Chapter 126

"Surprised to see me?" Scarlet Archer strode into the office in her high heels. Her gaze swept over the ostentatious bouquet of crimson roses on the desk, lips curling in mockery. "My, Nigel. Since when did you learn romance?"

She settled onto the sofa, crossing her legs. "Miss Sinclair, shall we begin the interview? Where's your equipment? Bring it all out."

"What are you doing here?" Nigel Norton slammed his hands on the desk and stood. "Scarlet, tomorrow is the last day of our cooling-off period. If you want this divorce finalized, don't cause trouble now!"

Their marriage had long been dead in all but name. Scarlet couldn't wait to end it.

But Nigel had begun having second thoughts.

Tonggowan Manufacturing was the empire they'd built together from nothing. By law, Scarlet was entitled to half their assets. After months of negotiations, she'd already compromised—settling for just one-third.

Yet even that concession left Nigel seething with resentment after signing.

Tomorrow marked the end of the mandatory waiting period, requiring both parties to appear at the civil affairs bureau. But Nigel had already decided to renege.

He wouldn't give a single penny to this "haggard old woman."

Scarlet had seen through him. She'd been gathering evidence of Nigel's marital misconduct to file for contested divorce.

That day she'd intercepted Evelyn outside the office building...

"Get out!" Nigel roared, face purpling with rage. "You're not welcome here! We're divorced—this is my office now!"

Scarlet smirked. "Even divorced, I own half this company. Or have you forgotten who secured the loans to start this business? Thinking of burning bridges now? Dream on."

The words struck a nerve. Nigel hated when Scarlet brought up the past.

He grabbed her by the hair, dragging her toward the door.

"Ah!" Scarlet cried out in pain. "Nigel, let go!"

"Bitch!" Nigel backhanded her across the face. "Shut your mouth!"

Scarlet collapsed to the floor. Still enraged, Nigel kicked her prone form.

"I'll beat you to death, whore! Want money? I'll burn it for your funeral!"

He snatched a marble paperweight from the desk, raising it overhead.

"Stop!" Evelyn lunged forward, intercepting the weapon. "Are you trying to kill her?"

Nigel moved with practiced brutality. Evelyn had tried several times to intervene unsuccessfully.

"Don't worry, Miss Sinclair," Nigel's expression shifted unnaturally to a smile. "Just disciplining my wife. Domestic matter."

Scarlet lay curled on the floor, motionless.

Evelyn retreated two steps, dialing emergency services. "I'm reporting a domestic violence case at Tonggowan Manufacturing—"

"What are you doing?" Nigel roared, charging at her.

Scarlet suddenly wrapped both arms around his leg, anchoring him.

"I'm now under threat too!" Evelyn shouted into the phone.

"Who dares touch me in Kingsbury?" Nigel kicked viciously at Scarlet. "Tonggowan is a top taxpayer! Little reporter, you'd better cancel that call now!"

Hanging up, Evelyn seized her chance—a precise knife-hand strike to Nigel's throat.

He crumpled, gagging and clutching his neck.

Evelyn helped Scarlet up and hurried toward the exit. Her years with the Kingsleys had included self-defense training. A throat strike was lethal force—she'd shown restraint.

At the door, Evelyn suddenly turned back, retrieving a hidden camera from the filing cabinet.

"Stop them!" Nigel rasped.

Tonggowan security blocked them at the main entrance. As tensions mounted, police sirens approached.

Evelyn handed the camera to the officers. "Evidence is here. We need medical examination now."

Nigel actually tried snatching the camera, stopped by police.

"Officer, this is a family matter," he forced a smile. "Marital spats happen. But her—" He pointed at Evelyn. "She assaulted me! The footage proves it! I'll sue for battery!"

This insignificant reporter had refused his generous offer. As a publicly traded company's CEO, he'd done her a favor by even considering her. Since she wanted to play hardball, he'd show no mercy.