*


    Two hourster, he texted her.


    She''d blocked his number before, but he''d just threatened someone to get her to unblock him.


    [What are you doing? Want to go out for a drink?]


    Honestly, everyone knew what "having a drink" meant, especially between two people who''d already slept together.


    Kaitlyn was fresh out of the shower, towel in hand, drying her hair. She''d just checked in with ra''s younger brother and was relieved to hear ra was fine. The new artist could wait; the Bradford Group wasn''t hurting for money anymore.


    When she saw Jackson''s message, she frowned, then deliberately messed up her bedsheets, making it look like she''d just been with someone.


    She snapped a photo and sent it back.


    [Just finished with my husband. Something you need?]


    Jackson''s face turned stormy.


    No woman had ever gotten the better of him like this before, and it made him grit


    his teeth. He tossed his phone aside, feeling oddly restless.


    But after a moment, he picked it back up and made a call.


    The next morning, bright and early, Kaitlyn went to the Dawson family''s old estate. The old man had asked to see her.


    She entered n''s room quietly, immediately noticing how pale he looked. She hurried over. "Carter, are you feeling alright?"


    n waved her off, coughing twice. "It''s that boy, Jackson. He''s been talking about divorce again. Brittany, tell me honestly-how are things between you two? He seems set on ending it. But you know, you''re the only granddaughter-inw I''ll ever acknowledge."


    Kaitlyn dropped her gaze. Ever since marrying into the Dawson family, she''d pretty much stopped using her real name in public.


    n had always liked her and had epted the marriage, but the rest of the Daysons looked down on her. They hated seeing her in the spotlight, so she''d picked an name for herself. Her career had slowly started climbing after that. She doubted her business partners even knew her real name; in


    Engli


    showbiz, her studio signed the contracts anyway.


    She took a deep breath. n had been nothing but good to her these past three years, but Jackson never liked her, and she didn''t like him either. All she wanted now was to break free from this golden cage, run her own studio, take her mom to see the world—anything was better than being stuck in the Capital''s mess.


    "Carter, Jackson really doesn''t like me. If he''s really set on this—"


    n started coughing harder, looking truly worn out.


    Kaitlyn didn''t push. She just handed him a ss of warm water. "You need to take care of yourself. Jackson''s doing great-he''s running thepany well. Honestly, you don''t need to worry."


    n took the


    he cup and drank, then


    sighed. "I never doubted his


    business sense. When you married him, you knew he already had a girlfriend a little actress, she''s probably famous now. I worry those two might start up again. That girl''s not the settling-down type; she''s too cunning. Jackson''s always been rebellious when ites to love. The more I tried to stop him, the more he thought she was ''the one.'' Then your family came with that old promise I made, so I agreed to your marriage. Brittany, you''re a good girl. I know you''ve tried to keep a low profile all these years. Maybe one day, he''ll realize what he lost. I know people—I''ve always had a good sense about these things."


    Kaitlyn gently patted his back. She never tried to butter him up, just acted naturally around him.


    Once he finished his water, she took the cup and set it on the table.


    "Brittany, can you give it another six months? If Jackson still doesn''te around, I''ll end this marriage myself. The Dawsons have done what we can for your family -consider itpensation for the years you''ve lost."


    "Carter, please don''t say that. You''ve already given me so much. That house alone... I still feel guilty about it."


    When they first got married, n had gifted her a beautiful townhouse. She lived there alone now; no one from the Dawson family ever visited except n, and no one really treated her and Jackson like a real couple. Honestly, though, she didn''t mind-it made her life easier.


    Seeing the worry on n''s face, she lowered hershes. "Alright. Six months. If Jackson''s still not interested, I''ll divorce him—no drama."


    n nodded. "That boy''s just too stubborn. He needs someone like you to keep him grounded. But I know you''re proud, Brittany. You''re not the type to go chasing after a man. So I''ll give you both sixO months. Let''s see what fate decides. If it''s not meant to be, I''ll take care of things. You''ll both be free to move on."