Chapter 3

Aliza's POV:

Dax' s hand lingered on Frida' s arm, a touch so tender it twisted a knife in my gut. He bent his head, murmuring something to her, and she giggled, her eyes sparkling. It was an intimacy I had spent a year yearning for, an affection he reserved solely for his "beloved" ex-girlfriend. The sight made my stomach churn, a sickening blend of jealousy and despair. I watched him, this man I was married to, whose gaze was now solely on another woman, a woman who reveled in his attention like a spoiled child.

A cold, suffocating pressure crept up my throat. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of his indifference and her calculated charm. My lungs burned, starved for air. I wanted to scream, to lash out, to rip that smug smile off Frida's face, but I couldn't. Not here. Not in front of the camera crew, who were still dutifully filming Frida's every pout and pose.

I swallowed hard, forcing the hot tears back. My professional reputation was on the line, the very thing I had fought so hard to reclaim. I straightened my spine, pushing down the tidal wave of humiliation and betrayal. "Dr. Aris," I said, my voice surprisingly steady, "I'm here for the research assistant position. I understand the project's importance." My eyes flicked to Dax, a silent challenge in their depths. "And I assure you, my commitment is unwavering."

Dr. Aris looked relieved, though a shadow of concern still lingered in her eyes. "Excellent, Aliza. I'm glad you're on board. This is a critical moment for the project. Last chance, mind you." She stressed the last part, a clear warning.

I nodded, acknowledging the unspoken pressure. This wasn't just a job; it was my lifeline, my identity. I wouldn't let him, or her, take that from me. I presented my detailed research proposal, outlining groundbreaking methodologies, my voice firm and clear. I spoke with passion, with conviction, about the potential of Project Chimera. The science, the hope it offered for humanity, flowed through me, momentarily eclipsing the bitter reality of my personal life.

The board members, initially skeptical, began to nod. Dr. Aris's expression shifted from concern to pride. My proposal was sound, my expertise undeniable. They couldn't deny my qualifications, even with Dax's blatant interference. When the final vote was cast, it was unanimous. I was in. As a research assistant, yes, but I was in. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

A fragile sense of triumph bloomed in my chest as I left the campus. I had done it. I had fought for my place, for my passion. My steps felt lighter, a glimmer of hope returning.

As I approached the mansion, I noticed a flurry of activity. Boxes, ribbons, and baby decor were being carried inside. My heart gave a strange lurch. They were setting up the nursery. Dax's assistant, Mrs. Evans, met me at the door, her face wreathed in a warm smile.

"Mrs. West, welcome home! Mr. West wanted to ensure everything was perfect for the baby's room. He's been so particular. He even sent over sketches himself." Her words, meant to be comforting, felt hollow.

I forced a smile, my joy from the project approval suddenly overshadowed by a familiar dread. Dax, particular about a nursery? The man who couldn't even remember my favorite color? A cynical laugh caught in my throat. This wasn't for me. This was for the image, for the West legacy.

Later, as I walked through the half-decorated room, the pastel colors and tiny furniture felt alien, suffocating. A tiny, irrational fear gripped me. A child. His child. I had lost one, and now the prospect of another, of bringing a new life into this fractured world, felt terrifying. My own childhood, a blur of emotional neglect and unspoken resentments, flashed before my eyes. My parents, caught in their own silent war, had offered little warmth. I didn't want to repeat that cycle. Not for an innocent child. Not with Dax.

The ringing of my phone startled me. It was Dax. "Aliza," his voice was clipped, urgent. "The media got wind of your... condition. It's everywhere. We need to control the narrative."

My heart sank. "What do you mean?"

"They're painting you as a calculating gold-digger, trying to trap me with a pregnancy. And of course, there are whispers about Frida's accident and your sudden job loss. It's a mess." His tone was devoid of sympathy, filled only with annoyance at the PR nightmare. "We need a united front. There's a press conference tonight. Be ready."

"A press conference?" My voice was weak. "Dax, I just lost a baby. And my job. I'm not ready for this."

"You will be ready," he snapped, his patience wearing thin. "This isn't about your feelings, Aliza. This is about West Enterprises. This is about protecting our image, and more importantly, protecting Frida from further scrutiny. A baby is a powerful tool for public perception. It shows stability, commitment."

His words were a bitter chill. A baby, a tool. Not a miracle, not a new beginning, but a PR strategy. The last vestige of warmth in my heart withered and died.

That evening, I stood beside Dax on a brightly lit stage, a forced smile plastered on my face. The cameras flashed blindingly, a hungry horde of reporters shouting questions. My hand rested on my still-flat stomach, a gesture I hoped conveyed a serene, expectant mother. It was a performance. Our marriage was a performance.

"Mr. West," a reporter called out, "There are rumors you gifted Ms. Brennan a rare diamond necklace just last week. Is it true your wife received a similar, even more extravagant, piece of jewelry as a token of your enduring love?"

Dax's grip on my hand tightened, a silent warning. He smiled charmingly. "Of course. My wife means the world to me. She deserves nothing less than the best." He turned to me, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "Isn't that right, dearest?"

The lie tasted like ash in my mouth. I hadn't received a single piece of jewelry from him since our forced engagement ring. The "star pendant" was a flimsy prop in his childish promise, a cheap bauble compared to the diamonds that adorned Frida. Yet, I smiled, a chillingly perfect imitation of his own. "Absolutely," I murmured, my voice saccharine. The bitterness, however, was mine alone.

Another reporter chimed in, his question sharper. "Mrs. West, some tabloids are suggesting your relationship with Ms. Brennan is strained, particularly after her recent accident. How do you feel about Ms. Brennan's involvement in the Chimera project, given her previous relationship with your husband?"

Dax's hand squeezed mine, almost painfully. My gaze met his. His eyes held a silent threat, a clear command to play along. But something inside me snapped. The years of neglect, the constant humiliation, the fresh wound of my miscarriage, and now this blatant disrespect. It was too much.

I took a deep breath, my smile unwavering, even as my heart pounded a frantic rhythm against my ribs. "Frida Brennan is a talented actress," I began, my voice clear and calm. "Her involvement brings valuable public visibility to important scientific research." I paused, letting my gaze drift to Dax, then back to the reporter. "As for her past relationship with my husband, that is precisely what it is-the past. My husband and I are focused on our future. And our child."

A ripple went through the reporters. Dax's eyes widened, a flicker of surprise, perhaps even grudging respect, in their depths. He hadn't expected that. He had expected me to crumble, to stutter, to confirm their suspicions. But I had played his game, and I had won. For now.

Back in the mansion, the silence felt heavier than usual. Dax sat across from me in the living room, scrolling through his tablet. The comments section of a news article flashed on the screen: Gold-digger. Home-wrecker. She clearly drove Frida away. Just look at how smug she is. The internet was a cesspool of hate, fueled by Frida's carefully crafted victim narrative.

Dax cleared his throat. "I'll have my team deal with this. It will blow over." His voice was flat, devoid of real comfort.

I looked at him, my heart a hollow ache. "Do you believe them, Dax?" My voice was barely a whisper. "Do you think I'm a home-wrecker? That I drove Frida away?"

He didn't answer immediately, his gaze fixed on the screen, then shifted to the flickering fireplace. "Aliza," he said, his voice laced with a familiar weariness, "you knew what this marriage was. A pact. A merger. Your family's struggling biotech firm, my family's empire. There were... expectations." He finally met my gaze, his eyes cold, distant. "Frida and I... we had a history. A long one. You were aware of that."

The words were a brutal affirmation of my deepest fears. He didn't deny it. He didn't defend me. He simply reiterated the terms of our loveless contract. I was the inconvenient truth, the outsider who dared to disrupt his carefully constructed narrative. My chest tightened, a fresh wave of grief washing over me. I had foolishly hoped, even after everything, that he might, just might, see me as more than a business arrangement. But he didn't. He never would. The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken accusations and the bitter taste of a love that was never truly reciprocated.