Zyliah Smith had it all, until betrayal shattered her world. A scandal, a one-night stand, and a secret she never saw coming. Now, six years later, she's back with twin sons and a new name, ready to bury the past. But fate isn't finished with her yet. When the man from that long-forgotten night reappears, wealthy, ruthless, and dangerously captivated, Zyliah is pulled into a storm of old lies, new desires, and a love she never dared to hope for. But the past always has claws. And this time, it wants everything.
もっと見るCHAPTER 1
ZYLIAH'S POV 'I have a surprise for you. Come around.' A huge smile blossomed as I read the short yet sweet text from my fiancé, Fynn. I was just leaving the house to hang out with my girls, but that could wait. This couldn't. I got into my car and zoomed out of the compound, heading straight for his place. Both hands on the wheel, I couldn't stop smiling as my eyes caught the beautiful rock nestled perfectly on my finger. I couldn't believe how good life was to me. A job I enjoyed, a romantic fiancé I loved, and who loved me back. Truly, I was blessed. Driving through the open electric gate of the compound, I parked and practically jumped out of the car, rushing upstairs to his room. I thought I heard voices, but decided they weren't real. But a few seconds later, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Every part of me refused to accept it was real. A hallucination. I was seeing things that weren't there. I blinked repeatedly, but the picture didn't go away-it just kept playing out in front of me. My fiancé and my stepsister, who unreasonably hated me? No, this couldn't be. "Oh God, Fynn... uh... hmm." Her lusty moans made me snap. "What is going on here?" I was prepared for them to be shocked and stutter their way through any flimsy excuse that would justify their current intimate position. But it was my turn to be shocked... yet again, because they actually paused and locked eyes with me, head on. "You should be leaving by now." My fiancé, who was currently positioned behind my stepsister, Sabrina, his hands on her waist and his dick still inside her, said flatly. His nonchalance spiked even more turbulence within me. My legs suddenly felt heavy, but I forced them to walk three steps further into the room. "What are you doing, Fynn? I should be leaving? Aren't you remorseful?" It was a struggle to keep my voice from quivering. I didn't want to fall apart-not just yet. And definitely not in the presence of Sabrina, who would love that very much. "Why should I be remorseful for having a good time with my woman?" he sneered. "Talk about being stupid." Sabrina snickered at that. I ignored the insult, my brain refusing to move beyond... "Y-your w-woman?" The tears wouldn't obey. They were threatening to spill. They'd welled at the edge of my eyes and couldn't wait to roll down onto my cheeks. "Oh, sorry-we didn't inform you. But yes, Sabrina is my woman now. One who'll give me lots of beautiful children." I heard the insult in his remark, but I couldn't understand it. Lots of beautiful children? Wasn't he insinuating I couldn't? I sniffled, wrapping my arms around myself as though to protect what was left. "W-what are you insinuating, Fynn?" Irritation crossed his face. He slipped out of her. Sabrina whined in protest, and he kissed her back. "Let's get rid of her and we'll continue having our best time." Hearing the man I loved talk this way about me-even while I was standing right there-ripped my heart apart. What did I do to deserve this? Was this some kind of twisted joke from the universe? "Works for me." My stepsister giggled, then climbed down from the bed, stark naked and not the least bit ashamed. She wound an arm around Fynn's waist. He had hastily drawn up his boxer shorts. "So?" Fynn quirked a brow. I couldn't say a word. It felt as though this was all a dream, one I'd wake up from. Words failed me at this point, but I knew I had to say something. Battling back tears, I took a small step forward. I was too invested in my relationship to let it go without putting up a fight. "Back up there, miss. Any step further and you'll be crowding my territory." Sabrina made a shooing gesture. I faced her with all of the anger brewing in me. "How dare you, Sabrina?! What have I ever done to you?! All our lives, you have always wanted to be where I was, have what was mine. Our relationship has been a competition to you, why?! Now you had to go for my man? Someone you know I'm engaged to?!" Tears poured like rain. They were angry ones. I almost lunged at her, but stopped myself a second sooner. "Quit with the drama, Zyliah. No one's competing with you. Rather, she saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life," Fynn spat, his eyes glaring pointedly at me as though he was appalled by my presence. "W-what? I... I'm the biggest mistake of your life? Is that what you're saying?" I shouldn't have been more shaken than I already was, but I couldn't help it. I couldn't believe that the Fynn who used to love and admire me would ever talk to me in such a manner. "Yes, but thanks to my new woman here," I could only watch with a broken heart as my fiancé drew my stepsister closer and kissed her hair. "I get to find out that you've been nothing but a whore-someone who slept with men to get what she wants, especially during our time in college. God, I just wonder how foolish I was not to have seen that trait in you." "Excuse me?!" I couldn't believe my ears. Disbelief and shock rocked my body violently, threatening to upend my balance. "I should have suspected from the way you eagerly, or should I say desperately, accepted my proposal, just so you can find a resting place for your empty, ruined womb!" he finished. "My w-what?!" My brain was scrambling to comprehend what he'd just said. And it hit me after what seemed like a long time, though it really wasn't, that I knew exactly who was behind it. "Sabrina, you had to go this far? You had to ruin my image to the man I was going to marry?! Why? Why would you?!" Helpless anger had me stomping my feet as more tears flowed. "I only told him the truth, Zyliah. How long do you think you can hold off on the truth? It would be unfair getting married to him without him knowing your past," she said, rolling her eyes like I was some naughty child she was tired of babysitting. "It's all a lie, Fynn. I swear, I did none of those things she accused me of. I never slept with any lecturer to get good grades. I earned every grade honestly," I pleaded, ignoring Sabrina to face Fynn. I took a bold step to move further. As soon as I got close enough and touched his arm, Sabrina pushed me away. I fell, hitting my waist against the small coffee table. Pushing myself up to my feet, I winced, realizing I'd been hurt around my waist. Rage filled me, and I lunged at Sabrina for payback, shoving her so hard her head would've hit the edge of the bed-if Fynn hadn't caught her just in time. "See what she did to me, Fynn," she said, her lips quivering like I was the evil witch. "I'm sorry, babe." Fynn helped her to the bed, and when he turned to face me again, I didn't expect his hand to strike me hard across the face. The hit landed so hard it stunned me, the force of it sending me staggering on my feet. I had to plant them firmly on the ground so I wouldn't lose my footing and hurt myself again. Fresh tears poured as my hand cradled that side of my face. "Y-you hit me?" Fynn had never once raised his hands on me-until today. And it was because of Sabrina. "Get out of here and get lost!" His eyes glowed a dangerous red. "Fynn, please, I..." "This is over. We are over. Now leave my place before I throw you out myself," he yelled. A broken sob escaped my mouth, then another and another, until I was finding it hard to breathe or talk properly. "F-fynn, p-p-plea..." "Get out!" I jolted in shock and fear, but before I could move my legs, he was already shoving me out the door. I heard the door click shut and the quiet shuffle of feet receding further into the room. Sunk in despair and not caring about my surroundings, I let myself slip to the cold, hard floor and cried my eyes out.CHAPTER 90ZYLIAH’S POVNerves had me in a tight grip. I couldn’t help but fiddle my thumbs against each other, rubbing the knuckles until they ached.Delia had just driven in through the gigantic gate. Natalie was sitting in the passenger seat, while I occupied the back seat, tucked in the corner.Once every while, they would both throw a glance back or catch my gaze through the rearview mirror, offering small, steadying looks."Stop being so nervous, Zee. You’ll crash under all those nerves,” Natalie spoke up gently, trying to tease a smile out of me.Delia drove straight for the visitors’ garage. There were the guys in black suits on alert, watching our car as we rolled in."I'm bound to be nervous. I can’t remember anything yet, and I’m to meet this nice family who I had treated so unkindly months back.” When I answered, my tone was unusually sharp and tight. Nerves could do that to anyone, or maybe it was just me, a breath snagging in my throat."No one said you shouldn’t be, but
CHAPTER 89ZYLIAH’S POVThe next morning, I stifled a yawn as I opened my eyes. Delia was asleep on my left, and Natalie was softly snoring on my right.We'd ventured onto other topics and chatted about them till we all fell asleep.I needed to pee, so I carefully slipped out from between them, easing the covers back and tiptoeing toward the restroom, mindful not to rattle the latch or wake either of them.I returned a few minutes later to find the bed empty. Where had they both gone so fast? Frowning, I stepped out of my room, and a tangle of voices and early-morning noise drifted up the hall.A curious frown settled on my face as I wondered what was causing this early-morning ruckus. I didn’t pay much attention to the words and voices—until I neared the living room…"I know she’s here, so bring her the fuck out! That’s my wife you’re keeping from me.”What was Fynn doing here so early? The question spiked through my sleep-heavy brain."Oh no, mister. She’s not your wife. You already
CHAPTER 88ZYLIAH’S POVI played games with all four of them until nightfall, and only then did I realize Jordan and his brother, Lucas, still hadn’t left.We had dinner, and conversation bubbled around the table, but I wasn’t an active participant. I sat as more of a listener, suddenly too nervous to join in, my ears catching only fragments while my mind drifted.Fynn was married? How could he do this to me?! I thought we had something real between us, something worth holding onto, and discovering he had lied left me even more confused and shattered.And maybe I deserved what had happened to me. Everyone around me had warned me, but I refused to believe, stubbornly clinging to my illusions. Even Dad had been part of the deception. My vision blurred as I struggled with my cutlery, frustration building until it trembled through my hands.Why couldn’t I remember?! It was the only way to end this chaos, the only path back to who I had been before the accident. I had a feeling things migh
CHAPTER 87CLAIRE’S POVI took in greedy gulps of air as I massaged the roughened skin on my neck. How could he do this to me? Almost strangle me to death?Tears burned the back of my throat, pain simmering low in the pit of my stomach. I loved him. I didn’t want to lose him. Things used to be fine between us—didn’t they?"Are you going to remain there on the floor and be pathetic?" I quickly scrambled to my feet, meeting the mocking stare of Grandma Charlotte as she took a few deliberate steps forward. This woman."Cry. Beg. Threaten. Throw every tantrum in the book. My grandson is smart enough to know that there are women worth his time, care, attention, and love. And there are… well, you.”I raged, wishing I could slap her so hard she would crash to the ground, crack her head, and just die. This old bitch was always butting into my business, and I suspected she was the reason Sayge had grown so cold and cruel toward me.“What is wrong with me?” I folded my arms, almost tempted to
CHAPTER 86SAYGE’S POVI didn't go to work today; I had to stay back and be with my kids. But I was currently in my office, working on a very important project, and I had specifically asked not to be disturbed.The kids were fine with the buckets of ice cream and the new toys that arrived two days ago. They were a small but welcome distraction.They had seen the toys online and, of course, begged me to buy them. I knew I was overindulging them, but they were my kids. I couldn't say no—I didn’t have the heart to break theirs.So I’d ordered them. They were the latest action figurines, made in Germany by a well-known German toy company. The owner of that company is a close acquaintance of my dad, and because of that, they arrived in just two days instead of the usual one to two weeks for international delivery.I bought them for a reason: to keep the boys thoroughly occupied until I finished in here.A knock sounded. I hate being disturbed when I’m working—that’s why I usually keep the
CHAPTER 85ZYLIAH’S POVI held my cheek up with my eyes already stung with tears. Sadness. Anger. Shock. Disbelief. Disappointment. All of these emotions swirled violently within me."Husband thief?" My voice quivered as invited guests watched the drama keenly. Some even pulled out their phones to record. God, everything was embarrassing. How was this happening? Sabrina?"What are you doing here, Sabrina?" Fynn's face was deadly; he was ready to beat the hell out of her. Sabrina faced him, her eyes wild and mad. "How can you do this to me, Fynn? I'm your wife, for God's sake!""Wife," I repeated the word in a small voice, and chaos surrounded me. "What the hell are you and your daughter doing?" Dad was yelling at an irate Victoria."Taking what is rightfully hers. Fynn belongs to her, Anthony. How could you be so selfish? You married Sabrina off to Fynn, and now it's Zyliah!" she yelled right back. "You never told me about the marriage, did you? I only received an invitation card
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
コメント