Love Burnt, Baby Stayed

Chapter 1 Divorce Agreement

By the time Briana Lane got home, night had already fallen. She pushed open the master bedroom door and saw men's clothes and a belt tossed carelessly across the bed. The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom.

Shepard Carter was in the shower. Briana lowered her gaze, staring at the pregnancy test report in her hand. It was positive, and she was carrying twins.

When the doctor confirmed it, Briana's first thought was, maybe the babies could keep Shepard by her side and save her fragile marriage. But then, the doctor told her one of the embryos didn't have a heartbeat and would have to be removed.

Briana immediately said she wanted to have that embryo removed and do everything to protect the healthy one. But she was told that the procedure required both her and Shepard's signatures. She couldn't decide on her own.

Suddenly, the bathroom door creaked open, and Shepard emerged with just a towel around his waist. His hair was still damp, water dripping down his skin. His physique—broad shoulders, tapered waist, carved muscles—was pure, predatory attraction. He radiated an aura of raw appeal.

He walked right past Briana like she wasn't even there, heading straight for the closet to grab his pajamas. In his eyes, she was never worthy of any attention.

Briana was used to the cold treatment. She trailed after him, her heart sinking. "I need to talk to you."

"I need to talk to you, too," Shepard said, his voice cold and emotionless, keeping his distance.

Briana gripped the pregnancy report tightly, biting her lip. "You go first."

Shepard didn't hesitate. "Vivian's coming back."

Briana swayed on her feet as she thought, 'The woman he loves most is coming back. Guess there's no room for me in his life anymore.'

"So," Shepard added and turned his head, his gaze sharp and cold, "Briana, you know what needs to happen."

After five years of marriage, Briana still couldn't warm Shepard's heart. She heard herself ask, "Between me and her, will you always choose her?"

Shepard's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Do you really think you're even worthy of being compared to Vivian?"

Briana's face turned pale. "What did I do that was so unforgivable for you to hate me this much?" Her eyelashes trembled. "Shepard, I'm your lawfully wedded wife."

Shepard replied coldly, "You know exactly how you became my wife, and you know even better how you wormed your way into my bed."

Shepard was always quiet around Briana. He specialized in the silent treatment, and his true mastery was subtler, causing her a slow, emotional death by a thousand cuts.

But whenever their marriage was mentioned, his eyes would flash with contempt, and he would angrily accuse her of stealing the spot that was meant for Vivian Fletcher.

Briana took a deep breath. "The engagement was set up when we were kids. As for how I ended up in your bed, I honestly have no idea."

After the wedding, Shepard never laid a finger on Briana, and her belly stayed flat. Evelyn, Shepard's grandmother, grew frantic and, through some mysterious means, managed to force the two of them into sharing a bed at last.

Briana only remembered waking up completely naked in Shepard's arms. The moment he opened his eyes, he wrapped his hand around her throat, furious. No matter how desperately she tried to explain, he refused to believe a word she said.

That was the night she got pregnant, and it only took that one time. 'I must be ridiculously fertile,' she mused.

Shepard gave a cold, dismissive snort as he pulled on his silk pajamas, his voice low and frosty. "Didn't you say you had something to tell me?"

He passed by Briana and noticed the paper she was clutching, but he only gave it a fleeting glance, not caring in the slightest. He walked over to the window, lit a cigarette, and let it dangle between his fingers.

Briana looked at his back. "If we were to have a child, then—"

Losing patience, Shepard cut her off, "Briana, you're really trying to use a kid to trap me now? Sleeping with me wasn't enough for you, and you're getting greedy, huh? I can't believe I never saw how scheming you really are."

He flicked the ash off his cigarette. "For five years, you've been playing the dutiful wife. Now you can't keep up the act and finally show your true colors, huh?"

Briana forced herself to keep it together, her voice barely steady as she asked her final question. "Because you hate me, you'll hate any child I have for you, too, right?"

"Yes," Shepard answered without hesitation.

Briana felt her heart breaking, piece by piece. Her devotion to love in her entire youth and the five years of marriage was wiped out. Their story, from childhood sweethearts to husband and wife, turned out to be a hollow joke that she alone had kept alive.

His hatred for her would extend to the children they might have. His love for Vivian, however, was a different story. For years, it had paved the way for the Fletcher family to get everything they wanted, making them a powerhouse in Belaris.

Briana finally understood. She raised the pregnancy report in her hand, took a steady breath, and said, "Shepard, here's the divorce agreement."

Shepard paused, turning to look at her. For once, he was actually caught off guard because she was the one asking for a divorce.

"I'm letting go. I don't want to love you anymore," she said. "The terms are already written up. I was about to hand them over to you, but..."

Briana stopped mid-sentence, and then out of nowhere, started ripping the pregnancy report to shreds, the sound of tearing paper filling the bedroom.

Shepard frowned, thinking, 'Is she losing it?'

Briana shredded the report and tossed the pieces into the air, letting the scraps rain down all over the room.

Shepard narrowed his eyes. "Changed your mind? Don't want a divorce anymore?"

"No," Briana replied. "I want to change the terms. I'll draw up a new agreement."

"What do you want?" Shepard asked.

"Money," Briana replied.

She wanted a lot of money, enough for her and her child to be set for life. No way was she walking out with nothing. She owed Shepard nothing. Instead, she deserved the money.

When it came to love or marriage, Briana knew she'd given him everything she had. If it were just her, she wouldn't care about money at all, but she was pregnant.

Shepard would never know that Briana was tearing up the proof that he was ever the father of her child.

All she needed was for Shepard to sign both the divorce agreement and the surgery consent form, without ever letting him know she was carrying his babies.

One of them didn't have a heartbeat. As a mother, hearing that felt like her heart was being ripped apart, but she had to tough it out alone.

Shepard's face was full of contempt as he snorted, "Briana, once you get your money, you'd better just get lost for good."

"And another thing," he added, his tone icy, "make sure you tell the family it's your idea to end things."

Briana nodded. "Okay."

She was just going along with it, only asking for cash and not making any other demands. Shepard was actually surprised. He'd expected her to make a scene, and maybe even go off on him. But she was weirdly calm, almost like she didn't care at all.

Shepard thought, 'Something's off.' Annoyance bubbled up inside him, but he took a few drags from his cigarette, trying to tamp it down. "Don't try anything funny."

Honestly, after five years, Shepard was almost starting to find Briana tolerable. She was actually flawless as his wife. She was the whole package.

Out in public, she always looked put-together and knew how to work a crowd, keeping everyone happy. At home, she was sweet and never talked back, keeping the place running like clockwork.

But then, Shepard found her manipulating things so they finally spent the night together, forcing the overdue wedding night after five years. That was when his disgust for her hit an all-time low, because he had no way to explain things to Vivian anymore.

"Just say it. What else do you want?" Shepard stubbed out his cigarette, sounding impatient. "Spit it out."

Briana held up one finger. "This is my last and only request."

Shepard let out a cold snort. "I knew it."

He thought, 'No way she's letting me off that easily. She's about to pull something.'

Briana blinked, staring at the man she'd loved for years. She'd been by his side from their school days all the way to wedding vows, watching him grow from a boy to a man.

Now he ruled his world, always in control, but she was never the one he saw, never the one he cared about. She thought, 'I should've known. Loving someone who won't love you back is doomed from the start.'

She said, "Shepard, let's have some cake together. Let's celebrate five years of marriage."

Shepard was caught off guard. 'Today's our anniversary?' he wondered.

Chapter 2 I Won't Bother You Anymore

Seeing Shepard's expression, Briana knew he didn't remember, just as she had expected.

Shepard pressed his lips together, did the math, and realized they'd actually been living together for five years.

He didn't think those years had dragged on; if anything, they'd flown by so quickly that it almost felt unreal to him. 'Has it really been five years?' he wondered.

Briana smiled, "Let's also celebrate the fact that, on our fifth anniversary, we've decided to end this draining marriage." Her smile faltered as tears shimmered in her eyes.

She brought out the cake she'd prepared earlier. She'd made it herself, from the cake layers to the frosting and even the fruit on top. Every single part was crafted by her hands.

The cake was covered in a thick layer of mangoes. Briana was allergic to mangoes. Just eating them would give her blisters in her mouth, and touching them would leave her hands covered in itchy bumps. But Shepard loved mangoes.

He'd seen her have an allergic reaction before, but he had never really cared. The next day, there would be mangoes on the table again.

Today, Briana had put on gloves and carefully peeled and sliced the mangoes herself, pouring all her love into every piece.

She had imagined that when she presented the cake, Shepard's icy gaze would finally soften. But it was nothing but her own wishful thinking.

Briana sliced off a small piece and handed it to him. Just then, his phone rang. When he saw the caller ID, his expression instantly softened.

"Hey, Vivian," he said.

"I just landed, Shepard," Vivian's cheerful voice came through the phone. "Are you coming to pick me up?"

Before Shepard could answer, she added sweetly, "It's okay if you can't. I can just take a cab."

Shepard raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't your flight supposed to be tomorrow?"

"I changed my flight, so I came back early. Shepard, I miss you so much. I just couldn't wait another day to see you," Vivian said, her voice full of longing.

Shepard smiled, his voice low and magnetic. "I'm on my way to the airport right now." He hung up and turned to leave.

Briana was still holding the slice of cake. "Please, just have a bite," she said, forcing herself to sound calm despite the lump in her throat. But Shepard didn't even slow down.

She took a deep breath. "I made it myself."

Shepard replied coldly, "I don't have time." He was in a hurry to pick up Vivian and didn't want to waste a single second.

Briana bit her lip. "Shepard, would it actually kill you to see Vivian one second later?"

That did the trick. Shepard spun around, his glare sharp enough to slice through steel.

After a few seconds, he stormed back, ripped the plate from her hands, and smashed it down onto the cake with brutal force.

The cake was obliterated, becoming a total mess. The words "Happy Fifth Anniversary" vanished in an instant. Still fuming, Shepard kicked the whole thing off the table for good measure.

The door slammed shut behind him as he walked away.

Briana looked down at the cake scattered across the floor. It was all in ruins, just like her life and marriage. She'd always wanted to ask Shepard if he'd ever loved her, but she was terrified his answer would become the nightmare she'd never wake from.

But she couldn't forget that year, when he'd looked her in the eye and said, "You'll always have me." Those words became the one thing she clung to, her only certainty in a world that kept falling apart.

When Briana was ten, her parents were gone for good. They died in a tragic car accident while on a business trip, leaving her and her older brother, Charles, behind.

Briana's uncle, Edward, stepped in to take over the Lane family business. Though he claimed it was just temporary, everyone knew he was really taking it for himself.

At the funeral, Briana stood there dressed in black, staring blankly at her parents' portraits. She'd cried herself numb. Charles, a head taller but only in his early teens, stood by her side, just as lost.

That was when Shepard appeared. He was the same age as Charles, even in the same class. Tall and slender, he followed the Carter family into the funeral hall.

Evelyn tried to comfort Wrenley, Briana's grandmother. The two had been comrades in their youth, their friendship running deep and true all those years. Wrenley had just lost her eldest son and daughter-in-law, and the grief had aged her ten years overnight.

"They're gone, just like that, leaving behind two children. Briana's only ten," Wrenley sighed, her voice heavy with sorrow. "How are we supposed to go on?"

Evelyn's eyes lingered on Briana, sizing her up. "Why not let Briana be Shepard's wife in the future? They've known each other since they were kids. It's a perfect match."

Just like that, their marriage was set in stone. Shepard didn't say a word against it. As he was leaving, he pressed a mango-flavored candy into Briana's palm.

"From now on, you may not have your parents, but you'll always have me," he said. His lean build and clear eyes, already promising future handsome features, sent a quiet ripple through her.

She believed every word. She really did, until Vivian showed up.

At first, Vivian didn't affect Briana and Shepard. Vivian was just a total bookworm, quiet and always hiding behind her thick-rimmed glasses. She kept such a low key that Briana barely even registered her existence. But then, a fire changed everything.

One day, the sports equipment room mysteriously caught fire. Shepard was inside alone, picking out gear, when he got trapped by the flames. Without a second thought, Vivian dashed in and dragged him to safety.

She literally snatched Shepard back from the jaws of death, but the smoke left her with damaged lungs. From then on, she'd developed a chronic cough, and her voice lost its clear ring, turning rough and raspy.

After that, Shepard and Vivian grew much closer.

After Briana graduated from college, both the Carter and Lane families were ready to make the marriage happen. But Shepard confronted Briana and tried to call off the engagement. He wanted to be with Vivian instead.

Briana refused. She hadn't even been at school when the fire broke out, but if she had, she would've risked her life for him with no hesitation.

In the end, Shepard was forced to marry Briana, and he shipped Vivian off overseas. Now, five years had passed by. Not only did Briana never win Shepard's heart, but she only made him resent her more with each passing year.

Briana crouched down, grabbing fistfuls of cake and shoving them into her mouth. The cake tasted sweet, but the tears streaming down her face were bitterly salty.

That night, Shepard didn't come home. Briana sat at the table, drafting the divorce agreement. She stayed there the whole night, but not a single word came out.

Money was never what she was after. She knew that maybe she'd never have the one thing she truly wanted, no matter how hard she tried.

*****

Briana was woken up by her phone ringing. She realized she'd dozed off at the table, and it was already morning.

"Hello?" she mumbled sleepily.

"Meet me at the courthouse in half an hour," Shepard said. "Bring your divorce agreement."

Briana blinked, staring at the blank sheet of paper in front of her. She gave a soft "mm" in response.

Shepard added, "Don't tell anyone." He was worried Briana might go to Evelyn. If Evelyn got involved, there was no way they'd be able to get divorced.

"Don't worry," Briana said. "I won't bother you anymore. Not now, not ever."

Shepard paused for a couple of seconds. "That better be true."

Until he had the divorce decree, he was always on edge, worried Briana might back out and ruin everything. He'd kept Vivian waiting for five years already, and he wasn't about to make her wait any longer.

Briana grabbed a divorce agreement online, barely bothered to tweak it, printed it out, and signed her name.

As she was slipping on her shoes at the door, the housekeeper, Daniel White, asked, "Mrs. Carter, where are you off to so early?"

After marrying Shepard, Briana gave up her job and everything she wanted, just to make him the center of her life. Her world was almost comically small: home, Carter Group, or the Carter or Lane residences to keep the elders company.

She'd nearly forgotten she used to be a star student at Aetherton University, a top domestic university. She was even chosen to give the graduation speech as the student representative.

Briana thought, 'I spent five years staying at home and playing the perfect wife, but what did I get? His contempt.' She smiled, "I'm going to say goodbye to the old me."

She was done loving someone who'd never love her back. This time, she was going to live for herself.

Chapter 3 Jumping Right Into Something New

At the courthouse, Briana spotted Shepard right away, who was standing at the entrance in a tailored suit, looking every inch the elite professional.

No matter how many times she saw him, his face still stunned her—chiseled jaw, straight nose, and those eyes that held the icy authority of someone born to lead.

The young boy had become a rising star in finance, now carrying himself with steady, mature confidence. He held his documents between his fingers, lifting his gaze just slightly to look ahead.

Briana walked over, and when Shepard saw her, the tension in his brow eased. Without a word, he turned and headed toward the family court filing counter. Briana followed behind.

The divorce section was eerily quiet, the air conditioning cranked so high that it chilled to the bone. The clerk took their documents. "Reason for divorce?"

The question threw both of them off. The real reason for their split was just too difficult for them to voice.

Briana spoke up first. "Irreconcilable differences." As she said that, her fingers unconsciously curled.

Shepard glanced over and noticed dense clusters of red hives on her fingers. When he looked up, he saw similar patches around her mouth. He realized he hadn't really looked at her until now.

Noticing Shepard's stare, Briana dropped her head. She heard him say, "So now you're pulling the pity act?"

Briana's breath caught in her throat.

"You're allergic to mangoes, aren't you?" Shepard said, recalling last night's cake. "Is this your way of getting my sympathy? Hurting yourself so I'll go soft on you?"

Briana's heart skipped at his first words because he actually remembered. But the second half hit her like a slap, making her heart go cold.

She ignored him, stared straight at the clerk, and said, one word at a time, "We're here to file for divorce."

"There's a mandatory 30-day waiting period," the clerk said, handing their documents back. "Come back after that to finalize it."

"Understood. Thanks," Briana replied.

Maybe because Briana was so calm and collected, the clerk couldn't help but say, "You're really giving up a guy this good-looking? Are you sure you won't regret it?"

Briana smiled, saying, "I think he will." She thought, 'He'll never find someone who loves him as I do.'

Shepard thought Briana had lost her mind. The divorce had clearly pushed her over the edge, and she was talking nonsense. He scoffed, "Not a chance."

He thought, 'I'll regret this? I'd eat my own name first.'

As they stepped out of the courthouse, the blast of summer heat instantly chased away the icy chill from inside. Shepard glanced over and said, "Where's the divorce agreement? Give it to me. I'll sign right now."

He wanted to get it done before anything unexpected could mess things up.

Briana reached into her handbag, fingers grazing the papers. Suddenly, she froze. She'd been in such a rush in the morning that she forgot to tuck the surgery consent form in with the divorce agreement.

'No way I can just hand him the consent form alone,' Briana thought. 'If I do, he'll know I'm pregnant for sure.'

Shepard noticed her freeze. His tone lifted in a questioning. "Well?"

"I..." Briana said, "I haven't finished drafting it. Just give me a bit more time."

Shepard narrowed his eyes, mocking her. "So this is your new trick to stall the divorce?"

"Don't flatter yourself, Shepard," Briana shot back. "Once I'm done, I'll bring it to you right away. I won't hold you up."

She turned and walked away, her spine held straight. After years of swallowing her pride in front of Shepard, now she was finally leaving with her dignity intact.

Shepard let out a snort and headed off in the opposite direction from Briana. His Maybach and his assistant, James Clarke, were already waiting at the curb.

James opened the back door. "Please, Mr. Carter." Shepard got in, and the car pulled away.

Just as they were about to turn onto the next street, a loud clunking sound came from under the hood, and the car suddenly jerked to a stop. Shepard was thrown forward by the momentum.

"Looks like we're broken down," Ben Green, the driver, said, sounding nervous. "Mr. Carter, just sit tight. I'll go check it out."

Shepard pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose in frustration and glanced out the window. There was Briana, waiting for a bus at the curb. Just then, a black Bentley pulled up, and a man got out of the driver's seat, heading straight for her.

Shepard recognized him—Henry Parker, someone from a higher year Briana had known in college. Back in the day, Henry was the student council president at Aetherton University, and Briana was his vice president.

'No wonder she was so decisive and unfazed about the divorce. She already had someone lined up,' Shepard thought, a surge of anger rising inside him.

He added in his mind, 'I don't love her and never wanted to marry her. But after being my wife for so many years, she's already meeting up with another man right after filing for divorce? What does that make me? Just some fool?

'So this is the so-called love she was always bragging about?' With the thought, he yanked at his tie in frustration.

Briana froze for a second when she spotted Henry at the bus stop. "Hey, Henry," she blurted out.

Henry gazed at her, his voice so warm and mellow that it could melt away anyone's worries. "Word is, you and Shepard split up."

Briana blinked, totally taken aback. 'Wait, how does he know? Only Shepard and I should know about the divorce,' she thought.

Seeing the confusion on Briana's face, Henry just smiled. "I figured it out. Vivian's back home, so there's no way Shepard would keep playing the happy couple with you."

Briana fell silent.

"Briana, remember the promise I made the night before you got married? It's still good," Henry said gently.

Back then, Henry had told her that if she ever wanted out, if she ever got divorced, he'd be right there waiting to marry her.

Briana smiled and replied, "Henry, does this count as jumping right into something new?"

"Shepard cheated on you while you were still married, so why can't you get a fresh start fast?" Henry said.

"But..." Briana shook her head. "It wouldn't be fair to you."

Briana thought, 'I'm just divorced, and I'm also pregnant. No guy wants to play instant stepdad. Why should Henry have to pay for my mess?'

She continued, "I don't want to get into another relationship. Loving someone is just too painful." She'd put up with all kinds of crap for love, and she was done.

"But Briana, if Shepard ever finds out you're having his baby, he'll try to take the kid from you, even if you're already divorced," Henry said.

Briana found herself studying Henry with a newfound intensity. 'How does he know so much?' she wondered.

"I've noticed you've been going to the hospital a lot lately," Henry said softly. "Anyone who actually cares about you would've noticed."

He mused, 'Shepard never gave a damn about her, so he didn't care whether she lived or died, or where she went.'

"He..." Briana hesitated. "He doesn't want this baby." She still remembered what Shepard himself had told her—he hated her, and he'd hate any child she brought into this world.

"Even if he doesn't, the Carter family will," Henry added quietly. He knew that if Shepard found everything out, Briana's hope of raising her baby alone was nothing but a fantasy.

Henry took a step closer, his voice gentle but unwavering. "Briana, I can be the baby's father, at least on paper, if that's what you need."

"Thank you, Henry, but I really don't want to get you involved in all this," Briana said.

"But I'm willing to, really," Henry replied.

Just as Briana was about to answer, a series of sharp honks cut through the air.

The Maybach slowed to a crawl, inching forward like it owned the street. The back window rolled down, and there was Shepard, his profile all hard angles and cold edges, looking every bit as intimidating as ever.

Chapter 4 It's For Real This Time

Shepard turned his head slightly, his gaze landing on Briana and Henry. Half his face was illuminated, the other half shrouded in darkness, giving him a chilling and intimidating look. He didn't say a word, but his eyes were like daggers, cutting right through them.

As the car pulled away, Shepard rolled up the window. "Mr. Carter," James asked, "Mrs. Carter is alone with another man. If the paparazzi catch wind of this and blow it up, it could really damage your and Carter Group's reputation."

"Isn't she the one who'll suffer the most?" Shepard replied coldly.

"Uh..." James hesitated.

Shepard's face was expressionless. "She'd better get a room with Henry tonight, let her reputation go down the drain, and let the whole world spit on her. That way, she won't get a single cent from me when we divorce."

Shepard's mind raced. 'Briana wants money? The more she wants, the less I'm willing to give. I'd rather donate it to charity than give her a penny.

'I'd like to see how she'll manage without him. With the Lane family in shambles and her good-for-nothing brother, there's no way she'd have it easy.

'Briana thought she was strong enough to fly solo and finally leave me, but she'd forgotten that all these years, she'd only been able to live a decent life because of my family.

'I've been wanting to crush her arrogance for a long time.'

*****

Evergreen Estate was the only place Briana had left to call home after the divorce.

After her parents passed away, Edward snatched up the company, the shares, and the properties. The only thing left for her and Charles was the villa. She'd moved out when she married Shepard, and now she was moving back in.

As she walked into the living room, the stench of alcohol hit her. Liquor bottles, cigarette butts, and party streamers littered the floor, along with decks of cards—for poker, rummy, the works. The whole place looked like a tornado had swept through a bar.

Charles was sprawled out on the couch, dead asleep, with a woman in a tank top draped over his arm.

Briana was fuming. She snatched up an empty bottle and slammed it down on the coffee table. The crash startled the two on the couch awake.

Charles jerked upright, still groggy. "What the hell? Did something just blow up?"

Briana glared at him. "I'm about to blow up."

"Oh, Briana, it's you," Charles said, letting out a sigh of relief when he saw her. "You're back. Just sit wherever."

He tried to flop back down, but Briana stormed over, grabbed his collar, and hauled him upright. Then she shot a look at the woman. "Why are you still here? Leave."

"Who are you?" the woman snapped, glaring at Briana. "Charles, didn't you say I was the only girl here?"

"Get out," Charles grumbled. "She's my sister. By blood."

The woman left without another word, looking embarrassed.

Charles was still half-drunk, sprawled out on the couch, yawning. "You came by yourself? Where's Shepard? Didn't he bother to show up?"

"We're divorced," Briana replied.

"Oh, please. Quit messing around," Charles snorted, waving her off. "You've been crazy about that guy since forever. Like you'd ever really let him go."

"I'm not kidding. It's for real this time," Briana said.

Charles's eyes widened as he stared at her. "Seriously, Briana, have you lost your mind?"

"You're the one who lost his mind," Briana snapped. "All you do is drink yourself stupid, chase after women, and throw parties. You've done nothing with your life. Is this how you're gonna waste the rest of it? And our family's never gonna get back on its feet?"

Back when Edward took over, he said Briana and Charles were just kids, too young to run the business, so he took charge of everything.

By the time they finally grew up, Charles turned out to be a hopeless case. Every project he touched blew up in his face. He didn't know the first thing about business, but when it came to partying, he was an expert.

And after Briana graduated, she got married. Edward said that since she was married, she should be as good as gone and had no say in the Lane family business.

"I want to make something of myself, too," Charles shot back. "But I'm just not cut out for it. What do you expect me to do?

"And Shepard? He just stood by and never helped me out. He never lifted a finger for me, and you never did anything about it. He's always bending over backwards for the Fletcher family instead."

That hit a nerve for Briana. With Shepard's kind of power, if he even let a little slip through, anyone under him would be set for life. But he never did a thing for Charles.

Charles had been bitter about it for ages, so he decided to lean into his own self-destruction and let everything slide even further.

"Also," Charles added, "so what if Vivian saved his life? You're the one he married. Why didn't you put in a good word for me to get me a chance? You two grew up together. Doesn't he care about any of that?"

"Vivian's back in the country," Briana said.

"What?" Charles gasped, panic all over his face. "We're done for. We have no connection with Shepard now, and Vivian's swooped in and taken your spot. We're seriously screwed."

"Charles," Briana said, jaw clenched, "we carve our own path. It's not over for us yet."

"You want to go solo?" Charles asked.

"That's right," Briana answered. "List out every contact, resource, and project you've got. Give me the whole rundown. Whatever deals you can't close, I'll handle them myself."

Briana wasn't about to believe she was second to anybody.

Charles looked her up and down. "Do you even hear yourself right now? You're not just up against Shepard freezing you out. Uncle Edward's not gonna make things easy for you, either."

Briana just said, "Hand over everything you've got."

She was furious at her own past powerlessness. If she had known then what she knew now, she would have fought to reclaim the family business years ago. She also hated the lovesick fool she had been, wasting five precious years.

She thought, 'Luckily, it's not too late.'

Briana spent three whole days untangling the disasters Charles had left behind. She pushed hard on anything with a glimmer of hope and cut her losses on the rest.

During the day, she was running all over town, chasing down bank managers, project leads, and anyone else who might give her a shot. Getting shut out didn't faze her. She just kept pushing until someone finally agreed to meet.

At night, she was hunched over her computer, digging through spreadsheets and reports until her eyes were ready to close for good. Sure, she was tired, but for her, loving Shepard had worn her out way more.

One morning, just as Briana was about to head out, her phone rang. It was Steven Wolfe, the butler from the Carter residence.

"Mrs. Carter," Steven said urgently, "Mrs. Evelyn Carter had a sudden attack last night and had to be rushed to the ER. She just woke up and keeps calling your name. Could you come over as soon as you can?"

"Okay, I'll be right there," Briana replied.

Briana rushed to the hospital. Evelyn had always truly cared about Briana. And because she was the one who'd set up the marriage from the start, deep down, Evelyn had always wanted Shepard and Briana to be happy together.

Briana burst into the ward, her heart pounding. The first thing she saw was Shepard standing by the bed. 'So he's here, too,' she mused.

Shepard shot her a cold glance, his lips pressed into a thin line. He still looked as aloof and superior as ever.

Chapter 5 Have To Do As I Say

Evelyn lay in the hospital bed, hooked up to an IV and wearing an oxygen mask. When she heard someone coming, she called out weakly, "Is that Briana? Is it you?"

"Grandma." Briana hurried over to the bed and took Evelyn's hand. "It's me. I'm here to see you."

Evelyn's eyes grew clearer as she looked at Briana. Then she smiled at Briana with warmth. "Seeing you puts my heart at ease."

"Grandma, I'm always around. If you want to see me, just say the word, and I'll be here in a flash," Briana replied. "Please take good care of yourself and live a long, long life."

"As long as I live to see you have a baby so I'll get to hold my great-grandchild in my arms, my life will be complete," Evelyn said.

Briana's eyelashes trembled.

"It's been five years already. Shouldn't there be some news about a baby bump by now?" Evelyn shot a look at Shepard. "You hear that, you brat?"

Shepard stayed silent.

"I'm talking to you. You..." Evelyn broke into a fit of coughing, her face turning red.

Briana quickly helped Evelyn steady her breathing. 'Should I really tell her the truth? If Grandma finds out we've already filed for divorce and are just waiting to end things, would she be so shocked that she'd end up in the ER?' Briana wondered.

Just as Briana was lost in thought, the familiar hint of mint hit her nose. Shepard reached over, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her a little closer into his embrace.

"Briana and I have been trying for a baby lately," Shepard said. "If all goes well, we'll have some good news soon."

Evelyn's face lit up as if she'd just taken a miracle cure. "Really?"

"Really," Shepard said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He leaned in, his breath warm against Briana's ear, voice low and playful. "Grandma, if you don't believe me, just ask Briana."

Evelyn's eyes crinkled with delight. "I knew you two were meant to be together over ten years ago, so I set it up early. See? I really do have good taste."

Briana smiled along. "That's right. If it weren't for you, we never would've ended up together."

"That's great, really," Evelyn laughed and nodded, looking totally pleased. "Turns out making you two spend the night together last time was the right move.

"Things tend to get worked out in the bedroom, you know. Sure, my tricks were a little sneaky, but hey, as long as they worked, that's what counts."

Because the two were standing so close, Briana caught Shepard's barely audible, cold snort. He still thought Evelyn was the one who drugged them, while Briana was the one who came up with the whole scheme.

Shepard thought, 'She really knows how to pretend she's all innocent and sweet.'

Briana used to fight tooth and nail to explain herself, but he never believed her anyway. Now, she'd given up trying. 'Whatever. Let him think what he wants,' she thought.

Evelyn suddenly remembered something. "Oh, and Shepard, that girl named Vivi or what... I heard she's back in Belaris."

"Probably," Shepard replied.

Now it was Briana's turn to scoff quietly. 'Probably? He went to the airport to pick her up himself and didn't come home all night,' she sneered in her mind.

'They probably spent the whole night wrapped up in each other,' Briana told herself, refusing to let her mind wander any further, her eyes lowered.

Evelyn's tone turned serious. "You need to keep your distance from that girl. You're a married man now. Sure, she saved your life, and our family owes her, but we've looked after her all these years. We've more than repaid her kindness.

"And don't even think about getting any funny ideas, Shepard. As long as I'm alive, she's not getting anywhere near our family. You and Briana need to live your lives together. Don't let her sly ways mess with your head."

Shepard replied with a grunt. "There's nothing going on between us."

Evelyn nodded, chatted for a while, then took her medicine and lay down to sleep.

Shepard and Briana stepped out and stood face to face. Despite being husband and wife, the distance between them felt vast and unbridgeable.

"Grandma's got a heart condition. She can't take any kind of shock," Shepard said. "So we have to keep the divorce a secret from her, at least for now."

"How long do you plan to keep this up?" Briana asked.

"Depends on how things go," Shepard replied.

Briana blinked. "Secrets always have a way of coming out."

Shepard frowned, clearly annoyed. "Since when did you start telling me how to handle things?"

"Shepard, why do I always have to bend over backwards for you?" Briana shot back. "You expect me to just go along with whatever you say, no questions asked? What, if you say jump, I'll have to say 'how high'?"

He grew even more impatient. "Hasn't it always been this way between us?"

Seventeen years had passed since they first met. She was just ten back then, now twenty-seven, and Shepard was already thirty.

That was how things had always been for seventeen years, so when Briana finally started standing up to him, it threw Shepard completely off.

Briana gave a bitter smile. "Yeah, it's always been like this. But does that make it right? Shepard, I'm a living, breathing person, not just some puppet for you to control."

"Why didn't you ever say this before?" Shepard shot back.

"Because I loved you," Briana replied. "But now? I don't anymore."

She was no longer the so-called Mrs. Carter orbiting around Shepard. She was Briana, and she was taking charge of her own life.

An indescribable feeling flooded Shepard's chest, but he suppressed it. 'Love? Hers never mattered to me,' he thought, dismissing her words.

He spoke, his voice cold and unyielding, "Whether you love me or not, you still have to do as I say, Briana."

"And what if I just don't?" Briana shot back.

He gave a careless laugh, tilting her chin up with a finger. "You want to go up against me? You're not even close."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Briana asked.

"I know exactly what you've been up to lately," Shepard said, arching a brow. "All it takes is one word from me, and no one in Belaris would dare do business with you. Believe it or not."

Briana thought, 'Of course, I do. Shepard's the kind of big shot everyone in Belaris bends over backwards for. Nobody in their right mind would mess with him.'

Honestly, Briana wouldn't say a word about the divorce for Evelyn's health. But what she really couldn't stand was Shepard's cold, commanding attitude. He was always acting like he was above everyone else.

She'd spent years obeying his every word. Now, she was determined to push back and break free.

Briana gritted her teeth. "Shut me out then. If you do, I'll raise hell at the Carter residence and stir up trouble at Carter Group. When you've got nothing to lose, you're not afraid of anything. Let's see who comes out looking worse, you or me."

Shepard's voice turned cold and threatening. "Briana, don't even think about risking your life."

She'd always been the obedient one, but now she was a rose with thorns. Shepard couldn't get used to this wild, defiant side of her. He hated the feeling that he couldn't keep her under control anymore.

Briana slapped his hand away and turned her head, but then she caught a glimpse of a weird clash of colors. Looking closer, she realized the colors and patterns of Shepard's shirt and tie totally clashed.

He was wearing a gray shirt, which should've matched with a tie in a similar or darker shade. But today, he'd picked a light blue tie, and to top it off, he had on a black suit.

Briana frowned. 'Who put this outfit together for him? Without me, he's just grabbing whatever's handy, huh?' she thought.

All these years, Briana had taken care of everything for Shepard—his clothes, his meals, his whole routine. And now, she'd only been gone a few days, yet he was wearing such a weird outfit.

Chapter 6 Staring At Your Ex-Husband, Huh?

Shepard noticed Briana staring at him and glanced down. He got it right away, and his frown deepened. Without Briana around, life had been pretty rough for him these past few days.

After finishing an online meeting in his study, Shepard went back to his bedroom, only to find his phone dead. He looked all over for his charger, but he just couldn't find it.

For years, he'd always started his day with an iced coffee prepared by adding hot water to espresso. But the coffee the maid served up just wasn't the same as before.

Shepard switched up the beans, got a new coffee machine, and even brought in a professional barista, but still, nothing hit the spot. He just couldn't shake off the fatigue and kept zoning out at work.

And the same was true of his clothes. Back then, Briana would always pick out his outfit for the next day, iron everything, and hang it right by the closet mirror. She'd have all the accessories—tie, cufflinks, socks, watch, belt—lined up for him.

Now, Shepard just blindly pulled something off the rack and called it a day.

Right now, he felt a subtle sense of embarrassment, like he'd just been exposed.

Getting rid of Briana was exactly what he wanted, and he was sure it was the right call. It was just some trivial stuff. He believed he'd get used to it soon enough, and life would be back to normal.

He thought, 'Honestly, anyone could replace Briana. She was basically just a maid.'

Before Briana could get a word out, Shepard spoke, "Where are you looking?"

Briana froze for a moment.

"Can't help staring at your ex-husband, huh?" Shepard leaned in, all aggressive. "You said you didn't love me anymore, but your eyes just gave you away."

Briana stepped back, putting some distance between them. "I just think your taste is pretty terrible," she said. "Not that it's ever been any good."

Shepard's face darkened. "What?"

"If Vivian's your type, your taste is even worse than I thought," Briana shot back.

His face was stone cold, but Briana just turned and walked away without another word.

"Don't worry. I wouldn't want Grandma to get all worked up," Briana said, waving her hand. "Pretending to be a loving couple? Please, I've been at it for five years. Just make sure you don't blow your cover in front of her."

Briana was in a great mood. A thought flashed through her mind. 'Turns out, once you really stop loving someone, it feels this good. I must hold onto this feeling.'

Back in the day, if Shepard had talked to her like that, Briana would've spiraled for days, almost fallen apart, and ended up crying herself to sleep.

But now, pure bliss was what she really felt.

Shepard watched Briana's figure disappear down the hall, squinting a little. He thought, 'How many sides of Briana have I never seen before? Sweet and obedient one minute, sharp-tongued the next, and now she's become someone who can love fiercely and walk away just as fast.'

When Briana was always hanging around him, he never gave her a second glance and just found her annoying. But today, when she came running into the ward, breathless, it hit him: she was actually beautiful.

She got that effortless, girl-next-door vibe, but her features were striking and defined. Her face was small and delicate, and she had big, bright eyes.

Shepard vaguely remembered that Briana had been the most popular girl in school. She had clean, innocent beauty, and was many men's dream girl. The makeup on her face was just unnecessary.

Once inside the car, Shepard said coolly, "Back to the office."

"Yes, sir," Ben replied.

Shepard grabbed some files to look over, but suddenly stopped. There was a smell of leather in the car, definitely not the usual jasmine he liked.

Shepard was a clean freak. His car had to be spotless, and he wouldn't let anyone he didn't know set foot in it.

"Where's that smell coming from?" Shepard coldly demanded.

"Uh, Mr. Carter, really? I don't smell anything," Ben replied nervously, checking all around. He spotted the issue right away. "Guess the air freshener's out."

"Replace it," Shepard snapped.

Ben stuttered, "Uh, Mr. Carter, Mrs. Carter was the one who took care of the air freshener. I-I-I have no idea where she got it."

Shepard slammed the files onto the seat and pressed his fingers to his forehead. 'Briana again. Even when she's gone, she's everywhere,' he thought, feeling a wave of frustration.

"Just find the same one. Go to every store if you have to. Is it really that hard?" Shepard said, his voice tight. "Seriously, I can't even get a damn car air freshener without Briana?"

"Mr. Carter, I think Mrs. Carter made it herself," Ben said.

Shepard was speechless.

*****

Visiting Evelyn had taken up over an hour, so by the time Briana finally made it to Liam Smith's office, it was already noon.

"Sorry for being late," Briana said politely at the front desk. "Is Mr. Smith available now?"

The receptionist looked at her. "You've been here five times already, and I've told him every single time, but Mr. Smith doesn't want to see you. Please stop bothering him."

"I really need to talk to Mr. Smith about something important. I just hope he'll give me a chance to discuss a potential partnership," Briana said.

"Mr. Smith only works with the big players in Belaris. Your little company? He wouldn't even give it a second glance," the receptionist said.

Briana was about to say something else, but the receptionist started shooing her away. "Do you not get it? I should just have security remember your face and stop you at the door next time. Hurry up and leave."

Briana still wouldn't give up. As she backed away, she held out the file folder to the receptionist. "This is my partnership proposal. Could you please pass it to Mr. Smith? Who knows? Maybe he'll give it a chance."

The receptionist waved her hand dismissively. "Mr. Smith doesn't have time for this. Go on, get out of here."

The file folder slipped from her hands and hit the floor, papers scattering everywhere. Briana had poured all those late nights into this hard work, all for this moment.

As she bent down to gather them, she caught, out of the corner of her eye, the elevator doors sliding open and Liam stepping out.

Briana's eyes lit up. She snatched up the folder, ducked under the receptionist's arm, and made a beeline straight for Liam.

"Hello, Mr. Smith," Briana said, standing right in front of him. "I'm Briana Lane, the one who's been trying to meet with you these past few days. Here's my business card, and this is my proposal. Please take a look. I'm sure you'll like it."

Liam was in his forties, on the shorter side and kind of wiry, but he had a sharp, calculating look in his eyes.

"Where did Edward dig up such a gorgeous employee?" Liam said, giving Briana an obvious once-over. "He's hopeless at business, but he's got an eye for talent."

Briana felt uneasy with him sizing her up, but she forced a smile and said, "Mr. Lane's really committed to turning things around. Mr. Smith, please give us a shot."

"Sure, I'll give you a shot," Liam chuckled. "I'm going for a gathering tonight, and lots of big players will be there. Tag along with me.

"They're way bigger than I am, so go pitch your idea to them. Whether you land a deal or not, that's all on you. Let's see what you've got."

Briana grinned. "Alright, thanks a lot, Mr. Smith!"

Liam gave her a few more leering glances, his eyes practically undressing her. Briana clutched the folder to her chest like a shield and managed a strained smile.

Briana was determined to prep like crazy for tonight, hoping at least one of those top dogs would give her proposal a shot. 'Getting started is always the toughest part,' she thought, 'but now that I've taken the first step, everything else should be way easier.'

Just as Briana walked out of Liam's company, she got a call from the hospital. "Hello, is this Briana?"

"Yes, hello. Who's this?" Briana replied.

"This is the OB-GYN department. Have you signed the consent form for your surgery yet?" the nurse asked. "The sooner we do it, the better. The embryo will keep growing, and that'll just make things harder on your body."

Chapter 7 You're In The Wrong Place

Briana gripped her phone tightly. "I understand," she replied. "I'll make sure to come to the hospital before the end of this week."

"Alright, just make it as soon as you can," the nurse said.

After hanging up, Briana rummaged through her handbag and finally found the surgery consent form.

She carefully tucked it inside the divorce agreement, lining up the edges so perfectly that even if someone looked closely or flipped through it a dozen times, they wouldn't spot a thing. Only then did she let herself relax.

Deep down, Briana told herself, 'Tomorrow, I'll bring it to Shepard for his signature. Given how much he hates me, he'll just flip straight to the signature page and sign without even bothering to read the rest.'

*****

By the time night had fallen, Briana used the address and private room number Liam had given her to make her way smoothly to the club.

The staff escorted her to the door of the private room. "This is it, ma'am," he said.

"Thank you," Briana replied.

Belaris was the country's top economic powerhouse, a city where money flowed like water and temptation was everywhere. Briana had heard of the club before; just to get a seat here for one night, one had to drop at least 300 thousand.

It was clear that only the true heavyweights gathered here, the kind of people even Liam had to curry favor with.

For the Lane family, and to stand on her own two feet, there was no turning back for Briana now. She knocked on the door and stepped inside.

Inside, a few men about Liam's age were hanging out. When Briana walked in, their eyes immediately lit up.

"Well, well, when did we get a new girl?" one of them said with a smirk.

"She looks really pure," another chimed in.

"The manager finally knows how to pick girls. At least this time he didn't send us one of those cheap girls from the streets," a third guy snickered.

Briana stood up straight and gave them a polite smile. "You've got it all wrong, gentlemen. I'm here to discuss a business partnership."

"With a face like yours, you could make a living off your looks. Why bother with a real job?" one of them teased.

"Agreed. Just name your price," another chimed in.

Briana's smile was starting to crack; she could barely keep up the act.

Liam just had to laugh along with them. "Well, I brought her here. I'll ask her to drink a toast first."

As he spoke, he gave Briana a meaningful look, but she didn't budge.

"Can't even have a drink with us? How are we supposed to talk business?" Liam glared at her. "You know the rules here. If you're worried about your reputation, you're in the wrong place."

It wasn't about pride for Briana. She just couldn't drink. She was pregnant. Otherwise, she'd be downing shots with them without a second thought.

Handling people was Briana's specialty. The only difference was, she used to deal with just Shepard, and now she had to face these big-shot clients. Honestly, Briana would much rather hustle in the business world than go back to being Shepard's stay-at-home wife.

Briana bent down, sidestepped the wine bottles, and grabbed a glass of sparkling water. "It's that time of the month for me. Hope you don't mind if I toast with water instead," she said politely.

Liam's face darkened instantly. "Get out," he snapped, pointing at the door. "Showing up here while you're on your period? That's just bad luck."

These businessmen were superstitious. To them, seeing blood meant bad luck for their money. The other men all looked annoyed, too.

Briana bit her lip in frustration. She'd just made up an excuse to dodge the drinking, but totally forgot how touchy they were about stuff like this.

Briana thought, 'What now? I could just walk out, but if I leave my proposal here, maybe one of these guys will actually pick it up and be interested.'

But before Briana could even get the folder out, Liam was already on his feet, giving her a rough shove toward the door. "Get out, now!" he barked.

Briana stumbled back, crashing into a solid chest. Someone caught her by the shoulders, steadying her. "You alright?" he asked.

Turning around, she saw Henry. "Henry?" she said, unable to believe she'd run into him here.

"Yeah, it's me." He nodded. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here covering for my brother on this deal," Briana said.

Henry got the picture right away. Charles couldn't keep things afloat, so now Briana had to take the reins. He gave Liam a sharp look. "If you've got something to say, let's keep it civil. No need for rough stuff."

"Oh, Mr. Parker!" Liam flashed a greasy smile. "You're absolutely right. Come on, have a seat. We've been waiting ages for you."

As soon as Henry walked in, the other men all stood up to greet him, but Henry didn't leave Briana's side for a second.

"I'm backing her on this deal," Henry said. "From now on, she's my partner. If you run into her, do me a favor. Cut her some slack and help her out. I owe you one."

Someone thought, 'Wait, Mr. Parker's backing her? Is he interested in her or something?' The men started glancing at each other, all clearly wondering the same thing.

Just then, the door to the private room swung open again.

"Who's so important that even Mr. Parker has to show her some respect?" a lazy, mocking voice called out. "Let me see who it is."

Briana turned around, and when the two's eyes met, both of them froze in shock.

Eric, Shepard's cousin, pulled the cigarette from his lips, blinked hard, and double-checked if he was seeing things. 'Wait, isn't that Briana? How did she end up here, serving drinks to these businessmen?' he thought.

But Eric knew the score. Shepard couldn't care less about Briana, and he was head over heels for Vivian anyway.

Eric cleared his throat. "She really does look pure and pretty. Who wouldn't get a little dazed looking at her?"

With that, he walked over and sat down on the couch, pretending Briana was just another stranger in the room.

Briana knew it was best not to acknowledge any connection with Eric. After all, she and Shepard were divorced now, and she was no longer part of the Carter family.

Liam flashed a sycophantic grin. "Mr. Carter, you're here, too. This place is buzzing. Drinks are on me tonight."

"I'm just tagging along for the fun," Eric said, tossing a few peeled peanuts into his mouth. "Mostly just here to make sure Mr. Parker enjoys himself."

Eric and Henry were close off the clock, always catching up and meeting up whenever they could.

Liam pointed at Briana. "Mr. Parker says he wants to team up with her. Mr. Carter, you sure you don't want to persuade him?"

Charles's reputation in Belaris was in the gutter. Anyone who got mixed up with him was just asking for bad luck. Sending a pure beauty like Briana to pitch business? Even if he sent a whole squad of pretty girls, nobody wanted anything to do with his deals.

Eric just kept munching on peanuts. Ever since Briana married Shepard, she'd pretty much disappeared from the scene, focusing all her energy on being the perfect wife. After a while, everyone knew Shepard was married, but hardly anyone had a clue what his wife was like.

Now, she was back in the spotlight, yet nobody even recognized her.

Eric replied, "Persuade him? No. Whatever she's pitching, I'm in, too. I'll partner up with her."

The whole room was stunned. 'Both Mr. Parker and Mr. Carter are interested in her? If she manages to get in with those two, her future would be golden,' one of the men thought.

Briana was completely caught off guard. One moment, Eric was pretending not to know her, and the next, he was ready to team up. But she didn't have time to dwell on it. She decided to grab the opportunity while she could.

"Alright then," Briana spoke without hesitation. "Words mean nothing. Mr. Parker, Mr. Carter, let's make it official and sign the contract."

Nothing was real until it was on paper. Briana wasted no time. She laid out the contract, set up the ink pad, and handed over the pen.

Just then, a deep, chilling voice echoed from the doorway. "Let me see who's got the guts to sign with her."

Chapter 8 Vivian In The Ceo's Office

Shepard stood tall and straight, the play of light making it hard to see his face. He brought a cold aura with him, and the whole room instantly fell silent.

Eric quickly got to his feet. "Shepard, what brings you over?"

The other men hurriedly stood up, nervous and uneasy. 'One big shot after another... Shepard is someone we usually have to book weeks in advance just to meet, and now he's standing right at the door,' someone thought.

Henry spoke, "I'll sign with her. You have a problem with that, Mr. Carter?"

"I do," Shepard replied.

"Mr. Carter, you really have your fingers in every pie, don't you?" Henry shot back.

Shepard lifted his chin slightly, his voice cold and commanding. "Go ahead. Try working with her and see what happens."

"Fine, I will," Henry said, grabbing the pen from Briana's hand, uncapping it, and making to sign the contract.

Briana was faster. She slapped her palm down over the signature line, stopping him. "No," she said softly, meeting Henry's eyes and giving a gentle shake of her head.

Now that Shepard had stepped in, everything was different. Briana didn't want Henry to get caught up in this mess. His company was on the rise, and if Shepard decided to crush him, his business might not survive.

Henry met her gaze. "It's fine."

Shepard's voice sliced through the tension. "Briana, get your ass over here."

"Shepard, calm down," Eric called out, trying to smooth things over. "Uh, she—"

"You get lost," Shepard snapped.

Eric rubbed his nose, looking a little embarrassed, and shut up quickly. Shepard was the head of the Carter family. No way Eric was gonna stand up to him.

Briana took a deep breath, spun around, and marched up to Shepard. "What gives you the—" she yelled but was cut off mid-sentence.

Shepard grabbed her wrist and yanked her forward without a hint of gentleness. Briana slammed into his solid chest, her head spinning.

She barely had time to react before he was hauling her out of the room, her wrist screaming in pain, like it was about to snap.

Shepard's long legs ate up the hallway, forcing Briana to stumble after him, nearly losing her balance every few steps just to keep up.

Shepard kicked open the door to the VIP suite and shoved her inside. Briana barely managed to steady herself against the wall.

Before she could catch her breath, his words came crashing down on her. "You don't want to be my wife, and now you're just some escort, huh?"

"Do you always have to be so mean?" Briana asked, glaring at him. "What I do is none of your business."

She used to do whatever Shepard said, always so obedient. But now, she was talking back at every turn. His face darkened. "Briana, have some dignity."

"I'm not acting trashy or desperate," she shot back. "We're divorced, Shepard. What right do you have to lecture me?"

She let out a soft laugh. "At best, you're just my ex-husband."

Shepard's gaze was intense as he stared at her for what felt like forever. Then, out of nowhere, he stepped forward, cornering her against the wall. "Are you playing some kind of game? Trying to get my attention?"

Briana just stared at him, lost for words.

"First, you asked for a divorce and moved out of the Carter Estate, and now, you show up at a club to serve drinks. Briana, you're pulling this whole stunt just to get me to pay attention to you, right?" Shepard asked.

Shepard had to admit that her tricks had worked on him. At the very least, she had begun to carve out a small, tangible space for herself in his mind.

Ever since Briana was gone, everything in Shepard's life was out of whack—food, clothes, the whole routine. He still hadn't managed to get it together.

Briana looked up at him. "I've heard of people being paranoid about getting hurt, but never about being loved.

"Shepard, are you crazy or what? When I gave you everything, you didn't care. Now I'm out, I give up, I'm not chasing after you anymore, and yet you think I'm doing all this just to get you back?"

"Am I wrong?" Shepard shot back.

"Of course," Briana retorted, her voice ringing out. "I'm done trying to warm a heart that's always cold. If I can't have your love, I'm not going to beg for it."

Shepard scoffed, his whole demeanor radiating coldness. "So why is the divorce agreement still missing from my desk?"

"I'll bring it to you tomorrow," Briana replied.

"You really mean it?" Shepard pressed.

Briana nodded. "Tomorrow morning, I'll bring it to your office. Make sure your lawyer's there ahead of time. If he has no objections, you just sign."

Shepard's eyes were deep and unreadable. After a long moment, he suddenly gripped her chin, making her wince in pain, her face scrunching up.

"Until the divorce decree is finalized, you're still my wife. For the next month, behave yourself and stay away from Henry. Those deals won't happen unless I approve," Shepard said coldly.

Shepard was always like this—always in control, always on top. Especially when it came to Briana, he wanted her to be completely obedient. Even after the divorce, he still expected her to do as she was told.

He leaned in, his hot breath brushing against her cheek. "Briana, begging them won't get you anywhere. Begging me? Now that's a different story."

Briana shoved him away with everything she had. Shepard just snorted, pulled his hand back, and leaned back with that lazy swagger, backing away slowly and casually.

"Even if I have to beg on the streets, I'd never come crawling to you," Briana shot back.

"You really ought to know when to quit. Do you even get how screwed you are right now?" Shepard sneered.

"I know. I don't need you spelling it out for me," Briana snapped.

Shepard let out a cold snort and strode out. "Tomorrow. Be there, or else."

Briana stared daggers at his retreating back, itching to sink her teeth into him. 'How can one guy be this damn infuriating? Seriously, what was I ever thinking, falling for a jerk like him?' she thought.

Briana knew just how hard things were for her. Charles had long been infamous, and all the Lane family business connections were in Edward's hands. She had no leverage at all.

But she believed that in this world, there was nothing she couldn't get through sheer effort, except for love and Shepard.

*****

Briana had been to Carter Group so many times before. The front desk staff recognized her right away.

Back then, she'd always come over with homemade lunches, desserts, or fresh fruit for Shepard.

But no matter how many times she brought him food, Shepard wouldn't even give it a second glance. Still, she kept putting her heart into every meal, hoping that maybe, just maybe, she could win him over one day.

But this time, she didn't bring anything with her, except the divorce agreement hidden in her handbag.

Briana took the elevator straight up to the CEO's office, like she'd done a hundred times before. Watching the numbers climb, she couldn't help thinking, 'This is probably the last time I'll ever set foot here.'

When the elevator doors slid open, James immediately noticed her, his face flickering with surprise before he quickly composed himself and hurried over. "Hello, Mrs. Carter."

"Just call me Briana. That title doesn't fit me anymore," Briana said. "Is Shepard in his office?"

"Uh, yes, he is, but..." James said, looking a bit uneasy.

"What's up?" Briana asked, catching his hesitation. "Is now a bad time for me to go in?"

She assumed he was in a meeting and she'd have to wait, but instead, James said awkwardly, "Ms. Fletcher is in there."

Briana grinned. "Oh yeah? I haven't seen Vivian in forever. Guess I'll go say hi."

She headed straight for the CEO's office, and James could only stand there and watch, not daring to stop her.

Just as Briana got to the door, she caught the sound of Vivian's playful giggle from inside.