bChapter /bb20 /b

bSkr’s /bchest tightened, a sharp pain hitting with every breath. Her face twisted in pain.

Yosel, chatting with someone nearby, fell something shift.

His head joked up, locking eyes with Skr, who stood there, radiating cold anger.

He squinted, making sure it was her, and let out a bitter chuckle. Walking over, he stopped just short of her.

“You’ve got some guts showing up again,” he said, his voice fiat, eyes drilling into her.

Skr had vanished for five years, only to app

appear out of nowhere,

bSkr /bsteadied herself, meeting his bgaze /bwithout blinking “Why wouldn’t Ie back?”

“You disappeared for five years. Not a word, not a trace. Why are

years and finding nothing. That fueled his anger.

here now!” Yosel’s voice burned with frustration. He had been looking for her for are you h

Memories of pain rushed back, hitting her hard.

bSkr /bthought of the child she’d never hold, gone before it could see the world.

Her eyes red with bdeadly /brage. “I’m back to settle things. Debts will be paid, and scores will be evened.” Her words oozed ver

venom, catching Yosef off bguard/b.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, frowning.

“Don’t act clueless,” she snapped, her voice sharp.

Yosel’s put

‘s gut told him something was wrong.

Skr carried a heavy grief, her eyes like bottomless pits.

They held a chilling emptiness, like staring into a void that could pull people in.

He’d never seen her like this–dark, cold, terrifying

Shock mixed with a hint of worry in his chest. “Skr, where’ve byou /bbeen these past five years? What happened?”

Skr scoffed, her hand whipping out in a fierce bp /b

The hit carried all her strength, knocking Yosef back a step.

Her hand shook as she pulled it back, her eyes zing with disgust. “Yosef, you make me sick.”

Back then, he’d let her take the fall for Eliannab, /bleaving her to rot in prison. He’d even akayed the torture sheced inside.

She’d suffered every bday/b, holding on only for her unborn child.

When it was time to give birth, she’d dared to hope her baby would be her family, her lifeline.

But Yosef? He was a monster.

He didn’t bcare /babout the child she bcarried/bb, /bonly obsessed with using its cord blood to save Elianna.

They’d forced the procedure while the baby bwas /bstill inside herb, /bcausing an infection. Her child was born dead, stolen before bit /bcould take a breath,

munned Skr. She wanted to destroy this heartless man who’d sacrificed their child for his lover.

To her, he was less than human–worse than the cruelest animal, which would never harm its own y

young

And now he stood there, acting innocent, like he could dodge his guilt.

Skr swore he wouldn’t get away. She’d make Yosef and his precious Elianna pay dearly Yosef’s ears ran

ears rang, the esting of the p sinking in.

He tasted blood, touching his lip to

to find a small cut leaking red.

Wiping it away, his brows furrowed tight. “Skr, what’s wrong with you?”

“I’m as clear–headed as it gets,” she spat, her voice shaking with fury. “You owe me this. You’ve earned it.”

She swung again, but Yosef caught her wrist mid–air. “Are you crazy? Why are you hitting me?”

“I’m not hitting a person, she hissed through clenched teeth. “I’m giving you what you deserve.”

She tugged at her arm, but Yosef’s grip bwas /blike steel. No matter how she twisted, she couldn’t break free.

He stared at her, his patience wearing thin bas /bshe raged. “Skr, calm down, You’reing with me, and we’re figuring this out. I don’t have time for your meltdownb./bb” /b

Skr’sugh

was bsharp /band bitter.”

“bYou /band me? We’re nothing. Why would I go anywhere with you?b” /b

Yosef’s eyes shed red, his voice low and dangerous. “You’re my

re my wife, Skr. If you don’te with me, where the hell are you going?

Skr let out a sharp scoff. “Your wife? We’ve been divorced for years. Have some dignity and act like a decent bguy/b. Stay away from y

No decent man would cling to his ex like this? This was just pathetic.

The decade she spent on him? Might as well have tossed it in the trash.

bn /byour ex.b” /b

Yosef’s jaw clenched, floored. The woman who used to hang on his every word, doing whatever he bwanted/bb, /bwas now ripping into him like this. He almost couldn’t believe it

If he wasn’t such as

ba /bskeptic, he’d think she was possessed.

“What’s your problem?” he snapped, genuinely confused. “Divorce? What’s this nonsense?”

Skr’s lips twisted into a mocking smirk. She lifted her stiletto and mmed it down onto his shiny ck boot.

Yosef hissed in pain, letting go of her wrist as his temples throbbed.

He gritted his teeth, his eyes burning red with anger. “bSkr/bb!/bb” /b

Each syble carried ba /bthreat.

Skr casually tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, unbothered. “I’m not deaf. Tone it down. You’re giving me a bheadache/b.”

Her brush–off hit Yosef like a knife to the chest.

He lost bit/bb, /blunging to grab her arm, ready to dig her home and sort her out.

Skr slipped out of his reach, smooth as if she’d been greased.

“Yoset, I don’t have time for your drama,” she bsaid/b, brushing bpast /bhim. “I’m done.”

Jun

G

GO A

12:46 Wed, b18 /bJun

“Skr, get back here!” he shouted.

She didn’t even look back, her heels clicking as she walked off.

Yosef stood there, fuming, his face dark with frustration.

Skr stormed back to the conference room.

This time, she didn’t hold back, fixing the receptionist with a cold stare. “When’s your bboss /bactually showing up?”

The young employee stuttered, wilting under her icy vibe. “I–I don’t know. Maybe… just a little longer?”

Skr’s patience was shot. “We’ve been sitting here for over an hour, drinking coffee like it’s our job. How much longer are we suppo

“Yourpany’s not some small–time operation,” she went on, her voice cutting. “Where’s your professionalism? Details make or bre

this

his up, and you’ll be stuck going nowhere.”

“And if you’re not serious about doing businessb, /bjust say it,” she added, “No need to waste our time.”

“Pass every word of that to your boss. We’ve got better things to do,” Skr said and was going to leave.

Skr turned to leave with her team, only to run into NatureMed’s CEO, and Yosef trailing behind.

The CEO was practically tripping over himself to keep up with Yosef.

It hit Skr like a ton of bricks.

“Yosef,” she said, her voice thick with disgust. “You’re unbelievableb./bb” /b

Yosef blinked, bthrown /boff. “Skr, what now?”

12:46 Wedb, /b18 Jun C00

“Skr, get back here!” he shouted.

She didn’t even look back, her heels clicking as she walked off.

Yosef stood there, fuming, his face dark with frustration.

Skr stormed back to the conference room.

This time, she didn’t hold back, fixing the receptionist with a cold stare. “When’s your boss actually showing up?”

The young employee stuttered, wilting under her icy vibe. “I–I don’t know. Maybe… just a little longer?”

Skr’s patience bwas /bshot. “We’ve been sitting here for over an hour, drinking coffee like it’s our job. How much longer are we supposed to wait?”

“Yourpany’s not some small–time operation,” she went on, her voice cutting. “Where’s your professionalism? Details make or break a busine this up, and you’ll be stuck going nowhere.”

“And if you’re not serious about doing business, just say it,” she added. “No need to waste our time.”

“Pass every word of that to your boss. We’ve got better things to do,b” /bSkr said and was going to bleave/b.

Skr turned to leave with her team, only to run into NatureMed’s CEO, and Yosef trailing behindb. /b

The CEO was practically tripping over himself to keep up with Yosef.

It hit Skr like a ton of bricks.

“Yosef,” she said, her voice thick with disgust. “You’re unbelievable.”

what now?”

Yosef blinked, thrown off. “Skr, what now?”

“No wonder the boss kept us waiting,” she said, eyes narrowing. “You’re the one calling the shots.”