I opened my eyes, grabbed a document off the table, and handed it to Zachary. "Sign it."He flipped through a few pages, then froze. "You want my company?"I leaned in, smiling sharp. "Yep. I'm gonna take everything—and tear it down, piece by piece."His hands shook as he clutched the papers, emotions twisting across his face."You don't have a choice," I said flatly. "You know your company's circling the drain. Sign or don't—I'll still watch it crash."As he struggled, the thrill wore off. I felt nothing."Sierra, you're my wife," he said quietly. "Do we really have to end like this?"Still clinging to hope, he fished out old photos—memories he thought could save him. "This was your birthday... when I kissed you. This was the gift I gave you. That was us on vacation..."I love you. I'll spend my life making it right. Don't leave me. Come back and the company's yours."I took the photos, tore them up one by one, and let the pieces fall."That girl's gone—naïve, stupid. I'm no
I shut off the video, laughing bitterly.Now he pulls this? Please.Cathryn had one thing right—maybe he never loved anyone.The second his perfect little world cracked, the mask dropped.Well, since her real face is out there now, I figured she deserved a present.I gave the cops the footage of her kidnapping me. She got cuffed fast.Thought Zachary would rush to save her, but nope.Guess that cold heart of his? Totally real.He said he loved her, but the second things got messy, he dropped her like nothing.Honestly, that's just who he is.***Once the truth came out, Zachary got ahold of my number and wouldn't stop blowing up my phone—calls, texts, full-on regret mode.He even parked himself outside my company for days, just trying to catch a glimpse.I didn't bother.I kept hammering his company, reaching out to shareholders and making it clear—I was buying in.Zachary might've been sharp, but I'd already snatched up most of his key partnerships fast. That shook the
Cathryn's face went ghost-white the second she saw the video. She stumbled back, all wide-eyed and fake. "H-How could that be Ms. Arden?"Zachary's voice dropped—low, rough, like something straight out of hell. "You knew. You watched me beat her. You watched me cut off her finger."She backed up again, pale as death. "I didn't know. I swear."He stepped in close, grabbed her wrist. "You planned this, didn't you? If I catch you lying... that baby won't make it."His words hit like a lightning strike. She clutched her stomach—she was pregnant.After a few shaky seconds, with the proof staring her down and his threat hanging in the air, she cracked. Tears streamed as she trembled. "I'm sorry! I just loved you too much... I didn't mean for it to go this far. I didn't know what else to do."Zachary's eyes blew wide. Pain. Rage. Disgust. Helplessness. All of it slammed into him at once.He stood there, silent. Then finally let go. His whole face crumpled. He swayed, barely keeping upr
I leaned into Nathan's shoulder, smiling. "Yep. We're getting married."Zachary went stiff, then blinked like he couldn't believe it. His eyes locked on me, heavy with regret."I'm sorry," he said. "I screwed up. Just... let me explain."You've been gone a whole year, and I've missed you like crazy. I love you, Sierra. You're my wife."I just stared at him, blank. Not a word.Nathan wrapped an arm around me, voice sharp. "Mr. Jurg, everyone knows Cathryn Sludd is your wife. And now you're calling my fiancée your wife? That's rich. Keep causing a scene and we're out."Event staff swooped in, trying to defuse the mess, pulling Zachary aside and begging him to chill until things wrapped up. Ethan stepped in too, practically dragging him away.But the whole night, Zachary couldn't stop staring at me.The second it ended, his bodyguards pushed through the crowd—and he made a beeline straight for me.Nathan's guys stepped up too. Both sides squared off, tension crackling."Sierra,
Verityon Corp—my company.And Zachary's Magnaris Group.The bidding got brutal. When the numbers pushed past their cap, Magnaris folded.I won.After the auction, their rep walked over."Sierra, it's really you."Ethan. He looked completely wrecked.I stared him down, ice cold. "It's Elena. Not Sierra."He just stared, like he was trying to see through me. Totally rattled.I stood to leave. He stepped in front of me. "Sierra, come on. It's you. We're friends."I laughed—short, sharp, bitter.Friend? That ended the second he helped Zachary play me."You vanished and Zachary lost it," he blurted. "He called in every favor, offered a huge reward—nothing. You were just... gone."He retraced every memory—your college, the amusement park, some chapel, even the city you studied abroad in."When he couldn't find you, he cracked. Started drinking. He's a mess. He's been barely holding it together. He loves you, Sierra. Deeply."I raised a brow, face blank. "What's that got to do
Sunlight spilled through the hospital window, soft and annoying. I stared at the ceiling, half-wondering if I was still stuck in some twisted dream."You're finally awake."The voice was warm. Familiar.I turned. Same guy—calm eyes, steady presence.He was the one who pulled me out of the trash, literally.I'd been a wreck. He brought me here. Stayed, too.Swallowing that sewage messed me up bad. One lung got so infected, they had to slice out a whole lobe.I touched my chest without thinking.The pain hit hard. Cold sweat broke out instantly.He noticed. "Easy. You need rest.""Thanks," I muttered.If he hadn't shown up, I'd be gone.He gave me a faint smile. "I'm a doctor. Saving lives is kinda my thing. No need to thank me."Then he handed over a glass of water with a straw. "Nathan Quinn. This is my private hospital. Just focus on getting better."I took it, met his eyes. "Elena Arden."Sierra was gone. She had to be.For the first time, I felt safe.A few days lat