I Dumped My Ex and Married His Uncle

Dayana Stone walked out of the prison gates into a light rain and a gray, heavy sky. Her fragile frame swam in an oversized sweater, and she shivered as the cold wind cut through her. Three years. She’d never thought she’d see the outside of those walls again.

She limped along the shoulder of the road, an old injury slowing her down. Every step felt like walking on broken glass—a painful echo of her past as a ballet dancer. Then a Porsche Cayenne pulled up in front of her, cutting her off.

The second she recognized the plate, Dayana went pale, her eyes a storm of conflicting emotions. The window slid down, revealing Carter Munoz’s cold, aristocratic face.

“Having trouble walking?” Carter’s gaze flicked to her leg, his voice as flat as ever.

Dayana felt tears prick her eyes. This was the man she’d loved for seven years—the same man who’d put her in prison. Was this supposed to be his version of concern? Then she remembered what the inmates had told her from day one: Carter had paid them off to give her “special treatment.”

“Get in,” Carter ordered, one arm draped over the window frame like he owned the place, all cold superiority and indifference. If someone else hadn’t ordered him to, he wouldn’t have bothered picking her up.

Dayana could feel Carter’s patience thinning, just like her parents’ had. When she’d been brought back into the family at fourteen, her parents had wanted to make up for lost time—until they were completely won over by the child they’d raised in her absence. By the time she was twenty-one, Nora Porter’s false accusations had turned their lingering doubts into certainty.

“Sure, Nora isn’t our biological child, but she’s done nothing wrong. She’s been part of our lives for years. We brought you back—isn’t that enough?”

“How could you do this to your sister, Dayana? You’re nothing like her. She’s so much more sensible.”

What had she done to deserve any of this? Why couldn’t they trust her—just once?

“Get in the car!” Carter’s eyes dropped to Dayana’s leg, where a scar twisted around her ankle—a brutal reminder of what she’d been through. He looked away. “Zaiden.”

Zaiden Daniels, the driver, stepped out. “Miss Dayana, Mr. Munoz is asking you to get in.”

Dayana didn’t move. Zaiden reached out to help her, and she flinched, instinctively ducking with a whimper, “Please, don’t hit me...”

Zaiden froze, caught off guard by the fear in her eyes. She was nothing like the Dayana he used to know—the vibrant, beloved girl with the whole world ahead of her. Now she was a shadow of herself, all fear and insecurity.

Carter showed no reaction. His face stayed as unreadable as ever.

“Dayana, how long do you plan on keeping me waiting? Haven’t three years taught you anything?” Carter’s voice cut through the stillness.

Dayana slowly got up and climbed into the car, instinctively keeping her distance from Carter. The warmth inside clashed sharply with her rain-soaked skin, leaving her head foggy. She tried to hold it back but sneezed before she could stop herself.

The car hit a speed bump, jolting Dayana forward awkwardly. Carter, who’d been resting with his eyes closed, opened them at the sound.

He glanced at her, disdain dripping from his voice. “Dayana, you really are pathetic.”

Pathetic. The word stung, making the car floor feel unbearably hot under her feet. She shrank back, trying to disappear into the seat, her voice barely a whisper. “I’m sorry. I’ll clean the car mat later...”

Her apology was cut short by Carter’s icy response. “No need. It’s all going to be thrown out.”

Thrown out? Because she had touched it? Dayana’s lips trembled, bitterness flooding her face. She turned to look out the window, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

In Carter’s eyes, she was tainted. Even the things she touched were contaminated—needed to be disposed of.

“In your eyes, only Nora is spotless, right?”

Carter’s expression darkened, anger sparking in his eyes for the first time. “You’re not worthy to talk about her. This is your last warning. If you lay a finger on Nora again... if prison didn’t teach you, I’ll find another way.”