“Probably something to do with Charles. But… Charles… that man… he’s the right man for you,” Lauren said, smiling.“Why do you say that?” Sadie asked curiously.“Nothing,” Lauren lied. No guy had seen her almost naked and still could think straight, but Charles did… damn. She shook her head. “By the way, I don’t trust Emmy. Hide somewhere when she comes. I’ll be the one to open the door for her.”“And why would you do that?” Sadie asked.“To pay for all I’ve done,” Lauren replied quietly.“I’m a bit curious though… what made you come to me? Charles… he didn’t threaten you, right?” Sadie asked in shock.“Of course he wouldn’t. It’s… just—”“What? You’re making me worried.”“When was the last time you spoke with Hardin?” Lauren asked.“I haven’t spoken with him since I got here… so, about five days ago,” Sadie said.Lauren quickly explained her story. She had thought Sadie would laugh and dismiss it as some fantasy, that no guy like Hardin existed—but Sadie hadn’t.“Do you think… Hardin

“Where’s Miss Sadie?” one of the house security asked sharply. Sadie stepped out from her hiding place before their lies could settle. She met the officers straight on. “Please arrest them,” she said. “We’ll take this to the station.” Roger leaned toward one of the cops, whispering low. “Please act like you don’t see anything. It’ll be trouble if people think the Wyatts do drugs — especially Sadie and Lauren.” The cop cleared his throat. He studied the scene for half a breath, then nodded once as if with an internal decision. “We can’t ignore a complaint,” he said, voice neutral. “Take care of them.” He motioned to the others. Sadie watched in ice-cold horror as the police and security moved in — not toward Roger and Emmy, but away — leaving her standing there, feeling the world tilt. “Hey!” Sadie snapped, but no one paid her any attention. She rushed to the door—but in a blink, Roger’s foot shot out, tripping her. She crashed flat onto her face. “Long time no see, Sadie,” he sa

Then, suddenly, Roger released her. “Babe… I’m sorry. I—I just… got lost for a second,” he muttered, as if possessed by some dark force.“But think about it. This is all your fault. If you hadn’t let Charles divorce you, none of this would be happening. I didn’t sign up for this chaos. You wanted someone to make you feel like a woman… I needed a night fling. It wasn’t supposed to get this messy. So… how are you going to fix it?”Emmy stared, disbelief frozen on her face.“Babe!” he yelled, stepping closer. “Do you want me to end it all with you?”Emmy hissed, yanked the door open, and bolted. Roger followed, blocking her path.“You’re running away now? Babe?” His voice was a cruel mix of anger and disbelief. “We were supposed to change me. Have you given up already? After everything… after how much I loved you?”His hand shot out. The slap landed.“Goodbye. Forever.” He smirked darkly, getting back into the car and driving off, leaving Emmy trembling by the roadside, tears streaking h

“I’m really okay,” Sadie said, trying to grab her car keys from Charles.“Where are you going?”“Just down the street for groceries.”“And dressed like this?” Charles gave her a once-over.“What do you care what I wear?”“I have to care, Sadie. It’s suspicious when you suddenly get excited about grocery shopping. Unless… someone’s winking at you over there?”“You said you were jealous instead of making us jump through hoops.”“Sadie, I know I told you you can date other men, but your father would be suspicious if he saw you with someone. Basically, I signed a contract with him.”“Contract?”“Yeah. Don’t look so shocked. Since meeting you, I haven’t stopped signing contracts.”She smiled. “And what’s this one about?”“He demanded ten kids. I told him I’ve always dreamed of twenty… thirty… something like that.”“Okay… I guess you’ve already found the woman who’ll bake those kids for you?”“Of course, my beautiful Sadie will be the one producing them,” Charles said with a grin.Sadie chu

Thomas rode with his crew that night, more for laughs and old habit than anything else. They were trading stories — one about a cop who dozed off on shift and turned into a volcano when called out.“I mean, he should just own up, but he won’t,” one of them said, grinning.“Would you admit that kind of allegation?” the man in question shot back, offended.“Woah,” the driver muttered as headlights swept past them. A car streaked by, fast and raw. “That one’s flying.”“Step on it,” Thomas said, voice low. “Let’s teach ‘em a lesson.”“Only idiots drive like that,” one of the guys laughed.“He looks like he’s racing to kill someone,” another added. “Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s a criminal.”“You just want an excuse to earn overtime,” someone teased.“He’s waiting at the light,” the driver observed, braking slightly so they didn’t barrel through the intersection.“Corner him,” Thomas said, eyes hard. “I’d love a chat.”“He’ll never try this again,” the driver snorted, revving the engine as