Bride of Retribution

I took the divorce papers out of my bag and handed them to Finn.

“Stop dragging this out. Sign it.

“Otherwise, I don’t mind letting the entire Yeaton family make tomorrow’s headlines. You wouldn’t want everyone to find out how you and your mistress teamed up to assault your wife, who recently miscarried, and forced her to accept your illegitimate child, would you?”

Finn’s voice turned cold as he said, “Can you stop making a scene? Is this little thing really worth such a fuss?”

I said nothing and pushed the divorce papers further toward him.

Irritation surging within him as he stared at the blood at the corner of my lips and the resolve in my eyes.

“Fine, Annalise! You’re really something!” he roared.

He then snatched up a pen and, without even glancing at the document, scrawled his signature furiously on the dotted line.

“There! I’ve signed it! Just as you wished! Now get out! Take your things and get out of the house! I want to see how far a barren, discarded woman like you can go without me!”

As if tossing away something filthy, he threw the divorce papers back at me after signing. He then turned around to bring Louise into his arms. With a gentle tone, he said, “Louise, ignore that madwoman. Let’s take Dylan home.

“On the day we hold our baby’s sip and see shower, we’ll take a family portrait together!”

Without sparing them a glance, I picked up the divorce papers and turned to leave.

As quickly as I could, I packed my belongings, which were my clothes, documents, and a few pieces of jewelry my mother had left me.

Everything that belonged to Finn, I left untouched.

Once the symbol of my five-year marriage, this house was now reduced to nothing but pain and betrayal.

Not a minute longer I’d want to stay here.

Dragging my suitcase out of the Yeatons’ residence, I stepped into the blinding sunlight.

Then, I dialed Levi’s number.

“Levi,” my voice was calm and detached. “Finn has signed, and I’ve packed my things.”

There was a pause for a while before his deep voice came through the line.

“Send me your location. I’ll come pick you up.”

He paused briefly.

Then, he spoke in a tone that carried a hint of restrained tension and quiet anticipation, “When will this second fiddle be able to take the main lead?”

My expression remained unchanged.

“When I’ve finalized the divorce and completely cut all ties with the Yeatons.

“And then, you can play the main lead. But I want to see the Yeatons fall.

A month later, the divorce was finalized in court.

While I was choosing my wedding gown, a friend of mine told me that Finn assumed I was acting out of spite and that sooner or later, I’d go back to him begging for his forgiveness.

He thought I was playing hard to get, and that the divorce was nothing more than a ploy to build up a grand surprise for him.

I looked in the mirror, and in the reflection, the woman in white smiled back at me.

There would indeed be a surprise prepared specially for him.

Two days later, Finn drove Louise and their son to where they had planned to take their family portrait.

Right as he had just gotten out of the car, a burst of cheerful horns and wedding bells rang out in the distance, growing louder as the procession drew near.

He frowned instinctively and turned toward the sound.

Several cars were moving slowly along the main road.

Leading the procession was a Rolls-Royce Phantom. It was adorned with white roses accompanied by flowy ribbons. There was an unmistakable “Just Married” plate right on the back of the car.

Without a doubt, it was a wedding car.

Finn hadn’t been bothered at first and was about to look away when the car window rolled down and revealed the bride’s delicate profile.

A face he knew all too well.

As if struck by a bolt of lightning, his smile froze and pupils contracted sharply.

“Annalise Wright!”