Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire

He chalked it up to Selena acting up again. He couldn't stand things slipping out of his control. Sure, he could sweet-talk Selena, but he'd never let her have the upper hand. In this game, you had to know who was in charge.

No matter how much Selena stirred the pot, she couldn't break free from his hold. Everett lazily finished his cigarette, let out a smug chuckle, and hit the sack.

...

Selena took her time getting up and headed for the bathroom, sinking into the tub. With her eyes shut, she replayed the recent whirlwind of events in her mind. So it was all an illusion, as fragile as a dream.

Tears welled up again. She splashed water on her face, trying to wash away her turmoil. After her bath, she remembered Everett hadn't used protection. Digging through a pile of condoms, she finally found a box of birth control pills and downed two with a gulp of water before collapsing into bed.

The next morning, Everett woke up and instinctively reached over, only to find an empty space. Frowning, he sat up, the memory of yesterday flooding back and deepening the lines on his forehead.

He marched back to the master bedroom, and although Selena was nowhere in sight, the opened box of birth control pills on the nightstand caught his eye immediately.

box, anger bubbled up inside him again.

the sound of her name and rushed

his hand and tossed it into the trash. With a cold, steely voice, he said, "Where's

she could disappear. She couldn't fathom how things had turned so sour overnight when

only got the cold, automated message:

rage, he hurled the phone to the

had retreated to her uncle's place. She knew running away wasn't a fix, but everyone needed a moment

...

villa had been her family

just the three of them. After they passed and the company tanked, the bank auctioned it off