PART 3: MY HUSBAND SLAPPED ME AND THREW ME INTO THE RAIN—BY MORNING, HE LEARNED WHOSE DAUGHTER HE MARRIED

PART 3 — THE NIGHT OLIVIA HAYES BECAME OLIVIA HARTWELL AGAIN

Victor didn’t turn around when I walked in.

He just poured two glasses.

Victor said smoothly:“You’re late, Olivia.”

Olivia answered:“Traffic was heavy.”

Kendra crossed her legs, letting her red heel dangle.

Kendra purred:“Victor, you didn’t tell me your house came with room service.”

Eleanor let out a sharp, aristocratic chuckle.

Eleanor said:“Don’t be unkind, Kendra. Olivia was just keeping the seat warm until a real lady arrived.”

I walked into the center of the living room. I didn’t look at the champagne, or the red dress, or my suitcase by the door.

I looked straight at my husband.

Olivia asked:“What is this, Victor?”

Victor turned around, holding his glass. His face was flushed with liquor and unearned authority.

Victor declared:“This is the end of your charity ride, Liv. I filed the initial separation papers this morning. The apartment is in my name, the firm’s executive board is promoting me to senior vice president next month, and Kendra is

moving in tonight.”

Olivia said softly:“The apartment isn’t in your name.”

Victor laughed, a loud, ugly sound that made Kendra giggle.

Victor sneered:“I signed the lease, Liv! I pay the building fees! You don’t even have a credit card that doesn’t have my corporate name on it!”

He walked over to me, stepping into my space until I could smell the alcohol on his skin. He grabbed my arm, his fingers digging deep into my elbow, and dragged me toward the foyer.

Victor growled:“You’re going to pick up that bag, walk out to the elevator, and you’re not going to make a scene. You got seven years of luxury for doing nothing. Be grateful.”

I didn’t move. I looked at his grip on my arm.

Olivia stated:“Let go of me, Victor.”

Eleanor stood up from her chair, her pearl necklace catching the light.

Eleanor snapped:“Don’t you dare speak to my

son like that, you ungrateful little girl! Get out of his home before he calls security to throw you into the street!”

Victor’s grip tightened. He yanked me toward the door, but when I planted my feet, his temper finally snapped.

The hand came fast.

The slap cracked through the high-ceilinged room like a gunshot.

My head snapped back, the sharp sting spreading down my jaw and into my neck. I stumbled back against the front door, my cheek burning, blood tasting copper-hot inside my lip.

Kendra gasped, then covered her mouth to hide a smile. Eleanor didn’t even blink.

Victor pointed a finger inches from my nose, his breath ragged.

Victor shouted:“Get the hell out! You have nothing! You are nothing!”

He shoved me out into the cold, concrete stairwell landing, slammed the heavy door, and locked the deadbolt from the inside.

I stood there in the dark. No

shoes. Rain blowing through the cracked window. My lip bleeding.

I pulled my phone from my pocket.

And I dialed my father.

Three minutes later, Russell Kent stepped out of the private elevator at the end of the hall.

He didn’t look surprised. He carried a heavy wool coat over his arm and a pair of soft leather shoes in his hand. He stepped forward, placed the coat over my shoulders, and set the shoes at my feet.

Russell said quietly:“Your father is waiting in the car downstairs, Miss Hartwell.”

Olivia corrected gently:“It’s time to call me that again, Russell.”

Russell offered a small, terrifying smile.

Russell replied:“Yes, ma’am. The board meeting for Meridian BuildWorks has been moved to eight o’clock tomorrow morning. Your father has already instructed the bank to freeze all secondary credit lines tied to Mr. Hayes’s department.”

I put on the shoes. I buttoned the coat.

Olivia said:“Tell the building manager to change the master lock on the penthouse at six tomorrow morning. If Victor tries to use his keycard, have him detained for civil trespass.”

Russell nodded.

Russell asked:“And his mother?”

Olivia answered:“Eleanor’s country club membership is paid through a Hartwell subsidiary account. Cancel it tonight. Leave a note with the front desk explaining that her benefactor has withdrawn sponsorship.”

At 7:45 the next morning, Victor woke up in the master bed beside Kendra, feeling like the king of Chicago.

He put on his favorite blue suit, sprayed expensive cologne, and kissed Kendra on the shoulder before grabbing his briefcase.

Victor said proudly:“I have a big board meeting at eight, babe. The executive promotion gets finalized today. Order whatever you want for breakfast—put it on the room tab.”

He walked out to the hallway, reached for the elevator, and noticed two uniformed police officers standing near the manager’s desk in the lobby when he reached the ground floor.

The building manager, a man who had bowed to Victor for three years, walked straight up to him.

The Manager stated cleanly:“Mr. Hayes, your keycard access to Penthouse 4B has been permanently revoked. Your personal items have been packed into four boxes sitting in the storage office. You have fifteen minutes to clear them off the premises.”

Victor froze, his face turning dark.

Victor barked:“Are you completely insane?! I live there! My wife left last night! I am a senior director at Meridian!”

The Manager pulled out a document stamped with a blue judicial seal.

The Manager replied:“The deed to Penthouse 4B belongs to the Hartwell Private Trust, Mr. Hayes. You were a temporary guest under spousal residency. Since your spousal status was terminated by emergency injunction at six this morning, you are currently trespassing.”

Victor’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.

Victor stuttered:“Hartwell?! What the hell does Hartwell have to do with my apartment?!”

The manager didn’t answer. He simply gestured to the two police officers, who stepped forward with their hands resting on their belts.

Panic, cold and sharp, began to creep into Victor’s chest. He grabbed his briefcase and ran out the glass doors into the rain, hailing a taxi to take him straight to Meridian BuildWorks headquarters on Michigan Avenue.

Click the blue “PART 4” below to read the final part: 👉 PART 4 👈