He framed his wife and locked her away, but she was always one step ahead.
Emily sat stiffly, eyes fixed on the cell door. The day had comethe day shed settle the score with her husband. A wicked gleam danced in her gaze. Two long years shed waited for this.
Thenthe click of the lock. Her heart nearly somersaulted.
Her few belongings lay bundled on the cot next to a duffel bag. A uniformed officer strode in.
“Times up, love. Off you pop!” Emily stood, stuffed her things into the bag, and marched out without a backward glance.
“Cant wait to reunite with your bloke, eh?” the guard snickered, trailing behind.
Emily ignored her. Head high, she walked. Let them gossip. Shed endured enoughnow it was *his* turn.
Memories flashedthree years ago, when life was golden. Emily and James had been a power couple, their business thriving. Success, unfortunately, had gone straight to James head. Affairs? Oh, she knew. But for the sake of the company, shed bitten her tongue.
It stung, but she remembered the man hed beensweet, hopelessly in love. That man was long gone, replaced by a stranger whod betrayed her in the cruelest way.
Shed trusted him blindly, signing every document he slid across the desk. Big mistake. One day, she was arrested for massive fraud. James had framed herforged papers, bribed officials, even testified against her. The trial was a farce. Five years, theyd given her.
But prison had reshaped her. No longer meek, shed grown steel in her spine. Good behaviour earned her early releaseand now? Revenge was on the menu.
Outside the gates, her legs froze. Two years plotting, and suddenlydoubt. Then, a familiar figure.
Her tension melted. *Thank God.* She sprinted toward him. He met her halfway, pulling her into a crushing hug.
“Emilybloody hell, I thought this day would never come.”
She buried her face in his shoulder, laughing shakily. Hed waited just as long. This was Oliver, James oldest friend.
After her arrest, hed visited every week, convinced of her innocence. Hed always fancied herthough hed only confessed a year in. By then, shed fallen for him too. Jailbird and free man, hopelessly tangled.
“You actually came,” she whispered.
Oliver squeezed tighter. “Like Id leave you? Never again.”
She inhaled his scentclean, safe. Over those two years, with Olivers help, shed uncovered everything. James had orchestrated her downfall to please his mistress, whod wanted Emilys share of the business.
Now? Payback was due.
“Lets go. I need a showerI reek of prison.” She wrinkled her nose.
Oliver chuckled. “Nonsense. You smell brilliant.” He kissed her forehead, then led her to his car.
At his flat, freshly showered and wrapped in his robe, she sipped coffee like it was liquid gold. Then, setting the mug down with a *clink*, she fixed him with a look.
“Show me the papers. I need to see it with my own eyes.”
Oliver studied her. God, she drove him mad. Years of pining, watching her in boardrooms, pretending he was just visiting his sister at the office. And nowhere she was, in his home, wearing his clothes.
He fetched the documents from his safe. Emilys grin was razor-sharp as she took them. James fate, sealed.
“Tell me everything. Properly this timeno prison guards eavesdropping.”
She tugged him down beside her. Oliver grinned.
“Right. My sisterbless herslipped the papers into James stack. He was too busy bragging about his latest fling to notice. Signed the lot without reading.”
Emily exhaled, euphoric. *Perfect.*
She turned to Oliver, cupping his face. “Marry me. Once this is over. I know its mad, but”
“*Marry you?*” He laughed, pulling her close. “Shouldnt I be asking?”
“Fine. Go on, then.”
“Emily, will you”
“Yes!”
The next morning, clad in stilettos and a killer blazer, Emily strode into the company headquarters. No one stopped her. She pushed open James office door.
He was mid-phone call. “*pick you up at eight, darling*” The phone clattered as he spotted her.
“Youwhat the hell are you doing here?”
Emily smirked, crossing her legs as she dropped into the chair opposite. “Oh, just visiting my company.”
James face purpled. “Get out. Youre *nothing* here.”
“Mm. About that.” She slid a folder across the desk. “Have a read. Copies, of course. Originals are with my solicitor. Touch me, and youll wish youd stayed in nappies.”
James scanned the papers, then gaped. “This is a joke.”
Emily leaned in. “You taught me jokes have consequences. Top student, arent I?”
Six months later, Emily married Oliver. The company? Hers. James mansion? Hers. His flashy car? *Hers.* The courts ruled hed willingly signed everything over.
As for James? Vanished. Like hed never existed.
And Emily? She celebrated with champagneand the man whod helped her rewrite her ending.
