ODD CIRCUMSTANCES

LILIANA'S POV

I couldn't remember how long I sat at the foot of what was once my home waiting for Taryn. My eyes stung from how long I have been crying and I might dozed off along the line.

Unfortunately what dragged me back was a voice of someone i never wanted to speak to—Taryn not only that but he had his arm around her waist.

I stiffened as I stared at them blinking repeatedly in hopes that the drowsiness might wear off. Trying to ignore how happy that look was, I stood up getting ready for my answers.

Taryn stopped dead when he saw me. “Oh,” he said, like I was a leaf on the sidewalk. “It’s you.”

"Hey! Is this going to be awkward?" She giggled leaning into him like she needed him to stand dtill and it took evrytying in me not to drag her by the fucking hiar.

"Taryn, the guards refused to let me in on your order. Care to explain why?" I asked, trying to sound as calm as possible but that crumbled when he smiled. “I just told them we’re getting divorced. Thought it made sense to cut you out completely.”

"We are separated but I still have the right to this house," I yelled, taking him by surprise. “We bought it together.”

“No. I bought the house.”

“No, your brother helped you, and I paid the other half. Don’t act like I didn’t.”

"Hmm. Did you? I don't remember, it isn't on any of the documents either," he smirked and even though I had so much to say he was right. I had been so crazy in love that I let him put just his names on our properties.

"Can I at least get my things?" I asked with a defeated tone.

He turned back to unlock the door. “What things?” he threw over his shoulder. “Anything in there is mine also you have less than a minute to leave my house."

"You cheated on me with her," I said pointing at Emily while she tried to hold back a giggle. "And now I'm the one being punished?"

“Oh please. Don't act like a saint in any of this," he barked and I stared at him in confusion. "If that womb of yours had been able to produce a child I'm sure none of this would have happened."

I stared at him in shock but he didn't stop there. “Dead weight. All those years, and what do I have to show for it? No heir, no legacy. Just your moody moods and empty promises.”

I didn’t even realize when my hand flew. The slap echoed—sharp, loud. My palm stung but not half as much as my chest did. Tears threatened again, but this time it was rage that brought them up.

“I hate you,” I yelled, but it came out choked with sobs. “You wasted years of my life. You cheated, lied… and now you want to blame me? For what—you being less of a man? How do you even know it wasn’t your own damn body that failed us?”

His smirk vanished, replaced with cold steel. He snapped his fingers, and the guards stepped forward.

“Get her out of here.”

“You don’t get to— No! I helped buy this house!”

But they were already at my side. Gentle, almost apologetic, like they didn’t want to do it. One of them whispered, “Talk to a lawyer. You’ll need one.”

I wanted to scream. Instead, I looked back at the house… my shoes are still by the stairs. I didn't bother to ask for them, trying my best not to cry.

Taking a deep breath I ran my hands through my hair taking one last look at what I used to call my home before dragging my feets away.

The gravel dug into my feet but I barely noticed it, too busy thinking of where I could stay for the night. I had no money, no family, not since my parents died in the rogue attack.

All my friends were out and couldn't afford staying at their house with their husbands—that was the gateway for another scandal.

I had been so lost in thought I didn't see the lights until they were blinding me. The sound of a horn jolted me but instead of me moving away I stood frozen. Staring at the black car coming right for me.

The car didn’t stop fast enough and the bumper hit my leg — not hard enough to kill, but hard enough to send me tumbling to the side. My knees hit pavement, then my elbow, then the back of my head. Pain cracked through my skull.

I blinked, trying to focus on something but the world would not stop spinning. My heart slammed in my chest, but everything else felt… slow.

A man’s silhouette approached — tall, broad, expensive suit, and black shoes that shined under the streetlight. I wanted to see his face, to ask if he was Taryn’s, if this was another trick. But I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe properly.

The second my eyes blinked open, the first thing I noticed was the ceiling—tall, white, with a pretty gold trimming. For a minute I laid confused, was I dead?

Then the pain in my leg kicked in. Real pain. Hot, throbbing, and very much alive. My head wasn’t doing any better—felt like someone shoved a jackhammer between my ears.

I sat up slowly, groaning. The sheets were silky, clean. The whole room looked like something straight out of a magazine mostly decorated with gold and black with velvet curtains and a massive chandelier.

Where the hell was I?

I looked around, my heart starting to race. My last memory was the road... the lights... the car.

Taryn.

Had he sent someone to finish the job?

My chest tightened and my fingers clenched the sheets. That bastard. First he steals my home, my money, and now—what? Was I supposed to vanish?

But no. Taryn didn’t have the guts for this. He was cruel, yeah, but not this calculated. At least I didn’t think so.

Still, my instincts were screaming. I had to get out. I threw the covers off and climbed out of bed, wincing as my leg screamed in protest. .

The hallway was worse in such a big house. I had only come across one maid and that made me uncomfortable. My house wasn't as big as this and we still ordered three maids. I got to the stairs and started down, my leg aching with every step. That’s when I saw it.

A large portrait hung on the wall.

A man. A woman. Two boys. The woman had warm brown hair and piercing gray eyes. The man… black hair, brown eyes. Strong jaw.

No!!! I had seen that same picture in Taryn's office. It was a family portrait that only meant that I was in the Alpha’s house.

And before I could process that horrifying truth, a low voice—sounded from the hallway.

"I guess the doctor was right. You seem fine, fine enough to do prying."