Chase's expression darkened . " Dominic Faulkner ? What the hell is she doing with him ?! " His assistant hesitated for a second . " Sir , it seems they're ... rather close . They don't act like just friends . Do you think ... Mrs. Whitmore might've moved on ? " Bang ! Chase slammed his fist into the column beside him . " No way ! She's my wife ! She wouldn't just run off with another man ! " The assistant handed over a folder . " But sir ... she filed for divorce days ago . The papers are all there - assets , custody , everything's spelled out . " Chase snatched the file and skimmed it - then flung it across the room in rage . " No ! " He shouted like a man in denial . " She would never divorce me ! Nora loves me ! She can't live without me ! She wouldn't leave me ! Not Nora . Not ever . " " S - Sir , the documents are- " Before the assistant could finish , Chase erupted again . He tore the divorce papers into shreds . " If I don't sign - we're still married . She's still mine ! " His eyes gleamed with desperate certainty . " Yeah . That's right . As long as I don't sign , we're still married . She can't go anywhere . " " I don't care if she hides at the ends of the earth - Nora Langston belongs to me . Always has . Always will ! " He broke into laughter - shaky , hollow , unhinged . Then came the sobs . Chapter 11 27.27 % That night , Chase collapsed onto the floor , drunk out of his mind . He downed glass after glass , until tears and whiskey tasted the same . He was overwhelmed by regret . Crushing , gut - twisting regret . Why hadn't he stopped Camila from hurting Nora ? Why had he treated her like she didn't matter ? He used to think she'd never leave him - no matter what . Turns out , he hadn't just been wrong - he'd been blind . Half - dreaming , half - drunk , he saw flashes of their wedding . The day they got married , his company had been on the brink of collapse . Nora had brought a third of the Langston family's shares into the marriage - singlehandedly saving his empire from ruin . She never once boasted about it . Never used it to hold anything over him . To the world , she always said she'd married for love . But he knew better . What love had he ever given her in return ? In all those years of marriage , he never once remembered their anniversary . Never remembered her birthday . Never cared about her cycle , her likes , her needs . Even the way she took her coffee . Nothing . She went to so much trouble planning little surprises ... and he always bailed with the same excuse . " I'm busy . " He was trash . Chapter 11 27.27 % And he knew it . Suddenly , through the haze of liquor and shame , a thought struck him- Nora was just angry . That's why she left . She was mad he'd ignored her . Mad he brought Camila into their home . If he just cut Camila off and proved his sincerity , Nora would come back . She had to . Fueled by that thought , Chase stumbled to his feet and grabbed his phone . " Find a few guys . Kidnap Camila . " " Make her kneel for five hours . Then dump her in the lake . Then- " " Then soak her with freezing water . And get someone to sleep with her . " His voice was cruel and steady . " Film everything . I want Nora to see it . It's the only way she'll forgive me . " He hung up . In his mind , Nora had already forgiven him . She'd see the footage . She'd come running back . Just like always . She loved him that much . She'd be thrilled to know he punished Camila . She'd come back and be Mrs. Whitmore again . Chase lifted his glass and kept drinking . One shot after another . Faulkner Estate Upstairs , in the master bedroom . Nora had finally slept through the night . After everything she'd endured , she finally had a moment of peace . Chapter 11 27.27 % Just as she was waking up , Dominic walked in with a document . " This is the bid proposal the Whitmore Group is fighting tooth and nail for . Interested in taking a look ? " " Sure . Nora took the folder and immediately began circling potential loopholes in the Whitmore plan . The day she'd arrived at the Faulkner Estate , Dominic had gotten straight to the point : " I'm CEO of Faulkner Group - your ex - husband's biggest competitor . " " We share a common enemy . Interested in becoming allies ? " She'd said yes without hesitation . The enemy of her enemy was her friend . He'd looked at her for a moment then - eyes dark , unreadable - but didn't press . " Pleasure doing business . " " Pleasure , " she replied . They shook hands . Her palm was burning hot , and she quickly pulled away . She could've sworn he chuckled softly to himself - like he was in an oddly good mood . " Your injuries - any lingering pain ? " Dominic asked suddenly . Nora paused , not used to him showing concern . " Oh ... better . I'm fine now . " He nodded . " You know Whitmore Group better than I do . I want you with me at the bidding conference . " Nora hesitated . " Will Chase be there ? " " Very likely . But I'll be there too . " Chapter 11