Chapter 48 #2
“See, back when I first opened my business, my lawyers advised me to have you sign a prenup. And you did—assuming it was just paperwork, something you’d never have to worry about.
My lawyers slid it in with the other contracts.
You skimmed it, signed it, and went right back to basking in the spotlight, wearing the title of Mrs. Kors like nothing mattered but the image.
But it wasn’t harmless fine print, Giselle; it was protection.
Protection for me, for what I built with my own hands and for what I knew could be destroyed if I didn’t cover every angle. ”
He paused, letting the truth dig in. “That contract was ironclad, by design. It made sure the company, the houses, the assets—every piece of my empire—stayed where they belonged… with me. You walked into it blind, and now you’re walking out with nothing.
No home, money, assets or claim to the life you flaunted as if it were yours.
It was never yours; it was mine… and my lawyers made damn sure of it.
This muthafucka.
“This is the cost of pride, Giselle, and it was a losing battle from the start. You just never thought the day would come when I cashed it in. I hope the pearls you’re wearing right now are real…
it’s all you’ve got left. Let’s not make this more difficult than it has to be.
It was… okay while it lasted, and the kids are good.
That’s all that matters now. We raised them, they’re grown, successful and they’ll be fine without us under the same roof.
You’ll be fine too… just not there. Please make sure you lock up when you leave,” he finalized then the line went dead, leaving an unbearable silence in its wake.
Robert’s voice—flat, final, and radically devoid of any remorse—echoed in my head as I stood there frozen, the phone clutched so tight my knuckles ached.
No one ever got over on me. I was the one who pulled strings and the one who always came out on top. But Robert somehow managed to. He played the long game, and I didn’t even see the board he was moving on.
A bitter taste rose in my mouth as the truth seared through me.
Pride blinds you to the knife until it’s already in your back.
One of the officers stepped forward, his expression a mix of resolve and pity.
“Ma’am, we can handle this the easy way or the hard way.”
I took a step back, raising my chin defiantly.
“I’m not leaving! I don't care what documents you have—this house is mine! That man must be losing his mind if he believes he can just erase me from his life!”
“We have orders,” the tall one said, his voice calm and unwavering. “You’ve been served. If you refuse to leave, we are authorized to detain you for trespassing.”
A scoff escaped my lips. “You wouldn’t dare!”
He sighed, his face betraying just a hint of weariness. “Ma’am…”
I pivoted sharply on my heel. “I’m calling my lawyer! I’m not going anywhere until?—”
Before I could finish my sentence, cold metal snapped around my wrists, biting into my skin.
“What are you doing?! Don’t touch me! I am Mrs. Kors!” I protested, my heart racing.
“You were , ma’am,” the shorter guy reminded me.
My chest heaved as I futilely tried to wriggle free, but they were already guiding me toward the front door, the final threshold of my home.
When I stepped out, the oppressive July heat hit my face like a harsh slap. The sun blazed down, blurring my vision and making me squint against the bright rays. And just like that, I was being marched out of my own damn home that I’d helped build with love, sweat, and sacrifice.
I held my head high, a facade of dignity masking the turmoil within. But inside, I was cracking. I fought back the urge to cry.
Not yet.
“I need my purse!” I demanded, my voice echoing as they roughly escorted me off the premises, my heels clicking unevenly against the ground, each sound a reminder of my crumbling world.
“Get her purse,” the eldest officer muttered to the other, annoyance creeping into his voice.
“It’s in my room, on the velvet ottoman!” I snapped, my temper flaring. “And don’t you dare steal anything!”
The younger officer scoffed but turned back toward the house, leaving me seething with a blend of anger and desperation.
I stood there at the edge of the gated entrance with the other officer, arms crossed tightly, the cuffs digging into my skin.
As minutes dragged on unbearably, cars passed by, indifferent to my plight.
Neighbors peeked from behind their curtains, some pretending not to look, others allowing themselves to smirk at my humiliation.
Somewhere behind me, a bird chirped merrily, blissfully unaware that my entire life had just unraveled.
Finally, the officer returned, holding my purse with a lack of reverence as if it were nothing more than a sack of groceries instead of my limited-edition Chanel.
“You’re free to go,” the officer announced, removing the cuffs with a brisk motion, then handed my purse. “But you are never to return here. Do you understand?”
I rubbed my wrists, my emotions swirling.
He didn’t wait for my response. They turned their backs on me and walked back toward the house and closed the gate.
Although I didn’t cry, I felt numb. I stood there, surrounded by the lavish luxury of a home that was no longer mine, with the oppressive silence of my consequences.
I had nowhere to go . That girl had wormed her way into my son’s heart and poisoned him against me.
Her tics, her sob story, her perfect yet chaotic appearance made it all the easier for him to turn on me, and my thoughts screamed in protest.
This can’t be happening. I was the one in control. I made the sacrifices. I shaped Imanio into who he is. I carried Robert through his darkest years. I held this family together. I don’t deserve this. I don’t.
But maybe… maybe I went too far. Maybe I forgot what genuine love looked like.
Maybe I confused control for care. Maybe I thought that silence would last forever if I just talked loud enough.
Maybe it took losing everything to truly see what I had.
I was no longer Giselle Kors… just Giselle—a woman holding an empty purse, facing frozen bank accounts and a name that wouldn’t open doors anymore.
My phone buzzed insistently in my palm, disrupting my spiraling thoughts. I glanced at the screen, frowning as I read the notification. The purse I tried to order? Out of stock.
Can this day get any worse?