Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 84: The Last Goodbye

I heard the notification of an incoming message, and I really hoped it was Alec, but my arms refused to cooperate. Fortunately, my vocal cords did.

"Bea! Help!"

Like the best friend she was, Bea rushed to my side. We decided the best plan of action was to soak in a warm Epsom salt bath. It was the best decision ever. By the time the water cooled, the sore muscles relaxed, and I could dress myself without whimpering.

And then I was all over my phone. I had two text messages. One from King confirming when he’d be here. Good. I had a little time. And one from Alec.

Alec: Good morning. How are you?

Teela: Good morning. Happy to hear from you.

Alec: Late sleeper?

Teela: No. I’ve been up for a while.

Alec: I’ve been thinking about that kiss.

I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. Whether he liked the kiss or not, he’d been thinking of me.

Teela: Yeah?

Alec: I think we can improve on it with practice.

Teela: I admit to a lack of practice.

Alec: Should I add it to our regular training routine?

Teela: What would Angie think?

Alec: That I’m a lucky man.

Teela: And your mom?

Alec: We won’t tell her until we perfect our technique.

King texted me with a five-minute ETA.

Teela: Hey, I’ve got to go. Have a great day.

Alec: You, too. It’s going to be one long week.

What a terrific way to start my day.

Invigorated, I double-timed it to the common living area and let everyone know King was on his way with Drake.

We met King in the sanctuary. He walked in next to a taller, thinner version of Davon.

Drake was fidgety. He pulled the sleeves of his flannel shirt down over nasty red welts that marked his wrists. He looked past me as he searched for Jake and Davon. The second he spotted his family, he dashed into their arms.

I watched the heartfelt family reunion with tears in my eyes, and I wasn’t the only one. Bea hugged me as she gulped back tears.

Bea said, "Teela, we did it. We really did it. Why didn’t you tell me that being a hacker was so rewarding? I would have given up honest employment years ago."

"Moments like this are worth all the money in the world."

Jake got his happily ever after, and I helped—we all did. I was so happy for him. Now, he could get his life back on track. I hoped that didn’t mean he was leaving us. I hadn’t known Jake long, but I knew for sure he’d leave a hole in my heart if he chose to leave.

King handed me an accordion folder. "The names and locations, as promised."

"Thank you."

I handed the folder off to CK. We had one more boy to find before we could wrap this horror story up and move on with our lives.

King handed me a manilla envelope. "Our divorce decree. The judge insisted on a settlement. Ten million for every year we were married.

"I don’t want it. Use it to set up a trust for the victims."

"You’re too late. The attorneys have been working overtime to set up a trust. It is part of the strategy to prevent some of the potential lawsuits coming our way."

Fine. I could take the thirty million and set up college funds for our boys. The rest I’d invest in Bea’s business and my retirement.

Retirement. It was hard to think of retirement when I’d put my career on hold and was just now working as a full-fledged adult, but it was an eventuality, and I didn’t have anyone to support me in my old age. I didn’t want to become my mother, who had to sell off assets just to sustain our modest way of life when she fell ill. I didn’t want my child to have to supplement my savings to make sure I got the care I needed to survive a medical crisis.

It wasn’t that I minded doing it for my mom, but a child shouldn’t have to take care of a parent, especially when a divorce settlement the size of the one King gifted me could make a difference in the long run.

"Anything else?" I asked King, eager to cut this visit short. I didn’t feel comfortable with him in my safe space.

"No, I guess not."

"You should go then. We won’t keep you."

It pissed me off that he looked upset at my dismissal, but wasn’t that what he did to me? When things got tough, King had chosen his family and his business over me. I got kicked to the curb. I bet, in King’s mind, it was for my own good.

I didn’t buy it. He took the easy way out. I was the piece that didn’t fit, so he threw me away after neglecting me forever and a day.

And just when I thought we were finally working toward a reconciliation.

Geez, I needed to add a lot more sugar to my coffee for a long time to get over all these bitter emotions.

I turned away, for sure King could find his own way out.

King

So that was it? King had cut all ties with Teela. He should feel better now, but he felt as if someone had cut off some vital part of him. It was for the best, though. Teela would be in an awkward position if she stayed in the family, especially if she was called to testify against Daniel.

Besides, she had betrayed him. Teela spilled family secrets to the press that weren’t hers to tell. Not to mention, she made him look like a fool with all that Night Shadows business. At any time, she could have set him down and had a serious conversation with him. What did she think he would do if he found out she was Night Shadows? Not hire her? Anyone who was lucky enough to hire Night Shadows was fortunate. He could think of way too many people who would marry her just for her hacker skills.

Instead, King divorced her, in part, for those same skills. What kind of fool did that make him?

Maybe in a year or two, after Daniel’s trial and Mom’s condition stabilized, he would try to win her back. She’d wait that long to find someone new, wouldn’t she?

King’s phone rang as the driver opened the door to his car. He didn’t usually pick up calls from an unknown caller, but his mind wasn’t on the call. It was still in the church with Teela and that kicked-puppy look she’d given him as she’d dismissed him. He’d never forget that look.

"King, it’s Nan."

"Nan? Why are you calling me?"

"I need your help. I don’t have anywhere else to turn, and your phone number is one of the few I remember, and you’re the only one to pick up my call."

Teela had destroyed Nan’s identity. In essence, his ex-personal secretary and lover didn’t exist. What did Nan expect him to do about it?

"I picked up by accident. What do you need?"

"I’ve got nowhere to go. No money. I can’t even catch a plane back home. I was sleeping on a friend’s couch, but I’ve worn out my welcome. I was hoping, for old time’s sake, that I could stay at the corporate apartment until Teela forgives me."

"I don’t care," King said.

"You don’t care if I use the apartment, or you don’t care about me anymore."

King could hear the pout in her voice. It annoyed him.

"Do whatever you want with the apartment, but stay out of my sight and Teela’s. She’ll do what she says if she catches you around me."

"Just another few days, and she promised if I am good, she’d make me whole again. Fingers crossed I can be good."

King considered blocking Nan’s new number, but then thought better of it. He was alone now. Why would Teela care who he slept with? At least Nan was a safe bed partner and readily available.

"Oh, and King, I could use some walking around money to tide me over. You know, for groceries and stuff."

"I’ll courier a package to the apartment."

"Could I ask for one more little favor?"

King sighed. There was always one more little thing with Nan. "Say it."

"Could you send a driver over to help me with my stuff?"

"Fine."

King hung up his phone. Tomorrow, she’d want to update her wardrobe and come back to work. Tomorrow night, she would ask him for a ride home. Then she would want him to come in just for a minute. That would lead to touching and the touching would lead to other things. And the whole time, Nan would think she was playing him. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

In reality, it was quid pro quo tension relief, and he could really use the relief right now.