<< Ryker's POV>>

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  -

 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>>

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  -

 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>>

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  —

  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?? 

Getting told I had cancer, replaced by my sister, and divorced all in the same day wasn't enough?

  Now I was standing here, clutching a photo that made my stomach twist, wondering who the actual hell Ryker was.

  "What are you doing there?"

  Ryker's voice rang out from behind, and I flinched. My heart slammed against my ribs as I spun, breath catching in my throat.

  He stood at the top of the stairs, a puzzled expression on his face, holding a brown file-probably the contract.

  He raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for an explanation.

  "This..." I held up the photo. "Who are these people to you, Ryker?"

  I kept my eyes on his face, watching his every expression.

  My breathing slowed, waiting for an answer. If he really was Derek's brother...

  Hell, I'm out.

  "Oh. That." He started down the stairs in the most casual manner ever, closing the distance between us.

  My fingers tightened around the photo.

  "Yeah, 'that' ."

  "Quick question; were you snooping around?"

  "No. I saw it. But dodge all you want, Ryker. You still haven't answered the question." I kept my voice even. I wasn't yelling...not yet. Maybe because I refused to let another Holland make me lose my mind twice in a day.

  "What question?"

  "These people in the photo-who are they to you?"

  "Most people would label them as family."

  I blinked. "Family?"

  He gave a subtle nod.

  And it was all clear. Ryker was a Holland. He was Derek's Brother. Current CEO of the Hollands Group. Another damn Holland Brother.

  "Where is this conversation going?" He asked, finally stopping in front of me. His eyes were as clear as day, blinking at me as if I were the crazy one. "You okay?"

  "Do I look okay to you?"

  "No." Ryker scanned me slowly, like he was staring at some toddler. "You look...dramatic."

  He didn't even blink as I stared at him, whispering the words I'd been swallowing. "You're a Holland."

  "Last I checked, that wasn't illegal. Should I be worried?"

  That annoying calm just added to my anger. He knew. He had to have known from the beginning. Yet...he approached me. Why?

  I dropped the photo on the table.

  "I'm done here." I turned, grabbing my luggage with the most dramatic flair I could muster.

  God forbid I stayed a second longer. I might explode.

  "Hey..." His hand caught my wrist. "What's going on? Do you have some personal vendetta with..."

  "Yes, I do." I snapped.

  Why couldn't I just have one normal night?

 Why did fate have to play dirty with me again?

  I still loved Derek. Pathetic, right? My feelings haven't changed overnight and I still want to fix what's shattered.

  Instead of seeing to it, I was here, thinking Ryker might help. Turned out he was just another Holland.

  Ryker looked thrown off. Like he was genuinely confused about my reaction. It looked too genuine that I almost wondered if he really had an idea or if he was just so good at pretending.

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean, my ex-husband is the man in that photo. Derek Holland. Your brother."

  His face stiffened, a curse slipping out of his mouth.

  "Oh shit."

  "Yeah, shit is the word." I let out a bitter laugh. "First I got kicked out, now I'm stuck playing accidental mistress to the other brother. Cinderella, but with worse taste in men."

  "I'm not Derek. I'm sure you already know that judging by our faces, yes?"

  "You are his brother."

  "Half-Brother."

  "Still his brother." My voice dropped low. "Still a Holland."

  He could have been any man. But no, fate just had to hand me the Holland Sequel.

  "This ruins everything," I muttered. "Instead of Derek getting jealous, He'll set both of us on fire."

  He wouldn't even look at me. He would spite me even more and...

  I couldn't risk it. Never.

  "I don't think that's an actual problem though." He said calmly.

  "Well, it's definitely mine. I want nothing to do with another Holland."

  "You don't think that makes this more deliciously chaotic?" He stepped closer.

  "Did you know?" I asked, sharply.

  "Know what?"

  "That I was his Wife? Is that why you came after me?"

  He grimaced. "Who knows."

  "That's not the answer to my question."

  He chuckled but not in the nicest way. "What do you want, a full confession?"

  "You're unbelievable." I turned. "That's it. I'm done."

  "Then, I guess this is the part where I get to chase after you, Cindrela?"

  "Try it and I'll throw my heels right between your eyes. My aims are quite decent when I'm pissed. And it's Cinderella, not Cindrela!"

  "What-fucking-ever. Just stop spiraling, Lamb."

  "Then watch how I spiral all the way out of your life."

  I twisted the doorknob, ready to leave.

  "While you're out there" He called after me. "I'll have the guards lock the gates."

  I froze. "You won't do that."

  "Wouldn't count on it if I were you." His voice dropped low. "Because you don't get to crash into my life and then, run off like I'm some villain in your personal tragedy."

  He wouldn't do that, right?

  He wouldn't lock me in.

  "Suit yourself."

  With that, I wrapped my arms around myself and stormed out into the night. My bones almost froze in the process.

  'You're doing the right thing.' I told myself.

  But the truth?

  I really had nowhere to go..

  I had no one. And Ryker?

  Fucking kill me already.

  I dragged my luggage along with me, the big lamps in the compound lighting my path towards the gate.

  Just then, a vibrating sound came from my bag. Quickly fishing out my phone, my heart raced abnormally.

  One glance at the caller's ID and my stomach dropped.