Chapter 18
Despite her words, Yvonne’s eyes welled up again.
Wilson immediately leaned in, gently wiping her tears. “I told you, as long as I’m here, you’ve got
nothing to worry about.”
He pulled out his phone and called his assistant. Pressing the device to his ear, he commanded coldly. “Ten minutes. I don’t care what you have to do–I don’t want to see a single negative post about Yvonne trending again.”
La
In his tailored charcoal suit, Wilson cut a sharp, commanding figure, looking every bit the powerful executive and not the monster Daphne saw in him. With his resources, protecting
Yvonne was a walk in the park.
He used
He used to protect Daphne like this too.
That thought made Daphne clench her fists, her nails digging into her palms until the pain. snapped her back to reality. “Wilson, if you think you and this little homewrecker are taking my house, keep dreaming!”
To her, this house wasn’t just a building. Daphne had poured her heart into every detail–the garden, which she planted herself, the wind chimes she and Wilson had picked up on their honeymoon, and even the books on the shelves that she had carefully chosen one by one. She had spent a full week with the designer just deciding on the tile colors
Sure, their marriage had turned into a bitter mess, and most of it no longer mattered. But if
Yvonne thought she could waltz in and claim it all. Daphne would rather see the place burn.
Yvonne sniffled dramatically, her teary eyes locking onto Wilson. “Wilson, you know I don’t need
to take the house from her. Sure, it’s nicer than where I live, but I only want to keep it because it
feels unfair that Daphne is blaming you for everything. She’s the one who’s been linked to
Sebastian. Why should you lose half your assets when she’s no angel either? It’s just not right…”
Yvonne’s words hit a nerve with Daphne. Just as she was about to explode, a worker passed by
carrying a box. On top was a framed piece of pressed flowers she recognized immediately.
“Even this? You’re taking this?” Daphne snatched the frame.
It was Wilson’s first gift to her–a bouquet she had carefully preserved and framed. It had sat by her bedside for years, not as a memento of love but as a reminder of her own naivety, a warning
never to make the same mistakes again.
s you
“Wilson, if it means that much to her, let her keep it. Maybe it reminds her of the good times two shared. I don’t mind. I’m not jealous,” Yvonne said with a trembling voice, her lips quivering just enough to sell the act.
Her words were like nails on a chalkboard. “It’s mine! I don’t need your permission to keep it. Why don’t you just shut up for once?” Daphne snapped, glaring at Yvonne. “Nobody cares what you.
think”
Daphne turned her attention to Wilson. “You know what this means. You know what this house
means. If you want to cheat, fine, but you’re not taking the home I built for us and handing it over
to her!”
Wilson’s smirk was cold as he stepped closer. “What does it mean?” he asked, pulling the frame
from her grip. “Your delusional little fantasies?”
Daphne tightened her hold, but Wilson’s strength overpowered her. As the frame slipped from her
hands, its sharp edges scraped her palm, and the glass shattered when it hit the ground.
The sound was deafening in the silence.
Daphne stared at the broken frame, stunned. She never imagined Wilson would be the one to
destroy it.
“You’ve got three days to decide–stay in this empty house or leave,” Wilson said, his voice void of
emotion.
He turned to leave, but Yvonne made sure to bump into Daphne as she passed, causing both of
them to stumble.
“Careful!” Wilson shouted, instantly pulling Yvonne into his arms.
The movement sent Daphne to the floor, her hand landing in the shards of broken glass.
Yvonne whimpered, “I’m so sorry, Wilson. It’s my fault. I wasn’t watching where I was going. Please don’t be mad at Daphne for this
The sharp pain from the glass made Daphne’s temper flare. “What, you think I’m supposed to believe it wasn’t on purpose? Are your eyes for decoration? I was standing right there!”
“I didn’t mean to…” Yvonne’s voice cracked as tears streamed down her face. “Why do you hate me so much, Daphne? What did I ever do to you?”
Wilson’s fury boiled over. “I told you not to touch her!” he barked, his icy tone cutting through the
air.
Daphne was livid “She pushed me! What? Am I supposed to blame myself?” She staggered to her feet, cradling her bloody hand behind her back. This house is mine. You and your mistress can get the hell out or I’ll call the cops for trespassing. I might not be able to throw you out, Wilson, but Yvonne? She’s fair game. And if you want to take every piece of furniture, fine! I wouldn’t want anything you’ve tainted anyway.”
Wilson’s jaw tightened as his grip on Yvonne’s arm grew firm. Yvonne winced. “Wilson, you’re
hurting me…”
He ignored her, glaring at Daphne. “You’d better keep up that tough act. Let’s see how long it lasts.
On his way out, Wilson made sure to step on the crushed flowers, grinding them under his heel like they were nothing. Just like their marriage, Daphne thought bitterly.
The love, the years of marriage, the memories they had shared–it all crumbled as easily as those dried petals
Daphne looked down at her hand, blood dripping from the glass embedded in her palm. She instinctively called out for the maid, only to remember Wilson had dismissed them all.
“Nice move, Wilson,‘ she muttered through gritted teeth. “You think this will break me? Think
again.
She ordered a delivery of first–aid supplies and patched herself up with painstaking care. As an actress, her hands were her livelihood. Scars would ruin future opportunities for endorsement
deals.
Just as she was done, her phone buzzed. Ava was practically shouting on the other end, “Daphne! Every trending post we had is gone. Even Sebastians statement got buried. They’re scrubbing everything clean, and now, you can’t find a single post trashing Yvonne!”
“I figured,” Daphne said, unfazed. She had seen Wilson make the call.
“Are you okay? Wilson’s completely out of line. He’s so busy protecting Yvonne that he doesn’t care about the damage to you. All those canceled deals. It’s unfair. But you’ve got to stay strong.
Ava’s worry was almost touching, but Daphne’s hand was trembling, not from emotion but from the sting of alcohol on her wounds. “I’m fine. Did I lose any more followers?”
Ava hesitated. “Not as many as before, but with the trending posts disappearing so fast, the
impact isn’t enough.”
Daphne sighed. Building her new company would take time. For now, she just had to weather the
storm
