Chapter 7 â The Divorce War
Chapter 7 â The Divorce War
The world thought Victor Hayes had lost his company.
They were wrong.
The company was only the beginning.
The real battle was about to start.
Because losing money was something Victor could accept.
Losing Olivia was something his pride could not.
For seven years, he believed marriage meant ownership.
He believed the penthouse was his.
The success was his.
The reputation was his.
The future was his.
Now, for the first time, he was forced to face a terrifying truth.
Olivia had never belonged to him.
He had only been lucky enough to stand beside her.
The First Move
Victor's divorce attorney, Richard Bell, was one of the most expensive lawyers in Chicago.
He had defended CEOs.
Celebrities.
Political figures.
He was known for one thing.
Winning.
But when Richard opened Victor's file, he immediately understood this case would be different.
"This is complicated."
Victor sat across from him.
"Complicated?"
Richard looked through the documents.
"Your wife is Olivia Hartwell."
Victor's jaw tightened.
"I know."
"No, you don't."
The attorney closed the folder.
"You know her name."
A pause.
"You don't understand what that name means."
Victor looked away.
Richard continued.
"She has resources, reputation, and evidence."
"I have evidence too."
"What evidence?"
Victor hesitated.
The lawyer noticed.
"Victor."
A long silence.
"Do you have proof she deceived you?"
Victor looked down.
"No."
"Then we need another strategy."
The Story Victor Wanted the World to Believe
The next morning, Victor's legal team released a statement.
It was carefully written.
It did not mention fraud.
It did not mention Kendra.
It did not mention the assault.
Instead, it focused on Olivia.
"Mr. Hayes was shocked to discover that his wife concealed her true identity throughout their marriage."
The statement continued.
"He believes their relationship was built on incomplete information."
It was a clever argument.
Not because it was true.
Because it created doubt.
And Victor understood something important.
People did not need proof to judge someone.
They only needed a question.
Olivia's Response
When Russell showed Olivia the statement, she barely reacted.
"Predictable."
Arthur looked at her.
"You expected this?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Because Victor never accepts responsibility."
She placed the document down.
"He always changes the story."
Russell nodded.
"He claims he was manipulated."
Olivia smiled sadly.
"Of course he does."
Arthur watched his daughter carefully.
"You still feel sorry for him."
She was quiet.
"Sometimes."
Her father's expression softened.
"Why?"
"Because I remember who he was before he decided he was better than everyone else."
Arthur looked away.
That answer hurt him.
Because he knew Olivia was not grieving the marriage.
She was grieving the person Victor could have been.
The Penthouse Battle
The first major conflict was over the apartment.
Victor claimed it was marital property.
His lawyers argued that he had contributed financially.
But Hartwell Group's legal team had one simple response.
The penthouse was never owned by Victor.
It had always belonged to a Hartwell subsidiary.
Victor had lived there because Olivia allowed it.
The news shocked everyone.
Including Victor.
He remembered every conversation.
Every time he told Olivia:
"You are lucky to live here."
The irony was almost unbearable.
She had been living in a home her family owned.
And he had spent years making her feel like a guest.
Kendra Makes Her Choice
While Victor fought Olivia, Kendra fought for herself.
She realized something quickly.
Victor was no longer useful.
His money was disappearing.
His reputation was damaged.
His future was uncertain.
So she did what she always did.
She searched for another way out.
She contacted investigators.
Not to confess.
To protect herself.
She provided information about Victor's financial activities.
Emails.
Messages.
Bank transfers.
Everything she had saved during their relationship.
Because Kendra never trusted anyone completely.
Not even Victor.
The Woman Who Had Everything to Lose
When Victor learned Kendra had cooperated with investigators, he exploded.
"You betrayed me."
Kendra laughed.
"Betrayed you?"
She stared at him.
"You destroyed your own life."
"I trusted you."
"No."
Her voice became cold.
"You trusted that I would stay when you had nothing."
Victor froze.
Because it sounded exactly like something Olivia could have said.
Kendra continued.
"You never loved either of us."
"That's not true."
"It is."
She picked up her purse.
"You loved how we made you feel."
Then she walked away.
The Deposition
The most difficult moment came during the legal deposition.
Victor sat across from Olivia.
For the first time in months, they were alone.
No cameras.
No executives.
No family.
Just the two people who once promised forever.
Victor looked at her.
"You really planned all of this?"
Olivia frowned.
"Planned what?"
"This."
He gestured around.
"The divorce. The company. The destruction."
She stared at him.
"Victor, you destroyed your own marriage."
"I didn't know who you were."
Her expression changed.
"That is still your excuse?"
He looked away.
"You hid everything."
"I hid my last name."
She leaned forward.
"I did not hide my kindness."
Silence.
"I did not hide my support."
Another pause.
"I did not hide the fact that I was standing beside you every day."
Victor had no answer.
Because every accusation against her failed against reality.
The Question That Broke Him
During the deposition, Olivia's attorney asked the final question.
"Mr. Hayes, if Olivia Hartwell had never revealed her identity, would you have treated her differently?"
Victor opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
The room waited.
Finally, he whispered:
"I don't know."
But everyone understood.
That answer was the truth.
Because the real question was never:
Did Victor love Olivia?
The real question was:
Would he have respected her if he believed she had nothing?
And the answer was painfully clear.
The Final Battle Begins
The divorce was no longer private.
It became a war.
Victor fought for money.
Olivia fought for truth.
Victor wanted the world to believe he was a victim.
Olivia wanted the evidence to speak.
Every document.
Every transaction.
Every lie.
Everything he had hidden was coming to light.
And the more Victor fought...
The more everyone saw exactly who he was.
The Last Message
That night, Olivia received a message from Victor.
Only one sentence.
"Did you ever love me?"
She stared at the screen for a long time.
Seven years of memories passed through her mind.
The flowers.
The promises.
The early days.
The man she thought he was.
Then she typed her answer.
"I loved the man I believed you could become."
She paused.
Then added:
"I stopped loving the man you chose to be."
She sent the message.
Victor read it alone in the dark.
And for the first time, he understood.
The divorce was not destroying his life.
It was revealing it.
Because Olivia Hartwell was not taking away everything he had.
She was removing the illusion that he had ever built anything alone.
The divorce war had begun.
And this time...
May you like
Victor Hayes had nowhere left to hide.
End of Chapter 7
