Husband’s Mistress, Meet His Bankruptcy - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

"Benedict, do you have any idea who you're dealing with?" demanded, her voice dripping with condescension.
"I have the full backing of the King family. In all of Los Angeles, who would dare cross me?" She scoffed, flipping her hair. "The Woods family should be grateful I'm even considering your son. Did you catch that?"
Without giving him a chance to respond, she slammed the phone down.
James, standing silently beside her, didn't so much as flinch at the insult to his father. Instead, he stared at like she hung the moon.
"Darling," he murmured, "no one could ever come between us. I will marry you."
smirked, soaking up his devotion like sunlight. She practically preened under his attention—until James turned to me.
His expression hardened in an instant.
"Eleanor," he said, voice icy, "you got your phone call. Now, hold up your end of the deal."
He reached into his bag and slapped a thick stack of papers onto the table.
"Divorce papers. Sign them."
My eyes skimmed the document, and suddenly, everything made sense.
This had all been a setup.
Holly's petty sabotage. The executives goading me. 's grand entrance, engineered for maximum humiliation.
It was all his doing.
And for a man like James? I wouldn't waste a single ounce of pity. Without hesitation, I grabbed the pen, scrawled my name, and pressed my thumb to the paper before shoving it back at him.
James's jaw tightened.
"Eleanor, what's with the attitude?"
I met his glare, my voice flat. "What? You wanted this divorce, didn't you?" A cold smile curled my lips. "You got exactly what you asked for—no fuss, no fight. And now you're mad about it?"
I tilted my head, feigning innocence. "Better sign fast, James. Your precious Miss King won't wait forever."
His face darkened. Flustered, he snatched the pen and scribbled his signature like a petulant child. With that, three years of marriage dissolved into nothing.
No sadness. No regret. Just relief.
James shoved the papers aside. "It's done. Now get the hell out of my sight."
I crossed my legs, leaning back against the bench, my gaze steady. "Oh, I'm not going anywhere just yet." My voice dropped. "Now that I'm free of the Woods name, it's time to settle some debts."
A hush fell over the room.
let out a derisive laugh. "Did I hear that right? You think you can take me on?" She crossed her arms, smirking. "You pathetic little nobody, do you even know who I am? Do you understand the kind of power the King family wields?"
The room erupted in laughter, feeding off her arrogance. I stayed silent, my face unreadable.
Let them laugh. It won't last.
mistook my silence for fear. With a smug grin, she grabbed James by the collar and planted a possessive kiss right in front of me. Then she turned back, eyes gleaming with malice.
"Miss Hawking," she purred, "here's your choice: get on your knees and beg for forgiveness, or I'll have my men break your legs."
I couldn't help but laugh.
"You keep throwing around the King name like it's some kind of trump card," I said, locking eyes with her. "But you're just as clueless as your lapdog. You have no idea who you're messing with."
's face twisted in confusion—but before she could speak, Holly shoved forward, spittle flying as she shrieked, "Eleanor, open your stupid eyes! Do you even know who you're talking to?!"
I calmly pushed her back, unfazed, and pulled out my phone.
"Hello?" My tone was eerily calm. "I'm at Hotel Indigo in San Diego. I'm in danger. Send backup—now."
I snapped the phone shut.
And then?
I waited.