The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 120

Hackett reached out and picked up the divorce papers. His fingertips brushed the thin edges of the A4 sheets. They seemed to still carry her body heat, yet they felt as freezing as a slab of meat pulled straight from the freezer.

He flipped through the pages, one by one. The terms were clean to the point of absolute ruthlessness.

Article 1: Both parties voluntarily agree to divorce, effective immediately.

Article 2: No joint children; no disputes over custody or child support.

Article 3: No joint marital debt.

Article 4—and the most crucial one:

The female party, Annelise Sargent, voluntarily waives all rights to the division of any 'joint marital assets' acquired during the marriage.

She wanted absolutely zero money from the Lehman family. She didn't want the house they currently lived in, which was registered under Hackett's name.

She didn't want his stocks, his mutual funds, or the massive balance in his bank accounts.

She even waived her right to the astronomical emotional distress compensation she easily could have won in court using the career-ending evidence she possessed.

She had exactly one demand.

The final clause of the agreement, printed in bold, unambiguous font.

"The male party, Hackett Lehman, and all members of his family, must unconditionally acknowledge and confirm that all pre-marital assets belonging to the female party, Annelise Sargent—including but not limited to the thirty percent equity in the Sargent Group, the property rights to the Sargent Residence in Cresthaven, and all insurance and trust funds left by her late parents—are her sole, independent property. The male party and his family vow never to contest or attempt to claim these assets under any circumstances or pretexts."

In other words.

She wanted absolutely nothing.

She only wanted her freedom.

And by wanting nothing, she had forged the ultimate, undeniable weapon against the Lehman family.

Hackett finished reading the final page. He stayed completely silent for a very long time. So long that the surrounding guests began to grow restless, their whispers buzzing to life once again like a swarm of flies.

He looked up and met Annelise's eyes once more. This time, he saw something in her gaze that he had never witnessed before.

There was no love.

There was no hate.

There wasn't even an ounce of resentment.

It was just a completely clean, absolute emptiness.