Chapter 1: This wasn't the End

Chapter 1: This wasn't the End

"Kiss me." It was an order.

In the dimly lit room, the air was thick and oppressive, the kind that could suffocate you. A deep, gravelly voice whispered near her ear, low and intimate.

Mila’s body tensed, and her mind struggled to focus. Everything felt foggy, like she was trying to stay afloat in a dream that wouldn’t end. She wanted to pull away, to resist, but her limbs were sluggish, her strength draining with every second that passed.

"Don't..." she murmured weakly, her voice barely a whisper. “Please.”

The man didn’t answer. Instead, she felt his lips brush her forehead, then her cheek, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. Before she could react, his mouth descended, claiming hers with a kiss that was firm and unrelenting.

It wasn’t just a kiss—it was an invasion. He deepened it slowly, savoring her resistance. She gasped for breath, her mind spinning, desperate to escape. But as she tried to push him away, his large hand seized hers, pinning them above her head.

"Mila, breathe." His voice was a soft command, his breath hot against her skin.

“Breathe for me.”

The scent of cinnamon clung to him, a sharp contrast to the warmth of his breath against her neck. Mila found herself inhaling it in desperate gulps. His dark eyes locked onto hers, swirling with a storm that seemed to pull her in deeper, drowning her in their intensity.

“Good girl.”

"Lowe..." she whispered, her voice trembling, barely audible.

He froze for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then something shifted in his gaze—a brief flash of vulnerability that disappeared almost as quickly as it had come. He pulled her closer, his grip tightening around her waist, and leaned down.

Before she could process what was happening, everything went dark.

---

When Mila opened her eyes, the soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains. Her body ached, as though she had been crushed under a heavy weight. Slowly, she sat up, wincing as every muscle protested.

And then she saw him.

Lowe Sterling’s sharp features were softened by sleep, his expression peaceful, almost vulnerable. The memories of the previous night crashed into her like a tidal wave.

Her breath hitched.

She hadn’t planned on seeing him, much less ending up here. The last thing she remembered was rushing home after hearing about her younger sister’s accident. Sally, her stepmother, had handed her a glass of water, and then… everything else was a blur.

Her gaze returned to Lowe, and her chest tightened. He was her fiancé—the heir to the entire Sterling empire and a man she barely knew. Their engagement had been arranged years ago as part of a family alliance, and she had always thought of their marriage as more of a business arrangement than a love story.

But now…

What had happened last night changed everything.

Her hands shook as she quickly grabbed her clothes and dressed in silence. She stole one last glance at him before slipping out of the room, the door clicking softly behind her.

---

The drive home felt like a fever dream. Mila’s mind raced with questions, her heart heavy with unease.

As soon as she stepped through the door, Sally appeared, her face a mask of concern.

“My God, you fucking slut! How could you be so reckless?” Sally’s voice trembled with emotion, on the verge of tears.

Mila frowned, her patience already worn thin. “What are you talking about? Why did you drug me? What happened last night—”

Before Mila could finish, Sally interrupted. “Last night, you insisted on seeing Lowe. You said becoming his woman was the only way to fix everything. Do you even realize how dangerous that was?”

Mila stared at her, stunned. “Fix everything? What are you talking about?”

Sally sighed, shaking her head. “The hit-and-run accident, Mila. You caused it, then ran to Lowe to sleep with him so he’d take responsibility for you. You said that as long as you became his woman, you could escape the charges. Listen to me, this won't work. Go and turn yourself in, try to get a lighter sentence.”

The room seemed to tilt.

“What?” Mila’s voice cracked. “I didn’t—”

But then it clicked. Her sister, Madison, had caused the accident and fled the scene. And that glass of water…

It all made sense now.

“You want me to take the blame for Madison, don’t you?” Mila’s voice shook with disbelief. “You think Lowe will protect me because of what happened last night? This is insane!”

Sally’s expression hardened cruely. “Stop lying to yourself. It was you, not Madison. The evidence is clear.”

“Sally! Hit-and-run is a serious charge, and it depends on the condition of the victim. I won’t take the blame for her!”

She couldn’t believe it—her stepmother, the woman who had treated her like her own daughter, was willing to destroy her for the sake of Madison. All these years, she had trusted Sally, but now it seemed all the love had been a lie.

The woman looked incredulous. "Mila, what nonsense are you talking about? It was clearly you who did the hit-and-run. Why are you trying to implicate your poor sister?"

Mila understood. Sally was trying to make her take the fall, using her trust in them both to set a trap.

Before Mila could respond, the sound of a car pulling up outside caught her attention. Two police officers stepped into the house, their faces grim.

“Miss Carson, you’re under arrest for causing a hit-and-run accident resulting in the death of Mrs. Helen Sterling.”

Mila’s blood ran cold.

Helen Sterling… Lowe’s mother.

It was like a veil had been lifted from her eyes. If this charge stuck, she and Lowe would not only be unable to marry but would also become bitter enemies. They had even slept together the night before, and she had thrown herself at him like a common slut. He would think it was all part of her plan. He would hate her.

There had been no hit-and-run—it wasn’t an accident at all. It had all been planned. Sally’s face told her that much.

She couldn’t let this venomous mother-daughter duo succeed. She immediately denied it. "It’s not me! I didn’t do it!”

“Ma’am—”

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “It wasn’t me. You’ve got the wrong Miss Carson!”

But the officers didn’t waver. “Your fingerprints were found on a handbag at the scene, along with a necklace belonging to you. The evidence is irrefutable.”

Mila turned to Sally, panic rising in her chest. “Tell them! Tell them the truth!”

Sally’s lips curled into a faint, deadly smile. “I’m sorry, Mila, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

---

Days turned into weeks. The trial was swift and brutal. Despite her protests, Mila was convicted of intentional homicide and sentenced to death.

She sat in the cold, gray prison cell, her heart heavy with despair. Her family had betrayed her, Lowe hated her, and her future had been stolen.

One morning, she felt lightheaded and nauseous, her body trembling with weakness. A prison doctor was called to examine her.

“You’re pregnant,” the doctor said, his tone clinical but tinged with pity.

Mila stared at him, unable to comprehend the words.

Pregnant.

With Lowe’s child.