Game of Desires

CHAPTER 3: THE PAPERS

Penelope's Pov

My hands shook as I picked up the envelope. I opened it and my eyes fell on the bold letters. My chest tightened; my breath caught in my throat. For a moment, I felt like the whole world crashed on me.

I clutched the papers tightly, staring at them. My throat burned; my heartfelt heavy. “What is this, father?” I asked quietly. Tears gathered in my eyes as I looked from his cold expression back to the papers. They wanted to throw me away just because Tyler divorced me.

My father leaned back and sneered. “You need me to explain? Sign the papers and leave. You’re no longer our daughter. Your real name is written on the papers, the name you had before we took you in. From now on, that’s who you are. You mean nothing to us.”

I shook my head, tears falling down my face. “Please… you can’t do this… not now… I have no one left,” I whispered.

I dropped to my knees, crawled to him, and grabbed his leg. “Please, father… I have nowhere else to go. I didn’t have money, no home… everything I had was through Tyler. Please let me stay,” I begged, my voice breaking. They were far from perfect, especially after my younger brother was born, but they were the only family I had.

Suddenly, Tyler, my older brother, stormed towards me and kicked me hard in the ribs. I crumpled to the floor, gasping in pain, my body screaming from the impact.

“Stop embarrassing yourself!” Tyler barked. “Sign the damn papers and get out. We don’t want you here.”

I looked up at their faces—faces I once trusted. For five years, I had been their pride, their favorite child, but it was all because of my marriage to Tyler. None of it was real.

I wiped my tears, my voice shaking. “Can I at least stay the night?” I whispered.

My father’s face twisted in disgust. “If you stay a second longer, I’ll either slit your throat or poison you. Take your disgrace and leave before I make good on my word.”

His threat sent a shiver down my spine. They wanted me gone. They wanted me dead. There was no point begging for a family that wished me harm.

I swallowed my pride, signed the papers, and stared at the name printed on it—Penelope Sting. My new name. My real name.

I stood, wiped the tears from my cheeks, and walked to the door without looking back. Outside, I hailed a cab and headed straight to Tyler’s house. I would collect my things, sign the divorce papers, and leave this city. I would leave Paris and never return.

I reached Tyler’s house after dark. The party was over, and the place was quiet. I walked inside without knocking. Tyler and Bianca sat on my favorite couch, eating pizza and watching Scandal—my favorite show.

I had begged Tyler to watch it with me, but he always said, “I run a business, I don’t have time for TV.” I always watched it alone.

Now he watched it with Bianca, his hand resting on her thigh while she leaned into him.

I cleared my throat. Bianca stood up with an annoyed look.

“Why are you here?” she asked.

“I came for my clothes and the divorce papers,” I said calmly.

“Then take them and leave,” she snapped.

Tyler didn’t look at me. “Bailey will bring your things. The papers are in my office.” He walked over to Bianca, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her cheek. “Let’s go, babe. Don’t waste time on her.”

Babe. He never called me that. I was always just Penelope.

They sat back on the couch, whispering and laughing.

Bailey brought my suitcase and the papers. I signed quickly.

I grabbed my suitcase but it felt too light. I opened it and my chest tightened.

“Bianca!” I shouted.

She smiled. “Yes?”

“Where are my clothes?” I asked.

She crossed her arms. “The ones Tyler bought? I gave them away.”

I pointed at the box. “Then what’s this?”

“Your old clothes. And the condoms? A little gift since you’ll need them,” she said with a smug smile.

I clenched my fists. “You’ll regret this,” I said.

I turned to Tyler. “I stood by you, worked for you, and you betrayed me. I know everything about your business. Don’t forget that.”

Tyler’s face dropped.

I closed my suitcase and walked away without looking back.

I wandered the streets without knowing where I was going. My legs felt heavier with every step. I had not eaten since the meal on the plane, and my body was starting to give up on me. I felt lightheaded, like my strength was draining away.

I kept walking aimlessly, but there was no one to turn to. The few friends I had were all Bianca’s friends, and I had seen them earlier at the engagement party, smiling like nothing was wrong.

I checked my phone. It was already seven in the evening, and the streets were getting darker. I had no idea how I would survive. I had no money, no friends, and nowhere to go.

A flash of headlights caught my attention. A sports car—a Ferrari—was speeding toward me, swerving like the driver had lost control. I knew I should step away from the road, but I didn’t move. I stayed right where I was, my suitcase beside me.

The driver honked, the bright lights blinding me, but I stood still.

What was the point of surviving? I thought. I closed my eyes, ready to end it all. At least no one would pity me again.

Seconds later, the car slammed into me. My body hit the ground hard. I forced my eyes open, then shut them again.

“Ma’am, can you hear me? Open your eyes!” a man’s voice called, distant like I was drifting away.

I used the little strength I had left. “Just let me die… please,” I whispered.

“What?” the man sounded shocked.

I let my eyes close, ready to disappear into the darkness.

Later, I opened my eyes. My eyelids felt heavy. My head pounded and my body ached. I tried to sit up, but sharp pain shot through my ribs and back. I groaned and stood down. Around me was a white hospital room. Machines beeped beside me, and an IV drip fed into my arm.

Memories rushed back.

Tyler’s engagement. My family cutting ties. Bianca’s betrayal… then the accident. I remembered driving too fast, blinded by tears, begging for the pain to stop. But someone saved me. Someone ignored my wish to disappear.

Anger burned in my chest. Anger at whoever forced me back into this life.

A deep voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“Finally awake, I see.”

“Do you remember what you said before the accident?” he asked with a slight smirk.

I swallowed. “Yes,” I said bitterly. “A wish you ignored.”

His brow rose as he stepped closer. “You wanted to die?”

“Yes,” I snapped. “And you ruined it. You gave me a life I didn’t want.”

His smirk faded. His jaw tightened. “How can you be so selfish?”

His words slapped me. My breath caught. “Selfish?” I whispered. “How?”

He stepped forward. “You weren’t just ending your life. You were taking another with you. You didn’t even give it a chance.”

His words hit harder than a punch. My hands shook as I looked down at my stomach. “No… what do you mean?”

He sighed, his eyes softening. “You’re pregnant.”

My world stopped. “Really?” I whispered.

“Yes,” he said, voice tense.

“You didn’t know?” he asked, surprised.

I shook my head. Tears pricked my eyes. I had been too focused on betrayal, heartbreak… Tyler replacing me with Bianca.

Pain filled my chest. This child would tie me to more misery. A child linked to a man who threw me away.

The door opened. A middle-aged doctor walked in, holding a clipboard.

I opened my eyes to the white walls and the smell of medicine. My body ached all over. A man sat beside the bed, watching me.

“You’re awake,” he said.

I frowned. “Why did you save me? I didn’t want to be saved.”

“You would have died,” he said. "For the record, my name is Andrew."

“That was the point.” My voice shook.

He leaned forward. “Anyway, the doctors came with the reports. You’re pregnant.”

My stomach turned. “What?”

He said nothing for a moment, then asked, “What do you plan to do?”

“Get rid of it.”

“No,” he said firmly. "Why make a child suffer, no matter what the case? Abortion isn't the solution."

“It’s my body,” I snapped. "And I don't want anything to remind me of Tyler Ebon."

"Tyler?" Andrew's eyes widened. "CEO of Asgarr?"

"My Ex-Husband."

Andrew rubbed his chin, then grinned.

“Maybe we were fated to me."

"I will give you money. Lawyers. Information. Everything you need to exact revenge on Tyler.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why would you help me?”

“Because Tyler destroyed me first,” he said. “He framed me for fraud. I lost my career, my wife, and every cent I had.”

“And you think I’ll be your weapon?”

“I think we can be partners,” he said.

I looked away, breathing slowly. “Fine. I’ll keep the baby. Not for you. Not for Tyler. I’ll keep it to prove I’m not barren.”

“And?” he asked.

“And we’ll take him down together.”

A small smile touched his lips. “Then we have a deal.”

---

It's been five years since Andrew took me in. He offered me a place to stay and provided everything I needed to raise Barry.

I sat in the boutique’s lounge, leaning back in the chair with my phone in hand. Andrew was across from me, one leg crossed over the other, his eyes flicking toward the fitting room like he was losing patience.

“Hurry up,” he called. “We don’t have all day.”

“It… looks good,” he said.

I tilted my head. “Just good?”

He cleared his throat. “It’s fine. Fits the plan.”

I walked toward him slowly, catching the way his eyes betrayed him with quick, stolen glances. My heel caught on the carpet, and I stumbled.

“Whoa—” He caught me by the waist, pulling me flush against him. My hands rested on his chest, and for a moment neither of us moved. His breath was warm against my cheek, and the faint, deep scent of his cologne wrapped around me.

“Careful,” he murmured, still holding me.

When I straightened, the string of my dress snagged on his watch. He stepped back, and the fabric tore with a soft rip.

His eyes widened before a crooked smile spread across his face. “Guess I owe you a dress.”

I grabbed a silky robe from the rack, slipped it on, and glared at him. “You’re unbelievable.”

Later that night at his place, he wouldn’t stop laughing while I sat on the couch hugging a cushion.

“It’s not funny,” I said.

“It is,” he chuckled. “That dress didn’t stand a chance.”

I rolled my eyes and ignored him, scrolling on my phone.

Hours later, when Barry was asleep, a soft knock came at my bedroom door. I opened it halfway—and froze.

Andrew stood there completely naked, leaning on the door frame like it was the most casual thing in the world. “Now we’re even,” he said with a teasing smile.