LOGINDamien came home long after midnight. The front door slammed so hard the pictures on the wall shook. I was in the bedroom folding laundry when he walked in. His tie hung loose around his neck. His eyes were red and glassy from drinking. He smelled like whiskey and that sweet perfume again.He did not say a word. He crossed the room fast and pulled me into his arms. His mouth crashed down on mine. The kiss was rough and desperate. I tried to push him away at first but my body betrayed me. I kissed him back just as hard. All the hurt and anger from the past weeks poured out between us.He turned me around and bent me over the bed. His hand came down hard on my ass. The slap was loud and sharp. It stung. I gasped. He did it again. Harder. “You drive me crazy,” he growled in my ear. His voice was low and thick. “Even when I want to stay away from you I cannot.”His hands moved under my shirt. Rough and urgent. He pulled my clothes off fast. I turned and pulled his shirt open. Buttons popp
Damien went back to work the next week. He left early and came home late. The house felt empty without him. Liam asked about Daddy every night. I told him work was busy. Inside I felt the distance growing bigger.One evening he walked in with a new energy. His eyes were brighter. He talked about a big meeting. Then he mentioned her. Sarah. A new executive who just joined the company. She helped him close the deal. He said her name a few times like it was normal.I smiled and nodded. But something twisted in my chest. He laughed when he told a story about her joke in the meeting. He had not laughed like that with me in weeks.The next day he mentioned Sarah more. She understood the pressure. She lost someone too. She made the office feel lighter. He started staying late for projects with her. I saw the texts on his phone when he left it on the table. Her name. Funny emojis. Nothing wrong on the surface. But it felt wrong.One night he came home smelling like a woman. I stood in the kit
The days after the roof felt quiet. Too quiet. Damien was home more. He played with Liam and rubbed my stomach when the baby kicked. He kissed me goodnight and said he loved me. But something was changing in his eyes.One evening the police called us back to the station. They had gone through Victoria’s things. The officer looked uncomfortable when he spoke.“Before she died Victoria was pregnant,” he said. “About eight weeks. The baby was Damien’s. DNA confirms it. She had a letter ready to send you both.”I felt the room spin. Damien went completely still. His face turned white. He did not look at me.We drove home in silence. Liam was with Sophia so it was just us. Damien sat on the couch staring at the wall. I tried to touch his arm.“Damien talk to me,” I said softly.He pulled away. “She was pregnant with my child. She carried it while I was kissing you on the porch. While I was choosing you. I did not even know.”His voice was flat but I heard the guilt. It grew every day after
The roof wind was cold and sharp. Victoria stood near the edge holding the folder tight. Her face was wet with tears. Damien moved closer slowly.“Victoria do not do this,” he said. “The partner is caught. The police have everything. We can end this together.”She shook her head. “I started it all nine years ago. I paid people to lie about the pregnancy. I made sure everyone believed Lila trapped you. I wanted you back so bad I destroyed her life. I am sorry Lila. I was jealous. I was wrong. But I loved him too much.”I felt my knees go weak. Liam held my hand tight. My own sister. The one person who should have protected me. She had planned my pain for years.Damien looked shocked. “You did that? All of it?”Victoria nodded. “The partner used me. He wanted the company. He pushed the shooting. He wanted me to scare Lila away for good. I said yes because I thought I would get you in the end. But I lost everything.”Police rushed onto the roof. They shouted for her to step back. Victori
I sat on the edge of the motel bed, my whole body shaking. The thin blanket felt rough under my hands. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears. Damien kept knocking on the door, steady and loud. “Lila, open the door. Please. Just talk to me.”“Go away!” I yelled back. My voice cracked like dry leaves. “I am done with your plans and Victoria’s lies. Take your divorce papers and leave us alone. We do not need you.”He went quiet for a moment. The silence felt heavy. Then his voice came through the door, softer and full of pain. “I love you, Lila. I was stupid for nine long years. I did not see you clearly. But I see you now. Let me in. We can fix this together. Please.”I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to so badly. Part of me still remembered the good days, the way he used to smile at me. But then I thought about all the secret messages, the way he and Victoria kept working together behind my back. It made my stomach twist into knots. I reached into my bag and pulled o
I drove away from the warehouse with Liam in the back seat. My hands shook on the wheel. The new message kept playing in my head. The partner was only the start. My sister knew the rest. Of course she did.Liam fell asleep after crying for a long time. I kept looking in the mirror to make sure no one followed us. Damien called three times. I ignored every one. Victoria sent a text saying she was sorry again. I deleted it without reading the whole thing.I checked into a small motel on the edge of town. Cash only. No names. I locked the door and sat on the bed watching Liam sleep. My stomach felt sick from the pregnancy and from everything else. How did we get here? Nine years of pain and now this.A knock came at the door an hour later. I froze.“Lila. It is me.” Damien’s voice. Low and tired.I opened the door a crack. He stood there alone. No Victoria. His eyes looked red like he had not slept.“How did you find us?” I asked.“I tracked your phone. I had to.” He tried to step inside







