Zara is curled up beside me on the couch, one leg tucked under her.

A half-eaten pancake sits on her plate, forgotten, her tea cooling between her palms.

Her brows are drawn so tightly in confusion.

She's gotten just a bit lean, but her caramel skin glows better, her black curls always look ever glossy like she oils it every minute.

"Babe... tell me you're joking," she says, her voice almost breaking.

"Adam? Divorce? That man worshiped everything that concerns you."

I stare down at my plate, pushing crumbs of pancakes around with my fork.

My chest feels hollow, like someone scooped me out from the inside, and it hurts so much, but I feel more ashamed talking about it.

Zara only visited us once but she knows everything about me and Adam. I used to tell her everything. But now...

"I wish I was joking. But it's true, Zara. He sent the papers while I was still in prison."

Zara's head snaps toward me, her mouth parting in shock. "Sent them? God!-"

"I don't get it. I don't fucking get it. That is so cruel!"

Zara leans closer, her shoulder brushing mine. Her eyes are almost wet.

"I swear, Hermione, I could kill him right now. To put you through this after everything? After you..." she stops herself.

She takes a deep loud breath. "You don't deserve this. Not from him."

Silence drapes over us.

She reaches out, and holds my arm, "You've been crying a lot. Look at you Hermione."

A broken laugh escapes me. "What do you expect? Two years locked away... and now this waiting for me as soon as I get home? I'm... I'm shattered, Zara." I breathe out, not even finding the strength to talk.

Her grip tightens. "No. You're hurting, yes. But you're not shattered. You're still you. You're still Hermione."

"The smart girl that can program dead bodies to function, but can't fry eggs without turning them black."

"I shoot my gaze at her, holding the urge to laugh, then my hands snap to her mouth, squeezing. "You bitch, you just have to keep remembering that, huh?"

She bursts out laughing.

Then she leans her head against mine, her voice turning into a whisper. "And I've missed you. More than I can say."

"I've missed you too babe." I say.

"But...Zara, the idea."

"No no no," she shakes her head.

"You eat, you rest your head, shake off everything about Adam and prison, then we can talk business."

"Because damn Hermione, we've got a shit load of business to discuss."

~~~

I wake up with a pounding headache. My eyes feel swollen, my pillow is damp. I must have cried myself to sleep again.

The first thing I do is grab my phone. My heart beats faster as it turns on.

I stare at the screen, waiting. But I see nothing. No missed calls. No texts. Not even a blank message from Adam.

I'm sure he's still with her, in our matrimonial bed. Making out, probably mocking me while they're at it.

It feels like the heartbreak is fresh all over again. Like it just happened this morning, not yesterday.

"I'm never crying over you again, Adam." I whisper. That's exactly what I promised myself last night before I fell asleep.

I pull out the SIM from my phone and snap it in half, then throw it in the bin.

I block him everywhere. I don't want anything ever reminding me of him.

I open my phone gallery. My thumb hovers over pictures of us. I select everything, press delete, and they all vanish, except one.

The photo of us in the pool. He's lifting me up, I'm laughing with my head thrown back.

We looked like the happiest couple alive. My finger brushes over his face on the screen.

"I hope you're happy with her," I whisper, and another tear slips down but I wipe it fast. "I hope...she loves you as much as I loved you."

I press delete and the screen goes blank.

"Goodbye, Adam...You're dead to me."

I take a long bath and change into clean clothes.

When I walk into the kitchen, the smell of coffee fills the air. Zara is leaning against the counter with two mugs.

"Bitch, you look like you woke up from the dead," she says, handing me a cup.

"Thanks," I mutter and take it, instantly falling in love with the warmth it gives me.

"Aww. You already sieved out the sugar." I ask.

I smile faintly. "You put all of it in yours, right?"

"Exactly. I'm a sweet girl, I know." She winks, and I can't help but laugh softly.

"You're the best, Zara," I say.

Then I set my laptop down on the table and take a sip of the coffee.

Her tone shifts to a more serious one. "So, from our beta testing, remember that? With my followers and a few influencers, we got an insane response."

"We could've made millions just from that if you'd agreed to make it a paid version, Hermione." She shakes her head.

"Your idea's super genius, but then...prison happened," she says, gesturing with her hands in the air.

I breathe in slowly. Shame touches me, but I push past it.

"I got a lot of new ideas in prison," I say. "Crazy ones. With what we already have, we can build something way bigger."

Her eyes light up. "That's what I like to hear. And listen, I've still got influencers begging to partner with us. They were pissed when everything paused, but they'll jump right back in."

"You said the beta has... what, three million users now?" I ask.

"Three million active fucking users," she yells excitedly. "And you gotta open a social media account, by the way."

I chuckle softly. "I'll handle that later."

"Fine." She takes another sip of coffee.

"I'm thinking five dollars per month for a subscription." I say.

Her eyebrows shoot up. "Hermione, that's too low. A shitty competitor app takes ten dollars, and it's nothing compared to yours."

"I know. But five is still amazing for a start. We make it superb and affordable for the people. That's how we grow faster."

Zara leans back, crossing her arms. "And with the influencers on board, we could hit the world hard."

We stare at each other. And I find both her eyes wide with excitement.

"Oh my God, Zara," I breathe. "We could hit a billion dollars in a year if we work super hard on this."

She squeals and nearly spills her coffee. "That's exactly what I'm saying, bitch! Like disgustingly rich. That's what I'm fucking talking about!"

"I've waited so much for you, Hermione, you won't understand!"

Her excitement pulls a laugh out of me. I nod, relief rushing through me for the first time in years.

"Good," I say, looking at her.

"Let's make this happen."

{ADAM}

"Name your price, Cassie. I've got important places to be," I say, standing in front of the mirror, fixing my cufflinks.

My reflection stares back at me, calm on the outside, but my chest feels too tight.

I'm finalizing our divorce today but Hermione's crying face has been haunting me since yesterday.

"What if I say that I want you instead...Adam?" Cassie says, her voice sounds like she's teasing, but I hope she doesn't mean what she just said.

I watch her through the mirror as she slowly drags the white duvet off her body, slides off the bed, and catwalks toward me. Her breasts are out like she doesn't give a heck.

I turn to face her before she gets too close. "The fuck do you mean?" I ask.

"You divorced your wife, right? You're single now..." she whispers, grabbing my black coat.

I take a slow, deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Are you flirting with me?"

"No, I'm just...remembering high school days," she says, tilting her head, smirking.

"The sex? It was insane. I miss," she squeals, like a fourteen year old begging for something.

I turn back to the mirror, brushing my hair with my fingers. "Those days were just sex, Cassie."

"And...I didn't bring you here to fuck. I made that damn clear, didn't I?"

"Adam?" Her tone grows serious, and she grabs my arm, pressing it lightly against her tits.

"Tell me you don't miss this," she says with that sultry smirk again.

I look at her for a long moment. I can't stop the memory of the last woman I held her boobs, Hermione. The way she would moan to just my touch.

I can't get her out of my head, even when another woman is naked in front of me.

I had buried myself in work when she left for prison. Telling myself I didn't miss her. Telling myself I was never in love with her. That marrying her and loving her was all a well planned facade.

But the truth is... I haven't been able to look at another woman the way I look at her.

"Adam, just once, sweetie."

Before she can finish, my hand grabs her neck tight, my thumb lifting her chin and she smiles wide. Bitch seems to enjoy it.

"I called you here, Cassie, to play girlfriend because we had a thing in high school. You're another woman that's seen me naked. I wasn't interested in inviting a stranger into my privacy."

"And you said yes to it, right?"

"I pay you good money. You pretend we're in love. That was the plan."

"And...You overplayed your part. Showing up outside to call my wi-" I stop myself before I can finish the word 'wife'.

Cassie laughs, the mocking type of laugh I hate seeing. "Your wife?" She scoffs.

"You're funny. And yes, she did smell like prison sweat. You know that."

"Acts over, Cassie. Now get your fucking clothes on and leave," I say, releasing her with a push that's subtle.

I find my checkbook and write her 500,000 dollars.

Before I can finish, she dresses up and steps closer in her heels, her purple satin gown hugging her body perfectly.

"Take this," I say, handing her the check. Her eyes widen as she takes it.

"You know what?" she says, leaning in close. "The rude Adam turns me the fuck on. Call me if you need to put on another show. Muah!" she whispers and blows kisses.

I stand there watching her leave with the annoying wink on her face, regretting ever getting her involved in my life again.

I roll my eyes as soon as she's gone and collapse onto the black velvet couch, pulling my phone out of my pocket.

My chest still aches, and I can't shake Hermione's face out of my goddamn mind.

I scroll to my gallery and find her video. I had secretly asked Six to record her for me.

I watch her, slowly crouching to the floor to pick the divorce papers and sign, her face red and swollen with tears.

The sight of it rips me apart.

I did this to her. I caused her this pain.

My jaw clenches so hard I feel it cracking. My Hermione.

When I saw her in those prison rags, all I ever wanted was to hold her tight and press kisses all over her, make her forget every bit of the ugly memory she's got from that damn prison.

I watch her raise her face to look at me, damn!

Her soulful brown eyes... the way they gaze at me.

Getting married to her was part of the plan with Elton, to ruin Silas Bennett's family and everything that belongs to him.

But when she came into my life, I thought I had it under control. I thought...I was following my mission, getting her to fall in love with me, just so I could wreck her life beyond repair.

But...she took me first.

Her passionate brown eyes, the way they always make me think we're soulmates. The way she gave herself to me. The way she screams my fucking name through her soft lips, like it's her favorite thing to say on planet earth.

The sex with her, being inside her, tastes like heaven. Her intelligence. How she talks about her passion.

Everything about Hermione slowly unraveled me. I wasn't prepared for her type of sweetness, especially when her dad's a fucking rot.

I tried my best to hold onto my mission, but damn, I fell too hard, that realization hit harder when she's already landed in prison.

Every fucking moment I spent with her, I keep realizing I can't get enough.

But...each moment still feels like a betrayal to my own family.

Dad, Mom, my sweet kid sister Berry. They all burned in that brutal fire, started by Silas.

Each time I think about my family, I realize just how much I need to ruin him and take away everything he ever loved.

But...Hermione.

She doesn't deserve any of this mess I dragged her into. She doesn't deserve this fucked up cruelty. And that's why this divorce needs to happen.

"I'm sorry, Baby," I say, brushing my finger on the screen across her cheeks without even realizing it.

"This marriage was never meant to last in the first place," I say finally.

Then I scroll through my contacts and find Elton's number. I text him the video and dial his number right after.

"What's up, El."

"What is it, Adam? I'm busy." Fucker's always too busy to talk to his own brother.

"Just letting you know I divorced my wife. You got the video, right?"

"What?! That's not what we planned!"

"I'm fucking aware of our plans, El, I just..." I stutter, my fingers gripping my forehead.

"You what?" he asks impatiently.

My jaw tightens hard. I shut my eyes, take a deep breath, then let it out.

"She doesn't deserve all that."

"The fuck are you saying, Adam?"

Silence follows. I don't even know a damn word to say at this moment.

"You remember Berry?" He continues, "How you couldn't even recognize her after that fire? That's the level of cruelty his fucking whore of a daughter deserves."

"She's not a whore, you shithead!" I bark.

"Don't start a banter with me, Adam. We're not kids anymore."

"Wait a minute... you fell in love?"

I take a deep breath to calm my nerves, not responding to his question.

He laughs from the other end of the phone. "You fell in love with Silas's daughter? You've clearly gone wild."

"Fuck! We leave her out of this, do you understand me, El?"

"That's not going-"

I smash the end call button before he finishes his speech.

If he dares lay a single finger on Hermione, I'm yanking them off. I don't even care if he's my brother.

My phone screen glows again and it's him. Of course.

I ignore it and spray on my cologne. But he calls five times in less than a minute.

"What is it, El?" I snap when I finally pick up.

"Who the fuck is the lady in that video?"

The question leaves my thoughts spinning for some seconds.

"That's my ex-wife, are you dumb?"

"Oh my fucking God, Adam!" he yells.

"You told me you married Silas's daughter? That's not his daughter!"

A slick chill runs through my body from that statement.

I take a minute to swallow hard, letting it settle.

"What the fuck do you mean? Hermione's his first daughter."

"You married an adopted, push-aside girl. Not his real blood."

"Push-aside girl? The hell?" I ask, my chest picking up its own race as the realization slowly dawns on me.

"Hermione is not his real blood!"

"So... why didn't you tell me this, Elton?" I growl, my voice already shaking with rage.

"I didn't fucking know! I wasn't supposed to show up at your wedding, remember? You weren't supposed to let her know you've got any relations."

"So there's no fucking way I could have known you didn't get the right girl."

"I bet she didn't tell you she was adopted, but as far as I know, Silas Bennett only has one daughter, and the girl in that video is not her."

"Wait a minute..." I mutter, piecing it all together.

Everything I'd ever questioned about Hermione starts clicking all at once. How she never bothered to bring her family over. How her dad never attended her wedding, claiming he traveled.

"HOLY SHIT!"

"Adam," Elton calls from the phone, "You better pray I don't handle her mys-"

I hang up before he can finish his horseshit.

"Shit! What should I do?" I mutter, pacing around. Sweat slowly soaking my shirt despite the air conditioner.

"How on God's fucking earth did I not know about this?"

Then my head shoots up. I need to try her line, it should be on by now.

I scroll through my phone, a wave of guilt suddenly crashes heavy on me and I pause.

I don't think she'll ever talk to me again. The embarrassment I made her go through.

"Damn!"

I shut my eyes, jaw clenching, but I dial her number anyway.

My foot taps impatiently, waiting for it to ring.

"Baby...please just take your call."

"You can't reach this line." My chest drops when I hear the voice.

I dial again but it's the same darn voice.

"She's already blocked me? Good. I deserve worse than that."

I need to get to her family. She must have gone back there.

They don't know who I really am. Not yet. That gives me one chance to drag her back into my life where she belongs.

If she isn't Silas's blood...then nothing's stopping me anymore. Nothing.

"Six?" I call out.

He opens the door and peeks through. "Sir?"

"Get my other car ready. I'm driving to Sand Town."

"But... sir... the business trip?"

"Get my fucking car ready, Six!" I bark, instantly regretting it. "I'm driving there myself."

I grab the right car keys and my coat.

Then I spot the divorce papers I left on the flower vase. I pick them up and look. My side to sign is still blank.

I spot her signature, smudged with tears. My heart caves in looking at it.

"You're still my wife, Hermione." I mutter.

"I don't care if you drive your kitchen knife through my chest the second you see me, but I'm gonna get you back."

First I left her to rot in prison.

Then I sent her fucking divorce papers before she could even breathe free air.

Then I dragged another woman into our bed, into our house, so she'd see it and hate me enough to never look back after I divorce her.

I deliberately ruined the one woman who gave me her heart.

How the fuck do I live with myself?

My hands are still grabbing the steering wheel.

I've been parked here for almost 20 minutes, staring at the black gate of the Bennetts' mansion.

Hermione's inside, I'm sure she's running away from me as far as she can.

How do I explain to my woman that I've been a godforsaken son of a fucking bitch for ever hurting her feelings.

She might spit in my face. She might slap me, or hell, stab me if she's got something sharp in her tiny hand. And I'd deserve it. Every fucking second of it.

But what scares me the most is if she says she'll never be with me again. Because I won't accept that one for an answer.

I take a deep breath and collapse on my seat, the more I sit out here like a coward, the more she slips further away.

Every minute wasted is her heart getting colder over me.

"Fuck it."

I step out of the car and shut the door.

My chest is hammering, I've never been scared of anybody my entire life. But right now, Hermione's anger aimed straight at me, that's something I've never experienced, and I don't know exactly how to navigate that.

I walk up to the gate and my finger hits the bell, after some minutes the gate buzzes open.

It feels strange being here again. The last time I stood on this ground was to ask for Hermione's hand, to prove myself as her husband. That was the day I made my agenda to deceive her official.

The front door swings, and she steps out.

Kareen Bennett, the girl I thought was Hermione's kid sister.

Baggy jeans hanging on her waist, black crop top that only covered her chest, and messy blonde hair like she woke up and didn't give any care.

Her makeup's caked on so thick I can't even remember if this is the same face I saw at the wedding.

These women are probably shape shifting with the makeup thing.

She smirks when her eyes land on me. "Well, well. Look who decided to visit. The famous husband. I thought you vanished with her," she says as she approaches me.

She always speaks with her tiny voice that has a hint of mockery in it.

I shove my hands in my pockets, trying to hold myself together, despite the fact that nothing is normal about today.

"I need to see Hermione. Is she in?"

She gives me a sharp laugh instead. "Hermione? You mean the stray dog you finally rid us of? I never got the time to thank you properly."

"Watch your mouth, Kareen." I growl, trying to contain my anger.

"Just tell her I'd love to speak with her."

She tilts her head, like she can't believe what she's hearing. "You're joking, right? The stray hasn't stepped foot here since your wedding day."

My heart sinks hearing those words. "So where exactly is she?"

She scoffs, "Shouldn't you know? You're her husband. Or maybe she's doing what she's always good at, running off and acting like the world should revolve around her."

I clench my jaw so hard my teeth ache. "Kareen... She's your sister."

Her eyes go flat. "I don't consider her family, Adam. Attending her wedding? That was just me being nice. I wanted her out of here as soon as possible."

The words land like blows, but the bitch can't just shut up.

"And look at you, standing here, begging to see her. What a joke. I don't even know how she managed to land a guy like you. You know?"

She steps closer, her eyes fixed on me, "Unless...You're into her because she's easy prey?"

My fists curl in my pockets. "How the fuck does a twenty three year old talk with so much spite and hatred for her own big sister?" I manage to ask.

She rolls her eyes. "Oh, please. What's there to like about her? She thought she was going to be some world-renowned programmer with that broken-down laptop, skipping the chores she's supposed to be doing as the 'BIG SISTER' she called herself?"

"She was never part of our family."

Then she waves me off with her hand in the air.

"Good riddance, Adam. If you find her, don't bring her back here. She's not welcome."

I shake my head, the more she opens her mouth to speak, the more regret claws at me for my own actions against Hermione

"You really are nothing like her." I say.

Her smile twists. "Good. Because I'd rather die than be a stray."

She brushes past me and walks out the gate without another word.

I stand there for a few minutes, my chest burning with rage.

That's the woman Elton wanted me to get involved with? God knows how that would have ended.

I'd have committed murder, She'd be so dead and buried the next morning.

My Hermione grew up with people tearing her down, making her feel like she didn't belong, just because she was adopted? What's the point of this useless drama?

Because she is intelligent and so damn beautiful it hurts them? Is that it?

And then I came along, pretending to love her, dragging her into a mess she doesn't deserve. Breaking her all over again.

That's when it instantly downed on me, how different Hermione is.

How she loved without holding back, despite being deprived kindness and love in her own family, she's the kindest and most loving girl I've ever met in my entire fucking life.

And that's how she slowly snatched my soul away, but I was so blinded with revenge to see the truth in front of me.

I walk out of the godforsaken compound and head back to my car. I'll definitely have time for them later, but right now all I want is to just find her.

The door shuts and silence fills my head.

My chest is still hurting from how much I've just realized about my own wife.

"Why did you hide so many things from me?" I mutter into the air, as if she's right there to give me answers.

And now? I don't even know where the hell she is.

I quickly pull my phone out of my pocket and scroll to Hunter's number. My thumb hesitates for half a second, then I press call.

"Adam? What's up?"

"I'm good, man. Where is she?" My throat's dry as hell and I don't have time for greetings.

But instead of saying something, he gives me that dead silence. That means he knows exactly where she is.

"Hunter? Where's Hermione?"

My chest pounds like I'm in a damn fight waiting for him to give me answers.

"I don't know, man."

I grit my teeth. "The hell do you mean you don't know?"

"She didn't tell me where she was headed. She didn't take any of my help either," he says.

I drag my hand down my face. "You drove her somewhere, right? Airport? Park? Some place specific? I want fucking names." My voice is already rising with impatience.

But he gives me nothing, just his deep sigh, like I'm supposed to do something with that.

"Hunter, I need to..."

"Adam!" He cuts me off.

"She was crying like a hopeless person when you threw her out. I don't know what she did to you, but I think you should just let her be."

I shut my eyes, my gut twisting with shame and regret. His words hit deeper than I want to admit.

"I just want to know where she is, man."

"I don't know," he blurts out.

"A random car picked her up. A lady was driving and I didn't bother to ask where they were headed. That's the last time I saw her."

"Wait, a lady?" I catch a hint immediately.

"Okay, thanks man." I hang up without saying any more words.

I lean back in the seat, my brain spinning in circles, trying to remember things.

There's a friend of hers. She once came by the house, but I only caught her face for a second because I was in a hurry that day.

The only thing I remember is that she's got caramel skin and black curls.

I don't know her name or any details about her.

"Shit." My fist subtly thumps the wheel.

"Okay I need to find this friend of hers, maybe she must have gone to be with her."

Hermione doesn't have social media. Things could've been so damn easy if she did.

I scroll through my contacts and tap my investigators number.

"Hello, Sir?" he answers without wasting a second.

"Wendell, I need you to do something for me."

~~~

The phone buzzes once before he picks up.

"Sir, I've run through everything twice. No face matches the details you gave me."

I drag my hand down my face in frustration, "Keep looking Wendell. I'll pay you hefty for this, I already promised you that."

"Sir, I've been on this for two days straight. There's nothing. No records, no matches at all."

My jaw grinds. "You're telling me you found nothing? Nothing at all?"

"You haven't figured out the woman's name yet?" he asks.

I shut my eyes. "No. I never knew her name."

"And you said the last time you saw her was three years ago? For only a few seconds, right?"

"Yes," I responded, hating how weak the information I gave him actually is.

He exhales heavily into the line. "Then we don't have much detail to work with. I'm sorry, Sir."

"Damn!" My hand lands against the glass desk of my office, head dropping into my palms.

The line falls silent. Wendell has nothing else to give me.

"How the hell do I find you, Hermione?"