Chapter 5
I didn't push him that night. I went back to the guest room with my legs still unsteady and my head full of questions.
The next morning I woke up to three things:
A text from my lawyer: Marcus had officially filed for divorce.
A text from my mother: *Naomi needs support right now. Don't be selfish, Elena.*
And a news alert on my phone: **Ashford Group acquires majority stake in Sterling Development.**
Sterling Development. Marcus's company.
I walked out into the kitchen where Kade was dressed for work — charcoal suit, open collar, looking like he'd stepped off a magazine cover.
I held up my phone.
"You bought my ex-husband's company?"
Kade poured coffee, expression neutral.
"I acquired a majority stake in a struggling development firm. It's a good investment."
"You didn't think to mention that Marcus works there?"
"Marcus doesn't work there. Marcus owns thirty percent." He looked at me over his mug. "Or he did. As of this morning, I'm his majority shareholder. His boss, if you want to put it bluntly."
I stared at him.
"Kade. What are you doing?"
"Building my portfolio."
"Bullshit. You're playing chess with my ex-husband's life."
Something flickered behind his eyes — not guilt. Satisfaction.
"And if I am?"
My phone rang. Marcus.
I picked up because I wanted to hear it.
"Elena." His voice was thin, reedy. Panicked. "Did you — do you know Kade Ashford? The one who just — who just bought into Sterling?"
"Why?"
"Because he's gutting my board! He's replacing my people! Elena — did you put him up to this?"
I looked at Kade, who was leaning against the counter, sipping his coffee, watching me with a slight curve to his mouth.
"Marcus. I don't control what Kade Ashford does with his money."
"Elena, please — if you have any influence — this man is going to destroy me—"
"Funny. You didn't worry about destroying me three days ago."
I hung up.
Kade set his mug down.
"For the record — I would have bought Sterling regardless. The company has good bones. Marcus just happens to be dead weight."
I crossed my arms.
"And this has nothing to do with the fact that he's my ex."
"I didn't say that." Kade picked up his keys. "I said the company has good bones."
He paused by the door.
"Elena. I have a thing for you I've never gotten over. I'm not pretending otherwise. But I'm not going to burn down a man's life just for revenge."
A beat.
"I'll burn it down because it's profitable. The revenge is a bonus."
He left.
I stood in the kitchen for a long time after that, processing.
This wasn't the struggling student I'd left behind. This was someone who operated on an entirely different level — someone who moved through the world like it was a board game and he could see twelve moves ahead.
It should have scared me. It didn't.
That afternoon, I went to meet with a divorce attorney. I wanted what was mine — the $200,000 renovation, my share of joint assets, and a clean break.
The attorney was optimistic.
"Given the adultery and the evidence — he announced it publicly, correct? — you're in a very strong position, Mrs. Lane."
"Ms. Voss," I corrected. I was taking my name back.
When I got home — I was already thinking of it as home, which was its own problem — Naomi was in the lobby.
She looked polished. Perfect makeup, fitted dress, innocent smile.
"Elena! I've been trying to reach you. Can we talk?"
The doorman looked at me questioningly.
"She's not welcome up," I told him. I turned to Naomi. "Talk. Here. You have sixty seconds."
Her smile wobbled.
"Sis — I know you're angry. But Marcus and I, we're starting a family. I need you to release the renovation claim. It's stressing him out, and stress isn't good for the baby."
The sheer gall of it took my breath away.
"You want me to hand over $200,000 so your pregnancy is less stressful?"
"It's not about money. It's about family—"
"You slept with my husband. You destroyed my marriage. You moved into my bedroom. We are not family anymore."
Her eyes went hard for just a flash — then slid back into wounded puppy mode.
"Fine. But just know — Mom agrees with me. And the whole family thinks you're being vindictive."
"Then the whole family can pay your bills. Get out."
She left. The doorman looked vaguely traumatized.
Upstairs, I poured myself a glass of wine and sat on the couch where Kade had been inside me sixteen hours ago.
My phone buzzed. Kade.
*Dinner tonight? I have something to tell you.*
*The thing you've been hiding?* I texted back.
*Yes.*
My stomach knotted.
*Okay. Where?*
*Home. I'll cook. 8pm.*
The next morning I woke up to three things:
A text from my lawyer: Marcus had officially filed for divorce.
A text from my mother: *Naomi needs support right now. Don't be selfish, Elena.*
And a news alert on my phone: **Ashford Group acquires majority stake in Sterling Development.**
Sterling Development. Marcus's company.
I walked out into the kitchen where Kade was dressed for work — charcoal suit, open collar, looking like he'd stepped off a magazine cover.
I held up my phone.
"You bought my ex-husband's company?"
Kade poured coffee, expression neutral.
"I acquired a majority stake in a struggling development firm. It's a good investment."
"You didn't think to mention that Marcus works there?"
"Marcus doesn't work there. Marcus owns thirty percent." He looked at me over his mug. "Or he did. As of this morning, I'm his majority shareholder. His boss, if you want to put it bluntly."
I stared at him.
"Kade. What are you doing?"
"Building my portfolio."
"Bullshit. You're playing chess with my ex-husband's life."
Something flickered behind his eyes — not guilt. Satisfaction.
"And if I am?"
My phone rang. Marcus.
I picked up because I wanted to hear it.
"Elena." His voice was thin, reedy. Panicked. "Did you — do you know Kade Ashford? The one who just — who just bought into Sterling?"
"Why?"
"Because he's gutting my board! He's replacing my people! Elena — did you put him up to this?"
I looked at Kade, who was leaning against the counter, sipping his coffee, watching me with a slight curve to his mouth.
"Marcus. I don't control what Kade Ashford does with his money."
"Elena, please — if you have any influence — this man is going to destroy me—"
"Funny. You didn't worry about destroying me three days ago."
I hung up.
Kade set his mug down.
"For the record — I would have bought Sterling regardless. The company has good bones. Marcus just happens to be dead weight."
I crossed my arms.
"And this has nothing to do with the fact that he's my ex."
"I didn't say that." Kade picked up his keys. "I said the company has good bones."
He paused by the door.
"Elena. I have a thing for you I've never gotten over. I'm not pretending otherwise. But I'm not going to burn down a man's life just for revenge."
A beat.
"I'll burn it down because it's profitable. The revenge is a bonus."
He left.
I stood in the kitchen for a long time after that, processing.
This wasn't the struggling student I'd left behind. This was someone who operated on an entirely different level — someone who moved through the world like it was a board game and he could see twelve moves ahead.
It should have scared me. It didn't.
That afternoon, I went to meet with a divorce attorney. I wanted what was mine — the $200,000 renovation, my share of joint assets, and a clean break.
The attorney was optimistic.
"Given the adultery and the evidence — he announced it publicly, correct? — you're in a very strong position, Mrs. Lane."
"Ms. Voss," I corrected. I was taking my name back.
When I got home — I was already thinking of it as home, which was its own problem — Naomi was in the lobby.
She looked polished. Perfect makeup, fitted dress, innocent smile.
"Elena! I've been trying to reach you. Can we talk?"
The doorman looked at me questioningly.
"She's not welcome up," I told him. I turned to Naomi. "Talk. Here. You have sixty seconds."
Her smile wobbled.
"Sis — I know you're angry. But Marcus and I, we're starting a family. I need you to release the renovation claim. It's stressing him out, and stress isn't good for the baby."
The sheer gall of it took my breath away.
"You want me to hand over $200,000 so your pregnancy is less stressful?"
"It's not about money. It's about family—"
"You slept with my husband. You destroyed my marriage. You moved into my bedroom. We are not family anymore."
Her eyes went hard for just a flash — then slid back into wounded puppy mode.
"Fine. But just know — Mom agrees with me. And the whole family thinks you're being vindictive."
"Then the whole family can pay your bills. Get out."
She left. The doorman looked vaguely traumatized.
Upstairs, I poured myself a glass of wine and sat on the couch where Kade had been inside me sixteen hours ago.
My phone buzzed. Kade.
*Dinner tonight? I have something to tell you.*
*The thing you've been hiding?* I texted back.
*Yes.*
My stomach knotted.
*Okay. Where?*
*Home. I'll cook. 8pm.*