Joshua was safe. That was the only thing the doctors kept repeating—He’s fine. Just a few bruises. Nothing broken.

But no one asked if I was safe. Because I wasn’t.

Not when Treston stormed into the room like a hurricane ready to destroy what little I had left.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” he shouted, slamming the door behind him. “You pushed a kid down the stairs?! Are you insane?!”

“I didn’t!” I cried, standing from the corner chair. “I swear—I didn’t push him! He broke the urn, I panicked, I shouted, but he ran! He slipped—I didn’t touch him!”

“Oh, so now it’s his fault?” Treston snarled. “A child?”

“I wasn’t thinking—I never wanted this! That urn was my mother’s. It shattered. I just—snapped. But I didn’t mean to scare him!”

“Your mother’s ashes?” he scoffed, stepping closer. “That’s what this is about? Newsflash, Amber—she’s dead. I should’ve thrown those ashes away the day we moved in.”

His words hit harder than any slap.

Treston’s face curled in disgust. “You know what? This is why you were never going to be a mother. You deserved to lose that child. Because you would’ve been a terrible mom.”

I gasped, the air fleeing my lungs. “Don’t—don’t say that. That baby—”

“Was never yours to keep,” he snapped. “You’re useless. Pathetic.”

Before I could even react, Summer entered the room like a scene from a perfectly rehearsed play.

“Don’t be too harsh on her,” she said sweetly, brushing past him. “Joshua’s okay now. And she’s still your wife. She said she didn’t mean it.”

Treston scoffed. “My wife? I regret marrying her. Every second. It should have been you. God, I was so wrong. So, she better start being a good one or her father might just stop breathing. You hear me, Amber?”

My hands were shaking as I clenched them at my sides. My mouth was dry.

“Apologize,” he growled.

I blinked. “To… Summer?”

“Yes,” he said, crossing his arms. “And kneel while you’re at it.”

“I—”

“Now.”

Not wanting to provoke him further—not wanting another threat aimed at my father—I dropped to my knees.

Summer walked toward me, knelt down with me, and smiled for the cameras in the hall that weren’t even there.

“It’s okay,” she said softly, crouching beside me with a fake smile. But then she leaned in, her voice turning into a venomous hiss. “You fcking btch. How dare you hurt my son. You’re jealous. Pathetic. Just like your mother.”

I tensed. Before I could even react, her hand shot out and shoved me—hard—right in the chest.

I was standing near the staircase, just like Joshua had been.

My foot missed a step.

My arms flailed, trying to grab the railing, but she was faster—she shoved me again with both hands, sending me backward.

“Die!” Summer screamed, her voice unhinged. “You deserve that for hurting my son!”

Pain flashed across my back as I tumbled.

I felt every step—sharp, unforgiving wood slamming against my spine, my shoulder, my legs.

My scream echoed through the corridor, loud and ragged. Everything twisted. Everything blurred.

A final crack of pain shot up my body as my head hit the last step.

And then—darkness.

I woke up to the sound of a machine beeping steadily beside me. Sterile lights. A pale ceiling. A dull ache pulsing through my entire leg.

The nurse walked in. Her eyes were kind, but her voice was distant. Professional.

“You’re in the hospital, Mrs. Villarez. You took a fall and broke your ankle. You’ll need a few weeks to heal.”

I blinked at her slowly. “Can I leave today?”

She frowned. “You should stay—at least until the swelling goes down. We can contact a family member if you’d like—”

“I don’t have any,” I said flatly. And I meant it.

“I’ll discharge myself by tomorrow. I’ve made arrangements.”

She tried to argue, but I’d already made up my mind. I’d be gone before anyone could drag me back in.

The next morning, I limped down the hallway with the aid of crutches, my body aching but my resolve stronger than ever.

Then I heard it.

A child’s laugh. I turned instinctively—and froze.

Joshua.

He ran straight into Treston’s arms, shouting, “Daddy!”

Treston crouched, scooped him up, laughing like the perfect father.

Behind them, Summer smiled, arms crossed like she had already won.

And she had.

I stood still. Unseen. Forgotten. Replaced.

Later that evening, I sat by the window of a nearby inn. My suitcase beside me, a file folder on my lap. My phone buzzed with a message from the lawyer.

“Divorce papers were successfully delivered to the Villarez estate. Only Treston’s signature is needed to finalize.”

I didn’t know what to expect when I returned to the Villarez estate. But I didn’t expect… this.

The house was buzzing with movement—renovation workers hammering, painting, rearranging furniture. The hallway smelled of paint and sawdust, and boxes littered the entrance. My boxes.

My belongings. Thrown out like garbage.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice stiff, already knowing I wouldn’t like the answer.

Treston appeared at the top of the stairs, sleeves rolled up like he was playing the role of a father settling into a domestic life.

“We’re converting your room,” he said plainly. “Joshua needs space. He and Summer are moving in here—for now.”

My heart clenched. “You’re—what?”

“And honestly,” he continued, descending the steps slowly, “this is all your fault anyway. You hurt Joshua. So, the least you can do is make space for him. Make it up to him and be thankful that Summer didn’t file a case for you after hurting Joshua.”

I wanted to scream, argue, throw everything back in his smug face. But I didn’t. I just stood there, absorbing the latest blow like a silent sponge. I wouldn’t let him see me break anymoret.

“I need you to sign something,” I said instead, pulling out a folder and handing it to him.

He raised a brow. “Can’t it wait? I don’t handle work inside this house.”

“It’s for the investment meeting tomorrow,” I said calmly. “It’s urgent.”

He scoffed and flipped the folder open carelessly, not even bothering to check the contents. “You better make sure everything goes as planned,” he said as he scribbled his signature. “Or else, I swear I’ll stop your father’s medication altogether.”

I didn’t respond.

What he didn’t know was that my father was already being transferred to another hospital under Niccolo’s name—and soon, he’d be out of Treston’s grasp for good.

Just then, Summer’s voice rang out from the kitchen as she came in holding grocery bags. “Babe, oh, I mean, Treston, I got everything! I even bought Joshua’s favorite snacks and yours too!”

Treston’s eyes shifted back to me. “Cook for us. And for Joshua.”

I blinked. “I still have to prepare the reports. You said it’s urgent—”

“I don’t care,” he snapped. “I’m telling you to cook. And be nice to Joshua. You owe him. You’ll be his nanny now. That’s your role in this house.”

It wasn’t a house anymore. It was a prison. One he built out of betrayal and kept decorating with my suffering.

Still, I went to the kitchen, dragging my steps as I began washing vegetables, chopping silently.

That’s when I felt it.

A sting. Salt thrown across my face, into my eyes, burning.

“Be gone!” Joshua screamed from behind me. “You don’t deserve to be here! You bitch!”

I stumbled back, gasping, blinking through the salt.

“Joshua!” I snapped, more in shock than anger.

But then I heard laughter.

Summer. Leaning against the counter with that wicked smile of hers.

“See?” she said sweetly. “Even our child doesn’t want you around. So… when will you finally leave?”

I didn’t give her the satisfaction of a reaction. I just wiped my face and whispered, “Don’t worry. I’ll be gone soon. You’ll never have to see me again.”

“Great,” she chirped. “Oh, by the way… I went ahead and donated the rest of your stuff. Honestly, I couldn’t stand it taking up space in our home. Most of it’s already burned.”

There was no more pretending now. No fake sympathy. No passive-aggressive smiles. For the first time, Summer didn’t even try to hide it.

She admitted it. Bluntly. Proudly.

And all I could do was stare.

I remembered how, not too long ago, I used to call her late at night, crying over Treston’s distance, his coldness. And she would listen. Tell me he was probably just stressed. That men in business were complicated.

I told her everything. Trusted her.

I remembered pouring my heart out while she sat beside me, offering comforting words… all while she was already stealing him from me.

Maybe it was my fault. Maybe it started the moment I let her into our lives—into his business. I thought I was helping her when I convinced Treston to give her a consulting job. I said she was smart, capable, loyal.

And she had thanked me. With betrayal.

I stiffened. “My things?”

She nodded, unfazed. “Yep. You can go check, if you want. Might still catch the flames.”

I ran. Out the back door, into the open yard where smoke curled from a large metal bin. I choked back a cry as I stepped closer.

My clothes. My journals. My framed photographs. Gone.

And there, at the center of it all—charred and broken—was the heirloom necklace my mother gave me before she died. Its clasp half-melted, the sapphire center shattered into glittering dust.

I dropped to my knees.

That necklace was the last piece of her I had. The last thing that smelled like her perfume. Felt like her love.

And Summer had destroyed it without a second thought.

I stood slowly, my breath ragged.

And I walked.

Straight back into the house. Summer was there, laughing at something Treston had said.

She turned to me with her perfect, mocking smile.

But before she could speak—

I slapped her.

The slap I gave Summer echoed across the room like thunder.

But she didn’t hesitate. Her palm struck my cheek just as hard, and before I knew it, we were tangled—hair-pulling, screaming, fury exploding from years of betrayal, silence, and pain.

“You deserve nothing!” she hissed, trying to claw at my arms.

I shoved her back. “And you deserve everything that’s coming!”

We were interrupted by Treston’s footsteps pounding down the stairs.

“What the hell is going on?!”

Before I could speak, Summer turned, her performance instant.

“She attacked me!” she cried out, pretending to sob, rushing into his arms. “I was just trying to calm her down, and she snapped! She doesn’t want me or Joshua in this house—she’s been hateful, jealous—”

“Liar!” I shouted.

But it didn’t matter.

Treston’s eyes were already filled with disgust. “How dare you,” he said, storming toward me. “You lay your hands on her again?! After everything?!”

He slapped me. Hard. Again.

My head snapped to the side, but I didn’t cry. I just stared at him.

“You’re done,” he growled. “You’re locked in your room. Finish everything for tomorrow’s investor meeting. If you fail this, I swear—your father’s life is over.”

They dragged me to my room and locked the door. The sound of the lock clicking was far too familiar.

But this time… I didn’t feel trapped.

I opened my laptop. Pulled out the flash drive. Reviewed the investor files one last time.

Then I composed the message.

Niccolo,

Here are the documents for the investors. Take everything. Steal it from Treston. He doesn’t deserve a single piece of this company.

He replied almost instantly.

Sure thing, baby. For you. See you tomorrow.

A few hours later, the door burst open again. It was Summer.

“Oh good, you’re still awake,” she said breezily, not bothering to look at me. “Treston said you can come out now—but just for a bit.”

I didn’t move. I didn’t answer.

Then a small figure ran past her into the room—Joshua, holding a sandwich in one hand and a juice box in the other.

“Look who’s here!” Summer cooed, ruffling his hair. “Go say hi to your new nanny.”

Before I could react, Joshua threw the sandwich at me, smearing ketchup down my blouse. Then he giggled and shouted, “You’re a monster! I don’t want you here!”

I swallowed hard, forcing back the sting in my eyes.

Summer smiled sweetly. “Oops. He’s so full of energy these days. Anyway…” she said, already turning around. “I need to meet Treston in the study. Investor prep, you know?”

She looked back at me over her shoulder with a cruel smirk.

“Since you’re staying here rent-free and all,” she added, “be useful and look after him. I mean, he does need a nanny, and clearly I’m busy.”

She didn’t wait for a response. She left, laughing, her heels clicking confidently down the hallway. And I was left all night with their son—who hates me!

The next morning, the house was alive with noise—Treston barking orders, Summer putting on her "supportive partner" act, Joshua wailing in the background like the chaos belonged to all of us.

I dressed calmly. Neutrally. Played the part for the last time.

Treston entered the living room, perfectly pressed in a charcoal gray suit.

“Is everything ready?” he asked sharply.

“Yes,” I said, handing him the flash drive. “Your presentation files and talking points are in there.”

“Good,” he said, grabbing it. “I’m taking Summer with me first. You follow with the second car. Make sure nothing is messed up. The investors are expecting greatness today.”

“Of course,” I replied with a tight smile.

The moment they left, I turned my back on the house and walked straight upstairs where Joshua was playing.

Third person’s pov

Treston adjusted his cuffs and glanced at the clock.

The boardroom was ready. Everything was supposed to be perfect.

Until he slid the flash drive into the laptop. He didn’t expect what played. The screen flickered—then came the unmistakable sound of moaning.

Treston froze. Video footage filled the screen. His face. Summer’s voice. Their bodies. Their affair—every dirty angle recorded, timestamped, unfiltered.

“Sir?” a staff member knocked on the door, half-opening it. “We tried opening the presentation file on our end as backup… but it’s blank. There’s nothing.”

“Also…” another staff member rushed in, breathless. “The investors… they’ve canceled. They just left. They said they don’t want to be associated with the Villarez Group anymore.”

Treston stood still. His fists clenched.

“Call Amber,” he ordered tightly. “Now.”

They tried. No answer.

He pulled out his phone and texted her furiously.

Where are you? What the hell did you do?! Come back here right now.

No reply. No call. No read receipt.

That’s when the mail was handed to him. A sleek, matte-black envelope. He ripped it open. Inside—her resignation letter. And below it… the divorce papers. Signed. No, he didn’t agree to this!

Treston’s hands crumpled the envelope as his rage exploded. He shoved the contents off the boardroom table, sending files flying.

“FIND HER!” he bellowed. “Check the house, call the drivers, check the damn gate logs—do something!”

A few frantic minutes later, the butler called back.

“Sir,” he said hesitantly, “I checked every room. Miss Amber isn’t in the house.”

Treston’s fists shook. “Cut her father’s life support,” he spat. “Right now. Let her come crawling back!”

A second call came through—not even a minute later—from the hospital.

“Sir… we can’t do that.”

“What do you mean you can’t?” Treston snarled. “He’s under my authorization!”

“Not anymore,” the nurse replied. “He was transferred yesterday. A private medical team came with court orders and signed releases. He’s no longer under your care.”

Before he could utter a single word, the boardroom doors burst open.

Summer came running in, breathless and pale, her heels clattering against the marble floor.

“Treston!” she cried out, panic twisting her voice. “Treston—our son's gone! Joshua’s missing!”