CHAPTER 1
“I’ll marry you,” I announced through the phone clutched tightly in my hand and swallowed the lump in my throat. “If you still want me, I’ll marry you.”
There was a pause on the other end before Asher’s response came. “Did something happen? Why the sudden change of heart? You told me all those years ago that you’d only ever have feelings for Matt Bennett.”
“I was stupid,” I said, blinking back tears.
“Asher, I know how much you want revenge on Matt for what he did to your sister all those years ago. This might be your only chance. My wedding is in two weeks, come and get me then.”
I hung up before he could respond. I could only imagine his surprise. I didn’t expect to call him either, but I had no choice now.
I wanted revenge, and Asher was the only one who could help me.
I used to think my life was perfect. Even though I was an orphan, I had my boyfriend Matt, my cousin Maya, and my uncle Henry. They were all I needed.
I should have seen all the signs, but I was too gullible to notice that I was living with snakes.
Everything changed five months ago on my birthday. We had just signed the biggest deal in the company’s history, so it was a double celebration on an island in the south of France.
“Happy Birthday Jada!” Maya had beamed at me, sliding a champagne flute into my hand. “The deal of the decade on your big day? You’re unstoppable!”
I smiled at her, cheeks flushed with excitement. “Thank you, it doesn’t feel real.”
She looked around then, “Matt is such a sweetheart for throwing you this party. You deserve it.”
Her words remained in my head when I left her to get some water in the kitchen moments later. truly felt lucky. The yacht was decorated with so many luxury items, I felt like I had the best boyfriend ever, until I reached the kitchen door and heard my uncle’s voice.
“Once you’re married, we’ll take everything. Her shares, her seat on the board, all the properties and all the money… Sinclair industries will be ours. Good job Matt, just keep distracting her till the wedding.”
My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach.
Matt’s voice answered clear as day on the loudspeaker. “She won’t suspect a thing. She’s blinded by her love for me.”
My uncle laughed. “My late brother was a greedy bastard, and even though he didn’t leave me a penny in his will, this marriage will ensure I get everything I deserve.”
I covered my mouth with my hand to stop myself from gasping out loud. This couldn’t be happening.
My father had very traditional beliefs, and even though he left me everything, I couldn’t have real control over any of it. His will stated that my inheritance would become my husband’s when I got married and that was the only way I could have access to it.
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But Matt loved me. There was no way this could be true. and my uncle… he was my only remaining family. How could they do this to me?
I stumbled back, feeling lightheaded. I staggered back to my bedroom, desperate to tell Maya what I had just heard. But when I got to the room, I was greeted with the second shock of my life Matt had his back turned to me, and Maya was on top of him, straddling him as he kissed her. His mouth was on hers and then it was on her neck and everywhere else. His hands danced in her hair and traced her spine. Maya giggled softly like she owned him.
I wanted to scream, but nothing came out when I opened my mouth.
Maya looked up and saw me watching them. I didn’t know what I was expecting, shock maybe? But there was no sign of remorse in her eyes. She didn’t even try to stop Matt.
Instead, she winked at me and smiled, then went back to kissing my fiancé like it was the most natural thing in the world.
She got bolder after that, sending me pictures of her and Matt going out on dates without me. And Matt… he stopped hiding his affection for her. He would snap at me at the smallest thing just to pacify Maya. She became the center of his universe. He even gave away my dog I’d had since I was a little girl to some random stranger because Maya claimed she had suddenly developed an allergy to the dog.
“Jada!” Maya’s loud voice dragged me out of my thoughts and back to the present. She was walking over to the beach with a wine glass in hand.
We were back on an island now, because Maya insisted that she wanted to have the exact same birthday party as mine.
“Everyone’s on the boat, you shouldn’t be out here.”
I sighed. “Go back to your party, Maya. I’m fine here.”
Her eyes darkened. “I know what you’re doing. You think Matt will run over here to you because you look so pitiful?”
“What the hell are you even talking about?” I asked.
“Just get out of our lives already!” She snapped. “He doesn’t love you. Can’t you see that it’s me
he loves?”
“Then have him, Maya. I don’t care.”
My response must have annoyed her, because before I could blink, she looked down at the large rock next to me, pulled her leg back and kicked the rock with so much force, I was sure I heard the crack of her bone.
“Arrrrrghhhhhh!”
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