CHAPTER 31

I sat in my dimly lit apartment, scrolling through Angelina's social media posts. Don't ask me why I was doing it—I couldn't even explain it to myself. Her photos were polished and pristine, showcasing a life that appeared perfect, almost too perfect. There she was, draped in designer clothes, smiling with that angelic face of hers, her arms looped around Alexander as if she owned him. My stomach churned. The jealousy was like acid eating away at my insides.

I hated Alexander for making a fool out of me, but I envied Angelina for being the one to have him. Despite the rage boiling within me, my heart still longed for him. I know I sound crazy, pathetic even, but the truth was I still loved him. I couldn't stop thinking about him—the way he laughed, the way his lips curved into that sly smile when he was amused, the way his touch used to send shivers down my spine.

I missed him, every single part of him. His voice, his scent, his presence. I missed how he used to make me feel like the only woman in the world. But now, he was hers. I hated her for it, and I hated him for hurting me. My chest tightened as I stared at a picture of the two of them, smiling at some fancy gala. My thumb hovered over the screen, tempted to block him—to block them. But I couldn't. I was addicted to the pain, to the longing, to the anger that kept me alive.

That's when the thought first crept in. It wasn't fully formed yet, just a whisper in the back of my mind. What if I could take it all away? What if I could ruin his perfect little life the way he ruined mine?

At first, I tried to push the idea aside. It was irrational, petty, even cruel. But the more I stared at Angelina's flawless face, the more the whisper grew louder, more insistent. I wasn't just going to hurt Alexander—I was going to make him need me again. I would remind him that I was the one who truly understood him. And Angelina? She'd pay for stealing my happiness.

The plan started to take shape. It was simple, really. I wouldn't lift a finger. No, I would let Angelina do the dirty work for me. I just needed to find her Achilles' heel—a secret, a weakness, something that would shatter the illusion of their perfect marriage. Once Alexander saw her for what she really was, once he hated her as much as I did, he'd come crawling back to me. He'd realize that I was the only woman who could ever truly love him.

I laughed bitterly, shaking my head at the absurdity of it all. This wasn't me. I wasn't the type of woman who plotted revenge, who let bitterness consume her. But Alexander had changed me. He had taken everything from me—my trust, my dignity, my innocence. He had made me believe in love only to destroy it. And now, I had nothing left to lose.

I placed a hand on my belly, my fingers trembling as I thought about the life growing inside me. His child. The one he didn't want. The one he had tried to erase with a stack of cold, hard cash. My lips curled into a smile, but it wasn't a smile of joy. It was one of resolve. He doesn't know it yet, but this baby is going to change everything.

For now, I would let him believe I had moved on. I would stop calling, stop texting, stop lurking in the shadows of his life. He wouldn't suspect a thing. And when his marriage fell apart, when he was at his lowest, I would be there to pick up the pieces.

But first, I needed information.

I grabbed my phone and dialed John's number. John was a private investigator, an old friend who had helped me out of a few tight spots in the past. He owed me, and I intended to collect.

"Hey, Isabella," he answered, his tone cautious. "What's up? You never call unless you need something."

"Sharp as ever," I replied, forcing a lightness into my voice. "I need you to do some digging for me."

"On who?" he asked, already sounding wary.

"Alexander's wife," I said, my voice hardening.

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. "What? Why? Did she find out about you and Alexander?"

"No," I snapped, irritated by his questions. "Just do as I say, John. I'll pay you this time, I promise. I need dirt on her. Secrets, skeletons, anything that would make Alexander hate her if he found out."

"You've got to be kidding me," he said, his voice tinged with disbelief. "You want to ruin their marriage? Isabella, it's not worth it. Let it go."

"Don't tell me what to do," I said coldly. "Just find something. Anything. And keep your mouth shut about this, understand?"

He sighed heavily. "Fine. I'll have something for you by tomorrow."

"Good," I said, ending the call before he could say anything else.

As I set my phone down, a wave of unease washed over me. I knew John was right. This wasn't like me. I had always been the good girl, the one who played by the rules. But Alexander had pushed me too far. He had turned me into something else, something darker.

I stared out the window, the city lights casting long shadows across the room. My mind raced with possibilities, each one more twisted than the last. What if Angelina was hiding a scandalous affair? What if she had a criminal past? Or what if she wasn't the perfect wife Alexander thought she was?

The thought of uncovering her secrets filled me with a sick sense of satisfaction. But beneath the anger and determination, there was a flicker of doubt. Was I really doing this for the baby, or was I just trying to fill the emptiness inside me?

I shook my head, pushing the doubt aside. It didn't matter. I had already crossed the point of no return.

For the first time in weeks, I felt a sense of purpose. This was more than revenge. This was justice. Alexander had taken everything from me, and now it was my turn to take everything from him.

And when the dust settled, when the perfect little life he had built came crashing down, he would realize that I was the only one who had ever truly loved him.

But first, I needed to wait for John's call.

Tomorrow, the game would begin.