Chapter 2

My mind flashed to a recent Forbes "Power Families" feature.

Charles, eloquent and proud, speaking of his future grandchild's legacy, the "Fairmont Star" diamond awaiting its new heir.

Markus, looking at me with such adoration, vowing lifelong devotion.

The memory, once a source of warmth, now burned with the acid of deceit.

It was all a lie. A performance for the cameras, for the world.

My phone rang. Markus.

I stared at his name, my hand trembling.

I hesitated, then swiped to answer just as it was about to disconnect.

I didn't speak.

Loud voices, laughter, clinking glasses. He was still at that party.

Then, not Markus' s voice, but one of his college buddies, slurred and boisterous.

"Markus finally got what he wanted! He chased Chloe for years, man. Years!"

Another voice chimed in, "Yeah, to secure her stake in Fairmont Industries, he even put up with that naive heiress Liza for two years. Two years!"

A cruel laugh. "Markus has charm, gotta give it to him! Liza was all over him. No wonder he knocked her up without a real ring."

"She always looked down on 'bastards,' didn't she? Now her own kid might be one!"

The first voice again, "Best part is today! Chloe said, 'If Mom doesn't get married, I won't either,' so Markus convinced Charles to marry Veronica. Mother-daughter duo marrying into fortunes! What a scandal!"

The phone fumbled, then Markus' s voice, suddenly clear, concerned.

"Liza? Honey? Are you okay?"

His voice, the one that used to soothe me, now scraped against my raw nerves.

Honey.

The endearment felt like a fresh stab.

I couldn't form words. A choked sound escaped me.

The nurse looked at me, her brow furrowed with concern.

I ended the call, my body shaking uncontrollably.

The Forbes article, their loving words, the entire foundation of my life, shattered into a million pieces.

Naive heiress. That' s all I was to him.

A means to an end.

And my baby... a pawn in their disgusting game.