Chapter 13
Sally tried to yank her hand free, but Brad was too strong; she couldn’t shake his grip.
She had no choice but to let him pull her into the living room.
It was the weekend, the housekeeper’s day off. The room was empty, just the two of them.
Brad pushed her onto the couch and sat across from her. He grabbed a coffee mug and poured himself a cup.
“You owe me an explanation for this divorce,” he said, not even looking up. “So, what’s the deal?”
Sally’s lips twisted into a cold smirk. “You know it more than I do.”
Brad slammed the coffee pot onto the marble table, his eyes snapping to her blank expression.
“Bang!” The heavy thud bounced around the quiet room.
The whole room seemed to be buzzing.
Sally, have you thought about how tough life’s gonna be after a divorce?” he said, his voice sharp. “You’re an ex–con. Hate to say it, but no one’s rushing to hire someone with a record.”
Sally let out a sharp, bitter laugh.
She wasn’t planning to beg for jobs; she was going to build her own thing, make her own way.
“All this talk,” she said, standing up, “and it’s just because you’re worried Grandpa will kick you and Nick out.”
She straightened, her voice calm. “Don’t stress. I’ll call him myself and sort it out. This won’t touch you or your precious Miss Yasmin. I’ll handle it alone.”
She turned to walk away.
“Did I say you could leave?” Brad’s voice was low, edged with menace. He jumped up, closing the gap.
Sally kept moving, her steps steady. “Mr. Zale, just sign the papers already.”
Her words barely hit before his hand grabbed her arm from behind.
In a split second, she was off the ground again.
Brad tossed her back onto the couch, his long legs straddling her waist. One knee sank into the cushion as he pinned her wrists against the backrest, locking her in place.
Sally couldn’t budge.
They’d had their sweet moments before, sure, but those were usually her starting things, soft and quick.
This? This was something else entirely.
She glared up at him, on edge. “What the hell are you doing?”
“You’re staying here at Orchard Villa until Grandpa’s calmed down,” he said, his voice heavy. “You’re not going anywhere, and you’re not getting my signature until then.”
His amber eyes flashed, steady but intense, like a storm about to break.
“You’ve got no right to keep me here,” Sally snapped, twisting against his grip. “Let go.”
Brad acted like he didn’t hear her, his hold as tight as ever.
Just then, a voice cut through the tension. “Brad, roughing up your soon–to–be ex in broad daylight? Not worried about dragging the Zale name through the mud?”
A deep, commanding voice sliced through the room from the front door.
1/3
10:22 AM C
Chapter 13
Both of them turned. Sally’s breath hitched as she saw who it was.
It was Jaxon.
“What’s he doing here?‘ Brad wondered.
Brad let go of her instantly, stepping back and standing. “Jaxon? What are you doing here?”
Sally sat up, smoothing her messy hair without thinking.
“I heard father was on a rampage yesterday,” Jaxon said, his tone easy. “Figured I’d drop by since I had time.
“Nick stayed over at the family house last night, and when he saw me heading back, he begged to come along.”
His eyes flicked to Sally on the couch, meeting hers for a brief moment before looking away.
When his Maybach had rolled into the driveway, he’d heard the shouting and sent his assistant, Caleb, to take Nick to the back garden.
“Where’s Nick now?” Brad asked.
Jaxon frowned. “With you two going at it like this, you think I’d bring the kid in here?”
Jaxon slipped his hands into his pockets and sat across from Sally.
Her eyes lingered on him, his presence seeming to draw the whole room in.
Brad poured him a coffee. “I’m just trying to talk divorce with her. You know how mad Grandpa was last night. I need to keep him cool first.”
Jaxon glanced at the coffee but didn’t touch it.
His voice was calm, almost sharp. “If you’re dead–set on splitting, why care what anyone else thinks?”
Brad froze, his words stuck in his throat.
The truth was, most of his business empire was built on the his family–Howard’s legacy, to be exact.
The old man’s backing had been key to his success, and his opinions were too heavy to brush off.
“I’ll call Howard later and sort this out,” Sally said, standing quickly. “I’m the one pushing for the divorce, I admit that. Stop making this harder than it has to be.”
She didn’t look back, heading straight for the door.
Jaxon showing up was the perfect chance to get out.
If she didn’t leave now, she might actually get stuck at Orchard Villa for the night.
Brad watched her go, his grip on the coffee mug tightening for a moment.
He started to say something, but Jaxon’s cold stare shut him down.
Swallowing his words, he turned to Jaxon instead. “Since you’re here, why not stay for dinner tonight?”
“Another time. I’ve got stuff to take care of,” said Jaxon as he stood and followed Sally out.
Just then, a kid’s voice came through. “Mom, what are you doing here?”
Sally hit the doorway just as Nick popped up out of nowhere.
The word ‘mom stung her ears, and a bitter smirk pulled at her lips.
Nick knew how to play the room, but Brad was acting clueless.
That was just pathetic.
2/3
Chapter 13
“Just had to talk to your dad about something. I’m heading out now,” said Sally.
Before Nick could say anything, she walked off.
Nick watched her leave, a weird weight settling in his chest.
Part of him wanted to call out, to make her stop. Yet he was actually a bit afraid. ‘If I call out, and she actually stays–what then?
He didn’t want her around in this place.
Plus, Lena was picking him up for school tomorrow. If Sally was here, that wouldn’t happen.
So he kept quiet, letting her go.
Sally left the yard and flagged down a cab to head home.
As Jaxon’s Maybach pulled out of the driveway, she was already sliding into the taxi.
Through the windshield, he saw her get in before the car sped off.
Caleb, catching Jaxon’s dark look in the rearview mirror, spoke carefully. “Mr. Zale, is there something you wanted to say to Sally? Should I catch up to her?”
“No need.” Jaxon looked away, his focus shifting to the tablet in his hand.
A second later, like a thought hit him, he glanced up at Caleb. “That crystal sculptor, Hazel–still no word on her today?”
“No, sir,” Caleb said quietly. “Nothing today.”
Jaxon’s voice dropped. “When was the last time she was seen? Three years ago, right? When exactly?”
AD
