Beneath it, he’d added a note:
I booked another option. It departs tonight at 9 PM. Please—make this one.
A faint smile touched my lips.
I typed back quickly:
Thank you. I’m sorry I missed the last flight.
His reply came almost instantly:
What really happened that day? You don’t have to protect me.
My fingers hovered.
Sebastian had always been my shield. If he knew the truth, he’d launch a legal war—and I didn’t want more blood on my conscience.
So I answered:
I’ll explain later. I just need to leave first.
Leaving was all that mattered now.
Up front, Zachary laughed softly, apologizing to Nina over something trivial, playing the attentive partner. Yet I felt his gaze flick toward me, waiting for a reaction.
I gave him nothing.
Irritation flashed in his eyes. He hated being ignored.
“You’ve been glued to your phone since we got in,” he snapped. “Who are you talking to?”
“Just catching up on the news,” I replied calmly, eyes on my boarding pass.
He didn’t believe me.
Without warning, he reached back and yanked the phone from my hands.
Anger surged—hot, clean, undeniable.
“What’s the passcode?” he demanded.
I smiled faintly. “The day we met. The day I made the worst mistake of my life. You were charming for about five minutes. After that? Pure arrogance.”
He scowled and tried.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Locked.
Nina leaned over, her voice syrupy with mock pity. “Let it go, babe. It’s not like she has anyone left to talk to. Or any pride. Who would even bother responding to her now?”
She winked at me.
I stared back, silent.
And in that moment, something settled into place with absolute clarity.
They thought I was broken.
They had no idea I was already planning my escape—and what would come after.
Avery’s POV
When the car rolled through the iron gates of the estate, Don Zachary didn’t spare me a glance.
His attention was fixed entirely on the woman clinging to his arm.
He guided his nauseated mistress up the marble steps toward the master suite, his palm firm at her lower back, steering her as if she were something fragile—and precious. He barked instructions to the chef to prepare her favorite dishes, then lingered at the doorway longer than necessary, watching her settle into the bed that had once been mine, waiting for her smile like a man desperate for approval.
Only when he turned to head downstairs did he finally notice me.