I couldn’t contain my happiness as I hurried to the bridal boutique, clutching the pregnancy test results. In just weeks, my boyfriend Jax and I would be married, and now, our future was even brighter because of this baby.

The boutique’s bell chimed as I stepped inside, scanning the room. My heart pounded, eager to find him and share the news.

Then I heard it. His voice. Low, casual, speaking in smooth French. Jax used to speak French whenever he was with his friends. I didn’t know how to at first until I decided to recently learn the language so I won’t be out of place when they were talking.

I slowed my steps, drawn toward the conversation happening near the fitting rooms.

“You married Tania yesterday at the civil registry,” Joseph’s voice cut through the air. “And now you’re going to continue marrying Lorraine? What if she learns about this mess?”

My breath hitched. My fingers tightened around the pregnancy test hidden in my palm. What are they talking about?

Marry Tania? Her deceased brother’s fiancee?

Jax exhaled sharply. “After my brother died in the accident, I didn’t have a choice. I had to marry Tania to support them—her and the child.”

A pause. Did I hear that right?

“This is just for my brother,” Jax continued, his voice eerily calm. “It’s not like Lorraine would ever know I’m faking our marriage. If you shut your mouth, she’ll never find out.”

My stomach dropped. My vision blurred, and suddenly, it felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room. My pulse pounded in my ears, drowning out everything but the sharp sting of betrayal.

Joseph’s voice lowered when he noticed me. “She’s here. What if she understands French?”

Jax laughed. “How could she? She’s just beauty without a brain.”

A sharp pang stabbed through my chest.

“Truth be told, I only love her because of her family’s money. Once our companies merge, I’ll find a way to dispose of her so I can be with Tania forever,” he added.

Joseph scoffed. “So you’ve always wanted Tania?”

“Well, yes,” Jax admitted. “But my brother was always in the picture, so I couldn’t do anything—until the accident happened. And why would I choose just one when I can have them both? This way, I benefit from both women.”

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. The man I had loved for four years, the man I was about to marry, was standing just feet away, planning my destruction. How could he do this to me?

Jax turned then, his face a picture of feigned innocence. “Lorraine, hey, baby. You’re here. I was waiting for you.” His tone was soft, careful, as if he hadn’t just confessed to using me.

I forced a smile, clutching the pregnancy test tighter in my palm. “Yes, you seemed busy talking to Joseph. What were you two talking about?”

He glanced at Joseph. “We were just discussing business. You know how things are before a wedding—stressful.”

I nodded, barely hearing him over the ringing in my ears. The weight of our entire relationship crashed down on me. The way he always asked for favors, how he needed financial help for his company, the subtle manipulation, the gaslighting—it all made sense now. I had mistaken his greed for love.

“I see. Then you shouldn’t have come here. I can do this alone.”

“Of course not, baby!” He kissed me, and I almost gagged. How could he lie to my face for four years? I had never once doubted his love, but I was wrong. He had cared for Tania all along—even when his brother was still alive. I thought their closeness was just family. But for him, it had always been love.

“You know how I always wanted to be part of our wedding plans. It was our special day.” He smiled.

I smiled back and didn’t argue. I didn’t have enough energy to do so. The bridal fitting passed in a blur. I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I simply endured, knowing I would never let Jax control me again.

The moment I stepped outside, I pulled out my phone and dialed the one person who could fix this.

“Mom,” I said. “About the marriage deal… does it still stand?”

A pause. Then, sharp concern. “Why? What happened? Did Jax do something?”

“He betrayed me, Mom. And I’m coming home soon.” My grip tightened around the test in my hand. “So you can prepare for that wedding you’ve been telling me about.”

I woke up with swollen eyes and a pounding headache. The weight of last night’s betrayal pressed against my chest. I reached for my phone, fingers trembling, and called Jax. No answer. I tried again. Still nothing.

Maybe we could fix this. Maybe there was still something worth saving, and I was being reckless by calling my mother. I was torn. Maybe he could choose me if he learned that I knew the truth—maybe I was delusional to even think about this.

I exhaled sharply, wiping my face. Enough. I had already made my decision. And him not answering my call when I needed him only proved that I wasn’t his priority. I had noticed it before—how he would drop everything to run to Tania whenever she called, even when we were in the middle of something. I had told myself it was nothing. But now, I realized—it was everything.

I stopped calling him. I grabbed my coat and headed to the hospital. It was time to end this before I let him ruin me any further.

The hospital smelled of antiseptic. My steps were steady as I walked inside. I kept my head high, pushing forward.

Then I saw them. Tania. Jax. Together. Of course, that is why he wasn’t answering my calls.

Tania was clinging to his arm, her body angled toward him as if he were her entire world. He leaned in slightly, murmuring something that made her laugh softly. Her hand rested on her stomach, a subtle but possessive gesture.

Jax’s expression was warm, attentive—the way he used to look at me. But now, his focus was entirely on her.

My breath hitched.

As if sensing my presence, Tania turned first. Her eyes flicked to mine, and for a moment, something unreadable passed across her face. Then came the slow, practiced smile, the kind that carried just the right amount of concern laced with triumph.

Jax followed her gaze, his body tensing the moment he saw me. His expression flickered—shock, then something unreadable. Guilt? Annoyance? Whatever it was, he masked it quickly.

I felt frozen in place, as if the walls were closing in around me.

Tania was the first to speak. “Lorraine? What are you doing here? You should’ve called Jax if you weren’t feeling well.”

I kept my face blank. “He wasn’t answering.”

Jax finally looked at me. “Oh, my phone was dead. I would’ve come if I knew. What’s wrong, baby?”

I nodded, barely breathing. “It’s fine. I just came for some medicine.”

Jax gestured to Tania. “I was accompanying her for her prenatal checkup. It’s for my brother. Mom asked me to.”

I forced a smile. “Of course. Family first.”

“Let’s talk later,” he added, lowering his voice. But he didn’t let go of Tania. “I’ll make it up to you.”

I didn’t respond. Just turned away, pretending I hadn’t heard. As they disappeared into the doctor’s office, I stood frozen in place. Then, a voice from inside.

“The baby is perfectly healthy.”

Jax’s response was instant. “That’s a relief. I want to make sure everything is perfect for our baby.”

Our baby. It was his brother—but come to think of it, maybe it wasn’t his brother’s baby after all?

I walked out. That was it. The final straw. There was no way I’d let him break me over and over again.

An hour later, the procedure was over. The baby—gone. I felt a bit sad and guilty about my unborn child, but it was better. I cannot bring a child into this world where his father had betrayed me.

I wasn’t feeling well and still needed rest but I decided to just go home. I sat in the back of the taxi, staring at my reflection in the window. I felt hollow. Empty. But I had no tears left to cry. I only had plans to work.

By the time I reached my building, my mind was set on one thing—leaving. Ending this chapter of my life for good.

Then I saw him. Jax. Talking to a man in the shadows of the alley behind our building. The man looked familiar, and the way they spoke made my skin prickle.

I slipped behind a parked car, listening.

“Didn’t I tell you not to show your face to me?” Jax’s voice was sharp. “Haven’t I paid you enough?”

The man scoffed. “It’s not enough. If you don’t keep paying me, they’ll find out you orchestrated the accident that killed your brother.”

My breath caught. He had his brother killed?

Jax stiffened. “Keep your voice down.”

“Then keep the money coming.”

I stumbled back, heart racing. Jax. A liar. A user. A murderer. I couldn’t believe I had loved a man like him.

I pulled out my phone and dialed one of our staff, my voice barely a whisper. “I need you to investigate Jason’s accident. Get me everything you can.”

I stepped through the grand gates of our estate. Today, I was meeting the man I was going to marry.

Not Jax. Though, I hadn’t canceled our wedding. No, that would be too easy. I wanted him standing at the altar, waiting, humiliated in front of everyone, only to find out that I had already married someone else. A brutal ending for the man who had lied to me for years.

As I walked into the living room, I came to a sharp stop.

A tall man sat on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, his posture relaxed yet commanding. His sharp features were even more defined than I remembered, his piercing eyes scanning me with unreadable interest. Familiar.

Gavion Smith.

Jax’s childhood friend turned enemy. The man who had always stood toe-to-toe with him, challenging him in everything. The man I used to have a crush on before I made the worst mistake of my life—choosing Jax instead.

I inhaled sharply, my lips curving. Maybe this wasn’t a mistake after all.

My mother cleared her throat, pulling my attention back. “You’re here now. Finally.” She smiled at me. “Meet Gavion Smith. He was the one I’ve been wanting you to marry since. This marriage will benefit both families,” she said, her gaze steady. “But I won’t force you if you don’t want him. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

My happiness. How ironic. I had spent years believing I was happy with Jax, blinded by the illusion of love, only to be used. Now, I wasn’t searching for happiness—I was searching for justice.

I met Gavion’s gaze. “I’ll do it.”

His lips twitched slightly. “No hesitation?”

I shrugged, feigning indifference. “It’s good business.”

“And revenge?” he mused, leaning forward slightly. “Cause of what Jax had done?”

I didn’t flinch. He was sharp. He knew.

“If that’s what you want to call it.” I tilted my head. “Does that bother you?”

His eyes darkened, his amusement giving way to something more serious. “No,” he said after a pause. “I like a woman who knows what she wants.”

Something flickered between us—acknowledgment, understanding.

My mother sighed, almost in relief. “Then it’s settled.” She smiled, though there was something careful about it. “I just want you to be sure, Lorraine. If you want to back out—”

“I won’t,” I cut in. “I know what I’m doing, Mom. Love is not what I need. It’s revenge. Jax had betrayed me. He needs to feel my revenge.”

Gavion studied me, his gaze searching. Then, with a small smirk, he said, “This should be fun.”

I smiled back, but there was no warmth in it. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”

I told them my plan—the wedding, the humiliation, the final blow to Jax. They listened, saying nothing, then finally the conversation shifted toward wedding plans, logistics, and business. But then, one of our staff entered the room, handing me a folder.

I opened it, my breath catching as I scanned the documents.

Jax had erased evidence—footage of the accident. My stomach twisted as the truth unfolded in front of me. It wasn’t an accident. He had truly orchestrated it.

And worse? The child Tania carried wasn’t Jason’s. It was Jax’s. They had been together all along. A secret affair. A scandal.

I clenched my jaw, the paper crinkling under my tightening grip. They had been playing me this entire time.

A bitter laugh bubbled up in my throat. Tania—the innocent, grieving fiancée—was nothing but a liar. And Jax? A murderer.

I exhaled slowly, steadying myself. This was more than just betrayal. This was war.

I looked up, meeting Gavion’s gaze once more.

“Change of plans,” I murmured, sliding the folder toward him.

He glanced at the papers, his brows raising slightly before his expression hardened.

“Now, this is interesting.” His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.

I smirked. “Let’s destroy him.”

Later that evening, I returned home. I walked in, pretending I knew nothing, playing my part.

Then I saw her. Tania. Standing in front of the mirror, twirling slightly, the lace of my wedding gown cascading around her.

Jax stood beside her, watching with a soft smile. Something inside me twisted. Not in heartbreak—no, I was far past that—but in pure, simmering rage.

Tania turned, startled to see me. Her face flushed with guilt before she quickly forced a smile. “Lorraine… I—I just wanted to try it on,” she said, her voice hesitant. “I never got the chance when Jason… passed.”

I tilted my head, my lips curving into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Go ahead. Try it.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, I almost laughed.

Then, with mock sweetness, I added, “If you want, you can even have Jax as your groom, too, because you seem like you want him all by yourself.”

The air shifted. Tania’s smile faltered, her face crumbling as tears welled in her eyes.

Jax immediately turned to me, his expression darkening. “Lorraine, what’s wrong with you?” His voice was sharp. “Tania is pregnant. She’s sensitive. You shouldn’t say things like that.”

I scoffed. “Oh, right. Because she’s pregnant.” I folded my arms, my gaze locked onto his. “You know what? Why don’t you just marry her instead? I mean, it sure seems like you two have been hiding something for a long time.”

Jax’s jaw clenched. His eyes flashed with anger. Without warning, his hand struck my face.