Chapter 2

Liora's POV

Arriving at the hospital, Bianca was fine but asleep. She had a small scratch on her head from bullies at her school.

"Nurse Kay," I said, barging into his office after seeing Bianca. Quietly, I turned on the recorder on my phone.

"Hey, Mrs. Lucien," he greeted, fear laced in his voice and eyes. "Please sit down," he added, gesturing toward the chairs.

I sat, my jaw tight.

"Tell me what you did to my child years ago," I shot at him.

His eyes widened, though he quickly tried to mask the fear with confusion.

"What are you talking about? Bianca is fine," he answered, avoiding my gaze.

A fake smile curled on my lips.

"Of course, you know what I'm talking about."

"I don't," he said, rising to his feet. "If you have nothing to say, please leave. I have a patient to attend to."

I had expected this reaction from him. That was the reason I came prepared.

"A patient?" I asked calmly, pulling a pistol from my bag; it was Bianca's toy, but it looked like a real gun. I ran my hand through my hair.

"Please... I'll tell you. Please don't kill me," he begged, trembling.

"I'm listening," I replied coldly.

"I was the one Mr. Lucien paid to swap your baby with another patient's child," he confessed, his voice shaking.

I exhaled deeply.

"Where is my child?" I asked, my voice icy.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the words failed him as his body trembled.

"Speak!" I shouted.

"I... Mr. Lucien ordered the child executed."

Hearing that, my world shattered.

"He did what?" I whispered, my eyes widening in horror as tears streamed down my cheeks.

"I couldn't do it," Kay continued quickly. "He did it himself and buried the remains."

My heart sank.

The same man who had stood beside me in the labor room, watching me with concern on his face, even yelled at the doctor to be careful... was the same man who killed my child.

"What else has he done that I don't know about?" The question escaped my lips before I could stop it.

"He... he..." Kay stuttered.

I stared at him in shock, realizing he had more to reveal. He paused, still shivering in fear.

"Talk!" I yelled louder than intended.

"He ordered us to kill both you and the child during labor," he admitted. "But it wasn't successful."

My stomach twisted as I ended the recording.

"Thanks," I forced out, wiping my tears as I stood.

"And also, don't mention this to anyone, not even Mr. Lucien. If anyone finds out you told me this, consider yourself dead. Not only will Mr. Lucien deal with you, I will too," I added coldly before turning and leaving.

I returned to Bianca's ward, passing the night there.

The next day, my ringtone woke me; Lucien was calling.

"Hel..."

"Liora!! Where's Bianca? You didn't pick her up from school?! Is she there with you? Where are you?" Lucien's voice rang loudly through the phone.

This was how anxious he was whenever I took Bianca out. He would always insist on coming along, now I understand why.

Maybe he is afraid I might run away with her.

"We're at the hospital," I revealed quietly, wiping my eyes. "The same hospital you know."

"Did something happen to Bianca? Is she..." I ended the call before he could finish asking his questions.

He didn't even bother asking about me, he hadn't cared about me ever since Bianca was born.

"Good morning, Mummy." Bianca's tiny voice greeted.

I turned toward her as a smile slowly spread across my lips.

I had taught her to greet whenever she woke up, even though she was only three years old.

She looked exactly like Lucien. Perhaps that resemblance was what made their baby swap less suspicious.

"Good morning, darling. How do you feel?"

"I'm fine, Mum. Where am I? Shouldn't I be getting ready for school?" she asked, her eyes darting around the room.

Just then, the door burst open as a nurse stepped in.

"Ma'am, please you need to leave," she said coldly.

I stared at her, knowing this was Lucien's doing. Without arguing, I grabbed my bag and headed out.

Arriving home, I saw Elara pacing around the living room.

I walked past her, but suddenly felt a hand grab my arm and pull me backward.

"What did you do to my... your daughter?" she demanded, her jaw tight.

"Take those filthy hands off me," I warned.

She hissed instead, tightening her grip and wrinkling my suit.

This was exactly how she and her mother had always treated me; like a puppet they could control.

I turned and slapped her hard across the face. She immediately released me, clutching her now reddened cheek.

"I'll make sure you pay for this!" she cried, collapsing onto the sofa.

I walked inside and returned moments later as she spoke angrily on the phone, I passed going to work.

"Ma'am, are you fine?". Ava's voice jolted me.

She had been standing there for some time while I sat at my desk.

"I'm good," I replied, tapping on the keyboard in front of me.

Then I stopped and turned to her.

"What would you do if your step-sister and your husband had been having an affair even before he met you?" I asked quietly.

Ava froze.

"He married you only to win a bet," I continued. "And when you had given birth, he ordered both you and your child to be killed. When that failed, he swapped your baby with your step-sister's child because you gave birth on the same day in the same hospital."

Ava slowly shook her head in sympathy.

"It means he never loved me," she said softly. "And he's obviously in love with your step-sister..." She stopped.

I could feel my heart sinking.

From the look on her face, I already knew her answer.

"It's fine," I said quickly.

"I saw the story online and felt sorry for the woman."

I turned back to my laptop.

Soon, Bianca would inherit the company, and maybe they planned to keep the truth hidden until she grew old enough to take control.

I couldn't keep living with a man who wanted me dead.

How did I know he hadn't tried again after that failed attempt?

But divorcing him now... I would leave with nothing.

Just then, my phone rang with an unknown number calling.

I answered.

"Hello, am I speaking with Liora?" a familiar feminine voice asked.

"Yes."

"Oh, Lio darling, how have you been? It's been a long time."

My brows furrowed in confusion.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Lio darling," she repeated.

That nickname sounded strangely familiar, like someone from my childhood.

"It's Mrs. Sinclair... your mother."

I froze, my grip tightening around the phone.

Mrs. Sinclair was my birth mother, the woman who had raised me until I turned twelve before sending me to live with my father and his wife.

Why was she suddenly calling me now?

"I believe I've given you enough time with your father," she continued calmly. "We agreed you would stay with him for twelve years, and that time is already up."

"Please return, darling."

"Starlight Enterprise awaits your return."

My eyes widened in shock.

Starlight Enterprise was the number one corporation in the world. I had tried many times to collaborate with them but was always rejected.

I never knew my mother was the owner.

And now... they were waiting for me to return.

There was only one thing left for me to do.

Chapter 3

"Lawyer Elliot, I want a divorce," I said.

His eyes widened in shock.

Everyone had always believed that Lucien and I had a perfect marriage. Even though I once thought it was good, now I know better.

I took out my phone and played the recording, then showed him the pictures. Elliot stared at them in stunned silence as sympathy slowly spread across his face.

"This is unbelievable," he exclaimed.

I forced a faint smile.

"I have another favor to ask."

He nodded attentively.

"As you're preparing the divorce papers, I need you to also prepare asset transfer documents, along with a large charitable foundation," I revealed, forcing back the tears threatening to betray me.

This was my revenge.

I would donate both my company and Lucien's company to charity. Those people needed the money far more than he did.

"Consider it done," Elliot said, clasping his hands together.

"Good," I muttered, rising to my feet. "Keep this between us."

"How do you intend to get his signature?" he asked.

"Leave that to me," I replied as a smirk curled on my lips before I made my way out.

Arriving home, I walked into the living room and froze.

Lucien was sitting on the couch with Elara resting her head on his lap like a couple.

My stomach twisted.

My stepmother, Stephanie, sat on the opposite couch.

They acted as if they hadn't noticed me as they continued chatting.

Exhaling slowly, I walked past them.

"Liora."

Lucien's voice stopped me.

"You can't say hello to your mother? Come join us," he said, though it sounded more like a command.

"That's how she has always been," Stephanie scoffed. "A very rude brat."

I turned back slowly, forcing a smile.

"Hi everyone. It seems you're all having a good time," I said, making my voice sound casual.

"Stupid girl," Stephanie muttered, clearly satisfied.

"Better," Lucien said.

Our eyes met briefly before my gaze shifted to Elara, whose head was still resting on his lap, asleep. My jaw tightened as though I were only noticing her now.

"She twisted her neck and hurt herself," Lucien explained.

I forced a smile and nodded.

His expression shifted slightly, as though he had noticed that my reaction was different from usual, I had always told him how much I hated my family.

"Also, they'll be staying here for a while," he continued. "Their street was recently raided by thieves, for their safety, let them remain here."

Such a talented liar. He spoke as though they weren't already here. I should have been the one informing him that my family needed to stay here for a while, but instead it was the opposite.

"It's fine," I said calmly, nodding in understanding.

"Feel at home." I turned slightly toward Stephanie as I spoke.

Just then Elara stirred, yawning as she rubbed her eyes.

"Hey!!". She yelled when her gaze landed on me.

She slowly stood and walked toward me.

"What did I ever do to you?" she asked as tears suddenly spilled down her cheeks.

My jaw tightened.

"What are you talking about?" I asked coldly.

She turned toward Lucien and Stephanie.

"When she came back this morning, I only tried to ask if Bianca was okay... but she slapped me," Elara cried softly. "She even hurt me and my baby."

My brows arched in confusion.

What baby?

Lucien stood up instantly and approached me.

Before I could say a word... a sharp slap landed across my cheek.

My head snapped to the side.

In five years of marriage, this was the first time Lucien had ever raised his hand against me and it was because of Elara.

I held my cheek, still forcing my tears back as my heart bled painfully.

"How could you do that to her?!" Lucien roared. "She only wanted to ask about your child!"

My child?

"She hates me," Elara sobbed weakly. "Please, I can't stay here. She'll kill both me and my baby."

Lucien turned to her immediately.

"Don't say that," he said softly, his voice suddenly gentle. "You can stay here."

"You want to kill my daughter and her unborn child?" Stephanie thundered angrily.

I turned and walked away, I collapsed onto the bed, sobbing.

"Elara is pregnant again... with his child," I muttered bitterly, wiping my tears.

They had no idea what was coming for them.

Later that night, Lucien never came into the bedroom and I didn't bother asking, he could sleep wherever he wanted.

The next morning, while working in my office, my phone beeped with a message.

[Hi Lio darling, it's Mrs. Sinclair. Meet me today at the Sterling Suite.]

A small smile curled on my lips.

"Yes, Mum," I murmured.

I quickly finished my work, removed my wedding ring, and headed to the suite.

"Wow, you're already grown," she exclaimed as she quickly embraced me.

"Thank you," I replied with a small smile.

"Come, sit," she said gently, pulling me toward the sofa.

"How's your father?" she asked, her bright eyes studying me.

It seemed she didn't know he had died.

"He passed away years ago," I told her quietly.

"Oh..."

"So who has been taking care of you since then?" she asked quickly, not even bothering to ask what had killed him.

"I've been living with my stepmother and sister," I answered.

I couldn't tell her that I was married to a monster.

Yes, she could easily destroy Lucien but that wasn't what I wanted. I would destroy him myself.

"Stepmother?" she repeated, her eyes widening in surprise.

I nodded.

"We leave for New York tomorrow," she added casually.

Tomorrow? No.

"I'm sorry, but I'm currently managing Father's company here."

"That tiny business?" she said with a light chuckle.

Tiny business?

"I have a much better position waiting for you," she continued. "Leave that garbage to your stepmother."

I swallowed slowly.

"You're right," I said carefully. "But I'm planning to donate the company to charity. Within one month I'll be done, and then I'll join you in New York."

She studied me for a moment before smiling.

"You're just like me," she said proudly.

"Thank you," I replied with a faint smile.

Now I have one month... one month to destroy everything Lucien values... and leave forever.