Chapter 1
From the master bedroom, Ellis Bradley's seductive voice called out, "Dylan, who's prettier, me or Amina?"
Dylan Clark replied, "You two are twins. She's pure like a white jasmine, but you're fiery like a red rose.
"She's had a baby, so of course her body can't compare to yours. You're my little darling."
Dylan's breath grew heavy and rough.
Wild laughter and moans echoed from the bedroom. My mind went numb. I couldn't move.
My husband was sleeping with my own sister.
I remembered the extra vow Dylan had made at their wedding in Grelland.
"Amina, if I ever betray you, may I die without a grave," he had promised.
He always said she was his lucky charm. he'd never want to lose her.
My gaze hardened, my fists balling up with icy resolve.
Break his promise, and karma would come for him.
I clutched the ultrasound report, balling it up in my hand.
After more than a hundred injections and endless tests, she finally managed to get pregnant again.
I had come home early, hoping to share my happiness, but instead, my husband shattered my joy.
"Mommy, what are you doing in the hallway? Come help me find my toy!" Jaxton's voice was soft and anxious.
"Go ask Ellis to help you," I said.
"No!" Jaxton protested.
"Ellis is busy. Come with me. Maybe you dropped it out in the garden," he said.
"How do you know she's busy?" I asked.
Jaxton looked up at me, his eyes flickering with doubt.
"Be a good mom and stay with me, okay?" he begged softly.
'Wait... Jaxton knows about Ellis and Dylan,' I realized, my mind spinning.
He was actually covering for them.
My own son's betrayal stung deeper than my husband's. My heart was shattered.
In just a few minutes, I felt like I'd been thrown from heaven straight into hell.
Jaxton and I headed out to the villa's garden. I dropped into a chair, unable to stop staring at the light shining from the master bedroom upstairs.
I pulled out my phone to check the time.
It'd already been fifty minutes.
I stood up, and Jaxton rushed over to stand right in front of me.
"Mommy, where are you going?" he asked.
He didn't care about his toy anymore. The moment I tried to move, he'd get all nervous.
"I'm just going out for a walk to get some fresh air. Go on, head back inside," I told him.
I couldn't wait around any longer. Fighting back tears, I opened the front door and stepped out.
Jaxton looked like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders and practically bounced back inside.
Everyone used to envy me. Dylan was known for doting on his wife. He chased me for three whole years and popped the question ninety-nine times before I finally said yes.
To prove his undying devotion, we tied the knot in Grelland, a place where divorce was literally impossible. Once a couple was married, it was for life unless one of them kicked the bucket.
I thought we'd grow old together, but life had other plans and hit me where it hurt.
I wandered the streets for nearly an hour, numb and hollow, before finally making my way back home like a ghost.
When I stepped inside, Dylan, Ellis, and Jaxton were all gathered around the dinner table, enjoying their meal together.
They were laughing and chatting, acting as if nothing had happened, like they were the picture-perfect family.
"Amina, come join us! Ellis made a special herbal soup just for you," Dylan called out.
He quickly pulled out a chair for me and carefully set the spoon down in front of me.
"Mommy, I peeled your favorite shrimp for you!" Jaxton beamed, trying his best to win me over.
He was doing everything he could to please me, his eyes shining with hope.
The heavy scent of medicinal herbs mixed with artificial chicken seasoning filled the air, and I suddenly felt sick to my stomach.
I clamped a hand over my mouth, snatched up a few napkins, and couldn't help but gag right there.
Ellis's eyes welled up with tears.
"Amina, is it really that bad? If you don't like it, you could've just told me. Throwing up right in front of me... it really stings," she said.
Dylan frowned.
"Amina, that's not fair. Ellis made this for you out of kindness," he said, a hint of reproach in his voice.
"This soup is good for your pregnancy. Go ahead and drink it all," he added.
Jaxton's face fell as he set his fork down, clearly upset.
"Mommy, you need to apologize to Ellis! Look, you made her cry!" Jaxton said.
As soon as I opened my mouth to say something, the urge to throw up got even worse.
I waved my hand dismissively, trying my best to keep myself from gagging.
"I'm not eating. You all go ahead," I said.
Ellis broke down, covering her face as she started crying.
"Amina, you really don't like my soup, do you? I spent more than two hours making it, and now all my effort was for nothing," she whimpered, her voice full of hurt.
I frowned. 'Two hours making soup? More like two hours stewing up drama,' I thought sarcastically.
She wasn't just simmering soup. She was simmering me.
Dylan reached over to comfort Ellis, his voice gentle and reassuring.
"Hey, it's not your fault. Don't be sad, okay? I'll drink it all, promise," he said.
Jaxton chimed in, volunteering right away, "I'll help too!"