Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire

Selena grabbed her phone, plugged it back in to charge, and suddenly a thought hit her. She glanced up at him. "Are you really coming back with me this year?"

Every year, around this same time, she'd try everything-sweet-talking, begging, even throwing a fit but he never budged. And now, out of the blue, he was volunteering? Something didn't add up. Was he just stringing her along, planning to bail at the last minute and leave her and her grandma hanging?

Everett frowned, shooting back. "Isn't that what you've been wanting me to do?"

"I did, yeah," Selena admitted, straightforward as ever. "But not this year. We're headed for a divorce anyway. No point in Grandma seeing you again."

Everett felt a sharp pang in his chest. He pressed his lips together before blurting out, "It wasn't that I didn't want to go before. I was just busy."

Selena couldn't help but chuckle, even though she didn't want to. His excuse was paper-thin. Spinning such a weak story was worse than saying nothing at all.

Her voice was calm and steady, "That's quite the coincidence, isn't it?"

As he took in her skeptical eyes, that familiar wave of frustration welled up inside him. Talking any further would only end in more tension.

Everett turned his gaze away. "I promised, so this year, I'm definitely going with you."

a once-over. His handsome face was as unreadable as always, his dark eyes as intense as ever. She

to Derick. He'll

with that, he

...

on the anniversary of her parents' death, Selena returned home for a week to spend time with her grandma, whose health was declining. It was an unspoken understanding that each

always wanted to

for better care, but she refused. Grace didn't want to be a burden or give Selena's in-laws

her husband left was filled with cherished memories, surrounded by familiar neighbors and friends.

to keep an eye on Grace. Selena called often and visited

her suitcase,

phone chime a few times. She walked over to the nightstand and picked it up.

a message from

Mr. Bennett has an international meeting tonight and won't be back home. He asked me to let you know he'll pick you up at eight in the morning to head to the airport

replied with a

about to put her phone down, she paused, opened