If the charges stuck, all of his assets would be frozen and handed over to the


    authorities. Once again, just as her dreams were within reach, everything slipped through Violet''s fingers. She felt as if she might lose her mind.


    Yulia, on the other hand, remained calm and unhurried, her expression unreadable as she watched Violet''s distress.


    "It''s not over till it''s over. No one knows how this will y out yet. We''ll just have to


    see how things develop. Besides, the whole thing came out of nowhere-no warning at all. I suspect someone''s digging into Simms'' affairs behind the scenes."


    I''d already reached the same conclusion. Our eyes met, and the answer was clear.


    Victoria.


    Who else could possibly hate Simms enough to go this far?


    "Do you think Victoria already knows she and Simms aren''t rted by blood?"


    Yulia''s face darkened.


    "So what if she knows? Her mother was never a match for me, and if Victoria wants toe at me, let her try. Still, if Simms ends up behind bars, things could get tricky."


    After Yulia''s rtionship with Simms fell apart, she had no desire to stay at thepany as his assistant, and Simms certainly didn''t want her around anymore. Now, Violet was the only one left at Golden Era Enterprises, but even she had been pushed to the margins.


    Violet had no power at Golden Era Enterprises. No one listened to her-if anything, her reputation was so toxic that people went out of their way to avoid her.


    "So, what—are we just supposed to ept this?" she demanded.


    Yulia shot her a sharp nce. "What''s the rush? Let''s just see how things y out."


    But Violet didn''t share Yulia''sposure. She was anxious-desperate, even. "I''m leaving..."


    If Simms didn''t fall, she''d have no future.


    Yulia exhaled a thin stream of smoke toward the ceiling. "Alright."


    Watching Violet''s young figure walk away, Yulia felt a mix of envy and bitterness. If only she were twenty years younger, she could still find a man to lean on. Now, all she could do was gamble on luck.


    Simms was escorted out of Golden Era Enterprises in full view of his employees. He looked impable in his suit, calm and collected as always.


    The business investigation officers, seeing his cooperation, didn''t make things difficult for him—not even a pair of handcuffs.


    But once Simms was brought to the detention center, he faced multiple charges and was denied bail.


    The first person to visit him was, surprisingly, Yulia.


    "Here to see me at my lowest?" Simms sneered.


    Since his arrest, only hiswyer had bothered to stay in touch. No one else cared what happened to him. Even the young model he''d been seeing had cleared out his credit cards and vanished as soon as she caught wind of his troubles. Rumor had it she was on the run now, too.


    Yulia''s gaze was icy and distant.


    "Simms, we were together for years. Sure, we never made it official on paper, but we lived as husband and wife and we have a daughter


    together. I''m willing to let go ofl.ne by your side. All I want is stand


    past. Even now, I''m willing to stand


    for things


    to go back to the way they were. I''ll


    do everything I can to get you out of here."


    Her words were sincere, but Simms wasn''t buying it.


    "Save me? Don''t make meugh. We''ve been together long enough I know exactly what you''re capable of. What, you think just because I''m down, you can cozy up and get back in my good graces?


    Don''t think I don''t know about you


    don''t


    and your little affairs on the


    side-using my money to keep some boy toy. For all I know, Violet might not even be my kid. You only want to help me so you can worm your way back in. Well, it''s not going to happen. No woman''s ever going to make a fool of me, not now, not ever."


    Yulia''s temper red. "Violet is your daughter. If you don''t believe me, go get a DNA test.


    And if you hadn''t been out chasing women, drinking and partying every night, do you think I''d have looked forfort elsewhere?"


    Simms snorted. "So now my cheating''s your excuse? Please. A man having a few flings on the side-especially someone as sessful as me—is perfectly normal.


    You don''t get to pin everything on me. You''re no angel yourself. Look at the mess you''ve made of things. I don''t need your help."


    He stood up, refusing to even nce at her.


    Yulia''s voice shook with anger. "Simms, don''t you dare regret this."


    If this was the end of the line, she had no reason to hold on to this man any longer.


    Let him rot. Let him die for all she cared.


    A guard led Simms through the iron door. He never once looked back at her.


    "Fine, Simms. If you can be heartless, don''t me me for being ruthless."


    met


    Simms had burned theirst bridge, and Yulia felt nothing left for him. She had been willing, if he''d only shown the slightest willingness to reconcile, to consider Violet''s n and start over. But now it was clear-there was nothing left to salvage. Simms could drop dead and she wouldn''t shed a single tear. After all these years, this was her reward.


    She should have seen him for what he truly was a long time ago.


    Five dayster, a flight from Evermore Citynded at Starfall International Airport.


    Victoria stepped off the ne, setting foot on thisnd for the first time in nearly a year. A rush of emotion surged through her.


    "Vicky..."


    "Ms. Turner..."


    Ailie and Yasmine hade to meet her.


    Standing beside Victoria was Emily, while a nanny wrangled three children.


    Not far from the arrivals gate, a sleek ck van waited. The window was halfway


    down, just enough to reveal the sharp lines of McNeil''s face.


    "Mr. Langford, it''s your wife. Should I pull up?" the driver asked.


    "No. Take me back to the office."