Chapter 4 The Scandal

• “Kristine Iglesias is pregnant with Zayne Nightwood’s child!
• Yes! She was in love with his rival, Edric Carton, but their breakup led to a twisted one night stand where she is now pregnant with Mr. Nightwood’s baby.
• Was it revenge... or the beginning of something far more dangerous?
• We are waiting to hear further from Miss Kristine and Mr. Nightwood.
• Are they going to keep the child? Stay tuned with us to find more!”
• The headline glared at me from every digital billboard in the city. Two weeks. That's all it took for my lie to become the city's biggest scandal.
• We were the new hot topic, a vicious headline plastered across every digital and print tabloid.
• I sat in Zayne’s high-rise office, legs crossed elegantly, watching the news cycle churn.
• SMASH.
• The remote shattered against the massive LED screen on the wall. He turned, his blue eyes burning with an intense fury.
• “What the hell is this, Kristine?”
• “Who told you not to wear a condom?”
• “You are telling me,” He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous hiss, “That after one night, you are carrying my child?”
• “Biology is a funny thing,” I smiled coldly.
• He glared for a long time before regaining his composure and pinching the bridge of his nose.
• “Look at the reports yourself. Check the date, two weeks after our sweet time,”
• The reports were a masterpiece.
• A hefty bribe to my doctor had shifted the gestation date from five weeks to two.
• On paper, this baby was a Nightwood. In reality, it was that motherfucker’s.
• Depraved of me, I know.
• But, to secure my baby’s future I had to lie. I would do it without remorse.
• After confirming, he threw the papers away outrageously, “Shit!”
• He dragged a hand through his dark hair before loosening his tie.
• We both were staring at each other. He was attempting to decrypt my intention but failed to do so.
• After a piercing silence, Zayne finally asked in a sigh.
• “What do you want?” He finally asked.
• “I want a father for my child,” I said, my voice steady, like it was the most obvious thing.
• “And I want a husband who can help me burn Edric Carton to the ground. I want him to watch us together, grovel and lose everything, including his dignity,”
• Zayne’s eyes narrowed, jaw clenching, “So, I am just a weapon to you against him? An asset?”
• “... Maybe,”
• The second I trailed off, he snapped his fingers twice and pointed at his door dominantly.
• “Out,”
• “Huh?”
• “Get the fuck out of my office, Kristine Iglesias. I am not a pawn in someone's revenge fantasy.” He declared, eyes sharply narrowed at me with disgust.
• I returned the same gesture, glaring back at him.
• “Then you should have thought about your actions before, asshole,”
• I stood up, smoothed my skirt, and walked out without a word because I knew he would call.
• Men like Zayne didn't let their ‘blood’ walk around unprotected.
• He would take the responsibility… right?
• By the next morning, I was already praying he would call.
• I convinced myself he would.
• Because if he didn't…
• I had just destroyed my own life for nothing.
• The next day,I walked toward my car, my mind already thinking how to contact him until a group of women–Zayne’s obsessed followers–surrounded my path.
• “You liar!!”
• “Social climber!”
• One of them even reached down, grabbed a stone, and hurled it at me.
• I braced for the impact, my hands instinctively flying to cover my stomach.
• But, the blow never came.
• Zayne had already stepped between us without hesitation, shielding me with his body.
• “Touch her again,” Zayne growled at the crowd.
• “And I will make sure you never see the light of day.”
• A single warning was all it took for him to send them away.
• “Zayne…?”
• “Are you hurt?” He asked, hesitantly placing his hand over my stomach, gaze softening.
• Forming my lips in a thin line, I nodded. “Yes,”
• He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back toward my apartment building, not giving me enough time to comprehend.
• He shoved his way inside, slamming the door shut behind us.
• He didn't give me space to breathe, to register, to speak.
• He simply pushed me against the door, a large hand clasped my wrist before securing it beside my head.
• His eyes never left mine. There was hunger there, but something else too.
• Something dangerous.
• Something that might haunt me for eternity.
• But what? I had no idea.
• “You want your revenge?” His voice was low but seductive.
• “Yes. I do.”
• “Fine.” He enunciated.
• “I will give you a wedding that will make Edric choke on his own heart. But, I don’t do charity, Kristine.”
• I blinked, “Come again?”
• “I have my conditions,”
• I gulped, “What… conditions?”
• “Be mine. All mine.”
• Wrapping his hand around my throat perfectly, he brought me closer, blending the heat from his hot body into mine.
• “And you–”
• His eyes moved all over my body, giving my throat a squeeze, enough to steal my breaths.
• “–won't resist.”
• I tried to get back but he didn’t allow me and pressed me harder into him, forcing me to maintain the intense eye-contact.
• “....Why?”
• He smirked maliciously, “Offers should be made equal. And I want every. single. piece.”
• I began to have second thoughts. My pride screamed no. My gut already told me to retreat.
• But, my hatred whispered yes.
• My hand refused to move.
• ….Until I remembered Edric sliding that ring onto Amie's finger.
• Inhaling sharply, I held his wrist to remove it from my throat.
• “Will you truly help me, Zayne?”
• “Yes. I will, Kristine.”
• Taking a step back, holding his chin up in pride, he offered his hand to me, making the terms crystal-clear.
• I get my revenge.
• He gets me.
• “Offer your heart, your body, your soul to me, Kristine, and I shall ensure you get anything you want.”
• I realized then that I wasn't just making a deal with a billionaire. I was signing a contract with the devil.
• My fingers stopped inches away from his.
• Once I touched him… There would be no pretending this was revenge anymore.
• It would become my life.
• I told myself it was to make Edric pay. For my baby. For our future.Therefore, I had my answer ready.
• Slowly, I took his hand in mine as I kissed his knuckles.
• “From this moment onwards, I am all yours, My Dear Husband.”
• Somewhere deep inside… I knew this marriage wouldn't save me.
• It would destroy us both.