"Famous designer Fairy just released the new line of Bloom jewelries, pre-orders for every piece made it sell out a few minutes after it's release, the market is still heavily anticipating the release of the royal crown, the main piece of Bloom's new collection."

Christina listened to this news sitting with her legs crossed in her living room. Specifically, the villa currently under James' name. A delicate smile appeared on her face.

This was exactly what she was waiting for as well. The imposter releasing new designs in her name.

Not many people knew this, but each piece Christina designed always had a unique element, something Layla tried to imitate in this collection she released but failed miserably.

Christina had seen the designs when they came out two days ago, Layla had done nothing but re-create some of Christina's old designs.

Trying to steal someone's work but not having the ability to do it fully, pathetic.

"Poor little Layla, since you had the guts to steal my identity, let's see if you can create a unique main piece. I hope you're ready to prove that you truly are the designer and founder of Bloom." Christina muttered to herself.

She was still painting her nails when the front door opened and James walked in. He glanced at her expectantly but Christina made no move or acknowledge seeing him return.

When he noticed she didn't react, he held his briefcase to her.

"Here, keep this for me upstairs. There are important documents in there so don't even think about messing around with it."

The old Christina would have taken his briefcase and happily kissed him on the cheek then prepare his bath, but this time she didn't stop applying nail polish even as he instructed her to take his case.

"Did you even hear me?" James' demanded feeling slightly pissed.

"I did, I just have more fun pretending I don't." She said without raising her head to even look at him.

"What did you say?" He asked and she still treated him like air, "Tina don't mess with me, I was merciful enough to let you move back in. You should at least make yourself useful if you're going to live in my house."

"Your house?" Christina queried with a faint smirk.

"What do you mean by that question?"

"Forget it." She sighed leaning back in her seat, "Your legs aren't broken and your hands are perfectly fine, take your own briefcase upstairs."

James opened his mouth as if to say something but changed his mind, he was too tired to exchange words with her, he knew she was just being bitter because Layla was the one he loved now and she was probably acting this way thinking it would get him to melt and soften towards her. In her dreams.

James' scoffed and walked away.

Christina watched his back with a tinge of hatred in her eyes.

"This will be fun." She smirked.

The next morning, James had already left for work a long time ago when the doorbell suddenly rang. She expected to find James there thinking he must have forgotten something and returned, so she took her sweet time before going to open the door but her mouth was left agape when she saw who stood there.

Dressed in a casual white dress shirt with a few upper buttons left open, Lorian leaned casually against the door frame.

"What are you doing here?" Christina shook her head to focus breaking out of the daze this man's appearance had captivated her in.

Lorian didn't reply, instead he strolled into the house as if he owned it, hands in his pockets as he glanced around.

"You didn't answer my question." She said but he still acted as if he didn't hear her.

He toured around the house as if that had been his aim for coming, then began to climb up the stairs.

"Lorian." She called after him and he suddenly stopped halfway up the stairs.

He suddenly grinned, making his dark eyes sparkle. "I like my name on your tongue."

"What?" She was confused.

He flashed a grin once more and went up to the second floor.

"Wait, you shouldn't be here."

If Lorian heard her, he acted like he didn't. Before she could stop him he was already in the master bedroom.

Why did this man always act so willfully? He did the same thing yesterday, calling her to his office while he'd already asked James to come over, was he doing this deliberately?

When she entered the master bedroom, Lorian was standing next to the bed.

"Was it right here?" He suddenly asked.

"What?" She asked with a confused frown.

"Did he bring his mistress in here? Did he have sex with her, right under your nose?"

It flashed back into her head like an old movie. For the most part Christina had been oblivious about the affair between James and Layla until she saw the text from Layla telling James she was pregnant.

Before that, Christina had ignored all the days she would come back to meet Layla walking out of their bedroom with disheveled hair and ruffled clothing, but she would dismiss it whenever Layla quickly covered up with that innocent smile of hers and told her that she'd only been here to get some documents.

Thinking back to it now, Christina could only shake her head at how naive and trusting she had been, she had even been so friendly with Layla in the past to the point she asked her to address her as Tina just like James did, Christina had wanted to be friends with her husband's secretary because she believed being friendly with people always yielded the best results, all she could do now was scoff at that old thinking.

She swallowed the bitter taste in her throat as she replied. "Now that I think back, I guess he did bring her here...slept with her, in our own bedroom. Maybe he even ... maybe he even got her pregnant here."

Even if all she felt for him right now was hatred, she had still loved him deeply in the past. Betrayal from someone you loved deeply always burnt harsher than flaming coal.

Her head was lowered to sort through her emotions, she didn't realize when Lorian had approached her.

"You told me the other day that you would do the exact same thing to him." He raised her chin making her look in his deep set obsidian eyes that always seemed to shine like black diamond whenever he was looking at her,

"And like I promised... I'll help you." His words were low and his whispered breath, hot and minty fell on her face making her skin suddenly heat up.

His eyes held promise of something sinful, he was a man good on his word, and his gaze told her how dead serious he was about what he just said.

The thought of it made her face burn even more and he chuckled in a deliciously deep low voice.

"You're blushing."

She quickly stepped back creating some distance between them.

"What are you doing? Don't tell me you called James over again just so he can see us together."

"Not this time, I'm just here to give you something he never has. And believe me...with me it'll be unforgettable." He'd already closed the distance between them and that heated feeling started again when he touched her.

It was like the faint spark of electricity in her veins, igniting a kind of flame deep inside, a dangerous flame.

Lorian was evil in a way that could make any woman subconsciously desire him even if they tried to resist, and Christina tried her best to deny the faint sparks she felt.

This wasn't attraction, she kept telling herself. She'd forgotten what that felt like, and it certainly shouldn't start with someone whose only relationship with her was for the purpose of achieving her goal.

"I can touch you in a way he hasn't before, kiss you in a way he hasn't..." With each word his voice grew softer and his face inched towards her slowly.

Her heart jolted as if it had been awakened from a long slumber, though she said she loved James when was the last time her heart had beat for him?

This electric feeling frightened her because it felt wrong in every way, she raised her hand and pushed at his chest.

"You can't..." Her words were cut off by the sound of footsteps climbing up the stairs and approaching the bedroom.

"I can't believe I fucking forgot such important documents." Christina could hear James' voice. Her eyes widened in alarm.

Why was he back so soon?

If he saw her here with Lorian again, his suspicion would definitely be aroused if it wasn't the last time.

Lorian however seemed unfazed, there was an evil smile on his face as the knob turned and the door slowly pushed open.

James entered the master bedroom with his head down, he felt movement in the room and raised his head to look only to see Christina staring at him with wide eyes as if she were looking at a ghost.

"What is going on?" He asked with eyes narrowed suspiciously. She was acting weird.

"Nothing." She said with an exhale, "I just... didn't expect you to be back so soon."

He stared at her suspiciously for a while before looking away.

"I forgot a document."

"Would you like me to get it for you?"

He was a bit shocked when she said that.

Last night she'd acted completely differently from her normal self. Usually she would gladly be at his beck and call, though they had maids, she would attentively do everything he wanted.

When she acted that way last night he'd thought she was just playing rebellious, and he was right, it seemed she would still continue to remain that meek little wife she always was.

James sneered internally, a pity she was no longer the woman he needs, the one he needs now is Layla.

He nodded indifferently, "It's the document about the Blakewood investment, it's in the closet."

Christina nodded and entered the walk in closet. James might think she was being a meek wife again but she only offered to get the documents because she'd quickly shoved Lorian into the walk in closet right before James came in.

She wasn't afraid of him seeing her with another man, she just wanted it to hurt as much as it had hurt her. Right now he would only care about his pride if she was found with another man, but what if she had all the cards that would ruin him in her hands and then he saw her with another, it would be heart wrenching and that was just the outcome she hoped to achieve.

When offering revenge, one has to serve it twice as hard, twice as painful and twice as bitter as one was made to swallow, and she would make sure James swallowed that same bitterness and watch him choke on it.

Lorian shamelessly grabbed her hand when she entered the closet, he cornered her against a shelf and spoke in whispers, "Aren't you naughty Mrs Clinton? Keeping a man hidden in your closet so your husband won't see."

She tried to push at his chest in order to quickly get the documents to James before he would walk in himself but he held her before she could leave.

"If you want me to stay quiet so your husband doesn't know I'm here, you have to give me a little incentive." He demanded.

"What incentive?"

He clicked his tongue, "I told you right from the start, I wouldn't help for free and you agreed to give whatever and whenever I want."

Christina suddenly felt a premonition.

At the time she'd agreed to give anything for his help, she'd been drowning in pain and heartache she didn't think about the loopholes in what she'd agreed to.

"What... what do you want?" She asked stuttering slightly.

"What is taking you so long Tina?" James' impatient voice came from the bedroom and Christina subconsciously wanted to hurry out but Lorian wouldn't budge.

His eyes were sparkling again, like black diamond as he said, "A kiss."

He was leaning down towards her, the pounding of her heart felt as if it would be ripped out of her chest but the closet door was suddenly yanked open and she pushed Lorian aside and came out from between the shelves to find James right in front of her.

He looked behind her but didn't see anything however his suspicion had been aroused.

"I found your documents." She handed the file to him.

James took it hesitantly still looking at her suspiciously before he asked, "Who is in here with you?"

"What?" Christina was frightened.

How did he know?

"There was someone in here with you wasn't there?" He asked, his face beginning to change into rage.

"What are you talking about? There's no one here."

James didn't believe her, he began to approach her. "Oh yeah? I'll just see for myself."

Before he could walk past her to the corner of the shelves his phone began to ring, he stopped in his tracks the minute he looked down at the caller ID.

It was Layla.

He didn't pick up immediately and asked, "Did you invite a man here? Are you bringing a man to our house behind my back?"

"Don't be ridiculous James, just because you're guilty of something doesn't mean you can accuse others of the same."

James was taken aback, he suddenly dismissed all suspicion from his mind.

He'd gotten carried away. Christina could never even look at other men not to mention bringing one home. She was like a little puppy hopelessly loyal to him.

He smiled in satisfaction, "Good, keep it that way." He said then finally answered his phone before leaving.

The hatred in her heart towards this man soared higher. He was with another woman yet he would tyrannically continue to have her tied down to him? She scoffed internally. He certainly was deceiving himself.

When he was fully gone, Lorian came out of his hiding place looking sinfully handsome.

"Too bad, he took the fun away." Lorian remarked.

"Stop messing with my plans, I'll call you when I need you." She said exasperated but he clicked his tongue.

"Oh no princess, I'm already a part of this game, I'll see it through from the start till the very end." He leaned towards her, "And as for that kiss... I'll definitely collect. When I ask for it, you're not allowed to refuse, we had a deal after all." He smiled, a sinfully dark one that made Christina feel like she had fallen into something evil she wouldn't be able to escape.

...

A huge event was being held in the center of swan city. Many high and mighty guests were in attendance. Everyone was supposed to attend with their significant other, hence James had no choice but to take Christina with him just to protect his image.

When Layla had called and James had told her he couldn't bring her to the event, she'd acted warm and understanding and even encouraged him to go with Christina.

Though she'd started having an affair with him because of his money before, now that she was an heiress, she didn't need him anymore however she'd fallen in love with him along the way, the thought of him still being with Christina made her blood boil with fury but she controlled herself.

However if James was going to the event with another woman, she might as well make him a bit jealous so he would realize her worth to him.

When James saw Layla enter the event with another man, he clenched his fist.

That man was Gilbert Ross, another swan city socialite who had been showing interest in Layla ever since she made an entrance into high society.

He watched as Layla conversed and laughed with the man, when he couldn't take it anymore, he abandoned Christina alone and rushed to his woman politely butting into the conversation and standing next to Layla disregarding the other man.

Layla had a satisfied look on her face, she sent a discreet smirk to Christina to show her that she was still in control of James.

Christina didn't look fazed about her triumph.

"I can't wait to tell you to keep him, but not until I watch him become nothing but useless crap. But that doesn't mean I'll let you enjoy your so called victory."

Calmly, she walked towards the table where Layla sat with the two men.

"Congratulations on your official launch of Bloom's latest collection." A sarcastic hint laced Christina's voice.

Layla turned to her, not expecting Christina to walk up to her and even congratulating her.

'Can you see how much I surpass you in every way Tina? I can have a man you can't have, and I can have a career you will never be able to get.'

If anyone told Layla that Christina was the real designer of Bloom, she would never believe it. In fact she would bet her life on it and swear with heaven and earth that it was a lie. That was because of the means through which she'd gotten this identity.

The real designer of Bloom was in the palm of her hands, or so she thought.

"Thank you. But I believe you wouldn't really understand my complex designs, since Mr Clinton here once told me that you used to doodle cute little trinkets on your sketchbook in the past, you know close to nothing about design. Since Mr Clinton and I are partners, why don't you come be my apprentice?"

The people standing around heard this and turned their heads towards the conversation.

The famous designer Fairy was willing to take an apprentice? Anyone would gladly jump in line for this position to work under a designer worth billions. In fact many had swarmed Layla in the past few weeks but she'd rejected them all, now she was offering that position to someone herself?

Layla was eager to stomp Christina beneath her shoes.

Christina had lived twenty three years in the luxurious life that was rightfully meant for her, while she had to suffer with a father who was a mere farmer and a worthless mother, both couldn't afford anything she'd ever wanted in life, that was why Layla had worked so hard to get into high society through her job and the moment she did, she grabbed the first rich man who looked her way.

Putting Christina down was something she would love to do.

'You can't reject my kind offer Tina, not in front of so many people.'

Christina smiled good naturedly and said.

"Thanks for the offer, I would have loved to be your apprentice... but a little bird told me that you are just an imposter, a wannabe little designer who stole the elusive designer's identity."