It had been over an hour, but it felt like the world was slowing down to mock me. The car moved like it was crawling. I stared out of the window, but I wasn't seeing anything, not really. 

  Derek, Annie, my father, and my stepmother. All of them, spinning around in my head like a cruel joke that wouldn't stop.

  The anger had dried up, and the sadness had turned stale. All that was left was something cold and hollow.

  And I knew exactly what I needed.

  A drink.

  When the driver pulled up to a neon-lit club on the edge of the city, I handed him a crumpled bill and stepped out without a word.

  It was a chilly Saturday evening and the club was crowded. The place was loud. Bodies pressed together on the dance floor, sweat and perfumes curled in the air.

  The bass thudded against my ribs, as I squeezed through the crowd, making my way to the bar and slid onto a barstool.

  "Whiskey," I muttered.

  The bartender gave me a look. "Planning to drown yourself tonight, or is this just foreplay?"

  "If it works, bring it on."

  He chuckled and left.

  The bartender soon returned and dropped the glass in front of me. I threw it back with no hesitation, downing every content until I felt the fire roll down my throat, bloom in my chest, and settle behind my eyes.

  "Another,"

  By the time I was four shots in, I was slurring, I think. My limbs were no longer mine. But it was better this way. Thinking hurts more than the burn.

  I didn't want to think about whatever might be happening back at home.

  I raised my empty glass again, clumsily pushing it across the table for more.

  "One... more... glass..."

  Before the tumbler could touch the point I wanted it to be, a hand caught my wrist.

  "She's done."

  A deep voice resounded from above my head, stirring a sudden anger that has been soaking in my veins.

  I raised my head to see the person. I blinked hard, trying to focus, but my head was too heavy.

 For a split second, I thought it was him. I thought Derek had come to drag me home and finish what he started.

  "Derek..." I whispered, confused, a tremor in my voice.

  The man scowled. His eyes flicked across my face like he was judging me. His brows pulled together.

 And then he said something strange. "Is that the guy who did this to you?"

 Wait-

  That voice wasn't Derek's.

  I blinked again, clearer this time and I finally saw him.

  No, this wasn't Derek. This was someone else entirely.

  The stranger had brown eyes, unreadable and almost hidden beneath a fringe of messy, dark hair that curled over his brow. His lips were curved into something between a smirk and a sneer. He was wearing a jacket with black leather, and his sleeves were pushed up. His arms were lean but solid, lined up with tattoos that disappeared into the fabric.

  He looked like trouble.

  Deliberate trouble.

  "Give me back my drink."

  "Not when you look half-dead and half-drunk already."

  I scoffed. "You think I care?"

  "No," he leaned in, grinning slightly. "I think if given a chance, you'll drink until you drop dead."

  "So?"

  "So, no drinks." He tapped the rim of my empty glass, sounding casual. Like this wasn't the first time we've spoke. "Let's talk about why you're drinking like you just had your soul stepped on."

  I should've walked away. I should've said something snarky and rolled my eyes. But something about him made me stay. Or maybe it was just that I had nothing else to do with my life at that point.

  "What exactly do you want to know?" I snarled, the words tumbling out, unexpectedly. Or maybe it was just the alcohol talking. "That I lost everything including my husband, my way, and my worth all in one day? Which part do you wanna know?"

  "Sounds like the husband wasn't really yours to begin with," He replied easily as if we were talking about some romcom and not my life.

  "You know what? Men are scum."

  He laughed, the sound deep and low in a way to cause my chest to rumble in a weird way.

  "Correction," he said, his lips curling. "You only think men are scum because you love them. Don't love them, use them. Then you'll see that they're just tools. And tools don't disappoint."

  I blinked. "What's your name?"

  He leaned in, like he was sharing a secret. "Ryker."

  "That supposed to impress me?"

  "Did it?"

  I hated that it kinda did.

  He glanced down at my bruised wrist, then back at my face, his expression unreadable.

  "You ever heard of the power of jealousy?" he asked suddenly.

  I blinked. "What?"

  "Jealousy," he said. "Pain breaks you. But Jealousy? now that drives you. When it burns in the right person, it becomes power."

  I stared at him, my heart thudding against my ears.

  "What do you mean?"

  "Get yourself another man."

  His words stunned me into speechlessness. It sounded ridiculous. It was ridiculous. And I couldn't... I couldn't cheat on Derek.

  'He has done that already.' A voice whispered in my head in a mocking tone.

  Even so....

  "I'm a married woman," I announced.

  Ryker scoffed. "Married?? I don't think so. You're shackled. There's a big difference."

  "You know nothing about me."

 "Maybe. But I know you've been crawling after someone who wouldn't crawl an inch for you,"

  My eyes dimmed. His words weren't just close to the truth...

  They were it.

  "You shouldn't wait on a man." Ryker told me. "Stick with me. Let him see you in someone else's arms and he'll come running. They always do when they think you've moved on."

  My breathing caught. Was that hope I was seeing??

  "What if he doesn't? "

  "Then, he was never worth the chase."

  My throat tightened.

  "You're choosing a man who's not choosing you. But it's not too late to change that."

  "Why're you telling me all these?" I questioned, sliding off the stool. "You don't even know me."

  "I'm just trying to help."

  "Help?" I scoffed, my voice rising. "By telling me to parade around like some bait?"

  "By reminding you that you deserve better."

 "You're unbelievable." I turned to walk away but Ryker moved faster. He stepped in front of me, stopping me in my tracks.

  I should've shoved him.

  My whole body screamed for it. My hands curled at my sides like I was going to swing.

  But I couldn't move. I couldn't do anything.

  "I'm not Derek," he whispered.

  His hand dipped low and before I could react, he slipped something into my back pocket.

  "That's my contact card."

  I felt my breath catch.

  "Find me anytime you need me," he said. "I'm always available to play a husband role for you."

  I blinked.

  Ryker pulled away slowly, like he was savoring the last second of tension between us.

  "Don't look so offended," A grin crossed his face. "You're not the first married woman who's needed a better man."

  And he was right. Maybe not about everything, but he was right about me.

 I brushed past him, my shoulder bumping his. But the card was still in my pocket. Like a sin I hadn't committed yet.

  And maybe, just maybe...

  I was curious what kind of man Ryker was. 

<< Ryker's POV>>

  -

  -

 The door slammed shut behind me, and the noise from the bar faded as I stepped out of the bar and into the night. I didn't get to enjoy the soothing breeze before my phone started to buzz inside my pants pocket.

  My shoulders slumped slightly as I fished out the phone while walking towards the garage. I didn't need to look to know who was calling.

  << Dad >>

  I swiped the answer button and placed the phone close to my ear, my brows knitting instinctively. "Yeah?"

  My father's voice came in cold. "Ryker, do you still remember what's at stake?" He went straight to the point.

  "Nice to hear from you too." I spat out.

  "Where are you??"

  "Out." I squeezed out while staring at the sidewalk.

  "Ryker. I shouldn't have to remind you but two weeks is what's left. The deadline is approaching and you're yet to present a woman to the board."

  Here we go again. The deadline.

  I massaged my forehead to reduce the tension from folding there. "You're not reminding me. You're repeating yourself and mind you, I know the deadline."

  "Then why haven't I seen a ring? Or a name? The board is nervous!"

  "Let them be nervous. I'm handling it." I pulled open my car door and sat in the driver's seat.

  My father continued with his usual sermon. "You said that last week but there's still no woman. They're already questioning your leadership and I'm running out of ways to keep them in line."

  "The deadline is not up yet." I breathed.

  "You make it sound like you've got a lot of time left. The board meets in fourteen days. If you don't have someone by your side by then, the position of CEO goes to your brother."

 "Because he's married?"

  "Because he looks stable, reliable and he's a family man. That's what they want."

  I laughed but it came out flat. Everything sounded ridiculous. They were demanding too much from me. Just too much.

  "I've worked for the company since I was twenty-two. I have devoted my life to bringing the group to its current level. Doesn't that count at all??"

  "You're single, Ryker. And to them, that means unpredictable." He added, irking me even more.

"They can think all they want until they grow a double brain. I'm taking my time to set my plans in motion. But just for clarity's sake, I'll present a wife to you all. Soon."

  With that said, I ended the call. The silence in the car wrapped around me and I didn't even realize I was gripping the steering wheel like it owed me something.

  Everything felt like a slow-burning fuse inside of me.

  I closed my eyes for a second and she came to mind. That woman from the bar.

  I have seen a lot of women, been with a lot of women but there was just something different about this one.

  I could get anyone, throw in some charms, sign a check, put on some performance. But this...

  She was personal. She was the perfect key piece for my bigger game....the kind you don't find twice.

  I was betting on her. Maybe it was foolish but I knew what I saw in her eyes. She wasn't done yet, she still wanted to fight for something.

  And even if she didn't, I'd remind her how. One way or another, I was going to get her. Either by hook or by crook, she'll be mine.

  •••

  << Vanessa's POV>>

  -

  -

 Even with the splitting headache and numbing pain in my spine, I couldn't wash down the dread crawling up my throat as I stared at my luggage on the floor close to my feet.

  That sickening feeling surfaced again as I raised my eyes, bringing them to the people in front of me.

 Derek was standing there, his hand wrapped around Annie's waist, staring at me like I was a stain. A mistake. His regret.

  Annie was grinning widely, looking all cozy, probably enjoying every look of pain that crossed my face.

  And my parents?? They sat on the sofa, watching me like I was performing a crying scene out of a movie.

  "Are you suddenly deaf, Vanessa?? I said, get out!" Derek spat out, reminding me that my time was up in this house and in his life.

Instead of crying-like I so wanted to- I chuckled, bitterly. "Aren't you too cheap, Derek? Annie came barely hours ago and now, you want a divorce. So soon?"

  "I am cheap?? That's so rich coming from someone like you." He glared at me. "You never wasted time sliding into her place the moment she left. That's what you are-cheap, and a desperate whore ."

  He condemned me all in one breath as if he had been itching to say all that to my face someday. As if he had been waiting for this day when he gets to slap all of my deeds on my face.

  "Was it a crime??" My voice cracked, but I didn't look away. I couldn't give them even more satisfaction of seeing me crumble. "Was it a crime to try and save something?? I never forced Annie to run away."

  "Don't blame me just because you jumped in to clean up my mess. No one asked you to play hero." Annie countered immediately. And I wondered how she did it, how she played her game so well but still had Derek wrapped around her finger.

  And my father? He still didn't say a word. He didn't tell them that he had coaxed me into stepping in for Annie nor did he try to stop the unfair treatment that was meted out on me.

  My eyes burned even more, that single tear slipped out but I wiped it off with the back of my sleeve. "I gave everything up. My modeling career, my years of hard work...all for what??"

  Derek raised a brow at me. "Did I ever ask you to do any of that??"

  His words stung like a slap. My heart...

  God, I could feel every tear, every part of me shredding apart from the inside out.

  He hugged Annie even more, his eyes turned chillier as he enunciated every word like a promise. "There's no space left for you here. Leave."

  I stood there, my fingers curled on my sides as I let my eyes drift one last time-from Derek's angry face, to Annie's smug little smile, and to the blank stares on my father's and stepmother's faces.

  Nobody moved, spoke, or even cared.

  I nodded slowly, the realization finally sinking in as I bent down, grabbed the files, and signed the divorce papers.

  Once done, I threw it across the room and it landed close to Derek's feet. My fingers shook as I picked up my luggage, the only thing I had left.

  My knees felt weak but I managed to stand upright. Derek's eyes shifted from the signed papers to my face and I swore that I saw a slight frown envelope his face. Like he didn't expect me to actually sign those papers.

  I surprised myself too by signing them. Maybe-just maybe-I had some thick skin left. Probably because I knew I was dying.

 I had colon cancer. But no hope, no child, no family. Nothing left. And now, I lost Derek too.

  Fair enough.

  I turned around wordlessly, dragging my luggage as I stepped out of the house.

  That house, that life, all of them were never really mine.

  'Find me anytime you need me.'

  I remembered him. His words had sounded ridiculous in that moment but now, it had become a small, dangerous glimmer of hope.

  Maybe he was right after all. Maybe I wanted to give this a shot with him.

  I fished the contact card out of my pocket, took a deep breath, and dialed the number.

  My heart slammed against my chest at every ring, and my throat tightened as my anxiety increased.

  'What the hell am I doing?'

  'What am I even thinking?'

  But then, he answered. His voice was deep and slow like he already knew who was calling.

  "Hello, Little Lamb."

  My breath caught. And just like that, my whole world shifted. 

<< Ryker's POV>>

  —

  —

  I knew it was her the second the phone lit up. I didn't even have to guess.

  I expected her to call.

  "Hello, Little Lamb."

  The silence on the other end stretched. Like she was fighting with her words.

  "Is it still... on the table?" Her voice came, soft but rough as if she had been crying or had screamed into a pillow.

  I leaned back into the seat, my other hand gripping the phone.

  "I don't make offers I don't intend to keep."

  She didn't speak right away. I heard the faint shuffle of movement. Maybe the drag of a suitcase, I couldn't tell. Either way, I could sense things moving in the direction I wanted them to be.

  "I have nowhere else to go," she whispered.

  And God help me, those words did something to me.

  "Text me your location," I said. "I'll be there in twenty."

  ~~~~~

  << Vanessa's POV>>

  —

  —

  What could be weirder than this? One moment, he was someone I wanted to get away from. Now, he was sitting across from me with that cocky, victorious smile plastered on his face.

  Maybe I was going to regret this.

  "So..." I started, unsure where to begin. "What exactly was your offer again?"

  Ryker swirled the ice in his glass, eyes locked on me like he wanted to get under my skin.

  We were back at the bar, tucked away in a private booth and far from the crowd. The silence was so heavy that I almost wanted to disappear into my luggage next to me.

  "He finally kicked you out." Ryker said instead.

  I glanced at my luggage and then back at him. "Yeah, pretty obvious, isn't it? Or you want a second look?"

  "Easy." he said, setting his glass on the table and leaning in, he placed a hard stare on me. "Tell me, what do you want?"

  I'm sure he knew exactly what I wanted but he just chose to wind me up.

 "You know."

 "No, I don't."

  "Are we here so you can waste my time? If so, I'd rather be under a bridge, counting crickets." I snarled, curling my fingers around my luggage handle.

  I've had enough for one night and I couldn't tolerate being teased. Not now.

  "You really want to do that?" He asked, then grinned when I didn't respond. "I didn't think so."

  I stayed silent, biting my inner cheek. How I hated that he was right.

 His gaze softened. "Here's my offer; Use me to get back at your ex. But this time, it all boils down to jealousy. Even if he doesn't love you, he won't like seeing you with someone else. Especially someone like me."

  "Why would he be jealous when he doesn't even—" I searched for the right word. "...like me?"

  A smirk spread across his face as he leaned back on the chair, eyes glinting in mischief. "You'll see."

  "You aren't being clear about this. I need to know what I'm getting into."

  "I'm telling you that I know how this works. Your husband..."

  "Ex-husband." I corrected flatly.

  He shrugged. "Whatever. Trust me, Derek would be jealous seeing his ex-wife with another man. He would wonder if you ever loved him, why you moved on so fast. That's where it starts. He'd come chasing."

  I grimaced. "You know that's unrealistic, right?."

  "Then why don't we set the ball rolling first? If it works, we keep going. If not—" his voice dropped low, almost into a whisper. "You're free to walk away and never look back."

  My heart thumped against my chest. His eyes on me, his voice echoing like a promise in my ears, his words like a mantra, holding depths and conviction.

  What do I have to lose if this doesn't work out?

  Nothing.

  "And what's in it for you?" I asked.

 He couldn't be some saint doing this for free.

  He grinned. "A lot. More than you realize."

  I didn't want to dig deeper. Life was already so messy enough and I would love to not be involved with his affairs. "Alright then."

  "Deal?"

  His eyes sparkled with mischief and expectations. Somewhere, my rational side told me to withdraw and run. I was probably making another mistake.

  But I found myself nodding. "Deal."

  After drinks, we got in his car. My luggage was in his backseat and I sat with him in the front. The city's night beauty blurred around me as he drove into the bustling streets of Brooklyn.

  My new world. Fake and temporary but still mine.

  Ryker soon parked in front of a large Villa. I squinted my eyes at the luxurious villa in front of us.

  "Rich, huh?" I commented.

  Ryker smirked as he unbuckled his seatbelt. "Wealth looks good on me, doesn't it?."

  I rolled by eyes in response and he let out a chuckle.

  Together we climbed out of the car and headed towards the mansion. Ryker paused, his hand on the doorknob. "Welcome home, Little Lamb." He said smoothly as he pushed the door open.

  I crunched my nose at the name.

  "Wow. Nice interiors." My eyes wandered around as I stepped in while he trailed behind me. The house was a stunning display of beauty and luxury. Marble floors, elegant furniture, and eye-catching artworks that were hung on the walls.

  I half expected him to give another over-the-top reply where he says he had a room filled with his personal constellation and that he'd bought a vacation house on the moon, instead he said. "I'll go upstairs and grab the contract."

  I raised an eyebrow. "Contract? Didn't expect we'd be needing one. Isn't that too much? "

  "You're walking into a game, Vanessa. I want rules on papers so no one forgets what we're playing at. " He said, already heading towards the stairs. "Feel at home."

  He disappeared and I let my eyes feel at home. The artworks were so impressive, pulling me in. Curiosity pulled me closer to the captivating La Fornarina portrait on the wall.

  As I walked closer, my eyes landed on a small photo frame lying flat on the table instead of being displayed.

  I wasn't snooping, I told myself. I was just curious.

  I reached for the photo, picked it up and saw it was a family photo.

  In the photo was....

 Derek?

  Something in me froze. My eyes wandered to his mother and then, to his father—someone who I'd only seen once, and it was during my wedding to Derek.

  I felt the ground shift beneath my feet when I saw the person standing next to Mr Luke Holland, Derek's Father...

  Ryker.

  During my years being married to Derek, I'd learned about his older half-brother. The illegitimate son his father had with their housekeeper. The lone wolf of the family. No one spoke about him openly, like he was like the sin of their family. He never showed up at my wedding with Derek. And Derek? He hated the idea of him.

  Could Ryker be...that brother??