Chapter 4

Kaia clutched the thick manila envelope containing the divorce agreement tightly against her chest. She walked out of the law firm and into the cold air.

She got into the car. "Back to the penthouse."

When she walked into the apartment, she placed the manila envelope dead center on the glass coffee table.

She pulled out her phone and dialed Gerrit's private number. It rang six times before he finally answered.

"What?" Gerrit's voice was ice cold. In the background, Kaia could clearly hear a woman's soft, breathy laugh.

A sharp pain pierced her chest. She forced her throat to relax. "Come home tonight. I have important documents you need to sign."

"Seraphina just got back to New York, and she is emotionally unstable," Gerrit snapped. "Do not play any of your manipulative tricks to hurt her. I am warning you."

Before Kaia could say another word, the line went dead. The dial tone buzzed in her ear.

She dropped the phone on the sofa. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, trying to force down the nausea rising in her throat.

A loud beep echoed through the room. The electronic lock on the front door was opening.

Kaia snapped her eyes open. Seraphina walked in, her high heels clicking loudly against the marble. She looked around the penthouse, her eyes full of arrogant entitlement.

Kaia stood up. "How do you have the passcode to this apartment?"

Seraphina smiled, a sickly sweet expression. "I told the new concierge Gerrit sent me to retrieve his emergency files, and slipped him a few hundred bills. He was more than happy to give me the temporary access code."

Kaia's face lost a fraction of its color. She pointed a shaking finger at the door. "Get out of my house. Now."

Seraphina ignored her. She walked straight toward the coffee table. She reached her hand out to grab the manila envelope.

Kaia lunged forward. She slammed her hand down on top of the envelope. "Don't touch that."

Seraphina dramatically gasped. She put a hand over her chest. "You are so aggressive, Kaia. No wonder Gerrit can't stand you."

They stood frozen by the table. Seraphina's eyes darted toward the entryway.

The heavy front door swung open. Gerrit stepped into the foyer.

The moment Seraphina saw him, her face contorted into pure terror. She threw her body backward, stumbling away from the table as if Kaia had shoved her violently.

Seraphina screamed. She collapsed onto the thick carpet. Tears instantly flooded her eyes as she looked up at Gerrit.

Gerrit's face turned purple with rage. He sprinted across the living room.

Before Kaia could open her mouth to speak, Gerrit grabbed her by the shoulder. His grip was like a steel vise, digging into her collarbone.

"Are you out of your mind? !" Gerrit roared. "Why are you attacking her? !"

With a violent shove, he pushed Kaia backward.

Kaia's body, already weak and failing, flew backward. She lost her footing completely. Her lower back slammed directly into the sharp, pointed corner of the chrome-edged glass coffee table.

A sickening thud echoed in the room. The sharp metal bit viciously into her flesh, tearing a deep laceration. A white-hot agony exploded in her waist. She gasped for air, collapsing onto the floor.

Warm, wet blood instantly soaked through her white silk blouse, staining the fabric a deep, dark red. The pain was so intense black spots danced in her vision.

Gerrit didn't even look at her. He dropped to his knees, his eyes filled with absolute panic as he reached out to pull Seraphina into his arms.