Seven years of love, shattered by seven months of betrayal. Some promises are easier to break than to keep. Kyros Arnaud Ferrero was supposed to be my forever—the man I gave my heart to at seventeen. But love isn’t always a fairytale. I never imagined that his devotion would come with deception, that the man I trusted most could betray me with the very friend I held dear. He lied. He cheated. And he did it all without remorse. So, I did the one thing he never saw coming. To get back at him, I married the one person he despises most—his brother, the powerful president of his company. *** For five years, I did everything to avoid Maximus Ferrero. A relentless control freak, a man who sent letters that made my skin crawl. The last time I saw him, he leaned in and whispered, “When you eventually decide to leave Kyros, inform me immediately. I’ll arrange our marriage without delay.” I swore he would never be an option. Until he was... *** Trigger Warning: Some chapters in this novel contain dark themes that may be distressing to some readers. Please proceed with discretion
View MoreSeven years of love meant nothing against seven months of betrayal. Some promises are easier to break than to keep.
Kyros Arnaud Ferrero, the man I met at 17, was supposed to be my forever. Never did I imagine that his love would come with a betrayal. He loved me, yet he could hurt and betray me with the very friend I trusted.
He could lie and cheat without even batting an eye. To get back at him, I married the brother he despises most—the current president of his company.
***
Gazelle
“You have an emergency shift tonight at the hospital. Patients have been scheduled and chosen to give birth today. I’m really sorry, Dr. Sinclair.”
That was the message from my chief resident—one I never imagined would lead me to the truth about my fiancé’s betrayal.
As a second-year OB-GYN resident, this marked the second year she assigned me to duty on Valentine’s Day.
My dedication to medicine had always guided my choices, so I replied, “Noted. I’ll be at the hospital by the afternoon.”
The sacrifices I made for this profession weighed on me, but I had chosen this path—and everything that came with it.
With my evening now committed to the hospital, I decided to visit Kyros’s office beforehand. My fiancé of two months worked as a junior executive in his family’s company, and I wanted to at least share a moment with him today.
Carrying a cake, I made my way through the building. Everyone knew me, so I walked in without issue.
“Hello, Miss Gazelle!” some staff greeted me. I returned their smiles with a soft nod.
When I reached his office, I noticed his secretary’s desk was empty. Without hesitation, I headed straight to the private room I had visited countless times.
He’s not there.
Frowning, I pulled out my phone to send Kyros a message until I noticed an elegant box perched on his desk.
My heart skipped a beat as I approached. It looked identical to the gift box I had prepared for him, still sitting untouched in our villa. Confusion stirred within me, wondering if he had found it in my wardrobe and brought it here.
As I opened the lid, a small card rested inside.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, babe!”
The unfamiliar handwriting sent a chill through me. Inside the box, a Patek Philippe Nautilus watched me accusingly with its gleaming face.
Someone had given this to him. Someone who called him ‘babe’.
My chest tightened.
Who was she?
My thoughts spiraled, but before panic could consume me, I turned and rushed to the ladies’ restroom, trying to steady my breathing as I clutched the cake box.
A small voice whispered hopefully: Maybe the watch wasn’t for Kyros.
But how did it end up on his table?
That was when I sent him a message.
Me: “My chief asked me to be in the hospital tonight. Our ward is full-packed, and I will be staying until tomorrow. Do you have time for a late lunch to celebrate the day?”
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, shaking off my thoughts. ‘No, I’m just being paranoid.’
The door creaked open, and Kyros’ secretary, Emily Foster, stepped in. The moment she saw me, her face went pale—like she had seen a ghost.
“M-Miss Gazelle!” she stammered. “Y-you’re here.”
My eyes caught the distinctive paper bags she attempted to conceal behind her back. The brand was unmistakably high-end women’s jewelry.
Drawing upon years of maintaining professional composure, I offered her a gentle smile. “Are those for Kyros?”
“Yes, Miss Gazelle. The boss asked me to pick them up from the shop,” she responded her voice tight with tension.
“Exciting! Can I see them?” I kept my tone light, masking the turmoil beneath.
Her lips parted slightly, hesitating.
“Don’t worry, it’s a secret,” I reassured her playfully. “I just hate surprises.”
She reluctantly surrendered the bags. I peeked inside; my pulse quickening, two identical boxes. Two identical women’s bracelets.
“Why did Kyros order two of the same bracelet?”
Unless the other one was for his ‘babe.’
I studied Emily carefully. The Pink Girls Code, my sorority, had sponsored her college education. When she graduated seven months ago, I had personally helped her land this job at Ferrero.
“I only followed the order, Miss Gazelle,” she mumbled, avoiding my gaze.
My phone’s ring cut through the tension, Kyros calling.
Maintaining my composure, I smiled at Emily. “Sorry. Your boss is calling me now. Apologies for the trouble.”
She nodded quickly before slipping away, still clutching the paper bags.
I needed to remain collected and vigilant if I wanted to uncover the truth.
“Hi! I’m just in the restroom,” I answered.
“Great! I’ll wait for you in my office,” Kyros replied before hanging up.
After composing myself, I returned to his office, forcing a smile. He seemed oblivious to my earlier presence.
“I missed you so much, babe! I’m glad you decided to visit.”
He hugged me tightly, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. His skin smelled fresh, like he had just showered.
But that unfamiliar scent didn’t belong to our villa. The watch I’d discovered earlier was more telling, now adorning his wrist.
My stomach twisted as possibilities multiplied in my mind.
“I already had lunch during a meeting, but I can keep you company while you eat,” he said smoothly.
“You had a meeting?”
“Yeah, with a client.”
The question burned in my mind: Who would give Kyros a $70,000 watch? Could it be just a client?
This isn't real. It can't be real. That's what I kept telling myself as waves of anger surged through my chest. I had thought Kyros’ greatest betrayal was the infidelity—the way he cheated while pretending to be my hero. That was all I believed he had done. The trust between us had already fallen apart when I found out the truth from Maximus—when I learned it was he and his friends who rescued me on the island, from Victor’s abduction. Hearing that Kyros was the one who gave Victor the abduction idea didn’t even shock me anymore. It should’ve felt like a bombshell, but instead, it just confirmed what I was slowly starting to accept about the man I’d trusted for seven years. ‘So, that was it!’ The reason Maximus got nothing out of Kyros during the interrogation at the mansion, then their grandfather stepped in, accusing Max and his friends of bullying Kyros and defended him as if he were some helpless victim, not someone who was actually knee-deep in everything. His interference
Gazelle When I opened my eyes, I found myself tied to a chair, my hands bound tightly behind my back. A dull ache throbbed in my neck, and my mind was hazy. The warehouse—wherever I was—was dark and have pungent smell. The memory of what had happened crashed into my consciousness, and panic surged through me like an electric current. “Ahhh! Help!” I screamed, my voice cracking painfully as it tore through my dry throat. From the shadows emerged the last person I ever wanted to see—Victor. And behind him... Emma. My breath caught. “W-Why are you together?” I stammered, my lips trembling. Victor didn’t even acknowledge my question. Emma stood there, completely unfazed, her expression unreadable. Maximus’s assistant stared at me with a cold, serious look. The betrayal hit harder than any slap. Why the hell is she doing this? Ivan’s warning kept replaying in my head: Don’t just trust anyone. But my mind had been all over the place, especially after discovering she’s Lucas’s wife. T
“To the hospital!” I told Ivan, my voice tight and urgent. “Are you certain that’s where they’re headed?” “Yes, because I know Gazelle,” I replied, anxiety churning in my stomach. “She wouldn’t follow my instructions to rest at the villa. She’d rather spend her time at the hospital.” Ivan shook his head; eyes fixed on the road. “You knew that about her, yet you still saw fit to disregard her?” I gritted my teeth. His words stung because they were true. No response came to my lips. I’d been careless, and there was no denying it. If something happened to Gazelle or her pregnancy because of my negligence, I would never forgive myself. And Gazelle has every right to hate me. Ivan pressed the accelerator, the engine roaring in response. Dante followed close behind in another car with Lucas and bodyguards in another. We overtook a slower car, swerving dangerously before nearly colliding with an oncoming vehicle. Ivan’s sports car lurched back into the proper lane at the last moment.
Maximus “What happened? Why is Gazelle crying?” Dante asked, concern etched on his face. I looked at him, my face tense from everything going on. “Dante... I’m a mess. Gazelle’s hurting because she feels so alone,” I said. Dante let out a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. “Gazelle did everything she could, man—tried to hold it all together—but it was too much. I saw how you kept pushing her away. Even I couldn’t stand to watch it. She’s exhausted, and she’s pregnant—she shouldn’t be going through this alone. Especially not today. This is when she needs you the most.” He paused, his voice softening. “I’ve told you before—whatever’s going on, it’s in your head. I know you. We’ve been friends for years, and I know hurting her isn’t who you really are, and never your intention.” Before I could formulate a response, his phone rang, cutting through the tension. “It’s the hospital,” he said, his tone shifting to something more professional. He answered on speaker, allowi
It’s not because I’m concerned about Kyros that I’m interested in what I heard. My lips parted slightly, my thoughts still catching up, as Gianna eyed me with concern. “Okay… uh, I’ll inform his family,” The words tumbled out awkwardly as I finished my conversation with Dr. Smith. “Did something happen?” Gianna asked gently. I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Kyros was in the hospital…” I explained everything—how he’d been rushed to the emergency room, how he was now fighting for his life. Gianna’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Does anyone else find this whole situation suspicious and insane?” I said, running my fingers through my hair. Just then, I noticed Lucas standing stiffly in the doorway, his face like a storm cloud. “Why didn’t you tell me you needed money?” he snapped, eyes locked on Maximus’s assistant. Maximus’s assistant froze, then looked down, clearly trying to avoid his gaze. Her shoulders tensed like she was bracing for something. Without a word, Luca
“Emma?” I asked, referring to Maximus’s assistant—the one who’s always by his side. “Between the two, Emma’s the one with direct access to Maximus. That makes her our main suspect,” Ivan replied. “Does Maximus know what’s going on?” I asked. But what was the point in asking? These men are his friends. Of course, they’ve spoken to my husband already. “Yes. Lucas was there,” Dante confirmed. “I need to understand this for myself. Can you send me to Max’s office?” I asked. Ivan offered a slight shrug, a silent gesture of permission. “You think Emma didn’t do it to Maximus?” Dante asked, studying me. I shook my head, struggling to make sense of everything. “It doesn’t add up. I’ve known Emma for months—she’s always the one who reaches out to me whenever Max’s mood shifts or when something feels off with him. She might be within reach for him, but she doesn’t have a reason to hurt him. “What would she possibly gain by hurting or killing him? That’s what I’m trying to figure out. A
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