Chapter 5
I went to Naharel and asked for a new look–one that wouldn’t turn heads. Nothing beautiful. Nothing tempting.
My sister hesitated at my request again. She reminded me that she could only do a major change once, by our rules. No second chances.
I squeezed her hand gently. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.“}
Truly, it’s because I knew exactly what kind of woman Zack craved now. It wasn’t beauty. That part of his life was already full–he had the dutiful wife who managed the house and the pretty mistress who stroked his ego.
What he wanted now–what he needed–was a woman who could elevate him. Someone with power, with connections, with the brains and leverage to get him that promotion, that next big title, that illusion of greatness.1
And I was going to be that woman.
The enigmatic, elusive “CEO” just so happened to be exactly the kind of woman Zack lacked in his life right now.
Naharel stood next to me, her arms crossed, concern written all over her face. “You’ve got no money and no looks–how do you plan to win your life back?”
Her eyes flicked to the distance where Stella was holding Teddy’s hand like some prize she’d already won. Her brows knitted.
Zack noticed Naharel too. For a second, he paused.
www
It made sense–succubi like us were always unnaturally beautiful. Back then, Zack had his eye on Naharel too.”
Too bad he was never her type.
“He’ll come,” I said, calmly removing my sunglasses.
My eyes had fine lines now, my skin slightly loose–nothing like the radiant seductress I once was. Zack’s first look held that classic flicker of male disdain: judgment masked as detachment.
But the longer he looked, the more that smugness faded. His face grew tense–serious. Then his gaze landed on my wrist.!!
I saw it. That exact moment when recognition hit him like a slap.8
The bracelet I wore–rare, limited edition–was one he’d just seen yesterday… on the Minister’s private profile.!!
He knew. And now he couldn’t un–know.
“Aunt Naharel, where’s my mom?” Teddy’s voice rang out, annoyed and whiny. He was clearly unimpressed with me disappearing for more than five minutes.8
“Can you tell her to come home already? The house is a mess. She’s always out lately. I was late for preschool again. So irresponsible.” To Teddy, I was just a helper. A babysitter with no real value.
This game of “happy homemaker” I’d been playing, I was done. Exhausted. Over it!!
I saw Naharel’s expression harden, the disdain practically vibrating off her. She had sworn off humans long ago. She said even their offspring carried that same ugly entitlement deep in their bones.
“Ted, that’s rude,” Zack cut in, gently pulling the boy behind him.
“Stella, take him to play for a bit, would you?“}
Nahare! snorted under her breath. “If I hadn’t seen Teddy with my own eyes, I’d have thought this was just some perfect little happy family
out on a stroll…”
“You’ve misunderstood, Naharel,” Zack said quickly. “She’s just a client. Arlene knows her–she bought her last bag from Ms. Nagle too.“8 Just like that, his eyes locked on mine. The calculation behind them was impossible to miss.
