"You hear me?" Brad barked, his voice harsher as he caught her silence, his brow furrowing.

Sally blinked, her thoughts snapping back.

After a moment, she gave a slight nod. "Got it."

But a flicker of unease stirred inside her. 'Why is Jaxon back out of the blue?'

Chapter 6 Setting Sally Up

After a few days of rest, Sally felt a little better, but on the day of the family dinner, her head was still cloudy.

As evening rolled in, she got ready and took a taxi to the Zale family's estate.

The Zale estate sat halfway up the hill. Returning after three years in prison, Sally felt a heaviness in her chest.

At the entrance, a shiny Rolls-Royce Cullinan with custom plates caught her attention. It seemed Jaxon Zale was really back.

"Mom, dinner's starting soon. Why are you so late?" Nick's voice came from the doorway, sounding annoyed.

He stood there, clearly frustrated.

Sally glanced at her son, but her eyes caught two shadows slipping past him. It was Brad and Lena.

Sally couldn't believe Brad brought Lena to a family dinner.

Sally walked inside, and Lena spotted her. "Great timing! The kitchen's slammed. Mind helping out?"

The Zale household had plenty of staff, but with the holiday, several were off.

At past family dinners, Sally would cook to make sure Brad and Nick ate well. Yet somehow, both of the two still called her "lazy."

When she looked back, she found it so funny.

When Lena headed to the kitchen, Sally stayed put.

"Mom, go help Lena. She's been working hard—don't let her wear herself out," Nick said, nudging her forward.

Nick gave her a push, his impatience obvious.

Brad was busy talking with his mom, Lauren, not even glancing at Sally.

Sally didn't bother looking their way and went straight to the kitchen.

As soon as she stepped in, Lena handed her a dipping sauce dish. "Mrs. Zale, this is Nick's favorite sauce. I'm swamped. Can you drop it by his seat?"

Sally started to say no, but a staff member slipped the dish into her hands.

Carrying the sauce out, she noticed two familiar guys coming down the staircase from the corner of her eye.

"Sally, you're here?" Howard Zale's voice called out, and Sally's eyes flicked toward him.

The first thing she saw was a man's sharp, striking face.

He wore a fitted black suit, a black ring on his right index finger highlighting his long fingers, giving off a distant, untouchable vibe.

Every time she saw him, four words popped into her head: cool, polished, unreachable.

Jaxon was walking beside Howard, coming down the stairs. He gave her a quick, cold glance before looking away.

Sally's grip on the sauce dish tightened for a moment.

This man, now standing at the top of the world... She never thought they'd meet again like this.

A second later, she looked away and said, "Good to see you, Howard..."

Howard, who hadn't seen Sally in three years, pulled her to the couch for a warm catch-up before everyone moved to the dining table.

Howard sat at the head, with Jaxon to his right.

Sally sat next to Brad, with Nick between him and Lena.

Halfway through dinner, a choking sound broke the warm atmosphere.

"Dad, I feel terrible... my skin's itching like crazy..."

As Nick spoke, a loud crash followed—his plate hit the floor.

He grabbed Jaxon's hand, vomiting and trembling.

"What's happening?" asked Howard. His face was filled with concern as he stood up.

Brad immediately rolled up Nick's sleeve. His forearm was covered in red patches.

"Brad, is this an allergic reaction?" Lena asked, her voice tense. "But he's only allergic to cayenne pepper, and there's none in the food today!"

Divorce or not, Sally couldn't just stand there, because Nick was her flesh and blood, no matter what he had done.

She hurried to Nick's side, lifting his shirt to check his stomach.

It was definitely an allergy, and it looked serious.

Nick had been allergic to cayenne pepper since he was a kid. Once, a staff member's mistake led to him eating some, and he'd fainted.

This time, it seemed like less, and he was still awake, at least.

Brad sniffed the dipping sauce, his brows knitting slightly. "Who made this?" he asked.

Sally's eyes darted to Lena. "She did," she said.

Lena shook her head fast. "I didn't add any cayenne pepper. And after I made it, I gave it to Sally to bring out..."

Everyone turned to stare at Sally.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sally's face darkened, her voice sharp. "You think I put cayenne pepper in it?"

"I'm not accusing anyone," Lena said, her voice soft but pointed. "But I know I didn't add anything.

"I get that you're still upset about the three years you spent in prison, and maybe you've got a grudge against me.

"But to go this far? Using your own son with Brad? That's cold."

Her words turned every head against Sally.

Anger flashed in Sally's eyes.

Anger flashed in Sally's eyes. 'So that's why Lena pushed me to go to the kitchen.'

It was a trap, and she'd walked right into it.

Howard, sensing the tension boiling over, stepped in. "Let's get the family doctor here first," he said.

"Yes, sir," the butler said, rushing off to make the call.

Brad grabbed Sally's arm. "Is Lena telling the truth? Did you put the cayenne pepper in there?"

"I didn't," Sally said firmly.

"Mom, Lena's always been good to me. She's never hurt me," Nick said, his voice shaky. "But you've gone after her before. Why would you do this to me now?"

"I said I didn't," Sally repeated.

But it was like no one listened. No one believed her.

A famous actress versus an ex-convict? No wonder they wouldn't believe in Sally..

The actress barely had to try to come out on top. No matter how much Sally denied it, it didn't matter.

"Sally, three years in prison, and you're still this cruel?" Lauren snapped. "Even a wolf doesn't hurt her own cubs! To frame Lena, you'd use your own son? What's wrong with you?"

"Mom, I'm so disappointed in you..." Nick sobbed, his tears making everything messier.

"Brad, nothing's been proven yet. Don't just accuse Sally," Howard said sternly, grabbing everyone's attention. "I don't believe she'd do this."

Sally glanced over, her eyes meeting Jaxon's.

He leaned back in his chair, watching the drama with a cool smirk, like it was a show that had nothing to do with him.

"Mr. Zale, are you saying..." Lena's eyes filled with tears as she spoke, "that I did this?"

Chapter 7 The Divorce Paper

Howard let out a quiet grunt but didn't say a word.

Everyone in the Zale family knew Howard wasn't a fan of women in the entertainment world and didn't approve of Brad's connection with Lena.

Brad bringing her to the family dinner? Howard wasn't exactly rolling out the welcome mat.

Lauren, seeing Nick's condition getting worse, helped him over to the couch.

Brad stepped up to defend Lena, his voice firmly on her side. "Grandpa, Lena would never do something like this. It's got to be Sally; she pulled the same thing on Lena three years ago!"

His tone was cold, his eyes sharp with accusation.

But Sally's heart? It was like ice, unmoved.

In the whole Zale family, probably only Howard had her back.

Lena started, "Mrs. Zale, even if you've got a problem with me, you shouldn't have gone after a kid..."

"Slap..."

Lena didn't finish her sentence. Sally's hand shot up, landing a hard smack across her face.

Everyone froze, mouths open.

Sally was always quiet, swallowing her pain without a word. This was the first time they'd seen her lash out.

"I'm not taking the blame for something I didn't do," Sally said, her voice calm but fierce. "You can pin this on me once, and I'll let it go. But keep pushing me, and I'm not staying quiet."

Her words weren't loud, but they hit hard.

Her eyes burned with a storm ready to unleash.

At the head of the table, Jaxon's sharp gaze flicked up, one eyebrow slightly raised.

His fingers, tapping the table, stopped. A small smirk tugged at his lips.

'This woman... she has some fire,' he thought to himself.

"Sally, what the hell?" Brad rushed forward, pulling a stunned Lena behind him.

He glared at Sally. "Three years, and you're still the same—just worse."

The family doctor showed up just then, and Lauren, holding Nick, took him upstairs.

Sally ignored Brad, planning to check on Nick and get out of there.

But before she could take a step, Brad grabbed her wrist. "Sally, you're not leaving until we settle this."

"Settle this?" Sally pulled her arm free, her eyes flashing. "Fine. I want a divorce. Is that clear enough?"

The room went silent. Every pair of eyes locked on Sally, including Brad's.

A family dinner, and she drops that—she sure knew how to steal the show.

Brad suddenly had a feeling that the Prison hadn't changed Sally for a bit.

Jaxon, who'd been watching the chaos unfold, finally let his eyes rest on her. Now he was really paying attention.

Her white, floor-length dress made her slim frame look even more fragile.

Her face, pale from years of tough times, now had a spark of life from her anger.

No one would've thought those delicate hands could hit so hard. Quick, clean, no hesitation.

And just like that... She'd caught Jaxon's interest.

But every time his eyes landed on her face, something familiar nagged at him.

'Where have I seen her before?' He couldn't figure it out.

"Sally, if you want to make a scene, pick a better time," Brad snapped. "Keep our personal drama out of the family dinner. You're making a fool of yourself."

"Then tell me, what's not embarrassing?" Sally fired back, glaring at Brad as he stood in front of Lena.

She laughed coldly, "Admitting I spiked my own kid's sauce with cayenne pepper? Taking the blame for someone else?

"The real embarrassment is someone who does the deed but won't admit it."

Brad snapped, "Sally, enough—"

Yet his words were cut off by a deep, commanding voice from the head of the table. "Brad, without proof, you can't just blame her."

Everyone turned toward the voice. Sally looked too.

When her eyes met Jaxon's, she caught a flicker of something complicated in his gaze, tough to read.

Brad looked up, meeting Jaxon's eyes just as Jaxon glanced away.

His shoulders stiffened, thinking, 'Why is Jaxon backing Sally?'

Brad's dad had two brothers, and Jaxon was the youngest. Since old Mr. and Mrs. Zale had Jaxon pretty late, he's not much older than Brad, his nephew.

Years back, Jaxon had gone his own way, building a business empire that made the Zale family's wealth and power look small.

In the business world, he was untouchable—no one dared cross him, especially not in the Zale house.

Brad started to speak but stopped himself.

Just then, the doctor came downstairs, saying Nick's condition wasn't too bad and he'd been given meds.

After the doctor left, Brad spoke up again. "One way or another, we're sorting this out tonight."

"Oh, I'm ready to sort things out," Sally said. "Since everyone's here, why don't you all watch?"

She walked to the sofa, grabbed a document from her bag with a quick flick.

Back in front of Brad, she slapped a divorce agreement down in front of him.

Brad picked it up, his eyes widening in shock. 'She's put this together that fast?'

"Sign it, and we're done for good," said Sally.

With that, she turned and walked out, leaving a room full of stunned faces behind.

Brad stared after her, his hand shaking slightly as he held the papers.

A quiet humiliation for him in front of everyone? Even he himself got to admit this was well played.

In the corner, Jaxon's eyes glinted under the soft light, hard to read. He gave a faint smirk.

Tonight's drama? A total show, and he was eating it up.

Outside the Zale estate, Sally opened her ride-hailing app, trying to uber home.

But the estate was halfway up the hill, and after ten minutes, no driver had picked up the request.

She clenched her jaw and started walking along the road's edge.

No way was she going back inside. She still had some dignity.

Five minutes later, a wave of dizziness hit. She touched her forehead. It was hot again. Probably her fever coming back.

Just then, headlights swept over her from behind. A Maybach drove past, then slowed and stopped beside her.

The back window rolled down.

Sally turned as a voice called out. "Need a ride?"