Chapter 3

I hole up in my childhood bedroom at the Sterling estate, surrounded by the remnants of the girl I used to be. It’s a sanctuary, a place where I can still smell the perfume of innocence and naivety—a scent I’d foolishly traded for the metallic tang of heartbreak. My father’s voice echoes in my mind, his warnings unheeded, his love unreciprocated. I’d chosen Alexander over my own blood, and now I’m left with nothing but the bitter taste of regret.

Alexander’s phone lies open on my lap, a digital graveyard of our so-called love. My fingers tremble as I scroll through the messages, the emails, the hidden corners of his digital life. Every text, every photo, every shared secret—it’s all here, laid bare for me to dissect.

I start with the little things, the seemingly insignificant details that had once made my heart flutter. Cafe receipts from our favorite breakfast spot—except they’re not from our dates. They’re from mornings after I’d left for work, when he’d meet Victoria for coffee, feeding her the same lines he’d fed me. The roses he’d bring home, the ones I’d thought were a symbol of his love—they were just the leftovers from Victoria’s rejections, the castoffs she deemed unworthy.

Each discovery is a fresh wound, a reminder of how deeply I’d been played. But it’s the hidden folder on his cloud that stops my heart cold. A series of spreadsheets, meticulously logged, detailing something far more sinister than infidelity.

Blood tests. My blood tests. Page after page of records, each entry marked with the date and the amount drawn. My rare O-negative blood, something I’d always been proud of, reduced to a mere commodity. And the destination? A private lab, one I’ve never heard of, linked to an address that doesn’t exist—except in the alias Victoria had used for her medical records.

My hands shake as I dig deeper, following the digital trail of deceit. Bank statements, wire transfers, shell companies—millions upon millions of dollars routed from my family’s trust into Alexander’s offshore accounts. Every penny, every investment, every sacrifice I’d made for him—it was all just a means to an end.

I remember the late nights, the early mornings, the endless meetings and negotiations I’d endured to build his empire. I’d given him my heart, my soul, my family’s legacy—all so he could live the life he’d always wanted. And what had he given me in return? Lies. Betrayal. A child’s life snuffed out before she could even draw her first breath.

The tears come fast and furious now, blurring the screen as I scroll through the evidence of his treachery. Each entry is a dagger to my heart, each transaction a reminder of how completely I’d been used. I’d thought I was building a life with the man I loved, but I’d been nothing more than a stepping stone in his climb to success.

I wipe my nose on my sleeve, refusing to let the pain consume me. I’ve cried enough tears for Alexander Hayes. Now it’s time to make him pay.

I start by transferring the files to my encrypted drive, making sure to cover my digital tracks. Then I draft an email to Marcus, my oldest friend and confidant, the one person who’s always been there for me. I attach the spreadsheets, the wire transfers, the blood test logs—everything I’ve found. I don’t need to explain what it all means; Marcus will see it for what it is.

“Time to collect,” I type, my fingers flying across the keyboard. “I’ll take back what’s mine. You take care of the rest.”

As I hit send, a sense of determination settles in my chest. This is more than just revenge; it’s about reclaiming my identity, my power, my life. Alexander had thought he could use me, discard me, and walk away unscathed. But he’s about to learn that Sophia Sterling is not a woman to be trifled with.

I stand up, my legs shaking with a mix of rage and resolve. I walk to the window, staring out at the city I’d once loved, the city that had nearly destroyed me. But I’m not that broken woman anymore. I’m the heiress of Sterling Industries, and I’m ready to take back what’s rightfully mine.