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031 The Reckoning

Author: Olivia GW
last update Last Updated: 2025-10-22 14:40:21

(Cole)

I slam Jade’s penthouse door so hard the glass panels shake.

Jade’s voice floats from the living room. “Cole? What are you doing here?”

She’s standing by the bar in silk and diamonds, the picture of composure.

“What am I doing here?” I bark. “I just got thrown out of my own mansion by my wife. How’s your day going?”

She sets her wine down and folds her arms. “She crashed my interview. We’ll fix it. We always do.”

“Fix it?” I take a step closer. “You want to fix it with another photo op? Maybe another crying interview about how hard it is to raise a dying child while you destroy everyone around you?”

Her expression darkens. “Don’t you dare throw Owen in my face.”

“You’re the one who said this was all necessary,” I fire back. “You were the one who said we needed another child for a match. You told me to keep it from her. You said if she knew she’d never let Lucy be a donor.”

Her chin lifts. “And I was right. You’d both still be waiting for miracles while our son was dying. I did
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  • Betrayed, Broken, Back for Revenge   052 Timing It Right

    (Maya)The sound I’ve been waiting for since the first transfusion from me comes at last.A low sigh, a murmur. Then the softest voice in the world.“Mama.”My head jerks up.Lucy’s eyes are half open, unfocused at first, then steady. Her lips are dry, her skin still too pale, but she’s awake.“I’m here,” I whisper, leaning close. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”She blinks slowly. “Firsty?”The nurse beside me already has a cup ready, straw bent just so. “Small sips, Honey,” she says gently.I hold the straw to Lucy’s lips and watch her suck with great effort. But she does it. Her throat works, slow but sure, each swallow proof that she’s still mine.“That’s enough for now,” I say quietly, brushing her hair from her forehead. “You did so good, sweetheart.”She smiles, a tired curve. Her eyes close again.“Rest darling. Rest and we can have fun later.”Her fingers twitch in mine, the pressure light but certain.I press my lips to her hand. “You’re going to get better. I promise.”The nurse

  • Betrayed, Broken, Back for Revenge   051 Make It Happen

    (Cole)He watches me for a long time, then says, quiet as a prayer, “I wish it was over. I wish I could just sleep and not wake up again. Then I wouldn’t make anyone sad.”For a second, I can’t breathe. “Owen, no.”Jade gasps and kisses his cheek. “No, no, Owen. Don’t say that. It’s hard now but it will get better.”Tears roll down her cheeks. My heart breaks for her. For Owen. For us.His eyelids flutter. “You fix everything, Dad. But you can’t fix me.”My helplessness swells and crashes out as frustration and anger at myself.I grip his hand, small and cold, and feel the tremor running through him. “Don’t ever say that. You’re my whole world. You hear me?”Jade stares at me as if this is all my fault. That I made this happen.“You’re my whole damn world. I will do everything to fix you. I promise, Owen.”He blinks once, slow, like he’s falling inward. “I’m so tired, Dad.”“I know, buddy. Just rest.”When the sound comes, it’s wrong. A low moan, then a gasp that cuts short.I look ov

  • Betrayed, Broken, Back for Revenge   050 The Edge of Everything

    (Cole)The automatic doors hiss closed behind me, and for a moment I just stand there.Jade’s beside me, coat tight around her, face pale and drawn. The streetlights catch the shimmer of her eyes.But is what I see in them the truth or a lie?“Thank you for believing me,” she says softly. “No one understands me like you do, Cole.”“I believe you never hurt Lucy on purpose, I don’t think you would go that far,” I tell her. “I said I don’t think you meant to kill anyone. But everything else was for Maya’s benefit.”“What do you mean?”“I don’t want her thinking she’s got the best of me. She hasn’t. I want her to think I have a life after her. That I don’t need her.”“You don’t need her, Cole. You are the most powerful businessman in the country. You can do anything you want to do.”I’m not in the mood for lip service from Jade right now. “I don’t need a pep talk from you. I need the truth, Jade. If there is any way you were on that same road on purpose, you better tell me now.”She nods

  • Betrayed, Broken, Back for Revenge   049 The Reckoning She Never saw Coming

    (Maya)Rhett drops my hand. “I’ll go and see Tessa. See you in there later?”“Sure. Thanks, Rhett. Tessa’s going to be okay. I know it.”He smiles and pushes past Cole to get out the door. He doesn’t say anything to him.“I’m not your wife any longer.”“You are until the divorce is final.”“You don’t own me Cole, you never did.”“I didn’t want to own you. I wanted to love you.”“Really? I’m not sure you can love anyone. Not properly. It always comes back to what you need. And being wrapped around Jade’s little finger doesn’t help.”“I’m not. That’s ridiculous.”“You may as well marry her because you believe everything she says.”“Maybe I will. Maybe my family is right. I need someone who knows how to be a part of the world I live in.”“I know how to. I just don’t want to. Not as your wife anyway.”He eyes me carefully, “What do you mean?”“Let’s talk away from Lucy. Not in here.”We step back out the door.“Firstly, I am going to donate blood for Lucy and you may have to as well. It de

  • Betrayed, Broken, Back for Revenge   048 No Transfusion. Not This Time

    (Maya)The doctor stops me outside Lucy’s room.“She’s still critical… stable for now,” he says carefully, “but she’s lost more blood than we expected internally. We may need to transfuse.”The word "transfuse" slices straight through my chest.“No,” I say before he can continue. “Absolutely not. Not from the blood bank.”He blinks. “Mrs. Vance…”“Call me Maya, please.”“Maya, the blood is all screened carefully. If it’s a religious concern. This may save her life.”“It’s not religious. I just don’t want to take the chance that something is wrong with the blood. Can she get it from me or her father?”“It takes longer that way but yes, it can be done. Certainly.”“One of us can give directly. Will she be okay with the delay?”“We’ll get it done as fast as possible and I think we can hold her until then. But if she deteriorates…”“Let’s cross that bridge if it happens. Right now, I choose to use my blood. I’m sure I’m compatible.”“Very well, I’ll make the arrangements for your blood tes

  • Betrayed, Broken, Back for Revenge   047 The True Lesson

    (Maya)Rhett comes in with me at first.He kisses Tessa’s forehead and tells her to hang in there.“I’ll give you two some time alone. I’ll be in the coffee room if you need me.”“Thanks, Rhett. For everything.”He nods and leaves.I sit beside Tessa. Seeing her so quiet is unusual. I know somewhere in there she’s whirling about fixing everything for everyone. For me.I can’t imagine life without her. I don’t want a life without her. I stare at her trying to will her to come back to me.She doesn't open her eyes. Her hand is cool in mine. Her face is pale and still. But somehow I hear her in my head. I hear her laugh.I see her incredible smile. I feel her spirit.“Oi, wake up,” I say. “You better open those eyes, or I’ll kill you, you hear? You saved Lucy. You almost got yourself killed but you saved her.”Her hand doesn’t move but it kind of buzzes. Like electricity between us.Maybe I’m imagining it but right now, I’ll take whatever I can get.I tell her everything. I don’t hold an

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