White-hot agony tore through Rhys Darby’s abdomen. A rusted, serrated blade was chewing through his flesh, carving him open inch by bloody inch. His sight flickered. Through the haze, a familiar face appeared above him. The face of the woman he had once trusted more than anyone in the world. Lexi Stowe Darby. His wife. There was no sorrow in her eyes. No fear. No pity. There was only a terrifying, hollow hunger. “Don’t hate us, Rhys.” Her voice shook, though he could not tell whether it was from the cold or excitement. “It’s fifty degrees below zero. We need something to eat.” Rhys stared at her, his mind unable to process what he was hearing. “She’s right,” a male voice drawled, sickeningly casual. “You’ve kept us alive this long. You won’t mind being useful one last time, will you?” That’s Curry Barker. The same Curry that Lexi had repeatedly sworn was "just a friend." Out of love and blind trust, Rhys had never pushed the issue. Now, Curry slipped an arm around

The front door slammed into the wall hard enough to leave a fresh dent as Rhys strode into the house.Everything was exactly as he remembered.The artificial flowers Britt, Lexi's mother, had arranged on the entry table. The staircase runner sitting slightly crooked because Michael, Lexi's father, had installed it himself and refused to let anyone fix it. And there was that distinct, lingering aroma of Lexi's perfume, a scent that had, year by suffocating year, entirely overwritten the smell of the home his parents had built.Hearing the door, Michael marched out of the living room, wearing the grave expression he always adopted before issuing orders disguised as family advice.“There you are,” he said. “Lexi called and told me about the scene you caused at the bank. What the fuck were you thinking? You need to call Lexi and Henry immediately and apologize!”Rhys walked past him toward the staircase.“I’m talking to you.”Michael stepped directly into his path.“You will also sign the

Rhys Darby’s filthy-rich life began that morning.He woke before sunrise, showered, changed into clean clothes, and headed straight for the finest restaurant he could find.Rhys ordered without looking at the prices. Prime steak, fresh seafood, pastries, and the restaurant’s most expensive coffee.By the time he set down his fork, warmth had spread through his entire body.Spending money on himself without guilt felt...So damn good.After breakfast, he called a car and headed to the state lottery center.The moment the staff learned why he was there, their attitude changed completely. A senior employee personally escorted him into a private reception room, where his ticket and identity were verified through several rounds of inspection.At last, the winning amount was confirmed: Five hundred million dollars. One hundred million vanished immediately in taxes. Rhys also authorized a two-million-dollar charitable donation to avoid unnecessary criticism and media pressure.When everythi

At the mention of twelve million dollars, all three of them suddenly found a remarkable burst of energy and shot out the door. Michael and Henry made it to the mansion first, only to find a crowd already gathered outside. The property sat behind an elegant wrought-iron fence, with a landscaped front yard separating the street from the house. Since no one could get inside, the neighbors had clustered along the fence, craning their necks for a better look. “Michael!” Someone spotted him immediately. Then came the congratulations. “Michael, your family really made it this time!” “You lucky bastard. Where did Lexi find a husband like that?” “Seriously, Michael, you never told us Rhys was this loaded!” Michael's face grew darker with every word. Henry, panting heavily beside him, stared at the massive house with naked greed. Unable to contain himself any longer, he strode straight toward the gate and pounded on it with his fist. Bang! Bang! Bang! “RHYS! GET YOUR ASS

“Rhys, I’ve already hired an attorney and filed a petition with the court to reopen the division of our marital assets.” Lexi’s voice over the phone was cold and clipped. “Send me your current address. The court needs somewhere to serve you.” Heh. So she actually sued. Not that he was surprised. “Give me a minute,” he said calmly. “I’ll be hiring an attorney too. From now on, if you have anything to say, say it to my lawyer.” Then he hung up. He had neither the time nor the patience to waste playing games in court. If she wanted a legal battle, fine. He would give her one. And he would make sure she regretted starting it. Rhys went straight to Sydvale’s top divorce firm and asked for Joshua Hearn, one of the city’s most sought-after divorce attorneys. As luck would have it, Joshua had an opening that afternoon. The receptionist glanced at Rhys before giving him a polite warning. “Mr. Darby, you’re aware of Mr. Hearn’s billing rate, correct?” “Three thousand an hour.” Rhys n