Chapter One

"THIS WAS NEVER PART OF THE PLAN!" Amanda's voice reverberated through the spacious apartment, her chest heaved rapidly, each breath a testament to the storm brewing within her. Her eyes blazed with intense anger as she locked her gaze on Zion.

Zion, standing tall but visibly seething, hissed through gritted teeth, "The plan changed the moment you made me marry her!" His jaw clenched tightly, his fists balled up by his side as he struggled to contain his anger.

The tension between them had been building for the past ten minutes, ever since Zion had stepped foot into Amanda's apartment. He had hoped to seek solace and comfort from her, but instead, he found himself engulfed in the chaos that Amanda had unleashed upon him. The air became stiffer as they stood face to face, radiating animosity and resentment.

Their eyes locked in a severe battle of emotions, conveying a mix of disdain, obsession, lust, and unfulfilled desires.

"You promised me you would make her get an abortion!" Amanda's voice broke the silence once more, her words punctuated by short gasps as the earlier screaming had taken its toll on her.

Zion's jaw tightened even further, and through gritted teeth, he responded, "You don't expect me to force her, do you?"

"Yes, I damn well do!" Amanda snapped back, her eyes shooting daggers at him. "I was supposed to have your first child, so why the hell did you get her pregnant?"

"I told you," he took a sinister step closer to her. "I was fucking wasted when it happened,"

Amanda's voice trembled with suppressed emotion as she vehemently declared, "She's never going to have that baby! I won't let her!" Her anger and pain could be heard in her scream.

Zion's gaze hardened, and suddenly, he grabbed her by the throat, pulling her face closer to his. His voice dripped with menace as he warned, "Don't you dare do anything stupid or you'll regret it." His eyes on hers, their fiery stares matching.

Amanda chuckled bitterly, "What are you gonna do? You can't touch me. You know better than to do that." She raised her chin defiantly.

"Don't tempt me!" Zion snarled, his grip tightening around her neck.

"I'm not scared of you," she gritted out. "I made you who you are, and I can break you if you push me." She sneered, meeting his intense glare with unwavering defiance.

In a swift motion, he slammed her back against the wall, the impact reverberating through her body. "And you think I'll go down alone?" he hissed, his eyes narrowing with a chilling intensity. "I promise you, I'll ruin your life forever if you dare to hurt Ayva or my child."

A bitter laugh escaped Amanda's lips. "Are you in love with her now? You?" Her voice dripped with disdain, her chest tightened tightened with the fear that her words might be true.

Zion might have fallen in love with Ayva.

His eyes blazed with anger as he retorted, "That's none of your fucking business. I decide what I want to do with her and when. If you dare lay a finger on her and ruin my plans..." He paused, grinding his teeth together, his piercing blue eyes staring deep into her grey ones. "You know me well enough to understand the consequences."

They glared at each other in a silent battle of wills, stretching on for what felt like an eternity. Neither of them was willing to break the intense gaze, refusing to accept defeat. Amanda's chest rose and fell with a mix of emotions: anger, resentment, and pure disdain.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she mustered the strength to speak through gritted teeth. "I fucking hate you, with every fiber of my being!"

A surge of anger coursed through Zion as he jerked her face closer to his. "The feeling is fucking mutual," he hissed before forcefully pressing his lips against hers.

In the blink of an eye, their clothes were discarded, scattered across the floor in a frenzy of desire. Their naked bodies pressed together, their lips locked in a passionate and urgent kiss. Their hands explored each other with an insatiable hunger, tracing every curve and contour.

Zion lifted Amanda effortlessly, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her into the room. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as their lips continued their feverish dance.

"I fucking hate you!" Zion confessed between breathless kisses, his lips trailing a path of fire along her body. He lavished attention on her chest, her breasts, and her neck, leaving a trail of wet marks that ignited her with desire. "But despite it all, I'd do anything for you," he murmured against her skin, nibbling on her earlobe and drawing a sweet moan from her lips.

"Anything?" she gasped.

"Absolutely anything," he growled, his face buried in the warmth of her chest. Amanda gripped his hair, pulling his head back and away from her breasts so she could look him in the eyes.

"Then divorce her. Forget everything and be with me," she whispered. She'd tried to conceal the vulnerability in her voice but failed woefully.

An emotion flickered in Zion's eyes but it vanished just as quickly as it appeared.

"I will... Give me some time," he responded, though deep down, he questioned if he had the guts to ask his wife for a divorce. He wasn't certain if he could live without her.

With Amanda, he could embrace his true self, the flawed and immoral bastard who would do anything for money. He could raise his voice and handle her roughly, knowing that she understood the real him and could withstand it. But with Ayva, for her he wanted to become a better person. She ignited a desire within him to become a man worthy of her love. The overwhelming urge to protect, care for, and do to her things that he'd never be able to say aloud, consumed him whenever he laid eyes on her.

Falling in love with her was never supposed to happen. It was never part of his plan.

Moans and gasps filled the room as Amanda straddled Zion, their bodies moving in sync. With her back turned to him, she faced the door, supported by his firm grip on her waist. Together, they created a rhythmic dance of passion and desire.

Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted their intimate moment. Before they could react, the door swung open, revealing Ayva standing there, her eyes widening in surprise.

Amanda, undeterred by the interruption, reached down and guided Zion's hand to her breast, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. She knew Ayva was coming over, after all, she had invited her to her house.

"Hey Ayva," Amanda greeted. Zion's body tensed beneath her, his muscles tightening as a wave of intense shock hit him. Amanda's smile only widened, barely concealing the excitement that coursed through her veins. "Why don't you come in and join us?" She extended an open invitation to her best friend of twelve years.

Ayva stood there, her mind reeling from the unexpected scene unfolding before her. She was frozen in place, unsure of how to respond.