Tyler Maxwell stood at the doorstep of his house with a small wrapped box gripped tightly in his hands. His palms were sweaty from nervousness, and his heart was beating fast from anticipation. Today was his wife, Katherine (Katie) Clark’s birthday and inside the box was a secondhand camera he had spent months saving to buy. For a while now, Katie had mentioned how badly she needed a camera to film clips for her modeling portfolio. He skipped meals, pawned off his most priced possessions and even worked triple shifts as a delivery man just to be able to afford it. To him, the camera was much more than a gift, it was a promise to Katie that he would do whatever it took to make her dreams of becoming a successful model a reality. With a deep breath, he unlocked the door and stepped inside. “Katie,” he called out softly. His wife was sitting in the living room with her legs crossed as she scrolled absently through her phone. Though her lips were turned down in a slight

The room fell silent and even Katie’s eyes widened at Frederick’s daring move. Tyler stared at the cheque for a long moment, and Belinda leaned forward in anticipation as she thought he was finally about to give in. But instead, Tyler took the cheque from Frederick’s hand, tore it into shreds and threw the pieces at him. “Katie is my wife,” Tyler declared, refusing to be intimidated. “She’s not for sale. I’ll work a hundred jobs if I have to, but I’ll ensure her dreams come true. We don’t need your stupid gifts and dirty money.” Frederick’s jaw ticked in anger, but he masked it with a mocking smirk. “You might think you’re being brave, but you’re only showing how stupid you are. Do you really think Katie would want to remain with a beggar like you? Take my offer now or forever live to regret it.” Tyler stood tall and squared his chin as he locked eyes with Frederick. “I’m not afraid of you.” This was the last straw for Belinda. She stomped up to Tyler and slapped him across t

Tyler took the pen with his shoulders hunched in defeat, and his chest tightened as he stared down at the divorce papers. His grip on the pen trembled and he was close to backing out, but then his gaze darted to the lady. The blistering fear in her eyes as they fixated on the knife pressed against her throat, was all it took to break the last shred of his willpower. Clenching his jaw so tightly a headache began to form, he scribbled his signature above the dotted line provided on the paper. “There,” he spat when he finished. “I’ve done what you wanted. Now let her go.” “Finally!” Frederick clapped as his triumphant laughter echoed round the warehouse. “I knew you’d crumble. You really are a weak little loser.” The veins on Tyler’s face and neck bulged as he struggled to hold back his anger. “Let. Her. Go.” Frederick raised both his hands in mock surrender as his laughter subsided into a grin. “Relax. I am a man of my word after all.” “Drop the little heroine off somewher

The thief stiffened at Tyler’s words and his eyes flickered from the woman he had stolen the bracelet from back to Tyler. “Return what?” He furrowed his brows in feigned confusion. “The bracelet you just stole.” Tyler replied, his voice flat and his expression stoic. The thief chuckled and gave Tyler a condescending once over. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, punk. You must be hallucinating from all that cheap weed you smoke.” Then he stepped closer until he was within Tyler’s earshot, and his voice dropped to a threatening whisper. “Stop trying to play the hero. Act like you saw nothing before you regret it.” He flashed a yellow-toothed grin he thought looked intimidating and tried to brush past Tyler again, but Tyler placed a firm hand on his chest to stop him. “Your threats mean nothing to me,” Tyler said coldly. “This is your last chance. Return what you stole.” The thief’s eyes dropped to Tyler’s hand on his chest and his eyes glinted with devious mischief. “You’r

Wendy hesitated, then repeated herself carefully. “Frederick Hall and Katie Clark are getting engaged today, and I was invited.” Her brows furrowed when she noticed the change in Tyler’s demeanor. “Is there a problem, sir?” Tyler’s fist clenched on his lap, though his expression remained unreadable. “Katie is my ex-wife. And Frederick Hall…” His voice became colder. “…is the man who sent me to prison.” Wendy’s eyes widened as her hand covered her mouth. “Oh my days, sir! I had no idea! Please forgive me, I wouldn’t have agreed to attend if I had known…” “It's fine,” Tyler cut her off with a raise of his finger. “You won’t be attending, but I will.” Wendy blinked in surprise. “You mean…?” Tyler leaned back against the seat, and fixed his gaze on the cityscape outside the tinted window. “It’s time I saw my betrayers’ faces again.” Wendy studied him for a moment before finally nodding. “Understood, sir.” Her eyes raked over his outfit and lingered particularly on the coffee stai