Chapter 11
Thad just woken up when I heard Cullen crying and shouting outside my door. Worried he’d disturb the neighbors, I had no choice but to let him in.
The moment he stepped inside, his eyes lit up.
“Elena_ you live in such a nice place now? That’s that’s wonderful.”
A cold smirk tugged at my lips.
During our marriage, we had lived in a cramped rental in the city’s slums. When I suggested buying a proper home, Cullen outright refused, spinning it as some noble sacrifice:
“As leaders, we must set an example of frugality for our employees. ”
“If everyone else rents, how can we buy a house and flaunt privilege?”
At the time, though something felt off, I was too buried in work to dwell on it.
Later, I discovered the truth–Cullen had bought Kim a luxury villa downtown
His extusp?
“Interns work so hard. As her boss, it’s my duty to support her.”
That “support” came in the form of a mansion.
Noticing my expression darken, Cullen quickly changed the subject.
“I came today to apologize. Truly
“Only now do I understand the pain of betrayal.”
“Back then, I thought your independence meant you didn’t love me With Kim… I felt needed, ”
I almost laughed. “So you’re not here out of remorse. You’re here because Kim discarded you.”
Caught, he forced an awkward smile. “It’s not like that… I took you for granted. Elena, I failed you and our baby. Please let me make it right!” Our baby.
He had no right to even mention the baby he’d killed.
Just then, his phone rang. After answering, his face paled.
“Elena -the doctors say Kim’s hysterics triggered residual snake venom! She and the baby might–Look, two lives are at stake! Wait for me, I’ll be back!
My patience
snapped. This time, I called the police.
Since calding over Cullen’s company, I’d audited every ledger. Tax evasion. Illegal operations. The scale of corruption horrifled me,
I’d planned to gather irrefutable evidence before strildng, but since he delivered himself to my doorstep, why wait?
Handcuffed, Cullen was shoved into a squad car,
With that weight lid, 1 threw myself into work. The shared trauma of the island had forged unshakable loyalty among our team. Profits tripled,
Once operations stabilized, reached out to the captain who’d saved us. Together, we transformed that cursed island into a famous resort
As for the venomous snakes, funded research teams to repurpose their toxins into life–saving drugs.
Years later, the once–desolate island bloomed with flowers. In a quiet comer, I placed a small toqubstone for my baby.
May your next life be gentle and full of love
Much later, news reached me: Cullen, freshly released from prison, dragged in to a ten–story rooftop.
Their bodies, emaclated and battered, suggested years of suffering
but that no longer concerned me
My future would be a radunt trip of myself.
