AMELIA

The car stopped in front a mansion. The building was graced with multiple columns that elevated the look.

Rafael stepped out from his side of his car and rushed over to open the door for me. He held my hands as we walked into the house.

I gasped immediately we got in, words wouldn't do justice to how the interior looked. "It's beautiful." I said finding it hard to look away.

Rafael stood in front of me, forcing me to look at him. "I knew you'd love it." He said and leaned in for a kiss.

Before I could respond to that, I felt myself being swept off my feet into his arms. "Oh my gawd! What are you doing, Rafael?" I screamed giggling and held on to his neck for support.

Rafael ran up the stairs into the bedroom with me in his arms. He dropped me on the bed, took off his shirt in an instant and stared at me, "should I rip this or would you take it off?"

"Noo... it's my wedding dress, it should be protected." I giggled. And slowly took it off.

Rafael stared at me with ravenous eyes. I could tell that he was impatient with how slowly this was happening.

I felt my nipples harden when my dress fell to my waist, I didn't wear a bra because the dress had padding. I stepped out of the dress to reveal my lace panties before taking it off.

"Lie down." It almost sounded like a command, his voice was low.

I climbed the bed facing him, before I knew it he was on top of me. He held my hands above my head and kissed me. Every fiber of my being yearned for more of his touches. He went slowly this time, compared to the last time at the park.

His lips went to my nipples and I let out a soft moan. His other hand massaged my left boob.

Rafael tongue swirled around my right nipple, and I could feel my pussy cream up with expectations. As if he read my mind. His slid his finger between my legs and rubbed me. I wanted him to have him and my body did nothing to hide it.

He rubbed his hard dick on me before sliding inside. My hips pushed further to him as he thrusted. A low growl escaped his throat and he pulled me closer to him. It was magical.

**********

"You really can't wait to claim my office." Rafael asked, watching me half naked from the bed as i got dressed.

"It's been three weeks Rafael. And it's my office now." I smirked. "You signed the contract."

He rolled his eyes. "Right, your office."

"Don't be so grumpy about it, it's just one of three." I said and leaned in to kiss him. "Gotta go, I don't want anyone thinking that their new boss is lazy."

"No one would think that, considering you just got married. And even if they did, they wouldn't dare show it. I'd end them."

I rolled my eyes at his remark, even though I knew very well that he wasn't joking.

I walked down the stairs and Rafael followed slowly behind me.

"I promise, I just want to see my office, say hello and I'd come right back." I gave him in a kiss and opened the door.

I found a black box on the doorstep. I gasped immediately I opened it.

Inside the box was one of our wedding photos. It was my favorite.

But my face... was gone.

Burnt out, like someone had taken a lighter or acid to it. Rafael's side of the photo was untouched. He looked perfect.

A folded note lay beneath the frame.

"I'D BE BACK TO TAKE WHAT'S MINE."

My stomach twisted. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. My fingers trembled around the box. Rafael reached it before I could say anything, snatching it from my hands.

His eyes turned lethal the moment he saw the contents.

"What the f-" He cut himself off, pulled out his phone, and barked into it. "Get someone on the footage now. I want every second between midnight and now, every entrance, every shadow. I want a list of everyone who came near this damn house."

He hung up and wrapped his arms around me without asking.

"Amelia," he murmured. "It's okay. You're safe."

I didn't answer. The image of the ruined photo played in my head.

"I don't understand," I whispered. "Who would do this?"

Rafael didn't answer immediately. That pause was all I needed.

"You know something," I said, pulling away just enough to look at him.

"I don't," he said firmly. "Not exactly. But whoever it is they're going to regret breathing the second I find them."

I exhaled shakily, still not sure if it was fear or anger bubbling stronger in my chest.

"Go to the office," he said after a beat, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. "Keep your head up. I'll handle this."

I nodded and walked slowly into the car.

**********

My heels clicked against the marble floor as I stepped into the office, my office.

I was still going over some reports when the door swung open.

"What are you doing here Ethan?" I asked standing up, trying to keep my voice cool.

He shut the door behind him and took a step forward. "I just want to talk."

"We don't have anything to talk about."

"Yes, we do, Amelia." His voice was desperate. "I messed up, alright? I treated you like shit, and I shouldn't have. I was angry and stupid, but I never stopped loving you."

I stood still, letting the silence stretch.

He moved closer. "You don't belong here. This isn't you. He's not for you. Come home, Amelia. Please."

A bitter laugh slipped out before I could stop it. "Home? That was never home. That was a cage."

His face hardened. "So what, you just climb into Rafael's bed and call it freedom?"

I didn't flinch. "You don't get to come here and talk to me like that."

"Oh, I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking," he snapped, voice rising. "You left me and seduced my brother like some power-hungry slut-"

I pressed the intercom. "Security. Now!"

"Don't you dare!" he barked, his face reddening.

The doors opened almost instantly. Two large men stepped in.

"Get him out," I said, turning away from Ethan. "And make sure he never comes into this building again."

They grabbed him by the arms.

"This isn't over, Amelia!" he shouted as they dragged him out. "You'll regret choosing him over me!"

The door slammed shut.

I sat down slowly, and taking in a deep breath. My phone vibrated suddenly. It was Rafael.

"Amelia?"

"Your brother just showed up at my office. He made a scene."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine now. I had him escorted out."

A pause. Then his voice darkened. "I'll handle it. I'll send a guard to your office, he won't get near you again."

There was a beat of silence.

"And, Amelia... we found the person who dropped the box."

My heart skipped a beat. "Who?"

AMELIA

Rafael pulled away slowly, his hands dropping from my waist. He looked me in the eyes for a moment, searching for something. Trying to read me. Trying to figure out how much I had heard.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

I smiled like I didn't hear him tell another woman he loved her. Like I had not heard about the child.

"I just wanted to surprise you," I said softly. "I couldn't wait to tell you the good news."

My eyes shifted to the woman still standing in the room. She hadn't moved since I walked in. Her expression had gone from startled to annoyed, maybe even hostile.

"Are you not going to introduce her to me?" I asked, still smiling. "You two seem very... friendly."

Rafael cleared his throat and scratched his neck like he was obviously caught in a lie.

"Oh. Amelia, meet Camille... an old friend."

I scoffed before I could stop myself. It was small, but it slipped. Camille caught it.

"What was that?" she asked sharply, eyes narrowing at me.

"There was something in my throat," I said calmly, without even looking at her. Then I turned to her with a mild tilt of my head. "I thought you worked here?"

Camille smiled tightly. "No, I don't. But Rafael and I are partners... so, you could say that."

My throat burned. But I ignored the scorching feeling.

I turned to Rafael. "Can I wait for you at the park so we can go home together?"

He didn't hesitate. "I can't leave yet. I'll meet you at home."

I nodded and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. "Don't be late."

Then I turned and walked out of the office, closing the door behind me. But I didn't leave. I stood just to the side of the door and waited silently.

A few seconds later, Camille's voice floated out.

"You should divorce her."

I closed my eyes, trying to breathe through it. Please laugh. Please just say she's ridiculous.

Rafael laughed.

But not the way I hoped.

"I can't do that now," he said. "That would defeat the whole purpose of taking her from Ethan and getting married to her. I can't divorce her until I'm sure my father has written the will. As he promised to give half of his inheritance to the son that marries Amelia."

I felt something sharp pierce through my chest. The realization of his betrayal so layered it was hard to even process.

So that was it.

I had been a fool to think Rafael had really fallen in love with me. A fool to believe any of it, the soft mornings, the late-night talks, the way he used to hold me like I was the only person in his world, to believe his acts were real.

I sighed and walked away from the door, refusing to hear another word of his disgusting confession. He couldn't wait to be rid of me. I had been nothing but a pawn, the key to his inheritance, the leverage in some twisted game between him and Ethan.

Even when it was their family that ruined mine.

I tried to believe they had changed... I wanted to believe he had changed.

I got home, and for the first time in a long time, it no longer felt like home. Everywhere I looked, I saw traces of him. I remembered how Rafael used to make love to me in almost every part of the house, the couch, the stairs, even the kitchen counter. Was all of that just performance?

Was Camille always there? Watching from the corners while I played wife?

I let out a dry, bitter laugh and shook my head. "Rafael really needs a world's best actor award."

I took a long, hot shower. I tried to wash it off the ache, the sad truth and how it stung, but it clung to me like a second skin. Still, I told myself I had to carry on. I had to try.

Maybe Rafael was just being manipulated. Perhaps Camille was the poison, and he was just too weak to see it. Although I never considered Rafael to be easily manipulated. His actions are just an expression of his thoughts.

I went into the kitchen and started making one of his favorite dishes, grilled chicken and salad. After all, there was still a reason for celebration. I'd secured the biggest deal of my career. I wouldn't let him take that from me too.

**********

I sat at the dining table for hours.

I had tried calling Rafael over and over, but his line just kept ringing. He wasn't picking up.

Eventually, I gave up and served myself a portion. But I couldn't even finish half of it. My appetite had vanished. I stared down at the food and sighed. Such good food going to waste... it almost felt symbolic.

I packed it all carefully into containers and stored them in the refrigerator.

I went in, changed into my pajamas, and tried to sleep. I must have drifted off somehow, because the next thing I heard was a noise from downstairs waking me from my sleep.

I checked the time. A few minutes past one.

Rafael walked into the room and dropped onto the bed beside me without saying a word. He didn't touch me or try to explain why he was home so late. He just passed out.

I didn't have the energy for a conversation either. So I rolled over and went back to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up and Rafael was no longer beside me. I heard the sound of water splashing from the bathroom and stayed still, waiting for him to come out.

When he did, he acted like I wasn't even there. I watched him dry off and move around like I was invisible.

So I spoke first. "I waited for you last night."

He didn't bother to spare me a glance. "I had things to take care of."

He reached for his watch and put it on without looking up.

"You don't have to wait for me every night, Amelia. Just go to bed."

I swallowed and nodded. "I made your favorite last night. Would you like to have something for breakfast?"

"I'm not hungry."

I looked at him, really hard trying to figure out his actions. I didn't know when the words left my lips. I asked, my voice was almost inaudible. "How much longer are you going to keep pretending about this?"