Contract Marriage With The Illegitimate Heir

Chapter 2

SARAPHINA'S POV

My father's decree was final—I was banned from the company, forbidden to step foot near it ever again. Then, with a cold wave of his hand, he ordered the guards to throw me out.

They didn't hesitate.

As they dragged me through the halls, I didn't resist. What was the point? My strength had abandoned me, just like everything else. The moment I was cast outside, a wall of reporters surged forward. Flashbulbs exploded around me, blinding my eyes with every click. Microphones were shoved in my face, voices overlapping in a frenzy.

''Saraphina, did you really cheat on your fiance?"

"Are the embezzlement claims true?"

"Where did the stolen money go?"

"Why did you choose to betray your family and your fiance? Are you seeing someone else?"

I shielded my face, trying to push through the crowd, but they were relentless. Every path I tried was blocked, every step met with another question, another camera. Panic clawed at my throat—I thought I might be crushed.

Then, suddenly, the company's guards stepped in. They forced the reporters back, clearing a narrow path for me. They didn't speak, didn't look at me—just did their job. Silent, mechanical.

After the guards escorted me to my car, one of them shoved my handbag into my arms. I clutched it shakily, fumbling for my keys with trembling fingers. It took a few tries, but I finally managed to unlock the door, slid into the driver's seat, and slammed it shut. Without a second thought, I started the engine and sped off—my heart pounding, my body trembling.

The only place I could think of going to was my fiance's house. I can't let my relationship with him get ruined like this. I can't let our love end like this. I have no idea who's behind this or why they're doing this to me, but I made a promise to myself that I would find whoever is behind this and clear my name.

My father's words and the pain in his eyes kept replying in my mind, each memory slicing deeper than the last. I cried harder, my tears blurring the road ahead. I wiped them away quickly, forcing myself to stay focused.

Soon, I arrived at my fiance's house.

I jumped out of the car and rushed toward the gate. It was unlocked, thank God. I sprinted across the driveway and burst through the front door of the mansion, desperate for comfort.

But what I saw made my blood run cold.

There, in the center of the grand living room, my fiance was down on one knee, proposing to Ciara, my stepsister.

I watched her smile and say yes. I watched him slide the ring onto her finger, the ring was similar to the one he gave to me—the same ring he once told me was meant for me alone.

My heart shattered.

For a moment, everything went silent. My mind went blank. It felt like a nightmare, but I knew too well this wasn't a dream.

This was reality.

Ciara's gaze finally met mine, a sly smirk curled at the corner of her lips. "Look who finally decides to grace us with her presence." She said, a hint of mockery in her voice. "Took you so long to show up, Saraphina."

Lucien slowly stood up, then he turned to look at me. When our gaze met, I couldn't recognize the man in front of me. The eyes that had once looked at me with love, now held nothing but hate and disgust in them.

"Lucien." I tried going to him, but Ciara instantly stood in front of him, blocking me.

"H...how could you do this?" I cried. The pain in my heart was so great that it was almost impossible for me to speak. "How could both of you do this to me? Lucien!" I half yelled.

"That's enough, Saraphina!" Lucien thundered, finally coming into view. "You have the nerve to show your face here after what you've done."

"Please listen to me, Lucien." I cried out. "I haven't done anything wrong, none of those things are true. S... someone is trying to frame me, I'm begging you, please listen to me." I tried going to him but he stopped me.

"Don't you dare come close to me, Saraphina. I don't want to be tainted by you." He spat, his voice dripping with venom.

"Lucien." I called softly, my voice filled with pain, my heart breaking.

"Don't try to play the victim now, none of your crocodile tears will work this time. I can't believe I fell in love with a shameless dog like you, a public toilet!"

His words were like a huge blow to me, I stumbled backwards in shock, unable to believe my ears.

"Only God knows what kind of disease she must be carrying now." Ciara added. "Are you that shameless, Saraphina? I mean... you could have slept with someone better, but you chose to cheat on Lucien with a commoner." She scoffed. "I wonder how many men you've slept with, yet you go ahead parading yourself as someone who's pure and holy, but you're nothing but a cheap slut!" She spat.

"I didn't do it!" I screamed. "I didn't do it." My gaze shifted to Lucien. "Please, Lucien. You know how much I love you, you know I'll never betray you like this. I love you so much, Lucien. I could never cheat on you, please believe me."

Lucien shook his head. "You're such a great actor, Saraphina. The evidence is everywhere, and you still dare to deny it. Your photos are all over the internet!!" He thundered. "Do you know what that means? Do you even have any idea what you've done? I...I was going to marry you, Saraphina. I've been nothing but good to you and yet you went ahead and stabbed me in the back, you cheated on me!"

"I didn't cheat, Lucien. I didn't cheat!" I screamed, clutching tightly to my chest as the pain was slowly becoming unbearable.

"I'm done with your drama, Saraphina. I'm glad the truth came out when it did, otherwise I would have made the worst mistake of my life—getting married to you." Lucien spat.

"Your sister is a thousand times better than you, and that is why I'm now choosing her over you. I'm done with you, Saraphina. I regret meeting you. I regret falling in love with you. I regret proposing to you. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would rather we never cross paths, and the moment you leave this place, make sure you never show your filthy self in front of me. I want nothing to do with you, get out!"

My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the floor.

"Please, Lucien." I sobbed, clutching my chest as if the pain could be squeezed away. "Why won't anyone believe me? Why?"

Tears streamed down my face as I begged, voice cracking. "I swear I haven't done anything wrong. I didn't cheat on you. Please, Lucien... please don't do this. You have to believe me."

Ciara's voice sliced through the air like a whip. "Stop this pathetic act, Saraphina." She hissed. "Haven't you done enough? You betrayed Lucien. You betrayed our father. Your sins are unforgivable, and I hope karma eats you alive. I hope you pay for every single thing you've done."

She stepped closer, crouching beside me. Her voice dropped to a whisper, but her voice burned like acid.

"You know, seeing you this broken? It's giving me so much joy." Her smile was cruel. "I've never liked you. Never accepted you as my sister. Dad always adored you more—always gave you everything. It was always 'Saraphina this.' 'Saraphina that.' I'm sick of it. Sick of hearing your name every damn day."

She leaned in closer, her breath hot against my ear. "What's so special about you, Saraphina? You're nothing. You're worthless. And you will never—ever—be better than me." Her voice dripped with venom.

My body trembled. "Ciara..." I whispered, barely able to breathe.

She chuckled softly. "Want to know a secret?"

I didn't respond. I couldn't.

"Bringing you down?" She tilted her head mockingly. "It wasn't even hard."

Her laugh was low and cruel. "All I had to do was craft the perfect plan—to destroy your relationship with Lucien, and sever your bond with Dad."

"W...what are you talking about, Ciara?" I asked, fear gripping every inch of me.

She scoffed. "Come on, Sara. You're not that naive, are you?"

She straightened slightly, then leaned back in. "Fine. I'll spell it out. I hired someone to pose as you. Took those photos. A little editing magic, and voila—instant scandal."

My heart dropped.

"And the best part?" Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Framing you for embezzling company funds. That was child's play."

I stared at her, frozen.

"I'd love to see you try and crawl out of this mess, Sara. Once a CEO... now reduced to nothing." She stood up slowly, towering over me. "And this?" She smiled. "This is just the beginning."