The Ex-Wife's Triumph novel Chapter 3

Kingsley stood before the floor-to-ceiling window for a long time, his fingers repeatedly tracing the edge of his phone until the cold metal grew warm against his skin.

Eventually, he set the device back on the desk in silence.-

The daylight pouring in framed a gaze that was deep and unfathomably grim.

Lucy had been dragged back to her room. The moment her hand touched the door handle, a maid stationed outside blocked her path.

"Mrs. Sherwood, your movement is restricted to the bedroom," the maid said, eyes lowered respectfully, but her tone was unyielding.

"Move! I want to go out! I want a divorce!" Lucy's voice rose to a shriek, the rage in her chest nearly burning through her sanity. "Kingsley, you son of a bitch!"

Paula hurried over. Seeing Lucy's red-rimmed eyes and trembling shoulders, she suppressed a sigh and spoke gently. "Mrs. Sherwood, just listen to the Master. Perhaps things will turn out differently."

Lucy let out a sharp, derisive laugh. "He treats me like a pawn in his revenge game, plays me for a fool, and now forces me to be an incubator—he's less than an animal. And you want me to listen to him? Keep dreaming!"

"Mrs. Sherwood, patience yields results. Sometimes if you just bend a little..." Paula tried to continue.

Lucy ignored her and slammed the door shut. The house was full of his people. Who would listen to her?

She collapsed onto the carpet, tapping her phone screen again. The relentless 'No Signal' icon was like a needle pricking her nerves. A fierce resolve surged within her—he wanted this child? She wouldn't let him have it.

The idea of a hunger strike took root. She clenched her phone tightly.

Kingsley remained in his study for another half hour. The ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts when he finally picked up his phone and left for the company.

Thurston shoved him away, leaving Kingsley's collar askew. He stared at his friend. "Is there no part of you that cares for Lucy? Was every single moment just about using her?"

Kingsley looked up, his icy eyes meeting Thurston's. "I don't love her." he said.

"You are a complete bastard!" Thurston's veins bulged at his temples. "If her father sinned, go after her father! Lucy is innocent. She wasn't even favored by the Lynwood family!"

Thurston wasn't usually a bleeding heart, but the thought of Jane finding out—and realizing how close she was to Lucy—made him fear his wife would come at Kingsley with a knife.

Kingsley pulled the corners of his mouth into a cold sneer. "It's just an eye for an eye. What has she lost? Can it compare to Joyce Mason lying in a coma for seven years? Are there truly any innocent people in that family?"

"Are you insane? Joyce's accident has nothing to do with Lucy!" Thurston roared.