Chapter 1 Betrayed

I blinked several times refusing to believe the scene unfolding before my own eyes. Was I seeing things? Had my mind been playing tricks on me? My doubts faded seeing as the longer I stared at the horror in front of me, the more of a reality it had become.

The excitement that I felt rushing over to the highest floor of this building began to dissipate. The papers I held in my hand slowly began to drop in defeat at my side.

“Congratulations! You’re pregnant.” The doctor’s congratulations gradually disappeared only to be replaced by the sound of my crashing, aching heart pounded deafeningly within my ears. My blood, sizzling with anger yet rancid with pain, coursed through my veins as my vision began to cloud up with unshed tears at what had been witnessing.

The scantily dressed red head that I had known all too well had been closely pressed against the chest of my husband of six months as he held her in his embrace. I watched in mortification as he stared down at her in yearning and glee at her return. His ex that jilted him at the alter!

The glass of his office door spared no concealment of their actions allowing me to view in full strife.

I should have know that this would happen. That Dante Crawford could love none but himself and his runaway ex- bride.

Blinking away the burning tears from my eyes, I took in a breath despite it being difficult to overlook the compressed feeling in my chest. I pushed open the door determined to break this little scene apart. My one hand clutched my newly found information at my side while the other cleared the way for me to enter.

The nerve of both of them. Neither one of them appeared to be remotely ashamed especially my dear husband but why should he? This was all a contract to him anyways. The clauses of which he could easily violate.

“What on earth is going on in here?” I managed to illicit the right amount of rancor and anger without letting my hurt slip through the cracks.

“Ahh, Sophia, I was meaning to speak to you about this but lucky you’ve arrived in time.” Dante spoke as casually as he could and not like I actually deserved a genuine explanation of what the hell was going on.

I raised a confused brow at him urging him to speak further in hopes that I would receive some clarity.

“I want a divorce.” For a moment I thought that I had misheard him, that those words were a figment of my imagination but it echoed loud and clear through the air.

“A divorce?” I asked, dumbfounded and caught entirely off guard. My gaze darted at the minimal space between Pheobe and him.

I thought he hated Pheobe after what she had done to him. After all the backlash he had to face and the wrath of his father that push him in to this contract, surely it was enough to resent the person who caused this uproar but it would seem that I was wrong.

Pheobe moved from his tight embrace but just enough so that she could place a supporting hand on his blazer clad bicep showing of her candy red nails.

“Pheobe and I are getting back together. She explained a few things and I’ve decided to forgive her.” Dante explained as the woman beside him tried to contain a smug little grin.

I tore my eyes away from her and looked to him. “But we are married.” I reminded him to which he scoffed.

“Only because you trapped me into marrying you.” I stared at him in disbelief. This cold demeanour was not like him but obviously he would believe that I had something to do with the scandal that had us marrying in the first place.

“Dante, please you must reconsider. Do not make such a rash decision.” I begged clutching the papers in my hand. “I have something to tell you but-“ my eyes darted to Pheobe. “I’d prefer to do it in private.” I prompted not wanting to speak on front of her.

Dante waved his hand through the air dismissing my request. “Whatever it is you have to say you’ll have to say in front of Pheobe.” He responded abruptly and for a fraction of a seconds I couldn’t believe that this was the same man I’d known in the past 6 months.

The man I agreed to marry purely because I had fallen for him. The man who I married to save from being torn apart in a scandal. It was not like we lived as strangers. The information in my hand was proof of it.

He was the father of my unborn child but whatever part of me rushed over here in excitement to tell him had been dead. I was never going to mention such a vital thing to him in front of Pheobe who I couldn’t trust at all.

Besides, judging from his change of heart, Dante would probably want nothing to do with this child considering how enraptured he is by the return of his old flame.

“Well?” Pheobe prompted impatiently as she carassed Dante’s arm. “Spit it out.”

“On second thought, I change my mind.” I muttered bitterly.

“Since everything is settled then, I hope you remove yourself from my house before tomorrow morning. I thank you for your help, Sophia, but I won’t be needing it anymore.” I opened my mouth to say something but he went on. "If you’re going to ask about the agreed settlement amount then know that it will be deposited in to your account before the end of the day. To rectify the situation, divorce papers will be sent to you in a matter of days.” He said with finality in his tone and an inpatient look in his eyes.

I tried to swallow the ball in that had painfully formed on my throat. It was still a shocker to me that all of this was happening in the first place.

“Dante, please. You can’t do this to me. Not now and not like this.” I begged, my lower lip quivering but I refuse to let my eyes shed tears in front of these two.

Pheobe stepped forward now. “You heard what he said. Don’t make him repeat himself. Get your stuff out of the house and leave him alone. You’ve trapped him in a marriage he never wanted and now he’s free.” She emphasised the last word and my nostril flared itching to tell her to stay out of this but it was a losing battle.

Dante has clearly made up his mind and I was not going to sit her convincing him otherwise. Especially not with Pheobe gloating by his side.

I hid the papers at my side and merely nodded before turning around and leaving. What started out as a seemingly exciting day turned out to be my nightmare. I loved Dante from the time I began working as his personal assistant three years ago to having shared a life with him for the past half a dozen months. This was not the Dante I knew but perhaps I never really knew him to begin with.

The little blob in my stomach was all I had now.

As I stormed out of the building, all I could think about was the bitter, conniving way that Pheobe had glared at me. I was never one to scare easily but it was rare for someone to look at me with such evil displayed blatantly on their face.

Chapter 2 Struck

After wondering around the city for who knows how long, I finally mustered up the courage to go back to the house I once considered my home forever. The home that I shared so eagerly with my soon- to- be ex- husband.

The car that carried me to the place I would soon depart from was one assigned for my own personal use by Dante. Jeffrey, my assigned chauffer, knew that something was horribly wrong but he never dared to ask. Aside from small glances through his rear- view mirror, he merely focused on the road and wordlessly carried us back to the house so I could retrieve my things.

My head rested against the cool leather seat as I replayed the scene of this morning over and over in my head. I still couldn’t believe that this was happening. That Dante would do such a thing after all that we had shared as a married couple. Of course, we were not married under normal circumstances but we had shared more than stranger would dare to share. Dante loved to blame me for the scandal that lead to our marriage but I had nothing to do with it.

A pain pierced my chest as I willed myself to make peace with all that was happening but I couldn’t. I loved Dante more than anything in the world and just this morning I couldn’t stop envisioning the life that we were about to have with the blessing of a child coming our way but it was a life I would have to live alone.

The car approached the large black gates and the warm feeling of home no longer lingered. Jeffrey steered us down the open gates and on to the paved driveway until we came to a complete halt in front of the large mansion. I undid my seat belt while Jeffrey held the door open for me and just as I stepped out and squinted my eyes from the onslaught of the sun above, my eyes focussed on the mess that was in front of me.

There stood Pheobe at the open entrance of the house with an array of my possessions in her grasp. One hand held the items whilst her other hand grabbed greedily at the pile before launching it out and over the front steps.

Anger bubbled within me at the audacity and sheer bitterness of this woman. She had Dante. She had won. Couldn’t she see it? There was no need for her to humiliate me any further yet here she was.

“Ah, if it isn’t the star of our show. I’ve been waiting for you. I thought what better of a farewell gift to offer you than a helping hand to send you on your way." She mocked as she tossed the last of my clothes in to the air.

“It would have been better if I hadn’t seen your face at all.” I retorted but she grinned gleefully at my reaction.

I was happy that Jeffrey had left and that there was no one in sight or else I would have felt even more humiliated than I already had been.

My legs moved through the sea of my things on the lawn which I didn’t care to gather just yet. When I approached the doorway, Pheobe blocked my path.

“Where do you think you’re going?” She raised a brow at me like she was the owner of this house.

I glared at her resisting the urge to scratch her face with my slightly long nails. “To gather my things and leave so I do not have to suffer another day or seeing your face." The words squeezed themselves through clenched teeth and her nostril twitched.

“That won’t be necessary, dear sister.” She said in a sweet fake tone when I knew she took me as anything but. After all, we were only step- sisters. “I already took the liberty of leaving all your things at your feet.” She motioned to my thrown out clothes.

“Get out of my way right now, Pheobe.” My voice rose as octave but her face had grown determined.

“The place that you remember no longer exists. This house is now for Dante and I to share and celebrate our endless love. It was always me that he loved. It was and always will be me. You were just dumb enough to believe otherwise. Dante loves me more than anything in the world. It the very reason he is able to toss you out so easily. He would do anything for me.” She gloated and I hated hearing it.

It was like stingy, course salt being pressed and rubbed against my open wounds. It burned, stung, and outright wanted to make me scream in pain.

I swallowed the lump that had been forming on my throat before bringing my attention back to the she- devil that stood in front of me.

“That sounds like you’re trying to convince yourself more than me.” I mocked and chuckled enjoying the look that overcame her expression.

“How dare you! Do you think-“ Her words caught at the back of her throat when her devious orbs lowered to my hand.

Shit.

I quickly tried to hide the pregnancy report but it was too late because she had already seen it.

“What do we have here?” I stepped away but her hand had already grasp the papers before she yanked it out of my hold.

“It is nothing that concerns you.” I reached for the papers but she moved away enough for her to read the report.

Pheobe’s eyes had widened the size of saucers before she looked at me over the edge of the report. A whirlwind of emotions crossed her face but her eyes were filled with fury and jealousy.

“It is a good thing that Dante is divorcing you so he wouldn’t have to father the child of another.” She said but her words were weak.

“It is Dante’s child, Pheobe. Just because you refuse to except it-“

“It means nothing. Your child will be born a bastard.” She yelled and I could no longer contain my anger.

As if on its own accord, my hand raised in the air before launching at her until I slapped her. Pheobe yelped but she overcame the shock of what had just happened faster than I expected. A loud growl left her throat before Pheobe pushed me with force too strong for me to recover from.

A scream escaped my lips and my hand reached out to grab on to something, anything, but it was too late. My body tumbled down the steps until I landed on the hard paving with my head hitting the ground first.

Pain shot through my entire body as I tried to regain the air knocked out of me but my head felt like a bounder had just descended upon it. I reached up weakly to cradle my head when but I felt something warm and wet slip down the side of my face. The smell of metal had me scrunching my nose telling me that I was bleeding and there was a lot of it.

I tried to move, to get back on to my feet, but my entire body was numb and motionless, refusing to cooperate with me at all.

“Take this as a warning!” Pheobe muttered in a chilling tone. She was now hovering over me, her eyes laden with hatred. “If you ever show your face here again you will meet even worse consequences.” She warned and just when I thought she took a step away from my limp body to leave, she did something far worse than I could ever imagine.

“Ugh!” Pheobe grunted in her rage. I watched in horror as she pulled her pointed heeled covered foot back before launching it forcefully right in my stomach.

I screamed as the pain shot through my abdomen and I cried out as a thousand thoughts raced through my mind. My hand reached to cradle my stomach but it felt like I was paralyzed.

“I want you to remember this moment. Never forget how weak and at my mercy you are.” She crouched down and I flinched but her hand already balled up tightly in my hair.

“Pheobe, p- please.” I begged not wanting any further harm to be caused to the life within me.

“Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean Dante will change his mind. He loves me more than you can even imagine. He doesn’t care about what happens to you or your little bastarrd.” She whispered bitterly through tightly clenched teeth.

She threw me a final scathing look as I lay whimpering in pain before she swung around with a huff. Her heels clinked against the paving as she sauntered back into the house.

I opened mouth to call for help but no sound came out. Suddenly, a wave of cold washed through my body and before I knew it, my vision got blurry until I could not longer keep it open.

The last thing I remember was everything turned black before I, too, succumbed to the darkness.

Chapter 3 Decisions

Everything hurt.

Every time I regained some semblance of consciousness, the throbbing began until it turned in to a pounding within my head. I tried to force my eyes open but to no avail. I knew I was in the hospital by the smell and the incessant beeping from a monitor.

I wanted to look around and demand to know if my unborn baby was okay but no effort of mine was significant and before I could try again, I felt a needle prick the inside of my arm before I fell back in to a deep sleep.

Hours, days, perhaps weeks may have gone by but I couldn’t tell. When I woke up this time, my eyelids opened with great ease allowing me to look at the white walls of the hospital room I had been held in. The fluorescent lighting struck my eye but I blinked a few times until my orbs adjusted to the light.

I did a quick scan of my surroundings. The ward I was in had been a private one seeing as my bed was the only one in here. The monotone coloured curtains were pulled apart giving me a view of stormy grey sky above the bustling city below.

Just then the door opened and emerged a nurse who looked surprised yet relieved to see me awake.

“Morning, Mrs. Crawford.” She greeted me with a warm smile as she reached over to check a folder that I could only assume held all of my information.

I offered her a nod in response not feeling like my voice was going to cooperate with me. She did a few checks on the monitor then nodded in approval to herself before closing the folder and looking at me.

“Is my baby okay? Please, I need to know if everything is fine after what happened.” The words tumbled out of my mouth and sounded foreign, almost high pitched, in my urgency.

“You’ve lost a lot of blood, Mrs Crawford.” I clenched my jaw hating that she kept addressing me by Dante’s name.

I narrowed my eyes at her hating that she didn’t out right answer my question. “Is. My. Baby. Okay?” I uttered each word slowly but with a primal instinct ready to wreak havoc on Pheobe should anything have happened to my baby.

“You need to remain calm. Everything is okay. Your baby is safe and free from any harm but you need to relax.” She said carefully not phased by my almost burst of anger at all.

I took in a deep breath to release the tension from my body and felt a little better knowing that the little life inside of me was safe.

“Are you in any sort of pain?” The nurse queried with concern in her eyes.

“I have a headache but it’s not too bad.” My voice was course. I reached to press my fingers against the bandage wrapped around my forehead and winced as I touched something tender.

“You fell pretty hard. It’s a good thing your head injury was minor. As for your baby, he or she is as healthy as can he. I assure you.” She smiled warmly at me and I felt every ounce of my body relax this time.

“Is there anything else that you would like to know?” She asked and I nodded immediately.

“How long have I been here for and when can I leave?” I needed to know this because she could say anything from a few hours to months and I would believe her.

“Three days. You will be discharged tomorrow after the doctor does a few final checks.” She informed me and I nodded.

After the nurse had left, a tray of food was brought in for me which consisted of a hearty breakfast and a bowl of fruit. I should be starving but I had no appetite at all. In fact, the sight of food had me feeling the need to gag. I did force myself to eat a few pieces of fruit thinking more about the baby than myself.

Once I was out of here, I needed to speak to Dante one more time before I could sign any papers. Maybe if I spoke to him when he was alone and Pheobe was nowhere near him then he would be more open to consider what I was saying.

Ugh, Pheobe.

I found that I felt a newfound hate for her that now was etched with a fierce rage of my own. She was such a wretched women and sought to purposely injure not only me but my baby after discovering I was pregnant. For a split second, I considered the possibility that she might have told Dante about it but then I realised that she would never say anything about it especially if she thought that it would jeopardize her position.

With all the thoughts swirling around my head, I felt my headache get worse. I needed not to think about my predicament right now. Next to the tray of food was the remote for the TV mounted a little too high for comfort. I switched it on and my breath immediately hitched in the back of my throat.

Dante and Pheobe had been glued to each other.

Pheobe clung on to his blazer while Dante had his arm around her lower back. They kissed passionately, smiling against each other’s lips and a sharp pang of pain slit through my heart like a double edged sword.

The cameras flashed violently and both of them waved at the paparazzi with heady grins on their faces. Dante held her close to his side as they headed over to his awaiting car. They paused just before the could get in to share one more lingering kiss for the cameras followed by another one.

All this time there was a small part of me that held on to a tiny shed of hope that maybe, just maybe, Dante had not been as taken with her as Pheobe had made it seem. I thought that I had a shot to fix this, to make him see reason and persuade him to go back to how things were.

But seeing him like that while the cameras flashed hungrily at their public display of affection, I knew that Dante’s mind would not waiver. He had made a choice and that choice was to be with Pheobe.

Sadness ripped through me all over again.

I recalled things in my marriage that I shared with Dante. I put in so much of effort, played the role of a the perfect, virtuous wife, and stayed by his side devotedly all this time. I never gave him a chance to find fault in me and what good did that being? I gained nothing but heartache in return.

I scoffed heavily then felt my eyes burn before warm tears slid down my cheeks.

How could he do such a thing to me. I realised then that there was no speaking sense to him unless I intended looking like a fool.

But, my sweet innocent baby.

I cradled my belly tenderly knowing that there was already a little but sacred life inside. A life that deserved better. I knew that I needed to move on from this, from him. And it was not just for myself, but for my baby. It was the realisation I wished I didn’t have but one that I needed.

After hours of sleeplessness, renewed pain, and fallen tears, I knew what I had to do. The next morning, Without any hesitation, I found Dante’s name on my phone and decided to send him a text ending all of this once and for all.

‘Please send the divorce papers to me as soon as possible. I will gladly sign it.

-Sophia.’

My finger hovered over the send key but I pressed it before I changed my mind. The second it sent, I felt a little relieved. All that was left was for me to properly gather my belongings and leave for good.

Chapter 4 Reality check

Dante’s POV.

I glanced at my wristwatch to gage what time it was lending my ear to whatever Pheobe was speaking about.

“Next we can stop by at the boutique. I need a few new dresses for the upcoming social season.” Pheobe did that thing with her fingers against my arm hoping her contact would prevent me from refusing her request.

She always had a knack for spending and she knew well how to splurge but it was a good thing I made more than any woman could spend. It didn’t matter as long as she was around. I shook of the feeling of disconnect that had been there since Pheobe return. A man needed time to readjust and full embrace such a shift.

“Whatever you want.” I offered her a half smile then reached in to my blazer pocket for my phone.

I read through a few emails from my assistant then clicked on some videos about world politics while Pheobe told the chauffer where to pull over.

The car came up to a halt and the back door was held open for either of us. Pheobe had already gotten out but not without rushing me along. I sighed then went to place my phone back in to my blazer when it vibrated.

My thumb slid across the screen to find a text from the one person I was not expecting any sort of communication from. The message she left was far worse than I ever thought it could be.

Sophia was asking me to send through the divorce papers expressing her great eagerness to sign it. My jaw clenched tightly without me realising it and I was furious. I wanted this. I wanted her to do exactly what she was saying but her sending me such a message made me unexplainably uneasy.

Why did she want to leave so willingly all of a sudden? Back in my office she was begging me to reconsider and choose her yet days later she has a strong change of mind.

Where the heck has she even been these past three days? Did she have some secret lover filling her head? I knew she hadn’t left yet because her things were dumped on to the bed in a rather untidy manner but I didn’t question it.

I didn’t think I loved her at all and I still don’t think so. It was always Pheobe that I wanted then why was this irking me as much as it was.

My door was pulled open but I was determined to type back a response asking her to meet me.

“Darling, come on. I’ve been standing out here forever. Surely your business can wait until later.” Pheobe impatiently looked at me from the paving she had been standing on.

I groaned, shoved my phone back in to my blazer pocket before stepping out of the car to endure God knows how long at this boutique.

Thankfully, she had only taken about an hour but she managed to buy nearly half of the boutique in that time. I swiped my card and left to get some air still feeling a little unsettled from Sophia’s message.

“Thank you so much for all these dresses.” Pheobe’s voice caught me off guard as she got in to the car beside me. “I think you deserve a treat.” Her eyes became slanted accompanying her seductive tone as she leaned closer to me.

Her lips pressed against my neck before she moved to place a lingering kiss over my jaw right before she aimed my own lips but something within me made me turn my face away enough so her lips landed on the corner of my cheek.

“Later, Pheobe.” My hand touched her arm to gently push her away and I hated that I felt nothing when I touched her. I didn’t feel that electric current like when I touched…

I shook my head refusing to admit it even to myself.

After an afternoon of throwing myself in to work in hopes that it would ease this niggling feeling within me, I decided to call it a day and head back home. It was rather late and there was no one else in the building but I made my exit.

When I had gotten home, I slipped in through the front door as quietly as possible hoping to venture past Sophia’s room. Perhaps the maids could rearrange and pack her things back in to place. However that was not an option.

Sophia’s bedroom was completely cleaned out and devoid of any of the things that claimed the space as hers. Her smell no longer lingered in the air neither had a single article of her possession could be spotted. She actually moved out.

The realisation left an acrid taste in my mouth that refused to wash out no matter how hard I swallowed. I didn’t expect to feel this way. I didn’t think that once the dust settled and my decision became a reality that I would feel so… empty.

She was gone and I didn’t know when I would ever get to see her again or if I ever would. It all felt like it happened too fast. I expected more of a fight from her. I expected to see her at least once more before we called it quits for good.

Before I knew what I was doing, my phone was in my hand and my finger tapped against her name. I pressed the phone to my ear as it rang awaiting her to answer the phone just so I could hear her voice again. I didn’t know what I was going to say but maybe it will go along the lines of us meeting to discuss the finality of the divorce.

My grip tightened around the phone when it rang for far too long. Sophia didn’t answer and it seemed like she had no interest in doing so either. I tried again then two more times but to no avail.

The next few days felt like agony and the weeks that followed were worse. What was wrong with me?! How could I he feeling this way over Sophia.

Chapter 5 Reborn with Richess

Four Years Later.

My hand wrapped around the warm porcelain mug that contained the dark caffeinated liquid that I required each morning to give me the kick I needed to handle my day ahead. Days that were usually busy but I had come to adapt to it quite well and efficiently.

After moving from New York to Canada, I wallowed in my self pity for a bit before I got back on to my feet again. I landed a job as an assistant manager before working my ass off to get to being the head of the department. The shift in my career had me so caught up in it and distracted that I soon forgot the ache of the life I left behind… of the man I left behind.

I shook my head, refusing to entertain any thoughts of the life that I left behind especially since I swore never ever to return to it.

Whatever my life was now, I loved it as much as one could. I had my booming career and my beautiful baby girl who was every bit a fighter as I am. What more could I ask for?

A knock on my office door dragged me out of my thoughts before it was pushed opened to reveal Adam. Dressed in his signature three piece suit and not a single strand of his rich chestnut hair out of place, Adam marched in to my office moving to the glass wall that overlooked the busy city below.

“Good morning to you too, Adam.” I snorted sarcastically. “It isn’t like you to be in here this early.” I pointed out.

Adam threw me a look that was anything but threatening. I would have never spoken to him like this had we not passed formalities by now considering he was the CEO of the company itself. But Adam and I have shared too much since I began working here to be anything but friendly. Of course, I knew my limits and place at the end of it all.

“Is it? Is it really a good morning, Soph?” He asked negatively and I raised a quizzical brow at me.

I brought my mug to my lips to take a sip of my coffee before responding to him. “Wow, the Monday blues has got you down bad.” He waved a hand at that.

“It isn’t the Monday blues so much as much as it’s this meeting I have to go for.” He complained as he turned around to ready his shoulder against the glass and cross his arms over his broad chest.

Adam, at the ripe age of 32, was extremely handsome and had everything a man- and woman- could want. He was successful, focussed, and possessed the perfect balance of wit and gentleness that saved him from being an ass. It always baffled me why he was still single but he appeared to be happy with that.

“You go for meetings all the time, Adam. Why is this one getting you so worked up?” I leaned back in my chair still nursing my steaming cup of coffee.

“This one is in New York. Not my favourite place really.” That had always been something we shared in common.

He let out a small sigh but his sparkling green eyes lit up like he had thought of something.

“Perhaps you may be able to brighten my mood if you join me for lunch today at that new seafood place that opened up along the harbours edge.” He looked at me expectantly and it was not unusual for us to eat together on most days but my lunch hour was already booked out today.

“As tempting as that offer is, I actually have to take Hayley to her physio appointment.” I informed him. Adam nodded slowly in disappointment but I knew he understood. If anyone did, it was him.

He was a huge support for me since I began working here and over the years we just got comfortably close and it was nice. We both enjoyed each other company and matched on intellect.

“How has it been going with that? Is she doing any better?” He questioned with concern.

I nodded. “Oh, yes, a lot better actually. The numbness in her legs have decreased and she is starting to move around by herself now but some days are tiring than others for her.” I said with a sigh.

Hayley was born with a neural tube defect called Spina bifida. Although it isn’t on the severe spectrum of what it could have been, it still is quite challenging at times. Aside from that, she was a brilliant little girl with so much of determination.

“She is an amazing kid. I’ve never quite seen any little person as strong willed as her.” Adam knew her well since he was basically around her since she was born.

Hayley was fond of him from the get go and Adam was good with kids. It was surprising at first but then he explained all the kids his sister’s had and it explained a lot.

Adam left shortly after but not before saying something dramatic about his meeting. Once he left, I went through my personal email as I did every morning before I got down to doing any real work. There were a few emails that were spam and for advertising purposes but one on particular had caught my eye.

I recognised the email address being of one of the most renowned law firms in New York and quickly clicked on the email to see what this was all about.

A part of me feared that Hayley’s existence was discovered and this was a custody hearing but thankfully when I read through it, It was none of that.

However, my eyes widened with each word I read in disbelief and I had to read the email once more to make sure my eyes were not receiving me.

After his death nearly five years ago, my grandfather had left his entire estate and company in my name once I had turned twenty- six which I had about a month ago.

I couldn’t believe it but here was the catch.

I would need to return to New York to sign the papers and take ownership of the company my grandfather had left behind.

In the years that have passed by, I swore never to return. I refused to subject myself to any sort of discomfort from being in the same country as Dante Crawford and my step- sister. Returning meant facing them after all these years and I didn’t know if I was ready to do that.

The hurt was still there buried away but not deep enough. The feeling of betrayal was one confrontation away from renewing itself and the anger that festered scared me to even think of it. I couldn’t ruin all that I worked so hard to overcome by going back there.

My body immediately jerked up pushing my chair back. I rushed out of my office to find Adam. If anyone could advise me well, it would be him.