I held my breath.Then, a familiar voice reached my ears. "Mrs. Johnston, I don't want to cause any trouble. I just want to see Jace. If you let me talk to him, I'll leave and won't make a scene."Tanya.She actually showed up here!And from what she said, she was looking for Jace. I'd assumed he might've already reached out to her after I called him, but clearly, I was wrong.This woman had some nerve for asking the Johnstons about Jace's whereabouts"Is that a threat?" Lindey was clearly not one to back down."It's not a threat. I just want to see Jace," Tanya replied, using that same innocent, helpless tone she always pulled.People say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, and Tanya was the perfect example.The first time I met her, I thought she was sweet, pure—the kind of person who made the world feel a little brighter.But that illusion shattered fast."And I told you, Jace isn't here," Lindey shot back, frustration creeping into her voice."I know he's not here,
But I knew Tanya wouldn't actually drink it. She had worked too hard, clawing her way toward wealth and status. If she didn't give up after that hospital fiasco, there was no way she'd quit now. This was just another ploy to get Lindey to spill about Jace.Tanya probably thought Lindey and Matthew were hiding him, keeping them apart on purpose."Tanya Twain, your games are getting real creative," I said, stepping into the room.Lindey spun around, panic flashing across her face. She looked terrified I'd get the wrong idea.But Tanya? She wasn't surprised. She must've seen me coming. Even so, the way her hand shook on the bottle gave her away.Her expression shifted, turning all pitiful. "Keira, I had no choice. Jace is gone. His phone's dead. You've seen it—I've got nothing left."She was laying it on thick, but I wasn't buying it.I nodded toward the bottle. "Isn't your way out right there?"Her face darkened. Yeah, she wasn't drinking it. This was all about squeezing Lindey f
Lindey caught me as I stumbled back.My heart pounded as I stared at Tanya—her face pale, completely rattled. Had I hit a nerve?I was just speculating, trying to push her into reacting, but her meltdown made me wonder: Was Desmond's death really an accident?If Tanya had a hand in it, she was way more dangerous than I'd thought.No wonder Desmond's parents had cursed her out. Maybe they knew more than anyone realized."Tanya, you're feeling guilty, aren't you?" I pushed, determined to make her crack.She was already shaken, but now it was time to tear down her entire façade.Tanya shook her head, still clinging to her denial."You set Desmond up," I continued, my voice steady. "He became a roadblock in your climb to wealth and status. He had to go so you could chase what you really wanted."Her eyes widened in pure horror as I laid it all bare. "But you knew being twice-married would make it harder to win over Jace. So, you staged a scene—something Desmond would stumble upon.
Especially not Tanya. As awful as she was, the baby she was carrying was innocent, and Desmond's only heir.Once Tanya was gone, Lindey was shaking with anger. "Jace totally fell for her trap! I always thought he was smart—how could he screw up so badly this time?"She grabbed my arm. "Rea, you heard everything."I let out a bitter laugh. Of course, I heard it. I was the one who said it."Rea, Jace was tricked by her. She deceived him!" Lindey sounded desperate, like she was trying to make me understand."Lindey, he wouldn't have fallen for it if he hadn't opened the door. If Jace got played, it's because he gave her the chance," I shut her down quick.She opened her mouth like she wanted to argue, but just sighed. "How could she be so heartless? She even betrayed her own husband."People will do anything for money.Greed is ugly."I can't let Jace marry her. If she gets into this family, Matthew and I are next," Lindey muttered, more to herself than to me.Honestly, I didn't
Earlier at the Johnston residence, I exposed Tanya.Now she had to be fuming.Tanya stood by her car, gripping the door like she was ready to either yank me out or take a swing. But then, out of nowhere, she dropped to her knees in front of my car.I did not see that coming.I thought she might beg, but actually kneeling? That was a twist.This woman knew how to play every angle.Her kneeling didn't faze me. I could handle it, especially since she had stolen my fiancé. But now that she was pregnant, her kneeling could hurt the baby. If anything happened, she'd probably find a way to make it my fault.I wasn't about to let her stay like that.Still, I wasn't dumb enough to get out and help. She was clearly using her pregnancy as a card to play, and if I showed any concern, she'd milk it for all it was worth.So, I just smirked and asked, mocking her, "What's all this about?""Keira, I'm begging you. Please, spare me. Spare my child. Let them have a chance," she pleaded.It wa
But who would've thought that behind closed doors, Desmond's life was so rough?"Desmond was only human. He got tired too. I'd catch him sneaking out at night to smoke, trying to hide it from me. Every time, it broke my heart. I blamed myself for being such a burden," Tanya said, shaking her head like she was the tragic one."I wanted to leave him, not because I didn't love him, but because I loved him too much. I didn't want him to be so worn out." Her words painted her as some kind of martyr."Well, he's not tired anymore. He'll never be tired again," I muttered under my breath.Tanya caught the bitterness in my voice. "You've never lived a day in my shoes. You don't get it," she snapped, her voice rising.She stared at me, but after a beat, the anger drained from her face. "As for Desmond's death, I swear I didn't hurt him. I just wanted him to see my betrayal, to push him away so he'd leave on his own, set him free.""The car accident wasn't your fault?" I whispered."No, no
She just wanted him around?The nerve of her.I looked at her pitiful face, my voice turning colder. "Tanya, you've got it wrong. It's not Jace's body you want—it's his status, and all the money that comes with it."Tanya pressed her lips together. "I won't deny that, but..."She paused, then delivered her next line like a punch straight to the gut. "But over these months, Jace has treated me just as well as Desmond ever did. I've really fallen in love with him. I want to spend my life with him."So, this was her way of telling me Jace cared about her, that she couldn't live without him.Even now, she saw me as competition.Yet here she was, begging me for help.Even while pleading, she couldn't resist twisting the knife. She really thought I was that easy to play.I gave her a faint smile. "Jace was so good to you, but he still ran off."Her face froze. I continued, "Are you sure he wants to spend his life with you?""As long as he comes back, I'll make it work," Tanya whis
Jace stayed silent. Tanya, already bawling, tried again, her voice shaky. "Jace, I can't do this without you. I don't even know what to do anymore..."Still, nothing. Tanya panicked, thinking he'd hung up. "Jace? Are you there?"She glanced at my phone, saw the call was still connected. "Jace?"Finally, his voice cut through—cold and sharp. "Who told you to go to my house? Did you forget what I said?"Tanya's hand shook as she held the phone. "I didn't have a choice. I'm just trying to protect the baby. You said nothing could happen to it."I had to bite back a laugh. Just days ago, she was ready to ditch the baby in front of Desmond's parents. Now she was all protective mom mode? Please."Tanya, this is the last time," Jace warned, his voice like ice."Jace, wait—"But the call ended with a cold, empty dial tone. Tanya just stood there, gripping the phone tighter. "Jace... Jace...""Yeah, he hung up. Give me my phone back." I snatched it from her hand.She staggered, looking