Page 139 of Broken Destiny

“And she has another child after conning another man?” Simon asked.

I gave a stiff nod.

“Why did you hide this from us?” my mother demanded, her voice sharp and restless. “Why didn’t you tell us about this sooner?”

Something about her reaction troubled me.

My mother was rarely shaken, yet that night her movements had been jerky, her posture stiff, and a thin sheen of sweat had covered her face.

A weird knot formed in my stomach as I watched her.

Why was she so nervous?

“I wanted answers,” I said, looking around the table. “I had been searching for her for nearly four years. I even used the same trusted investigators you relied on,” I paused, looking at my mother, “and none of them could find a trace of her. Then, just when I stopped looking, I found her.”

“You’ve been working with her company for months, and you didn’t bother telling us we’re in business with her?” my father roared.

“Because—”

“Because what?” he growled.

“The project is solid,” I replied, forcing calm into my voice. “It’s a good opportunity to expand our business toward the Island.”

“Yes, but what if she does the same thing again?” he pressed.

“She is a partner in this company through her husband’s death. This is a reputable company run by Liam, her brother-in-law. Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t do anything. Don’t you think I checked already?”

Silence settled over the table.

“Are you still in love with her?”

My mother’s eyes narrowed at me.

My jaw tensed.

“No,” I had said.

Even then, I had known it was a lie.

Jiya had been embedded in every part of me.

Now, I walked across the patio toward where Tatiana was standing with a group of well-dressed guests near the towering ice sculpture carved into the shape of our family crest.

“Ah, here he is,” Tatiana said brightly, slipping her arm through mine possessively. “Babe, I’d like you to meet Kevin Skovitz, CEO of the number one fashion magazine,Sparkle, Anna Kendler, owner of the Diamond modelling agency, and Cody Bailiff, owner of Bailiff Productions.”

I shook hands with each of them, smiling.

The conversation revolved around investments, fashion shows, and upcoming film deals—topics that would normally interest me but felt meaningless tonight.

Then movement at the entrance to the patio caught my attention.

Something—someone—pulled my gaze in that direction.

I turned instinctively, and my breath stalled in my chest.

Walking into the party was a woman dressed in an emerald-toned, backless dress with delicate sequins along the shoulder and waist. The soft lighting traced the curve of her spine and highlighted the warm glow of her golden, tawny skin. Loose wisps of hair framed her face in a messy updo that looked both effortless and breathtaking.

Heads turned as she glided gracefully across the patio, drawing every eye toward her without even trying.