Chapter 3

Julia Warren POV:

Cameron clutched his cheek, his eyes still wide with shock and fury, but his primary concern wasn't his own injury. He turned to Kenda, his voice laced with frantic worry. "Are you alright, darling? Did she hurt you?"

Kenda, still trembling, nodded, her eyes darting between me and the shattered ivory on the floor. "She's insane, Cameron! Totally unhinged!"

"Insane?" I scoffed, the word tasting like ash in my mouth. I ignored them, turning my back on their pathetic display. My gaze swept over the opulent living room, the space that had once felt like a sanctuary, now tainted by their presence.

I walked with purpose, past them, past the remnants of my father's legacy, and into Cameron's "private" office-a room he'd carved out for himself in my house, filled with his pretentious awards and framed photos of him shaking hands with various dignitaries. It was a shrine to his manufactured philanthropy.

I picked up a ceramic figurine, a grotesque caricature of a humanitarian hero, a cheap gift from one of his adoring, wealthy female donors. It felt flimsy in my hands. The irony wasn't lost on me.

"Julia! What are you doing?!" Cameron shouted, rushing after me, Kenda clinging to his arm. "Don't you dare touch anything else!"

I didn't answer him. I simply crushed the ceramic figurine in my hand. It powdered into dust, falling through my fingers like the reputation he once held. My palm stung, but I barely registered it.

"Everything you have, Cameron," I said, my voice chillingly calm as I faced him, my hand still coated in white dust, "it's mine. Or rather, it was my father's. And now, I'm taking it all back."

Cameron' s jaw dropped. Kenda whimpered beside him. "You can't! We'll sue you! You'll lose everything!"

I laughed then, a low, dark sound that sent shivers down their spines. "Sue me? Darling, my family is the law in this town. You think your little non-profit legal team can stand against Warren Enterprises? You'll be crushed before you even file the papers."

Just then, Kenda's phone buzzed aggressively. She fumbled with it, her eyes still wide with fear, and put it to her ear. "Hello? Oh my God! The kids? What happened?!"

Her voice rose in a panicked shriek. Cameron immediately forgot about me, abandoning his rage to rush to her side. "What is it, Kenda? What about the children?"

Kenda started to cry, her performance now fully switched to "distraught mother." "My babysitter! She said the twins have a fever, and little Leo fell and hit his head! I need to go! Now!"

Cameron' s face softened, a sickeningly paternal look replacing his fury. He cradled Kenda's face in his hands. "Go, darling, go! I'll handle... her." He glared at me, a promise of retribution in his eyes.

Kenda, ever the opportunist, didn't hesitate. She fled, the sound of her expensive heels clattering rapidly down the hallway, leaving only the lingering scent of her cloying perfume.

Cameron turned back to me, his jaw clenched. "Now, Julia. Let's talk about what you just did."

I simply stared at him, my gaze unwavering. The silence stretched, heavy and tense.

"No," I said, my voice cold as ice. "We are done talking."

I pulled out my phone again, my fingers steady as I dialed Gunner. I put it on speaker.

"Gunner," I stated, my voice devoid of emotion. "Initiate Project Phoenix."

A beat of silence on the other end. Then Gunner's calm, measured voice. "Understood, Ms. Warren. Parameters?"

I looked at Cameron, who was now trembling. His face was a mask of fear, confusion, and a dawning comprehension of the true magnitude of his mistake.

"I want everything," I said, my voice hard, merciless. "Every single detail. His financial records, the foundation's accounts, Kenda Perez's background, her assets, her children. Uncover every lie, every deception. I want their lives laid bare."

Cameron let out a choked gasp. "Julia, you wouldn't dare! The foundation is sacred! You can't just..."

"Oh, I can, Cameron," I cut him off, my eyes like chips of ice. "You taught me that. You showed me that nothing is sacred when it comes to betrayal."

"And Gunner," I continued, ignoring Cameron's pleas, "I want full medical histories. Mine, particularly. Every doctor, every visit, every test. I want to know exactly what I've been put through."

Another beat of silence. "Understood, Ms. Warren. Is he... physically well?" Gunner asked, his voice laced with a subtle threat.

"He's fine," I replied, a chilling smile playing on my lips. "For now."

"Excellent," Gunner said, a dry, almost approving tone in his voice. "Consider it done. Expect a preliminary report within 24 hours. The full dossier will take a little longer."

"Good," I said, and hung up.

Cameron stared at me, his face ashen. "You... you can't do this, Julia. I'm your husband! We have a life together!"

"A life built on your lies, Cameron," I retorted, stepping closer until I was mere inches from him. I could smell the fear radiating off him, mingling with Kenda's residual perfume. "A life where you stole my peace, my legacy, and my hope for a family."

My voice dropped to a low, dangerous whisper. "And you lied about everything. About us. About a child. You took that from me, Cameron. And now, I'm taking everything from you."

He recoiled, his eyes wide with genuine terror. His carefully constructed world was crumbling around him, and he knew it.

"I regret ever meeting you," he spat, his voice filled with venom. "You're a soulless bitch, just like your father!"

I simply smiled, a cold, empty smile that didn't reach my eyes. "Perhaps. But at least my soul is my own. Unlike yours, which seems to be for sale to the highest bidder."

I turned and walked away, leaving him standing amidst the wreckage of his office, his life. The heavy front door slammed shut behind me, the sound echoing through the empty house. I stood in the quiet, the rain starting to tap against the windows, washing away the traces of their deceit.

The marriage was over. The game had begun. And this time, I was playing to win.