Chapter 2

NATALIE’s POV

Her innocent-looking smile could have fooled anyone but me—not when I was blinking back tears of disbelief.

“Oh, Natalie,” she drawled, my name rolling off her tongue as if I were interrupting her. She leaned against the doorframe, her body filling out my pajamas, throwing her hair back slightly. “Always biting more than you could ever chew, that’s what makes this so fun, sis,” she chuckled when I clenched my fists in anger.

“If it’s any consolation, it’s just sex,” she shrugged dismissively, and a fire ignited in my chest.

Just sex? With my fiancé? In my pajamas?

Her eyes glinted, “What's with that look?”

Slowly, realization mixed with the mockery as she laughed “You bumpkin. Don't tell me you really think you're Lucas' future wife? That you can so easily forget what you really are!? What do you owe me?!”

My teeth grated against each other. I didn’t need her to remind me.

Vanessa Caldwell.

To the public, we call each other sisters, but everyone in the circle knows what's going on. I'm a fake. She is the real one. The true heiress of the Caldwell family.

Three years ago, they found her. I was exposed as the fake heiress. Turns out, we’d been switched at birth in the hospital.

My real parents? Some country folk, they said. But they were never found.

For the first time, I realized how twists and turns fate can be. My mom and dad—or rather, the people I thought were my parents—looked at me with disgust and hatred. To them, even my existence was a mistake.

Everyone forgot that I hadn’t known the truth either. I hadn’t asked for this.

Overnight, I suddenly became an orphan.

Then came the incident—the one that ruined me, threw me out of Caldwell in disgrace.

Vanessa transitioned from her original modeling career into the jewelry industry, taking my position, interfering in my field. Her debut exhibition was filled with plagiarized designs. When she was exposed, she shifted the blame onto me. As a result, I was labeled a fraud in the design industry.

Mom and dad, they knew Vanessa was behind it, but they indulged her. I was even expelled from university and demoted three levels within the family business.

They all said I deserved it.

And through it all, Lucas was the only one who stood by me. He promised me nothing would change between us including our relationship and engagement, not even with the real Caldwell heiress stepping in.

So I stayed. I devoted myself to him.

Even though he never once seriously mentioned marriage.

I thought it was just wrong timing.

Turns out, he never planned to marry me. He just kept me around to work for him while secretly fooling around with Vanessa behind my back.

Even though he knew what Vanessa had done to me.

I fell silent, and Vanessa took a step closer, her breath hot against my ear. “Did you really think a baby would make Lucas devoted to you? You’re a fake, and your baby?” She paused, her lips curling into a sneer. “Even if it had been born, it would’ve been a bastard. Good thing it didn’t make it…”

Without thinking, I lashed out, striking her across the face.

Shocked, she staggered back, gingerly touching her cheek. Her eyes darkened with fury, and she retaliated by pulling my hair savagely.

“You bitch!” she screamed.

I was ready to shove her off when Lucas walked into the room, eyes wide with shock.

“Natalie? Please stop!” he begged, his arm wrapping around my waist, trying to pull me away. The sudden interruption gave Vanessa the chance to strike.

Her hand connected with my face, and in the next moment, she shoved me away, sending me crashing into the railing with a sickening thud.

I gasped for air, feeling the sharp pain radiating from my pelvis. I tried to stand, biting back a scream. There was no way in hell I was going to look weak—not in front of Vanessa, and especially not in front of Lucas.

Lucas reached for me again, but I shoved him away violently. My body screamed in protest, but I forced myself to stay upright. I wasn’t going to give either of them the satisfaction of seeing me falter.

My legs shook with the effort, but I forced myself to walk, ignoring the ache. Vanessa’s evil smirk followed me as I moved. I could hear Lucas’s footsteps behind me, pleading, “I can explain, please.”

I slapped his wrist away as he reached for me again, my anger bubbling over. “Stay away from me,” I hissed.

I reached the door and unlocked it, but just as I opened it, Lucas slammed it shut again.

His voice, laced with fatigue and irritation, followed. “Look, Natalie, stop overreacting, okay?”

I stared at him, stunned. “What the hell are you talking—”

“Yes, I slept with Vanessa,” he cut me off, stepping closer. His voice dropped to a whisper. “But I only love you! Being with her was an accident.”

My teeth clenched, and I grabbed the doorknob so hard my knuckles turned white. “Disgusting. You’re disgusting. We’re done, Lucas.”

I ripped off the engagement ring he’d once given me and threw it at him.

His eyes widened as he caught it, but I didn’t wait.

I bolted out of the house, out of his life forever.

Just then, Becks’ name flashed on my screen. She called, “Girl I've been waiting for you for an hour. Don’t tell me you forgot—we were supposed to pick out your wedding dress today! I bet you didn’t even take the day off, you workaholic…”

Wedding dress? It's all just my wishful thinking!

I was already in tears and could barely remember what I said to her.

Everything felt like a blur by the time we met at her hotel.

Becks looked at me silently as I downed yet another glass of vodka. The burn in my throat was nothing compared to the deep, gnawing ache in my chest.

"Is that scumbag really worth it? Stop drinking! I’m going to call him,” she snapped, her voice crisp as she reached for her phone but I stopped her, tears clouding my vision as my lower lip began to tremble.

Becks, the hotel owner and my best friend drew me close as sobs wracked my body. She was one of the few people who knew how Lucas and I started out and now…

With a sigh, she said, "I’ve had a bad feeling about this for a long time. If he truly loved you, would he have kept you waiting all these years? Vanessa—what’s so special about her? What does Lucas even see in her? She’s just a name! And I've long been fed up with your parents—are they serious? Which matters more, years of love or a shared bloodline…"

She trailed off when she saw my tears, finally deciding to say no more.

“Come on, let’s book you a room,” Beck sympathetically said. Within minutes, everything blurred as she handled the arrangements.

I hadn’t processed the breakup just yet and I knew that I still had one more ugly cry in me but that cry didn’t need an audience.

The elevator ride up felt endless. I promised Becks I’d be okay, but the alcohol was kicking in, and the world tilted with every movement.

I struggled to find my room, my hand trembling as I swiped the card key. My vision was blurry, and my body was weak—still recovering from the miscarriage, the betrayal, and now, too many drinks.

Just as I barely managed to open the door, a strong hand yanked me inside.

I gasped, panic rising as I was pinned against the door, my arms held above my head. The air smelled of amber and cedarwood.

Then lips crashed against mine—hot, demanding.

What’s happening? Was this Becks’s idea? When did she set this up?

My mind wasn’t clear, but I knew something was terribly wrong. “Sir, please, let me go—” I managed, but the stranger didn’t listen.

His hands roamed over me, lifting my thigh, grinding against me. My body responded, softening under his touch.

“Needy girl." His voice was husky in my ears.

In the darkness, every sensation felt amplified. I could feel his fingers unbuttoning my clothes one by one, and my mouth went dry. The only rational thought left was telling myself that if this continued, it was going to end badly.

His breath was heavy, and my body trembled with each sharp exhale. I pushed against his chest, trying to regain control, biting my lower lip hard to keep my head clear.

“Please listen!” I said, forcing my voice to steady, “I think I’m in the wrong room…”

He scoffed, impatience creeping into his voice. “Still playing the game? What the hell are you doing here…” His large hand roamed over my chest, and I gasped.

Just as everything seemed to spiral further, a click echoed through the room.

Light flooded the space.

Somewhere, somehow, my hands had found a light switch.

Dark blue eyes locked with mine, wide with shock.

“Uncle Malcolm…?” I whispered, shock making my voice tremble.

His face was unmistakable.

Malcolm Onyx. Lucas’ uncle. The youngest son of his grandparents. A ruthless business tycoon capable of destroying people with a single word.

When I first got engaged to Lucas, he had warned me never to get too close to Malcolm.

And now…

“What are you doing here?” he demanded. His gaze was icy.

“This is my r–room,” I stammered, clutching the blanket to my chest.

“You don’t say,” His eyes held no amusement as they momentarily flicked to the suitcase in the corner and my stomach sank with doom. “So this is my nephew’s pathetic attempt to gain leverage over me?” he asked, his voice cold and accusatory.

“What?” I gasped, my voice barely above a whisper. “No, I—”

“Get out,” he snapped, cutting me off. He stood, and I saw something I shouldn’t have. My face burned with embarrassment.

“Mr. Malcolm, please, I didn’t—”

“Did you not hear me? I said Get. Out.” His voice thundered.

No time for embarrassment! I grabbed my clothes and quickly put them on, not daring to look at him again as I bolted from the room.