Chapter 2
Aria locked eyes with Liam, her gaze cold as steel. “I’m out of Cole Group, and I don’t want your precious shares. I’ve got four percent, worth about 1.5 billion dollars at today’s valuation. I’m taking what’s mine and walking away.”
Liam’s jaw hit the floor. “Four percent? How the hell did you score that much of Cole Group?”
“Two years ago, when the company was on its last legs, I dropped 150 million to keep it afloat,” Aria said, her tone clipped.
He snorted, not buying it for a second. “150 million for four percent? What, were they handing out shares at a fire sale?”
Liam knew about the financial crisis and that Aria had joined the company, but no one had mentioned her shelling out 150 million.
Four percent for that price was a steal–suspiciously so. She must’ve worked some backroom deal to snag those shares on the cheap.
The idea made his blood boil.
Aria found his skepticism almost comical but was done arguing. When Liam opened his mouth to push back, she slammed the door in his face with a sharp bang.
His expression darkened, and he stormed off to Hannah Gibson’s apartment that same night.
At Hannah’s place, Liam unloaded everything Aria had said. Hannah’s brows furrowed, her striking features tightening. “Cole Group’s a giant. A little rough patch two years ago wouldn’t tank the shares that hard. 150 million for four percent? No way. And where’d she even get that kind of money?”
She shook her head, her sharp, deep–set eyes flashing with contempt. “I thought she was some bold, heart–on–her–sleeve type. Guess I read her wrong. Greedy’s putting it mildly.”
With her commanding presence–piercing gaze and chiseled features–Hannah always seemed in control.
Liam’s mood soured further. Two years ago, Aria had been poised, a woman who fit his world perfectly. Now, after two years of the good life, she was demanding 1.5 billion dollars like it was nothing.
“Forget 1.5 billion,” Liam growled. “She’s not getting a penny of that 150 million either.”
Hannah arched a brow, her voice cool and calculated. “She grew up in the middle of nowhere, then played rich wife for two years. No shock she’s hooked on the fancy life. If she’d just sign the divorce papers and move on, I’d throw her three mil to soften the blow.”
Liam’s heart softened at her generosity. He pulled her into his arms, murmuring, “Hannah, you’re too good for this world. I’m damn lucky to have
you.
She smirked, rolling her eyes playfully. “Aria’s got no degree, no real skills. Woman to woman, I’m not here to grind her into the dirt.”
Their eyes met, the air between them electric. Hannah broke the gaze first, but Liam was already caught up. With a sly grin, he scooped her up and carried her toward the bedroom. “Babe, we’ve been missing out on us time for way too long.”
Hannah didn’t hesitate. She slipped out of her clothes with a teasing smile, leaning in for a kiss that set the night on fire.
Aria owned a chic downtown loft, and once she decided to end her marriage, she grabbed a bag, stuffed it with essentials, and bounced.
After a steamy shower, she flopped onto her bed, smirking at the thought of no early trek to Cole Group,
‘Divorce? Kinda the best move ever,’ she thought, melting into the sheets.
Her phone pinged with a text from Benjamin Hayes.
Benjamin: [Hi, Aria, that proposal’s fire. I’m in for the Cole Group gig.]
Aria’s fingers zipped across the screen. [Hey, Benjamin, quick heads–up–I’m ditching Cole Group. Might wanna rethink that deal. No telling if it’ll tank without me.]
Cole Group was a snake pit, and though Daniel had a blind spot for the creeps, Aria had kept them in line. Once she was gone? Those lowlifes would
run wild.
Across town, a silver–haired man rose from his cushy sofa, his hazy eyes glinting with a sly grin.
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1055 AM
Chapter 2
His jittery butler hustled over. “Mr. Hayes, you good? What’s up?”
Benjamin grabbed the butler’s arm, practically buzzing. “Get moving–dig up if Aria’s really dumping her marriage!”
Liam’s return to town was old news; Benjamin had heard it weeks back. But Aria bailing on Cole Group? That was a red flag for major drama.
The butler frowned. “Sir, Liam just got back. No way he’s splitting with Aria, right?”
Benjamin rolled his eyes, waving him off. “Kid, you’re clueless. That Cole dude’s a total dud–I met him, boring as hell. If Aria’s walking, Sebastian’s got an opening. Quit gawking and get the scoop!”
The next morning, Aria’s phone lit up with a call from Liam’s grandfather, Daniel Cole.
She slid into her car and made her way to the sprawling Cole Manor.
At the front gate, she nearly bumped into Liam and Hannah, their hands locked together, looking like they’d just stepped out of a rom–com.
Their eyes clashed—hers, his, Hannah’s–and the air practically sizzled with bad vibes.
Just then, Elena Cole, Liam’s mom, came sweeping out, her smile brighter than a toothpaste ad. She grabbed Hannah’s hand, giving it a warm
queeze. “Hannah, you’re here! God, I’ve missed you, girl!”
“Missed you too!” Hannah shot back, all charm and dimples.
Elena fussed over Hannah for a sec before her gaze flicked to Aria, one eyebrow arched like a villain in a soap opera. “Aria, you’ve been killing it at Cole Group these past two years. Consider it our way of settling up. Just sign the divorce papers already–let’s all move on.”
From the second Aria had married into the Coles, Elena hadn’t dared pull the “evil mother–in–law” act. Not because she didn’t want to–she was just outplayed.
She’d pegged Aria as a sweet, small–town pushover. Big oops.
Aria had strolled in, taken the reins of the household, and landed a VP gig at Cole Group.
Elena’s sneaky plans? Toast. She’d had to play nice, and it burned her up inside.
Now, with Liam back and ready to dump Aria, Elena was all but popping champagne.
Her chin tilted high, eyes sharp as knives, she added, “Oh, and stop grabbing me that face cream. Just gimme the supplier’s contact.”
Aria’s lips quirked into a smug half–smile. Without a word, she breezed past Elena and headed for the house, bound for Daniel’s study.
Elena’s face soured, her pride taking a hit. “Tch, country bumpkin. No manners,” she muttered.
Hannah, smooth as ever, stepped in. “Don’t let her bug you, Mrs. Cole. That face cream–what’s the deal? I’ll track it down.”
Elena’s frown eased. “You’re a sweetheart, Hannah. I’ll shoot you a pic later.”
Elena didn’t come from some fancy family. Even after twenty years as a Cole, she’d never broken into the snooty socialite clique,
Then Aria showed up with this no–name face cream–smelled like an herbal remedy, no brand, nothing chic. Elena had turned her nose up until a zitty day pushed her to try it. Bam–her skin was glowing, wrinkles fading fast.
She started hyping it to the rich ladies, who’d scoffed at the unlabeled jar.
But when they saw Elena looking ten years younger, they were begging for her secret.
The cream wasn’t sold anywhere, so Elena had been scoring twenty–some jars a month from Aria, leveraging it to finally win over the elite crowd.
The idea of Aria ghosting her–and leaving her high and dry with her new pals–gave her nightmares.
Hannah’s offer was a godsend. Practically giddy, Elena waved them off and pranced away to a brunch.
Liam threaded his fingers through Hannah’s, leading her upstairs.
In the study, Daniel–eighty–something but still a business–world legend–sat waiting.
The sight of Liam and Hannah all cozy sent him into a rage. His face went crimson, and he hurled a mug across the room.
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Chapter 2
Liam yanked Hannah out of the way as it zipped past their heads, shattering against the wall.
Shards flew, nearly clipping Hannah’s ankle.
Liam’s jaw tightened, his glare locked on Aria. “What kinda nonsense did you feed Grandpa?”
Aria’s lips twitched, but before she could clap back, Daniel pounded the desk, his voice booming. “You ungrateful punk! Aria’s been loyal for two years, and you roll in with some fling, whining about a divorce?”
Hannah’s eyes narrowed at “fling,” a flicker of anger sparking.
Liam shot back, “Grandpa, Hannah’s the Gibson family’s pride, Mandino City’s golden girl. You used to rave about her! How can you just buy Aria’s story and trash Hannah like that?”
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