Chapter 3

“What… I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammered, my voice trembling as my heart hammered violently against my ribs. I forced my eyes to widen with innocent, terrified confusion. “I really don’t remember anything. Please… don’t scare me like this, Taylor.”

Taylor stared down at me, her dark, piercing gaze searching every inch of my face. For a terrifying second, I thought she was going to call my bluff.

Then, the sharp edge in her expression melted into a smooth, devastatingly handsome smile.

“Alright, if you say so, dear,” she murmured softly, her tone dripping with mock gentle indulgence. “I won’t scare you. Get some rest.”

She reached out, her fingers warm as she brushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear. Before I could pull away, she leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss right onto my forehead. The heat of her lips burned against my skin long after she pulled back.

“I have some business to take care of,” Taylor said, smoothing down her suit jacket.

Without another word, she turned and strode out of the room, leaving me sitting there, my breath hitched and my jaw practically unhinged in shock.

The moment the bedroom door clicked shut, I let out a ragged, trembling breath I hadn't realised I was holding. Sweat slicked at the back of my neck. Is this really happening? Andrew lied to my face, handing me over to his own sister like some inconvenient piece of luggage… and Taylor is playing along without missing a single beat.

My head throbbed with a dull, aching pain. Exhaustion swept over me in heavy, suffocating waves, and before I could untangle the mess my life had just become, my eyelids grew heavy. Exhaustion dragged me under, and darkness swallowed me whole.

When I finally opened my eyes again, the room was bathed in the dim, golden hues of late evening.

My mouth felt dry, and my mind was foggy, but the overwhelming urge to clean myself up pushed me out of bed. I padded quietly across the plush carpet toward Taylor’s private ensuite bathroom.

Stepping inside, I was temporarily stunned.

Her bathroom was a massive, sprawling sanctuary of cold, effortless luxury. Floor-to-ceiling was dark Italian marble lined the walls, vein-patterned in muted gold and grey. A giant, deep-soaking freestanding tub sat near a massive frosted-glass window overlooking the estate’s private gardens, lit from beneath by soft, ambient LED lights. Double vanity sinks carved out of solid black granite were lined with pristine, high-end skincare, and an oversized walk-in rainfall shower stood in the corner behind seamless glass panels. Everything about the space smelled distinctly like Taylor's rich sandalwood, subtle bergamot, and elite power.

I turned on the sleek waterfall faucet, splashing cold water over my face to shock my senses awake. Towelling my skin dry, I stepped back out into the bedroom.

That was when I heard muffled voices carrying up from downstairs.

Curiosity and a sudden spike of anxiety pulled me toward the door. I tiptoed down the dimly lit hallway, creeping down the grand curved staircase until I pressed my back against the cold marble corner of the foyer, hiding in the shadows where no one could see me.

Down in the main living room wasTaylor sitting cross-legged on a plush velvet sofa, looking entirely relaxed. Andrew was pacing restlessly back and forth in front of her, his hands jammed into his pockets, looking flustered.

“Andrew, you’ve got a lot of nerve,” Taylor’s voice rang out, cool and laced with quiet danger. “Using me as a cover. Making up absurd lies to claim I'm married to Sophia.”

Andrew stopped pacing, rubbing the back of his neck with a nervous chuckle. “Ah… come on, Taylor. I’m sorry, okay? I just wanted to mix things up a little.

Taylor let out a low, dark chuckle that sent a shiver down my spine. “Mix things up? You mean you wanted to turn a five years of sneaking around and cheating into the open without taking the blame?”

Five years.

The words hit my chest like a physical blow. The air rushed out of my lungs, and I slammed a hand over my mouth to choke back the agonising scream building in my throat. Hot, scalding tears instantly welled in my eyes and spilt over my cheeks.

Five years.

My entire marriage. The whole time I was cooking his meals, supporting his career, waiting up for him late at night, thinking he was working hard for our future… he was sleeping with my younger sister, Kate. He had been playing me for a complete fool from the very day I said 'I do.'

“Look, I’m going to end up with Kate eventually, I swear!” Andrew argued defensively, waving a dismissive hand. “And besides, I know you don’t like women, Taylor. That’s why I knew it would be safe to drop Sophia on you for a bit!”

Taylor slowly uncrossed her legs, leaning forward.

“What if I do like women?” she announced, her voice dropping an octave, rich and deliberate.

“What if I actually want to keep Sophia around?”