Whether it was the time she ordered a guard dog to attack someone, or now, when she made someone spit at Charlotte, Darren simply couldn’t reconcile this woman with the Shortie he once knew.
Where had things gone wrong?
And then there was Charlotte…
Ever since he’d left Xena at the altar to find Charlotte, a restless agitation had been lodged in his chest, refusing to go away.
Just then, his assistant called.
“Mr. Harrington, you asked me to look into the Astra Hotel fire... It was arson by a security guard.”
“We recovered the guard’s phone. There’s an anonymous text—the IP address traces back to your estate.”
Darren’s grip tightened around his phone.
“And one more thing, sir. Your wedding with your wife was never completed. The marriage certificate and transfer of 50% of your assets, as originally scheduled for this month—should I proceed with those arrangements?”
Before today, Darren would have answered yes without a second thought.
He paused for five seconds, then replied, “Put everything on hold.”
After hanging up, Darren looked down to find a single strand of hair on his suit jacket—Xena’s.
He carefully wrapped it up and handed it to his staff the next morning.
“Run a DNA test with the man who caused trouble at the wedding.”
The results weren’t back yet, but the semifinals of the Astra Convention Center’s “Mastermind Challenge” were about to begin.
The camera panned across the VIP section.
Lena sat poised in a custom-made gown, her makeup immaculate, chin held high, radiating the pride of old money.
Beside her were Darren and Xena, both exuding the same air of privilege.
Darren leaned toward Lena. “You still have a chance to back out before the competition starts.”
Lena had originally wanted the board seat Darren promised her, but just as she was about to announce her withdrawal online, she received two anonymous, taunting messages.
[Ms. Harrington, got your cash flow ready? Or are you too scared to show up?]


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