Chapter 2: The Taste of Truth

I didn’t cry when I left the house. I didn’t even look back. I just walked, my body moving on autopilot. I knew I didn’t belong there anymore. I wasn't a wife; I was leveraged.

I didn’t care about my belongings. Everything in that house felt like a lie now. I headed straight for the one person I could trust: Riley. She’s my best friend and, more often than not, my partner in crime.

I arrived at her door with nothing but the clothes on my back. I knocked just as she was about to head out.

“Elena? What are you doing here?” she asked, her eyes widening. “And why is your hair such a mess?” She checked her watch. “It’s seven in the morning.”

I didn’t say a word. She saw the hollow look on my face and stepped aside. “Come in,” she said softly.

I walked straight to her fridge, pulled out a bottle of wine, and poured myself a glass.

“Out with it,” Riley demanded, crossing her arms.

“Why do you always assume there’s a problem?” I tried to deflect. “Maybe I just want to spend time with my best friend. We haven't done anything fun lately. It’s not like we murdered someone.”

“Elena, stop,” Riley said, her face dead serious.

I paused, my eyes rolling back as the weight of it hit me. “I’m being played, Riley. I’m being played.”

“Played? Since when do you care about sports?”

“Not a game,” I whispered. “My ex showed up at my house today. And my husband? He already knew him. They had this... strange conversation. Then Victor showed me a contract. Something about a debt, a trust fund—some family bullshit.”

I showed Riley the documents and played the audio message Victor had sent to my phone. She froze. I know Riley; when she goes quiet like that, it means she’s putting pieces together that I haven't seen yet.

I saw her flinch.

“I knew it,” she muttered. “I knew he was up to something.”

“You knew what?” I asked, my heart sinking.

“I’m sorry, Elena. I saw a post on Victor’s social media a few days ago about him looking for a ‘new wife.’ I thought it was a joke or some publicity stunt. I had no idea it was about you. It all happened so fast.”

“Victor wants something,” I said, the anger finally bubbling up.

“Hell yeah he does,” Riley responded. “And he’s back to make sure he gets it.”

While Riley was distracted by a noise at the front door, the shadows at the back of the apartment shifted. Two men slipped through the rear entrance before she could even turn around. She went to investigate the noise at the front, but when she found no one there and returned to the kitchen, the back door was wide open.

I was already gone.

The next thing I knew, I was blindfolded. When the fabric was finally ripped away, I was in the back of a luxury SUV. Victor was sitting across from me, his bodyguard like a statue beside him.

“What do you want?” I spat.

“Nothing much,” he said smoothly. “I just need a small favour.”

“What kind of favour?”

“We’ll discuss it at the hotel. You look exhausted, Elena. You need rest.”

The SUV pulled up to the City Point hotel in Brooklyn around noon. I was escorted straight to a high-end suite. Victor followed me inside.

“What do you want?” I asked for the third time.

“Sleep, Elena. We’ll talk in the morning.” He whispered something to his bodyguard, and they both slipped out, locking the door behind them.

Luckily, they hadn't checked my pockets. I still had my phone. I saw nine missed calls from Riley. I called her back immediately.

“Elena! Are you okay? Where are you?”

“I’m... I’m safe for now,” I told her, keeping my voice low. “I’m at a hotel. I’m waiting to see what Victor’s move is. But Riley, something is wrong. I can feel it.”

“It’s worse than you think,” Riley said, her voice

shaking. “I went back to your house. Julian is there, and he’s wasted. He was rambling about 'selling' you to Victor to cover his company’s debts. He said the only reason he stayed with you was to keep the creditors at bay. Elena... I recorded it.”

She played the tape. I turned the volume up, listening to Julian’s slurred voice confirm my worst fears. I froze. The world seemed to stop spinning.

“Riley, what am I going to do?” I whispered. “I was sold. By two brothers who used me like a piece of property.”

“Don’t worry,” Riley said, her tone turning sharp. “I have a plan. We’ll figure out what Victor is really after, and then we’re going to burn it all down.”

She hung up, leaving me in the silence of the hotel room. Everything replayed in my head—the day I met Victor, the day I married Julian. It was all a setup. A long, cruel game.

This time, I had had enough. I lay back on the bed, but I didn't want to sleep. I wanted revenge. I wanted something that would leave their lives in ruins. I didn't want them dead; death was too easy, too quick. I wanted them to feel the cold, heavy weight of the pain they had handed me.

I was going to teach them a lesson they wouldn't survive. They treated me like collateral. Now, I was going to show them exactly what happens when the collateral strikes back.

Chapter 3: The Planning

A sharp knock at 6:00 a.m. shattered the silence of my hotel room. I didn't even have to look through the peephole to know who it was. Victor stood there, flanked by his bodyguards.

They were all dressed in sharp, midnight-black suits, looking less like businessmen and more like they were attending a funeral—possibly mine.

“How was your night?” Victor asked, stepping into the room.

“Great,” I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Easily the worst twenty-four hours of my life. Thanks for that.”

Victor went quiet, his eyes searching mine as he moved into my personal space. “Elena, I’m sorry. For everything. The way I brought you here… it wasn't my intention to scare you. I take full responsibility.

I just... I don't want anything bad to happen to you. I’m doing my best to save you from a situation I helped create. I know I’m the villain in your story right now.”

He sighed, looking weary. “Can you just try to understand me for once? I’m tired of being the bad guy.”

“Fine,” I said, locking my gaze onto his. “If you want me to understand, then answer my damn questions. Why am I here? Why did you come all the way from LA to New York for me? Why was I kidnapped like a common criminal? What are your actual intentions, Victor? We’ve been together for over a decade.”

The questions poured out of me, fueled by a night of pacing and half-formed plans.

“Is that what you want? Answers?” Victor asked.

“I need them,” I said, my voice dropping to a low, steady hum.

“Elena, you’re here because my life is being dismantled by my ex-wife.”

I blinked, my face going cold. “You’re married?”

“Divorced,” he corrected quickly. “Her name is Celeste Stone.”

“And? What does your divorce have to do with me?”

“Everything,” Victor said, pacing the room. “She’s telling the world I cheated—which I never did. As a celebrity, my life is under a microscope. I’m always working, always travelling. She mistook my absence for infidelity. Now, she’s trying to burn my empire to the ground out of spite.”

I scoffed. “So go see a therapist, Victor. Or a lawyer. Why involve me?”

“Because I need someone I can trust. Someone who can take a hit and stay in character. For ten years, Elena, you’ve never said a bad word about me. You never sold my secrets or gossiped to the press, even after how I treated you. Your type is rare.”

A small, hollow smile touched his lips. He was playing me, and he knew I knew it.

“So,” I summarised, “you want me to be your 'rebound' wife? A shield to protect your reputation from the rumours?”

“Yes. That’s exactly what I need. It’s a contract, Elena. You sign, you play the part for a set amount of time, and when it’s over, you walk away with ten million dollars.”

The number hung in the air, heavy and tempting.

“What about Julian?” I asked. “He’s my husband. How do you think he’s going to react to his wife playing house with his brother?”

“Julian is my half-brother,” Victor said dismissively. “I’ve known him longer than you have. I know how to handle him. Get some rest. Julian will be here tomorrow morning, and it’s going to be a long day.”

He turned and left the room before I could say another word.

As soon as the door clicked shut, my phone buzzed. Riley.

“Elena, how are you holding up?”

“If I told you I was doing great, would you believe me?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“Elena, listen to me. I have news. Real news.” Riley’s voice was sharp, urgent. “Do you really think Victor came all the way to New York for a 'fake wife'? He’s using you, girl. He’s trying to create a war between you and Julian so he can get what he really wants.”

“Elaborate,” I demanded.

“I just dug up some articles on Celeste Stone. They didn’t divorce because of cheating, Elena. They divorced because they couldn't conceive. Victor wanted an heir, and she couldn't give him one.

He filed for divorce, and now she’s out for blood.”

I felt a chill run down my spine. “You think... he wants to turn me into a baby factory?”

“Think about it! Why hasn't he spoken to you in ten years? Suddenly he needs a ‘trustworthy’ wife? He’s looking for a legacy, and he thinks he can buy yours.”

The pieces clicked into place. Victor didn't want a partner; he wanted a silent, obedient vessel for the Stone name. He wanted a contract that bound me to him in the most permanent way possible.

I gripped the phone, a new kind of fire burning in my chest. “If that’s the game he wants to play, Riley... I’m going to play along. I want to see exactly how much this 'legacy' is worth to him.”

I wasn't just collateral anymore. I was the one holding the match.

Chapter 4: Which Way?

The moment I set the phone down, the fog finally lifted. Everything became razor-sharp. I could see both sides of the game now, and the realisation hit me like a physical blow: I was being used. I didn't fully understand the why yet, but the how was becoming painfully clear.

The signs were everywhere. Julian hadn't called back, didn't check in, and didn't care. That silence was the only proof I needed that "love" was never part of his equation.

Then there was Victor—suddenly reappearing in my life with a purpose I knew all too well, even if I didn't want to admit it.

By 6:00 a.m., Victor’s machinery was already in motion. He had the precision of a general. A makeup artist was already stationed in my room, painting a mask onto my face, ensuring I fit perfectly into whatever scheme he had engineered for the day.

Outside, the air buzzed.

Guests arrived in a steady stream of silk and perfume, the flashes of cameras punctuating the lively chatter. The entire place hummed with an energy that felt suffocating.

Suddenly, a black Porsche cut through the centre of the crowd. A woman stepped out, draped from head to toe in striking white and red garments. She carried herself with an authority that commanded the room. Even before she spoke, I knew she was someone significant—someone Victor hadn't warned me about.

“Her name is Celeste Stone,” a voice in my head seemed to whisper. “Victor’s ex.”

She glided toward the VIP table where I sat alone. Victor had stepped away to the restroom, leaving me vulnerable.

“Well, I guess you must be Elena,” she said, her voice smooth as glass as she approached, a drink held loosely in her hand.

“And you must be Celeste Stone,” I countered, trying to keep my voice steady. “Nice to meet you.”

“What are you doing here, young lady?” she asked, her eyes scanning me with a mix of pity and disdain. “Don’t tell me you came all the way from New York to L.A. just for this.”

I froze, my gaze locked on hers as she pulled out a chair and sat.

“Elena, I know you don’t want to do this to yourself… not for a coward like him,” she said, leaning in. “He’s a traitor. A master manipulator. He will use you to get exactly what he wants, and then he’ll discard you—just like he did to me.”

She didn't wait for me to answer. “You’re a beautiful woman. Don’t let a man like Victor ruin your life. He has nothing to offer you but hollow promises. Let me guess… he offered you a contract, didn't he?”

The blood drained from my face. I couldn't find the words. I forced a plastic smile, desperate to maintain a facade of composure, but I could tell she saw right through it. She smelled fear on me.

The moment Victor spotted Celeste at my side, his expression darkened. He practically sprinted toward the table, his hand clamping firmly around my wrist as he hoisted me up.

“Elena, I told you not to speak to anyone,” he hissed, dragging me away from the table. “Everyone here is fake. They can't be trusted.”

“Do you even know who you were talking to?” I snapped back, trying to shake his grip. “That was Celeste. She told me exactly who you are.”

“How did she know my name? How does she know about the contract?” The questions tumbled out of me. “This is all too shady, Victor. I want answers now, or I’m walking out.”

Victor’s eyes turned cold. “Don’t be an idiot, Elena.”

The word stung. “An idiot? Is that what I am to you? Your errand girl? I’m done. I’m out of here.”

He gripped my arm tighter, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low growl. “What do you think you’re doing? You don’t leave unless I say so—not if you want to walk out of here alive.”

My heart hammered against my ribs.

“This wasn't part of the deal,” he continued, his face inches from mine. “If you leave, it’s the end of you. That’s not a threat, Elena—it’s a warning. Don’t take me for granted.”

He let go and walked away, leaving me trembling. Tears blurred my vision. I stumbled toward the restroom, desperate to hide my breakdown from the prying eyes of the high-society crowd.

I fumbled for my phone and dialled Riley.

“Elena?” Riley’s voice was immediate, laced with concern. She could hear my ragged breathing.

“Riley…” I sobbed, the weight of the day finally breaking me.

“Listen to me, Elena. Don’t cry. You’re a winner, you hear me? Don’t let those losers win. We’re going to fix this,” Riley urged.

“Why is my life so bitter?” I gasped. “I’m tired, Riley. I’m so tired. I don't think I can take another second of this. What should I do?”

The world began to tilt. A sudden, violent nausea rose in my throat. The walls of the restroom started to spin and shake. I fell to my knees, retching, before the darkness rushed in to claim me. The phone clattered to the floor, Riley’s voice still calling my name into the empty air.

Back at the party, Victor’s impatience was growing. He scanned the room, noticing my continued absence. He signalled to his bodyguard. “Go find her.”

Minutes later, the guard returned, breathless. “We can’t find her, boss. We checked the apartment, her luggage… everything is there, but she’s gone.”

“What do you mean you can’t find her?” Victor growled. He pulled out his phone and dialled my number. It rang and rang, echoing somewhere he couldn't hear. “Stupid bitch,” he muttered under his breath. “I knew she’d try to test me.”

Suddenly, a scream pierced through the music and chatter.

A crowd began to form near the restrooms. Victor and his guard shoved their way through the onlookers. When they reached the centre, the sight stopped Victor cold. I was lying crumpled on the tile, motionless.

The bravado vanished. Panicked, Victor gathered me into his arms, shouting for someone to call an ambulance as he effectively shut down the event.

Later, as the sirens faded into the distance, Victor called Julian.

“If anything happens to her, you’re responsible,”

Julian’s voice crackled over the line, sharp with fear.

“Don’t drag me into this… this wasn't the plan.”

“How many people saw?” Julian demanded.

“This isn't the time for questions!” Victor barked back. “Meet me at the hospital. We’ll talk there.” He hung up before Julian could respond.

By 8:00 p.m., the hospital hallway was a grim reunion. The brothers, Riley, the bodyguards—everyone was there, pacing the sterile floors. Everyone was waiting for the same answer:

Dead or alive?

Either way, the girl I used to be was gone.