The impact was immediate.

Grayson straightened slowly, looking at her like she'd just said something obscene.

Divorce?

The word echoed in his chest like someone had ripped out something he didn't even realize still belonged to him.

There was no logic. No clear reason. He just knew one thing, that Kate was his wife. And that was how it was supposed to stay.

But he buried that thought, the same way he buried everything that hurt. And in its place, he let the ice speak.

"And why would you want a divorce?" he asked, his tone dripping with disdain. "You have no family. You have no one. I've given you everything to live like a queen."

"A queen in a cage," she shot back, quietly.

Grayson ignored her.

"Without me, you wouldn't have a damn place to land when you fall."

Kate stood abruptly, the chair scraping behind her, but her voice didn't shake.

"I haven't touched a single cent of yours," she snapped, her face flushed with fury. "The only thing I've done is exist insid