His Million-Dollar Lies, Her Vengeful Rise

partment. I was a paralegal working myself to the bone, while my

multi-million dollar penthouse. It was a

." But I only snapped when Fiona stole Cecilia's inhaler at a scho

p, he ran right past our dau

ou done?" he

just his ordinary

the one who would tear his enti

pte

za

like a cold hand squeezing my heart. I was a paralegal, good at my job, me

heard a million times on screen, sliced through the penthouse's opulent silence. She

mile. "Just doing m

inting off polished marble floors. A custom-built wine cellar, a private cinema, a chef's kitchen tha

dismissive hand. "No need for formalities. You li

heir multi-million dollar real estate transactions, to ensure their endless luxury was seaml

place is so last year. Justin insists on buying me new thi

sed mid-ai

aked up my spine. Justin was a common name

t really looking at me, instead admirin

y own ears. I flipped to the deed, the legal document stating o

en I s

ck font, under "Grant

band's

g freelance artist. He painted landscapes that never sold, complained about gallery commissions, and barely scraped b

her wrist. "He bought this place for me last year. Said it was a 'surp

bile at the back of my throat. Bought this place for her? While

glancing at me, her perfect eyebrows arching. "Long day? Mu

itterness a raw wound.

e stories about people like that. So sad." She shuddered delicately. "Anyway, he's just the most charming man. So powerful, so

poor artist. It was all falling into place, a horrifying mosaic of lies. T

l, ugly ceramic cat on a shelf. "Said it reminded him of his 'humble beginnings.' So cute, is

aint smeared, clutched in the hand of a clay figure meant to be him. He' d told her it wa

tening to buckle my knees. This wasn't just a betrayal. T

t her, of course. Just says she was a bit 'clingy' and 'unambitious.' You know the type, right? Always dreaming of a white picket fenc

ediocre. This was how he saw me. This was how he'd always seen me. I thought we were a tea

aughter, whose small, weak body rattled with every breath, whose life was a constant battle against the mold an

it wasn't from fear. It was from a nascent rage, a primal scream

's solid gold. He said it was just lying around-found it in an old box or something. Probably

heirloom he'd sworn to me he' d lost. Another lie. Every word he' d

ou can have this. It's too heavy for me anyway, and frankly, I prefer my diamond-encrusted one." Her gaze swept o

g it would burn me. The sheer arrogance, the

said, my voice flat

we? It's really quite boring." She dropped the pen back onto the desk with a clatter. "Frankly, I'm starving. Justin

f disgust. I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead. I just wan

every detail: the name on the deed, Fiona' s casual mentions of Justin's wealt

or a response, just turned and walked out, my back ramrod straight, each

polished wall, my body shaking uncontrollably. I felt like I was breaking apart

now seemed to mock me with their indifference. When I finally unlocked the d

weak cough was the

ving, her eyes wide with fear as she struggled for air. Her ast

ng her inhaler, my fingers fumbling with the cap. She

fresh air? Like in the movies?" Her voice was so

a lavish life, spending millions on his mistress, while

day, babe. Art wasn't flowing. Guess I'll be home late.

sting in the wound. Cheap pizza. Whi

ng a firestorm within me. My hands clenched into fists, knuckles white. The help

nge, not just for my own shattered pride, but for Cecilia. For her right to breathe fre

oft with worry, ha

damp hair. "We are getting a new house. A beautiful one

A silent, deadly promise t