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?
Gazelle I’m slowly beginning to understand what’s happening around me, but there are still so many moments when instinct feels like the only thing keeping me moving forward. Nanny Beth was surprised to see me again, just like the rest of the household staff. Even the security members approached me with an apology, concerned that they might have hurt me during our last encounter. All the while, I never visited Kyros—not even when the Ferrers were arranging his funeral. I was too angry, too bitter, to let his parents or friends see that I cared. And now, Stella Mercer is behind bars. I played with Lulu in the garden when the security team informed me I had a visitor at the gate. To my surprise, it was Sam—and with him was Amara Valentine, Cassian Doyle’s fiancée. Her presence caught me off guard. I’d met her once before I married Maximus—she was only eighteen then. But during my life as Elle, our paths never crossed. I only ever heard about her through Sam. Maybe Kyros made sure to
Maximus Fragments of Gazelle’s memory may have returned, but I would never forget. She was—and will always be—the woman I longed for, even when everything else slipped through my fingers, the one my heart chose in a world full of noise, the one I’d choose every lifetime. She is the mother of my Lulu, the keeper of my soul, the only one who has ever truly seen me, not for my scars, past, or even the shadows I always carry. She is the only woman I have ever loved and the only one I ever will. I brushed my thumb over her lips before claiming them with my own. Almost five years of separation, aching to hold her again. And before this moment, I hadn’t cared whether her memory returned as long as I knew she was safe. I kissed her forehead gently. “I love you, Max...” she whispered, her hands softly caressing my face, memorizing every part of me. As if those words had stirred something, a small voice broke the silence. “Mommy?” Lulu had woken up, looking for Gazelle in the dim roo
My body was still trembling. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. The scene at the mansion gate was pure chaos. I stood frozen, staring as several guards struggled to restrain a woman I didn’t recognize. A gun lay discarded on the ground nearby, and one of the guards picked it up carefully, likely to preserve it as evidence. Kyros sprawled motionless on the ground, his clothes soaked crimson. I couldn’t tell if he was still alive. “Fuck you, Kyros! Fuck you!” The woman screamed, her voice breaking as tears streaked down her dirt-smudged cheeks. Her face twisted in pain—so real and intense, it was hard to even look at. “I should never have let you into my life!” Her expression was unhinged, her fury all-consuming. Then she turned to me, her eyes burning with a hatred so fierce it sent a chill down my spine. “And you, Gazelle! This is all because of you!” she shouted. “Why did I have to get dragged into this nightmare? Why did my family have to pay for this? I’ve lost everyth
Gazelle Another week had passed at the Sinclair mansion, and I was still trying to find my footing in this strange new reality. I’d started therapy because I believed this was more than just memory loss—it was psychological trauma, and my therapist warned me not to force anything or risk damaging my brain cells even more. Maximus had fallen into a routine of coming over for dinner, and tonight was no different. Lulu sat contentedly beside me, occasionally reaching for my water glass. It all felt so strange. I never knew when my past might catch up to me. Was it too painful to remember? Breaking the silence, my father cleared his throat. “Gazelle, forgive me for bringing this up, but I must ask you something.” I shifted my attention from Lulu and looked at him. “What is it?” “I don’t want to pressure you, especially with everything you’re processing, but I’m curious about your plans. Have you thought about what you want to do? Like career…” “I want to work at the Sinclair enter
Gianna met Dante’s gaze, her composure a carefully constructed mask. She had learned to project strength in front of him and their friends, but she felt utterly powerless beneath the surface. Things were weighing her down, things beyond her control. Her life was a mess. Completely screwed up. Dante’s jaw tightened, his voice strained with years of suppressed frustration. “When I met you in medical school, I didn’t know about your family or your background—none of it. But I accepted you completely.” Gianna’s eyes darkened. “That was over ten years ago, Dante. It was all in the past. I don’t have time for this.” “You’re always running away!” His voice rose. “That’s your specialty. That’s what you’re good at—hurting people and walking away like nothing happened.” “Dante, you heard it yourself!” she snapped. “My husband is part of the Cassian Doyle family. That name alone should scream complicated! What did you expect me to do—introduce myself as the daughter of a syndicate soldier?
Gazelle Chairman Sinclair—who claims to be my father—arrived with his assistant, Mr. Harrington. The lines on his face told me he had lived a long life, but the familiarity of his features shook me. I didn’t remember him, not really, but the moment our eyes met, tears streamed down my face. It was instinctual like my body remembered something my mind couldn’t. Whatever those memories were… they must have hurt. We gathered in a room, joined by faces I was told were my friends. “Gazelle,” Chairman Sinclair said gently, studying me like I was a ghost from his past. “What happened to you? Have you been eating well? Sleeping enough while you were gone?” My nod was the only answer I could manage. My throat was tight, choked with a thousand unspoken questions and a suffocating fog of confusion. How do you even begin to rebuild a life that suddenly feels like a stranger’s? Dr. Dante Castillo stood quietly near Maximus. Royal and Gianna sat beside me, their presence oddly comforting. Th
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