Ana sat at the far edge of the rose garden, lost in thought. The petals swayed in the breeze, but her mind was elsewhere, on the whispers in the halls, the strange tension that had filled the house over the last few days. Something had happened. She could feel it.
Nina approached with a hesitant smile, carrying a tray with juice and fruit.
"I brought this for you," she said, placing the tray down.
Ana looked up, startled from her thoughts. "Thanks… Nina, is something going on? I feel like everyone's walking on eggshells around me."
Nina feigned a shrug, biting into a grape to avoid direct eye contact. "Oh, nothing serious. But you'll never guess what happened. Miss Trisha was kicked out. Old madame sent her packing."
Ana blinked, stunned. "What? What do you mean kicked out?"
"She was sent back to her parents early this morning. They packed her things, and she left without a word."
"But why?" Ana asked, brows furrowed. "What happened?"
Nina shrugged again, casually picking a slice of apple. "No idea. Maybe she crossed a line. But you know how the old madame can be very strict."
Ana's eyes narrowed slightly. "Did it have anything to do with me?"
Nina coughed. "I doubt it."
But Ana wasn't convinced. There was a strange gleam in Nina's eyes, a twitch at the corner of her mouth. She was lying. Something had happened and she intended to find out.
Harry's Bedroom
The steam rose thickly around Harry, hot water pounding against his back as he lathered his hair, his eyes closed, lost in the rare, soothing silence of his shower. For once, the chaos of his household; the politics and the family drama, seemed miles away.
But not far enough.
Outside, Sasha stood at the door to his bedroom, her heels echoing softly against the polished floor. When no one answered her knock, she tried the handle. Unlocked. Her lips curled into a smirk.
She entered the room. It was empty but the sound coming from the washroom caught her attention.
He's in the shower… alone.
She shut the door behind her with a quiet click and with a devious smile, dropped her purse on the couch, and without hesitation, began to undress. Slowly, deliberately. Her heart thudded with anticipation as she let her dress fall to the floor, revealing smooth skin and confident curves. She stepped out of her heels, unfastened her bra, and pulled off her lace underwear.
Naked and shameless, she walked into the bathroom, pushing open the glass door of the shower. The sound of running water and the fogged-up mirrors concealed her steps.
Harry, eyes closed and rinsing out shampoo, didn't hear her. He only felt the sudden press of a soft body against his wet back, arms wrapping around his waist.
He exhaled with a chuckle, his voice husky.
"Ana… I didn't hear you come in."
He turned, eyes still closed, and leaned in, pulling her forward into a kiss.
Their lips met, warm and slick from the water. But as the soap slid from his face, and his lashes lifted
His entire body froze.
It wasn't Ana.
"Sasha?" he whispered in disbelief.
She smiled up at him, her body still pressed to his. "Harry…"
He yanked away as if burned, rage twisting across his face.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Sasha didn't flinch. "I just wanted to show you how much I love you. I've waited long enough."
Harry grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist, glaring at her. "Get out. Now."
"Harry, please..." she stepped toward him, soaked and flushed, "I love you. I always have. Don't you feel it too? Don't you want me?"
"I said get out!" His voice was low, dangerous.
She flinched but didn't move. Instead, she grabbed a towel and draped it around her own body, then followed him into the bedroom.
"Don't throw me away, Harry," she said, voice trembling with desperation. "I know you feel something for me. What we had...it wasn't fake. You used to care, didn't you?"
He turned sharply. "Used to. Past tense. Whatever I felt died the moment you betrayed me."
"But I didn't! I was young, I didn't know better. I was manipulated..."
"I don't care," Harry growled. "I don't want you. Not now. Not ever."
Still, Sasha persisted. She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around him. "Please, Harry. Don't push me away again. I can't take it."
He struggled to peel her off. "Let go of me, Sasha..."
Suddenly, the door flew open.
Ana stood there, stunned.
Her eyes went wide as they fell on the scene: Harry in nothing but a towel, Sasha clinging to him in hers, both soaked and disheveled. Her breath caught in her throat.
The color drained from her face.
Harry's expression shattered.
"Reina..."
She turned and bolted, the sound of her retreating footsteps like gunshots in his heart.
"Ana! Wait!"
He shoved Sasha away so violently she fell to the floor with a gasp.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" he thundered.
She looked up at him, shocked and shaken.
Harry's eyes blazed with fury. He yanked her up by the arm, ignoring her cries and protests, and dragged her to the door.
"You want to play dirty? Fine. But not in my house."
He pushed the door open and shoved her out, slamming it in her face.
Inside, he exhaled harshly, running a hand through his wet hair. Then without wasting a moment, he started getting dress, determined to find Aa and explain.
Meanwhile, in Ana's room…
Ana lay curled up on the bed, trembling from head to toe. Her sobs wracked her frame as she clutched the pillow to her chest.
It hurts.
So much.
She had always known deep down that she was the other woman. A mistress to a man already tied to another. She had pretended not to care, wrapped herself in his love like a blanket to keep the truth out.
But now… now she couldn't ignore it.
The image of Sasha draped around Harry. Wet, naked, intimate was burned into her soul.
Suddenly, the door swung open again.
Sasha.
Still in her towel, damp hair cascading over her shoulders, she stepped in with a triumphant smirk.
"Oh, Ana… I'm so sorry," she said sweetly. "You really shouldn't have seen that."
Ana sat up, her red eyes wide with disbelief.
"I just came to make sure you're okay," Sasha added, feigning concern. "You know… after witnessing that moment between me and Harry."
Ana said nothing, hands clutching the bedsheet tightly.
Sasha sat on the edge of her bed, tilting her head. "He's so passionate when he kisses me. I've missed that. The way he touches me...mm...he still remembers my body like the back of his hand."
Ana shut her eyes tightly, willing herself not to scream.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic," Sasha continued airily. "You know Harry. He's kind to everyone… especially when it's about getting what he wants. You, my dear, are just his little baby machine."
Ana flinched.
"That's the only reason he keeps you around. He wants a child. For us. You'll have it, and then he'll come back to me." Sasha smiled with wicked pleasure. "Don't think for a second that you matter."
Ana stared blankly at the wall as Sasha stood and flounced out, victorious.
The moment the door clicked shut, Ana collapsed.
Tears poured from her eyes, harder than before. Her chest ached. Her lungs heaved. The pain was unbearable.
Elsewhere…
In the quiet of the garden, Aaron met Adonis under the fading sunlight.
"You'll have to return to S City," Aaron said gravely. "Soon. We don't have much time."
Adonis looked away, troubled. "I can't. Not yet."
Aaron raised a brow. "Still that girl?"
Adonis said nothing.
"You haven't seen your mother in years. Don't you miss her?"
That struck a chord.
Adonis's eyes dimmed, and for a long moment, he said nothing.
Back in the estate…
Harry stood outside Reina's door, knocking softly.
"Ana… please open the door. Let me explain."
Silence.
"What you saw...it wasn't what it seemed."
Still, no reply.
"I thought it was you in the shower. I didn't know, Ana. I swear to you, I would never..
" his voice cracked slightly "never hurt you like that."
Nothing.
"I know I don't deserve your trust. But I love you. I love you, Ana. Not her."
He sighed and leaned against the doorframe, sliding down until he sat on the floor.
Inside, Ana sat with her back pressed against the door, her hand covering her mouth to muffle the sobs.
Outside, Harry remained.
Waiting.
Silent.
Heartbroken.
And the night passed slowly, painfully, in silence.