His Substitute's Billion-Dollar Secret Empire

o a celebrated tech CEO. I was the silent angel investor who funded his entire empire

ina, a woman from his past

my clothes, using my things, stealing his affection. Wh

d auction. He watched from the shadows as leering men bid on my body, only

delivered the final, soul-crushing blow

red to Katerina, not knowing I could

idea that as he spoke, our divorce was already being finalized.

ce calm and steady. "I'm

pte

Penning

cian with holes in his shoes into a celebrated tech CEO. T

e in a cheap floral dress. Her eyes, wide and watery, darted around our minimalist living room, a space I had meticulous

her back. It was a gesture I knew well, a possessive, comforting touch

tention of ever seeing again. But the way Katerina looked at Connor, a despe

s an in

t downtown under a modified name, trying to feel normal. I was just 'Harley Smith,' a freelance graphic desi

plastered his dark hair to his forehead, and his cheap jacket was soaked through. But it was his face that stopped me. He had the sharp

nor Tate, and he played me a song right there on the wet

soul that promised he'd conquer the world. He loved, I thought, me.

ecretly. Through a series of shell corporations and anonymous investments, I funneled millions into his dream. I was his a

he would give me the world. He' d buy me a house, a ring, a

y hair late at night, exhausted but triumphant after securing an

or Tate became a name synonymous with self-made genius. We moved into this glass-walled

e mansion, he was explain

grated on my nerves. "I couldn' t just leave her on the street. She' ll

aterina' s eyes lit up, a flic

s floor. The day after, my signature perfume lingered in the air after she p

ded lipstick, a shade created specifically for my skin tone. She was smearing th

apped. I snatched the

voice dangerously low

trembling. "I' m sorry. I jus

oilet and dropped the expensive tube into the

dn' t yell. He just looked disappoin

mine," I

wnstairs. She was holding a small, velvet box. She opened it to reveal a de

id, her voice a sweet, cloying melody.

rides, ripped the necklace from her hand, and slap

er hand flyin

open, and threw the necklace as hard as

no one," I said, tur

ling her face in his hands, checking for damage. He never even looked at me. He just held her, his anger radiating tow

terina was gone. No

d part of me satisfied with the outcome. A tense peace settled over the house f

s home office, his back to me, whispering into the phone. I couldn't hear t

e name on the screen befo

ew it was over. The love I had poured into him, the empire I had bui

tell him who I was, just that I needed to start the p

ed at the front door. She wasn't alone. This time, she wore a triumphant

ced, her voice ringing with f

es me, Harley. He always has. You were just a placeholder. Now

sfaction on her face, and a slow,

what you' ve just d

men in dark suits entered the house. They were polite, efficient, an

und me sitting in the dark,

ed, his voice shaking with

ised me the world, Connor. Yo

y child?" he roared, his concern solely f

even. "And then you brought her here. She flaunted my gifts, wore my clothes, and

through his hair, his panic palpable. "Please, just tell me where she is. I' ll do a

lly saw him for what he was: a weak, crue

stood up and walked to the bar, retrieving a set of documents my lawyer had deliver

ck at me, his face contorting wi

t survive without me. I made you. Everything you have, everything

he woman who had bankrolled his entir

ou want to keep the cars? Take them. Just accept Katerina. She and the baby will be a p

I felt nothing but a vast, empty coldness. He saw me as a posse

remind him who

thing without you?" I asked

h a cruel smirk. "Now, t

per. "Sign this asset transfer agreement, giving me

sound. "You're insane. Tha

ed him. "Sign it, Connor. Or you'll neve

r his company. Without another word, he snatched the pen and scribbled his signature on the doc

pat. "Now, w

ty' s best abortion clinic. The procedure is scheduled for

hy, furious red. "You

my phone. I pressed a single button, and a

ting from icy to warm. "Is our w

oice washed over me. "It can be tomorrow if you

aid. "I just need a little

s with a flourish, and slid them ac

led by morning," I said. "Congr

ht and away from the man I had made. The shattered pieces of our five ye

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