Last night's event took the whole swan city by storm not just because of Lorian Axton's return and the gossip surrounding his desire to find a wife but because of the announcements that sent every news company and everyone else in awe.

The genius jewelry designer who made the timeless piece bought by the queen of England, the very woman behind the mysterious jewelry brand Bloom had finally revealed herself and it was none other than the Blakewood family's recently found heiress.

When Layla was about to leave the event last night, the media had questioned her about why she'd kept her identity hidden all this time, to which she replied by saying,

"Back then I was just a secretary with a humble background, I was scared by the amount of people after my brand, I know the business industry can get dirty so the best way to protect myself was to stay hidden. Now I have my wonderful family who would support and protect me no matter what."

As Christina rewatched this interview on tv, she couldn't help but scoff incredulously.

This Layla sure had huge guts.

Last night Christina had frozen cold upon hearing Layla's announcement. She hadn't been able to believe her ears.

Was this real or was she just dreaming? This woman who'd taken her husband had actually publicly taken her identity too?

What Christina had first felt was anger, she wanted to stomp up the stage and slap Layla then reveal the truth to everyone, proving she was Fairy would definitely be easy, however she'd held back when a cunning thought had slipped into her mind.

Christina hadn't reacted rashly, instead a pleasant smile made it's way on her face as she quietly watched Layla claim her identity shamelessly in front of the whole world.

No sheep would willingly place it's head into a lion's open mouth, if it did, wouldn't the lion happily take a bite and eat it's fill.

That was the exact situation Layla had created. Christina was the resting lion, plotting her revenge, but if her prey was to offer itself up to her, she would use it to her advantage to bring them down.

'Do not blame me for being too heartless Layla.'

As she watched the news go crazy for Layla, her phone went off on the coffee table.

When she picked the call, the warm familiar voice of the Blakewood family butler entered her ear.

"Miss, I hope you've been well."

"I'm doing just fine butler Sam."

The older man sighed, "That is good to hear." He hesitated before adding, "I know you might not like to come, especially after everything that happened recently but Madam Beatrice has asked me to go burn your old things still left here, I didn't want to just burn your things without letting you know if there's something valuable so I decided to call and let you know that I've kept them for now, you can come pick them up when you have time."

Christina felt a lump of bitterness in her throat at the thought of her old home, her old family.

'So family can be this fickle, family can easily let you go because you don't share their blood.'

She felt the tears sting her eyes but she raised her gaze to push them back.

No, she wouldn't cry.

Somewhere in her heart she had always known this day might come, the day when her family would fully turn their back on her. A family that never showed her love and instead allowed her to grow so desperate for affection she was willing to stay with a man who beat her mercilessly shouldn't be called family at all.

But the most painful part for her was not having a place to call home, a home where people who cared about her were waiting with open arms. Though they never loved her, she appreciated the fact that she had a home with them, however now the world felt like a huge space for her filled with so many people but no one to call her own... loneliness was creating a gaping hole in her heart.

Vera was the only person in the whole world who'd ever treated her genuinely, and she was beyond grateful for having her but that still didn't fill her lonely heart.

When Christina fully swallowed her tears, she opened her mouth to tell the butler to burn everything. She didn't want anything to take her back to the very place where she was kicked out but stopped short when she suddenly thought of something and changed her mind.

"Alright, thank you for keeping them. I'll be there in a while."

Christina wouldn't have returned to the Blakewood mansion ever again if it weren't for that important thing she'd kept there.

When she arrived the butler led her to the attic instead of her room, he revealed an awkward expression as he said.

"I'm sorry, Miss Layla is occupying your old room. Master and madam have been pampering her and getting her so many new things and there was no longer space in the room so your things..."

"It's okay butler Sam, I'll just get what I'm here for and leave."

Christina rummaged through the box filled with her things, mainly old clothes and shoes but she didn't find the specific item she was looking for. She remembered keeping it under her bed back then and if her things were the only stuff moved out of the room, maybe her item was still in her old room.

"Butler Sam, what I'm looking for isn't here, can I get the key to my old room? I'll just take what I'm looking for and leave."

The butler seemed to ponder for a while then nodded.

"Please make it fast Miss, before Miss Layla gets back."

"Thank you."

When Christina entered her old room, it was completely different from how she remembered it. It looked a bit girlier and bit more extravagant, like the room of a princess from modern day royalty.

The only attachments Christina had to this room was of old childhood memories but nothing too deep hence she didn't even reminisce or feel pain at seeing it become someone else's.

She went straight to the bed and sure enough, she found the little brown box underneath it.

Feeling relieved she took and it and made to leave when she spotted something that made her stop in her tracks.

It was a small pack of medicine sticking out from the purse kept on the bed.

Christina had seen that before, once in high school a girl had gotten pregnant, this same pack had been found in her bag after she was discovered bleeding in the bathroom.

Christina pulled out the pack from the purse and felt her heart stop.

Triquinole, a very strong drug used for abortion!

A pink sports car drove into the Blakewood mansion, Christina was on her way out when she saw Layla step out of the car.

Gone was the frail, humble secretary Layla used to be, now she looked like the heiress she was, dressed in high end expensive brands, even the expensive perfume she wore wafted into the air.

When she saw Christina, the innocence she would usually show in front of others was non existent on her beautiful face.

"What brings you here Tina? Are you here to try to get my parents to feel sorry for you? I'm sure they kicked you out again, when will you get it registered into that dumb head of yours that they don't want you anymore. You were just my replacement and now that I'm here..."

She walked up to Christina till she stood right in front of her, face to face, "I have taken back every single thing that was rightfully mine. And look at you now, you're even lower than I used to be, now that Dad has de-activated all your cards, you're nothing without the Blakewood family's money. You'll live like a helpless poor rat, just like I did for twenty three years!"

As she spoke, every word out of Layla's mouth was bitter, filled with a resentment she seemed to have kept inside for a long time.

Christina's eyes were far from calm, the minute Layla's words fell, she raised her hand and slapped her across the face. The sound was loud enough to be heard by some servants nearby and the impact strong enough to swing Layla's face to the side and cause her lips to bleed.

Layla's eyes had already turned red when she turned her face to glare at Christina, she raised her hand to hit her back but her hand stopped mid-air.

Layla tried to snatch her hand off Christina's clutch, she was fuming with rage that she so badly wanted to hit Christina back but no matter how hard she tried, the hand grabbing her didn't loosen at all.

"You pathetic loser! You dare to slap me and think you can get away with it? I am the daughter of the powerful Blakewood family...how dare you..." Layla screeched.

"How dare you!" Christina shot back tightening her grip on Layla's fragile hand, "Were you so desperate for wealth, were you so eager to climb the ladder into the elite circle that you seduced a married man? Not just that, in order to get rid of me from his life you took drugs that will abort your own child and came over to provoke me just so you could blame it on me?"

Layla's infuriated expression immediately fell and her face paled. "What...how did you...?"

She glanced around and when she noticed all the maids around had already left, she sighed in relief at the fact that no one was over hearing their conversation. When she turned her gaze to Christina the momentary fear disappeared.

"You found out. I guess you're smarter than you seem."

Christina's grip on her wrist loosened and she snatched her hand away.

"So what if you know about this little secret of mine, what can you do about it? In fact that was a very lucky move on my part, if I hadn't done that I would never have come to know that the Blakewoods are actually my real family. Killing off that child was the luckiest thing I've ever done in my life. Yes I wanted to get rid of you so James could finally marry me, but lucky for me, that incident led to me meeting my biological brother and I became a wealthy heiress overnight, don't you think I'm very lucky?" She chuckled happily.

Christina couldn't help but look at her with an incredibly baffled look in her eyes.

How can someone be this heartless, killing their own child just to trap a man.

"You can't expose me Tina, no one would ever believe you." She leaned closer with an evil look in her eyes, "Just accept it, you are a sore loser...go live a poor life and know what it feels like to seduce men just to get a small taste of luxury. Hahaha!" Laughing, Layla walked into the Blakewood home like a queen.

'Layla, if I don't get back at you for this, I might as well accept the title you've given me. You will definitely pay for everything you've done.'

*****

A text buzzed into her phone, it was only a few words but they made Christina frown with curiosity.

- Meet me in my office. -

Was all the text said. The contact displayed the name Lorian Axton.

Though she had no idea why he would call her over to meet with him, she went over to his company nevertheless.

The building was gigantic, sitting at the tallest height in Swan city with a perfectly futuristic architecture that made it stand out uniquely.

Christina was directed to the President's office immediately she entered.

Lorian looked completely different dressed in a business suit, with a pair of glasses that sat on his face as he worked on his computer.

When she was with James, finding other men attractive had completely been gone from her mind however Lorian had always stood out to her, she never saw him again after her wedding with James, but even after two years he still looked like the hottest man to walk the surface of earth.

With those glasses he looked like an irresistibly hot professor one wouldn't want to mess with, Christina was definitely shocked that he was still single at this point.

When he raised his head to appraise her, a faint smile lifted his sensual mouth. Christina found herself dazed for a moment before she recovevered and cleared her throat to ask.

"Why did you ask me to come?"

He stood up and approached her. "You were the one who asked for my help, shouldn't you come to me to form a plan?"

Lorian was evidently a very dangerous man, not just by his reputation but by the dangerous energy he oozed everytime he came close to her.

There was always this buzzing feeling, like the faintest spark of electricity whenever his eyes met hers, perhaps it was because of how deeply he looked at her like a man staring at a meal he would like to taste, or it could be the intimidating way he towered over her, either way Christina wanted to keep things strict between them.

He would only stand next to her whenever she wanted to make James jealous, but that was only a later step to her plan, not until she fulfilled the first step. Hence she didn't need to be around him.

"I already have my own plans, I know exactly what to do." She replied turning her face to the side to breathe in something other than the heady masculine cologne she could perceive from him but he pinched her chin making her face him again.

"Are you afraid of me Mrs Clinton?" He asked.

"No, why would I be?"

"Good. Second question..." He paused to search her eyes before he asked, "Do you still love your husband?"

That question made her heart seem to stop beating for a few seconds.

Did she still love James?

Memories flashed into her mind, none of them good.

One was of a stormy night, she was kneeling on the floor in their bedroom screaming in pain as his belt continuously landed harshly onto her back.

"Are you loyal to me Tina? Why do you keep disobeying me?" James' voice had thundered in rage.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... please..." Her voice was hoarse and broken, the pain from his beating had been sharp and unbearable. He was like a strict teacher disciplining their student, the only difference was the fact that his beating didn't only cause physical pain but a grating pain in her heart.

"If you really loved me, you wouldn't keep disobeying me." He yanked her hair back making her tears streaked face look into his, "Do you really love me as your husband?"

Christina hurriedly nodded knowing James could become monstrous in his current state if she didn't do as he said or give him an answer that would please him.

He grinned twistedly, "You love me right, then say it!"

She was crying painfully, unable to voice the words of love he demanded to hear, his rage seemed to have doubled as he brought the belt down again causing her more pain.

"Say it!"

"I love you!" She'd cried over the pain from the belt causing another deep red bruise on her back.

He brought the belt down harshly again, "Swear you'll never disobey me again!"

"I'll never...ah! I'll never disobey you again." Her words were broken sobs of agony as she spoke them, she laid weak and helpless on the floor, her tears flowing unstoppably. Only then did he stop.

Christina asked herself, 'Did I hate him back then? Even as he hurt me like that...did I still love him?'

The answer to that was a bit vague in her mind. Because everytime he hurt her like that he would leave her to suffer for a while then come back to her and hold her in his arms then apologize, he had caused her those wounds and he would treat them himself.

He would act like a beast and then an angel afterwards and swear he loved her.

She couldn't hate him then, not when he was the only person in the world showing her love even though it came with pain.

But now...all she felt in her heart was emptiness and bitterness, she couldn't answer Lorian's question at all.

Lorian noticed her expression looking lost then changed to that of painful reminiscence. A flash of displeasure narrowed his dark eyes.

"It seems you can't answer my question." Lorian suddenly said as he traced his thumb over her chin slowly leaning in closer to her.

"If I asked James this question, what do you think his answer would be?"

Christina still didn't reply and an evil smirk showed on Lorian's face.

"Let's ask him."

Immediately his words fell, the door to his office swung open and James walked in unaware of the scene he would meet inside.

He stopped in his tracks, eyes wide as he took in the closeness between Christina and Lorian, James' face immediately turned black.

"What the fuck is going on here?"

'No, not yet. James shouldn't suspect I have something going on with Lorian just yet.'

Her plan was straightforward, before their divorce she would make sure James saw her as he used to again, any form of trust he had for her would make it hurt ten times more when she ruined him, just like how he ruined her while her heart still belonged to him.

Christina quickly pulled back from Lorian who looked unfazed, in fact he stood with a relaxed posture and a satisfied smile on his face as he dug his hand into his pockets.

"Buddy, you came faster than I expected." Lorian said.

James' face was still twisted as he looked from Lorian to Christina.

"Why is my wife in your office Lorian?" James asked, directing his question towards Lorian but his eyes were glaring at Christina.

This woman, he just couldn't stand her anymore. But they were still married officially, he wouldn't allow her disgrace him by being seen with another man while she was still married to him.

"It's a bad habit you're building up my friend, you're leaving your wife alone very often lately. Your wife came to me because she was bored."

Christina shot a glare towards Lorian.

What was he saying? Was he trying to give her away to James?

As expected, James expression didn't improve.

"Tina, what is he talking about?" There was an underlying threat in his tone, and when his eyes stared at her with a familiar rising anger, Christina couldn't help but subconsciously shudder. She forgot to breathe for a while as all she could remember was all the dark moments he'd hit her.

James' had seen how closely they stood next to each other earlier, that image was making his blood begin to boil with rage. The only reason he wasn't losing his cool yet was because of Lorian, he couldn't offend him no matter what.

"I only came here to look for you. I was informed you would be here, that's why. Also to ask Lorian for help, I asked him to help me to talk to you to allow me...allow me move back into our home. I know if Lorian asks you, you won't refuse." Something bitter rose up Christina's throat as she spoke, it felt like utter disgust.

She herself didn't realize how much she detested the idea of living with James again until she'd spoken about it.

James' expression finally settled.

Of course he never actually expected Christina would do anything to cheat on him, and Lorian would certainly not have anything to do with a woman like Christina either. He had just started to get pissed at the position he found them earlier but now that Christina explained he finally understood.

So she was just begging Lorian to help her speak to him. Typical of her, she was pathetic and heavily dependent on others, she'd never done anything for herself all her life.

That was what James thought, but he had no idea that behind his back she had a business worth billions, she had built that in a year and had far surpassed anything James had ever achieved. If he came to know...his view of her could completely be overturned.

Christina wanted to return to the house for one reason...to take it right out of his hands. She had helped build that house a year ago with her profit earned from Bloom, James' company was still starting at the time and barely earned anything because it was still working on the project Blakewood family had invested in after their wedding.

Thinking about it now, everything James owned was because of her, she definitely wouldn't let him keep it. Striping him off the roof she'd helped build was the first step of her plan.

"After what you did to Layla, no amount of begging will make me take you back into my house." James' said arrogantly.

Lorian was quietly watching the scene in front of him with a somber expression.

Christina glared in his direction and signalled him with her eyes.

He seemed reluctant at first before he finally said.

"This is also for your own good James, if the media finds out that your wife is living separately they might start to suspect a divorce coming. And you know for sure that won't be good for your coming project, it'll flop right before it begins, what would happen to my investment then? You know how much I hate losing money."

Lorian's voice was controlled, he spoke with the tone of a negotiating business man and it got James slightly panicking. Lorian's investment was the most important in his company, he absolutely couldn't lose it.

It was only a few months time anyway, by then he would propose to Layla and he would marry her, she was the love of his life...as for Christina, she was an old flame that had died and dissipated from his heart.

"Alright, you can move back in. But don't even think about playing smart, you won't share a room with me."

James' knew she could start plotting a way to get pregnant so he wouldn't be able to divorce her but he was determined to not let her succeed, his heart was already set on Layla.

Christina clenched her fist around her bag. She felt anger and disgust the more she looked at James.

Was this the man she had loved? Was this the man she'd thrown her dignity for? The man she'd endured abuse from just because she loved him?

In this moment she felt a sinking hatred deep in her heart and finally got her answer. It was hatred... what she felt for James now was nothing but hatred and she absolutely regretted lowering herself, enduring all that torture from him.

'James, just you wait.'

When her gaze met with Lorian's, he shot her a wink which made her eyes widen and she looked towards James to see if he'd seen that but his gaze was fixed on the document he was explaining to Lorian. The smirk on his face told her he had his own plans and they were definitely evil.

She couldn't help but wonder, what Lorian's motive was.

When Christina returned to the villa she shared with James, she stared at the floor from the porch where James had kicked her out. Three months ago she'd been on the floor in the rain when James threw her out like trash.

A small smile suddenly raised her lips.

"Wouldn't it be fun to see you right where you threw me James? It would be so much fun." She muttered to herself, her light grey eyes glistening with something vengeful.

From an innocent naive woman desperate for love, her heart was becoming stone cold with nothing but hatred and the desire for revenge.