The days flew by like a breeze and everything was moving smoothly. In the morning, Bruce worked as an Uber driver, then he spent the afternoons with Tyler, Lucy's son.Bruce had grown fond of the boy in a way he hadn't expected. In an effort to compensate for Dr. Morrison's actions, the hospital ensured Tyler received the best medication money could purchase. And they had agreed to cover his surgery—all of it, on the house.During the weeks leading up to Tyler's surgery, Bruce and Lucy found themselves spending more and more time together. It began with coffee in the hospital cafeteria, followed by lunches after Bruce completed his morning shifts, and then dinners when Tyler was asleep and Lucy needed a break from the sterile hospital environment.One evening, they sat across from each other at a small Italian restaurant tucked away on a side street. "You really don't have to treat me to dinner like this," Bruce said as he glanced at the menu.Lucy shook her head, a gentle smile pla

The moment Caro's palm struck Bruce's cheek, his hand responded instantly. He swung his open palm and slapped her back across the cheek. The noise was even louder than Caro's slap. Her head snapped to the side, her hair whipping across her face. She stumbled backward, her hand rushing to her burning cheek, eyes wide with shock.The entire restaurant froze. Even Sophie and Bianca were stunned, their jaws dropping on the floor. Lucy's eyes grew wide with utter shock. She couldn't believe her eyes. Bruce just struck her boss in the face.Caro stood frozen, her mouth hanging open. Her fingers touched the red mark spreading across her cheek. Bruce had never raised his hand against her before. Not even during their ugliest arguments. Especially not after she insulted him in front of everyone. She had slapped him countless times. She had screamed at him, belittled him, and humiliated him. He had always received it without complaints. But that has changed now.Bruce lowered his hand, hi

Lucy stepped out of the restroom, her face still pale and her mind reeling from shock. She had splashed cold water on her cheeks, taken deep breaths, tried to make sense of everything that had happened. Nothing worked.When she came back to the table, she saw Bruce sitting calmly with a glass of red wine in his hand. He looked completely at ease as if the chaos of the last half hour had never happened. An earthly calm had settled over the restaurant. Soft music played in the background again. Diners chatted softly while waiters moved gracefully among the tables. Lucy blinked in confusion as she slid into her seat, her eyes darting around the room. "What happened?" she asked, her voice hushed. "Where's Caro and her friends?"Bruce gently placed the wine glass on the table. "Oh, don't worry about her," he said casually. "The manager threatened to kick us all out, so they decided to leave."Lucy stared at him. "They left? Just like that?"Bruce shrugged his shoulders. "Something li

The following morning, Caro, Sophie, and Bianca were led out of their holding cells. Each of the three women looked as if they had aged ten years in a single night.A desk sergeant pushed a clipboard across the counter. "Sign here. You're free to go."Caro snatched the pen and scrawled her name without reading a word. She had spent the previous night replaying the humiliation she suffered in the hands of Bruce. Nothing else mattered to her except having Bruce's head served to her on a silver platter. The sunlight hit Caro's face as she pushed through the station doors, but she barely noticed it. Just then, she saw her mother, Scarlett, waiting by the curb, her face pale and drawn. Caro immediately sensed something was wrong."Mom?" Caro frowned as she approached her. "What are you doing here? Where's Dad?"Scarlett stood there, her eyes a bit red, as though she hadn't slept at all during the night. She opened her mouth, then shut it before finally forcing the words out. "Caro... L

Bruce fell silent after hearing her request, his fingers pausing on the cat's fur. From the shadows, Bruce studied her quietly.So, this was who she had become. She wanted him smashed like a bug beneath her heel.He had pushed her to this point. And now she stood before him, the most powerful man in the world, begging him to destroy her ex-husband.The irony was almost too delicious."I said I'd grant one wish," Bruce said slowly. "But you've asked for two."Caro stepped forward, forgetting Oswald's warning. Her hands clenched at her sides, her eyes burning with desperation."That's because Bruce is the one behind all of this!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. "I don't know how he did it but somehow he's untouchable. Like he has someone powerful backing him up. Someone who's using him to ruin my family."Bruce's jaw tightened but he said nothing.Caro continued, her voice filled with frustration. "He destroyed my reputation. Made me look like a shameless woman so that you'd lose inter