One Screenshot to Burn an Empire Chapter 12

One Screenshot to Burn an Empire Chapter 12

Julian looked up, his eyes blurred with tears.

He looked at me, then at the agreement on the floor, his lips trembling, unable to speak.

Regret, pain, despair, a silent plea…

Every emotion warred on his handsome, haggard face.

A day ago, seeing him like this might have broken my heart.

But not anymore.

Some things, once shattered, can never be mended.

“Aurelia…” he began hoarsely, his voice begging, “give me one more chance… I’m begging you…”

“A chance?” I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes.

“I gave you chances, Julian. When you came home smelling of a perfume that wasn’t mine. When you started using Cassia’s words to argue with me. When you canceled our anniversary dinner.”

“I gave you countless chances. You were the one who never cherished a single one.”

“Julian, there’s no going back.”

I gave him one last look, my gaze stripped of the love it once held, leaving only cold distance.

“Take care of your mother. She needs you now.”

With that, I turned and walked away. Decisively.

The click of my heels on the linoleum echoed in the empty hall.

Each step a farewell to the past.

I didn’t look back.

I knew he remained kneeling there, watching my back until I disappeared.

Outside the hospital, the sun was shining.

I took a deep breath. The heavy stone that had been pressing on my chest for two days finally lifted.

The air tasted of freedom.

I got into my car and called Sloane.

“Sloane, it’s over.”

“How did it go? Did the bastard sign?”

“He will,” I said. “By the way, any news on Cassia?”

“Yes! The family’s enforcers just contacted me. They caught her at a private airfield. Bought a ticket to flee the country and was about to bolt. They have her. She’s not getting away.”

“Good.”

Attempted murder, on top of being a family spy, was more than enough to ensure she would never see the light of day again.

As for Seraphina…

Sloane’s voice was filled with schadenfreude. “Just got word. The Volkov Don called an emergency meeting overnight. Stripped his wife of all duties, froze her assets, and is filing for divorce.”

“I also heard he anonymously tipped off the Feds about her little side businesses. She’s got her own mess to clean up now.”

The wicked will be punished by the wicked.

I was satisfied with that.

A week later.

I received the signed Divorce and Syndicate Severance Agreement.

Julian hadn’t taken a single share of the family, transferring everything to my

name.

He chose to leave with nothing.

From that day on, I was the sole, absolute ruler of the Griffin family.

We met once, on the day of the final handover.

He had lost weight, looking more haggard than I’d ever seen him. The light in his eyes was gone.

“The family is in your hands,” he said.

“I know.”

“My mother is awake. But she doesn’t remember what happened,” he said with a bitter smile. “The doctor said it might be for the best.”

I nodded, saying nothing.

“Aurelia,” he looked at me, his voice cautious. “Can we still be friends?”

I looked at him and thought for a long moment.

Then, I shook my head.

“Julian, I wish you luck,”

That was the last thing I ever said to him.

Between us, the best we could hope for was to become strangers with a

shared history.