Chapter 4

KAIA

“Bryce said marrying you was the biggest mistake of his life,” Daniella said. “He only married you because of your inheritance.”

The words replayed in my head as I walked back to my cell. I cried my eyes out, almost choking and struggling to breathe properly.

Bryce and Daniella?

Getting married? Betraying me?

Was that the reason they’d framed me?

Because they wanted to be together?

When Jessie brought food that evening, I refused to eat. My appetite was gone, and all that was left was the heartbreak that threatened to take away my breath.

Days passed, and nobody else paid me a visit. Even Roman didn’t come, and I was starting to lose all hopes.

What frightened me more was giving birth in that place. My baby deserved a better life since the father turned out to be a monster.

But I couldn’t even give my baby a better life.

Two weeks after the last visit, I had another visitor. Jessie informed me that Roman was waiting, and I weakly walked to meet him.

“You don’t look good, Ms. Bennett,” he said the moment he saw me. “Are you fine?”

I grew weaker by each second, and it was difficult to keep my pregnancy hidden as the symptoms were telling on me.

I sat down tiredly, then slowly raised my head to face him. I decided right there to tell him about the pregnancy.

“I’m pregnant.”

The surprise reaction I expected didn’t last for long. Instead, Roman froze for a second then leaned forward and asked in concern.

“Does Bryce know?”

I shook my head as tears formed in my eyes. “He didn’t even give me the chance to tell him.”

Roman sighed. “Has the prison doctor examined you?”

“Not yet.”

“Kaia…” it was the first time he’d ever called my name. “Do you seriously want to keep this away from him?”

Tears blurred my vision as I stared at him. What was the point of telling Bryce? He was getting married to Daniella anyway.

And if he ever found out about the baby, he’d want full custody while I remained in jail.

He would have Daniella raise my baby, and I knew without a doubt that she was going to maltreat that baby.

It was the last thing I wanted.

For my child to go through the same thing I experienced in my stepmother’s hands.

“I’m keeping this baby a secret.”

“Bryce is going to find out sooner or later,” Roman uttered. “And you know the state is going to take this baby away from you if you give birth here before your innocence is proven.”

I’d thought hard about that, but I refused to tell Bryce about it.

“That’s why you’re going to help me,” I reached for his hand, pleading with my eyes and words. “Please help me get out of here before I lose my mind and my baby.”

He sighed tiredly, then leaned forward, his eyes flashing briefly to my stomach.

“Your baby will be fine. I’ll arrange for prenatal care.”

I sniffled. “You have no idea what I’m going through here. A few days ago, Daniella came here to shove her ring in my face.”

Roman’s eyes flashed with pity. “She’s getting married to Bryce next month. And your stepmother, Vivian, is making all the preparations.”

Another sharp pain sliced through my chest. I hated all of them for trying to get rid of me because they wanted to have everything they wanted.

But I hated Bryce more that he was foolish enough to not think about everything I’d sacrificed for him.

My lips trembled as I whispered. “They can have the wedding. She can have Bryce if that’s what she wants. But I swear, I’m going to make them pay for doing this to me.”

That was a promise from the depth of my heart.

They’d all betrayed me and threw me into prison after accusing me of murdering the only person that loved me genuinely.

I was going to make them pay.

Daniella. Bryce. Vivian.

*

The news of Bryce and Daniella’s wedding was everywhere even after it happened. I heard from Jessie, that they had the after-party in the boat my father bought for me on my twenty-fifth birthday.

I cried my eyes out that night on the day of the wedding. Bryce refused to pay me another visit, and never even cared about my well-being.

Roman was the only one consistent with the visits. He made sure the prison doctor examined me regularly, and showed up with positive news whenever it came.

Three months later, my stepmother, Vivian, paid me a visit. At first, I didn’t want to see her, but then, Jessie said it was something important.

The moment Vivian saw me, her eyes fell on my stomach, and they widened suspiciously.

“Don’t tell me you’ve been messing around with men in here,” she’d said.

I ignored her sly remarks. It wasn’t new to me anymore because she’d always branded me as someone who slept around.

“What are you doing here, Vivian?”

She sat down, but I refused to take my seat. I stood a few feet away from her, watching as she placed her handbag on the table.

“Is that how to address the woman who took care of you for fifteen years?”

I snorted. “You took care of me? All you’ve ever done is maltreat and torment me since the day my father brought you home.”

Vivian scoffed. “Yet, you killed him for being a good father to you. Isn’t that enough reason that good people don’t last long?”

My jaw clenched. I wanted to retaliate so badly, but I held myself back. Inhaling sharply, I repeated the question loudly.

“What do you want this time, Vivian?” I asked. “The last time I checked, we weren’t even on talking terms.”

“Since your father was murdered,” she began. “You should know by now that his properties need to be protected and shared accordingly.”

I should’ve known that was the reason she was there. It was because of his properties. It had always been about the things he owned, and that was why she loathed me.

I snickered. “Properties? It’s only been three months since he died and you’re thinking about owning what he had?”

Vivian’s expression remained unchanged. “I have no idea why Fredrick didn’t disown you like he initially wanted. It would’ve been better.”

“Apparently, my father knew better than to fall for your manipulative words.”

She chuckled dryly. “Anyway, I contacted the Attorney. And he said you have to be present before the will is read.”

I swallowed hard, feeling a lump in my throat. “And?”

“You’re going to be in here for a long time, Kaia,” she whispered. “And that’s why… I’ve come here to make a proposal.”

A proposal…

Vivian Bennett never made deals or proposals if she never benefited from them.

My voice was uninterested. “What proposal?”

She leaned forward, her red lips parting slowly as she uttered the words in a calm voice.

“I know the Attorney has been paying you a visit.”

“Is that supposed to be a problem?”

“It depends,” she said. “On what’s going on between both of you.”

Vivian was unbelievable. Even when they had me thrown into prison, she still had the audacity to think that I was sleeping around?

I felt disgusted and insulted by her words.

“Get out, Vivian.” I snapped at her.

Rather than leaving, she reclined her back against the chair with a small smile touching her lips.

“I only need one thing from you before I leave,” she murmured.

“I have no interest whatsoever.”

She smiled, slowly sliding a document across the table even when I kept asking her to leave.

“Sign this authorization.”

I glanced at the paper suspiciously. “What does it do?”

“Sign it… And I’ll make sure Bryce withdraws the evidence against you.”

I laughed bitterly, knowing Vivian definitely had something hidden under her sleeves.

“Why would you help me?”

She tilted her head slightly. “Because I believe everyone deserves a second chance.”

Those words came from the wrong person’s mouth. I scoffed in disbelief, and almost retreated but her voice rang out coercively again.

“Just sign it, Kaia,” Vivian said. “The sooner you do… the sooner you’ll walk out of this prison.”