Updated Feb 18, 2026 • ~8 min read
Miles calls Harlow directly.
She hasn’t heard from him since the arrest. Since the fraud charges. Since his world started crumbling.
Seeing his name on her phone makes her stomach turn.
She almost doesn’t answer.
But curiosity wins.
“What do you want?” she asks.
“To talk. Meet me. Coffee shop near the courthouse. One hour.”
“We’re not supposed to have contact—”
“I don’t give a shit about what we’re supposed to do. I want to talk. One hour. Or I’ll make your life even more miserable than it already is.”
He hangs up.
And Harlow stares at her phone.
This is a trap. Has to be. Miles doesn’t want to “talk.” He wants to intimidate. Manipulate. Get ammunition for court.
She should ignore him. Block his number. Tell James and let him handle it.
Instead, she texts Roman.
Miles wants to meet. Coffee shop. Says he wants to talk.
Don’t go. It’s a setup.
I know. But I’m curious what he wants.
Harlow, please. He’s going to try something. Record you. Get you to say something incriminating.
Then I’ll be careful. I just… I need to know what he’s planning.
I’m coming with you.
That’ll make it worse.
I don’t care. I’m not letting you face him alone.
Harlow wants to argue.
But the truth is, she doesn’t want to face Miles alone either.
Okay. But stay out of sight. I’ll text you if I need you.
Deal.
Miles is already at the coffee shop when Harlow arrives.
He looks terrible.
Not the polished tech founder she married. Exhausted. Angry. Like the weight of criminal charges is crushing him.
Good.
“You came,” he says.
“You threatened me. I’m curious what manipulation tactic you’re trying this time.”
Miles almost smiles. “Still bitter, I see.”
“You cheated on me. Multiple times. Tried to leave me with nothing in the divorce. Got arrested for fraud. Yeah, I’m bitter.”
“Fair point.” He gestures to the chair across from him. “Sit.”
Harlow sits. But keeps her guard up.
Miles is unpredictable. Dangerous when cornered.
And he’s definitely cornered right now.
“How’s Roman?” Miles asks. Casual. Too casual.
“None of your business.”
“It is, actually. Since he’s the reason I’m facing criminal charges. The reason my company is under investigation. The reason my life is falling apart.”
“Roman didn’t commit fraud. You did.”
“He violated attorney-client privilege. Gave you information he had no right to share. If anyone’s the criminal, it’s him.”
Harlow’s jaw tightens. “Is that why you wanted to meet? To blame Roman for your problems?”
“I wanted to meet because I have a proposition.”
“I’m not interested.”
“Hear me out.” Miles leans forward. “I know you’re in love with him. Or think you are. I know you’ve destroyed your own case to protect him. But Harlow—he’s using you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Roman Castellanos is a lawyer. A good one. He knows exactly what he’s doing. And what he’s doing is manipulating you into thinking he cares so you’ll protect him from the bar association.”
Harlow laughs. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it? He violated every ethical rule. Tanked his own career. Got fired from the firm. And now he’s facing disbarment.” Miles’s voice is smooth. Practiced. “But if you testify that he manipulated you—that he seduced you to get information—he might salvage something. Claim he was coerced. That you’re the real villain.”
“Roman would never—”
“Wouldn’t he? You’ve known him for a few months. I was married to you for three years. Who do you think knows more about how people manipulate?”
Harlow stands. “This conversation is over.”
“Wait.” Miles grabs her wrist.
Not hard. But enough to make her stop.
“Let go,” she says quietly.
He does. Immediately.
“I’m not trying to hurt you,” he says. “I’m trying to help. Harlow, you’re about to lose everything. Your case. Your settlement. Maybe your freedom if the judge decides to sanction you. All because you’re protecting a man who’s probably playing you.”
“Roman isn’t playing me.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I know him.”
“You thought you knew me too. Look how that turned out.”
The words hit harder than Harlow expects.
Because he’s not wrong.
She thought Miles loved her. Thought their marriage meant something. And he destroyed all of it without hesitation.
What if Roman is the same?
What if this is all a long con? A manipulation to get her to protect him at the bar hearing?
No.
That’s insane.
Roman risked everything for her first. Gave her the evidence. Got fired. Lost his partnership.
He’s not playing her.
“I’m done listening to you,” Harlow says.
“Fine. But when this blows up—when Roman throws you under the bus to save himself—remember that I warned you.”
Harlow leaves the coffee shop.
And finds Roman waiting outside.
He sees her face. “What did he say?”
“That you’re manipulating me. That you’re going to betray me at the bar hearing to save yourself.”
“And you believe him?”
“No. But…” Harlow stops. “He made me doubt. Just for a second.”
Roman’s expression hardens. “I’m going to talk to him.”
“No—”
But Roman is already walking past her. Into the coffee shop.
Miles sees him coming. Stands. Smiles.
“Roman. How nice to see you.”
“Stay away from her,” Roman says. Low. Dangerous.
“We were just talking. Having a civil conversation.”
“You don’t have civil conversations. You manipulate. Threaten. Try to get inside people’s heads.” Roman steps closer. “Harlow isn’t yours anymore. She’s not your wife. Not your property. And you don’t get to play mind games with her.”
“I was simply pointing out that you’re using her—”
Roman grabs Miles’s collar. Slams him against the wall.
Customers gasp. Someone shouts for them to stop.
“Listen carefully,” Roman says. “I love her. Actually love her. Not the performative bullshit you did. Real love. And if you ever—ever—try to hurt her again, I will make your life miserable in ways you can’t imagine.”
“You’re threatening me? You’re already facing disbarment—”
“I have nothing left to lose. Which makes me very dangerous.” Roman releases him. Steps back. “Stay away from Harlow. Or find out what happens when someone with nothing to lose decides to destroy you.”
He leaves.
Walks out of the coffee shop like he didn’t just assault his former client in public.
Harlow is waiting outside. Eyes wide.
“That was stupid,” she says.
“Probably.”
“Miles could press charges. Add assault to everything else you’re facing.”
“Let him.”
“Roman—”
“He was messing with your head. Making you doubt us. I’m not letting that stand.” Roman takes her hand. “I don’t care about consequences anymore. I care about you. And protecting you from him.”
Harlow’s heart is doing something ridiculous. “You’re insane.”
“Completely.”
“That was the most impulsive, stupid, reckless thing you could’ve done.”
“I know.”
“It was also kind of hot.”
Roman grins. “Yeah?”
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
They walk to his car.
And Harlow realizes: Miles was wrong.
Roman isn’t manipulating her.
He’s just as all-in as she is.
Just as willing to destroy himself for this relationship.
And that’s either beautiful or tragic.
Probably both.
That evening, Miles calls Victoria.
“I want you to file assault charges against Roman Castellanos.”
“On what grounds?”
“He assaulted me. In a coffee shop. There are witnesses.”
Victoria is quiet for a moment. “Did you provoke him?”
“Does it matter?”
“Legally? Yes. If you provoked the altercation, his defense will argue self-defense or justification.”
Miles grits his teeth. “He grabbed me. Threatened me. Slammed me against a wall. That’s assault.”
“I’ll file the charges. But Miles? This makes you look petty. You’re facing felony fraud charges. Adding assault charges against your ex-wife’s boyfriend seems vindictive.”
“I don’t care how it looks. I want him destroyed.”
“He’s already destroying himself. The bar hearing is in two weeks. He’s going to lose his license. Why waste resources on assault charges?”
“Because I want him to suffer.” Miles’s voice is ice. “He took everything from me. My marriage. My business. My freedom. I want him to pay.”
Victoria sighs. “I’ll file the charges. But don’t expect them to stick.”
They hang up.
And Miles sits in his empty apartment.
The penthouse he bought with fraudulent money. The one the government is going to seize when he’s convicted.
Everything is falling apart.
His company is under investigation. His investors are suing. His reputation is destroyed.
All because Roman Castellanos decided to be a hero.
All because Harlow chose a lawyer over her husband.
Miles is going to make them both pay.
He doesn’t know how yet.
But he will.
One way or another, they’re going to regret crossing him.
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