THE WOMAN WHO CAME BACK

"You weren't meant to come back home until tomorrow," my husband said, though after today, I doubt he’ll be my husband again.

He said it calmly as if I hadn't just found him in our wedding bed.

With my sister.

"I came early," I said, my focus more on the two people that were meant to always have my back wrapped up in the bed. "I wanted to tell you something."

Lyana didn’t flinch or attempt to get out of the bed. She just smiled, and adjusted the pillow behind her back as if she were the owner of the damn bed.

“Let me guess," Kieran said, kicking his legs out from under him. "You got a promotion again? Or you finally beat Mother at chess?"

"I'm pregnant."

The room became deathly silent after that.

Kieran blinked at me as if he didn't quite register what I’d said. Then he ran his hands over his face, letting out a heavy sigh. "Jesus, Iridina. Now?"

My breath caught in my throat. "You. You knew I wanted to tell you first," I muttered. “We’ve been waiting for this for a while now.”

"Good,” he said. “You did tell me first. Congratulations, Iridina." He sat up in bed as if he were talking about the weather and not just the fact that I’d told him I was pregnant. "There’s really no need for drama."

I took a step back. "Drama? You're in bed with my sister for God’s sake!"

He shrugged. "You've been distant, Iridina,” he said, his voice taking on that demeaning tone he usually took with me when he thought I was being too “childish”. “Distracted to say the least. Lyana was here and you weren't. One thing led to another and..." he trailed off as if expecting me to put the puzzle pieces together from there.

"You make it sound like you didn’t just fuck my sister," I spat.

"And you're making it into something bigger than it actually is." He picked up his robe from the chair, and put it on. "What happened between your sister and I doesn't change anything. We're still married."

The fuck. He didn’t just say that. Of all the things that made me angry—sleeping with my sister, pushing his infidelity on me—it was the fact that he didn’t care that I was carrying his child. That we were pregnant.

I looked over at Lyana, and she raised an eyebrow and mouthed, "Guess you weren't enough for him after all."

That was it.

I turned around and walked away. I didn't wait for him even when I heard him call out my name. I didn't want explanations or apologies or stupid reassurances.

I just needed air.

The sky outside seemed to fit my mood today. Tears fell down my cheeks but the rain beating against my face blended with my sadness.

I walked briskly to my car welcoming the pounding rain.

Kieran hadn’t even bothered chasing after me. I settled in the car seat trying to compose myself before I left the area.

My hands gravitated to my belly.

“I’ll take care of both of us little one,” I whispered to the life growing in me. “I promise.”

Rain lashed in sheets, beating against the windshield as I drove through the twisty roads. Oncoming headlights stabbed into my eyes and I tightened my grip around the wheel.

I felt numb, and empty. The betrayal echoed louder than the storm around me.

And then before I could register anything, the steering wheel became stiff.

“Shit,” I muttered, hitting the wheel.

My phone rang. I glimpsed at it briefly and saw Kieran’s brother’s name, Jaxon, flash across the screen.

I ignored the call, trying to focus on getting the wheel to move.

The windscreen was getting foggier, the rain heavier and the call kept coming in.

I picked up the call. “Jaxon,” I said. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Irid—”

All I saw was blinding light. All I heard was the shrill screech of tires. And all I felt was the shattering of glass as the stray pieces cut me.

My body was flung forward as the car spun, and rolled. Instinctively my hand went to my tummy but there wasn’t time to process anything.

I didn’t even scream.

All I remembered was darkness.

Five Years Later — Present Day

"Miss Nowell?” my assistant called. “The board is waiting.”

I looked away from the floor-to-ceiling windows of Black Enterprises' headquarters, my own image as cold and shiny as the marble beneath my heels.

"On my way," I replied, my voice smooth and controlled.

Iridina Luis was no more. She'd died on that highway with her unborn child and her hopes of love and family.

I was Irene Nowell now. Ruthless, calculated, and unrecognizable.

And I’d returned for one thing: the destruction of Kieran.

The boardroom doors opened to a wall of icy stares and conservative suits. At the far end, flanked by assistants and silence, sat Kieran Black.

He looked older and sharper but those cold blue eyes hadn’t changed one bit over the years.

He glanced up, and looked at me. A flicker of confusion passed his face, then nothing. Good. I guess my pretty blonde woman with blue eyes disguise is working well.

“Miss Nowell,” he said, motioning to the seat across from him. “A pleasure to meet you.”

He still didn’t recognize me.

Perfect.

“Pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Black,” I said, letting the fake smile I’d practiced for so long overtake my features.

I headed toward the seat and when I reached, he put his hand forward. I looked at it, momentarily stunned and outrightly disgusted, but I had to keep up appearances. If not, this whole charade wouldn’t work at all.

I took his hand and smiled again. He was beginning to get too touchy, so I slipped out of his hold and sat on my seat.

"KnightTech is offering a twenty percent increase in efficiency and a perfect PR turnaround in twenty-four days," I said as I began, shoving the plans I’d brought along across the table. "I'm here to repair your reputation. For hire, of course."

He picked up the file and read through it. "You don't look like a fixer, Ms. Nowell," he said, looking up briefly from the files.

"When I claim to be something, Mr. Black,” I said with a calm smile. "Make no mistake to underestimate my legitimacy."

A pause, and then a slow smile spread across Kieran’s face. “I like you, you know,” he said, dropping the file on the table. "You remind me a little of someone I used to know."

My heart stuttered, but I made sure my fear wasn’t visible on my face.

“Really,” I replied. “And is this person dead or alive?”

His gaze remained on mine. "That’s something I’m still working on."

We stared at each other for a while and were brought back to earth by the mutters of board members. Kieran leaned back, looking impressed at my display.

"You should receive a call from legal in twenty-four hours," he said finally. "Welcome to the team."

“Thank you,” I said as I stood up from the seat, gathering the files I brought with me. Before I could turn around to leave, I felt Kieran’s hand on my wrist, his grip firm and uncomfortable.

“What do you say to dinner with me this evening,” he whispered, looking me up and down like I was a meal he wanted to snack on. The audacity of the man! Wasn’t he meant to be dating Lyana?

I smiled tightly and pulled my arm roughly from his grip. “I don’t mix business with pleasure, Mr. Black.”

With that, I turned around and walked out of the boardroom.

As I left the place, adrenaline coursed through my veins. I stood in front of the elevator for a while to try and catch my breath from the encounter back there.

I didn’t pan for the eventuality of that prick trying to touch me. My God, I felt so irritated right now.

At that moment, the elevator alarm chimed and the doors opened.

And there he was.

Jaxon Black. The brother to the man that single handedly ruined my life. The rebel. The family shadow.

He had on a rumpled suit, loose tie and that signature I-don't-care smile he almost always wore on his face.

His gaze finally landed on me and it remained there.

He narrowed his eyes. "Do I know you?"

I didn't bat an eyelash when I spoke.

"No," I lied. "I think I'd remember your face anywhere."

With that, I stepped into the elevator and looked at my phone as the doors shut close. I’d had enough of those brothers to last me a lifetime.

It was time to go see my baby.