BETRAYED BY LOVE RUINED BY CHOICE

Move in or move out

The foyer felt like a war zone.

Maya filming.

Derek grabbing my arm.

Caelen’s hand burning on my back.

And me, barefoot, in a man’s dress shirt, with last night’s lipstick probably still on my neck.

“Put the phone down, Maya,” Caelen said. His voice was ice.

“Or what?” She smiled. Sweet. Poison. “Gonna sue me, Cae?

I’m just documenting history. The Vale girl finally got what she deserves.”

Her eyes flicked to me. “Hi Seren. Red looks good on you. Derek always said you looked best in his shirt too.”

Derek flinched. “Don’t, Maya.”

“Oh right,” she said, fake gasp. “Forgot. You two were engaged.

Before you ran and left her with the debt. Before she crawled to Caelen.”

“Shut up,” I whispered.

“Make me,” Maya said.

Caelen stepped in front of me. “Last warning.”

Maya lowered the phone. But she was still smiling. “Fine. For now.

But the internet’s gonna love this. Drayce heir + Vale scandal + ex-fiancé.

Ratings gold.”

She turned and left. Click-clack of her heels on marble.

The sound of my life falling apart.

The second the door closed, Derek turned on me.

“What the hell are you wearing, Seren?”

“What does it look like?” Caelen answered for me. “Mine.”

“Don’t talk to her,” Derek snapped. “She’s my fiancée.”

“Was,” Caelen corrected. “Past tense. Like the 14 million you left her with.”

Derek’s face went red. “I was going to pay it back!”

“When?” I said. First time I spoke. My voice was shaking. “When Mom died, Derek?

You left. You left me with the calls. The threats. Everything.”

“I was scared,” he said again. Pathetic. “But I’m back now. I have a plan.”

“Your plan is 5 years too late,” Caelen said. “She’s coming with me.”

“The hell she is,” Derek said. He reached for me.

Caelen caught his wrist. Twisted.

“Touch her again and I’ll break it,” he said quietly.

Derek yanked away. “You can’t keep her.”

“Watch me.”

The air was thick. I couldn’t breathe.

“Stop,” I said. Both of them turned.

“I need air.”

I walked out. Barefoot onto the cold driveway.

October air hit my skin. I wrapped my arms around myself.

Footsteps behind me. Caelen.

“Don’t,” I said without turning. “Don’t touch me.”

He stopped. “Then tell me what you want, Seren.”

“I want to not be here,” I said. “I want to not owe anyone anything.

I want Derek to have never proposed. I want Maya to have never—”

My voice broke.

Caelen was quiet for a second. Then: “You can’t have that.

But you can have me.”

I turned. “That’s not fair.”

“Life isn’t fair,” he said. “Your dad tanked my family.

Maya sold you out. Derek ran.

The only person who hasn’t left you yet is me.”

“That’s because you need me,” I shot back.

“Maybe,” he admitted. “And maybe I want you too.

So here’s the deal, since you love deals.”

He pulled an envelope from his jacket.

New contract. Thinner.

*OPTION A:* _Move into my penthouse. Today. Public engagement. I pay the debt._

*OPTION B:* _Walk out with Derek. I sue the Vale estate. You lose the house by Friday._

“No third option?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “Not anymore. You kissed me back, Seren.

You broke clause 3. That means you chose.”

Derek appeared in the doorway. “Don’t sign it, Seren.

We can figure something out. Please.”

I looked at him. The man I thought I’d marry.

The man who left.

Then I looked at Caelen. The man I hated.

The man who stayed.

My hands were shaking.

I took the pen.

“I have conditions,” I said.

Caelen arched a brow.

“Separate rooms. And you don’t touch me unless I say so.”

He smiled. Dark. “Deal.”

I signed.

_Seren Vale._

Again.

“Good girl,” Caelen murmured.

Derek made a sound like he’d been punched.

“Don’t call her that,” he said.

Caelen didn’t even look at him. “Pack a bag. You have 30 minutes.

My driver will take you to the penthouse.”

He walked away. Like he’d already won.

Derek grabbed me before I could follow.

“Seren, please,” he whispered. “Don’t do this. He’ll ruin you.”

“He already did,” I said, pulling away. “The second I signed the first time.”

I went upstairs.

Packed one bag. Jeans. Sweaters. The notebook I used to write in when I couldn’t sleep.

Nothing of his.

When I came down, Caelen’s car was waiting. Black. Tinted.

Derek was still on the steps.

“Call me,” he said.

I didn’t answer.

The ride to the penthouse was silent.

Caelen sat next to me. Not touching.

But his pinky brushed mine once. I didn’t pull away.

The penthouse was all glass and city lights.

Cold. Perfect. Empty.

“Your room is there,” Caelen said, pointing. “Mine’s across the hall.

Separate. Like you asked.”

I nodded. Dropped my bag.

“So,” I said. “What now, fiancé?”

He looked at me. Really looked.

“Now,” he said, “we let Maya post the video.

We let Derek panic.

And we let the world think we’re in love.”

He stepped closer.

“But between you and me?

We figure out who’s using who first.”

My phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

_Video: Caelen Drayce kisses Seren Vale in hallway_

_1.2M views._

_Comments: gold digger, s**t, homewrecker._

Maya.

Caelen saw my screen.

His jaw tightened. “Welcome home, Seren.