---- Chapter 14 Alexandra Smith POV: Gabriel moved with a speed that belied his age. He descended the stairs in three long strides and, before Edward could even react, landed a solid punch on his jaw. Edward staggered back, a look of stunned disbelief on his face. Gabriel didn't stop. He rained blows down on Edward, a controlled, furious assault that left my husband crumpled on the floor, groaning in pain. Two of Gabriel's security men followed him down, their presence an overwhelming show of force. "That's enough," | whispered, my voice hoarse. Gabriel immediately ceased his attack. He turned to me, his face a mask of anguish as he took in my battered and broken state. He gently helped me to my feet, his touch infinitely careful, and wrapped his own suit jacket around my shivering shoulders. "From this moment on," Gabriel said, his voice resonating with cold fury as he stared down at Edward, "every single dollar of my investment in Cardenas Corp is withdrawn. And you have one week to sign those divorce papers, or the next people who come through that door will be the police, with evidence of everything you've done." ---- He led me out of that dark, terrible place, his arm a steady, protective presence around me. "I'm so sorry, Alexandra," he murmured as he helped me into his waiting car. "| should never have let you marry him. | should have fought harder." "It's not your fault," | said, my head resting against his shoulder. "I was a fool." "No," he said firmly. "You were in love. And he took advantage of that." He paused, his expression grim. "The investigation into your mother's death has turned up something new. It wasn't just a random accident. It was a targeted hit. The man responsible was a long-haul truck driver." A truck driver. The pieces clicked into place with a horrifying certainty. "Dianne," | whispered. "She's been having an affair with a truck driver." Gabriel nodded grimly. "We believe your mother saw something she wasn't supposed to see. Something related to the death of Edward's biological mother. And Dianne had her silenced." The full, monstrous scope of their depravity was finally clear. This wasn't just about corporate espionage. It was about a web of murder and deceit that spanned decades. "Gabriel," | said, my voice shaking with a cold, hard rage, "I want the proof. | want irrefutable proof that Edward and his accomplices orchestrated the cyberattack on my car. | want proof that he knowingly and willingly murdered his own child." ---- A dark fire ignited in my soul, burning away the last vestiges of the woman | had been. The pain, the grief, the heartbreak-it all coalesced into a single, diamond-hard point of purpose. "| am going to burn his entire world to the ground," | vowed, my voice a low, chilling whisper. "| am going to make him suffer a thousand times more than he has made me suffer. And when he is broken, and bleeding, and begging for mercy at my feet, | am going to look him in the eye and show him none." Gabriel looked at me, his eyes filled not with judgment, but with a fierce, protective understanding. "Whatever you need, Alexandra," he said, his voice a solemn promise. "I'm with you. To the end." | spent the next few weeks recovering at Gabriel's estate, my body slowly mending under his careful watch. My mind, however, was working overtime, planning, strategizing, laying the groundwork for my revenge. Gabriel extended the divorce deadline, giving me time to put my pieces into place. Edward, blinded by arrogance and the drugs still coursing through his system, seemed unconcerned by the withdrawal of Gabriel's massive investment portfolio. He believed Cardenas Corp was untouchable. He believed he was invincible. He had no idea of the storm that was about to break. He had no idea that | was the storm. In "CEO, That Intern is Actually Your Wife" by CrushReel, delve into a captivating romance where a billionaire CEO becomes contractually linked to an unexpected partner. When faced with the urgent need to fund her grandmother's critical surgery, our protagonist finds herself in a unique situation—entering a one-year contract marriage with a stranger. As the story unfolds, themes of love, sacrifice, and the complexities of modern relationships come to light. The novel offers a fresh take on the familiar billionaire romance genre by exploring the dynamics of office relationships and the intricacies of contract lovers. Discover this modern tale of unexpected connections and heartfelt emotions, available to read at CrushReel.