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.

away for phone,

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

want to

say that, before Rita could reply, Amelia

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

of Amelia’s wrath, but she took a deep breath, gathered her courage and stepped in front of

Zoe had been married into the brown family, this was the first time

the words emerged, everyone drew

Zoe standing in front of her. For that second, she had never seen her mother so

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

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

Brown family to

blood or not, Zoe had brought her

arm trapped, Amelia’s brow darkened. “What, I

right to protect

stink of gunpowder. The keg

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

glanced apologetically towards Zoe, her sharp, experienced eyes landing on the girl again. “You have to understand, child,

was playing up the gut punch factor again. Her own gut was unmoved. “Then who’s there to

long as Charlotte can get out of prison, I’ll have

Rita refused bluntly, “No!”

wasn’t open to negotiation at all, the last vestiges of

you now, Rita, if you don’t

drew the blade an inch across her skin. Crimson blood

that, Zoe and Noah

are you doing, Mom? Put –

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

expected, Noah lost his nerve

with his blind love, was

the instant Noah turned to look at her, she spoke first instead. “That slick show of yours might work on my

approach. Instead of agreeing, Rita had put

consider. She wasn’t about to show weakness in front of Rita. “You – you

Rita paused, then looked sideways at Amelia and sneered. “So whether you want

make a case for Charlotte

dad couldn’t have gone through hell for nothing. Charlotte has to pay her dues

brought all of this

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

even, but every word

sensing her willpower to never back down, Amelia gave up entirely. She shuddered twice, and with