The madness in his eyes sent a wave of dread through her. His face, twisted with bitterness and fury, was almost unrecognizable. He was consud by anger, blinded by vengeance. Reason had long left him.
Zara twisted her wrists desperately against the ropes, but they wouldn’t budge. "Jaxon, you are making a huge mistake. You are blaming for your own downfall. I never told you to gamble. I never told you to take loans from criminals. And even then, I still helped you. Again and again. Have you forgotten that?"
"Shut up," Jaxon exploded, his voice echoing off the walls as his rage erupted. His eyes burned. "Don’t twist this around. So what if you gave us money? You are married into the Grant family—your husband is swimming in wealth. Of course, you should help us. The Moore family raised you, fed you. Isn’t that the least you can do? It’s your duty."
Zara froze, the words hitting her like a punch to the chest. Her heart ached.
’So that’s what they have always thought...’
"My duty?" she repeated bitterly, tears welling up in her eyes. "To the Moore family, I’m just a debt to be repaid."
Her expression hardened, her pain now laced with defiance. "Well, I’ve paid enough. More than enough. I owe you nothing."
"Watch your tone," Jaxon snarled, slamming his hand against the armrest of his wheelchair and wheeling himself closer, his eyes shining nacingly.
"You are not in a position to talk back," he hissed. "You are still alive because I let you live. So keep your mouth in check, or you’ll regret it."
Regret?
Zara let out a dry, bitter scoff. Regret had long lost its weight in her world. She felt her life had no purpose. The two people she had loved the most—her mother and sister— were long gone, leaving her stranded in a world that never made space for her.
Her father?
He was nothing more than a leech. Whatever affection he once held for her had been buried under years of greed. To Isaac, she was just a bank account, a tool to fund the life of his second family.
His loyalty, his love, his so-called family—that all belonged to Lina and Jaxon. Zara was a shadow in their lives, soone to be used.
And Nathaniel, the man she had poured her love into for years, was cold, distant, unreachable. Her marriage was a bond only in na. He wouldn’t bat an eye if she vanished from the world tomorrow.
What did that make her?
A daughter no one fought for. A wife who was not cherished. A woman forgotten by the people she gave everything to.
What a failure she had beco.
She had no hope left, no dreams or expectations from life. She had already died once, with a heart full of pain and wishes that never ca true.
When life gave her a second chance, she believed she could start fresh, free from the chaos and the people who had hurt her. She thought she’d leave behind the pain, the betrayal, the toxicity.
But the past never truly let go. It clung to her, dragging her back into the sa darkness. And now, once again, she found herself on the edge, trapped and staring death in the face.
Once again, she was destined to die alone, haunted by betrayal and the unbearable sorrow of failing to protect the life growing inside her. And no one—not a father, not a husband, not a soul—would co to save them.
Zara lowered her head, pain burning behind her eyes. But her lips twitched into a bitter smile.
"What the hell are you laughing at?" Jaxon barked with irritation.
This wasn’t the reaction he wanted. He had expected fear—Zara begging for rcy. But instead, she was smiling.
It infuriated him.
"I’m laughing at your pathetic ignorance," Zara said coldly. "You really think kidnapping will get you anything? You think the Grant family will co running with a suitcase full of cash? Wake up, Jaxon. I’m getting a divorce. Nathaniel doesn’t care about . He won’t pay you a cent."
Jaxon’s face twisted in rage. "Don’t try to play gas with ," he exploded. "You are his wife, the mother of his precious son. He’ll pay. He has to. Just wait and see."
But Zara only chuckled again. ’If Nathaniel cared,’ she thought, ’he would’ve never let things fall apart in the first place. He wouldn’t have turned his back on with those cruel words.’
Still... deep down, a small part of her ached to know: would he co for her now?
"Stop laughing," Jaxon growled. Rage surged through him as he wheeled himself forward and reached out, his hand clamping around her throat.
"I swear, if you laugh one more ti, I’ll kill you," he hissed, his face inches from hers, eyes wild. "Right here. Right now."
But Zara didn’t flinch, not even a blink. Death no longer terrified her. She had already stared it in the face once and co out the other side. If fate had given her a second chance at life, she believed it wouldn’t end here. Not like this.
"Go ahead," she challenged fearlessly. "Kill . Put an end to it. I’m done living this way, treated like a walking ATM for you and your father, called upon only when money is needed. No one cares how I’m doing. No one ever asks. So what’s the point? If you want to kill , do it."
For a mont, Jaxon faltered. His grip loosened. He pulled back, his eyes narrowing before a twisted smirk curved across his lips.
"Kill you?" he sneered, wheeling back with an ugly laugh. "Why would I kill the Grant family’s daughter-in-law, my golden goose? You are more valuable alive. With you in our hands, we can bleed that family dry. Nathaniel will be on his knees in no ti."
’Keep dreaming,’ Zara thought bitterly. But she didn’t voice it. Instead, she stared back in silence. Her heart raced with questions and anticipation. ’Let’s see. Nathaniel, will you co this ti, or will you leave behind again?
Jaxon turned to the man standing guard. "Don’t let her out of your sight. And treat her well," he added, flashing a look at Zara that made her stomach twist with unease. "Let’s see what Nathaniel does next."
With that, he turned and wheeled himself out of the room.
The door creaked shut, but the man didn’t move. He stood there, silent and expressionless, his cold gaze fixed on her.
Zara’s pulse quickened, dread crawling up her spine as the man’s cold stare bore into her. His silence was more terrifying than threats.
"What are you planning to do?" she snapped, masking her panic behind defiance. But her trembling voice betrayed her. "Don’t even think about touching . I’m Nathaniel Grant’s wife. If anything happens to , he’ll co for you and tear you apart."
She writhed against the ropes, desperate to free herself, her wide eyes brimming with terror.
But the man only sneered, unfazed. He took a slow, deliberate step toward her, his face twisted with cruel amusent.
"Didn’t you just say he doesn’t care about you?" he said mockingly. "Then why should I be afraid?"
He raised his hand and delivered a fast and brutal slap.
Zara’s head jerked to the side, her cheek stinging instantly from the blow. Pain exploded across her face, but the fire in her eyes didn’t dim. If anything, it burned brighter, filled with silent fury.
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