Whenever Victoria does interviews, she loves to smile and tell the press that I’m the man behind her success. She says it’s my unwavering support that allowed her to become the undisputed queen of corporate law. And I’ve just spent the last six months negotiating the final pieces of her biggest triumph yet—a massive, multi-billion-dollar cross-border merger. Once the ink on this contract dries, Shaw Legal will officially secure its place among the global elite. I was heading to the airport, folders of final merger documents tucked under my arm, preparing to board my family’s private jet to fly to Wall Street for the signing. But I was stopped right at the boarding gate. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hayden,” the gate agent said, looking down at her tablet. “Ms. Shaw gave explicit instructions. Today’s flight is reserved for the young master and Mr. Ward’s vacation to Switzerland. No outsiders are permitted on board.” Outsiders. The word struck my ears like a physical blow, leaving me momentarily speechless. Through the glass door of the VIP lounge, I saw Victoria sitting inside. She was holding a little boy, about three years old, in her lap. Sitting right next to her was Adrian Ward—her college sweetheart, the one who had walked away years ago. The child was snuggled deeply into her chest, his tiny fingers clutching her lapel. He held her with an ease that suggested he had been carried this way since the day he was born. “Mommy, Daddy said we’re going to fly on the giant plane to see the snow!” Victoria didn’t correct his choice of words. Instead, she leaned down and kissed his cheek. The tenderness in her expression was entirely foreign to me. “That’s right, sweetie. Are you excited?” The three of them leaned in close, forming a picture-perfect family portrait. I watched them for a long, quiet moment. Finally, a soft, dry laugh slipped past my lips, and I pulled out my phone to dial my personal attorney. “I need you to pull up every authorization, funding agreement, and power of attorney I’ve signed over to Victoria Shaw and Shaw Legal over the last ten years.” If she truly believed she had built this empire entirely on her own strength. Then I would gladly tear up the road I had spent a decade paving for her. … The voice on the other end of the line faltered, audibly stunned. “Mr. Hayden, what… what is happening?” I didn’t offer an explanation. I only added in a cold, level voice: “And one more thing. Freeze the flight path for my private jet immediately.” The second I hung up, a wave of commotion broke out inside the VIP lounge. The pilot walked quickly over to Victoria, bowing his head apologetically. “Ms. Shaw, I’m terribly sorry, but the flight path has been suddenly frozen. We cannot take off today. I’m waiting for further instructions…” Victoria’s gaze finally drifted away from Adrian and the boy. She looked up, and her eyes met mine through the glass. A flash of genuine delight washed over her face, and she quickly rose, walking toward me. For one absurd, fleeting second, my mind tried to rationalize the scene. I wanted to believe it was all a terrible misunderstanding. But the domestic tableau remaining behind her in the lounge anchored me to the reality of the betrayal. “Joseph! What are you doing here?” She reached out, attempting to wrap her arms around me as she always had. I took a quiet, deliberate step backward, letting her arms fall through empty air. “Why is that child calling you Mommy?” The easy smile on Victoria’s face stiffened. Her brow furrowed, her eyes reflecting nothing but irritation and confusion. “Joseph, please. That’s Adrian’s son, Toby.” “Adrian’s wife passed away recently, and Toby is so young to be without a mother. I only wanted to give him a bit of warmth so his childhood wouldn’t feel so empty.” She softened her tone, stepping closer, speaking to me as if she were coaxing a stubborn child. “You’ve always been the most generous, compassionate man I know. I knew you’d understand, right?” Before I could respond, a flight attendant approached us. “Ms. Shaw, the master bedroom on board has been completely remodeled. It’s now the young master’s private playroom.” “We followed the exact specifications sent over by your firm’s administrative director. I hope you find it to your liking.” My fingers clenched around the folder in my hand, the paper crumpling under my grip. That jet had been left to me by my father. Every piece of custom furniture in that master bedroom had been personally used by him before he passed. Years ago, because of my stubborn refusal to stop funding Victoria’s ambitions, my father had stripped me of my inheritance at Hayden Enterprises. Since then, that cabin was the only place left on earth where I could still feel his presence, surrounded by the things he loved. Yet Victoria hadn’t even bothered to ask before gutting it to build a playroom for Adrian’s son. She simply gave the flight attendant a brief, indifferent nod, as though the destroyed pieces of my father’s memory were nothing more than eyesores she had finally cleared away. Then she turned back to me, her voice tinged with a mild, exhausting sigh. “Joseph, Adrian is going through such a difficult time. He’s trying to raise a toddler alone while attempting to rebuild his career from scratch.” “We’ve all known each other for so long. Helping him out a little is only natural, isn’t it?” I took a slow, deep breath, but my chest felt so tight it ached. Helping him out? To the point where the entire staff of her firm was instructed to call this child ‘the young master’? Adrian walked out of the lounge, cradling Toby in his arms. He wore an expression of perfect, fragile contrition. “I’m so sorry, Joseph. Are we… are we causing a fight between you two?” Toby reached his small arms out toward Victoria. “Mommy! Carry me!” Without a single second of hesitation, Victoria took the boy into her arms, her touch incredibly gentle. They stood shoulder to shoulder—peaceful, harmonious, complete. And I stood opposite them, a stranger who had overstayed his welcome in his own life. The pilot walked out to join us. “Ms. Shaw, we’ve received updated clearance. The jet’s flight path has been modified. We are cleared to fly to New York.” Victoria blinked, a sudden look of triumph lighting up her face. “Joseph, the merger papers—you got them signed?” Without waiting for me to answer, she immediately turned to Adrian, her voice soft and endlessly patient. “Adrian, we have to make a quick detour to New York for a very important contract signing.” “Once we finish there, we’ll fly straight to the Swiss Alps so Toby can see the snow, okay?” With that, she turned, carrying the boy toward the shuttle bus on the tarmac. Only when she reached the doors did she look back, offering a bright, effortless smile. “Joseph, Adrian, come on! Hurry up!” Her tone was so natural, so utterly convinced that I existed solely to sweep away her obstacles and facilitate her life. Adrian offered her a small smile, then paused beside me, keeping his voice incredibly low. “You see it too, don’t you, Joseph?” “Victoria is always so exhausted when she’s with you. Around you, she has to be the partner—cold, powerful, never allowed to make a mistake.” “But with Toby and me, she actually gets to be a woman.” I let out a quiet, hollow laugh. Exhausted. Ten years ago, a tearful Victoria had sat in my apartment, pouring out her grand ambitions, her desperate hunger to prove herself. I hadn’t hesitated for a single second. I gave her everything I had. To secure the capital for her startup, I knelt outside my father’s study for three days and three nights. I begged him to divert Hayden Group resources to her fledgling firm. My father’s face had turned ash-gray with fury, his hand trembling as he pointed at me. “Joseph, are you throwing away basic business logic for a woman?” “Fine. If you’re going to be this stubborn, you are no longer the heir to this family!” I traded my birthright, my future, just to give her the leverage she needed. At the time, she had clung to me, sobbing against my chest. “Joseph, I’ll make them see. I’ll build an empire so great the Hayden family will have to admit you didn’t choose wrong!” And now, Adrian was telling me she was too tired around me. By the time my mind drifted back to the present, I had already been pulled onto the jet. Toby saw me, shrinking back into Victoria’s embrace. “Mommy, that uncle looks mean. I don’t like him.” With a cold expression, I turned on my heel and walked toward the restroom. Adrian followed, shutting the door behind him. “Are you still lying to yourself, Joseph?” “Deep down, Victoria has only ever loved me. You were nothing but a convenient stepping stone.” “Do you honestly believe she stayed with you all these years out of love?” “Do you remember that night she got drunk during the conference? She called me to her hotel room…” The blood rushed to my head, and I spun around, my voice a low, lethal snarl. “Shut up.” The door was pushed open, and Victoria immediately stepped inside, physically putting herself between Adrian and me. “Joseph! What is wrong with you? Adrian is dealing with enough trauma right now, and you’re acting like a jealous child over nothing! Do you have even a shred of basic empathy left?” I looked at her, and a profound, bone-deep exhaustion washed over me. I nodded slowly, my voice sounding so cold it surprised even me. “You’re right. I have no empathy. I’m the bad guy.” Without another word, I pushed past them, walked into the small restroom compartment, and pulled out my satellite phone. “Are the documents finalized?” “Yes, Mr. Hayden. Everything is prepared.” “Good. As of this moment, revoke every single authorization, license, and asset transfer under my name associated with Victoria Shaw and Shaw Legal.” When I stepped back into the cabin, the three of them were sitting close together. They were laughing, sharing a quiet, domestic warmth, as if my brief outburst had never happened. Adrian gestured toward the leather armchair across from him, his tone effortlessly polite. “Grab a seat, Joseph. Don’t be polite.” He spoke as though he were the host, and this was his living room. Victoria held Toby, a soft smile lingering on her lips. She looked up at me, as if suddenly remembering something. “Oh, Joseph, about this merger signing… I’ve decided to let Adrian act as the lead counsel.” “He was a brilliant international corporate attorney before his setback. This merger is exactly what he needs to rebuild his reputation and get back into the field.” Lead counsel. I had literally just revoked the entire deal. There was no merger left for anyone to lead. I nodded calmly. “Sure.” Victoria’s brow pinched. “Joseph, what is that supposed to mean?” I looked her dead in the eye. “Using a man who was disbarred two years ago for corporate bribery to head a multi-billion-dollar international acquisition.” “Victoria, is this really how you handle your fiduciary duty to your firm?” Adrian’s eyes immediately welled with tears. He lowered his head, his voice cracking slightly. “Victoria, forget it. Joseph doesn’t want me here. I’ll step down.” “I don’t want to be the reason you two fight.” I had no desire to watch him perform. I walked over to a corner sofa, sat down, and closed my eyes. The temperature in Victoria’s voice plummeted. “Joseph, when did you become so incredibly petty? You honestly disgust me.” Toby began whimpering. “Mommy, is Daddy not allowed to work anymore?” Victoria quickly hushed him, her voice dripping with sweetness. “No, sweetie, Daddy is going to work. Mommy has the final say here.” Then she turned her frigid glare back to me. “Joseph, you already have everything. Can’t you just let him have this one victory?” I opened my eyes, staring at her blankly. “What exactly do I have, Victoria?” “A forfeited inheritance?” “A law license that was suspended for two years because I took the fall for your firm’s compliance scandal?” “Or the fact that I wasn’t even there to hold my father’s hand when he died because I was halfway across the world fixing your mess?” Victoria’s face drained of color for a brief fraction of a second. “Joseph, I… I haven’t forgotten those things.” “But right now, Adrian needs the help more.” So she hadn’t forgotten. She remembered exactly what I had lost. She knew the exact depth of my sacrifices. It was just that none of it mattered compared to Adrian’s fragile ego. In that exact moment, whatever flickering ember of affection I had left for her died completely. But then, a violent, tearing pain exploded in my stomach. For years, I had run myself ragged keeping Shaw Legal afloat. There were months where I lived on nothing but black coffee and adrenaline. Over time, it had eroded my stomach, leaving me with a severe, chronic ulcer. The spasm hit me now with a vicious intensity, like a fist grabbing my internal organs and twisting. A cold sweat broke out across my forehead, and my breathing grew shallow and ragged. I pressed a hand hard against my abdomen and rasped toward the flight attendant in the forward galley. “Go to the medical bay… grab my medication…” The flight attendant stepped forward, her face twisted in a look of sheer awkwardness. “Mr. Hayden, I’m so sorry… Ms. Shaw had the medical bay cleared out. It was converted into Mr. Ward’s walk-in closet for his suits.” My head snapped up, staring at Victoria in absolute disbelief. She was the one who had insisted on installing that medical bay in the first place, terrified of my sudden flare-ups. She knew exactly how dangerous my condition was. Victoria’s eyes darted away for a fraction of a second before she recovered her defensive armor. “Joseph, the flight is only a few hours. Just push through it.” I stared at her, my mind flashing back to a night years ago. She had held my hands, tears streaming down her face as she pressed a bottle of pills into my palm, swearing she would never let me suffer like that again. A sudden, warm rush of fluid surged up my throat. The world went dark around the edges. I doubled over. A thick spray of dark crimson splattered across the light gray carpet. The flight attendant shrieked. “Mr. Hayden! Oh my god!” She spun toward Victoria, her voice trembling with panic. “Ms. Shaw, Mr. Hayden is throwing up blood. We need to contact air traffic control immediately and request an emergency landing!” But Victoria merely stared down at me, her expression hardening into profound disappointment. “Joseph, is this how low you’re willing to go? Throwing up fake blood just to keep Adrian from getting this signing?” I was in too much agony to speak, my body curling into a tight, trembling ball on the floor. Victoria stepped closer, a bitter sneer on her lips. “The last time you had a stomach hemorrhage, the blood was dark, almost black. This is bright red.” “And it just happens to flare up the exact moment I hand Adrian the lead counsel position.” “You really disappoint me, Joseph.” Adrian stood up, his voice filled with a beautifully calculated panic. “Victoria, look at him, he’s coughing up blood. Don’t push him anymore.” Toby buried his face in Victoria’s chest, crying loudly. “Mommy, I’m scared!” Victoria’s eyes grew completely dead. “Joseph, cut the act. You’re terrifying Toby!” I lay there, clutching my stomach, gasping for air that wouldn’t come. Victoria turned to the flight attendant, her voice clipped and cold. “Drag Mr. Hayden into the utility hold so he can rest. Don’t let him stay out here and traumatize the child.” The flight attendant hesitated, looking down at me with pure dread. “Ms. Shaw…” Adrian stepped up, offering a warm, reassuring smile. “It’s fine. Let me help you.” He reached down, grabbing my arm to hoist me up. To anyone else, it looked like a supportive lift. But his fingers dug deep, hard, directly into my agonizingly tender stomach. A spasm of pure agony racked my body, but I didn’t even have the breath left to scream. With the flight attendant holding my other side, they dragged my dead weight down the narrow corridor and poured me onto the floor of the dark utility hold. The pain in my abdomen was a white-hot knife, twisting over and over. Once we were inside the small room, Adrian turned to the flight attendant with a gentle, soothing tone. “I’ve got him from here. Go back and check on Toby; the poor thing was terrified.” The attendant hesitated for a second, then nodded and slipped out. The moment the heavy door clicked shut, the warmth drained from Adrian’s face, replaced by a cold, sharp sneer. He knelt down in front of me, letting out a soft, amused chuckle. “Look at you, Joseph. Victoria herself ordered you to be locked in here.” I forced my eyelids open, staring up at him through a haze of tears and sweat. He slowly straightened the cuffs of his expensive shirt. “You really are pathetic. The great, powerful heir to the Hayden fortune, reduced to a dog on the floor all for a woman.” “And now she can’t even bear to look at you.” He leaned down, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. “Honestly, if you were to just slip away in here, it would make things so much easier for everyone.” “Victoria would finally be free of the guilt of holding you back.” “And Toby would officially have a mother, inheriting the multi-billion-dollar empire you built for her.” I glared at him, my throat burning as I choked out three words. “Don’t… flat… ter yourself.” He didn’t argue. Instead, he grabbed my shoulders and hauled my upper body up, forcing me head-down over a low storage chair. The sudden gravity sent the blood from my stomach rushing directly up my esophagus. Within seconds, my trachea filled with thick, metallic fluid. My eyes widened in terror as I tried to inhale, but only drew more blood into my lungs. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t scream. Adrian smiled, thoroughly satisfied. “Save your strength, Joseph. No one out there is coming for you.” He turned on his heel, walked out, and I heard the heavy deadbolt click into place from the outside. For the rest of the flight, Victoria never once checked on me. She was busy helping Toby build a Lego set, feeding him slices of fresh fruit. She was whispering quiet, intimate jokes with Adrian. The bright, happy sounds of the child’s laughter drifted through the thin gaps of the utility door. They were loud. Piercingly loud. When the plane finally touched down, the cabin doors opened. The three of them walked down the steps together. Not a single person asked where Joseph Hayden was. The moment Victoria stepped onto the tarmac, she turned her phone back on. Within seconds, her screen lit up with an avalanche of urgent messages and missed calls. “Ms. Shaw, all of the firm’s bank accounts have been frozen!” “Ms. Shaw, four of our anchor clients just sent over immediate termination notices!” “Ms. Shaw, federal investigators are at the office with a warrant regarding Adrian Ward’s fraud case from three years ago.” “Ms. Shaw…” The color drained from Victoria’s face, leaving her entirely hollow.
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