Sweet Divorce

When Michael got Rita’s text, his pupils expanded, full of joy.

She’d agreed.

She’d agreed to marry him.

It was the result of a threat, yes, but Michael was happy as could be.

He typed up and deleted his message over and over until he simply sent out:

“Made up your mind?”

Soon, he received her reply.

“Yes. But I need half a month to settle everything I’ve got going with Liam and the Brown family. I’ll come register for marriage with you in half a month.”

Half a month?

Was Rita stalling?

That was a legitimate worry, but Michael agreed to it anyway.

Standing in front of his panel window, he swirled the wine in his hand, looking at the dark red liquid swishing about under his control, and smirked. “It’s just fifteen days. What can a little girl do in that time?”

Even if she had some kind of plan in this fortnight, he’d deal with it as they came.

This time, he was going to have her.

Not just the girl he liked, but everything the Browns, the Burkes and the Wilsons owed him, he was going to take it all back.

The age of the Wilson family’s monopoly over the city was finally over.

Michael sneered quietly, cold in his eyes as he drained his glass.

…

“Rita?”

Maybe because she hadn’t replied for a while, but Zoe had called her name again.

Only then did Rita take her eyes off the screen of her phone. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m fine.”

“Really?” Zoe was clearly not relieved.

for phone, smiling. “Relax. I’m

more mature and reliable, but now, seeing her keep her troubles close

reddening, Zoe tugged at Rita’s hand. “If you don’t want to forgive Charlotte, then don’t! You’ll have

say that, before Rita could reply, Amelia

like this house isn’t in enough shambles, Zoe? As their mother, are you

or less quite scared of Amelia’s wrath, but she took a deep breath, gathered her courage and stepped in front of Rita. “Don’t you understand, Mom? Ever since Charlotte broke Rita’s leg, they’d long since been

been married into the brown family, this was the first time she’d stood

moment the words emerged,

she had never seen her mother so tall and secure.

turned the color of beetroot. Thoroughly enraged, she drew her hand back to slap

grabbed the old woman by the wrist,

said it. She wouldn’t allow the Brown family to keep her mother down

her by blood or not, Zoe had brought her

brow darkened. “What, I can’t even discipline

“I have the right to protect my mother as

to stink of

Rita, your grandma just doesn’t want to see the Brown family split apart. That’s why

glanced apologetically towards Zoe, her sharp, experienced eyes landing on the girl again.

own gut was unmoved. “Then who’s there

get out of prison, I’ll have some people escort her out of the country. She’ll never set foot in the city again

Rita refused bluntly, “No!”

Rita wasn’t open to negotiation at all, the last

pocket and laid it against her wrist. “I’m telling you now, Rita, if you don’t promise

drew the blade an inch across her

and

to his knees. “What are you

If Rita doesn’t agree, I’ll die right here.” Amelia capitalized on Noah’s love for her and deliberately stuck the knife in deeper

nerve with Amelia putting

father, with his

instant Noah turned to look at her, she spoke first instead. “That slick show of yours might work on my Dad, but not me!

expected that approach. Instead of agreeing, Rita

to consider. She wasn’t about to show weakness in front of Rita. “You – you really think I won’t with my

dear Charlotte, the sole bloodline of the Brown family, is going to rot in prison.” Rita paused, then looked sideways at Amelia and sneered. “So whether you want to live or die is up to you, but I

a case for Charlotte to be let

for nothing. Charlotte has to pay her dues to the law, and spend not one less day

brought all of

get her out of prison, maybe you should just tell Charlotte to behave herself in there. Maybe she’ll get points for exemplary behavior and get let out

were even, but every word she spoke

to never back down, Amelia gave up entirely. She shuddered twice, and with a