She Was The Queen

Caylee Jenkins had just walked inside when a set of divorce papers was thrown straight at her.

"Sign this. It's over between us."

Brett Griffiths's tone was cold and cutting, his eyes filled with nothing but loathing.

The words hit her like a slap out of nowhere, leaving her breath caught in her throat. "Why?" she whispered.

"You seriously don't get it?" His laugh was almost cruel. "Caylee, I used to believe you were gentle, even pure. But look at you, you're poisonous. So eaten up with jealousy you'd go as far as destroying Stacey's hand? How could you!"

Brett closed the space between them in a few hard strides, his fingers gripping her chin, forcing her to look at him. "The people you hired to cause trouble at the recital are already behind bars. If you don't want the same fate, you'd better be smart and sign."

Caylee parted her lips to deny the accusation, but one look at his icy expression told her there was no point. He wouldn't believe a single word.

Ever since Stacey Holden, Brett's first love, came back three months ago, Caylee had been framed again and again. And every single time, Brett refused to believe her.

"Fine. Divorce it is. But just answer one thing—these past three years, did you ever care about me, even once?" Her voice trembled.

"Not once."

The word sliced straight through her, clean and merciless. Air rushed out of her lungs, leaving a hollow ache that spread through her chest.

"I understand."

Her lashes dipped, hiding the crack in her expression. By the time she raised her eyes again, her face looked calm, as though nothing had broken inside her. "I bought groceries earlier. Let's share one last dinner and call it a farewell meal."

Brett's brows pulled together. He was about to turn her down, but the redness around her eyes gave him pause, softening his stance for just a second.

"Alright."

The concession had barely left his mouth when his phone rang. He checked the screen and picked up immediately.

"Brett, I need to see you. Can you come to Griffiths Group?" The sweet, cloying voice on the line was loud enough for Caylee to catch every word.

Her heart sank as Brett's expression melted, his tone turning gentle in a way she had never once received. "Of course. I'll be right there. Wait for me."

Her eyes lost their light. So this was the line between being loved and being ignored.

As he turned to go, she instinctively caught his sleeve. But he pulled free at once, without hesitation.

"That's enough, Caylee."