Chapter 22
I stepped out of the black car like I owned the night. My heels hit Zoraya’s marble driveway, steady and unhurried. Two of my men dragged Zeus’s unconscious body behind me–shirt halfway open, belt loosened, lip bitten raw. Bruised. Spent.
Just the way she used to leave me.&
I didn’t knock.W
I rang the bell and waited. The mansion’s grand doors flung open faster than I expected.
And there she was.§
Zoraya.
Silk robe. Hair in chaos. Fury in her eyes.N
She froze when she saw us. Her eyes snapped to Zeus’s half–conscious form, then down to the red lipstick smeared on his throat. The hickeys on his collarbone. My gloss on his jawline.
Her eyes darted to me–my crumpled black dress. My bare shoulder. The lipstick smeared on my own chin like warpaint.
She didn’t speak, not yet. So I did.
“Thought you’d want your little lapdog back,” I said sweetly, tugging Zeus forward by the collar and pushing him toward her feet. “He was too drunk on my scent to remember where home is.“N
She gasped.
“Sorry I brought him here,” I added with a wink. “Actually, no. Not sorry. He’s still so good in bed. No wonder you couldn’t resist stealing him from me back then.”
Lcould see it–her eyes scanning every inch of his body. The open condom wrapper peeking from his jacket pocket. The lube container that “accidentally” slipped out from my purse as I bent to fix my heel.§
Her nostrils flared. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish suffocating on dry land.”
I walked over slowly, crouched beside Zeus, and kissed his cheek. “Mmm. Still tastes like me.”
Then I leaned close to her ear and whispered: “Smells like me too, doesn’t he? Couldn’t stop moaning my name. Savannah… Savannah…” I mimicked, low and breathy, then pulled away with a smile sharp enough to slice bone.}
She slapped me.§
Or she tried to.
I caught her wrist mid–air like it was nothing, turned it, and shoved it against her own chest.
Her voice cracked.§
“Why are you doing this?” she hissed, tears clinging to her lower lashes. “You shouldn’t have come back. We were a happy family. We were fine until you showed up and ruined everything!“”
I tilted my head, eyes still on hers.§
“Oh honey,” I said gently, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Why are you mad?“}
She blinked, confused.
“Back when you were the mistress,” I continued, “and fucked him behind my back–countless times–I didn’t throw a fit. I didn’t slap you. I didn’t cry.”
Her face paled.}
“Now me and Zeus just did it ten times. In my car. In my room. In my garage. You think you’re the victim? Please.“}
I stepped back, hands relaxed at my side. “Be mature, Zoraya. Grown women don’t throw tantrums when their lies catch fire.”
She screamed.§
Literally.”
Then grabbed the nearest wine glass and hurled it at the wall. Shards exploded everywhere. Her chest heaved. “You fucking bitch!” I gave her a lazy smile.\
She slapped Zeus across the face. He groaned awake, head hanging low. His eyes tried to find me through the blur.
“I HATE YOU!” she shrieked at him. “I gave you everything! Our son! A family! And you still run back to her like a fucking dog!”
He didn’t answer.
Just groaned again and fell back against the marble wall.
She spun back to me. “GUARDS! Stop her! Don’t let her leave!“}
Twenty guards at the gate. All eyes on me.
None moved.§
Not a single one dared to take a step.
I turned slowly and faced them.
“Try,” I said quietly.”
They all dropped their gazes.}
I looked over my shoulder at Zoraya–shaking, sweaty, veins bulging from her neck. “You see? Even your men know who the fuck I am.”
I stepped through her doorway, heels echoing like gunshots on the polished floor. As I walked to the car, I called back over my shoulder
10:11 AM
“Fix your robe, Zoraya. You’re embarrassing yourself.“}
And then I was gone. I didn’t look back. Because queens don’t return to chaos. We just burn it down and keep walking.”
ZORAYA’S POVR
I didn’t sleep that night. I didn’t even blink.
While Zeus lay passed out on the marble floor like some discarded plaything, I stood in the middle of my ruined living room surrounded by shattered glass, torn cushions, and whatever dignity I had left.”
I threw a vase at the fireplace. It missed.”
My hand bled from smashing a bottle. I didn’t care.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. That smug face. That red mouth whispering filth. That crumpled dress clinging to her thighs like a victory flag. And him, between her legs.
I paced the floor like a madwoman, ignoring the way my son peeked from behind the hallway door, wide–eyed, silent. Not even my own child wanted to come near me.
“Go back to your nanny,” I snapped. “Now.”
He flinched.
Didn’t say a word. Just vanished like i was the monster in his nightmares.”
The maids kept their distance too–pathetic little rabbits. One of them tried to bring me tea and I hurled the cup against the wall before she could set it down.”
Tneeded control. I needed a weapon. I needed to look like the version of myself Zeus used to want.”
-0
I called Dr. Alvarez.
He picked up on the third ring. “Mrs. Varela. Again?“>
“I want another round,” I said flatly, staring into the mirror and pulling at my jawline. “My cheekbones are sinking. The jaw needs more lift I want a full correction. Tonight if possible.”D
“You just had injections two weeks ago–“>
“I said tonight.”
A pause.
“…I’ll see what I can do.”
Thung up. Then I stared at my reflection.
More filler. Tighter lips. Higher brows. I could look younger than her. Fresher. Less… real.
Real women get thrown away. Plastic ones get replaced.
But I wasn’t done. No, no–I still had teeth left to sink. If Savannah thought she could crawl out of the grave and reclaim my world, she was delusional. I had money. Influence. And more trolls on payroll than she had lovers.
So I leaked it. I sent anonymous tips to blogs, tabloids, gossip pages.
“Savannah Moretti caught sneaking into her ex’s house.“>
“Proof Savannah was sleeping with Zeus while engaged to another man.“> “Moretti heiress faked her own death for sympathy
press.”
Rejected Me, Married My Adopted Sister and Lost Evendhin
