Cesar’s expression shifted slightly. “Naya, something urgent came up. You should get some rest, no need to wait for me.”

He grabbed his coat and quickly stood up.

Naya watched his flustered figure rush out the door, a dull ache blooming in her chest.

She didn’t listen. Instead of resting at home like he said, she quietly followed him, keeping a careful distance as she trailed him through the night.

The car came to a stop in front of a house, and Cesar hurried through the gate and into the garden.

Inside the glass greenhouse, Zora lay on the sofa, clad in the same sheer chiffon nightwear. She clutched her chest with a delicate expression; brows lightly furrowed, the image of a fragile beauty.

The moment Cesar saw her, he rushed forward and pulled her into his arms. “Zora, don’t wear this anymore. If someone sees us, I’ll lose my mind.”

As he spoke, he took off his coat and wrapped it around her. Zora smiled teasingly. “What about her? Didn’t you give her the same thing?”

“How could she ever compare to you?” Cesar’s voice was thick with desire. “You’re bold, confident. These things were made for you.”

As he spoke, he began to kiss her skin, inch by inch.

But Zora pushed him away, tears shimmering at the corners of her eyes. “Cesar, what do you take me for? Another girl like Naya, someone who sold herself just to climb higher? Tell me, what exactly are we?”

“Of course we’re husband and wife,” Cesar murmured against her lips, kissing her again.

But those words, sharp as ice, cut through both Zora’s and Naya’s hearts like blades.

Zora collapsed into Cesar’s arms, tears streaming down her cheeks. “You’re my husband, but you spend every day with that woman. Even Abigail calls her mom. When will I finally be able to live in the open? Do you love her?”

“Of course not,” Cesar said hurriedly. “If I did, would I have gone so far as to swap your child with hers and toss hers into the trash without even a tombstone?”

Naya’s breath hitched. She staggered back, stunned.

She had imagined the worst before, that the child was discarded, forgotten. But hearing it from Cesar himself shattered something inside her.

He used to pray for their baby. He’d lie next to her belly, listening to every tiny sound.

He stroked her skin, whispered to the life growing inside. He held her hand, told stories, shared dreams of a future.

He’d loved their baby, or so she thought. Yet he left her child to rot, without even a name.

Before she could recover, another noise broke through the glass. Cesar pressed Zora beneath him, their bodies close, their kisses loud and urgent.

Outside, Naya’s eyes reddened. Pain ripped through her chest like a knife.

She glanced up one last time at the scene inside, then turned and walked away without looking back.

Once in the car, she grabbed her phone and called.

“How much longer?” she asked coldly. “I’m done waiting.”

“Two weeks,” the voice answered. “I’ll stage the accident and get him out of your life.”

After hanging up the phone, Naya took a deep breath. In just two more weeks, she would be gone from this place, leaving Cesar behind for good.

When she got home, Abigail was already sound asleep. Her rosy cheeks were dotted with dimples, a picture of peace and innocence.

Looking at her, a flicker of sorrow passed through Naya’s heart. If her own child had lived, she would’ve been just as lovely.

Just then, a message came in from an unknown number. She opened it, it was a video. In it, Cesar and Zora were tangled together, kissing passionately.

Before Naya could react, a follow-up text arrived.

[Ms. Steele, I’m sure you’ve seen what just happened. You also know Abigail is my biological daughter, and Cesar is my lawful husband. I hope you’ll know your place and leave Cesar soon.]

Naya stared at the message, the smugness practically oozing from the screen. It wasn’t just a warning, it was Zora’s way of staking her claim.

But as she thought about the five years she’d wasted, a bitter wave of resentment rose in her chest.

She replied without hesitation, [If it’s so righteous and official, why are you still hiding like a coward?]

Then, without waiting for a response, Naya switched off her phone.

She had no interest in sparring with the self-proclaimed queen, let alone falling into her carefully laid trap.

It wasn’t until five days later that Cesar finally came home.

During that time, he had sent Naya multiple messages claiming to be away on business. Naya, suppressing her disgust, had replied from time to time.

It was for no other reason than to disappear before he noticed.

Cesar was known for being fiercely competitive. He could discard others without a second thought, but he would never tolerate being the one left behind.

That was why Naya had decided to fake her own death.

Perhaps sensing something off, Cesar returned bearing gifts: a delicate dress and a pair of pink diamond earrings.

“Naya, why don’t you try them on?” he said, crouching like a gentleman to help her put on the earrings.

His sincerity might have moved her, if she hadn’t known about the gifts. Just three minutes earlier, Zora had posted a video flaunting her luxury.

In it, she wore a full pink diamond necklace and a custom-made designer gown. Tossed carelessly at her feet, clearly labeled as gifts, were the same earrings and dress Cesar had just brought home.

Naya watched him, amused by the performance.

Cesar seemed to pick up on her mood. He gently set the earrings down and reached out, preparing to pull her into a hug.

But before he could, Abigail ran into his arms. “Daddy! It’s been so long. I missed you so much.”

Snuggling into his neck, she took a deep breath. “Why do you smell like Zora? Ohhh, I get it. You’ve been with her these past few days, haven’t you?”

Her innocent remark landed like a blade. Cesar stiffened. The air turned cold with awkward silence.

But Abigail, oblivious, went on cheerfully, “Zora always smells so nice. I love her the most! Daddy, when are you going to marry her so she can be my mom?”

Whether it was out of rage or shame, Cesar simply set Abigail down.

Trying to offer both comfort and an explanation, he said, “Abigail, you’re Naya’s child. In this life, only Naya can be your mother. No one else.”

He glanced at Naya. “As for the perfume on me… Zora works as my assistant. I must’ve picked it up from her.”

Naya’s heart skipped a beat.

Just days ago, she had mocked Zora for being sneaky, and now, she had suddenly become Cesar’s assistant.

The truth was, Cesar had always kept work and personal matters strictly separate. Even back when Naya had been blindly in love and begged to be his assistant, he turned her down, citing conflict of interest.

And now… Naya let out a silent scoff. Clearly, every principle could be bent in the name of love.

“Oh, and Naya,” Cesar added as he loosened his tie, tone casual, “I need you to announce Zora’s new role at the company party.”

He didn’t stop there. “You know how my parents feel about her. But if you’re the one who introduces her, they’ll back off. They won’t make things hard for her.”

Watching Cesar go to such lengths for Zora; anticipating his parents’ reactions, thinking about her struggles, Naya felt a dull ache rise in her chest.

He considered everything... except the storm of gossip that would hit Naya if she made the announcement herself.

Soon enough, the day of the company party arrived.

And though Naya still held the title of Mrs. Harmon, she couldn’t compete with something far more intoxicating: The One That Got Away.

The moment Zora stepped into the room, she stole the spotlight.

She wore a silver fringed gown that shimmered under the lights, striking a pose with the confidence of someone who knew she'd already won.

Clutched in one arm was Abigail, dressed in a miniature version of Zora’s gown, chattering sweetly as if they had never been apart.

Whispers began to ripple through the crowd.

“Is Abigail Zora’s daughter? They look almost identical.”

“Wait… I thought she was Mrs. Harmon’s.”

“Zora is Mr. Harmon’s real love. Mrs. Harmon was always just a stand-in.”

“No wonder they look like a perfect little trio.”

“Poor Naya. She has to introduce Zora as Cesar’s assistant.”

“That’s why they say being in a wealthy family is never easy.”

Each word struck Naya like knives to the chest. She lifted her wine glass but didn’t drink. Her gaze drifted toward the stars beyond the window.

Across the room, Zora held Abigail’s hand, and Cesar stood beside them, his arm grazing Zora’s waist. They looked every bit the loving family.

And Naya just stood alone, a silent spectator at a show she was once the lead in.

“You still haven’t given up?” Zora’s voice broke the quiet.

She approached, champagne in hand, her tone honeyed with cruelty. “You see it, don’t you? Cesar, Abigail, and I, we belong together. A real family.”

Naya’s lips curved into a calm, unreadable smile. Yes, Zora had every reason to be proud. After all, she had claimed what Naya never truly possessed.

However, she couldn’t let it go. “So what if I’m Mrs. Harmon in name only? If you’re so bold, then make the Harmon family recognize you.”

With that, Naya set down her glass and turned to leave.

She knew her in-laws well, they were stubborn, old-fashioned, and not the type to change their minds easily.

If they had been, Zora and Cesar would’ve been married long ago, and Naya would never have been part of the picture.

She had barely taken two steps when Abigail’s cry pierced through the noise.