TORREN'S POVE After the Anniversary Gala … The hall was still buzzing long after she left . Like a hive someone kicked open . Ruby's limp in my arms , her damn white dress flowing like she's some porcelain angel . But I wasn't looking at her . My eyes kept darting to the gate where Therese disappeared . That stupid woman . Walking out like she had pride . !! My mother was furious beside me , muttering curses in Italian under her breath . My father just shook his head and whispered something about disgrace and lost control . Useless commentary , as always . They never liked Therese , but they wanted her quiet . Tamed . Now look at what she did . Made a goddamn scene . Spat in the face of our name . Someone near the champagne fountain leaned in and said too loud , " Your ex - wife has more spine than I expected . " I clenched my jaw . Snapped at the nearest waiter to get me a drink . Not champagne . Wine . Red . Something that bites . My hand was trembling when I took the glass . I cursed under my breath and pretended I needed to fix my cufflink . But it was her . She always knew how to hit back when I least expected . Onstage , Jude climbed up like it was a circus . He lifted his glass and smiled at the guests , that same smug little smile he got from Ruby . " A toast , " he said proudly , " for Mommy Ruby and the new baby ! " Everyone clapped . Ruby stirred softly in my arms , the perfect actress . I held her tighter , pressing a kiss to her temple . " You okay , babe ? " I whispered . She just nodded weakly , kept her eyes closed like she was made of glass . But I was done with the show . 1 camed her to the car , the flash of cameras still following us . I made sure her dre didn't touch the floor . Made sure her hair stayed in place . She liked feeling precious . And I gave her that . Unlike Therese , who never knew how to be grateful ! ⠀ The driver closed the door . Ruby slumped against the window , breathing slow . I knew she was awake . She always pretended to sleep when she wanted silence . Or when she wanted me to stew . I unlocked my phone . Ten missed calls . All to her . No answer . I sent her another text . " You ungrateful witch . Apologize now or I'll make your life hell . " The reply came seconds later . One emoji . Middle finger . I stared at its My jaw tightened . My nostrils flared . That bitch Next to me , Ruby shifted ever so slightly . I glanced at her . Her lips twitched . A smile . Small . Satisfied . At the hospital . I couldn't sit still . } I paced the corridor like a beast with no cage . Nurses kept glancing over , but no one had the balls to tell me to calm down . I was fuming . Boiling inside . Not just from the press . Not just from the slap . From her . From that look " You can have your son back . " That's what she said before she turned and walked out . No fight . No screaming . No crying . Just a quiet , dead stare . Like she didn't give a damn anymore . " I've seen her cry . Beg . Shake with rage . But that face she gave me ? !! It was worse . Cold . Unfeeling . Like I was a stranger in her past . Like she'd scrubbed me off her skin.X I pulled out my phone and dialed the lawyer . He answered on the second ring . " Is the divorce just a bluff ? " I asked . There was a pause . Then he sighed . " It's done , sir . Finalized . Papers have been signed , processed , and recorded . She didn't bluff.T My throat went dry . I didn't speak . I just hung up . The next second , my phone buzzed again . Dozens of notifications . My name was trending . I opened A leaked photo . app . Therese . Blood on her lip . Her hair was messy . Her eyes were blank . A spotlight catching her in that torn black dress like she P Therese . Blood on her lip . Her hair was messy . Her eyes were blank . A spotlight catching her in that torn black dress like she crawled out of a grave . " CEO strikes wife during anniversary gala ? " 8 There were already comments . Thousands . Hashtags calling me a monster . A criminal . A disgrace . Speculations . Analysis . Replays of videos. One even caught the slap at an angle I hadn't seen . I cursed and threw my phone across the chair . Ruby flinched beside me , still hooked to her IV . She started sobbing softly , burying her face in her hands . " This is ruining everything, " she said between hiccups . This baby … this time … it was supposed to be different . I can't lose my child because of stress , Torren . I can't . Not because of her . " I sat beside her . Pulled her close . " You won't lose anything , " I said . I stood again . Dialed another number . This one didn't ring twice . It was Damon . My fixer . " Those photos ," I said . " The videos . I don't care who has them . I want them gone by midnight . " " Already on it , boss . Some footage came from the hotel staff , others from guests . Some idiots uploaded to private accounts . " " I don't give a damn where they came from . Find them . Buy them off . Threaten them . Leak their sex tapes if you have to ." Understood . " " Anyone who doesn't cooperate , " I said , voice turning to ice , " I want them blacklisted . I want them bleeding . You get rewarded if it's done quiet . If I see my name trending tomorrow ? Someone loses their head . " He laughed nervously on the other end . " Got it , boss . You'll be clean by morning . " I hung up . Sat down beside Ruby again . She leaned on me like I was her shield . But I wasn't calm . Not even close . Because no matter how much I cleaned up this mess , no matter how quiet I made the internet .. " That damn image of Therese walking out , spine straight , eyes dead , would not leave my mind . Fuck !