Audrey's POV
I stared at him. For years, I'd put Jeremy on a pedestal, believing that if I just loved him enough, everything would work out. I wanted nothing more than to be a wife—his wife. And now here he was, standing in front of me, thinking I'd worship at his feet forever.
My hands trembled, but my voice came out steady.
"Yes, Jeremy, I didn't forget the contract I signed. And for your information, that contract was for three years." I took a step toward him, chin high. "Three years, Mr. Gillian. That time is up. I've already resigned. If your assistant didn't make that clear, then hear it from me now: I'm done."
His eyes flickered.
"I'm never covering your scandals again—scandals that are, by the way, true." My voice sharpened. "Sign the divorce papers, and let's end this. You can finally be with her without me standing in the way."
I was weak, my body aching, my head still pounding from lack of sleep. But I couldn't let him walk all over me again.
"You want to be stubborn?" he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I already told you—Adel's mother—"
"Yes, yes, you've said that before." I cut him off, my tone like a blade. "And I don't care. Get someone else to lie for you, Jeremy, because I won't."
For a moment, his expression froze. Then a cold smile spread across his face.
"Really? That's fine. Let's see how long you last without a job. Without money. In a country where you can't even leave without my permission."
My stomach twisted, but I held his gaze.
"And my uncle?" he added, stepping closer. "He can't help you either—unless he wants to go to jail again. So when you're done throwing your tantrums, get back home. Be the perfect Mrs. Gillian again. And oh—" He checked his watch, as if my life were nothing more than a meeting on his calendar. "You need to go to Rosemary's school for her parent-teacher conference or whatever. Like now."
I just stared at him, stunned. Not from fear—no, that had burned out a long time ago—but from sheer disbelief at the depth of his arrogance. For a second, I almost laughed.
I marveled at his stupidity. How much I'd fueled his ego to make him think he was some damn king.
But not anymore.
I stared at my phone, scrolling through my contacts. My mother? My father? My brother or sister? My uncles, my aunt, my grandmother? My thumb hovered over the screen for a long time before I finally pressed the call button.
While arrangements for my private jet were being finalized, I decided to do one last thing—go to Rosemary's school. The brat never liked me. To her, like the rest of her family, I was nothing more than a "glorified maid." Still, some part of me cared. Maybe this was my way of cutting ties completely, so I'd have nothing left to look back on.
I hailed a taxi to the prestigious academy and sat through the teacher's stern scolding about Rosemary's skipped classes and plummeting grades.
I was about to explain that she needed discipline—not special treatment just because she carried the Gillian name—when she walked in, flanked by none other than Jeremy's mistress, Adel.
"So you came?" Rosemary smirked, tossing her hair. "I knew my brother would make you come. Good. You'd better put in a good word for me, because this fool thinks he can suspend me."
Adel gave me a delicate, practiced smile.
I straightened my back. "I think you should suspend her if that's what it takes for her to learn her lesson and take her studies seriously."
Both of them froze, staring at me as if I'd grown a second head. What did they expect? For me to beg? To cry? To grovel at the headmaster's feet? No. It was about time Rosemary learned to respect her elders.
"My brother will never speak to you again!" Rosemary hissed.
"You can't ruin a young girl's future just because you're angry at Jeremy," Adel chimed in, voice sugary sweet.
"That's right," I shot back calmly. "She's been given chance after chance, and she blew them all. She needs to take responsibility for her own actions. I'm the adult here. I'm representing her parents."
Adel's lips parted. "Listen, Mrs. Gillian, I—"
My phone buzzed. A single notification lit the screen: Your private jet is ready.
Relief surged through me. Finally, I could leave this cursed place.
I turned to Adel, smiling faintly. "I don't care what you have to say, Miss Bosten. And yes—it's good you remember I'm still Mrs. Gillian. You? Well, you don't matter." I tapped her shoulder lightly as I passed.
Then I looked at Rosemary. "Think of this as my last favor to you. You're nearly eighteen, not a baby. With grades like yours, you'll only ever be remembered as the Gillian brat."
I walked out without a backward glance. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rosemary fumbling for her phone—probably to call her brother. But what did I care?
Just outside the airport gates, I heard it—his voice, sharp and desperate.
"Audrey!" he called.