Chapter 4

ZURI'S POINT OF VIEW

The pace of my days with Helios didn’t let up—he worked me so mercilessly I could barely keep food down or make it home most nights. I started stashing biscuits and a change of clothes at my desk; some afternoons, my legs would shake so badly I couldn’t stand until every last task was crossed off his list.

My boss had changed, too. Where once he’d kept to himself, now a new woman followed him into his office nearly every day. From my seat outside, their moans and breathless cries cut through the walls so sharply I could taste bile rising in my throat.

Like that morning. Another woman, another session I couldn’t escape. Her voice carried clear as day, and my mind flooded with images I’d give anything to unsee.

“Ohh… Faster, baby—I’m coming!”

My hand flew to my mouth as a sharp twist tore through my gut. I stumbled to the restroom and bent over the toilet, heaving until only bitter water came up.

I rinsed my mouth and stared at my reflection. I was a wreck—hair tangled like a bird’s nest, skin drained of every trace of color, my frame hollowed out from neglect. I splashed cold water on my face to feel human again, but when I lifted my gaze, terror coiled in my bones.

Helios leaned against the bathroom doorframe, his eyes fixed on me in the mirror. We watched each other’s reflections for a beat before I spun around—too scared to have him behind me.

“I thought I told you not to leave your table until you finished everything?”

He stepped closer, and I backed up without thinking, until the edge of the sink pressed hard against my lower back. I gasped as his hand closed around my jaw, his grip tight enough to make my teeth ache. When he leaned in, his breath warm against my cheek, my heart hammered double-time.

“Want me to fuck you hard, bitch?”

Before I could react, his mouth crashed down on mine. I clamped my lips shut, even as his teeth nipped and pulled until they stung. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, but I wouldn’t give in.

After a long moment of fighting me, he let go with a snarl and slapped me hard across the face.

“Open your fucking mouth, Zuri!”

He kissed me again, his hold on my jaw bruising now—but still, I kept my lips sealed. Finally, he released me and stared down at me with ice in his eyes.

“Just do your fucking work.”

He left me alone in the tiled room, and I crumpled to the floor as tears burned hot down my cheeks. It felt like something in me hurt every single day because of him—either my body from overwork, or my pride from his cruelty. So far it was only slaps, but I’d seen the rage in his eyes once before when he’d raised his fist to me. He’d stopped himself then, but I’d never forgotten the look.

I cried until the world went dark.

I woke up in a hospital bed, no idea how I’d gotten there or who’d brought me. But the doctor’s words seared into my brain and wouldn’t let go.

“Congratulations, ma’am—you’re two weeks pregnant!”

I had no idea what to feel. I sobbed then, and the doctor mistook my tears for joy. I went home in a daze, crying all the way, and slept through the night like the dead.

The next day, I dragged myself to work despite my throbbing head. I’d planned to call in sick, but Helios had phoned first—you will be here today.

As soon as I walked in, he piled more work on me than ever. I didn’t eat a thing all day.

“You deserve that, bitch.”

Something in me snapped.

“You’re not innocent here, either!” I shouted, and his eyes widened for a split second before hardening into something even angrier.

“What did you just say to me?”

“It’s your fault too! Why am I the only one suffering like this? Carmilla left you because of what happened—and it wasn’t just my fault! It was yours!”

“Shut up, you worthless bitch!”

His hands wrapped around my throat, squeezing tight, but I didn’t back down. I was done being quiet. Done letting him hurt me. I had to fight now—for the life growing inside me.

“It’s your fault! If you’d just checked who was in your bed that night—if you’d seen it was me and not Carmilla—none of this would have happened!”

“No! You’re the slut who crawled into my room!” He yelled in my face, his grip tightening until I could barely breathe. “To seduce me, wasn’t it?!”

I let out a bitter laugh. Seriously?

“I’m sorry—but you were never my type. I was drunk! Apollo put me in your room—I was there first! You’re the one who didn’t look closely! You’re the reason Carmilla left you!”

He slapped me so hard I fell to the floor. A sharp cramp twisted through my stomach, and panic shot through me for my baby.

“You’re lucky you’re a woman,” he said, his voice shaking with rage as he glared down at me. “If you weren’t, I’d have killed you long ago.”

He turned and stormed out to the elevator. Only when the doors closed behind him did I let my tears pour out again.

I don’t deserve this. I know I made mistakes, but no one deserves this. I had to be strong. I had to fight for my child.

I pulled out my phone and called the first person who came to mind.

“Zuri! Oh my god, I’ve missed you so much!”

Hearing her voice broke me, but I tried to hold back the sobs.

“M-mom?” My voice cracked, and I knew she’d heard it.

“Zuri? Baby, what’s wrong?” Worry sharpened her words, and I finally let myself wail.

“Mom… I… I want to come home. I want to go back to New York.”

I sent my resignation to Mrs. Gallagher—Helios would never accept it from me. She sounded genuinely sorry to lose me, saying the door would always be open if I changed my mind. But I knew I’d never go back. I’d had enough of hell on earth.

Life in New York wasn’t easy. My parents were overjoyed when they learned I was pregnant—but my sister Zelda was not.

“You walked out acting like you were too good for us, and now you come crawling back a disgrace? Have you no shame?”

I understood her anger. I was adopted—my birth mother had been a maid for the Fitzgeralds, and they’d taken me in when she died. My birth father was gone too. For the most part, they’d never made me feel like an outsider… except for Zelda. She’d sneered at me and held every kindness my parents showed me over my head. That’s why I’d left for Manila in the first place—to make my own way. Even pregnant, I’d found work; my parents begged me to stop, but I refused. I couldn’t bear her accusations, and I wanted to provide for my baby myself.

Everything changed when I was six months along and started bleeding at work. The doctors said the baby was fragile—I couldn’t stress myself, couldn’t overexert. I could barely manage simple chores after that; even bathing was done by the housekeepers.

Then I gave birth to Summer Frost, and the world shifted on its axis. She was our angel. Even Zelda’s attitude softened—she adored Summer, often taking her for walks when I felt run-down from afterpains.

Years passed in a blur. I never expected to run into Mrs. Gallagher on a New York street. She saw three-year-old Summer, and in one look, she knew. The child had her grandfather’s eyes, her father’s jaw.

I begged her to keep it from Helios—from the man who was Summer’s father. I knew he’d take her from me. Mrs. Gallagher agreed, but on one condition: I’d come back to work as secretary for Gallagher Empire, so she could visit her granddaughter whenever she wanted.

When Helios and I saw each other again, the cruelty was gone. He didn’t hurt me anymore—he treated me the way he had when I first started, but there was a distance between us now that we could never cross. He avoided me all day, but our roles meant we couldn’t stay apart completely.

And now, I’ve been back in his office for a year. Five years since I started hiding the billionaire’s daughter.

They say no secret stays buried forever.