He Fathered Her Child, I Burned His World

...I met Zane Grimes's gaze with calm indifference. "Your little tadpole found its daddy. Aren't you going to say hello?"He faltered, glancing at my sister, Martha Sanford, who was clutching the crying baby. "I'm sorry. I need to check on the child first. We'll talk later."He hurried toward them, and in front of the gathered crowd, the three stood together, looking like a perfect family. Though my heart had long grown numb, the sight stirred a bitter ache within me.His mother, Camille Grimes, noticing my expression, rushed up to smooth things over. "You know how kind-hearted Zane is. He can't bear to see a child suffer."His father, Bruno Grimes, nodded anxiously. "Yeah, Brittany, don't take it to heart."My brother, Roland Sanford, scoffed, "Kind-hearted? Then why hasn't he adopted every orphan in the city?"Turning to me, he added sharply, "If you hadn't insisted on marrying this nobody, would he even have set foot in our house? He's fathered a love child. Make him leave w

"Still claim this child is Sanford blood?" I snorted.Zane snatched the report, his eyes scanning it with disbelief that quickly morphed into stunned outrage."Pathetic!" Roland laughed. "Thought you'd secure a foothold in our family with a love child? Turns out, he is not related to us. Oh, and you might want to check if that kid is even yours. Raising someone else's child like your own would make you the biggest joke.""Shut up!" Zane shot back. "Don't even think about driving a wedge between us. Martha is faithful, and the child is mine. Your lies won't break us."Roland snorted, and I signaled for them to be escorted out.Days later, I was handling family affairs in my office when my assistant entered, holding a box. "Ma'am, this was sent by Mr. Grimes's people. Said it's a gift."Inside the box was the urn that held my mother's ashes. My phone rang, shattering my shock. The caretaker of our ancestral graveyard reported that my mother's grave had been desecrated.Rage and gr

My words hung in the air, but Zane let out a mocking laugh.One of his men whispered urgently in his ear, and his face paled instantly. Before he could react, the bodyguards brought by my assistant surged in and surrounded him.Fists and boots rained down, leaving him crumpled and gasping at the hospital's entrance. I thought he'd stay quiet for a while, but he hosted a press conference.Standing before a sea of cameras, he whimpered, "I'm here to expose Brittany Sanford, the gambling tycoon's daughter. She kidnapped my family."He displayed his bruises like trophies. "I confronted her, but she had me beaten up and thrown out. Is there no justice?"The room erupted in murmurs. The livestream surged to millions, the chat exploding with outrage and speculation.My assistant and I arrived just as Zane continued his performance. "Her mind is twisted because she can't bear children. She kidnapped my only child and Martha. They're my life. If she doesn't return them, I'll make her pay!

"Brittany, please spare us!" Camille pleaded.Bruno chimed in, "We failed to raise Zane properly, but our legacy can't end like this. For old times' sake, help us.""Old times' sake?" I scoffed. "You covered his infidelity, supported his mistress's child, and urged me to accept it. Where was your loyalty then?"They paled, stammering, "It was Zane's folly. We knew nothing."Camille promised, "If you spare us, I'll banish Martha and make Zane grovel for your forgiveness.""No need," I cut in. "Your fate means nothing to me. As for Zane..."Just then, Zane stormed in, roaring, "Don't beg her!"He tried pulling them away, but Bruno shook him off, pointing at his nose. "You ruined us! Apologize to Brittany now!""Why should I?" Zane glared at me. "You think you've won? I built myself from nothing. I've faced worse. I'll rise again and make you pay for the humiliation today!""Rise again?" I laughed, the sound sharp and mocking.He had conveniently forgotten that he couldn't have

The chaos in the rundown apartment ended with police intervention. Martha was detained for a few days for her part in the brawl.Unable to find Zane, authorities sent the unattended children to a welfare center. I paid little attention to their fate, my life moving forward.At our seven-star hotel, a lavish banquet celebrated my engagement with Murray Koch, head of the Koch family.Our families had been allies until my stubborn choice of Zane severed that bond. Now we were reunited.Murray stood beside me, striking in a tailored black tuxedo. He raised his glass, his voice warm and resonant. "Brittany, congratulations. After all the twists and turns, I'm the one by your side."I smiled and clinked my glass against his. "Thankfully, we didn't miss each other."Below, my father beamed with pride, while Roland buzzed with excitement for his new brother-in-law.In a grim corner of the city, Zane returned to his empty apartment. Martha had fled, taking anything of value without a not