Chapter 3

Cayla Rollins POV:

Dereck' s eyes, fixed on the communicator, were wide with disbelief. His jaw hung open, a strangled sound caught in his throat.

"It' s simply a formality," I said, my voice soft, almost apologetic. "With my... condition... and the adoption, it makes things much cleaner. Less complication for the lineage, don' t you think?"

He stared at me, his eyes searching, desperate. "But... but why? We' re still together, aren't we, Cayla? I told you, I' d never leave you!" He sounded genuine, fear lacing his tone, but I knew it was fear of exposure, not loss.

I reached out, my left hand gently touching his arm. "Of course, we are. But the elders... they value strength, don' t they? And now... with my inner strength diminished, it' s only right. It shows foresight. Independence. It protects us."

He swallowed hard, the color slowly returning to his face as he processed my words. "You' re so thoughtful, Cayla. So understanding. So perfect." He pulled me close, a desperate hug that felt more like a cage.

"I just want to get out of this hospital," I whispered, my voice muffled against his chest. "I want to go home. Or... maybe we could meet Jesse? I' d like to see the boy we' re going to adopt."

His body stiffened. "No. No, not yet. You' re still recovering. It' s too soon." His grip tightened on me, his voice betraying a hint of panic.

"But the sooner we meet him, the sooner he' s ours," I reasoned, pulling back slightly to look him in the eye. "Don' t you want him, Dereck? Our son?" My words were a sweet poison, a trap I knew he couldn't resist.

He hesitated, a conflict playing out on his face. The desire to keep secrets vs. the need to showcase his perfect new family. The latter won. "Yes. Yes, of course. I' ve... been keeping an eye on him. Such an intelligent boy."

He still hesitated. "But it's not the right time."

"Then where is he, Dereck?" My voice was firm now, cutting through his excuses. "I want to see my son."

He sighed, defeated. "Fine. We' ll go to the Acevedo estate. Kacey' s place. It' s... temporary arrangements for the boy. Until our new home is ready."

The Acevedo estate. The place where my demise had been planned. The place where my "accident" had occurred. How fitting.

On the way, Dereck pulled out a small, plush toy from his jacket pocket-a miniature lion cub. "For Jesse," he announced proudly. "His favorite animal."

I glanced at the toy. It was designed for a toddler, maybe two years old. Jesse was three. A small detail, but another crack in his carefully constructed lie.

I feigned a sudden wave of dizziness, pressing a hand to my forehead. "Oh, Dereck. I feel a bit faint. This journey..."

He immediately rushed to my side, his concern genuine, though misplaced. "We' re almost there, my love. Just a few more minutes."

Five years. Five years of shared dreams, five years of planning a future that was never meant for me. It was time to end this charade.

We arrived at the sprawling Acevedo estate. It wasn' t a temporary arrangement; it was home. I was wheeled inside, my injured hand resting uselessly in my lap, my body still weak from the 'sham surgery.'

Suddenly, a whirlwind of energy, a small figure with bright, curious eyes, burst into the entryway. He launched himself at Dereck.

"Daddy!" the boy shrieked, his voice filled with pure joy.

Dereck froze, his face draining of all color. His eyes darted to me, then back to the boy, a frantic, desperate attempt to regain control. "Jesse! What are you doing here, little man?"

I watched, a cold, clinical curiosity replacing the pain in my chest. Jesse. Dark hair, Dereck' s strong jawline, Kacey's delicate nose. The resemblance was undeniable.

"He' s... a very handsome boy, Dereck," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "What did you say his name was again? And how old?"

Dereck stammered, his eyes wide. "Jesse. He' s three. Just like I said. We' re... we' re looking to adopt him." His voice was thin, unconvincing.

I extended my left hand, gently stroking Jesse' s soft hair. He leaned into my touch, a sweet, innocent warmth. But as I drew my hand away, I caught a faint scent-Kacey' s expensive perfume, mingled with Dereck' s familiar cologne. It clung to the boy like a second skin.

Jesse pulled away from Dereck, his lower lip trembling. "Mommy!" he cried, his eyes scanning the room. "Where' s Mommy?"

Dereck' s face was a study in pure terror. He knew. He knew I knew.

"He' s just calling for his... caretaker, darling," I said, my voice calm, reassuring, even to myself. I smiled at Jesse. "He' s a wonderful boy, Dereck. You' ve picked well."

Dereck' s shoulders slumped, the tension seeping out of him. He actually believed me. He believed I was still blind.

He scooped Jesse into his arms, carrying him towards a door at the end of the hall. "Come, Jesse. Let' s go see Auntie Kacey. Daddy needs to talk to... the adoption specialists."

Auntie Kacey. I almost laughed.

"I need to get my medication from the car," I announced, just as Dereck disappeared into the room. My voice was loud enough for anyone inside to hear. "I' ll be right back."

I lingered by the door, pretending to search my bag. The faint scent of Kacey' s perfume was stronger here. And then, voices. Not just Dereck and Kacey, but others. The Potters' inner circle. The "adoption specialists."

"Can you believe the nerve?" a woman' s voice hissed. "Pretending to adopt the child he already fathered with Kacey. And Cayla... poor, broken Cayla actually believes it."

"It' s all for show," another voice, a man' s, scoffed. "Dereck needed to legitimize Jesse without causing a scandal. And Cayla, well, she' s become... expendable. A convenient cover."

"Remember when Dereck and Kacey were together in college?" a third voice mused. "Always sneaking around. Seems old habits die hard."

Then, Dereck' s voice, clear and loud. "Kacey, my love, how are you feeling?"

"Oh, Dereck," Kacey purred, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. "Just dandy. Everything is going perfectly. Your little plan... it' s brilliant."

"And the arrangements we discussed?" Dereck asked, his voice low. "Are you happy with the new villa? The account?"

"More than happy, darling," Kacey replied, a rustle of fabric, then a soft thud. "You' re too generous. This diamond pendant... it' s exquisite."

"Oh, you shouldn' t have, Dereck," Kacey said, but her voice was laced with delight. "It' s too much."

"Nonsense, my love," Dereck chuckled. "Only the best for you and our son. Jesse, come say thank you to Mommy for her pretty new necklace."

"Mommy!" Jesse' s innocent voice cheered.

"Are you sure Cayla won' t find out about the gifts?" Kacey asked, a hint of genuine worry in her tone.

Dereck scoffed. "Cayla? She' s too busy being broken. Her scars are a reminder of her uselessness. What does she need with baubles?"

Jesse' s joyful laughter echoed from the room, a sharp, piercing sound that cut through my carefully constructed calm.