"Ten seconds." Edwardo' s voice sliced through the warehouse, cold and sharp. Each word was a fresh wound.

My breath hitched. "Edwardo, please!" I pleaded, my voice raw, the words catching in my throat. "I swear, I don't know!"

He merely watched the timer, a cruel, detached observer. His gaze was fixed on the blinking red numbers, not on my desperate face. Not on Ben' s bruised one.

How could he be so indifferent?

I looked at Ben, his eyes glassy with pain but still holding a fierce loyalty. He shook his head slightly, a silent command for me to stay strong.

"Five." Edwardo' s voice was devoid of emotion. "Four. Three."

"Wait!" Ben rasped, pushing himself up against the crates, wincing. "It's me. I did it."

My head snapped towards him. "Ben, no! What are you saying?"

Edwardo stopped counting, his gaze finally shifting to Ben. A flicker of something, perhaps curiosity, crossed his face. "Go on."

"I... I heard her talking," Ben coughed, blood staining his chin. "Cassie. She was bragging about stealing data from Steele Industries." He looked at Edwardo, defiance in his eyes. "I couldn't let her get away with it."

My heart pounded. Ben, my ethical hacker, despised corporate greed. This was exactly something he would do, but never for malice. Always for justice. "Ben, you didn't-"

"I confronted her," Ben interrupted, his voice gaining strength. "She panicked. Ran off. I don't know where she is now, but she's probably hiding because she knows I' m onto her." He looked at me, a desperate plea in his eyes. "Blair had nothing to do with it. She doesn't even know what I do."

Edwardo' s eyes narrowed. He looked from Ben to me, then back to Ben. "So, you admit to corporate espionage?"

"I admit to trying to stop a thief," Ben retorted, his gaze unwavering. "She was selling your company's secrets, Edwardo. To Domenic Perez."

Perez. Edwardo' s fiercest rival. The name hung in the air, heavy and loaded.

Edwardo's jaw clenched. He walked towards Ben, slowly, menacingly. "You think you can just waltz in and meddle with my business?"

"I was protecting your business, you idiot!" Ben spat, his protective instincts surging. "And Blair! You treat her like dirt, but she's worth a thousand of your precious Cassie Shields!"

A sharp, almost imperceptible flinch crossed Edwardo' s face. But it vanished quickly, replaced by an even colder fury. "Fool. You just signed your own death warrant." He turned to one of the men. "Call federal. Tell them we have a confession for corporate espionage."

"No!" I screamed, finally breaking free from the guards' grip and lunging towards Edwardo. I grabbed his arm, my nails digging into his expensive suit. "Edwardo, please! You can't do this! He's innocent!"

He yanked his arm away as if my touch burned him. "He confessed, Blair. And he dared to insult Cassie." His eyes, like chips of ice, met mine. "He dies for that."

"He's my brother!" I cried, my voice cracking. "He saved your family once! My father saved you! This is how you repay us?"

"Your father's debt is paid with your presence in my home," he sneered. "Ben's folly is his own." He looked back at the bomb timer. "And his time is running out either way."

My eyes darted to the red digits. Ten seconds.

"Edwardo, look at me! He's hurt! He's bleeding! He could die!" I shouted, struggling against the guards. I refused to beg. Begging never worked with Edwardo.

He glanced at Ben, then back at me. His expression didn't soften. "He's irrelevant to me. My only concern is Cassie."

Despair, cold and sharp, pierced through me. But it quickly hardened into rage.

"You are insane," I spat, staring him straight in the eyes. "You are framing an innocent man to protect a thief! Do you really think Cassie is worth this? Worth becoming a murderer?"

He looked down at me, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "Cassie's location. That's all I want."

"I don't know!" I yelled, standing my ground even as the guards gripped my arms tighter. "But if you hurt Ben, I swear I will burn your reputation to the ground, Edwardo. Debt or no debt!"

Ben, from behind me, suddenly spoke up, his voice weak but clear. "She mentioned a cabin. Upstate. Belongs to her aunt." He gave Edwardo a specific address, quickly. "She said she was going to lay low there for a bit."

Edwardo's eyes narrowed. He pulled out his phone, quickly typing coordinates. He looked at Ben. "If this is a lie…"

"It's not," Ben coughed. "I swear."

Edwardo finished typing. He looked at the guards. "Secure the perimeter. Have a team sent to this location. Bring her back safely." He looked at Ben again. "As for you, your confession still stands. Federal prison awaits."

"No!" I screeched, scrambling to my feet. "You promised! If I told you where she was-"

"You didn't tell me," he cut across me, his voice flat. "He did. And his confession stands." He turned to leave, his expression cold and resolute.

"Edwardo! The bomb!" I shrieked. The timer was flashing dangerously red. Three seconds.

He stopped, barely glancing back. "Oh, that." He gave a curt nod to one of the guards. "Disarm it."

The guard fumbled with a device, trying to cut the wires. The timer blinked to two.

"No, Edwardo! He's hurt! He's bleeding! Get him medical help first!" My voice was a desperate, raw plea.

Edwardo paused, then turned fully. His eyes, still cold, swept over Ben. "Fine. Get him basic first aid. Then prepare him for transfer to a federal holding facility." He looked at me, a chilling smirk on his lips. "And you? Don't think you're getting off easy. This isn't over, Blair. Not by a long shot." He gestured vaguely at my stained dress. "Clean yourself up. You reek of desperation."

He turned and strode out of the warehouse, his footsteps echoing in the cavernous space. I stared after him, my mind reeling. My brother was going to prison. And I was trapped.

The guard moved towards Ben, but his hands were shaking, fumbling with the wires. The timer hit one.

"No!" I screamed, throwing myself towards Ben, trying to cover him with my body.

BOOM!

A blinding flash, a deafening roar. The floor vibrated beneath me. Dust and debris rained down. I felt a searing pain in my side, then a dizzying lurch as I was thrown against the crates, Ben beneath me.

Silence. Then, a ringing in my ears. I slowly pushed myself up, my head throbbing. Ben was still beneath me, but his body felt… wrong. Limp.

"Ben? Ben!" I sobbed, my voice choked with fear. I rolled him over. His leg was twisted at an unnatural angle, blood seeping through his torn pants. Shrapnel was embedded in his arm. His face was ghostly pale.

"Blair…" he whispered, his eyes fluttering open. He managed a weak smile. "I saved you, didn't I?"

"No, Ben, don't talk! Just stay still! Help!" I screamed, my voice cracking, tears streaming down my face.

"Listen to me," he rasped, gripping my hand with surprising strength. "Cassie… she had a… a crypto key. Biometric. She kept it in… in her necklace." His breath hitched. "It's… it's what she used to encrypt Edwardo's data."

My mind snagged on his words, even in my panic. "A crypto key? What are you talking about?"

"It's… it's leverage, Blair," he whispered, his eyes starting to lose focus. "She bragged about it. Said she could… could ruin Edwardo if she wanted to." He squeezed my hand tighter, his voice barely audible. "Use it. Get out. Get free. Don't… don't be like me."

His hand went limp. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.

"Ben? Ben! No! Don't you dare!" I screamed, shaking him, but he was unresponsive. "Help! Someone help him!"

The guards, shaken and disoriented by the blast, finally rushed forward. One checked Ben's pulse, his face grim. "He's alive, but barely. We need to get him to a hospital. Now!"

I clung to Ben, my body wracked with sobs. Edwardo. He had done this. He had almost killed my brother. And all for that woman.

"I'm divorcing him," I choked out, a cold resolve settling over me amidst the grief. "And I'm not going to prison. I'm going to use this leverage. For Ben. For me."

The next few days were a blur of screaming, tears, and legal paperwork. I signed the divorce papers, my hand steady despite the tremors running through my body. The staff brought in my things, already packed. The silence of the mansion was deafening. I felt nothing but a hollow ache, and a burning, icy rage.

I went straight to the hospital. Ben was in critical condition. They had managed to save his life, but his leg was permanently crippled. He would never walk without a cane again. My heart twisted with guilt and fury.

Just as I settled into the waiting room, still covered in soot and dried blood, Edwardo' s lawyer, Mr. Henderson, arrived. He looked uncomfortable, avoiding my eyes.

"Mrs. Steele," he began, his voice formal. "Mr. Steele sends his regards. He also wishes to remind you of your agreement."

"What agreement?" My voice was flat.

"The one regarding Mr. Ben Pena. The corporate espionage charge."

My blood boiled. "He almost died! And you want to talk about charges?"

"Mr. Steele is willing to be lenient," Henderson continued, as if I hadn't spoken. "Provided you cooperate. He requires you to make a public apology to Ms. Shields. And to formally retract any accusations against her."

"A public apology?" I gasped, incredulous. "After everything? After she almost got Ben killed? After Edwardo tried to frame him?"

Henderson cleared his throat. "It's a matter of optics, Mrs. Steele. Ms. Shields' reputation has been… tarnished. Mr. Steele wishes to restore it."

Just then, two of Edwardo' s security personnel walked into Ben' s hospital room, already starting to pack his things.

"What are you doing?" I demanded, rushing towards them.

"Orders from Mr. Steele, ma'am. Mr. Pena is to be transferred to a private, secure facility, guarded by our personnel, until the federal authorities take over." The guard' s voice was polite, but his eyes were unyielding.

"You can't! He's just had surgery! He needs specialized care!" I stood in front of Ben' s bed, my arms outstretched, shielding him.

Henderson stepped forward, his voice low. "Mrs. Steele, Mr. Steele is simply ensuring Mr. Pena doesn't attempt to flee justice. It's for his own good."

"For his own good?" I laughed, a harsh, humorless sound. "You people are insane! You nearly killed him, and now you want to drag him out of his hospital bed?"

Just then, my phone, which had miraculously survived the explosion, vibrated. It was a news alert. A picture of Cassie Shields, looking distraught, with a bandaged arm. The headline read: "Social Media Star Cassie Shields Hospitalized After Brutal Assault by Blair Steele's Brother, Ben Pena."

My blood ran cold. He was destroying my brother's reputation. Framing him. All for her.

"You want me to apologize?" I asked, my voice dangerously calm. I looked from the news report to Henderson, then to the guards. "To her? After she's done this?"

Henderson looked relieved. "Yes, Mrs. Steele. A public statement. To clear her name."

The rage that had been simmering within me for three long years finally boiled over. I laughed again, a hysterical, broken sound. "You know what, Mr. Henderson? Fine. I'll apologize. But I'll do it my way."

I walked over to Ben's bedside. He was awake, watching the scene unfold, his eyes filled with a weary sadness. I leaned down, kissing his forehead. "Don't worry, Ben. I'll fix this. I promise you, I will make them pay." I looked at Henderson, my eyes dry, my voice rock-steady. "Tell Edwardo I'll be there. To apologize. And to witness his undying devotion to his precious Cassie."

My hand trembled, not with fear, but with a cold, righteous fury. This wasn't just about Ben anymore. It was about me. My dignity. My very soul. And the future of my family. I would play their game, but I would win. The biometric crypto key Ben spoke of. I would find it. And I would bring Edwardo Steele to his knees.

The sterile scent of antiseptic still clung to my clothes as I walked into the private hospital room, a sickening familiarity. Edwardo sat beside Cassie' s bed, his posture rigid, his face etched with a concern that made my stomach churn. She lay there, looking impossibly delicate, a pristine white bandage wrapped around her forehead. Her arm, too, was in a sling, though I knew the injuries were far less severe than what Ben had endured. Yet, Edwardo hovered over her as if she were made of spun glass.

"Oh, Edwardo," Cassie whimpered, her voice barely a whisper. She batted her eyelashes, a performance I knew by heart. "It still hurts so much. And the nightmares… Ben Pena was so violent."

Edwardo' s hand, usually so guarded, gently stroked her hair, pushing a stray strand away from her forehead. "Shhh, darling. You're safe now. I promise. No one will ever hurt you again." His voice was soft, laced with a tenderness I had never heard directed at me. My heart ached, a deep, hollow pain.

Cassie nestled into his touch, her eyes subtly flicking towards me, a triumphant glint in their depths. Edwardo then looked at me, his gaze sharp, a clear warning. "Blair. You're here." His tone was flat, devoid of any warmth.

I gripped my purse, my knuckles white. My throat felt tight, as if a fist had closed around it. The image of Ben, pale and broken in his hospital bed, flashed before my eyes. This was for him.

"Yes, I am," I managed, my voice steady. "I came to apologize, as you requested."

Cassie made a soft, wounded sound. "Oh, Blair, you don't have to..."

"No, I insist," I said, my eyes locking with hers. "I apologize that my brother, Ben, was under the impression that honesty mattered in this city. He should not have interfered with your... activities. I'm sorry he didn't realize who you truly are."

Cassie's smile faltered for a second, sensing the insult, but she quickly recovered for Edwardo's benefit. "See, Edwardo? She understands."

She squeezed his hand. "Honestly, Blair, I feel terrible for you. Being married to Edwardo must be so difficult. He's so… particular. And you're so… normal." She giggled, a tiny, tinkling sound that grated on my nerves. "He always complains about how boring his marriage is, you know. Says you never understand him, never really see him."

My gaze darted to Edwardo. His expression was unreadable, but he didn't contradict her. He simply continued to stroke her hair, his eyes fixed on her face. It was a confirmation. Everything she said, everything I had suspected, was true. He had probably complained about me to her, painted me as the cold, unfeeling wife. The realization was a bitter pill to swallow. The humiliation was so profound, it stole my breath.

Just then, Edwardo' s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, a frown creasing his brow. "Work call. Urgent." He stood, reluctantly, pulling his hand away from Cassie.

"But Edwardo," Cassie pouted, tugging at his sleeve. "Don't go. Stay with me. I'm scared."

"I have to, darling," he said, his voice still gentle. "It's about a major security breach. I'll be back as soon as I can. Just rest." He leaned down and kissed her forehead again. "And you," he said, turning his gaze to me, his eyes hardening. "Don't try anything. Ben is still under my custody. Anything happens to Cassie, and he pays the price. Understood?"

I nodded, my jaw clenched. He turned and strode out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar.

The moment Edwardo' s footsteps faded, Cassie' s sweet facade crumbled. Her eyes, no longer innocent, glittered with malicious triumph. She pushed herself up slightly, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "Finally. He's gone. That was exhausting." She ripped off the bandage on her forehead, revealing perfectly clear skin. No injury. Not even a scratch.

My eyes widened. "You… you faked it all?"

She laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Of course. Did you really think your precious Edwardo would believe you over me? He's utterly devoted. You're nothing but a placeholder, Blair. A glorified housekeeper." She sneered. "And the sooner you realize that, the better for everyone."

My blood ran cold. The depth of her manipulation, the audacity of her lies, was staggering. "You're a sick woman, Cassie."

"Oh, I'm sick?" She scoffed, her eyes blazing with a sudden, unhinged fury. "You're the one clinging to a dead marriage, pretending he cares. He hates you, Blair. He always has. He only married you because of some archaic debt. You're a financial crutch, nothing more." She swung her legs off the bed, her movements fluid and uninjured. "Now, get out of my sight. Your presence makes me want to vomit."

"I am his wife," I stated, my voice dangerously calm, the truth a bitter taste in my mouth. "Legally. You're just a mistress."

Her face twisted into a snarl. She lunged at me, her good hand flying out. Her nails, long and sharp, raked across my cheek, leaving a burning trail. "How dare you! I am going to be his wife! You're nothing!"

I stumbled back, clutching my bleeding cheek. The pain was sharp, but the shock was greater. This woman was a viper.

Before I could react, Cassie let out a piercing shriek. She threw herself back onto the bed, thrashing wildly. She clawed at her own arm, tearing at the pristine white bandage, leaving fresh scratches on her skin. "Edwardo! Edwardo! She attacked me! Blair attacked me!"

Just then, the door burst open. Edwardo stood there, his face thunderous, his eyes blazing with a terrifying rage. He saw Cassie, her hair disheveled again, her face contorted in fear, fresh blood welling from her arm. He saw me, standing a few feet away, my hand pressed to my own bleeding cheek.

He rushed to Cassie' s side, pushing me roughly aside. My head hit the wall with a dull thud, sending stars dancing before my eyes. I sank to the floor, my vision blurring. He didn't even glance at me. His entire focus was on Cassie.

"Cassie! What happened? Are you okay?" He cradled her head, his eyes filled with agonizing concern.

Cassie sobbed, pointing a trembling finger at me. "She… she came in here… and she attacked me! She called me names… she scratched me!" Her voice was laced with terror, a perfect performance.

Edwardo' s eyes, colder than ice, turned to me. "Blair. What have you done?" His voice was low, menacing, a storm brewing beneath the surface.

I shook my head, tears finally overflowing, mixing with the blood on my cheek. "She's lying, Edwardo! She scratched herself! She attacked me!" I tried to push myself up, but my body felt heavy, bruised.

He didn't believe me. I saw it in his eyes. He never would.

Cassie sniffled, pulling at Edwardo' s sleeve. "She… she said she was going to make sure I never saw you again. She said she'd ruin my life. She said… she said she wished I'd died in the fire."

My jaw dropped. The sheer audacity of her lies stole my voice.

Edwardo' s grip tightened on Cassie. He looked at my bleeding cheek, then at Cassie' s freshly scratched arm. He didn't even register the cut on my face. His attention was solely on her suffering. My pain was invisible to him.

"Is this true, Blair?" His voice was deadly quiet, a tremor of pure fury running through it. "Did you threaten her?"

"No! She's lying! She attacked me!" I cried, pointing at my own injured cheek. "Look at my face! She did this!"

Edwardo merely glanced at my cheek, then recoiled, a look of revulsion crossing his face. "You're bleeding, Blair. Get away from her. You're a contaminant." He pushed himself away from me, moving farther from my outstretched hand. His eyes narrowed. "Call security. Get her out of here. And make sure she pays for this."

"Pay for what?" I screamed, the injustice a burning fire in my veins. "For being your wife? For loving you? For existing?"

He ignored my questions, his attention already back on Cassie, murmuring reassurances. "Don't worry, darling. She won't touch you again. I promise."

My heart, already shattered, felt like it was being ground to dust. Three years of devotion, of enduring his cruelty, of believing in some distant, unattainable love. And it all ended here, with him believing a manipulative liar over his own wife, simply because he loved the lies more than the truth.

"Edwardo," I whispered, my voice raw with the pain of a thousand forgotten hopes. "After everything… after everything I've done… how can you be so cruel?"

He didn't look at me. His gaze was fixed on Cassie, his world revolving around her.

"I protected your name, your family, your secrets," I continued, my voice gaining a desperate edge. "I stood by you, even when you treated me like dirt. I believed in you. And this… this is how you repay me?"

He finally turned, his eyes piercing through me. "You want to talk about repayment?" He stood, towering over me. "You caused a scene. You attacked Cassie. You're a disgrace. The very sight of you disgusts me. Get out of my sight. Now." He barked at the guards who had just arrived. "Take her. And make sure she learns her lesson."

The guards, grim-faced, hauled me to my feet. My arm twisted painfully behind my back. A sharp crack echoed in the room. A searing pain shot up my arm.

"My arm!" I gasped, the pain momentarily stealing my vision.

Edwardo merely glanced at the twisted angle of my arm, then looked away in disgust. "Get her out. Make sure she doesn't contaminate another inch of this hospital."

I didn't ask him why he was cruel. I knew why. He was a monster.

I gritted my teeth against the agony, forcing myself to look at him one last time. "You will regret this, Edwardo," I whispered, my voice shaking from pain, not sorrow. "You are throwing away the only loyalty you ever had for a lie. And when you realize it, I won't be there."

The guards dragged me out. I didn't look back. I focused on the pain in my arm, letting it fuel the fire that was finally burning away the last of my love for him.

I woke in a hospital bed, the antiseptic smell a familiar enemy. My head throbbed, and a dull ache pulsed through my left arm. It was encased in a cast, heavy and restrictive. Beside me, Ben lay in his own bed, his face pale, his leg elevated. He was awake, his eyes shadowed with pain, but he gave me a weak smile.

"Hey, sis," he whispered, his voice raspy. "You finally decided to join the party?"

I tried to smile back, but my lips felt stiff, my face still bruised. "I guess I couldn't let you have all the fun."

Just then, Edwardo' s assistant, a prim woman named Ms. Davies, entered the room. She carried a tablet, her expression neutral. "Mr. Steele sends his regards, Mrs. Steele. He wishes for you to know that the charges against Mr. Pena are still pending. He advises you to cooperate fully." She didn't even look at Ben.

My blood ran cold. "Cooperate? After he broke my arm and nearly killed my brother?"

She remained unperturbed. "Furthermore, Mr. Steele has instructed me to inform you that he will be moving to freeze the assets of Moreno Corp. if you fail to comply with his requests regarding Ms. Shields. He believes your family's financial stability is contingent upon your… good behavior."

My heart sank. My father's company. Our legacy. Edwardo wasn't just threatening Ben; he was threatening to dismantle everything we had left. The little hope I'd clung to, the faint possibility of justice, crumbled.

"What does he want?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"A full public retraction of any statements implying Ms. Shields fabricated her injuries. And a written apology, acknowledging your brother's culpability." She paused, her eyes finally meeting mine, a hint of pity in their depths. "He also suggests you consider the terms of your prenuptial agreement. Any legal challenge will be… costly."

I closed my eyes, a wave of despair washing over me. He had me. He had us all. Ben' s freedom, our family' s future, hung in the balance.

"Blair," Ben' s voice was soft, but firm. "Don't do it. Don't let him win."

I opened my eyes, looking at his broken body. "I have to, Ben. For you. For Dad's company."

He shook his head. "No. We'll find another way. We always do."

My gaze met his. Despite everything, his eyes held an unwavering belief in me. It was a lifeline in the crushing darkness. I took a deep breath, a flicker of my former resolve returning. "You're right. We always do."

Ben, my step-brother, had always been the wild card, the rebellious one. A brilliant ethical hacker, he hated the corporate world, preferring to spend his days fighting for digital justice. He was loud, opinionated, and fiercely loyal. Now, he lay broken, a victim of Edwardo' s vengeance. It was a stark reminder of the depth of Edwardo' s cruelty.

My father, in his desperation to save our family, had pushed me into this arranged marriage. He believed it was the only way to secure our future. He hadn't known about my secret crush on Edwardo, the foolish hope I harbored that I could be the one to melt the ice around his heart.

I remember the day I learned about Edwardo' s childhood trauma. It was through an old family friend, a distant relative of the Steeles. Edwardo had witnessed a horrific accident as a child, involving his mother and a contaminated environment. It had scarred him deeply, leading to his severe OCD and contamination phobia. I remember feeling a surge of empathy, a fierce protectiveness. I thought, if only I could reach him, if only I could heal him.

I even bought him a small, intricate locket once. It was meant to be a symbol of protection, a charm against the darkness. I had meticulously cleaned and sterilized it, believing it would be a safe, comforting touch. I placed it on his bedside table one night, a silent offering.

He found it the next morning. When I saw him, his face was contorted in a mask of pure revulsion. He picked it up with a gloved hand, rushed to the trash, and dropped it in, then scrubbed his hands with aggressive intensity. "Don't ever do that again, Blair," he had hissed. "Don't you dare leave your filth in my space."

I had just laughed then, a bitter, hollow sound. Filth. That's what I was to him. All my efforts, all my love, all my silent sacrifices, were just "filth."

Now, lying in this hospital bed, my arm aching, my brother crippled, I finally saw the grotesque absurdity of it all. My years of silent devotion, my foolish crush, my belief that I could change him. It was all a pathetic joke.

The next day, as soon as I was discharged, I returned to our mansion, the gilded cage that had been my prison. I walked through the empty halls, the silence heavier than ever. I went to my room, opening my closet. I needed to pack. To leave. But first, I needed something from Edwardo's study. The biometric crypto key Ben had mentioned. Cassie's necklace. It was my only leverage.

I found the necklace in a side drawer, a delicate silver chain with a small, ornate locket. It was expensive, undoubtedly. I felt a surge of cold fury. This was her lucky charm, the one he was willing to rush back into a burning building for. The one he was willing to frame my brother for.

My fingers brushed against the cool metal of the locket. It clicked open. Inside, a tiny, almost invisible chip was nestled. The crypto key. Ben was right. This was it.

As I turned to leave the study, a sound drifted from Edwardo's private sitting room. Laughter. His laughter.

My feet moved on their own. The door was ajar. I peered inside.

Edwardo was there, sitting on a plush sofa. Cassie was curled up beside him, her 'injured' arm draped casually over his shoulder—perfectly fine. They were sharing a bottle of expensive champagne.

"To us!" Cassie chimed in. "And to getting rid of that irritating Blair. Finally, we can be together, properly."

Edwardo smiled, a genuine warmth I had never seen. "To us."

I didn't cry. I didn't gasp. Standing there, clutching the locket that contained the evidence of their crimes, I felt a sudden, clarifying chill. The heavy, suffocating "love" I had carried for years evaporated, replaced by a profound disgust. It was like looking at a rotting carcass.

They deserved each other.

I gripped the locket tight, not in despair, but in triumph. I had the leverage.

I turned and walked away, my steps silent on the plush carpet. I didn't run into the rain. I walked to my car, got in, and drove away with a steady hand. The rain battered the windshield, but inside, I was calm. Coldly, lethally calm.

I touched my stomach. Two lines. A child. His child.

No.

This child deserved better than a father who celebrated with a thief while his wife bled. This marriage was a cancer, and I had to cut it out. The pregnancy, unfortunately, was part of that cancer.

My decision was made. Not out of brokenness, but out of necessity. I would survive this. And Edwardo Steele would pay.