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

that Rita could be a bit more mature and reliable, but now, seeing her keep her troubles close to her chest and take on the world

hand. “If you don’t want to forgive Charlotte, then

say that, before Rita could reply, Amelia

house isn’t in enough shambles, Zoe? As their mother, are you trying to turn these sisters against each other?” Amelia glared

she took a deep breath, gathered her courage and stepped in front of Rita. “Don’t you

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

the words emerged, everyone

a skinny Zoe standing in front of her. For that second, she had

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

quick. She reached out, grabbed the old woman by the

the Brown

or not,

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

have the right to protect my mother as

seemed to stink of gunpowder. The keg was

backed down first. “Look, Rita, your grandma just doesn’t want to see

sharp, experienced eyes landing on the girl again. “You have to understand, child, it’s not

gut punch factor again. Her own gut was unmoved. “Then who’s there to understand how

impossible for you to forgive Charlotte, Rita. I’m not asking for much. So long as Charlotte can get out of prison, I’ll have some people

Rita refused bluntly, “No!”

wasn’t open to negotiation at all, the

a kitchen knife from her pocket and laid it against her wrist. “I’m telling you now, Rita, if you don’t promise to let

drew the blade an inch across her skin. Crimson blood

that, Zoe and Noah

his knees. “What are you doing, Mom?

die right here.” Amelia capitalized on Noah’s love for her and deliberately

nerve with Amelia

knew that her father, with his blind love, was

turned to look at her, she spoke first instead. “That slick show of

expected that approach. Instead of agreeing, Rita had put her on

to show weakness in front of

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 can tell you this

less make a case for

leg can’t have been broken for nothing. My dad couldn’t have gone through hell for nothing. Charlotte has to pay her dues to the law, and spend not one less day she

brought all of this on

just tell Charlotte to behave herself in there. Maybe she’ll get

even, but every word she spoke

down, Amelia gave up entirely. She shuddered twice, and with a