Chapter Eighteen

5:00 P.M.

At Zaffron,

In a private dining room, Bella and Shaun sit at a table for four, awaiting Shaun's father. The quiet hum of conversation surrounds them, but the tension between the two is palpable. Shaun had informed his father of this meeting earlier, and hearing his father's agreement had been a relief. But now, as the moment draws near, Bella can feel her nerves tightening.

This was her first time meeting the parents of a boyfriend—something she had heard so much about, but never experienced.

As the door swings open, Bella's stomach churns, her anxiety spiking. In walk Alex and Nicole—Shaun's father and his stepmother. Bella watches as they approach, trying to compose herself.

"Why is she here?" Shaun asks, his voice sharp as his gaze lands on Nicole.

"Where's your mother?" Alex shoots back, eyes narrowing.

"She's not coming," Shaun answers flatly, his tone indifferent but with a hint of something else—a resentment that was always simmering beneath the surface.

"She's never taken your matters seriously," Alex mutters under his breath.

"Could we not do this?" Shaun's voice rises, his patience thinning. "You left her for your mistress, remember?"

"Don't misinterpret it, son," Alex says coldly, meeting his son's gaze without flinching. "Your mother was always the mistress."

Nicole, sensing the growing hostility, quickly intervenes, her voice calm but firm. "We didn't come here to argue. We came to meet Shaun's girlfriend. Let's keep it civil."

Alex exhales sharply, a moment of silence stretching between them before he relents. "I apologize," he mutters, though the bitterness still lingers in his words.

Nicole, ever the peacekeeper, smiles gently at Bella. "I'm sorry about that. We've had a lot of family history," she adds, her voice soft and warm. "What's your name, dear?"

Bella, still reeling from the tension in the air, forces a smile. "Bella. Bella Davies," she answers, her voice quieter than usual.

"I'm Nicole," she replies with a gracious nod.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Grayson," Bella says, hoping to steady herself, though her mind is racing from the earlier exchange.

"Please, just call me Nicole," she replies with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

Bella nods, trying to maintain her composure, but her mind can't help but drift. The mention of "mistress" and the clear animosity between Shaun and his father only adds layers to the puzzle. She had known about some dysfunction in families, but nothing like this.

Nicole watches her closely, a hint of concern in her eyes. "Did I say something wrong?" she asks gently.

"Huh?" Bella blinks, coming back to reality. "Oh, no. Just... thinking."

"Are you alright?" Shaun asks, his concern now evident in his voice.

"I'm fine. Just lost in thought," Bella says, trying to brush off the moment.

"Ah, of course," Nicole says with a soft smile. "What do you do, Bella? I'm curious."

"I'm a model," Bella responds, sensing the scrutiny in Alex's gaze.

"A model," Alex repeats with mild surprise. "An interesting profession... I assume your mother approves of it? Seems like an unusual choice for someone who might have expected the 'perfect daughter-in-law'?"

Bella's stomach churns at the thinly veiled judgment, but before she can reply, Nicole intervenes again.

"Alex," she says sharply, giving him a look that silences him. "Let's not turn this into a judgmental conversation."

Bella is still processing the weird dynamic when Alex's tone shifts slightly. "It's just... I was wondering if your mother might be disappointed, considering you gave up her ideal daughter-in-law for a model."

Bella's heart races. She feels the weight of their scrutiny, but she forces herself to respond, biting back her irritation. 

"Alex, kindly be respectful," Nicole admonishes.

The conversation turns toward Mae, and Bella feels like she's missing something important.

"What is your father talking about?" Bella asks, confused.

Alex leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "Didn't Shaun tell you? His mother wanted him to marry Mae Wilson, but he lost her to Ethan. He didn't value her, and now she's gone—taken by someone who actually did."

Bella's eyes widened in disbelief. "You were supposed to marry Mae?"

Nicole looked at her, brow furrowed. "You know Mae?"

"She's my best friend," Bella replied, her mind racing as she processed the unexpected turn in the conversation.

Alex chuckled darkly. "What a lovely picture. Shaun leaves Mae for her best friend, and then she leaves him for his secretary. Isn't that ironic?"

"Must we always talk about Ethan?" Shaun's voice snapped, an edge of frustration creeping into his tone. "Do you always have to flaunt your stepson in my face?"

"It's not my fault Ethan's so hard not to be proud of," Alex shot back, unbothered by Shaun's irritation.

Bella, still processing the layers of family drama unfolding before her, felt a sudden jolt. "Wait... you and Ethan are brothers?" she asked, unable to mask the shock in her voice.

Shaun's face hardened as he snapped, "We're related only through our parents' marriage."

"Parents?" Bella echoed, her mind struggling to keep up with the revelations.

Nicole, sensing Bella's confusion, offered a calm explanation. "I didn't properly introduce myself, did I? I'm Nicole Grayson. I'm Alex's wife—and Ethan's mother."

Bella's gaze shifted between Nicole and Shaun, trying to make sense of it all. "You're Ethan's mother?" she asked, still reeling. A million thoughts collided in her mind. Ethan's the stepson of Alex Grayson, which means... he has a claim to the Grayson fortune, to the company, everything.

The implications of the conversation were too much to process at once. What if Ethan isn't just a secretary? What if there's more to him than they're letting on?

Her stomach twisted as she realized what she had just done. She had stolen Shaun away from Mae, but now she could see the bigger picture. Ethan was the one who truly had the future she'd imagined for herself—wealth, power, the company. She had just made a huge mistake. And Mae... Mae, she had just taken Shaun from her, but the universe had given her Ethan. The universe had given her something better.

A sinking feeling washed over Bella as she came to a stark realization. I need Ethan. I need to fix this.

Alex, clearly uninterested in prolonging the conversation, pushed his chair back. "I think it's time for us to go, Nicole," he said as he stood up.

"Alex, wait..." Nicole began, but he was already moving toward the door.

"Thanks for the invitation, Shaun," Alex called over his shoulder. "But I've lost my appetite. Make sure you tell your mother you've moved on. Nicole, let's go."

Nicole gave Bella a polite, but strained smile. "I hope we can do this again sometime." Then, she followed Alex out of the room.

The door swung shut behind them, and Bella turned her gaze back to Shaun, her thoughts still swirling. "When were you going to tell me the truth?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration.

Shaun met her eyes, a look of quiet determination in his. "I need your help, Bella."

She tilted her head, confused. "With what?"

"I need you to seduce Ethan," he said, his voice low and serious. "I want you to break up his marriage with Mae. I'll give you whatever you need to make it happen. And if you succeed, I'll give you anything you want."

Bella's heart skipped a beat. This is it. This is my chance.

"Really?" she asked, her excitement bubbling to the surface.

Shaun's face was unwavering, dead serious. "Do I look like I'm joking?"

A smile spread across Bella's face, wide and sure. "I'm in," she said, her voice almost too eager.

She didn't care that Shaun didn't realize it, but in that moment, he had just handed her the perfect opportunity. *Ethan... he was the key now. If she could win him over, she could have everything she ever wanted—everything she'd lost with Mae. She had taken men from Mae before, and Ethan would be no different.

This time, she wasn't going to let her plan slip away.

The following week marked the end of Mae's first trimester, but it also signaled the beginning of Ethan's unsettling behavior. Mae noticed the shift immediately. Ethan, once so attentive and present, had become a ghost in their home. He rarely returned, and when he did, it was either too late or not at all. In an entire week, he would show up just once, and when he did, he was distant, cold, and withdrawn. Mae began to worry, her mind racing with concerns about his work and whether something had gone terribly wrong. She decided to confront him.

One evening, after he finally came home, she asked gently, "Ethan, is everything alright? You've been so distant lately…"

He snapped, his voice sharp. "Why don't you mind your own business, Mae? We're just contract partners. Nothing more."

The words hit her like a slap, leaving her speechless. But it didn't end there. Ethan's fury escalated. Without warning, he locked Mae in her room and instructed the bodyguard to only allow her out for food or medical checkups. He even ordered that her mother and Camilla be kept away, ensuring she had no contact with anyone. Mae found herself trapped in her own home, a hostage under Ethan's control.

Once again, her life became a suffocating prison.

Bella's life, however, was a stark contrast to Mae's. While Mae suffered in silence, Bella raveled in her growing connection with Ethan. Ethan had agreed to go on a date with her and she had an amazing time. After the date they shared, she was surprised by how charming and engaging he was—far more than she had ever imagined. As the night ended, she took a bold step and kissed him. To her delight, he kissed her back, confirming that her plan was working. The next day, Ethan asked her out again, and Bella eagerly shared the news with Shaun.

Shaun, though clearly jealous, pushed aside his emotions. He reminded himself that this was part of their plan. There was no reason to feel insecure about Bella spending time with Ethan—this was about revenge, about exposing Ethan for who he truly was. Soon, Shaun would show everyone that Ethan wasn't the man they all thought him to be. He would get his revenge for his mother.

A month later, the boardroom at RX Hotels buzzed with tension. Board members, shareholders, and key figures like Alex, Ethan, Ella, and Shaun sat around the polished table. The air was thick with anticipation.

Mr. Owen stood to address the group. "We've been struggling with sales since Mae left her position, so the board has decided we need a temporary replacement until we know where Mae stands. Do you have anyone in mind?"

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Not yet?" he asked, clearly frustrated. "You want us to consider this, and you don't even have a candidate?"

Ethan, ever the peacemaker, interjected. "Mr. Grayson, they were unsure if the chairman would approve their proposal."

Alex shot a pointed look at Ethan but refrained from saying more. "Let's just focus on finding a replacement," Shaun suggested, eager to move the conversation forward.

Alex leaned back in his chair. "I have someone in mind, but it might be difficult to convince her to join given our recent performance."

"We'll take anyone at this point," the ED said with a resigned sigh.

"Well, her name is Brooke Daniels. She's the best candidate I've seen since Mae."

"I know her," the ED chimed in. "She came second after Mae at the annual awards."

"Yes," Alex continued. "She quit her job recently, and now she's actively looking for a new opportunity."

Michael hesitated before speaking again. "I hate to ask this, Mr. Grayson, but could you help us contact Miss Daniels and let her know we're hiring?"

"Of course," Alex agreed smoothly. "I'll reach out to her."

"Thanks a lot, Mr. Grayson."

Once the meeting wrapped up, Michael thanked everyone for their support, a smile crossing his face. "It's been a crazy few months since my father and sister left, but with all of you behind me, it's been a little easier."

As the meeting adjourned, Alex and Ethan exchanged a brief, knowing glance. Both men had their own plans in motion, their own battles to fight.

Meanwhile, in Ethan's apartment, Mae sat alone on the couch, flipping through old pictures on her phone. She stopped when she found one of her and Ethan at the amusement park. The memory of that day—the laughter, the joy, the love—felt so distant now. Tears welled up in her eyes as she recalled the man Ethan had once been. What had gone wrong? What had changed so drastically between them? Why had he become so cruel?

She glanced at herself in the reflection of the phone screen. Her face looked pale, drawn, her body thinner than it had been just a few months ago. The dark circles beneath her eyes were a testament to her sleepless nights, her months of torment. She thought back to when she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital, the doctor's concern when he saw the bruises from the bodyguard. Mae had lied, claiming she'd been kidnapped, and the doctor had believed her. That was the only reason she'd escaped the worst of Ethan's treatment.

But nothing had changed. Ethan still barely came home. She was isolated, alone, and desperate. Her mind wandered to her father's words: You'll regret marrying Ethan. And here she was, in a nightmare of her own making.

She rubbed her baby bump, guilt and regret sweeping over her. "I'm so sorry," she whispered to the children growing inside her. She hadn't wanted this life for them. She hadn't wanted to be trapped in this cycle. But she made a promise to herself then: no matter what Ethan did to her, she would never be a bad mother. She would endure it all—for her children's sake.

Determined to take some control back, Mae picked up her phone and dialed her bodyguard's number. "I need to go to the mall. Get back here," she said curtly before ending the call.

At MR Mall, Mae wandered through the baby section, trying to keep her mind occupied, when she accidentally bumped into someone. She lost her balance but was caught by a strong hand before she could fall. She looked up, surprised to see Mark—the same Mark who had once been angry with her after the drama at Zaffron.

Her face flushed with embarrassment. What if he still hates me? she thought nervously.

"Are you okay?" Mark asked, his voice soft with concern.

Mae quickly straightened up. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking."

Mark shrugged. "It's fine. I wasn't paying much attention either."

She offered a nervous smile. "Still, I'm really sorry."

"There's no need to apologize. I'm at fault too," Mark said with a friendly grin.

Mae relaxed a little, grateful for his kindness. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Yeah," Mark agreed, his expression softening. "I've been waiting for this day—for the chance to apologize for how I acted at Zaffron. It wasn't your fault that Bella behaved that way. I shouldn't have judged you. I'm really sorry."

Mae's heart warmed at his words. "It's okay. I don't blame you at all. I was the one who let someone like her into my life."

"I heard you two aren't best friends anymore."

"News travels fast, huh?" Mae chuckled lightly. "We had a big falling out. I guess we just couldn't tolerate each other anymore."

"Well, it's probably a good thing you got rid of her."

"Yeah," Mae said, her smile genuine for the first time in a long while. "It was."

Mark's eyes flickered to her stomach. "Is it just me, or did you put on a little weight?"

Mae laughed softly. "Is it that obvious?"

"You still look great," Mark reassured her.

"Thanks," she said, appreciating the compliment.

They chatted more, and Mae found herself relaxing in Mark's company. He wasn't like the other men in her life. He didn't ask anything of her; he just offered her kindness.

"So, what are you doing in the baby section?" she asked.

"I'm babysitting my niece this week. I'm just getting some supplies."

"I thought you already had kids," Mae teased.

Mark laughed. "No, I'm still waiting for that day." "What about you?" he asked.

Mae smiled. "Well, I'm here for the same reason. Babysitting my cousin."

"We should get the kids together sometime," Mark suggested.

"That would be great," Mae agreed.

Mark hesitated before speaking again. "Would you want to grab dinner sometime?"

Mae's smile faltered slightly. "I'm married," she said softly.

Mark's expression shifted. "You're married?"

"Yes," Mae replied, feeling the weight of the words.

He blinked, clearly shocked. "Since when?"

"Three months ago," Mae said quietly. "This month marks our anniversary."

Mark looked confused. "But the last time we talked, you said you weren't serious about anyone."

"A lot happened in those months," Mae replied with a sigh.

Mark smiled, albeit with some hesitation. "Well, I'm happy for you."

"Thanks," Mae said, her voice thick with emotion.

"I'd love for us to hang out just as friends if that's okay with you".

"It would be nice to have fun with someone that isn't my husband".

"Is that a, yes?"

"Yes", Mae replied with a wide smile.

They exchanged numbers, agreeing to meet up again soon, and Mae left the mall feeling oddly lighter. Maybe things weren't as bad as they seemed. Maybe there was still a chance for a little happiness, even in the chaos.

The following week at RX Hotels, Alex stood before the board, introducing Brooke Daniels, the newest addition to the team. After a thorough interview process, Brooke was hired to replace Mae Wilson. She resumed work almost immediately, her sharp mind and impressive resume winning over everyone in the room.

Once the meeting concluded, all the board members left except for Brooke, Michael, and Ethan. As they sat in the now empty room, Brooke leaned forward, a playful smirk curling at her lips. "I hear I'm replacing the legendary Mae Wilson," she remarked. "What happened? Wasn't she the kind to stick around for a bit longer?"

Michael glanced at her, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Do you know Mae?"

"We have a bit of history," Brooke replied cryptically. "It'll be nice to see her again."

"I'll be sure to let her know you stopped by," Michael said, standing up to leave. "Ethan, I'll get back to you on the plan."

"Thanks, Michael," Ethan responded as Michael exited, leaving him and Brooke alone.

Brooke stood from her seat and made her way over to Ethan with confident steps. "Did you miss me, Ethan?" she asked, her voice a mixture of flirtation and challenge.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, looking up at her as she approached. "Have we met before, Miss Daniels?"

Brooke laughed softly, placing her hands on the back of his chair, her arms slowly draping around him. "Don't act like you don't know me, Ethan. We went to the same middle school."

"Hands off, Miss Daniels," Ethan's tone turned cold, his gaze hardening.

Brooke didn't flinch, her smile turning into a determined grin. "You're still the same, Ethan. But I've changed. Last time, I gave up on you, but not this time. This time, I'm going to fight for you."

Ethan's eyes darkened. "Since you know me, you know what happens when I repeat myself. Don't make me say it again."

Brooke's arms dropped from his shoulders, the playful tension instantly gone. "I'll let this slide. I'm assuming this is our first meeting, so you're unaware of what you've just done. But next time... I won't be so merciful." Ethan's cold warning sent a chill through her, but she wasn't deterred.

"Do you have something against women, Ethan?" Brooke asked, her curiosity growing.

"Why would I?" Ethan's gaze softened, but only for a moment.

"You push away every woman who's attracted to you."

"Yes, because I don't want people misunderstanding my intentions."

Brooke raised an eyebrow. "I don't understand."

Ethan's voice lowered, becoming more serious. "I'm a married man, Miss Daniels. People wouldn't appreciate seeing me spending time with other women."

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "You're married?"

"Yes."

"To who?" Brooke pressed, her voice almost breathless.

Ethan's lips curled into a smile. "The very same Mae you'll be replacing."

Brooke's jaw dropped. "Wait, you married Mae Wilson? That Mae Wilson?"

Ethan smirked, watching her reaction. "I guess you must be a fan."

"How did that even happen?" Brooke asked, still reeling from the news.

"Love at first sight," Ethan said with a wink, clearly enjoying her discomfort.

Brooke scoffed. "You're kidding, right?"

Ethan's tone turned serious again. "Why would I joke about something like that? If you don't believe me, you can always ask Michael."

"Why her? What makes Mae so special?" Brooke's voice shook with frustration.

Ethan's expression softened for a moment, but he quickly masked it with his usual cool demeanor. "We connected. I love her, Brooke."

Brooke's hands balled into fists on the table. "Enough," she said, her voice icy with anger. "I'll deal with this another time when Mae's around."

With a smile, Ethan stood up, preparing to leave. "It was nice meeting you, Miss Daniels," he said before walking out of the room.

Brooke fell into the chair behind her, her frustration bubbling over. "Why does she always ruin everything for me?" she yelled, slamming her fist on the table. She grabbed her phone, her fingers trembling as she dialed a number. "We need to meet immediately," she said, her voice low and determined. "Send me the time and location." After hanging up, she glared at the empty room. "I'm going to ruin your life, Mae, one way or another."

At Starlite Restaurant later that evening, Brooke sat in a private dining room, her thoughts swirling with plans and anger. The door creaked open, and a waiter stepped inside. "Miss Daniels, your guest has arrived."

"Tell her to come in," Brooke replied, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.

Moments later, Bella entered the room, her heels clicking on the polished floor. She smiled slyly. "Well, well. If it isn't the famous Brooke Daniels."

Brooke didn't hide her smirk. "What took you so long?"

"Shaun delayed me a bit," Bella answered, sliding into the seat opposite Brooke.

Brooke leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. "How long has it been since we last saw each other?"

"Early this year," Bella replied, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. "I had a shoot in New York."

"Yeah, I remember," Brooke said, her smile darkening. "We had a nice little chat about how pathetic Mae had gotten."

Bella's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "Well, Mae's not so pathetic anymore. Turns out, she's married to a good-looking guy and has gotten rid of me... and her family."

Brooke raised an eyebrow. "She got rid of you?"

"Yeah. She's gotten a lot of guts since she married Ethan."

Brooke's interest piqued. "I heard she married Ethan."

"You know Ethan?" Bella asked, leaning forward, her eyes gleaming.

"We went to the same middle school," Brooke replied, her tone casual, though she could feel the tension building.

"He's gorgeous," Bella said with a sigh. "Too bad he's married to Mae."

Brooke's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, but that doesn't mean she's won. We need to figure out how to get rid of Mae from Ethan's life."

Bella smiled wickedly. "Way ahead of you, girl. Mae may be married to Ethan, but that doesn't mean she's still not pathetic."

"What do you mean?" Brooke asked, her voice sharpening.

Bella leaned back in her chair, her expression triumphant. "Ethan's cheating on Mae."

Brooke's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're kidding, right? Ethan would never do something like that."

"I'm not kidding, Brooke. I'm dating both Ethan and Shaun."

Brooke blinked, trying to process the information. "You're dating both of them?"

"Yeah," Bella replied nonchalantly. "Turns out Ethan and Shaun are step brothers."

Brooke sat back in her chair, astonished. "They're step brothers?"

"Yep. Ethan's mom married Shaun's dad," Bella confirmed. "I know a lot about what's going on in that family."

"Wow, that's... a lot," Brooke muttered, trying to absorb the full scope of the situation.

"Yes, and I know that Ethan will soon divorce Mae," Bella continued, a glint of malice in her eyes. "But I need your help to make that happen."

Brooke leaned in, intrigued. "How do you want me to help?"

Bella's smile turned wicked. "I need you to sabotage Mae's family company. While you do that, I'll handle the rest."

Brooke leaned back, a grin forming on her face. "You've got guts, Bella. What exactly are you planning?"

Bella's eyes gleamed. "Nothing good," she replied, her voice low and filled with menace. "Nothing good at all."