Jason P.O.V

I can't believe what I'm hearing - it shattered my heart into a million pieces. My inner demons were fighting to stand strong as I looked at her with so much disgust.

I fought back the tears forcing their way out, but I knew she wasn't worth them.

I tried to make sense of her betrayal, but Mrs Cash's voice cut through as she kept hammering on about the money she was owned, which angered every fiber in my being.

Before I could speak, Mrs. Cash intervened, "Oh, it's such a pity that your fairytale comes to an end... but reality doesn't care," she said, her grin dripping with mischief.

I kept wondering how I would react to this situation when I suddenly felt a hand trying to hold mine, and I snapped immediately. "Don't you dare touch me," I snapped, my glare dripping with loathing, still clenching my fists to steady my anger.

My eyes kept staring at the smug, aging woman standing shamelessly at my doorstep while my fist clenched and unclenched with restrained fury.

I looked straight at Brinda, my anger blinding me, and I slammed my fist on the wall next to her in rage.

"I can't believe I just did that - this isn't me", my mind kept repeating while staring at my unlawful action.

A piece of me wanted to apologize to her for my sudden action, but I was so consumed by her betrayal that I only wished she felt what I did.

She looked at me with so much shock, but I left her and turned my eyes to the major problem.

"Miss Cash, you need to get the hell out of my property - before I call the police. And I hate to repeat myself."

Before I could further vent my anger, she hushed me and said, "Darling, you know you shouldn't hit a pregnant woman. My timing was wrong, but don't worry-I'll be back.

She entered her SUV and zoomed off while I kept staring at the broken presence standing beside me.

"J-Jason... p-please... forgive me," she sobbed. But all I felt was cold resentment.

"Jason, if you don't want me around, just say so. I can't keep enduring your cruelty - it's tearing me apart." She kept pouring out of her tender lips.

"Maybe it's best if I end this pregnancy - so we can both finally have peace. I won't let my past ruin our future." She stuttered, with tears flowing down her flushed cheeks.

She turned to leave. A part of me wanted her close, but the questions kept screaming - why would she hide something this big, especially with my child inside her?

As she was about to exit the door, I knew if she left I would somehow feel guilty, which I quickly grabbed her wrist, slowing my breathing to calm my anger.

"You're staying - at least until the baby's born", I said firmly, fighting back the aching pain I felt even though I didn't know Brinda, our bodies kept, electrifying which was still a mystery to me.

I drew her close. Our faces inches apart. Her lips trembled slightly parted. But I couldn't read her anymore when I suddenly heard a tiny voice ringing in my head: "Miss Cash... She didn't tell you, huh? Your precious girl's not so innocent - and she still owes me."

I suddenly created a gap between us and redirected my face, knowing it would leave her in pain, but I felt she truly deserved it and nothing less.

"If you need anything, make yourself at home - but cross me again, and you'll regret it." I said, staring at her as I climbed the stairs, desperate to escape the wreckage of this night.

Once I noticed I was out of Brinda's sight, I hurried to my room wondering how her past tied to Miss Cash.

I ran a hand down my face, pacing in circles, desperate to try to know what she's hiding, and what she'll do if she ever finds out about mine.

I threw myself into bed instantly, wondering my next course of action.

"I need to uncover her past - before it pulls me under too," I thought, drowning in a sea of endless questions.

Brinda's P.O.V

Jason's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as every word landed like a blow. My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, my feet felt glued to the floor.

"Oh, what a touching little fairytale you two were living- too bad reality doesn't care," she said with a sinister gaze. "Now, I need my money, Brinda. And you know what they say-"money makes the world dance." Her gaze sliced through me, dripping with venom.

I was so frozen, unsure how to handle the situation or reach out to Jason, whose eyes revealed hidden pain.

My hands twitched at his side, but his stony stare stopped me. His eyes flickered, stormy and unreadable, as if they held years of unanswered questions. I reached out for Jason's hand, hoping he'd sense what I couldn't say aloud - but his reaction caught me off guard.

"Don't you dare touch me, you disgust me" He snapped. I stared at him, my body frozen in shock.

He looked straight through me, like I was an old photograph he no longer recognized. I knew this was the beginning of my end, as his clenched fists held all the anger inside him.

Before I could speak, he turned and walked to the door-like he needed distance from the stench of betrayal. I stood there, confused.

Miss Cash's smirk curled like a serpent's tail. I felt my stomach twist - she was savoring every second of destruction.

He kept staring at Miss Cash, which confused me about his next move-but I prayed it would go in my favor.

Before my mind could wander, a heavy smack landed on my face, leaving the room in stunned silence.

"You disgust me. And if this child turns out to be mine... it won't change a thing. You'll still mean nothing," he said, his hands still suspended in the air.

He faced Miss Cash and requested her to leave his premises or things would get ugly, which she accepted without hesitation, and I knew it smelt more trouble.

"Darling, you know you shouldn't hit a pregnant woman. Looks like I chose the wrong moment to drop the rest of my bombs. No matter-I'll be back," she smirked, flipping her middle finger as she silently mouthed, "I will be back," which left me trembling for help.

She entered her SUV and zoomed off, leaving me alone to face the aftermath - just like always. It burned - like every betrayal I had ever survived, clawing at my throat all over again.

I turned my head toward Jason, heart thudding, searching for even a flicker of warmth. But his eyes were sunken, lost in some internal war I couldn't fight with him.

"Jason, p–please. You have to listen to me. At least give me a chance to explain," I pleaded, on my knees - but he just stared through me like I was a ghost.

"If you don't want me around, I understand. I'd never cause you pain. Maybe it's best... I abort the child - for both our freedom," My hands trembled. But all I got was silence - louder than any scream he could've given me.

Just as I shifted my foot, fingers wrapped around my wrist - firm, trembling. I turned slowly, my breath caught. It was Jason.

"You're not going anywhere until my child is born. And get ready - we have a public convention tomorrow. No drama," he said, our eyes momentarily locked...but I could notice a sense of hurt on his face even when he tried to mask it from me.

We were so close to each other, but before I knew what was happening, I felt a sudden gap between us and his face back to square one.

"If you need anything, make yourself at home. And I repeat - do not disturb me, or you'll face the consequences," he warned, disappearing upstairs. I stood in a silence so thick it just burned and stayed, unsure whether to run, scream, or collapse.

"She found me. And if she found me once, she'll do it again." I wrapped my arms around myself, cold despite the air. "No more hiding. No more hoping. I have to be sharper. Stronger. Ready." with my hands ruffling my hair.

I walked slowly to the kitchen hoping to get a pain relief when my eyes glimpsed the alcohol section. It was the only thing that listened when I cried. The only friend that never asked questions - just burned,and stayed.

My hands trembled as I gripped the bottle, its cool glass anchoring me. I took another gulp, trying to drown the shiver crawling down my spine. Just a little more. Just until the shaking stops. But it didn't. Not really.

I set the empty bottle down, the burn still lingering in my throat. The silence wrapped around me like a noose-until the doorbell rang.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Each chime louder than the last.

I hesitated. Jason was upstairs. The house was locked. No one should be here.

With slow steps, I approached the door, peeking through the side window.

Nothing.

Then, just as I reached for the knob-

A crisp white envelope slid beneath the door.

No return name. No stamp. Just my name.

Brinda.

With trembling fingers, I tore it open.

Inside, a single photograph.

Jason.

In bed.

With her.

Miss Cash's lipstick smeared across his chest like war paint.

And beneath it, a note scrawled in her cruel handwriting:

"You thought I was the villain? Sweetheart, you haven't even met the monster."

I dropped the photo.

My vision blurred.

But my rage-oh, it had never been clearer.

Still, something inside me - small, stubborn, unyielding - refused to break. With every burning swallow, courage sparked like flint against stone. Miss Cash had started a war - but I wasn't going down easy.

Brinda's P.O.V

I kept looking at the ceiling, wondering what connection Jason had with Miss Cash, but my head kept going blank, which only got me more frustrated than ever.

"God, I hate my life right now." My mind kept thinking of the worst, as always, but I knew that I needed a distraction to redeem my brain back to normal state.

I stretched my hand under the pillow and checked the time - 7:11 p.m and I felt like time wasn't on my side today.

"Brinda, love, you've got to get a hold of yourself baby, you got this." My brain kept saying in a tiny, faint voice, but I knew I still needed something to relax my system.

I crept out towards the door hoping that I won't get a sight of Jason because I know it would never end well.

"Ouch" my foot hit the wall forcefully, creating excruciating pain. "Can today get any worse?"

I slowly found my way down to the kitchen, hoping to get some alcohol to calm my nerves. I looked around at how expensive his kitchen gleamed and wondered if he did anything here. "Gosh, his kitchen is so beautiful, it's just a pity... too bad the owner isn't pretty on the inside." While ransacking the wine cabinet.

"Finally - my favorite. Merlot. It's been long. I remember how I fell in love with you, and it's so good to see you again." which my lips got talking to the non object but it gave me peace.

I poured a glass, desperate for that first calming sip, only to behold a dark shadow from the corner staring at me, which almost gave me a heart attack. "H-hey, who's there, show yourself and face me like a damn adult," with my hands still shaking while holding the wine in one hand.

I kept bracing myself for anything to happen, and I wasn't going down without a fight. "Do you know how to fight, girl?" my mind kept floating on which was the worst time.

As the figure kept moving towards me, stepping into the light area in the kitchen - I embrace myself for a battle.

His steps were quiet, deliberate. Like a predator stalking prey. I should've run - but my legs, my heart, refused to move.

As my hands got ready to strike, I was astonished at the broad–built figure in front of me with his biceps calling my name. "It's insane how I still crave him... despite the emotional chaos he brings."

"What are you doing here?" He said while staring at me with his ocean eyes locked on my body, lingering shamelessly on my radiated lingerie while his hand slid down my shoulder.

He kept on staring at me with so much lust that for a second I felt I saw hunger written in his eyes for me.

"Well, if you must know, I came to drink and I don't know how it's any of your business," pouring the wine into the glass cup.

"Drinking now, huh? Pathetic. Just like the choices you make." with his hands inside his pocket like he owns the world.

"Your cruel words don't faze me anymore, Jason. Besides, if you want a drink all you could have done was ask instead of playing Mr you know it all," while sipping the wine slowly to irritate him even more.

"So my words don't have any effect on you. Amazing which I need to know more," while he kept coming closer to me.

I could feel the tension arising between us, but I refuse to give into his demand, "If he's playing with fire, I'll be the wildfire."

As I kept on sipping the wine, my mind lost track of his movements, only to see him standing an inch away from me, which made my heart skip.

"Why does it seem you are ignoring my look?" He said, swiftly raising my chin in his direction, which made my pussy drip.

"Why the hell are you showing him you want this? Get a grip, Brinda." but I knew deep down that I wanted him to rip off my dress.

He kept looking into my eyes like I was his, and the whole world fell still when his scent invade my senses, making my body betray every restrained emotion.

I wanted to fight him, but a powerful force kept me standing still, waiting for his next line of action, which was getting me restless.

He looked at me, only licking his bottom lips while whispering in my ears, "If you weren't a whore, I would have eaten you up, but you are just like every public girl I met."

His words broke my heart into pieces, and I immediately slapped his hands off my chin while taking the last sip of wine to soothe my restless night.

"I hate you so much, Jason, and I can't wait to get you out of my life for good," while storming my way up to my room not caring what he had to say.

Trust me, Jason. I'll find out who you really are - and once I do? It ends with my winning, Jason. You'll see.