I stared at the candlelight as I sat at the set dining table. My palms were sweaty and my heart was pounding in my chest.

Tonight was the first anniversary of our marriage. One year since I had walked out of that church on Cain Blackwood’s arm. One year since I immediately fell in love with him.

He saved me from embarrassment, like my knight in shiny armour.

And tonight, I had a surprise just for him.

My hand drifted to my stomach with a smile. I met the fertility doctor today and after so many months of trying, I was finally pregnant with Cain's baby.

He had no idea I was pregnant. But tonight I was going to tell him, I planned everything perfectly, cooking his favourite meal and buying a bottle of the expensive whiskey he loved.

I waited for hours for him to come home, my smile dropping as more time went on. But after three hours, I was disappointed and his food was already cold.

I reached for my phone, my hand trembling as I dialled his number but it went straight to voicemail. I tried two more times but still got no response.

Maybe he was stuck at work. Maybe he just forgot what today meant or he was late getting me a gift.

I waited for one more hour staring at the clock before I slipped onto the couch to wait for him, but I eventually fell asleep.

When I woke up, the voices on the television caught my attention. I turned to the screen, my vision blurry and barely listened until I heard his name and frozen.

‘Billionaire Cain Blackwood is seen with a mystery blonde woman at the Grand Royale Hotel. Do you think this is trouble in paradise for his one-year marriage to Elle King?’

I shot up on the couch, blinking hard at the image of Cain entering the hotel lobby holding a blonde woman in his arms.

‘No.’ I muttered under my breath.

Not Cain. It can't happen again. I love him.

My blood roared in my ears as I stared at the screen in shock. There was something familiar about the woman, but I couldn't see her face properly.

My hands clenched into fists. I wasn’t the naïve woman who was left at the altar a year ago by James Calloway. I can't let this happen to me all over again.

I quickly grabbed my coat and stormed out of the house. I drove like a woman to the hotel I had given Cain everything. And he still betrayed me.

I stood in front of the Grand Royale Hotel, taking a deep breath. I strode into the lobby, ignoring the whispers and glances.

When I reached the front desk, the receptionist stiffened when she saw me. “Mrs. Blackwood—”

“My husband is here,” I said. “Tell me his room number.” I snapped.

She hesitated for a moment. “I…I’m sorry, Ma but we can't.”

I raised my brow. “Do you want me to call the press and tell them my husband is cheating on me with his cheap mistress in your hotel?”

After a while, she sighed and murmured, “Penthouse suite, 112.”

I immediately turned and stepped into the elevator.

When the doors finally slid open, I rushed forward.

I swallowed hard before using the keycard and pushing open the door. I could hear Cain's voice inside the room and my chest ached.

Then I heard a woman’s voice. I froze in my steps. I knew that voice; it was familiar but I couldn't place who it belonged to.

Cain let out a loud laugh. “You thought I married Elle out of love?”

“She was a means to an end,” he continued. “Marrying her gave me access to her father’s inheritance. And once the will is rewritten in your favour and he's gone, my work will be done and I'll leave her.”

“Just a few weeks from now we will have everything we want.” The woman added with a smile.

My blood turned to ice. Aliya.

My stepsister.

The woman my father had always loved, even though I was his only daughter and the rightful heir to the

King's legacy.

But she had planned with Cain to marry me just for the King's inheritance. It was all a plan. Cain never loved me and he didn't want to save me on my wedding day; he wanted everything for her.

I let out a sharp gasp before I could think about it

The room fell silent.

And then the woman turned slowly.

My heart stopped. It was her.

And next to her, lying under the sheets was my husband, Cain. I stared at them in disbelief, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to hold back my tears.

How could they do this to me?

My hands were trembling as I watched them scramble out of the bed.

Their eyes were wide with shock as they watched me. For a moment, we all stood in silence

Then Cain’s lips curled into an arrogant smile. “Elle. What are you doing here?” He asked.

“Today is our anniversary Cain, You didn't come home early and I came looking for you.”

Aliya lifted her chin, holding back laughter. “Cain and I were just discussing some business with the company.”

My heart broke because I knew it was a lie but I couldn't say a word. I swallowed hard and forced a smile.

“You should know not to listen in on conversation Elle,” Cain warned sternly

My stomach twisted. “Sorry.” I managed to respond.

“Let's go home!” He said, leading me out of the room.

As I followed him, I caught Aliya's scowl as she looked at me, her face twisted with anger.

My stomach twisted as I realized the truth. Cain had never loved me; he came to save me in the church because he wanted my father's money.

He had used me, just like James.

But before I could say anything else, my phone vibrated in my bag.

I glanced down at the screen; it was the hospital.

“Hello?” I answered

“Mrs. Blackwood. Your father just got into the ICU. He had a heart attack. You need to come here right now.”

My heart stopped. “No,” I whispered in horror.

I didn’t care about Cain and Aliya anymore. My eyes were filled with tears as I turned around and ran out of the penthouse.

The hospital was bustling when I stormed in. I rushed toward the ICU, my face twisted with fear.

A nurse met me at the entrance.

“He doesn’t have much time,” she said in a hurry.

I pushed past her and entered the room.

My father lay on the hospital bed, surrounded by tubes and machines. He looked weak and pale.

“Dad,” I choked out.

His eyes fluttered open.“Elle,” he called out, reaching for me. I grabbed his hand and held it against my cheek.

“Don’t talk,” I whispered, tears running down my face. “Just rest. You’re going to be okay.”

“I’m… so sorry,” he whispered.

“For what?”

But before he could answer, I heard a loud beep from the monitor.

“No, no, no!” I screamed as the nurses rushed in. I shook him desperately, trying to get him to wake up.

But he was gone.

I stumbled out of his room, struggling to breathe. My world was crumbling all around me.

I walked down the corridor and leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath when I heard his voice.

Aliya’s voice. I froze and moved closer to the door.

“She is suspecting us,” she hissed into the phone . “We need to handle her before she ruins our plan now that he's dead.”

"Relax; her father is finally dead. Our plan is already coming through.”

They were happy my father was gone. All they wanted was the money.

“We need to get rid of her,” she muttered. “Before she turns against us.”

I could hear Cain sigh through the line. “She’s not a threat.”

She grunted and ended the call in anger.

“He doesn't even know she's pregnant; I can't let her have his baby,” she muttered to herself with annoyance.

My breath caught in my throat in shock. How did she know?

“How did you find out about pregnancy?” I asked, slowly stepping into the room.

She looked up at me in surprise and then her eyes narrowed at me.

“I overheard the specialist talking. I know you have been trying for months, and you finally got her wish. But if you think that baby is going to save you, you're wrong. I won't let you give you Cain an heir.”

I took a step back to get away from here, but my foot hit the door.

I tried to run, but before I could get away, Aliya rushed forward, wrapped her hand around my wrist and dragged me back.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she snarled.

I struggled away from him, “Let go of me!”

She stepped forward with a cruel smile. “You should’ve stayed away, stepsister.”

I tilted myself away from the railings but Aliya held me down. I fought against her hold but she pushed me hard and then I toppled over.

I crashed down the stairs, tumbling too fast and then my head hit the floor hard.

A beeping sound pulled me away from the darkness.

I felt pain blooming in my stomach. I groaned as I slowly stirred awake. I could hardly remember anything, just Aliya pushing me over the railings.

I was barely alive. I tried to sit up, but I felt a sharp sting in my stomach that made me cry out. A nurse ran inside, her eyes filled with pity as she stared at me.

My hand flew to my belly. The baby.

“You’re lucky you are alive,” a nurse’s voice said gently, checking the machines. “We had to do emergency surgery, but we could only save you; the baby was already gone.”

My heart broke; my baby was gone. I held back my screams, my heart breaking all over again.

Tears streamed down my face as I lay in the hospital bed. I held my hand over my belly, grieving my child I would never meet.

I felt a little stronger after a few hours and I decided to leave the hospital. I still haven't seen Cain since the accident, but I pushed that to the back of my mind.

Once I stepped into our home, I heard Cain and Aliya’s voices laughing as they sat by the table having dinner.

They barely looked at me as I winced past and went upstairs. Sobs whacked through my body as I crumbled into the bed.

The room was still decorated with petals for our anniversary, but everything had changed.

Now I have found out our marriage was just a big scam and my father is dead.

The door swung open and Cain stepped inside the room.

“I'm sorry about your father's death Elle, you know I love you, but you shouldn't tell anyone about the accident with Aliya.”

I flung up from the bed, even though my body ached with every movement.

“It was no accident, she pushed me down on purpose.” I spat back.

His expression darkened and he took a slow step forward.

“I was there, it was all an accident, Aliya didn’t mean to hurt you.”

I stumbled backwards, my face twisting with confusion.

“But…” I stammered

“Do you understand?” He growled

My mind spun, my heart racing. I clutched my heart as I thought of my dead child. I could barely nod my head in response.

“If you want to stay in this house, you shut your mouth and be a good girl.” He ordered then stormed out of the room.

I stared at the door as it slammed shut behind him. I was losing my mind.

My father's funeral was the next day, my body felt frozen still as I watched his body lay cold and pale in the coffin.

My stepmother was wailing loudly beside me, dolled up with a new Birkin bag. Anger riled me as I saw Aliya standing beside her also crying.

‘What an actress’ I muttered under my breath.

My skin burned with Cain's hands wrapped around my waist. Even after everything he still wanted to pretend for the paparazzi that we were still a loving couple.

Even as we stood together I could still feel his eyes wandering to my step-sister.

The ceremony drawled out before me but I could hardly hear a thing. Once the coffin was lowered into the grave, I stepped out to a corner with the family lawyer.

“Can I see a copy of my father's will?”

“Mr Macmillan's will is already finalized and I will send a copy to you tomorrow.” He said with a curt nod.

“Ok, we can have a reading tomorrow,” I said with a curt nod.

He nodded and I walked out to join the crowd, Aliya's eyes flickered at me. I tried to remain calm as she walked over.

“What were you talking to the lawyer about?”

My stomach churned as I faced her. “Nothing that concerns you, Aliya.” I spat back.

I have been avoiding her since I found out about the truth but she always seemed to be in my way.

“I can't believe you are talking about the will at your dad's funeral, did you even care about him at all or are you just happy he is dead?” She said with a devilish smirk.

The crowd gasped around us, their eyes landing on me filled with accusations.

“We both know the truth here, I would never want my father dead.” I shot back, but my voice was weak and trembling.

“I'm sure you had something to do with his sudden sickness and death.” she retorted

My blood boiled, and my vision turned red. Without thinking I lunged forward and slapped her hard across the face.

Aliya flung back and crumbled onto the floor, screaming for attention. It was all a blur of movement as Cain appeared in front of me and hit me hard on my face.

I stumbled back, my cheeks stinging with pain.

“How dare you?” He growled. “Why would you hit Aliya like that?”

Tears rolled down my face as I stared at my husband. He rushed back and lifted Aliya off the ground gently.

His eyes landed on me with spite before he walked out of the room with her.

My heart broke as I watched them leave, cameras flashing in my face as people murmured around me.

I cried the whole way home, I was a puppet in their plans. Cain didn't care about me at all.

When I got home he was waiting for me at the dinner table.

“You need to apologize to your sister Elle, we are all a loving family and we can't be fighting outside.”

I stared at him, anger coursing through me, it was all too much but I didn't have a choice.

“Yes, I would,” I whispered.