June's POV

When I got home, the first thing I did was head straight for Richard’s study—the one place he had always forbidden me from entering, claiming that he had sensitive documents in there.

I pushed open the door and walked in. Immediately I glanced around, something got my attention. There was a steel safe hidden behind the bookshelf.

I narrowed my eyes at the locked safe, and I decided to try April’s birthday.

I punched in the numbers, and immediately the lock clicked open.

I released a scoff, so he used April's birthday for the passcode, when he barely remembered mine, always forgetting my birthday, and our anniversary.

Inside the safe, there were incriminating documents like Medical records. Transaction receipts. Payments made to doctors at the hospital.

I flipped through them, as my blood boiled. It was all there—the evidence of what he had done. How he had bribed the doctors. How he had planned everything to make sure that Ethan’s death looked like a shooting.

Finally, I saw it—the transplant report. April’s name listed as the recipient. Ethan’s name listed as the donor.

My vision blurred with fresh tears. Tears of grief, and rage.

He had taken everything from me. My son. My trust. My life.

I stared at the papers as my mind raced with plans. I couldn’t confront him yet—not until I had everything in place. This was war, and I needed to be prepared.

I took out my phone and captured every one of them. When I was done, I locked the safe, and walked out of the study.

I made my way to the bedroom. My heart was heavy with the decision I was about to make. I had dreamed of this child—another chance at motherhood after Ethan. But how could I raise a baby in a world full of betrayal and lies?

I picked up my phone, my hands trembling as I dialed the clinic.

“Hello, this is the Evergreen Hospital. How can I help you?”

“I would like to schedule… an abortion,” I murmured softly. The words pierced my heart, but I couldn’t bring another life into this nightmare.

“Of course. Can you come in tomorrow morning?”

“Yes,” I answered, my voice flat.

“Name?”

“June Winslow.”

I had used my maiden name because using June Thorne would make them know that I was related to the Thorne Mafia family.

There was a slight pause at the other end of the line.

“Got it. We’ll see you at 10 a.m.,” the woman said before hanging up.

I gripped the phone tightly and took a deep breath to compose myself.

“Where are you going?” Richard asked, and I tensed slightly. I hadn't noticed when he came in.

I slipped my phone into my pocket and gave him a cold look. “Just a checkup at the hospital,” I said with a distant tone in my voice.

Richard tilted his head, his brow furrowed. “Checkup? Everything okay?”

“Perfectly fine,” I replied sharply, brushing past him toward the wardrobe to change into my pyjamas.

Richard's eyes lingered on me, and suspicion flashed across his face. “June, is something wrong?”

I paused at the wardrobe and glanced back at him. “Nothing’s wrong, Richard,” I said with a bitter smile. “Everything is just… the way it’s supposed to be.”

Richard didn’t push further. “I’ll join you in a minute. I just need a shower.”

The moment the bathroom door closed, his phone buzzed on the nightstand. I glanced at it, and the closed bathroom door. Without any delay, I picked it up and entered April’s birthday as the passcode. Unlocked.

My breath hitched as I scrolled through his messages. My heart stopped when I saw her name—April [love emoji].

I opened the messages, and I suddenly felt nauseous.

April: I miss you already. When can we meet again? I will tell Killian that I want to come see my sister.

Richard: Tomorrow, my love. I'll tell June that I have some to deal with at the office.

Tears streamed down my face as I read through the texts.

April: I'm tired of hiding. I want us to be together.

Richard: Soon, my love. Once I take over from my father as the Thorne Mafia boss, I'll claim you as mine, and no one will be able to come between us again.

I covered my mouth to stifle the sob that escaped my mouth.

From the messages, they had been having sex whenever April came around, claiming that she was coming to come see me. The messages were enough to confirm everything. My husband was still in love with his first love, April, my sister.

I locked the phone and placed it back on the nightstand, my hands shook with fury. My sister. My husband. They had been deceiving me all these while.

April had been dating Richard. But she had left Richard to study abroad, and that was where she met her husband, Killian.

Richard was heartbroken when he found out. In his pain, he turned to me for comfort. What started as late-night conversations became something more. A few months later, he confessed his love for me, and we got married a year later.

I never knew that he never loved me. He was still in love with April, after seven years of marriage to me. I never knew that he was just deceiving me, and playing me. He was just waiting to dump me for my sister when he got the opportunity.

The bathroom door opened, and Richard stepped out with a towel wrapped around his waist. He gave me a concerned look.

“Are you sure you're okay?”

I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “I’m fine, Richie”.

June's POV

As I called his nickname, he instantly relaxed, thinking that all was fine.

His eyes softened as he walked toward me. He leaned down to kiss me, but I turned my head slightly, and his lips grazed my cheek instead.

“I’m tired,” I said softly, pulling the covers over me. “It’s been a long day.”

Richard's expression tightened, but he forced a smile. “Of course. You should rest.” There was a flicker of irritation in his eyes, but he said nothing more.

His phone buzzed again. He grabbed it quickly, and his annoyed expression melted into a wide grin as he texted the person back.

Immediately he was done, he stood up from the bed, and grabbed his clothes in a hurry. “Something came up at the company,” he said, avoiding my eyes. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

“Of course,” I replied coolly. “Take your time.”

Richard gave me a slight look of surprise. Previously, I would have complained about how he always had to leave late in the night for an urgent matter in the company, but now I was even telling him to take my time.

His phone buzzed again, and he shook off his confusion, and hurried to leave.

“I love you,” he mumbled as he hurried out of the door.

“And I hate you,” I murmured under my breath.

~

When I woke up the next morning, I realized that Richard didn't return home. He probably spent the night at April's place. But it didn't bother me.

I prepared for my appointment with the hospital for the abortion.

As I sat on the bed at the hospital, my heart clenched within me. Could I really do this?

The doctor stood beside me,

“Are you sure about this, June?” she asked gently.

I opened my mouth to say yes, but the word wouldn’t come out. My hand instinctively moved to my stomach. I thought of Ethan—his bright smile, his little hands holding mine, the way he called me “Mommy.” The joy I had felt because of him.

Tears welled in my eyes. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t end this life.

“I… I’ve changed my mind,” I whispered. “I can’t go through with it.”

The doctor gave a soft nod. “That’s okay. Take your time. You can leave whenever you’re ready.”

My baby deserved a chance. No matter the darkness surrounding me, this child was a part of me—a part of Ethan. I wouldn’t let anyone take that away.

As I walked down the hall, lost in thought, I heard a familiar voice laughing. I looked up and froze.

Richard and April.

They were walking out of the antenatal ward, smiling at each other like they were the only people in the world. Richard’s hand was resting on April’s lower back as he leaned in close, whispering something that made her giggle.

My blood ran cold. April’s hand was resting on her stomach, and my eyes widened in disbelief.

She was pregnant.

They saw me before I could turn away. April’s face paled.

“June!” She rushed toward me, her eyes wide with fake concern. “I… I was just—Richard came to assist me for my antenatal visit.”

“Don’t apologize, April,” Richard interrupted her gently, as he placed a hand on her shoulder. His eyes shone with warmth and affection as he looked at her. “You did nothing wrong.”

I gave them a smile. “Yes, you're right, Richard. She did nothing wrong.”

I stood there, numb, watching them. The way he looked at her… the way he protected her… it was everything he had once promised me.

They were both surprised. In the past when I saw them too close, I always got jealous or complained. But Richard always scolded me for being too paranoid and insecure about my own sister.

“We were dating previously, but she's married, and so am I. We're just close friends now, nothing more.” He always told me.

Richard turned to me, “We’ll talk at home, June. Let me drop April off.”

I didn't even hesitate. “Please take your time.” I said to him, brushing past them.

“And congratulations on your pregnancy, April.” I called coldly from over my shoulder, leaving the two of them standing there with surprised looks on their faces.

~

Richard must have felt that something was very wrong, because he came home very early that night.

“You're early,” I commented, without glancing up from the book on my hand as I lay on the bed.

“Yes, I finished early today, I rushed back home to spend time with my wonderful wife.” He said, leaning to kiss me, but again, I shifted my head, causing him to kiss my cheeks instead.

Richard paused for a moment, watching me, but I kept my attention on the book I was pretending to read.

“I feel like we haven't been spending enough time together. I'll need to take some days off.” He said softly, his eyes shone with care and concern.

I shrugged nonchalantly. “You've been busy at the company. So I understand.” I replied coolly.

Richard furrowed his eyebrows at me in surprise. He knew it was unlike me. I had always wanted him to take a break from the company so that we could spend time together.

“What's going on, June?” He asked, “Why are you acting this way?”

June's POV

My eyes were still on the book as I replied to him. “Nothing.”

“Are you throwing a tantrum because you saw April and I together at the hospital?” He asked, “Because I have told you several times that—”

I cut him off, before he could continue sprouting out lies. “I told you I'm fine. You and April are close friends or whatever. I'm not bothered by any of that. Now can you please give me some peace and quiet. This book is getting interesting.” I dismissed him.

Richard clenched his jaw in annoyance, and his eyes flashed with irritation as he stood up and entered the bathroom.

I stood up from the bed to get a glass of water from the kitchen.

As I walked into the kitchen, I leaned against the counter, taking deep breaths to calm myself.

Suddenly, Richard’s heavy footsteps sounded behind me.

“You’ve been acting strange all day, June,” Richard said with irritation. “If something’s wrong, just spit it out.”

I turned slowly to face him, keeping my expression calm. “I already told you—I’m fine. No need to worry about me. Why don’t you go check on April and her baby instead?”

His eyes darkened, as he clenched his jaw. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I shrugged, stepping away from the counter. “Nothing. Just that you seem more concerned about her than your own wife.”

Richard’s patience snapped. “You’re being ridiculous again, June! April is your older sister. You need to stop this childish jealousy—”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not jealous. You both deserve each other.” I drawled.

“Enough!” he growled, and his hand shot out and shoved me back with force.

My back slammed against the corner of the counter, and I gasped in horror as pain spread across my body.

I fell to the ground, my stomach slammed on the floor and I released a sharp cry.

“You know what? I have things to do at the company tonight. Don't wait up for me.” Richard muttered darkly.

He slammed the door behind him as he walked out.

Pain surged from my stomach as I lay on the cold floor, and a sense of dread washing over me. My hands instinctively clutched my belly, and panic took over when I felt something warm and wet flowing down my legs.

Blood.

“No… no, no,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. I struggled to sit up, as my vision blurred from the pain.

I reached for my phone from my pocket with shaking fingers and dialed Richard’s number. It rang once, twice, before he finally picked.

Relief flooded through me.

“R-Richard—”

“Don't call me until you're ready to stop acting like a child” he growled, and disconnected the call.

“No… no, no,” I whispered desperately. I tried again, but he had switched off his phone.

I released a cry as the agony intensified. I desperately called 911. I couldn't lose this child.

As unconsciousness overcame me, the last thought on my mind was: If I lose this child, Richard will pay double.

Then my world went dark.

~

When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital bed. A doctor stood by my side, her face etched with concern.

“Ms. Winslow,” she said softly, “you’re awake.”

I blinked, trying to remember what had happened. Then it hit me—the kitchen, the blood, the baby.

“My baby…” My voice cracked as panic rose in my chest.

The doctor's expression grew somber. She gently placed a hand on mine. “I’m so sorry, ma'am. You lost the baby.”

A scream tore from my throat as my heart shattered into pieces. This couldn't be happening. I had lost everything—my son, and my unborn child, all because of Richard.

Tears streamed down my face as I sobbed uncontrollably. Why couldn't I have anything good? Why was my life turning upside down?

I sobbed till I was drained and exhausted. I stared blankly at the ceiling above me, with no will to continue living.

I should have just died also, rather than to continue living in this nightmare.

The door opened, and someone walked in. I didn't have the energy to look.

“Hello, June.” A deep cool voice greeted me.

I reluctantly opened my eyes to see Killian Romano, April's husband, staring down at me with an unreadable look in his cold gray eyes.

I didn't have the strength to respond, so I didn't bother.

He approached my bed slowly, before he sat on the chair beside me.

“I heard what happened, I'm sorry.” He said softly.

Seeing Killian was reminding me too much of my sister, and what she did. I didn't want him here.

“April is not here,” I rasped, my throat dry from crying.

Killian's eyes darkened with anger.

“I'm not here for that cheating whore.” He growled, and I furrowed my eyebrows in surprise.

“You know?” I asked, and he nodded.

“Yes.”

“For how long?” I asked.

“Last week. You?”

“This week.” I replied.

“That's why I'm here.” He said, his gray eyes piercing into me.

“What are you here for?” I asked curiously, momentarily forgetting about my pain.

“I have a proposition for you.” He replied, “How would you like to have revenge?”

My heart raced at his words.