Chapter 3

Amara stood in the doorway wearing my pajamas, her arms folded across her chest.

The sight of her in my clothes made my stomach turn.

"What are you doing here?" she asked impatiently.

Before I could answer, Adriel returned.

The moment he saw us facing each other, he strode over and instinctively pulled Amara behind him.

"Azalea, don't start imagining things. Amara hasn't been sleeping well since she got pregnant, so I told her she could stay at the villa."

He spoke as if the decision had nothing to do with me.

"The apartment near Ashbourne territory is still available. You can stay there for now. Once the baby is born and we're married, you can move back."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"I paid for half of this villa. What gives you the right to move another woman into our home without asking me?"

My voice tightened.

"And what makes you think you get to decide when I'm allowed to live here?"

What Adriel didn't know was that the villa had cost far more than he believed.

My father had refused to let me struggle just to protect my false identity. He had quietly covered eighty percent of the purchase price through one of the Ashbourne Family's holding companies.

On paper, Adriel and I had each contributed half.

At least, that was what I had always believed.

Adriel avoided my eyes.

Before he could answer, Amara stepped forward with a smug smile.

"Maybe because the deed has my name and Adriel's on it."

She lifted her chin.

"The only reason I haven't called security and had you thrown off the property is because my brother still cares about you."

I froze.

My eyes snapped toward Adriel.

Only then did he speak, clearly reluctant to explain himself.

"Amara grew up with me. She's Family."

His tone made it sound perfectly reasonable.

"She doesn't plan on marrying, and now she'll have a child to raise. I'm the baby's father. I have a responsibility to make sure they're protected."

I could barely believe what I was hearing.

"So you put her name on our home?"

Adriel frowned.

"Why are you making this into something bigger than it is?"

He sighed impatiently.

"You and I are getting married eventually. I've never said I was leaving you. Does a name on a deed really matter more than ten years together?"

I looked at the man in front of me and almost didn't recognize him.

I had spent years convincing myself that maybe Adriel simply didn't love me as deeply as I loved him.

Only now did I realize that whatever love he had once felt for me had long since been replaced by calculation.

I had hidden my identity for him.

Used Ashbourne money and connections to build his future.

Even this villa had been bought mostly with my Family's money.

And somehow, Amara had become its legal owner.

Was this really the man I had spent ten years loving?

What a waste.

My eyes burned.

Adriel seemed uncomfortable under my stare. Out of habit, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

Then he remembered Amara was pregnant.

He immediately stepped away and crushed it out.

The small gesture almost made me laugh.

Even now, his first thought was her.

The moment Adriel turned away, Amara walked up to me and jabbed a finger hard into my shoulder.

"I'm so sick of women like you. Always jealous. Always complaining."

She shoved her finger against me again.

"My brother wants to take care of me. What does that have to do with you?"

Her lips curled.

"If you have any dignity left, get out."

I raised my hand to knock hers away.

Before I could touch her, Amara suddenly planted both hands against my chest and shoved.

I stumbled backward.

There was nothing behind me but the ornamental lake.

My body hit the water hard.

The cold stole my breath instantly.

Adriel spun around at the splash and rushed toward us.

Amara immediately lifted both hands.

"I didn't touch her."

Adriel's steps slowed.

He looked from Amara to me, his expression cooling.

"Enough, Azalea."

I struggled to keep my head above water.

"She pushed me!"

His jaw tightened.

"Amara isn't the kind of person who plays these pathetic games."

The water soaked through my clothes, dragging me down.

"Stop trying to get sympathy with tricks like this. Get out yourself."

I tried.

But the moment I kicked toward the edge, pain tore through my calf.

My leg cramped.

I sank beneath the surface.

Water rushed into my mouth.

Panic exploded through me as I clawed my way back up.

"It was her!"

I coughed violently, barely managing to breathe.

"Adriel... help me!"

Something in my voice finally made his expression change.

Adriel seemed to realize I wasn't pretending.

Panic flashed across his face.

He rushed to the edge of the lake and reached for me.