ANYA As soon as Mark dropped me off in front of Hunter’s house, I turned to him and said, "Go home." He hesitated. "Are you sure?" I nodded, forcing confidence into my voice. "Yes. I need to do this alone." Mark sighed but didn’t argue. "Call me if you need me." I watched his car disappear down the road before turning to face the towering gates of Hunter’s house. The guard at the gate recognized me and after a brief hesitation, he stepped aside. "You can go in, ma’am." I whispered a quick thanks and hurried inside. The moment I reached the front door, I grabbed the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. Locked. I knocked. No answer. A lump formed in my throat. I turned to the few bodyguards stationed around the compound. "Where’s Hunter?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. One of them, a tall, muscular man, shook his head. "He went out." "Where?" "We don’t know, ma’am." I clenched my jaw. They must know. They just won’t tell me. I pulled out my phone and
ANYA The car was leaving. I stood there, watching as the red taillights faded into the distance. My chest felt hollow, my heart pounding against my ribs like it wanted to break free. Tears blurred my vision, spilling down my cheeks as I clenched my fists. No. I couldn't let him leave like this. Just as I took a shaky step forward, the car screeched to a halt. My heart skipped a beat. The door swung open, and for a moment, I froze. Was this it? Was he giving me one last chance? Without thinking, I ran. My feet barely touched the ground as I dashed toward the car, throwing myself inside and shutting the door behind me. My hands trembled as I wiped my tears away, trying to compose myself. Hunter said nothing. He sat there, his head resting against the seat, eyes closed. His face was calm, unreadable, but something about him felt distant, like he wasn’t truly there. I swallowed, stealing glances at him. I had always known he was handsome, but sitting so close to him now,
ANYA When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was that I was alone. The space beside me on the bed was empty. Cold. For a moment, I didn’t move. I just lay there, listening to the quietness of the room, my heart heavy with disappointment. Last night, I had fallen asleep beside Hunter, hoping that he would hold me, that he would listen to my words, that maybe… just maybe, he would let me back into his heart. But he was gone. I sat up slowly, my throat tight, but then, I laid back on the bed, putting my face on the spot Hunter had slept in. I closed my eyes, inhaling his scent. I felt wonderful as I relieved the first time Hunter had taken me out on a date and how magical it had been. I opened my eyes with a smile on my face but it disappeared all too quickly as reality hit me faster than I expected. I sat up, and moved away from the bed, That was when I saw the neatly arranged pile of clothes on the couch. Dresses, shoes, toiletries, even makeup products. Everything I w
HUNTER "Will you marry me again?" Anya's voice trembled as she spoke, but her eyes...her beautiful, pleading eyes held mine without wavering. I narrowed my eyes. "Are you worthy?" I saw it immediately...the way her face crumbled, the way her confidence wavered. She hadn't expected that question. But she should have. She bit her lower lip, her fingers gripping her dress. "I… I don’t know," she admitted. "But I want to be. I’ll do whatever it takes, Hunter. I swear it." A chuckle escaped me. "That’s unfortunate," I said. "Because my world is not meant for a delicate flower like you." Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. I took a step closer, my gaze burning into hers. "You think this is a game? You think you can just walk back into my life after you threw me away?" "I didn’t throw you away!" she cried, desperation creeping into her voice. "I made a mistake!" "That’s right. You made a mistake," I said coldly. "You didn’t believe in me. You didn’t trust me." She
HUNTER I turned away from Anya and stared at my brothers who were watching the scene unfold like it was some damn movie. I could see the amused smiles on their faces. They were enjoying this way too much. I ignored them and walked toward the table in the room. There was a box on it. Small and black. Anya couldn’t see it because my body blocked her view. I reached out and picked it up, feeling the weight of what I was about to do settle deep inside me. Then I turned around and walked back to her. The moment our eyes met, I saw fear in her eyes. She was afraid. Not afraid of me hurting her, but afraid of rejection. Afraid that after all this, I would still turn her away. And for some twisted reason, that made me happy. Because I had suffered. I had bled for her but she had crushed me. But even as I felt satisfaction, there was something stronger inside me—love. Yeah, I was pissed. Yeah, she had hurt me. But damn it, I still wanted her. Letting her go had bee
ONE MONTH LATER ANYA I sat on my bed, in my parents' house, arms crossed, a deep frown carved into my face. My heart twisted in my chest, heavy with frustration. The grandest wedding of the year was happening tomorrow...my wedding. Every girl dreamed of this kind of day, the kind where the whole world watched as she walked down the aisle in a dazzling white dress, marrying the man of her dreams. But I didn’t care about any of that. I had torn the divorce document the moment I returned from Panama. I was already Hunter’s wife. A ceremony, a dress, a crowd of people...it didn’t change anything. He was already mine. Then why did I feel so damn restless? A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts, and my mom walked in, her expression soft but questioning. "Anya," she said, sighing as she sat beside me. "Why do you look like someone stole your wedding dress? Shouldn’t you be happy? You're getting married tomorrow!" I exhaled sharply, not bothering to hide my irritation
ANYA I could hardly sit still. Excitement bubbled inside me like a shaken soda can about to burst. I was actually doing this. I was actually sneaking into Hunter’s bachelor party. “Mom, I’m going to the party!” I blurted out, unable to hold it in any longer. She looked up from where she was fixing her hair, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “I figured.” I grinned. “I’m so excited!” She chuckled, reaching out to pinch my cheek. “Then go and have all the fun in the world, my dear.” With that, she left the room, humming happily to herself. I turned back to my mirror and took a deep breath. Alright, time to get the outfit. That was when my excitement hit a wall. The bodyguard. Hunter had stationed a guard outside my house...just one this time, but even one was enough to ruin my plans. Ever since Cross tried to kill me, Hunter had been extra careful. Cross and his sister had vanished, and until Hunter found them, he wasn’t taking any chances. I chewed on my bott
BERNICE I crouched in the darkness, hidden behind a row of bushes outside Anya’s house. My fingers trembled slightly, but not with fear. With anticipation. Tomorrow was supposed to be her big day...the wedding of the year, the moment she would officially become Mrs. Hunter Steele in the eyes of everyone. It could have been me. It should have. And now, there was no way in hell I was going to let that happen. I had lost too much because of her. Because of him. Cross had told me to leave the City, to run far away and stay with a friend of his, while he handled everything. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. Yes, I made him believe I had left but how could I not? This wasn’t about Cross anymore. This was personal. I needed to do this myself. My grip tightened around the small pistol in my hand. Anya didn’t deserve this perfect life, this fairytale ending. She deserved to suffer. I stayed still, watching the guard outside her house. He was a big guy, standing with his han
The silence in the room stretched for minutes. Hector sat on the edge of the bed, watching Ruby carefully. Then, without a word, he picked up the plate. He held out a spoonful of food. “Eat.” Ruby hesitated, shaking her head. “I meant what I said...I really don’t have much of an appetite.” Hector didn’t budge. “I’m not asking, Ruby. Just eat a little. You’re going to break down if you keep this up.” She sighed, looking away. He exhaled. “You know, I left an important meeting for you. I don’t do things like this. I don’t sit by anyone’s bedside and care for them. But here I am.” She looked at him, eyes soft. “Thank you.” His jaw clenched. “I don’t want your thanks, Ruby. I want your honesty.” His gaze locked onto hers. “Are you still hurt by Don Gray’s death?” She frowned. “No.” “Were you in love with him?” She stiffened at the question. Then, without hesitation, she swore on her life. “I despised that man, Hector. With a passion. And now that he’s dead?” Sh
Hector had barely been gone an hour when Ruby stirred from sleep. She sat up slowly, hugging her knees to her chest. She felt a sadness so deep, so consuming, that it left her breathless. She didn't know how long she stayed like that, curled up on the bed, lost in thoughts. But then a soft knock came at the door. The housekeeper entered, carrying a warm smile. “Good, you’re awake,” she said gently before turning to leave. A few minutes later, she returned with a tray of food. The aroma filled the air, rich and inviting, but Ruby barely glanced at it. "I don’t really have much of an appetite," she murmured. The housekeeper placed the tray in front of her and gave her a knowing look. "You should try it. It’s nice.” Ruby sighed, feeling too tired to argue. "Thank you," she said quietly. She picked up the spoon and had a taste. And then a memory hit her. She was sick. Feverish. Weak. She had been lying in bed, waiting for the family doctor to arrive. At that ti
After watching Don Gray’s body disappear, Ruby turned and walked away. She didn’t look back. She made her way to Hector’s room. Hector followed her, his sharp gaze fixed on her back. He expected something....a reaction, a flicker of emotion. But she was quiet. Too quiet. Hector prided himself on understanding people. He could break them, twist them, strip them down to their very core and know what made them tick. But her? She was an enigma. What was she thinking? Was she disturbed by Don Gray’s death? Did she regret anything? He hated this uncertainty. Hated that he even cared. In the past, he would have used pain to get the answers he wanted. A knife. A whip. A gun to the temple. But now? The thought of hurting her made him sick. The realization burned inside him like a slow fire. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to speak. "Are you okay?" Ruby looked at him, her expression calm. “I’m fine.” A lie. But he didn’t push. Instead, he changed
Ruby watched in silence as Don Gray's screams faded into nothing. His body twisted and convulsed in agony until the fire consumed him completely. His last movement was a desperate, futile roll across the floor....then stillness. The room smelled of burning flesh and smoke. Hector took one last glance at the charred corpse, then waved his hand. “Dump him in the river,” he ordered, his voice devoid of emotion. The men moved at once, hauling what was left of Don Gray away. But Camila was not there to witness it. She sat in her bathtub, submerged in warm water, yet feeling no warmth at all. Her mind was miles away, trapped in the past. She saw it again...the gun in her hand, her finger pulling the trigger, Hector flinching as the bullet grazed his hand. She had tried to stop him. Tried to save Ruby. But then Ruby had fallen at Hector's feet begging to be his dog, just to spare Camila. Camila squeezed her eyes shut, gripping the edges of the bathtub as nausea threate
A few hours later, Hector straightened his cufflinks and glanced at Ruby. “It’s time,” he said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of excitement. "Get ready." Ruby could tell this was important to him. The sharp suit. The polished shoes. The way his men stood straighter when he spoke. She dressed quickly, slipping into one of the red dresses he had given her. Almost all of them were red. She didn’t bother to ask why. She tied up her hair and stepped out. The same men from the last execution attempt were present and four more, with the exception of the dead ones were there as well. The air in the room was humming with silent anticipation. But this time, something had changed. Ruby was not thrown into a cage. She was not told to sit on the floor like an animal. Hector pulled out the chair beside him and motioned for her to sit. The men exchanged glances. They noticed. They understood. Ruby’s place in Hector’s world had shifted. No speech. No grand declaration. Hector simp
After they left the torture chamber, Hector led Ruby back to his room. He stood by the door, watching her for a moment before speaking. “Get enough rest,” he said. “The time for Don Gray’s execution will arrive very soon.” Ruby’s lips curved into a small smile. “You already agreed that I would do the honors.” Hector smirked, shaking his head. She never forgot anything, did she? “I did,” he admitted. Then, for reasons he couldn’t quite explain, he added, “Is there anything you want?” Ruby blinked. “I feel like I still need to do something for you,” Hector continued, crossing his arms. “For putting your life on the line for me.” The words felt strange on his tongue. Since when did he care about repaying people like Ruby so much? More than that, why was he being so... considerate toward her? He knew he was attracted to her, but he wasn’t the kind of man who was unnecessarily kind to women. The idea alone made him uncomfortable. Still, he waited for her answer. Ruby
As Ruby pulled away from their embrace, she looked at Camila with a soft but determined gaze. “Hector cares about me, Camila,” she said. “I can see it.” Camila shook her head. “Ruby...” “No, listen to me.” Ruby held her hands firmly. “Apart from the misunderstanding in the beginning, Hector isn’t a bad person.” Camila scoffed, crossing her arms. “Are you even hearing yourself?” “Try to see things from his side,” Ruby insisted. “Don Gray destroyed his family. He killed his parents right in front of him.” Camila’s lips parted slightly. Ruby’s voice lowered, filled with emotion. “Who could bear that?” She took a deep breath and met Camila’s eyes. “Look at me, Camila. Imagine if someone was responsible for your father's death. Wouldn’t you want revenge?” The words hit Camila like a blow to the chest. She gasped softly, suddenly understanding. But she still shook her head. “Ruby… revenge is dangerous. You’re playing with fire.” Ruby gave a small, knowing smile. “Tru
Camila paced her small room, her stomach twisting in hunger. The untouched plate of food sat on the ground, mocking her. She stole another glance at it, but the knot in her chest made it impossible to eat. Then, the door creaked open. Her head snapped up, and she froze. Standing in front of her was Ruby. She looked… different. Dressed in a flowing white dress, her face soft and calm, Ruby seemed untouched by the nightmare they were trapped in. But Camila saw beyond the surface. She saw the sadness in her friend’s eyes, the weight she carried. Tears burned Camila’s vision, and before she could say a word, Ruby ran toward her, pulling her into a tight embrace. Camila clung to her, holding on as if she would disappear. Behind them, Hector stood in the doorway, watching in silence. For a moment, his expression was unreadable. Then, without a word, he turned and shut the door, leaving them alone. Camila pulled back slightly, her hands gripping Ruby’s arms. “Are you okay?” R
Ruby sat still, her mind racing. She had begged Hector countless times before, pleaded with him to let her go. Yet, every time, he refused. So why now? She raised her head, meeting his gaze. “Why the sudden change of heart?” Hector’s fingers curled into a tight fist. His jaw clenched, but he kept his voice steady. “Why are you questioning me?” Because it didn’t make sense. That’s why. Ruby stayed quiet, watching him. Hector exhaled and turned his back to her. Anger swirled in his chest...not at her, but at himself. If only she knew how hard it was for him to send her away. Still, she pressed. “I just want to know why, Hector. You were so sure before. What changed?” He turned around slowly and walked toward his chair, sinking into it. His eyes locked onto hers. “I have a rule,” he said finally. “A life for a life. You’ve probably heard it before,” he went on. “Since you were willing to give your life for mine, I can’t let anything happen to you. That’s why I’m setting you