Ex-Wife's Comeback: My Husband Failed to Kill Me

Chapter 8

Karen sat in her office, the quiet hum of Kane Industries a distant background noise. The weight of Selena’s words from the night before still lingered: “You look so much like her. It’s almost… uncanny.”

She leaned back in her chair, staring at the skyline outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city stretched out before her, a constant reminder of the life she had lost and the battle she was fighting to reclaim it.

Her thoughts drifted to her grandmother, Anna Devereaux, the one person who had always seen the truth about people and situations before anyone else did. Anna had been more than just a grandmother—she had been a mentor, a guide, and, most importantly, a fierce protector.

…

Karen was twelve, sitting cross-legged on the plush carpet of her grandmother’s study. The room smelled of aged leather and lavender, a comforting combination. Anna sat at her desk, dressed impeccably as always, her reading glasses perched on her nose.

“Again,” Anna said, placing a photograph in front of Karen. It was a picture of a man shaking hands with someone at a formal event.

Karen tilted her head, studying the image. “The man on the left,” she said slowly, pointing, “looks confident, but his hand is too tight. He’s trying to dominate the handshake.”

Anna smiled, nodding approvingly. “Good. And the other man?”

Karen squinted. “He’s pretending to smile, but his shoulders are stiff. He doesn’t trust him.”

“Exactly.” Anna took the photo back. “People will always try to hide their intentions, Tori. It’s your job to read what they don’t say. Words can lie, but body language rarely does.”

Karen grinned, proud of herself. “Can I try another one?”

Anna chuckled, placing another photo in front of her. “You’re a natural, my dear. But remember, it’s not just about reading people. It’s about knowing when to act on what you see—and when to keep it to yourself.”

Karen blinked, the memory fading like smoke. Her chest tightened at the thought of Anna. Even now, years after her death, her grandmother’s voice echoed in her mind, guiding her.

“You always knew, didn’t you, Grandma?” Karen murmured to herself. “About Selena. About Richard.”

Karen pushed herself into action. She spent the rest of the week using the lessons Anna had taught her to chip away at Selena’s control over Kane Industries.

At every board meeting, she was attentive, reading the room, catching the subtle shifts in tone and posture that revealed who was aligned with Selena and who wasn’t. She engaged with the board members who seemed dissatisfied, offering solutions to problems Selena had ignored.

Karen made sure her suggestions weren’t too bold—just enough to seem insightful without overstepping. She framed her ideas as if they were collaborative efforts, giving the board members the illusion of control.

It worked.

“Karen, that was a great point about the budget reallocations,” one of the board members, Mr. Callahan, said after a meeting.

“Thank you,” Karen replied with a warm smile. “I’m just trying to think about what’s best for the company.”

Selena’s glare from across the room was impossible to miss.

…

Meanwhile, Karen knew she wasn’t the only one digging for information.

Darius Bennetti hadn’t contacted her in days, but she felt his presence like a shadow at her back. She was certain he was investigating her, trying to piece together who she really was.

At first, the thought unnerved her, but then she realized it might work to her advantage. If Darius uncovered her connection to the Kane family, he might see her as more than just a pawn in their mutual fight against Richard.

Still, she couldn’t afford to let him uncover too much. Not yet.

…

Karen sat in the garden of her grandmother’s estate, sipping lemonade as Anna read from a book.

“Grandma,” Karen asked, setting her glass down, “why don’t you trust everyone?”

Anna looked up, her expression thoughtful. “It’s not about not trusting, my dear. It’s about understanding that trust is a gift. And not everyone deserves it.”

Karen frowned. “But don’t people need trust to work together?”

Anna smiled softly, her eyes filled with a wisdom that always made Karen feel safe. “Yes. But trust is like power—it can be given, but it can also be used against you. One day, Tori, you’ll face a choice: power or trust. You can’t have both.”

The words haunted Karen as she returned to her office that evening. She poured herself a glass of water, staring out the window.

Power or trust.

Anna’s warning felt like a prophecy. If she was going to take back her family’s company, she couldn’t afford to trust anyone—not Darius, not the board, and certainly not Selena. Karen clenched her fist, her jaw tightening. Her grandmother’s voice echoed in her mind again, but this time, it steeled her resolve.

“No matter the cost,” Karen whispered, her eyes hardening. “I’ll honor your legacy, Grandma. I’ll take back what’s mine.”

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