Corinna POV:

Graham was about to say something else, some parting instruction, when Robert, his aide, appeared at his elbow, whispering urgently. Graham' s expression shifted from feigned concern to genuine annoyance. He sent Robert a sharp glance, then squeezed my hand. "Later, my love. I promise."

He gave me a mysterious, almost mischievous smile, then took my hand, leading me towards the grand double doors that opened onto the estate' s sprawling gardens. "Come on, I have a surprise for you."

My heart hammered against my ribs, a dull, frantic drum. A surprise? Tonight? After everything? I wanted to resist, to pull away, but I needed to maintain the facade. I needed him to believe I was still his.

He stopped me at the threshold, his hands gently covering my eyes. "No peeking, my beautiful Corinna. This is something special. The perfect way to end a difficult day, and to remind you of our future." His voice was soft, seductive, a practiced lullaby.

I felt his breath on my ear as he began to count down. "Five… four… three… two… one!"

He lifted his hands, and I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the soft glow of the garden lights. Above us, suspended against the inky canvas of the night sky, hundreds of drones lit up, shifting and swirling, forming intricate patterns. They danced, a mesmerizing ballet of light, until finally, they coalesced into a single, breathtaking image: my name. CORINNA. It glowed, brilliant and ethereal, a testament to his power, his wealth, his performative love.

He wrapped his arms around me from behind, pulling me flush against his chest. "Happy anniversary, my love," he whispered, his lips grazing my earlobe. "Seven years since we met. Seven years of the greatest love story I know. Every year, I try to outdo myself, to show you how much you mean to me."

Seven years. Seven years of me believing in this carefully constructed fantasy. Seven years of me, the naïve girl, falling for the charismatic politician who promised me the moon. I used to look at surprises like this and feel my heart swell with love, with gratitude. Now, it felt like a cruel joke. A gilded cage.

I remembered the girl I was seven years ago. Full of hope, brimming with ambition, yet willing to set it all aside for the man I believed was my soulmate. I had been so earnest, so dedicated. I had walked away from my own burgeoning political career, from the path my father meticulously laid out for me, to support his. To be his strategist, his confidante, his quiet strength behind the scenes. I had been a fool. That girl was gone now, replaced by a cold, calculating woman.

"And every year, I succeed," he chuckled, his voice thick with pride. "You deserve nothing but the best, Corinna. You always have." He turned me in his arms, his gaze intense, about to lean in for a kiss.

Just as his lips brushed mine, his phone vibrated again. The harsh buzz shattered the romantic illusion, tearing a hole in the carefully crafted moment. He pulled back, his jaw tightening in annoyance. He snatched the phone from his pocket, his eyes flashing with irritation.

But then he saw the caller ID. His expression, so full of performative romance a second ago, drained of all color. His eyes widened, a flicker of panic, then a raw, uncontrolled desire. It was her. "Little Canary."

He fumbled with his phone, trying to silence it, to hide it. Too late. I had already seen. My heart, already a fractured mess, splintered further. The sheer audacity of it. Calling him now, at my father' s memorial, at our "anniversary" celebration.

He tried to compose himself, a mask of weary apology settling on his face. "Corinna, I… I'm so sorry. It's a family emergency. A crisis I have to handle immediately." His eyes pleaded for understanding, for belief.

Hope. A tiny, foolish spark, flickered within me. Maybe it wasn't what I thought. Maybe it was a misunderstanding. Maybe…

"Is everything alright, Graham?" I asked, my voice a delicate thread, almost fragile.

He shook his head, running a hand through his perfectly styled hair. "No, my dear. Not at all. It's… complicated. My aunt, an unexpected health issue. I need to go. Immediately." He avoided my gaze, his eyes darting towards the gates.

He reached out, his hand gently cupping my cheek, then pressing a soft, almost chaste kiss to my forehead. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Please, go inside, get some rest. I'll call you as soon as I'm free."

He was already turning away, his mind clearly elsewhere. "Don't wait up for me."

"Of course, Graham," I replied, my voice a soft, compliant whisper. The obedient fiancée. The trusting woman. It was a role I played well, years of practice.

He gave me a quick, grateful smile, clearly relieved by my easy acceptance. "That's my girl." He strode away, his security team scrambling to catch up. I watched his sleek black sedan disappear down the drive, the drone lights still spelling out my name in the sky, a final, mocking touch of his carefully constructed illusion.

There was no way I was going inside. Not now. Not when the truth was calling. I quickly hailed a discreet car from the security detail, one he wouldn't notice. "Follow him," I instructed the driver, my voice low and firm. "Keep a distance. I need to know where he's going."

Corinna POV:

The car moved silently through the night, a phantom in the city's labyrinthine streets. We followed Graham' s convoy, a dark serpent winding its way through the elite districts, past sprawling mansions and manicured hedges. My driver, a man named Mark, was efficient and unobtrusive, a veteran of political shadows. He knew instinctively not to question.

Graham's destination was not a hospital, as he' d claimed, nor the discreet clinic he sometimes used for "urgent family matters." It was the private, heavily guarded estate of his family's closest allies, a place reserved for their inner circle. A place I knew intimately, a place I had often visited with him. A place no "outsider" could ever enter without direct clearance.

Mark pulled up a block away, turning off the headlights. "He's gone in, ma'am," he murmured, his eyes on the imposing gates. "The guards waved him right through."

I nodded, my gaze fixed on the entrance. I knew exactly where he would go inside. The small, secluded guesthouse hidden behind the main residence, a little indulgence Graham kept for his… private moments. His private moments. My stomach churned.

"Wait here," I told Mark, my voice flat. "I'll be back."

I got out of the car, adjusting the shawl around my shoulders, and walked towards the entrance. The guards, recognizing me, nodded respectfully and opened the small pedestrian gate. "Good evening, Ms. Cross. Congressman Rios is already inside." Their smiles were knowing, friendly. They thought I was here to join him. How wrong they were.

I slipped past them, melting into the shadows of the carefully lit gardens. The air was thick with the scent of night-blooming jasmine, cloying and sweet. I moved silently, my soft shoes barely disturbing the gravel paths. My heart felt like a block of ice, heavy and inert in my chest. I wasn't just observing. I was preparing.

I found my spot, hidden behind a thick cluster of hedges, with a clear view of the guesthouse. The lights were on inside, casting a warm, inviting glow. A moment later, the guesthouse door opened.

Hollie.

She burst out, a vision in a shimmering silk dress, her blonde hair a cascade around her shoulders. She threw herself into Graham's arms, her legs wrapping around his waist as he caught her, spinning her around in a dizzying embrace. Her laughter, high-pitched and triumphant, pierced the night.

"Graham! Oh, my darling, I saw the drones! My name on the sky! You really did it!" she gushed, her voice thick with adoration. "But… why Corinna's name first? You should've put mine!" She pouted playfully, a gesture I recognized. It was her signature move when she wanted something.

Graham laughed, a deep, satisfied sound. "My little canary. You know I have to keep up appearances. Besides," he murmured, his lips pressing a kiss to her temple, "that was just a warm-up. You know your birthday is next week. I've got something even better planned for you then. Fireworks. Just for you."

Fireworks. I remembered the year before, Graham had told me he was too busy with a crucial Senate vote to celebrate my birthday in a grand way. He' d gifted me a simple, elegant necklace, saying, "True love doesn't need grand gestures, Corinna. It needs quiet devotion." I had smiled, touched by his "sincerity." He had been with Hollie, watching fireworks.

"You really spoil me," Hollie cooed, nuzzling into his neck. "But you know what I really want, don't you? I want her gone, Graham. I want to be your First Lady. Your wife. Not just your little secret."

Graham's eyes, even from this distance, held a possessive hunger as he looked at her. "Patience, little one. All in good time. You'll have everything she has, and more. Trust me."

My breath caught in my throat. Everything I had. Everything she had. He was talking about my life. My position. My future. He was planning to hand it all over to my sister.

I remembered his words: Just some minor internal disagreements… my aunt, an unexpected health issue. Lies. All of it. He wasn' t handling family business. He was building a new family. With my sister. While I sat alone, fearing for his safety, believing his every word. I was a puppet. A fool who danced on the strings of his deceit.

Hollie pulled back, her eyes sparkling with challenge. She reached into her small purse, pulling out a small, delicately wrapped box. "I brought you a gift, darling. To celebrate our future. You have to open it yourself though. It's… very special." Her voice was a purr, dripping with innuendo.

His eyes darkened with lust. He scooped her up effortlessly, cradling her in his arms. She giggled, a sound that grated on my raw nerves. "My beautiful canary," he whispered, his lips tracing the curve of her neck.

He carried her across the threshold of the guesthouse, her legs still wrapped around him. Just before the door closed, I heard her whisper, "Kiss me, Graham." And then, a wet, smacking sound, followed by her breathy moan. The door clicked shut, plunging the guesthouse into a more intimate, suggestive darkness. I knew what would happen next. I didn't need to see it to know. The top floor suite. The one he always reserved for… special occasions.

A wave of nausea washed over me. My vision blurred. I felt lightheaded, as if all the air had been sucked out of my lungs. My knees buckled, and I sank to the ground behind the hedges, the rough leaves digging into my skin. Tears, hot and stinging, streamed down my face, blurring the soft glow of the guesthouse lights into an ugly smear.

Graham had promised me forever. He had sworn on his family's honor. He had told me I was his anchor, his rock, his everything. All lies. Deceit. A grand performance staged just for me. And I, the star of his delusion, had fallen completely.

I saw it clearly now. My life was over. My marriage, before it even began, was a shattered illusion. The dream of a family, a future, everything I had clung to, was gone. Just like that.

I took a deep, shuddering breath, forcing the sobs back down my throat. No more tears. Not for him. Not for them. My father's voice, quiet and firm, echoed in my mind: "Never let them see you bleed, Corinna. They'll only twist the knife."

I wiped my face roughly with the back of my hand, the wetness a cold reminder of my pain. Three days. That' s all I had left. Three days, and Corinna Cross would cease to exist.

I walked back to Mark' s car, my steps steady, my face emotionless. "Take me home, Mark," I said, my voice flat. "It's late."

Back at the mansion, the sprawling symbol of my broken dreams, I bypassed the main suite. The thought of stepping into that room, our room, where he would eventually return from her arms, made my stomach clench. I found a guest room, locked the door, and sank onto the pristine white sheets. I was already a ghost in my own life.

Hours later, long after midnight, I heard the faint rumble of Graham' s car. Then his footsteps, heavy and impatient, echoing through the silent house. "Corinna? My love, where are you?" His voice was thick with sleep, or perhaps, lingering passion.

I heard him checking our suite, then calling out again, his voice rising in irritation. "Corinna! Where the hell are you?"

A moment later, Robert's voice. "Sir, Ms. Cross's car… it's not in the garage. She must have gone out."

Graham's roar of frustration shook the very foundations of the house. "Find her! Now! Search every inch of this city if you have to! I want her found!"

I heard heavy footsteps thundering down the hall, coming closer. My heart pounded, but I forced my breathing to remain even. The door to my guest room burst open.

Graham stood there, his eyes wide with a mixture of anger and panic. He looked disheveled, his suit jacket askew, his hair mussed. He saw me lying in bed, feigning sleep, my eyes fluttering open as if roused by the commotion.

His anger evaporated, replaced by a profound relief that made his shoulders slump. He crossed the room in two strides, pulling me into a crushing embrace. "Corinna! Oh, thank God! I thought… I thought you were gone. I thought I'd lost you." His voice wavered, thick with a terror that felt almost genuine.

I patted his back gently, my hand light and dismissive. "Graham, darling, what's wrong? Why are you shouting?"

He pulled back, his eyes searching mine, still filled with a lingering fear. "You weren't in our room. Your car was gone. I just… I panicked. I can't lose you, Corinna. I can't."

I forced a weak smile. "I just wasn't feeling well. The emotions of the day, you know. I took a sleeping pill and came into a quieter room. I didn't want to disturb you."

He looked at me, a soft, relieved sigh escaping his lips. "Oh, Corinna. My love. You scared me half to death." He kissed my forehead, then pulled me close again, holding me tight against his chest. "Never do that to me again. I need you. I need you more than you know."

He needs me. Not loves me. Needs me. He needed my political acumen, my connections, my family name, the facade I presented to the world. He needed me to keep his house of cards from collapsing.

"I'm here, Graham," I whispered, my voice a soft lie. "Always."

He held me until he drifted off to sleep, his breath warm on my neck. His hand, heavy and possessive, rested on my stomach, a cruel irony. I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, my heart a stone. He thought he had me. He thought he was safe. He had no idea the woman in his arms was already plotting his downfall. I closed my eyes, a cold, humorless smile on my lips.

Corinna POV:

I spent the next day in a blur of calculated efficiency, my mind a steel trap, completely detached from the emotional wreckage of my life. My last act as Corinna Cross, the loyal fiancée, would be the most devastating.

I took out a small, antique wooden box from my dresser, a gift from my father on my eighteenth birthday. Inside, nestled on a velvet cushion, was my family crest, a silver ring passed down through generations of Cross women. It was meant to be my wedding band, a symbol of my lineage merging with my husband's. Now, it was a weapon.

Next to it, I placed carefully prepared legal documents. A comprehensive divorce agreement, meticulously drafted by an anonymous firm Carroll had recommended. It was ironclad, leaving Graham with nothing of mine, and dissolving any claim he might have on my future. It was a declaration of war, disguised as a surrender.

I wrapped the box in elegant, understated paper, tying it with a simple silk ribbon. It looked innocuous, a thoughtful gift. He would never suspect.

Later that evening, as we sat in the study, a pretense of normalcy hanging heavy between us, I presented him with the package. "Happy anniversary, Graham," I said, my voice soft, my eyes wide and innocent. "A little something to mark our seven years. A promise of many more."

He took the box, his eyebrows raising in surprise. "Corinna, my love, you didn't have to. You know my heart is your greatest gift." He gave me his most charming smile, a practiced flash of teeth and warmth.

"Just a small token," I insisted, pressing the box into his hands. "Something personal. Something for us."

He tilted his head, a curious glint in his eyes. "Should I open it now?"

"No," I said, a playful tone in my voice. "It's a special kind of gift. You can open it in two days. On our actual engagement anniversary. Consider it a delayed celebration." I watched him, my heart a frozen block in my chest. The day I'll be gone.

He chuckled, charmed by my supposed sentimentality. "My sweet Corinna. Always so thoughtful." He placed the box carefully in his personal safe, a gesture of profound trust. He had no idea he was locking away his own future.

When you open that box, Graham, I thought, you won't find a gift. You'll find the end of everything you thought you had.

Just then, the doorbell chimed, a shrill, insistent sound that shattered the fragile quiet. Graham frowned, annoyance flickering across his face. "Who could that be at this hour?"

Before he could send Robert to investigate, the doors burst open. Hollie stood there, her face tear-streaked, her usually impeccable blonde hair disheveled. She was clutching a white envelope, her knuckles white.

"Graham!" she cried, her voice choked with sobs.

Graham cursed under his breath, his suave demeanor instantly replaced by a flash of cold fury. He grabbed Hollie's arm, dragging her out of the study and into the dimly lit rose garden, out of sight but not out of earshot. He didn't even spare me a glance.

I moved to the window, watching the scene unfold. Graham's face was a mask of thunder. "Are you insane?" he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "Coming here? Now? You'll ruin everything!" He shoved her away, his patience clearly at an end.

Hollie stumbled back, but quickly regained her footing, pushing the envelope into his chest. "You think I care about 'ruining everything'?" she cried, her voice thick with desperation. "Look at this, Graham! Just look!"

He snatched the envelope, tearing it open. As he read the contents, his face went from anger to shock, then a profound fear. My heart plummeted, a cold dread washing over me. I already knew.

"I'm pregnant, Graham," Hollie whispered, her voice cracking. "Six weeks. The doctor said it's high-risk. And it's yours. Our baby." She paused, then added, her voice rising in a desperate plea, "Your first child, Graham! Your heir!"

The words hit me like a physical blow. My chest felt hollowed out, as if an invisible hand had reached in and ripped out my heart. My own pregnancy test, still tucked in my pocket, felt like a cruel joke. He had a child. With my sister. While I was carrying his child, too.

I remembered his excuses, his evasions about starting a family, always saying "not yet, Corinna, let's focus on my career." He never wanted a child with me. He just wanted my silence. My compliance. My strategic mind to build his empire.

Graham stood there, shell-shocked. His carefully constructed world was crumbling around him. A pregnant Hollie. His first heir. I saw the gears turning in his mind, the ruthless politician calculating the angles.

His anger melted away, replaced by a strange mix of resigned acceptance and something akin to pride. "My… my heir," he murmured, his voice softer, almost reverent. He looked at Hollie, his expression changing from disdain to a possessive concern. "Why didn't you say anything sooner? Are you alright? Have you seen a doctor?"

"I just found out!" Hollie sobbed, her tears now mingled with relief. "I'm so scared, Graham! What are we going to do?" She reached for him, her hand gripping his arm.

He gently, almost unconsciously, pulled away. "We'll figure it out. You need to rest. I'll arrange for the best specialists. You'll stay in the guesthouse. No one is to know about this. Not yet." He looked at her, his eyes cold and commanding. "Your priority is the child. Nothing else."

Hollie's face lit up, a triumphant smile breaking through her tears. She leaned in, trying to kiss him, but he subtly shifted, presenting his cheek instead.

"Don't push it, Hollie," he warned, his voice low. "This is a delicate situation. You need to be smart. For the baby." He gave her a dismissive pat on the shoulder. "Now go. Robert will escort you to the guesthouse. I'll see you in the morning." He turned, a sardonic smile playing on his lips, as if relishing the chaos he'd created.

I slumped back onto the chair, my head spinning. Six weeks. That meant he had been with Hollie roughly the same time he was with me, when I conceived. The dates lined up perfectly. Another child. His. And mine.

I touched my flat stomach, a wave of profound sadness washing over me. I was carrying his child. And he already had another one on the way, with my sister. I'm so sorry, little one, I thought, a silent apology to the life growing inside me. You deserve so much more than this broken world.

A few minutes later, Graham re-entered the study, his face composed, his politician's mask back in place. "Corinna, I'm so sorry, darling. That was… an unforeseen crisis." He ran a hand through his hair, feigning exhaustion. "My aunt, she's had a relapse. I had to arrange for immediate medical transport. It's all very delicate. I need to leave for a few days to oversee her care."

Another lie. Another performance. Tonight, he was truly outdoing himself.

"Of course, Graham," I said, my voice smooth, utterly devoid of emotion. "Family matters are always paramount." I stood up, adjusting my dress.

He walked over to me, placing a hand on my cheek. "I need you to stay here, Corinna. Keep things running smoothly. No drama. No questions. Can you do that for me?" His eyes held a subtle warning.

"You know I can, darling," I replied, a small, knowing smile playing on my lips. "I'll be here. Waiting."

He pressed a brief kiss to my forehead, then turned and left, his footsteps echoing down the grand hall. I listened as his car pulled away, the sound fading into the night. I walked to the calendar hanging on the wall, my finger tracing the date. Two days. Then, he would open his "gift." And Corinna Cross would be gone forever.