Chapter 5 Yara's POV

(Yara's POV)

I got home and stood by the door, the key still in my hand, frozen. Memories of Nathan flashed in my mind-how he used to run to the door just to open it for me, how he'd come home with my favorite flowers after work. Back then, I believed every smile, every gesture. But now I wasn't sure any of it was real.

I twisted the doorknob. It was unlocked.

My heart dropped.

I rushed in, expecting a burglar-or worse.

But nothing could have prepared me for who I saw.

Nathan.

Sitting like he owned the world, cracking his knuckles as he eyed me up and down.

"Where are you coming from at this time? Did you even sleep at home?" he asked coldly.

I shut the door behind me. "That's none of your business. You asked for space, remember? So why are you here?"

"Elena and I will be moving into the house," he said, standing and walking toward me.

My breath caught. "What house?"

"My house, of course. And she'll be using my room, so move your things to the guest room."

He walked past me like he hadn't just turned my world upside down.

"No, Nathan. That won't happen. I will not allow another woman into my matrimonial bed, not in my father's house!" I shouted, shaking with rage.

"She's not just another woman," he replied with a smug grin. "She's carrying my child. I want her to be comfortable. There's no better place than here."

"You dare, Nathan?" My voice cracked. I bit my lip to stop the tears threatening to fall. "You think I'll allow that? Over my dead body!"

"Then I guess you'll die, Yara," he hissed. "Because Elena is moving in today-and there's nothing you or anyone else can do about it. If you don't want to end up on the streets, you'll behave and accept her."

He stormed off to the bedroom like nothing had happened.

Tears blurred my vision as I ran after him. I wasn't just fighting for a marriage-I was fighting for everything my father had built. From a small corner shop to an empire. I couldn't walk away and let snakes like Nathan and Elena enjoy the sweat of my father's labor.

"Dad will be proud of me if he sees how I'm protecting his company in his stead" I whispered to myself, trying to console and distract myself from reality.

I entered the room and found him changing into more casual clothes. Dropping to my knees, I held his leg tightly.

"Please, Nathan. Don't do this to us. I'll accept her as your mistress-just not in our room. Please. For the sake of what we shared," I begged, my tears flowing freely now.

He laughed bitterly. "Mistress? Who said she's a mistress? She's now the woman of the house, Yara. Wake up."

Before I could respond, the doorbell rang-loud, impatient.

"That must be Elena. Go open the door-and smile when you welcome her in," he said with sickening cheer.

I dragged myself to the door, wiped my face, and opened it.

But it wasn't Elena.

It was Jason.

I gasped. "How did you find me?" I stepped out and shut the door behind me.

"I didn't come for you," he said quickly. "I didn't even know you lived here."

"Then why are you here?" My voice was tight, confused.

Nathan's voice echoed from inside. "Yara, are you blocking the door again?"

Then he appeared-and froze when he saw Jason.

"Well, well. Look who it is. What are you doing here, Mr. Billionaire?" Nathan sneered. "Or should I say... Trillionaire since you'll be inheriting our father's empire soon, right?"

My heart skipped a beat.

Our father?

Jason's expression turned cold. "Our father has less than six months left. He sent me to bring you home."

"Home? Was that place ever home to me? Leave and don't ever come back here. I don't care if that old hag dies." Nathan stormed back inside, furious. Jason stayed still, eyes scanning my face.

I stumbled back, leaning against the wall.

I had slept with my husband's brother. And now here I was-standing between them.

"So... my brother was the jerk after all," Jason muttered.

"So my husband was the step brother in your story." I exhaled sharply.

Jason let out a bitter laugh.

"Do you think this is funny?" I snapped. "Nothing happened between us. This is the first time we're meeting-do you understand?"

He didn't look convinced. "You're scared of being found out, while he's doing worse?"

I swallowed. "I don't know your full story, but don't act like I'm the one interfering. He might mean nothing to you-but to me, he's everything. Just stay away. Let me deal with my marriage."

"Let's not meet again." Jason interrupted . "Just like you said. And please convince Nathan to come say goodbye to our father." he paused. "It's better this way, right?" he asked, forcing a smile neither of us believed as he walked away.

My smile faltered, my eyes were watery before I blinked the pain away. I walked back inside, breathing heavily, my heart heavy with my whole body trembling.

I just let go of someone that finally made me feel alive. A day with him was better than the past six years I've spent with jason.

Six years.

Six whole years, and Nathan made me believe he had no family. Told me he was an orphan. Lied straight to my face. The surname-Caldwell-I should've noticed. I should have known.

All the pieces are finally adding up.

I stormed into the living room to confront Nathan. "What did he mean by brother and father? I thought you were an orphan?"

Nathan didn't even look at me. "Just like you heard. Jason is the owner of Jacad Group. His father --Our father owns the Caldwell Empire."

He stood up and face me. "The popular billionaire that gave birth to a billionaire son are my father and younger brother. And me? I'm the illegitimate son. The one they never counted on. And you? You were just my tool to prove I could build something of my own, that i could own am empire too."

He said that straight to my face without any form of remorse then his phone rang. He picked it up.

"Elena," he said with a smile, and walked away.

So I was just a pawn in his stupid revenge plan?

Tears burned my eyes, but I held them in.

Then his voice came again from the hallway. "Yara, take Elena to my room."

He was watching TV, relaxed-like nothing had happened.

I took a deep breath. I'd play along. For now. Until I find a way to sort out all this mess, I'd put up with Nathan's bullshit.

I led Elena upstairs. I couldn't let her see me break. I couldn't show her my pain.

The room was at the end of the staircase. I opened the door, ready to walk out-but she grabbed my arm.

"Why are you so calm? You're making me feel like trash," Elena said.

I pulled my arm free. "Now that you're moving into my room, guilt isn't a problem anymore?"

She smirked. "I'm not pregnant, Yara."

I froze. "What?"

"I lied to Nathan. Told him I was pregnant so I could move in. Now, when I mysteriously 'lose' the baby, you'll be the one blamed."

I stared at her, horrified.

"I loved Nathan long before you met him," she hissed. "But you-you always had everything handed to you. You and your father made me feel like I was nothing but a charity case. But guess what? Now you'll start paying."

Tears welled up in my eyes. "Was helping you a crime, Elena? My father treated you like a daughter."

"You'll see," she laughed.

"I'll become the wife of the owner of your father's empire and gain power so that you won't be able to look down on me anymore Yara." She gave me a smug smile as she kicked Cass, the home security robot that was lingering around her leg.

"I'll see what you bitch! Stop spilling nonsense." I yelled.

Then she screamed, "YARA, STOP!"-and flung herself down the stairs.

I reached out instinctively, but it was too late.

Her body slammed against each step before landing with a sickening thud.

"ELENA!" I screamed, rushing down.

Blood spilled across the stairs. Her face twisted in pain.

Nathan came running.

He looked at her, then at me.

His eyes filled with rage. "What have you done to her, Yara?!"