"Alright, enough catching up." I placed the share transfer agreement on the desk. "Ms. Gilbert, one share for one million dollars. Seventy shares total. Seven billion. Not a penny more, not a penny less."

Melody smiled and produced her own share transfer agreement, setting it on the desk beside mine.

I frowned. "What's this supposed to mean?"

"A share swap."

She pointed at the agreement I'd brought, then at the one she'd laid out.

"I could scrape together seven billion to buy your shares, but it would shatter Gilbert Group's cash flow overnight. I don't do deals that destroy me just to win."

"So here's my offer: my seventy percent of Gilbert Group for your seventy percent of Simmons Corp. You agree, and starting today, you become Gilbert Group's majority shareholder with absolute authority. You won't be getting the short end of this deal."

I froze. I hadn't expected Melody to propose a share swap. But she was right. This deal didn't shortchange me at all.

"Aren't you worried I'll just turn around and sell off the Gilbert shares the moment the ink dries?"

"You won't."

She shook her head, her tone carrying absolute certainty.

"You nearly threw your life away to save Bella Simmons, and then you sat on a mountain of gold—seventy percent of Simmons Corp—for five years without touching a cent. That tells me everything I need to know about the kind of man you are."

I fell silent.

With Bella—my wife—all I'd ever felt was deception and manipulation. Yet here, with Melody—my wife's sworn rival—all I felt was genuine sincerity.

The irony was almost too bitter to swallow.

I exhaled slowly and extended my hand. "Ms. Gilbert, I look forward to working together."

"A pleasure doing business!"

Melody's lips curved into a dazzling smile.

With the deal settled, I asked, "Any interest in watching a good show tonight, Ms. Gilbert?"

Her eyes lit up.

"A show starring Bella Simmons? I'm very interested."

That evening, Melody and I arrived together at Simmons Corp headquarters.

The moment Bella spotted us, her expression shifted. She strode over, latched onto my arm, and fixed Melody with a hard stare.

"What are you doing here? I don't recall sending you an invitation."

Melody glanced down at Bella's fingers digging into my arm, amusement playing across her face. "Your husband invited me. Why? Am I not welcome?"

Bella whipped her head toward me, eyes wide with disbelief. "Honey, is that true?"