Chapter 1

KAIA

“Congratulations, Mrs. Holloway. You’re three weeks pregnant.”

Dr. Mira said over the phone and I gasped softly in surprise. I couldn’t believe it. After three years of trying for a baby, I was finally going to have one.

“Are you serious?”

Her voice was cheerful. “Yes, Ma’am. Your test results came in this morning. You can pick them up whenever you want.”

Tears of excitement streamed down my cheeks. I thanked her one more time, and hung up the call.

It was my third year wedding anniversary, and I couldn’t think of anything better than the news I’d received.

“I can’t wait to tell Bryce about this,” I chimed. “He’s going to be so excited.”

Bryce Holloway.

Billionaire CEO of B.H tech company. My husband and high school sweetheart. We’d gotten married shortly after graduating from college.

I hurried back into the kitchen, prepared his favorite meal, and got ready to visit him at the office.

I called his phone several times, but he didn’t pick up. He was always working extra hours and rarely had time for anything else.

I arranged his food bag, picked up my car keys and stepped outside to leave. My security guard, Eli, saw me and rushed towards me.

“Good morning, Ma’am,” he greeted, his voice husky. “Some people are here to see you.”

I took off my sunglasses and stared at two men who were behind him. My eyebrows furrowed. I wasn’t expecting any visitors.

“Who are they?” I asked.

“Police officers,” Eli said.

My heart instantly dropped in fear. Not because I was guilty of any crime, but because something negative flashed through my mind.

Was Bryce okay?

Did something happen?

“Mrs. Holloway,” one of the officers stepped forward before I could say anything. “You’re under arrest.”

It sounded like a joke.

I chuckled, tilting my head backward and laughter erupted from my lips. Under arrest for what?

Was that a joke or something?

“I’m officer Landon,” the other man said, already pulling out the handcuffs. “And you have the right to remain silent as anything you say or do will be used against you in the court of law.”

That was when I realized that they weren’t joking. I was indeed getting arrested, but for what?

“What?” I gasped. “What have I done?”

Officer Landon tried to grab my wrist, but I pulled away, eager to hear the crime I’d committed.

“You’re being arrested,” he responded. “For the death of Mr. Fredrick Bennett.”

My breath hitched and the food bag in my hand slipped away. The food splattered all over the floor, and my fingertips brushed against my lips as I stood speechless.

Fredrick Bennett.

My father.

My knees nearly gave out beneath me.

“My father died last week.” I murmured through the confusion. “How can you accuse me of murdering him?”

He’d died only one week ago, and the whole case was still ongoing. I wasn’t even guilty of the crime. His killers weren’t found yet, and it was proven that he’d been poisoned.

Officer Landon grabbed my wrists as they cuffed me. My lips trembled, and I began to cry as they dragged me away.

“I didn’t do anything!”

But they didn’t listen.

Something wasn’t right. How could I suddenly get arrested for a crime that occurred when I wasn’t even there?

“You’re mistaken, officer,” I cried. “Please believe me. I didn’t kill my father.”

“New forensic evidence was recovered this morning, and a witness has come forward.”

Forensic evidence?

A witness?

Impossible.

Someone had planted that evidence.

Someone wanted me behind bars.

Eli frantically paced around, unable to do anything that would help me. The police officers dragged me away into their waiting van.

I was hand-cuffed and thrown into the backseat like a hardened criminal. And the fact that people from my estate had trooped out and were staring pitifully.

I heard the whispers, the murmurs, and the words that slipped out of their lips as the officers carried me away.

“Poor, Kaia,” one of them said. “And she looked so innocent too innocent to a crime.”

“What did she do this time?”

“She’ll probably never get released again.”

Their words sent something slicing through my chest. Before the van drove away, I screeched at Eli, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Please call my husband. Tell him I’ve been framed for something I didn’t do.”

*

Bryce didn’t come to the police station until the next morning.

I’d waited all night, staring and hoping he’d show up, making excuses for his absence.

And although I wasn’t thrown into a cell yet, I was made to wait behind the counter.

He showed up at exactly 10 a.m. I heard his voice from the entrance and it echoed calmly through the station.

“Where’s my wife?” He demanded. “Where’s Kaia?”

My voice cracked softly. “Bryce!”

“Kaia.”

I rushed into his arms and hugged him tightly, sobbing into his chest. I was too caught up in everything that was happening and didn’t notice that he wasn’t reciprocating the hug.

The only thing I noticed was his wedding ring that was missing from his finger. But I didn’t pay much attention to it.

“Babe,” I whispered. “I was so scared you wouldn’t come.”

He pulled me away from the hug and looked directly into my eyes. “Did they hurt you?”

I shook my head, sighed in relief that he was there, and began to plan my return home.

“No.”

“Mr. Holloway,” Officer Landon called him from the counter. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

Bryce nodded. “Did you get everything I sent?”

“Yes, Sir.”

I tugged at his shoulder. “Happy anniversary, Babe.”

He only gave a small smile, his fingers tightening around my wrists. I recalled the phone call from Dr. Mira, and proceeded to utter.

“I have something to tell you. I got a—‘’

He brushed me off my words by placing a finger on my lips, his eyes glinting with something indescribable.

“—Have you opened my anniversary present yet?” He asked.

I raised my eyebrows and shook my head quietly. I didn’t remember receiving anything before he left for work or after he did.

Or… did it come after I was arrested?

“I didn’t receive anything.”

Bryce's smile grew wider as he stared at me. I stood there, unsure of what he had in mind.

His voice rang out again to officer Landon. “You found all the evidence, I suppose.”

“Yes.”

“What’s the final verdict?”

Officer Landon didn’t hesitate to respond. “She’s guilty. And it’s all thanks to the evidence you gave us.”

The room spun around me.

Evidence… he gave them?

No.

Bryce would never do that to me. He couldn’t.

“Babe…” I swallowed hard, chuckling nervously. “What’s going on? What evidence is he talking about?”

Bryce only raked his fingers through my hair. He leaned forward, brushed his lips against my ear, then whispered…

“Didn’t you say you wanted something unforgettable for our anniversary?”

My smile disappeared. And while I struggled to understand what was happening, his next words destroyed what was left of me.

“Enjoy your life sentence.”