Chapter 4

Ever since I told Yana about the time I saved a man covered in blood while working with Doctors Without Borders in Tazharan, she had started pulling away from me. Not long after, she became Maverick's godsister—and he had once mentioned that she had saved his life. But Yana was far too afraid to risk her life. She had never set foot in Tazharan—a country plagued by constant conflict—yet she never missed a chance to criticize or look down on it. I curled my icy fingers as a wild, absurd suspicion began to take shape in my mind. So, that was the truth all along. I crumpled to the floor, laughing and crying all at once. After a long while, I wiped away my tears, steadied myself, and got up to dig out an unfamiliar phone number. "I've got a deal worth a billion on the table. Interested?" "What kind of deal?" "Abduct me in three days." I gently stroked my stomach. "Maverick will willingly pay the ransom." Just as I hung up, Maverick pushed through the door. He'd had quite a bit to drink and was stumbling slightly, but his vigilance remained sharp as he grabbed my wrist. "What is it I'd willingly pay for?" Without blinking, I replied, "I saw a necklace I liked. The seller wants a deposit first." He chuckled, resting his head on my shoulder. "Fine, I'll pay. I'll pay anything. Yana, whatever you want, I'll give it to you. I'm yours too." Expressionless, I helped him to bed and tucked him in. Then, I lay beside him all night, wide awake. The next day, on our way to try on wedding dresses, Maverick received a call. His face paled as he hurriedly explained, "Sweetheart, a shipment got held up. I need to go handle it." He apologetically squeezed my hand. "I'm sorry. I promise I'll take you tomorrow. I even ordered a custom pair of wedding rings. "We'll try them together, okay?" I pulled my hand back. "I understand. Go ahead. I'll wait for you at home." He gave my hand a final squeeze, and as soon as I stepped out of the car, he sped off. Less than ten minutes later, Andrew's car arrived. As soon as I got in, I received a photo of Yana. There she was—wearing the dazzling diamond ring and the designer wedding dress I had chosen and flown in. Not to mention, she was kneeling on a man's lap too. His large hand rested on her pale thigh through the sheer fabric. His lips brushed the crescent-shaped birthmark on her right shoulder, eyes dark with desire. A voice message followed quickly. "Every night, I can only go through with it if I turn off the lights and pretend she's you. Yana, my sweet Yana, I miss you so much. Be good to me, won't you?" His raspy voice was followed by shallow, stifled breaths. In the silent car, Andrew's mocking laugh cut through the air. I was startled, only then realizing the view outside wasn't the way home. "Andrew, I'm Maverick's wife! What the hell are you doing?" The car screeched to a sudden stop. I reached for the door on the other side, but Andrew was quicker—his hand clamped around my ankle and yanked me out of the car. Pain shot through me, darkening my vision. As I gritted my teeth, I glared at him. "I'm carrying Maverick's child. If anything happens to me, you won't live to see tomorrow." "You idiot," he sneered. "Did you really think Maverick would let a woman as filthy as you bear his child?" A shrill laugh came from behind me, and that's when it hit me—this back alley was just a stone's throw from the bridal boutique. Yana pressed her foot into my face, every line of her expression etched with twisted satisfaction. Andrew then walked over and wrapped an arm around her waist, giving it a rough squeeze. As I stared in stunned disbelief, the two of them kissed with abandon, utterly lost in each other. It was a long moment before Andrew finally pulled back and spoke, his voice slow and deliberate, "You heard us at the door that day, didn't you? "What a shame. That's not even Yana's embryo in your belly. I swapped it for some random street kid's—probably born to a beggar in the slums."