"So, where do you know that she has gone to?"

Dante was seen pacing the length of his office, one arm folded tightly across his chest whilst the other held his chin.

"You shouldn't have let her leave the house at that time of the night, what if something had happened to her?" Rowan continued, refusing to let him off the hook.

"I know" Dante shouted as if trying to catch a break from the blames Rowan had been throwing at him.

"I just... I didn't know she was serious about leaving. I expected that she would have returned home by now."

"Can you hear yourself? How could you not know she was seriously going to leave? Your security informed you about her leaving but you still gave no word. Now you are here pacing forth and back, why even bother like you care?"

Dante held a stern gaze at Rowan. His words came out in anger. He became aggravated, almost throwing a punch at him.

"What! Are you implying that I shouldn't care about my wife's whereabouts?"

Rowan saw the way his face burned with rage. He became frightened and confused because he had never seen him this worried before.

"No, all I'm saying is I don't get the reason why you are so worked up when you initially married this woman just to cause her pain." He held both his hands up in a way that gestures don't come for me as he tried to justify himself.

Dante sighed heavily. His mind in total chaos. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He had sworn to break her, to make her pay. Yet now, nothing felt certain anymore.

Also, he is obliged to keep her safe as his legal wife. Him not having an idea about where she might be poses a shame to him.

"I should be worried. It's been 48 hours since she left. What am I going to say when people start raising questions? Mrs. Collins hasn't stopped asking of her and all I could say to her was that she traveled for work and would be back soon because I didn't know she would be gone for this long."

"She left so abruptly, the staff are beginning to make side-talks about what happened that night. If this gets out of hand and the media gets hold of it, you know the effect it would have on the companies."

"I see why you are worried now," Rowan said, a smile tugging the corner of his lips. "For a moment I thought you had fallen head over heels for her. Only a man in love would react the way you did."

"Love? No! I want that woman to suffer. I will make her pay for all that her despicable father has caused my family. What's the fun in that if I don't get her to stay close to me? That's why I married her, and now I have no idea where she is." Dante ran his hands through his hair, brushing it back in utmost frustration.

"That man stole ten years of my life. He took away my joy and happiness. When I finally decided I won't be a slave to it anymore, I made the choice to marry his daughter on exactly the tenth year the incident happened." His words came out in complete rage.

Dante's phone vibrated softly on the desk. He reached for it, but the screen lit up before he could flip it over.

[Hey love, I'll be at yours tonight]

Rowan caught a glimpse of the notification. His brows shot up. "Isn't that Sylvia? Why is she coming over to your place again?"

Dante hesitated, his thumb hovering over the screen. "She's been... staying over since she got back from her trip."

Rowan leaned forward, his tone calm but firm. "You can't keep doing this, man. Not in your matrimonial home. If you must see her, get her an apartment somewhere else. This..." he gestured toward Dante's phone, "...this isn't right."

Dante's gaze met the man who looked rather annoyed. Rowan had always been the one to speak sense when everyone else kept quiet. Asides handling his contracts as his legal advisor, he has also been the most reliable friend he ever had.

Dante exhaled, pressing a hand to the bridge of his nose. "You know how Sylvia is," he muttered. "Stubborn as hell. She's never accepted my marriage to Heira. I tried to make her understand, but she wouldn't listen."

Rowan sighed while leaning back in his chair. "Then you need to set boundaries before she crosses them again."

Before Dante could respond, his phone buzzed again with another message from Sylvia. He didn't open it. Instead, his thoughts drifted to his grandmother's words from the call earlier that morning, her gentle excitement as she mentioned she'd be coming over for a visit.

That has been the main reason putting him on edge. Granny Mae adores Heira. Even though she hasn't gotten to meet her, she speaks of her every time. "She's going to be a lovely girl, I know that for sure."

He knew the main purpose of her visit was to finally meet the woman he married. After all, she had been on his case for years, reminding him he wasn't getting any younger.

He could already picture her face if she opened the front door and found Sylvia in his house instead of the wife she'd been waiting to meet. He knew how much it would shatter her heart.

He cherishes his granny so much and wouldn't let that happen. Granny Mae had been the only family left for him, which explains why she has a special spot in his heart.

Without thinking, he grabbed his keys from the desk. "I need to find her," he mumbled, more to himself than to anyone in the room.

He hurried towards the door, his foot faltering halfway there. A new panic rose in him. If he didn't know where Heira was, how could he ask her father without revealing that he had lost track of his own wife?

He then realised that he didn't know anyone else related to her. Finding her was definitely not going to be easy. "What do I do now?" he thought to himself.

Dante turned to his friend who had been quietly watching him mumble from across the office, "I need you to help me find out where she is or who she's with."

"Okay, I'll get to it," Rowan replied without hesitation. He's best at digging out information, and he never seems bothered by the weight of the task.

Dante watched as Rowan left the office, knowing he could always count on him. Deep inside, he hoped Heira was safe. He hated to admit that he cared but he could feel it. Most importantly, he was scared of the trouble it would cause him when things spiralled out of control.

"You'll have a follow-up appointment next week. And ensure you get plenty of rest for the next few days as emotional strain can trigger another episode." James Arthur handed her a small envelope containing her prescription.

Heira nodded faintly as she sat quietly on the hospital bed, her gaze fixed on the sunlight streaming through the blinds, drawing faint lines across the sterile floor.

The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor had become oddly comforting, steady but predictable, unlike the chaos that had landed her here.

It had been three days since she was admitted. Three long days of monitor beeping, nurses checking vitals, and footsteps fading into corridors.

Sebastian had been her only visitor. He showed up quietly each morning, sometimes bringing flowers. Bethy wasn't in town, but she never failed to FaceTime her daily. Her face glowed with worry through the screen, "I wish I were there to take care of my baby," her voice soft and heavy with guilt. "But I'm sure you understand why I can't come."

Bethy was on a business trip, and Heira had told her not to worry as she is properly taken care of. She didn't want her friend to feel worse than she already did.

She had received a lot of care from the doctor and nurses, and Sebastian had also been helpful.

A soft knock broke through her thoughts, followed by the creak of the door.

Sebastian stepped in, his familiar scent preceding him.

"You're ready to leave?" he asked, his voice low, as if afraid it might break the quietness in the ward. He must have gotten the text about her discharge.

Dr. Arthur had confirmed earlier that morning that her ECG results looked much better. The arrhythmia had settled, her heartbeat returning to its normal rhythm.

"Yes," she mumbled with a soft smile, forcing some light into her tone.

She began to pack her things into the same bag she had left home with when the nurse arrived with her discharge papers. She managed to sign where needed and made her way out, accompanied by Sebastian.

The world outside the building looked bright, but her heart still felt clouded with uncertainty. Still hurt by the betrayal, she decided she wasn't going back to the villa.

And though she knew Sebastian wouldn't mind if she stayed with him, she couldn't bring herself to accept it. She didn't want to be anyone's burden. So instead, she told herself she would find a hotel to lodge.

As they walked towards the car, Heira lost her balance due to how weak she was. Sebastian's arm caught her just in time, but another hand reached out too, firm and steady.

Her gaze dropped on polished black shoes, unmistakably expensive. Then slowly, her eyes lifted, only to see the last person she expected. Dante stood there in his immaculate build.

Their eyes met, and the air between them thickened with everything left unsaid. Shock flickered through her, followed by a sense of anger, sharp and unrelenting.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Only the hum of cars buzzed quietly across the hospital driveway.

Dante's eyes moved from her pale face to the band around her wrist, the IV tape still clinging faintly to her skin.

"Let's get you home. You shouldn't be walking in your condition, you need to rest," he said finally, his voice low but carrying that familiar authority she once found reassuring.

Heira's lips trembled before she found her voice. "And you shouldn't be here," She clapped back.

Her words came out quieter than she intended, but they still cut through the air like glass.

Sebastian stepped slightly in front of her after sensing the tension between the two. "She's alright, you don't have to worry," he said evenly, though there was a hint of warning in his tone.

Dante's attention was drawn to him. He took a proper gaze at him, as if only now noticing his presence. His eyes narrowed as he scanned him from head to toe.

He could feel the ease in his posture and the familiarity in the way he stood beside Heira. He found it infuriating to see his hands steady her.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. "Who's this?" he asked, the words coming out colder than he intended.

Sebastian met his stare without flinching. "A friend," he replied simply.

"Okay, friend," Dante said stiffly, his gaze still fixed on Sebastian. "I'll take care of my wife from here."

The atmosphere turned suffocating as they stood locked in a stare that could cut through stone. Neither spoke, but their eyes screamed the words they refused to say aloud.

The word 'wife' felt like a mockery and an insult dressed in concern for Heira. And it only made her heart ache more.

"Your wife?" she repeated bitterly. "You should probably say that to the woman in your bed, not the one you threw out of your house."

"You can hate me all you want, Heira," he muttered, "but you shouldn't be out here like this. You need rest."

Heira was done with his pretense. There is no way she would believe a word he says after what he did.

She turned to leave, leaning slightly against Sebastian's shoulder as he supported her with each step.

Restlessness crept upon Dante as he watched her slowly leave his view. His ego was bruised, and he realized his chances were slowly slipping away. All he knows is that he needed her to be home by that night.

"Heira," he called after her in desperation. "Name your price, I'll do anything. Please just come home with me."

She paused for a heartbeat with her back still turned to him. Disbelief clouded her pale face. "Is that what I am to you?" she asked quietly while slowly walking towards him. "A deal to close? Something you can bargain for when it's convenient?" her voice rising in anger.

Dante realized he might have said the wrong words. He was trying to get a favor from her, but ended up making the situation ten times worse by getting her angry.

"No, that's not what I meant." He winced, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

He then took a step closer, lowering his voice. "Please, just listen. My grandma's coming tonight." His tone softened immediately, gentle and almost pleading. "She's been so excited to meet you, Heira. She asks about you every time we talk."

His throat tightened as he spoke, the stiffness in his shoulders softening for just a fleeting second. "I can't let her know I pushed you away. That would hurt her feelings."

For the first time, Heira saw him being passionate about someone. The way his eyes melted when he talked about his grandma was cute. She saw the fear of disappointing the one person who had always loved him unconditionally in his eyes.

But that still doesn't change the fact that he didn't show remorse for what he did, he only cared about not hurting his grandma's feelings when he completely shattered hers. No matter how much his words tried to reach her, her heart was too bruised to let them in.

She wiped a tear threatening to fall. "That isn't enough for me to stay. You should have thought about that before compromising our marriage."

She walked away before he could say another word.

Dante stood there with each step she took tearing through the last shreds of his composure. "So you are staying with him, huhh? I guess I'm not the only one with an affair," he shouted just enough for his voice to cut through the distance.

There was no denying that he had his ego crushed, and the thought of losing her to another man made him sick.

Heira paid no attention to him as she stepped into the car. Sebastian shuts the door softly behind her just before he drives off.

Dante watched as the car disappeared from sight, and that was when the realisation hit him. Granny Mae was arriving that evening, and Heira wasn't coming back.

He pressed a palm against his forehead, shutting his eyes tightly. "What have I done..." he whispered. Almost regretting his actions.

Just then, he pulled out his phone and opened a chat. His thumb hovered briefly as he sent a message along with a photo.

[Handle this.]

His expression hardened again with his emotions buried beneath his composure.

He leaned against his car, jaw clenched with irritation. For once, he could feel power slipping away from him. Heira was gone and wasn't coming back. At least from the way her eyes went cold he was sure.

Her eyes had always softened whenever she looked at him, he'd always notice a faint smile play on her lips, and that man... he seemed almost perfect with her. What was he thinking? Nahh, he hated the thought of it. He alone gets to hold her that way.

Heira was everything he had ever found breathtaking. Her beauty was out of this world. Her chestnut brown hair and hazel eyes would make any man fall in love in seconds.

He still remembered the first day he saw her. He'd been mesmerized and completely taken aback. But he had to stay locked in. He couldn't afford to feel anything but resentment after the damage her father caused.

As much as he hates her, he doesn't want her near any other man. How else would she feel the heat?

Maybe this time, he had pushed it too far. He was supposed to keep her close no matter what.

His phone still held the last message from Granny Mae, telling him she was traveling in and would arrive by evening. Things seemed to have gone out of control now.

He surely went too far bringing Sylvia to his home. He remembered telling her he didn't want her there but as always, Sylvia had a way of bending his words.

"If you don't feel anything for her, you shouldn't mind me coming over," she said.

He had been foolish enough to let it slide. Though Sylvia wasn't his type, she was closest to it, not until Heira entered the chat.

Sylvia was beautiful, her brown hair almost similar to Heira's. Her makeup was always deliberate and the way she carried herself was rehearsed. Yet it was the simplicity of Heira that made her shine brightly.

With Heira, nothing felt forced. Her beauty was quiet and effortless, almost perfect. Her curves flowed naturally with just the perfect size of endowment a woman should have. She didn't beg to be seen, yet she managed to turn heads every space she steps into.

Sylvia stood out among the women he'd always slept with. Her bed game was top notch and the confidence she had was the cherry on top. She had managed to warm her way into his heart, not until then did he decide to keep her.

But Sylvia wasn't really the best at character. Dante knew she wasn't someone he could proudly introduce to his grandmother.

He let out a long sigh, realizing he was still in the parking lot. His thoughts had drifted too far. He leaned back in his seat, rubbed his temples, then reached for his car keys.

Just as he started the engine, his phone vibrated in his pocket. It was Sylvia.

"Hey baby," her voice came through sweetly. It sounded exactly like she was about to request something.

"I just came across this lovely jewelry store, and I would love to get a few pieces for myself."

Dante smirked at the irony. Typical. He was sure she had passed by that same store earlier, the thought made him scoff.

"How much are we talking about?" he asked.

"Hmm, around a hundred thousand dollars," she said casually.

Dante wasn't surprised. He didn't even flinch. He was used to her asking for such high prizes.

He had no problem spending on her, it wouldn't even move an inch in his account. Just that she would have to earn it this time.

"Alright," he said, his voice calm but cold. "You'll get it, but there's something I need you to do first."

​

Sylvia laughed softly. "Hmm, you're so naughty daddy. I know you want that piece of goody," she teased.

"You know I would always come over. But I really need to pay for it now. I'm at the store, and I promise I will come right after."

Dante was clearly not in the mood for that. "You'll come over tonight," he said firmly. "My grandmother's coming to visit, and you'll pretend to be Heira. Dress like her, act like her. That's how you'll earn it."

"What?" she snapped. "Why would I act like I'm that lowly bi*ch when she's there?"

"Heira's gone," Dante said flatly. "She hasn't come back since that night and the only way you can fix what you caused is to come stay at my place as my wife before my Nana comes over." he snarled.

He didn't wait for her reply. He hung up instead, staring at his reflection in the car window. He saw the face of a man who was slowly losing it.

His grandmother was a smart woman for her age so it might be hard to trick her. Although he wouldn't want to do that, he had no other way. This was the only way he could protect her heart.

He took a stop at his office, some unfinished business still left to do. He searched for the lucky pen he always kept by the side of his desk, but couldn't find it.

Though he had a bunch of pens in the holder, the particular one was his favorite. While still looking for it, he opened a locker in his desk. Inside, he found a folder that had always reminded him to stay cold and ruthless.

His thumb brushed against the edge where his father's name was printed.

Leonardo Moretti

Memories came rushing back. For years, he'd tried not to open it. He started to remember all the things Charles had taken from him.

His father had been a visionary man with hands always stained with ink and ideas too big for their workshop.

He had created a new eco-friendly construction system that could cut costs and reduce environmental damage by half. It was the kind of invention that could have changed their family's life forever.

Then Charles came in as an angel willing to help take his idea to the next level. He promised him a partnership and expansion. But he had a secret agenda instead.

He stole the prototype, patented it under his name, and sold it to a foreign investor for millions of dollars.

When Leonardo tried to fight back, Charles accused him of theft, saying he was trying to steal 'his' idea. Charles had the lawyers, the money and the influence which made him win the case in court.

Dante watched his father fall apart piece by piece every day. The sleepless nights, the unpaid bills, and the headlines that branded him a fraud.

By the time the lawsuit ended. Their house was gone, and his father's reputation was destroyed.

Dante had to work twice as hard to achieve all that he has now. And now that Charles was facing a backlash, it was him he turned to for help. Not realizing he is the son of an old friend.

Little did he know Dante had made Rowan work it out so he could propose his Daughter to him, with Rowan informing him of his search for a wife.

Charles must have thought he had hit a jackpot, he didn't know they had him just where they wanted. And now, he would make him suffer it all. He wanted him to feel the helplessness his father felt. His daughter would also feel the pain he had been forced to live with all those ten years that went by.

Granny Mae wouldn't be happy if she finds out he married his enemy's daughter although Heira is all she would ever want in a daughter-in-law.

He wasn't going to reveal why he married Heira to her, knowing fully well she would have wanted him to leave it in the past. But such a thing was too heavy to let go.

He found it odd that his daughter had somehow managed to woo him.

He quickly brushed his thoughts away, time was slipping away and he had to pick up his Nana from the airport.

***

Granny Mae was finally home.

The sound of her cane tapping gently against the marble floor as she stepped into the villa. Her silver hair was pinned neatly beneath a floral scarf. Her smile was wide and full of warmth that seemed to lighten up the entire space.

Dante guided her inside, careful with every step, and helped her ease onto the sofa. They picked up the conversation they had been having in the car, laughter occasionally breaking through the pauses.

"It's been too long, Nana," he said softly as he took a seat beside her.

"It has," she replied, patting his cheek affectionately.

"And I can see those frown lines haven't left you, hmm? You need to smile more often, my boy. You used to have the most charming smile when you were little."

"Guess I've forgotten how." He chuckled lightly, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Her gaze softened. "Then maybe it's time to remember. Where's that lovely wife of yours that I would like to meet?"

Dante's heart skipped a beat. He had told Sylvia to come by. She was probably upstairs getting ready. He gave a subtle signal to the maid nearby to call her down.

Two minutes later, the rhythmic sound of heels descended the staircase. Granny Mae turned her head toward the sound, smiling in anticipation.

Just as Sylvia reached the living room, the main door swung open.

The sound startled them both.

And there, standing in the doorway was Heira.

Her angry eyes flicked from Dante to the older woman seated on the couch. Then to Sylvia, who was just stepping into view at the bottom of the stairs.

The tension in the room thickened instantly.

Dante's breath caught in his throat.

Of all the times to show up Heira... why did you decide it would be now?