Chapter 54
+25 BONUS
Elara had fastened her long hair into a loose updo with a hairclip, letting a few strands fall naturally around her face, giving off an effortless elegance.
Dressed in a cashmere long dress that accentuated her graceful figure, she carried a leather document folder in one hand and a phone in the other,
Harvey rarely took her to formal events, so much so that at this moment, he couldn’t even recall what Elara looked like in an evening gown.
When she saw him, she didn’t acknowledge his presence. Instead, she walked straight up the courthouse steps, knowing they were heading to the same place anyway.
Harvey followed behind her, his deep voice cutting through the air.
“You could ask me for a favor. I could issue a statement to the commission to unfreeze your assets faster.”
He knew her predicament yet still positioned himself above her, offering help like it was a privilege she had to
earn.
That 60 million meant nothing to Harvey. But for Elara, it was the key to buying a home. Still, she didn’t acknowledge him.
His voice came again, calm but edged with warning.
“That amount of money moving through your account–people are watching. You were lucky to invest before the stock surge, but when the market shifts, the regulatory commission looks for someone to make an example of.
“If someone hands them an easy target, they won’t hesitate to take action, even if it means convicting an innocent party.”
Elara stopped in her tracks. She turned and met his gaze for the first time. “So, it was your rivals who reported me to the commission?”
Harvey tilted his chin slightly in confirmation.
She let out a soft laugh. “You must have known about the complaint in advance, but instead of warning me, you just sat back and watched, hoping I’d take the fall.”
For the first time, Harvey felt a twinge of discomfort. He was used to seeing through others, not the other way around.
Standing a step above him, Elara’s piercing gaze stripped away his façade, exposing his true intentions. He inexplicably felt somewhat uncomfortable.
“I already told you, your rich–wife trial period is over. I gave you 60 million, and I can take it back just as easily- whenever I feel like it.”
“Harvey Fisher! You signed the divorce agreement! You’re not even following its terms.”
“And what makes you think you’re in a position to negotiate with me?”
His words, laced with blatant ridicule, stabbed into her like a thousand tiny needles.
Love couldn’t be measured in money.
If she wanted compensation, it would be at Harvey’s discretion, a token of his goodwill–his gift to her. And she was expected to be grateful for it.
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Chapter 54
Harvey found her naïveté amusing. “You’re not worth 60 million to me. You’re not even worth a house.
425 BOTAS
“If you don’t like it, take me to court. Then you’ll see how much a housewife, a full–time mother, is worth in the eyes of the law.”
A name crossed his mind.
“Maybe Mr. Snapp can help you. But considering his feelings for you, do you think the court would allow him to be your defense attorney?”
Elara’s eyes widened.
She had been trying to free herself from the prison of the Fisher name, but Harvey had already been planning how to make her pay for it.
He wanted to sink his teeth into her, suffocate her, and force her to beg for mercy.
And there it was—the fear in her eyes. Exactly what he wanted. Fear was the first step to submission.
Harvey then decided to deliver the final blow.
“I showed your medical records to a doctor. They told me that after your miscarriage, it’s unlikely you’ll ever get pregnant again. Do you really think Theodore would still marry you?”
He expected his words to shatter her, to make her crumble.
Instead, she laughed at his words.
She had lost a child. And yet, all he cared about was whether she could still bear another.
“A husband is supposed to give me one of two things–love or money. You refused to give me either, so do me a favor and get lost.”
They sat across from the court official, who was reviewing their divorce paperwork.
After scanning the documents, the official looked up and said, “Your divorce application has been approved.” Beside her, Harvey’s deep voice rang out once more. “Are you sure about this? Don’t come crying back later.”
Chapter 55
