Divorced My Mafia Husband, Married My Brother-In-Law
A sense of numbness settled within me as I stood by the door, listening to their voices.
“Richard, are you sure no one knows?” Lucas asked, his voice sounded worried.
“No one knows,” Richard replied coldly, “June still believes Ethan’s death was caused by a car accident.”
My blood ran cold. Ethan. My late son.
“What about the doctors at the hospital?” Lucas pressed. “Are you sure they won't say anything?.”
Richard scoffed. “I paid them enough to keep their mouths shut. They’ll take the secret to their graves. Besides, I'm the son of a powerful mafia boss, they won't want to cross me.”
Secret? My heart pounded in my chest. What secret?
“You killed your own son for a liver transplant,” Lucas said in disbelief, lowering his voice. “For April.”
The room spun around me. My breath hitched. No. No, I must’ve heard that wrong. Ethan… dead… because of a liver transplant? For April? My older sister?
“You think I wanted to do it?” Richard hissed. “I didn’t have a choice! April’s life was on the line, and Ethan was a perfect match. It was one life for another—April’s life is far more valuable than his was.”
His words were a dagger to my heart. I clutched my chest, struggling to breathe as I staggered back. My baby. My Ethan. He hadn’t been killed by a car accident like Richard had told me. He had been taken—murdered by his own father.
“Richard,” Lucas said, his voice trembling. “Ethan was just a child.”
“And April is my future,” Richard snapped. “Ethan was weak with sickness. He wouldn’t have survived in this world anyway. I did what needed to be done for the greater good.”
“But there were so many other people that would have been a perfect match for April if you just waited a day.” Lucas argued.
“That is too risky, I can't take that chance with April. She's my everything.” Richard said firmly.
Tears streamed down my face as I fought to remain silent. Every word Richard said ate away at my soul. I couldn't believe this was my husband, the man who had promised me the whole world.
I stared at the pregnancy report in my hands with tears blurring my vision. I was just coming from the hospital, so excited to share the news of my pregnancy with him, to let him know that we finally had another child, after what had happened to Ethan, my seven year old son. But now, the joy I had felt seemed like a distant memory.
I gripped the door handle tightly till my knuckles white. Richard had killed my son—our son.
“And April?” Lucas asked. “What was her reaction after you killed her sister's son—your own son for her sake?”
“She felt so bad for the little poor boy, but she understood that he was already sick, and he was going to die anyway.” Richard replied nonchalantly.
A mix of anger and disbelief rose up within me. My own sister was okay with my son being killed for her transplant. How could she?
“I just hope June never finds out, or you'll be in big trouble, Richard,” Lucas muttered.
“She won’t,” Richard said with confidence. “She’s too naïve. Too trusting. Even if she finds out the truth, she has no one to turn to. She’s powerless.”
Powerless?
I clenched my jaw as that word ignited a fire inside me.
Hell hath no fury like a mother wronged.
I will make Richard and April pay for what they did. They took my son. They betrayed me. And now, I will destroy them.
I left Richard's office building with tears streaming down my face as my heart ached from the pain of betrayal.
I got into my car and began driving, not caring where I was going. I just needed to go far away—away from everything.
I drove aimlessly, with my vision blurred with tears as I sobbed. My mind kept flashing back to the conversation I had overheard.
Eventually, I found myself at the cemetery—the place I had avoided for so long because the grief was too much to bear. My hands trembled as I stepped out of the car.
Ethan’s grave stood at the far end. I dropped to my knees, and my fingers traced his name carved on the stone.
Ethan Thorne
Beloved Son. Forever in our hearts.
A loud sob escaped from my mouth as the memories flooded back—the night Richard came home, bloodied and crying.
“He was shot by a rival mafia,” he had said, his voice trembling. “It all happened so fast. Before I could blink, he was already on the ground, bleeding.”
I had shrieked in terror and collapsed out of shock. When I woke, Ethan was already buried. Richard had told me he had done it quickly, saying it was for my own good—to spare me the pain of seeing my son lifeless.
But now I knew the truth. He hadn’t done it out of love or mercy. He had buried my son to bury his sins.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” I whispered through my tears. “I should’ve protected you. I should’ve known.”
“You won’t be forgotten,” I vowed, my voice shook with fury and pain. “They took you from me, Ethan, but I will make them pay. Every single one of them.”
I stood, wiping my tears away as a dark emotion overtook me.
Richard had called me powerless. But not anymore.
He was about to learn just how wrong he was.
Chapter 2
June's POV
When I got home, the first thing I did was head straight for Richard’s study—the one place he had always forbidden me from entering, claiming that he had sensitive documents in there.
I pushed open the door and walked in. Immediately I glanced around, something got my attention. There was a steel safe hidden behind the bookshelf.
I narrowed my eyes at the locked safe, and I decided to try April’s birthday.
I punched in the numbers, and immediately the lock clicked open.
I released a scoff, so he used April's birthday for the passcode, when he barely remembered mine, always forgetting my birthday, and our anniversary.
Inside the safe, there were incriminating documents like Medical records. Transaction receipts. Payments made to doctors at the hospital.
I flipped through them, as my blood boiled. It was all there—the evidence of what he had done. How he had bribed the doctors. How he had planned everything to make sure that Ethan’s death looked like a cat accident.
Finally, I saw it—the transplant report. April’s name listed as the recipient. Ethan’s name listed as the donor.
My vision blurred with fresh tears. Tears of grief, and rage.
He had taken everything from me. My son. My trust. My life.
I stared at the papers as my mind raced with plans. I couldn’t confront him yet—not until I had everything in place. This was war, and I needed to be prepared.
I took out my phone and captured every one of them. When I was done, I locked the safe, and walked out of the study.
I made my way to the bedroom. My heart was heavy with the decision I was about to make. I had dreamed of this child—another chance at motherhood after Ethan. But how could I raise a baby in a world full of betrayal and lies?
I picked up my phone, my hands trembling as I dialed the clinic.
“Hello, this is the Evergreen Hospital. How can I help you?”
“I would like to schedule… an abortion,” I murmured softly. The words pierced my heart, but I couldn’t bring another life into this nightmare.
“Of course. Can you come in tomorrow morning?”
“Yes,” I answered, my voice flat.
“Name?”
“June Winslow.”
I had used my maiden name because using June Thorne would make them know that I was related to the Thorne Mafia family.
There was a slight pause at the other end of the line.
“Got it. We’ll see you at 10 a.m.,” the woman said before hanging up.
I gripped the phone tightly and took a deep breath to compose myself.
“Where are you going?” Richard asked, and I tensed slightly. I hadn't noticed when he came in.
I slipped my phone into my pocket and gave him a cold look. “Just a checkup at the hospital,” I said with a distant tone in my voice.
Richard tilted his head, his brow furrowed. “Checkup? Everything okay?”
“Perfectly fine,” I replied sharply, brushing past him toward the wardrobe to change into my pyjamas.
Richard's eyes lingered on me, and suspicion flashed across his face. “June, is something wrong?”
I paused at the wardrobe and glanced back at him. “Nothing’s wrong, Richard,” I said with a bitter smile. “Everything is just… the way it’s supposed to be.”
Richard didn’t push further. “I’ll join you in a minute. I just need a shower.”
The moment the bathroom door closed, his phone buzzed on the nightstand. I glanced at it, and the closed bathroom door. Without any delay, I picked it up and entered April’s birthday as the passcode. Unlocked.
My breath hitched as I scrolled through his messages. My heart stopped when I saw her name—April [love emoji].
I opened the messages, and I suddenly felt nauseous.
April: I miss you already. When can we meet again? I will tell Killian that I want to come see my sister.
Richard: Tomorrow, my love. I'll tell June that I have some to deal with at the office.
Tears streamed down my face as I read through the texts.
April: I'm tired of hiding. I want us to be together.
Richard: Soon, my love. Once I take over from my father as the Thorne Mafia boss, I'll claim you as mine, and no one will be able to come between us again.
I covered my mouth to stifle the sob that escaped my mouth.
The messages were enough to confirm everything. My husband was still in love with his first love, April, my sister.
I locked the phone and placed it back on the nightstand, my hands shook with fury. My sister. My husband. They had been deceiving me all these while.
April had been dating Richard. But she had left Richard to study abroad, and that was where she met her husband, Killian.
Richard was heartbroken when he found out. In his pain, he turned to me for comfort. What started as late-night conversations became something more. A few months later, he confessed his love for me, and we got married a year later.
I never knew that he never loved me. He was still in love with April, after seven years of marriage to me. I never knew that he was just deceiving me, and playing me. He was just waiting to dump me for my sister when he got the opportunity.
The bathroom door opened, and Richard stepped out with a towel wrapped around his waist. He gave me a concerned look.
“Are you sure you're okay?”
I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “I’m fine, Richie”.
Chapter 3
June's POV
As I called his nickname, he instantly relaxed, thinking that all was fine.
His eyes softened as he walked toward me. He leaned down to kiss me, but I turned my head slightly, and his lips grazed my cheek instead.
“I’m tired,” I said softly, pulling the covers over me. “It’s been a long day.”
Richard's expression tightened, but he forced a smile. “Of course. You should rest.” There was a flicker of irritation in his eyes, but he said nothing more.
His phone buzzed again. He grabbed it quickly, and his annoyed expression melted into a wide grin as he texted the person back.
Immediately he was done, he stood up from the bed, and grabbed his clothes in a hurry. “Something came up at the company,” he said, avoiding my eyes. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
“Of course,” I replied coolly. “Take your time.”
Richard gave me a slight look of surprise. Previously, I would have complained about how he always had to leave late in the night for an urgent matter in the company, but now I was even telling him to take my time.
His phone buzzed again, and he shook off his confusion, and hurried to leave.
“I love you,” he mumbled as he hurried out of the door.
“And I hate you,” I murmured under my breath.
~
When I woke up the next morning, I realized that Richard didn't return home. He probably spent the night at April's place. But it didn't bother me.
I prepared for my appointment with the hospital for the pregnancy termination surgery.
As I sat on the bed at the hospital, my heart clenched within me. Could I really do this?
The doctor stood beside me,
“Are you sure about this, June?” she asked gently.
I opened my mouth to say yes, but the word wouldn’t come out. My hand instinctively moved to my stomach. I thought of Ethan—his bright smile, his little hands holding mine, the way he called me “Mommy.” The joy I had felt because of him.
Tears welled in my eyes. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t end this life.
“I… I’ve changed my mind,” I whispered. “I can’t go through with it.”
The doctor gave a soft nod. “That’s okay. Take your time. You can leave whenever you’re ready.”
My baby deserved a chance. No matter the darkness surrounding me, this child was a part of me—a part of Ethan. I wouldn’t let anyone take that away.
As I walked down the hall, lost in thought, I heard a familiar voice laughing. I looked up and froze.
Richard and April.
They were walking out of the antenatal ward, smiling at each other like they were the only people in the world. Richard’s hand was resting on April’s lower back as he leaned in close, whispering something that made her giggle.
My blood ran cold. April’s hand was resting on her stomach, and my eyes widened in disbelief.
She was pregnant.
They saw me before I could turn away. April’s face paled.
“June!” She rushed toward me, her eyes wide with fake concern. “I… I was just—Richard came to assist me for my antenatal visit.”
“Don’t apologize, April,” Richard interrupted her gently, as he placed a hand on her shoulder. His eyes shone with warmth and affection as he looked at her. “You did nothing wrong.”
I gave them a smile. “Yes, you're right, Richard. She did nothing wrong.”
I stood there, numb, watching them. The way he looked at her… the way he protected her… it was everything he had once promised me.
They were both surprised. In the past when I saw them too close, I always got jealous or complained. But Richard always scolded me for being too paranoid and insecure about my own sister.
“We were dating previously, but she's married, and so am I. We're just close friends now, nothing more.” He always told me.
Richard turned to me, “We’ll talk at home, June. Let me drop April off.”
I didn't even hesitate. “Please take your time.” I said to him, brushing past them.
“And congratulations on your pregnancy, April.” I called coldly from over my shoulder, leaving the two of them standing there with surprised looks on their faces.
~
Richard must have felt that something was very wrong, because he came home very early that night.
“You're early,” I commented, without glancing up from the book on my hand as I lay on the bed.
“Yes, I finished early today, I rushed back home to spend time with my wonderful mate.” He said, leaning to kiss me, but again, I shifted my head, causing him to kiss my cheeks instead.
Richard paused for a moment, watching me, but I kept my attention on the book I was pretending to read.
“I feel like we haven't been spending enough time together. I'll need to take some days off.” He said softly, his eyes shone with care and concern.
I shrugged nonchalantly. “You've been busy at the company. So I understand.” I replied coolly.
Richard furrowed his eyebrows at me in surprise. He knew it was unlike me. I had always wanted him to take a break from the company so that we could spend time together.
“What's going on, June?” He asked, “Why are you acting this way?”
Chapter 4
June's POV
My eyes were still on the book as I replied to him. “Nothing.”
“Are you throwing a tantrum because you saw April and I together at the hospital?” He asked, “Because I have told you several times that—”
I cut him off, before he could continue sprouting out lies. “I told you I'm fine. You and April are close friends or whatever. I'm not bothered by any of that. Now can you please give me some peace and quiet. This book is getting interesting.” I dismissed him.
Richard clenched his jaw in annoyance, and his eyes flashed with irritation as he stood up and entered the bathroom.
I stood up from the bed to get a glass of water from the kitchen.
As I walked into the kitchen, I leaned against the counter, taking deep breaths to calm myself.
Suddenly, Richard’s heavy footsteps sounded behind me.
“You’ve been acting strange all day, June,” Richard said with irritation. “If something’s wrong, just spit it out.”
I turned slowly to face him, keeping my expression calm. “I already told you—I’m fine. No need to worry about me. Why don’t you go check on April and her baby instead?”
His eyes darkened, as he clenched his jaw. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I shrugged, stepping away from the counter. “Nothing. Just that you seem more concerned about her than your own wife.”
Richard’s patience snapped. “You’re being ridiculous again, June! April is your older sister. You need to stop this childish jealousy—”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not jealous. You both deserve each other.” I drawled.
“Enough!” he growled, and his hand shot out and shoved me back with force.
My back slammed against the corner of the counter, and I gasped in horror as pain spread across my body.
I fell to the ground, my stomach slammed on the floor and I released a sharp cry.
“You know what? I have things to do at the company tonight. Don't wait up for me.” Richard muttered darkly.
He slammed the door behind him as he walked out.
Pain surged from my stomach as I lay on the cold floor, and a sense of dread washing over me. My hands instinctively clutched my belly, and panic took over when I felt something warm and wet flowing down my legs.
Blood.
“No… no, no,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. I struggled to sit up, as my vision blurred from the pain.
I reached for my phone from my pocket with shaking fingers and dialed Richard’s number. It rang once, twice, before he finally picked.
Relief flooded through me.
“R-Richard—”
“Don't call me until you're ready to stop acting like a child” he growled, and disconnected the call.
“No… no, no,” I whispered desperately. I tried again, but he had switched off his phone.
I released a cry as the agony intensified. I desperately called 911. I couldn't lose this child.
As unconsciousness overcame me, the last thought on my mind was: If I lose this child, Richard will pay double.
Then my world went dark.
~
When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital bed. A doctor stood by my side, her face etched with concern.
“Ms. Winslow,” she said softly, “you’re awake.”
I blinked, trying to remember what had happened. Then it hit me—the kitchen, the blood, the baby.
“My baby…” My voice cracked as panic rose in my chest.
The doctor's expression grew somber. She gently placed a hand on mine. “I’m so sorry, ma'am. You lost the baby.”
A scream tore from my throat as my heart shattered into pieces. This couldn't be happening. I had lost everything—my son, and my unborn child, all because of Richard.
Tears streamed down my face as I sobbed uncontrollably. Why couldn't I have anything good? Why was my life turning upside down?
I sobbed till I was drained and exhausted. I stared blankly at the ceiling above me, with no will to continue living.
I should have just died also, rather than to continue living in this nightmare.
The door opened, and someone walked in. I didn't have the energy to look.
“Hello, June.” A deep cool voice greeted me.
I reluctantly opened my eyes to see Killian Romano, April's husband, staring down at me with an unreadable look in his cold gray eyes.
I didn't have the strength to respond, so I didn't bother.
He approached my bed slowly, before he sat on the chair beside me.
“I heard what happened, I'm sorry.” He said softly.
Seeing Killian was reminding me too much of my sister, and what she did. I didn't want him here.
“April is not here,” I rasped, my throat dry from crying.
Killian's eyes darkened with anger.
“I'm not here for that cheating woman.” He growled, and I furrowed my eyebrows in surprise.
“You know?” I asked, and he nodded.
“Yes.”
“For how long?” I asked.
“Last week. You?”
“This week.” I replied.
“That's why I'm here.” He said, his gray eyes piercing into me.
“What are you here for?” I asked curiously, momentarily forgetting about my pain.
“I have a proposition for you.” He replied, “How would you like to have revenge?”
My heart raced at his words.
Chapter 5
June's POV
“Revenge?” I asked, my heart racing in my chest.
Killian lowered himself into the chair beside me with a dark dangerous look in his piercing gray eyes.
“Yes, revenge. Think about it, June. You’ve been betrayed by the two people who were supposed to love you the most. You need to make them pay.”
A dark form of excitement rose within me. This was exactly what I needed.
I forced myself to sit up, ignoring the ache in my body. “So you want revenge on April?” I said.
Killian smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I gave her everything, and she spat in my face, so yes, I want revenge on April. She might be your sister but—”
I cut him off. I didn't care if she was my sister. “Why did you reach out to me?” I asked curiously.
A cruel smile spread across his lips. “I didn’t want to have all the fun. You’ll play a very important role in my plan.”
I crossed my arms, “What exactly do you have in mind?”
“Marry me,” Killian stated simply.
~
After I was discharged, I boarded a taxi to get home. I glanced at my phone with a bitter smile on my lips. There were no calls, no messages, nothing from Richard. I had been in the hospital for two days, and he hadn't noticed.
I stared out of the window lost in thought. Killian's proposal had been so crazy that I quickly turned it down.
I wanted revenge, but I wasn't about to enter another loveless marriage. I was done with that. He had given me his number in case I changed my mind. I wasn't going to.
I got home to see that April's car was in the driveway. It explained why Richard had totally forgotten that I existed.
I opened the door, and entered the house. Strange sounds reached my ears, and I paused.
I took slow steps following the strange sounds to the master bedroom, the same room that Richard and I had made love to so many times.
The door was slightly open, so it was easy to see what was going on in there.
My breath caught in my throat, and I froze.
Richard had April pinned against the bed. Their clothes were scattered on the floor.
I knew that they had been sleeping together, but it felt so different now as I stared at them. There was no denying it. The betrayal pierced deeper into my heart, and tears welled up in my eyes. They didn’t even notice me standing there, watching.
“Oh baby, I have missed you .” Richard said.
“Really? Don't tell me that my sister is not satisfying you?” April taunted.
“She has never satisfied me, not the way you do.” Richard replied, breathlessly. “When I take over, I'll give you the world, my love.”
For a moment, I couldn’t move, my body was paralyzed by what I was seeing and hearing. But then, something inside me snapped.
I pulled out my phone, with shaking fingers, and I silently took several pictures.
Without a word, I turned around, grabbed Richard's car keys and left the house.
I entered his car, and stared at the pictures for a moment. I opened my messages, attached the photos, and sent them to Killian with a simple caption:
I accept your offer.
My phone vibrated almost immediately with his response, almost like he was waiting for me.
Killian: Good, I’ll be in touch soon. You and I will have so much fun together.
I leaned back in my seat, and a bitter laugh escaped my lips because it felt like I had just signed off my soul to the devil himself, but I wasn't worried, all I wanted was revenge.
I immediately drove to the law firm that Killian had told me about earlier.
The receptionist glanced up with a polite smile. “Good afternoon. How can we help you?”
“I'm looking for Jonathan Hayes. Tell him that Killian Romano sent me.” I said.
The receptionist's eyes widened slightly, and she nodded, typing on her keyboard. “Mr. Jonathan Hayes is currently free. I’ll take you to see him”
A few minutes later, I was taken to see Jonathan Hayes.
“Ms. Winslow,” he greeted, extending a hand. "It’s a pleasure. Please, take a seat. How can I help you?”
“I want a divorce from my husband, Richard Thorne.”
Chapter 6
June's POV
I had just reached home, when Richard rushed out of the house with a frantic look in his eyes. He glanced at his car that I had parked in the driveway, and at me. He tried to hide his panic with a relieved smile, but his forced calmness couldn’t fool me.
“June!” he called out, jogging toward me. “Where have you been? I was so worried.”
Worried? I almost laughed out loud at his pathetic attempt to pretend like the concerned husband.
I forced a soft smile. “I went to pick up an anniversary gift for next week’s anniversary party.”
Richard blinked, and his face was blank for a moment. “Anniversary party?”
I tilted my head. “Yes. Our anniversary party. Did you forget?” My voice was calm, but my eyes were on his, daring him to admit it.
He cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair. “No, of course not. How could I forget something so important?” His fake chuckle annoyed me. “I’ve just been… busy with work. You know how it is.”
Liar.
I nodded slowly. “Well, I wanted to surprise you, so I won’t ruin the gift. You’ll just have to wait and see.”
Richard smiled awkwardly. “I can’t wait. You didn’t have to go to all that trouble, though. You should’ve called me—I would have gone with you.”
“It's fine,” I said softly. “You have been so busy with work, so I didn't want to bother you.”
His eyes flickered with guilt, as he leaned in to kiss my cheek. His touch felt cold and meaningless. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“Me too,” I lied, as I stepped past him and headed inside.
Richard released a sigh of relief. He was glad that I hadn't seen him with April when I came to pick up the car keys. If only he knew.
I climbed the stairs, and entered the master bedroom. The same room that Richard and April had defiled and I felt nauseous.
The door creaked open behind me, and I turned to see that it wasn’t Richard.
April leaned against the doorframe with a smug smile. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and there was a cruel smirk on her red lips.
“You saw us, didn’t you?” she taunted.
I kept my face blank. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
April chuckled, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. “Oh, come on, June. Don’t play dumb. I saw you standing there, watching us.”
I gave her a flat stare, refusing to react.
“You should’ve stayed longer,” she continued, and her smirk widened. “You might’ve learned a thing or two.”
I shrugged nonchalantly. “Okay, whatever. Can you go now? I think Richard is waiting for you downstairs. I need to get some sleep.”
That wasn't the reaction she was expecting, and her smirk faltered for a second, but she quickly recovered.
“Let me go continue where we stopped. Feel free to come watch.” She taunted, walking out of the room.
I picked up my phone and sent a message to Killian.
Phase one is done. Get ready
Killian sent a love emoji in response.
~
Richard didn't leave my side over the next two days. He kept hovering around, and it was making it difficult for me to continue with my arrangements.
His instincts were probably telling him that I had seen him with April that day, even though I was acting like everything was fine.
Finally, I had had enough. I texted April.
(Looks like Richard is done with you now. He hasn't even left my side for so long. Keep deceiving yourself, April. Richard is mine.)
I was deliberately taunting April. Soon enough, Richard's phone kept ringing with calls and texts, but to my disappointment, he kept ignoring them.
Finally, when I was about losing hope, he excused himself to pick one of her calls.
A few minutes later, just as I expected, Richard walked in with a grave expression on his face.
“My love,” he said softly, “An emergency came up, and I have to leave for a business conference tonight. It will hold for three days.” he said with a guilty look in his eyes.
“Oh,” I said softly, trying to sound disappointed. “But our anniversary party is in four days.”
“I know my love, and I'm so sorry. But I promise you, I'll be there. I won't miss it for the world.” He swore, pressing a kiss on my forehead.
Inside me, I was ecstatic. I never expected that plan to give me a whole three days. It was perfect.
~
The next three days were a blur. I finalized everything, making sure I was done with everything. April made things easier for me. Whenever I started second-guessing myself, she would send me pictures of her and Richard, probably thinking she was hurting me. But every picture she sent only made me more determined.
I saved each one carefully. Soon, she would regret sending me these.
Then, finally, the day of the anniversary party arrived. The same day Richard was supposed to come back.
I stood in the living room, several thoughts racing through my head. I pulled out my phone and typed a message to Richard.
Happy Anniversary. I left your present on the table in the living room.
I placed the signed divorce papers on the table, right next to the photos that I had taken that day, and the pictures that April had sent me.
Then I blocked his number, and April's number.
I took a breath, and stepped out with my suitcase in my hand. Killian was already waiting for me with a smirk on his face.
“Ready?” he asked, holding out his hand.
I took it without hesitation.
A private jet was waiting for us, ready to take us to Italy. I gave Killian a curious look. How did he afford a private jet? However, I was too exhausted to begin questioning him.
Just as the jet was about to take off, I nodded at Killian, and his smirk widened as he sent an email to the news channels.
Let the fun begin.
Chapter 7
Guilt ate through Richard as he stared at June's message, realizing that he had forgotten about the anniversary party that was being held today. He hadn't even gotten June a gift.
A soft kiss on his lips, brought him out of his thoughts, and he smiled softly at April.
“What are you thinking so deeply about?” She asked him, kissing him again.
“Nothing,” he replied, tossing his phone aside to pull her closer to him.
They were still in the hotel; they would be leaving in a few hours. He would make it for the anniversary party, and he was going to pick something on his way back for June. It wasn't a big problem. He would spend a lot of time with her to make up for his absence.
There was nothing to worry about. He had everything under control.
Richard closed his eyes, wrapping his arm around April's waist with a satisfied sigh.
An hour later, his phone started vibrating. At first, it was a single notification. Then another. And another. Then the calls started, one after the other, ringing nonstop.
Richard sat up as a sense of unease crept up within him. He stared at notifications that were dropping on his phone, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.
His phone rang again, and this time, it was Lucas calling.
“Yes?” Richard called hesitantly, almost worried of what he would hear.
“Turn on the news, Rich.” Lucas said frantically, causing Richard to furrow his eyebrows in confusion.
“Why?” He asked, standing up from the bed, and walking towards the living room in the hotel.
“Just turn it on! you need to see it yourself.” Lucas replied, causing Richard to get worried.
He picked up the remote, and turned on the flat screen in the hotel, and his breath caught in his throat as the screen turned on.
Richard’s heart stopped.
On the TV screen, a picture of him and April flashed across the news. His arm was around her waist, and their lips were locked in a kiss.
‘SCANDAL: Billionaire Richard Thorne Caught in Affair with Wife’s Sister.’
His blood ran cold. He blinked, hoping it was a mistake, but the picture and the headline stayed there, glaring back at him.
“No… no, no, no!” Richard muttered frantically, shaking his head as the remote in his hand shook.
“What’s going on?” April asked from behind him. “Come back to bed.”
The moment April's eyes landed on the screen, panic filled her face as she instantly paled.
“Oh my god…” Her voice cracked. “My husband will find out. Killian will find out, Richard!”
Richard ran a hand through his hair, breathing heavily.
“Lucas,” he barked into the phone. “Get that news down. Right now. Before June sees it! I don't care how much it takes! Just do it!”
“I’m sorry, Richard. I have already tried. It’s everywhere, Richard. It has gone viral. There’s nothing we can do.”
“No!” Richard growled, pacing frantically. He hung up and tried calling June. Straight to voicemail. He tried again. Blocked.
He stared at his phone in shock.
“She… she blocked me,” Richard whispered in disbelief.
April grabbed his arm. “What do we do? My husband—he’s going to see this!” Her voice rose in panic. “He has also blocked me!”
But Richard had already stopped listening. His mind raced with several thoughts on how he could undo the damage.
He snatched his arm from April's hold, ignoring her desperate pleas.
“Richard!”
He didn’t look back.
He ran out of the hotel like a madman, shoving past anyone in his way. He needed to get home. Needed to explain. Needed to fix this before it was too late.
Richard gripped the steering wheel tightly as he drove crazily. His heart pounded as he sped home.
It was funny that he was feeling so frantic and desperate now.
He had always taken June for granted, assuming she would always be there. She had no one but him and her sister, she had nowhere to go.
He never thought that the idea of losing June would make him so frantic. Was it possible that he cared for her more than he thought?
His chest tightened as memories of June flashed through his mind. Her soft smile, the way she looked at him with total adoration, and love.
“No,” he muttered, pressing harder on the gas. “It’s not too late. I’ll fix this. I’ll explain. She’ll listen… she has to listen.”
As he pulled into their driveway, Richard barely turned off the engine before he ran out of the car.
“June!” he called out, stepping inside the house. The house was quiet. Too quiet.
His eyes immediately went to the living room, where an envelope sat on the table. His anniversary present.
His hands shook as he picked up the envelope. His name was written in June's neat handwriting on the front. He tore it open, and pulled out the papers inside. His breath caught in his throat as he realized what they were.
Divorce papers. Signed.
Richard’s eyes widened as he stared at the note at the bottom of the first page:
~Happy Anniversary, Richard~
Beside the envelope were photos. Pictures of him and April. Not just the ones from the news, there were other pictures from the ‘trip’ that he and April had gone on.
Richard’s knees buckled as the weight of everything crashed down on him.
“June!” he called again, his voice broke this time.
But she was gone...
