His Cruelest Betrayal, Her Sweetest Revenge

rother's life-saving medical treatments. I was a paramedic

his socialite best friend, Ariana, the angel fell. He

ce and publicly shame myself for doin

pte

was a sound I knew too well, a rhythm I' d spent my life working

rously low. We need to authorize the next round of his gene therapy treat

head against the cool glass of the penthouse window, looking down at

ten years, stood by the fireplace. The flames dance

tal," I began. "They're star

et, but it sliced through the room. "I've instructe

guage I didn't understand. "What? Jaydan, what are you t

of his whiskey, the amber liquid glowi

ibs. "This isn't a joke. Stop

glass down with a soft click. "

en. It lit up with a news article. The headline was sensational: "He

ad exploded. I' d been on the first response team. The scene

ou were there. You found Ariana.

rd-degree burns. Ariana had minor smoke inhalation.

is to me. Ariana is my oldest friend

h disbelief. This was the man I loved, the man I' d built a li

as if it were a simple fact of the universe. "She is humiliated

ment. "You will call a press conference tomorrow. You will apologize to Aria

gh that sounded more like a

lmed and you abandoned her. Yo

Her text was frantic. Ainsley, the funding was just p

picture on the mantelpiece-his weak but hopeful smile. He was my only family, t

life is in your hands, Ainsley. One public a

trained to be strong, but his power was absolute. He was a

his face inches from m

ould fall silent at any moment. The fight went o

hispered. The wor

hat charming, charismatic smile that had once ma

s slick with blood-his blood. A brutal car crash on a rain-swept highway. I was the one wh

r dates and private islands and a world of luxury I' d never imagined. H

our wedding day, his eyes full of what I thought w

s all

t. She'd always played the part of the supportive friend to me, her smile never quite reaching her eyes. She manufactur

"She's just sensitive, A

whose expensive treatments Jaydan had g

clarity. Cody was never a recipie

ng paid." He looked at me, his expression softening into a mask of concern. "I know th

r me, but I f

ad been waiting in another room. She entered, her eye

uch to ask of Ainsley," she

her. "Ainsley knows she made a mistake. She'

his eyes daring

face flashe

throat too ti

I was left alone in the vast, silent penthouse, the city lights below blurring

o get myself away from him. A plan began to form in the ruins of my heart. It was a desperate, danger