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 54 SABRINA’S POV "Are you sure of what you're saying?" I asked the person on the other side of the call. Upon their affirmative response, I ended the call. Anger boiled. Sorrow swirled. Betrayal stabbed. Tears stung. There was nothing to prove anything yet, but going by the information I'd just received, it was enough to make me suspicious. I looked over at the clock, temporarily forgetting I had my phone in my possession. Past nine p.m., and my husband was yet to be back. I couldn't even complain about his lateness returning from work, or else it would end in bruises and pain—all on me. My body jerked the moment I heard the hurried but quiet steps up the stairs. It was him. I pretended all was normal, propping myself up on the bed, trying to create a visual that I had been waiting for him. He came in, and our eyes met. He averted his. "Long day at work?" I started conversationally, hoping to get words from him. "Yeah. Then I hung out with friends," he added. That
CHAPTER 53 SAYGE’S POV A fist of fear punched my guts, swift and hard. It all felt like a dream, unfolding in a blur. The vehicle swerved, slammed into a post—shouts piercing the night. But I didn’t care. I didn’t care about those drunk bastards—it was clear from the way they’d veered haphazardly across the open road. They were drunk as fuck, those bastards. I ran over to where she’d landed and checked her pulse. Relief spilled from my lungs in a shaky breath. Gently lifting her into my arms, I carried her to the backseat of my car, regret biting into me with every step. God, I was so stupid. If only I’d waited till we got home before blowing up at her. I sped out of there, heart pounding in my throat. “Darla, dial Dr. Finney.” I barked the order at the AI assistant synced to my phone. While Darla dialed, I glanced over my shoulder. She was still. Too still. Every bit of color had drained from her face. "Please hold on, Zyliah." “Hello, Sayge,” Dr. Finney answered, his voic
CHAPTER 52 ZYLIAH’S POV "What do you mean, ask Sayge?! Delia, you know I can't. Sayge and I are like oil and water. He's an arrogant jerk. Asking him for a favor is like committing suicide. I can't." I shook my head. I couldn’t even imagine going to him for help. He was literally the last person on Mother Earth I’d ever ask. The stupid, pompous jerk! Just the mere thought of going to him bruised my pride and dignity. Actually doing it was burying both. "I know you guys don't get along, and only God knows why." She mumbled that last part, but I heard her. I passed her a pouty look. She flashed a meek smile that easily disappeared as a thin coat of determination spread across her face—she was determined to make me see reasons. But no matter what, I was also determined not to see reasons because, in all honesty, there were none to see. "But Delia, you're not doing this for yourself—you're doing it for Natalie, our best friend. Your best friend longer than I have been. And she
CHAPTER 51 ZYLIAH’S POV By the time I was entering Delia’s living room, it was past six p.m.—almost six thirty. I was exhausted by this time. "Zee is here, Natalie. Stop with the tears." Delia’s tone carried her exhaustion too—probably trying to make Natalie stop crying. There was a bottle of corked wine and two glasses. One was almost empty, the other looked barely touched. Natalie lifted her face from the pillow it was buried in and spotted me. She jumped up and approached, hugging me. Ignoring my exhaustion, I stood strong for her and hugged her right back, comforting her with pats and words. I led her to a seat. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, sniffling. "What's the update, Zee? Please tell me." Her eyes were as puffy as her nose was blotchy and red. Her gaze was hopeful, drawing more sympathy from me. "He agreed to release Jordan." I started with the good part. Her eyes shone, despair replaced by unbridled joy. "Are you for real?" I nodded. "Yes, he a
CHAPTER 50 ZYLIAH’S POV I rapped lightly on the door, locking eyes with a bodyguard who was pretending not to watch my every move. I looked away, paying attention to the closed door before me. I gave another rap. "You can use the doorbell, miss," the bodyguard advised. "Oh." I felt a little embarrassed. I didn't even see the doorbell. I pressed it. Many times. Before someone finally opened. A maid in her thirties. Early thirties, I think. "Hello, miss," she greeted politely, but there was no trace of a smile. "Hi. I'm here to see Mr. Delson." She studied my appearance. "His son doesn’t live here. He only visits now and then.” I frowned. Why would she assume who I was here to see? "I'm actually here to see the father. Not the son.” "Oh." A frown appeared, her dark brown eyes noticeably judgy. "Do you have an appointment?" "Yes. Go tell him Zyliah is here to see him." I was beginning to get irritated by her. Was she a maid or his wife? "Zyliah who?" she probed further. I
CHAPTER 49 ZYLIAH’S POV "It's such a lovely afternoon." Discussions about Claire forgotten, Grandma Charlotte visibly relaxed in the chair, leaning back to make herself more comfortable. "Yes, it is," I said, absentmindedly watching the kids play with floaters. I wanted to call them in before they caught a cold, but I didn't have the heart to ruin their fun. Plus, it gave me time for myself. I was going to make sure they bathed with warm water when they were done. "How's it going?" she asked, her tone hinting exactly at what I thought it was. My next response was a shrug. "To be honest, I don't think it's going to go the way you planned.” "Don't give up." She frowned a little—not out of annoyance or anger, just something reflexive. "Why don't you tell Claire? I mean, they've clearly known each other for years." "Yet no change from him? If anything, he got worse. I didn't even know about her until a few days ago. I know my grandson, Zyliah. When he loves, he loves loud. Dote