At the same time, Devion's sleek, black car rolled through the imposing gates of his private estate in Pine Valley, one of the most beautiful and exclusively luxurious areas in J City. The car came to a smooth stop in the circular driveway. Miller stepped out and simply had to pause, her head tilting back as she admired the elegant, formidable structure of the modern mansion. The scale and opulence were breathtaking.
Before she could fully absorb it, Devion walked out of the car and snapped his fingers, the sharp sound instantly pulling her from her reverie. Without a word, he led her towards the grand entrance, and as they approached, every worker in sight, gardeners and maids, paused their tasks and offered deep, respectful bows as he passed. Just in front of the massive double doors, the butler, a slightly chubby, kind-faced middle-aged woman named Mama B, was standing at attention. She bowed deeply.
"Welcome to Pine Valley, madam," Mama B said specifically to Miller as she gently took the small worn-out bag from her hands.
"Thank you," Miller replied, feeling a little overwhelmed. "You can just call me Miller, though."
Mama B only offered a polite, unreadable smile in return, leaving Miller unsure if the correction had been accepted. Devion left her with Mama B to lead her to her room and immediately disappeared down a hallway without a word. Mama B then led Miller up the grand, marble-lined staircase, pointing out important rooms in a soft, guiding tone: the vast, professional-grade kitchen; a serene indoor library lined with leather-bound books; a sun-drenched flower room filled with vibrant blooms; and the formal dining room with a table that could seat twenty but she restricted the top floor, Devion's floor from Miller and Miller who had no plans of wandering around in the first place nodded casually.
Finally, they stopped before a door on the second floor. "This is your room, thoroughly cleaned and stocked with everything necessary," Mama B announced.
"Thank you," Miller said.
"Lunch will be ready in a few minutes," Mama B added before taking her leave.
Miller nodded and stepped into the room. It was wide and airy, painted in a simple, calming color. An elegant vanity table stood in one corner, a spacious wardrobe stocked with ladies clothes that Miller would never wear against another wall, and in the center was a luxurious queen-sized bed. The floor was adorned with a rich, dark Persian rug that felt soft underfoot. "Well, Miller," she said to herself, a sigh of relief escaping her lips, "this is your space for the next 6 months." She let herself fall freely backward onto the bed, sinking into its incredible softness. The bedsheet was impossibly cozy. After a lifetime of hardship, this felt like heaven.
On the other side of the house, Devion was seated in his lavish, wood-paneled study. He was sitted in front of his laptop, engaged in a video call with his grandmother.
"According to your statement, I have won the Golden River Project," he stated, his voice flat and businesslike.
But Madam Montgomery was not a woman to be outmaneuvered so easily. Her sharp eyes looked deeply at him through the screen; she knew something was amiss with this sudden, secretive marriage. "If you can keep your marriage for six months, I will hand it over," she countered, her voice firm and unwavering. "But if you fail, I will hand it to any of your cousins who is married by then."
Devion's brow furrowed in a slight frown, but he didn't panic. He had anticipated a challenge. "Fine," he agreed coolly, and with a click, he disconnected the call. This six months would be a long six months, living with another woman after years with Adele.
That night, a red car drove to a stop just beyond the main gates leading to Pine Valley, its engine cutting off into an uncomfortable silence under the street light. It did not approach the gate, nor did it move away, a silent, predatory presence in the night. Inside, Adele was slumped in the driver's seat, dressed in a black robe, her face a mask of devastation. Her eyes were red and swollen from hours of crying, lined by black circles. She sat there, a statue of despair, her gaze fixed on the imposing gates, hoping for a glimpse of Devion walking out or, perhaps, a look at his new wife.
She still found it utterly impossible to believe that he was married. How could he move on so easily, so swiftly, after so many years of being together? So what if she had cheated? Her grandfather was the biggest cheat in the city, and her grandmother had stayed with him until the very end. She had only cheated with one... two... three people, but he only knew of one! And she had apologized; she was ready to change! So why? Why? Why?!
She kept waiting, the minutes stretching into hours, the moon climbing higher in the sky. The luxurious interior of her car felt suffocating. Finally, a security guard from the estate approached, his expression stern but polite, tapped on her window, and respectfully asked her to leave. Swallowing a fresh wave of humiliation, Adele started the car and drove away, not wanting to embarrass herself further.
As she drove aimlessly through the winding roads, a storm of thoughts swirled in her head. Devion had loved her too much to leave her for just one mistake. It wasn't possible. The new girl must have bewitched him; that was it. This unknown woman was the enemy, a witch who had stolen her future. Adele had to find out who she was and take her out of the way. Without Devion, she would be empty in every aspect. She was already losing sponsorships; her modeling career was teetering on the brink of collapse. She wouldn't even be able to hold her head up high in society again. She couldn't just lose Devion.
Pulling over in a secluded spot, she snatched her phone and dialed a number from memory. "Hey, Nico," she said, her voice suddenly sweet and dripping with false warmth.
A gruff voice replied from the other end, "How are you doing, my love?"
"I am not fine at all. I need the identity of the bitch Devion got married to," she said, the venom seeping through the honeyed tone.
"Anything for you, my love," the voice said, a promise laced with menace.
"Thank you, Nico. I will see you tomorrow, I promise," she purred and disconnected the call. Immediately, her face transformed, the pretense melting away to reveal a twisted, evil resolve. "Nobody takes what's mine," she whispered into the darkness, her words a deadly vow.