Chapter 1: The Ultimate Betrayal

Daisy's POV

"So you trust your boyfriend? Why don't you pay him a visit at Turner Mansion?"

That was all the message said. And like a moth drawn to a flame, I found myself speeding toward Turner Mansion.

I had tried calling the strange number repeatedly—each attempt ending in silence.

As I stood before the gates, part of me wanted to turn back, dismissing it as a cruel prank. But another part of me wondered—what if?

What if stepping into that mansion meant discovering the truth? Was I even ready for it?

The only way to put my mind at peace was to face it head-on, regardless of the pain it might bring.

As I neared the entrance, I noticed Trey's car parked outside.

"When did they get so close to the point where they visit each other without telling me?" I thought out loud.

I decided to call him, hoping to hear the truth from him before making any assumptions.

The call rang twice before he picked up.

"Hey, babe," he whispered.

I frowned. "Hey. Why are you whispering? Are you okay?" My voice was filled with concern.

"Oh, yes. I just caught a cold, and it's messing with my throat."

"Oh, baby, should I bring some soup over?"

"Not right now, babe. Let me rest for a while first."

"Are you home?" I asked, my breathing uneven.

"Where else would I be?"

Silence.

I entered the gate with my face scan and pushed the door open. Stepping inside, my heart pounded in my chest. My steps were slow and hesitant, unsure whether I had the courage to face what lay beyond.

The closer I got, the louder the moans became.

My stomach clenched.

When I reached the door, I peeked inside.

And my entire world shattered.

Trey and Anna.

Entwined together.

Tears streamed down my face as my legs buckled beneath me. I gripped the doorframe to stay upright. The room spun—breathe, breathe—but the air reeked of their sin.

I barged in, swinging the door open.

"Trey?!"

The name burned my tongue as I took in the sight before me.

My breath caught in my throat. My pulse pounded.

No. This can't be real.

But it was.

My boyfriend, Trey, and my stepmother, Anna—naked, tangled in bed together.

My heart stopped. Then it raced.

My stomach twisted, forcing me to move uncontrollably around the room. The air was thick with an awful mix of scents—the sharp, metallic tang of sweat, the faint trace of Anna’s perfume, and the heavy musk of Trey’s cologne. The same cologne I used to love.

Anna gasped, hurriedly yanking the duvet over herself.

But the damage was already done—I had seen everything. What was the point of hiding now?

I looked at her, unable to utter a word. Then my gaze shifted to him.

Trey stumbled off the bed, struggling to pull his pants on. His hands shook, and his face turned pale.

"Daisy, I can explain!" His voice cracked as he stepped forward, reaching for me like I was something fragile.

Did he honestly think I would move toward him?

"I thought you were home and had a cold," I said, letting out a sharp, cold laugh.

Not the reaction they were expecting.

They looked at each other, trying so hard not to meet my betrayed eyes.

I shook my head, pacing the room before turning back to them. "Oh, this is the part where you tell me it's not what it looks like, right?"

Trey’s lips parted, but no words came out. What could he say?

Finally, he stammered, "Babe, it was the devil’s work! She seduced me!"

I let out a hollow laugh. Really? That’s the best you’ve got?

Anna stuttered, tucking her elbows close to her body. "Sweetheart, I—"

"Shut up," I cut her off, raising my hand. My voice was ice.

I turned to Trey.

"How long?" My voice wavered as I forced the words out, swallowing back the lump in my throat.

Trey swallowed hard. His Adam's apple bobbed. "Daisy—"

"How long, Trey?!" I screamed. "How long have you been sleeping with her?!"

He flinched.

"A... few months."

A sharp pain stabbed through my chest.

Months?

The whole time he kissed me, touched me, told me he loved me and wanted to marry me—he was sleeping with my stepmother?

He had made a fool out of me for months.

Something inside me snapped.

My eyes darted to the corner of the room where Dad always kept his gun.

I grabbed it without thinking.

The metal felt cold and heavy in my hands. The grip was rough against my sweaty palms. My fingers trembled, but I didn’t loosen my hold.

Trey’s eyes widened. "Daisy, put the gun down!"

I pointed it at them.

Both of them.

Anna finally looked scared. "Baby, put that down. It was a mistake, I'm sorry."

I forced a smile. "So now I'm 'baby,' huh?" My finger hovered over the trigger. The weight of the gun felt good. Solid. Like I had all the power in the world in my hands.

"Were you calling me that when you were screwing my boyfriend?"

Anna sat up, still holding the duvet. "You ungrateful little—"

I aimed the gun at her. "Dare to finish that sentence."

Anna screamed, her face turning pale. Her body shook under the covers.

Trey stumbled back, pulling her into his chest, his legs trembling as he tried to protect her.

I had made my point.

But as I stood there, gun in hand, a thought hit me: Is this who I wanted to become? A killer?

Never in my 25 years had I ever fired a shot. And today, just because of Trey, I had lost myself for a second.

I exhaled sharply. "You are not worth my anger, my tears, or my time."

I lowered the gun and dropped it to the floor.

Tears burned my eyes, falling uncontrollably.

These traitors weren’t even ashamed. They clung to each other like they were the perfect match.

"So after everything, you’d still run to her? You’d rather have her in your arms than me?"

Trey’s voice broke the silence. "You think this meant something? Anna’s a queen. You? You were just... practice."

His words sliced through me, sharper than any blade.

I flinched, then laughed—a hollow, shattered sound. "Practice? Then thank me. I taught you well."

I turned to Anna. The woman I once called Mom.

"No more," I whispered. "You are not my family anymore. You are nothing to me now."

Then I walked out.

Not just out of the room.

Out of that house.

Out of their lives.

The rain poured down, soaking me within seconds. I wiped my face quickly, hating the tears that wouldn’t stop falling.

Then I saw Nanny Divine.

The only person I trusted in that house after Dad’s death.

The moment our eyes met, her face crumpled with guilt.

My chest tightened. "You knew."

A sob built in my throat, but I swallowed it. "You tried to stop me from going upstairs because you knew."

She took a step toward me. "Daisy, please—"

I raised my hand, stopping her. "Don't." My voice broke. "I treated you like family, Nanny. When my mother died, my father took you in—not just as a nanny, but as part of our family." Tears ran down my face ruthlessly. "I asked him to. And this is what you do to me?"

Nanny Divine's eyes filled with regret. "Daisy, my child, I didn’t know how to tell you."

My whole body shook, every nerve screaming with betrayal. "You let me walk into that room," I whispered, my voice cracking. "You stood there and watched as my heart shattered into a thousand pieces. And now you're telling me you didn’t know how to tell me?"

Her face crumpled, but I didn’t care. The woman I’d once called family was now just another stranger.

I sniffled, my voice barely above a whisper. "I trusted you."

She reached out, but I stepped back. "Daisy, how was I supposed to tell you that the man you’re crazy about is sleeping with your stepmother?" She wiped her sweaty palms on her checkered uniform. "You are like a daughter to me, and I never wanted you to feel hurt like this."

I turned away before she could finish.

"Daisy, please don’t go like this. I swear, I—"

I had no family anymore.

And from now on…

I was alone.

Tonight, I lost everything. Tomorrow, I’d start building something they could never destroy.