Chapter 6 - THE DAY I STOPPED BEING HIS WIFE
Camden Reed entered my living room as though he still owned every square inch of it.
Sloane followed in a cream-colored designer suit.
Her diamond engagement ring caught the light.
I looked at the ring.
Then at my own wedding band.
Three years.
Three years of dinners, holidays, compromises, and believing the man beside me was building a future with me.
Apparently, he was building one with someone else.
"Nora," Camden began.
I folded my arms.
"Camden."
He glanced toward Vivian.
"Why is your attorney here?"
"Because I invited her."
Sloane smiled tightly.
"Let's keep this civilized."
I looked at her.
"An excellent suggestion."
Camden stepped forward.
"We need the Harbor House keys."
"No."
He blinked.
"What?"
"No."
Sloane's smile disappeared.
"Nora, the wedding planners have already paid deposits."
"Then you'll need to discuss refunds with them."
Camden sighed.
"You're being vindictive."
I smiled faintly.
"I'm being accurate about property ownership."
He crossed his arms.
"You're still my wife."
I looked at him.
"Unfortunately, yes."
Sloane flinched.
Camden's face reddened.
"We're getting divorced."
"We will. Through attorneys. With proper financial disclosures."
He laughed bitterly.
"You think you're going to take my money?"
I stared.
"Camden, you came here demanding keys to my grandmother's property."
For a moment, he looked almost embarrassed.
Then Sloane intervened.
"Harbor House is part of our wedding contract."
Vivian spoke for the first time.
"That contract appears to rely on a forged trust authorization."
Sloane went pale.
Camden looked sharply at her.
"What?"
Vivian placed a copy of the document on the table.
"The authorization bears Mrs. Reed's purported signature and the Whitcomb crest."
Camden stared.
Then looked toward me.
"You signed that."
I shook my head.
"No."
His expression changed.
"Sloane told me—"
She interrupted.
"Camden!"
The room went silent.
I looked between them.
"Interesting."
Sloane's face tightened.
"You're twisting this."
Vivian remained calm.
"We've preserved the relevant records and reported the apparent forgery."
Camden looked frightened now.
Genuinely frightened.
He turned toward Sloane.
"What did you do?"
She stared at him.
"Don't start."
I felt a strange detachment.
For months, I'd imagined confronting the woman who destroyed my marriage.
I'd pictured shouting.
Crying.
Demanding explanations.
Now I simply wanted them out of my house.
"Camden," I said quietly, "you need to leave."
He looked at me.
"Nora—"
"No."
My voice remained steady.
"You chose her. You lied to me. And now you've tried to take something my family spent generations protecting."
He swallowed.
"I made mistakes."
"Yes."
"I never meant—"
I interrupted.
"You don't get to decide whether your actions hurt me."
He stared.
Then I removed my wedding ring.
Slowly.
Carefully.
I placed it on the table.
Camden's expression changed.
"Nora..."
I looked directly into his eyes.
"I'm done pretending this marriage still exists."
Sloane stepped backward.
Camden stared at the ring.
And for the first time, I saw him understand that the woman he'd expected to forgive everything was gone.
Then Arthur Bennett entered from the library.
He looked at Sloane.
His expression darkened.
"Miss Voss."
She went pale.
Arthur continued.
"I knew your father would eventually send someone."
Sloane stared.
Then whispered, "You should have stayed retired."
May you like
Arthur smiled sadly.
"Your father said the same thing before he tried to have me killed."
