Let me start with this: I woke up to a massive credit alert.
"Your first month's salary," Elise said. "Mr. Romano asked me to send it."
Nine thousand dollars.
I've never seen that kind of money land in my account at once. It felt… wrong. Maybe because of what it cost. But Mama's surgery and Logan don't care whether the money is clean or cursed.
Second mistake of the day? Opening my phone.
My head throbbed as I scrolled through post after post about Damien's "mysterious lover." My face hadn't even surfaced online yet, but that didn't stop the speculation.
"He's really moving on from Anita?"
"I didn't think he could fall in love with anyone other than her."
"With his track record? Definitely another heiress."
You're all going to be so disappointed.
There was nothing about the reception itself, just outside shots. And of course, Anita was trending. "Flawless beauty." "Breathtaking." I scoffed and tossed my phone aside.
When I tried to get out of bed, a dull ache flared between my hips, grounding me in last night. I'd expected worse. Instead, just soreness. Courtesy of Mr. Romano's unexpected patience.
I hadn't expected cuddling. But I also hadn't expected him to leave like that.
Maybe I was boring. Not polished. Not as experienced as the women he was used to—AHEM… my sister!
She's always been a snake. But this? This was venom.
I stopped by the hospital first and paid a quarter of the bill. Mama had been unconscious for nearly a week, but the doctors insisted she was stable, just weak.
"The stress is starting to show on you," Sarah—the nurse and our neighbor—said gently. "Your mum is fine. She just needs time."
I thanked her, but that wasn't the stress.
How was I supposed to tell my mother that her second daughter sold herself to a man powerful enough to ruin her with a snap of his fingers—
And that her supposedly dead golden child is very much alive… sitting comfortably at the top of the elite food chain?
"I moved out yesterday," I said hesitantly. Sarah's hand froze on the way to the empty IV bag. "Why? Are you trying to relocate again? You know what happened last time you…" "I'm not relocating" I cut her off. "I got a job, and had to move in immediately"
She nodded slowly, "I'm happy for you… but what about your mum?" I shrugged, "I'm thinking of putting her in the hospital's nursing home temporarily. Can you draw up the paper work for me?"
She nodded and rubbed my shoulder. "Of course. Congratulations!" I gave a small smile.
There was nothing to be proud of about this job.
My phone buzzed then with a text from Elise. "He'll be in his office in the hotel, floor 46, by 11pm. You can meet him then"
I wanted to tell him about me and Anita before this could spiral any further.
The hotel was still very much alive when I got back twenty minutes to eleven. His office floor was a whole different thing.
A dead silent long corridor with double doors at the end, one slightly ajar. I was about to pull it open when I heard voices from inside.
His and a woman's. They seemed to be bantering. Unnatural of me, I walked closer and pressed my ear towards the crack.
"Don't tell me you're still mad from last night, Dami" the woman said.
Dami?
"I made it very clear last night that I didn't want to see your face ever again, Anita. Stop bothering me! " he replied in a chillingly stern voice that sent shudders through me.
Anita!
My fist tightened at the hem of my coat. "I also made it clear that I can't leave you because my heart has and will always be with you" "Have some shame," his voice was tight with frustration, "I'm married."
She chuckled softly. A sound that grated my nerves. I shifted closer to the door.
"Apparently. Your wife seems so… plain, quiet, forgettable…practically invisible. And no one knows her. Definitely not from our side of society."
He didn't answer. Her laugh rang again, light and airy, like she was untouchable. "Honestly, I almost can't believe you settled for her. You, of all people… choosing someone so… ordinary. Can she even satisfy you?"
I gasped. A hard blow to my guts.
Twelve years must have made me unfamiliar with Anita's sharp tongue.
"She'll never compare to me," she added casually. "But don't worry. You know I can always give you what you want."
I heard a thump on the table followed by the dialing of keys. "Let me reiterate. You will get out of my office right now, and never show your face to or around me and my wife again or else I will make sure you regret ever crossing me, and you know I am not bluffing. Get out!"
The temperature in the room dropped, tension so strong that even me outside could feel it.
"D-Don't be so brash, Dami," her voice shook a little, "Don't you want to know why I'm coming back now?"
A beep, "Alex. Come here immediately. I need to have someone escorted out!"
I heard a chair scraping backwards, and Anita's voice, now slightly firmer. "Wait."
Silence.
I could almost picture her standing there, chin lifted, refusing to be dismissed.
"You're reacting like this because you think I'm here to just get back with you," she said, calmer now. "I'm not."
"I don't care why you're here," Damien replied coldly. "You have five seconds before security walks in."
There was a pause. Long enough to make my heart pound in my ears.
Then—
"I'm pregnant, Dami."
Everything inside me went still.
The corridor felt smaller. Harder to breathe in.
Inside the office, I heard nothing. No chair scraping. No sharp reply. Just quiet.
"It's yours," she added softly. "I took a test. I'll take ten more if you want. But it won't change anything."
My fingers loosened from my coat without me realizing.
"You said you wanted a child," she continued. "You said you wanted an heir. I'm giving you one."
My hand flew to my mouth.
I stumbled backwards in an attempt to leave. CRASH!
The ceramic flower pot behind me toppled over with a loud crash.
They all went quiet. I wanted to run, but for some reason was frozen in place.
Fast footsteps were approaching. The door flung open.
And I soon came eye-to-eye with Damien.
He was furious. "What are you doing here?!"