Scarred Seductress

The Devil's Gamble

Selene clutched her head as a dizzy wave crashed over her spine, shattering her confident resolve and leaving her almost crumbling to the ground.

“f**k,” she cursed, breathing heavily, her fingers tightening at her sides as memories of Marina shoving her down the stairs replayed in her head. Typical of Marina, always ready to crush anyone and anything that stood in her way.

Selene scoffed bitterly, picking herself back up. This time she was going to give Marina a small taste of her own medicine. She had played the fool just to get leverage, and now she did. There was no holding back anything now.

“What do you think she wants?” a voice sliced behind Selene, drawing her gaze back and settling on a group of maids rushing by.

“She seems really excited, so I don't think we have anything to worry about,” another muttered.

“Excuse me,” Selene blurted, stopping them right in their tracks.

They bowed.

“I'm trying to find my boss, Marina… do you know where she might be?”

One of them let out an eager nod.

“You'll find her in the kitchen,” she disclosed.

Selene forced a warm smile.

“Thank you, but I think I'll need your help finding my way there. I mean, it's a big house and I'm new here…”

“Of course….”

She led the way before Selene could even finish, and Selene followed immediately.

“Thank you,” she mouthed.

The girls led her through the quiet corners of the grand hallway, Selene’s mind traveling wildly as she wondered what the best way would be to teach Marina just a little lesson for now.

“We’re here…” the announcement came, snapping Selene right out of her thoughts.

Selene stretched her gaze through the vast, luxurious kitchen, landing her eyes on Marina, who was smiling to herself, a glass of wine tucked between her fingers.

“Ma'am?” Selene cleared her throat.

Marina looked up, her face twisting with disgust as her eyes settled on Selene.

“You're… you're up,” she threw flatly, dragging her eyes over the bandage on Selene’s head, then down to her flat stomach, her gaze lingering there.

“I was looking for you, ma’am… as soon as I regained consciousness, to try to clear the air about the fall.”

Marina raised a brow, placing the glass of wine on the counter.

“I know you didn't push me, it was a mistake,” Selene spoke.

Marina averted her eyes for a brief second, a scoff tearing out of her.

“So I'm here to apologize so you don't misunderstand and think I blame you…”

“What did the doctor say about the baby?” Marina asked, cutting Selene off.

Selene faked a sad expression, her fingers trailing to her flat stomach.

“It didn't survive,” she mouthed, brushing aside the slightest guilt. The child was still in there. There was no way she hadn't miscarried, even though she hadn't heard it directly from the doctor.

“Are you sure?” Marina asked, her eyes lighting up with something close to relief.

Selene nodded, pretending to sniff and blink her tears away.

“I'm so sorry, Selene,” Marina chimed, stepping forward and taking Selene’s hand.

Selene pressed a weak smile.

“I guess it wasn't meant to stay…” she heaved.

Marina chuckled.

“But it's still your child, and because of me…”

“I totally don't blame you, ma'am,” Selene interrupted.

Marina pouted her lower lip. “Are you sure?”

“Sure,” Selene answered.

Marina exhaled a deep breath and stepped back quietly, picking up a small tray of already served wine on the counter.

“Well, I have something very important to take care of, Selene, so I'll let you go recover… I mean losing a whole baby is one hell of a big deal, and I don't see how you're back on your feet already,” she muttered.

Selene chuckled.

“Please go get some rest, Selene. We'll talk more when you're a lot better.”

She pressed Selene a tight, scornful smile and catwalked past her, exiting the kitchen.

Selene’s eyes followed her, the smile on her face fading entirely.

“He's on his way to his suite, ma'am…” she heard Marina's assistant report by the door, following quickly behind her as they disappeared from sight.

Selene scoffed, her lower lip curling between her teeth as it finally dawned on her.

Marina had plans to drug Matteo, and she was going to do it right now.

“How about I ruin things for you, Marina…” she whispered, an idea settling in her head as her fingers brushed against her stomach.

“I know I'm a terrible mom, baby… and you can blame me all you want,” she hissed, spinning around and walking out of the kitchen.

“But I hope you'll forgive me for only finding you useful now that you're gone.”

She brushed the slight guilt tugging in her chest aside as she hastened her steps down the hallway. She was going to meet Matteo before Marina, and yes, she was going to tell him about the baby, now that it was no more. Only that way would he not meet Marina. A man like him, of course, would immediately want to confirm the credibility of her claims, and that would only ruin Marina's plans to drug him at a time like this.

“She’s waiting in your suite, sir… she says she has something really important she would love to talk to you about.”

A voice sliced through the air and snapped Selene's gaze up, her heart crashing violently against her stomach as her eyes landed on Matteo.

His eyes found her too, and in that second, she looked away.

“What is so important it can't wait…” he growled, continuing on his way, just about to brush past Selene when she stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

“I… I need to talk to you,” she stuttered, a tight swallow sliding down her throat as his eyes dragged over her.

“I'm sorry, you can't…” his bodyguard tried to hold her back.

Matteo raised a hand, stopping him.

He shot her a condescending glare before stepping aside.

“Speak,” Matteo ordered.

Selene nodded, exhaled, and steadied her eyes on his cold gaze.

“I'm pregnant,” she blurted, watching something flicker in Matteo's eyes, there and gone in a second.

“And it's a good thing the baby survived…”

“Is it mine?” Matteo’s voice cut her off.

Selene nodded. “It's yours… from… from that night.”

Matteo cleared his throat as his guard scurried over.

“Get the car ready, we're heading to the hospital.”

Selene smiled, low and victorious.

“But sir, Damien's wife…”

“You knew you were pregnant and still got involved in your favorite falling scheme with Marina…”

“It was no scheme…”

“I know you, Selene…” he huffed, grabbing her wrist with urgency and leading the way.

Selene rolled her eyes. The baby was gone anyway. She was only doing this so Marina would fail.

Soon he'd find out, but he wouldn't hold any blame over her. She'd flip it on Marina if the worst came to the worst.

“Oh, you better pray that child still lives, Selene…” he growled.