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?
Isla “Are you alright?” Lucas Westwood asked. I took a shaky breath. “About earlier... I’m really sorry. I know my emotions aren’t an excuse, but I was completely lost, Mr. Westwood. I didn’t intend to make you believe I was your date.” “It was my fault, too. I didn’t even check who I was supposed to meet today. The moment I saw you in the private room, I just assumed you were the one.” I couldn’t help but wonder why someone like him would need arranged dates. I mean—he’s Lucas Westwood. Women practically threw themselves at him. “Is your family trying to set you up with Elara?” I asked, unable to hold back the question swirling in my mind. He frowned. “Not exactly. My mother’s been pushing for grandchildren since I don’t have any... legacy under my name. I never planned to date anyone seriously, but when your sick mother asks for something, you’d promise her the moon.” That side of someone like him was unfamiliar to me. Lucas Westwood—the man who could see through any busine
A surge of resentment flared in Conrad’s chest, sharp and unexplained. One thing was clear—he wasn’t happy with how things had turned out. Earlier at the restaurant, the maître d’ had assured him that Isla had already arrived, but Conrad hadn’t caught even a glimpse of her. Instead, Elara had stormed into their private dining room, fuming about Lucas Westwood’s absence. The confusion only cleared when they questioned the staff and discovered that Lucas Westwood and Isla had left the place together. As much as Conrad wanted to feel relieved that Elara’s date had been canceled, he found himself utterly irritated knowing that Lucas had taken his girlfriend away. “How could those two be together?” Ethan asked, incredulous. “Do they even know each other? Was he one of your clients?” That was the only explanation Conrad could come up with. He scoffed. Was Isla really trying that hard to win him back, going as far as securing Lucas Westwood as a client? Landing Westwood Company would be
Lucas Confusion etched itself across my face. I remembered her telling me, “There was a misunderstanding...” I’d assumed she meant there were things she needed to handle, that she wasn’t supposed to be at the restaurant in the first place. But after speaking with my mother, she told me Ms. Foster had waited for me for hours at that restaurant. That’s when the pieces started falling into place, none of them fitting the picture I’d constructed. The woman I’d spent the evening with wasn’t the one who had arranged our blind date. They simply shared the same last name. A deep frown furrowed my brow. My jaw tightened as I watched Isla Foster hurry away from the vehicle, genuine fear flickering across her features. Just then, a woman stormed toward her, and something in me stirred: a need to protect Isla. “Isla! You bitch! I asked the restaurant who Mr. West—” She saw me emerge from the shadows behind Isla, and her words died in a strangled scream. “M-Mr. Westwood?” Her voice falt
After submitting my resignation at Conrad’s company, I headed to the restaurant he had mentioned. Just as I reached for the door, I froze. Conrad was talking to Ethan, his best friend, and a woman, likely Ethan’s girlfriend or perhaps just one of their female friends. “Come on, man,” Ethan was saying. “She’s always been like that. Aren’t you used to it by now?” “I must admit, I was shocked when Isla Foster became your girlfriend,” the woman said. “Wasn’t Elara the one you loved? How did you end up with Isla instead?” “You don’t know?” Ethan replied casually. “Elara left two years ago. She went abroad for that guy Mrs. Foster introduced her to. She was completely obsessed with that man abroad. Our boy here was devastated.” Ethan paused for a beat, clearly reacting to a sharp look from Conrad. “Sorry, I’m just being honest.” “So, you chose Isla?” the woman asked. “The twin?” “Elara’s imitation,” Ethan sneered. The two of them burst out laughing. Conrad didn’t say a word. He didn
The other end of the line was silent for some time before I finally heard his sneer. “You’re always like this when things don’t go your way. Stop the nonsense. Go to the office tomorrow morning and fix the issue with that client.” Those were the last words I heard before the line went dead. He had no intention of taking what I truly wanted seriously. Maybe it was my fault he treated me this way. I allowed it. But for the first time, I didn’t care what he thought. I was too hurt to think, too tired to keep pretending everything was fine. Conrad and Elara had lived near each other growing up—they were childhood friends—so I’d seen him around whenever my father sent me to their house on his birthday. I was seventeen when I first truly met Conrad. That day, I couldn’t hold back the tears. I felt so out of place, so unwanted. My father, Mr. Foster, barely acknowledged me, like I was just there to tick off some family obligation. Like, inviting me was more for show than affection. It
Isla ‘Sorry. Elara told me she needed money for her upcoming meeting with Lucas Westwood. She didn’t want to look plain, so my accountant sent her the funds instead. I was on a business trip and just got back now.’ Tears dropped onto the screen as I read that message from Conrad Cross, my boyfriend of two years. I broke down crying in the hospital hallway. It was over. I no longer needed the money I was borrowing from him. Mom was gone. I had no one else to turn to. My father was never an option, which was why I’d asked Conrad for help. But who would’ve thought he’d prioritize Elara’s whims and material needs over my mother’s medical bills? Elara is my twin sister. I told her our mother was dying, but she completely disregarded it. How could she have done this to our mother? Then again, she never liked Mom. When we were seven, Mother chose to divorce Dad when his mistress entered the picture. Unfortunately, Elara decided to stay with our father and his new woman, thinking he wa
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