Instead, I drove to a private boutique hotel registered under one of my holding companies.
I kept a permanent suite there.
Discreet.
Secure.
Always available in case I ever needed distance from the world.
That night, I needed it.
Once the twins finally fell asleep, I sat alone at the desk by the window.
The skyline glowed beyond the glass.
My hands were steady.
Steadier than my heart.
I opened my smart home app first.
Revoked Ethan’s biometric access to the house.
Then I disabled authorization on the electric SUV he drove.
Next came the household credit cards.
Suspended.
My finger paused over one final option inside Orion Global’s executive management system.
Terminate employment.
But I didn’t press it.
Not yet.
Impulsive people react.
Careful women prepare consequences.
My real name is Victoria Hayes.
Almost nobody at Orion knew that.
After marriage, I became Victoria Parker.
Eventually just Tori.
Something softer.
Smaller.
Easier for everyone else.
But Orion Global did not belong to Ethan.
Or the board.
Or the investment group named in public reports.
Orion was controlled through Hayes Capital Partners—my company.
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