Page 2 of The Mistletoe Promise

She lunges at me suddenly, her manicured nails aiming for my face. I catch her wrists easily, holding her at bay as she thrashes against me.

"Let go of me, you bastard!" she screams, spit flying from her lips.

"Calm down, Vivian," I say, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. "You don't want to do something you'll regret."

She lets out a bitter laugh. "Regret? The only thing I regret is ever marrying you!"

"That makes two of us," I mutter, releasing her wrists and stepping back. "We both know that you only regret marrying me because I’ve cut you off. I’m fucking done with this shit. I'm out."

Vivian's chest heaves as she glares at me, her eyes wild. "What are you saying?"

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what comes next. "I want a divorce, Vivian. This marriage is over."

A smug smile forms on her lips. "You divorce me, Frankie, and I'll take you to court. We've been married for three years. That business of yours is booming. There's no way a judge would ever not side with me in getting a portion of the profits, especially with us being married for three years."

I own a security company. I'm one of the best in the country and with my expertise comes a hefty price tag, but I'm damned good at my job. Caldwell Global Security is a multi-billion dollar business and Vivian is out of her fucking mind if she thinks she'll ever get a dime from me.

I can't help but laugh at her ignorance. "You really didn't read that prenup, did you?"

Vivian's smug smile falters. "What are you talking about?"

"That 'little piece of paper' you signed? It wasn't just a standard prenup. It was ironclad, drafted by the best lawyers money can buy. You get nothing, Vivian. Not a penny."

Her face contorts with rage and disbelief. "That's impossible. You can't do that!"

"I can, and I did," I say, my voice cold. "You see, I've dealt with women like you before. Gold diggers who think they can manipulate their way into a fortune. I wasn't about to let that happen again."

Vivian's composure crumbles completely. She lunges at me again, this time managing to claw at my face before I can stop her. I feel a sharp sting as her nails rake across my cheek.

"You son of a bitch!" she screams, her voice hysterical. "I'll ruin you! I'll tell everyone what a monster you are!"

I grab her wrists again, more forcefully this time. "Go ahead," I growl. "Tell them. Tell them how you neglected your own daughter. Tell them how you tried to use me for my money. I've got nothing to hide, Vivian. Can you say the same?"

She goes limp in my grasp, the fight. “I’ll have nothing.”

I glance around the house I purchased when we got married. “I’ll tell you what,” I say with a bite to my tone. “You sign the papers without contest, and I’ll give you the house.”

Vivian's eyes widen, a flicker of hope mixed with suspicion crossing her face. "The house? You'd give me the house?"

I nod curtly. "It's worth a few million. More than you deserve, but I want this over quickly." I release her wrists and step back, watching her carefully.

"And if I don't sign?" she asks, her voice low and challenging.

I shrug, keeping my face impassive. "Then we do this the hard way. I've got the best lawyers money can buy, Vivian. You really want to go up against that? You'll end up with nothing but legal fees and a tarnished reputation."

She bites her lip, conflict clear on her face. For a moment, I see a flash of the woman I thought I married—vulnerable, uncertain. But it's gone in an instant, replaced by that familiar cold calculation.

"Fine," she spits out. "I'll sign your damn papers. But I want it in writing, the house is mine."

I nod, already reaching for my phone. "I'll have my lawyer draw up the agreement right now. We can sign everything tomorrow."

Vivian narrows her eyes. "And what about tonight? Where are you going to stay?"

I glare at her and make my way to the door. “Anywhere that’s nowhere near you.”

I leave the house and take a deep breath.

Just a little longer and I'm free of her.

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