Game of Ambition

The Forbidden Passion

The room still smelled of desire as Lya rested her cheek against Alexander’s chest. The most powerful man she had ever known—her lover, her owner in more ways than one. He tangled his fingers in her hair, lost in the calm after the storm.

—We should leave this place —she murmured, but he only held her tighter.

—Where do you want to go?

—Far away. I don’t want to share you with anyone anymore —she pouted.

Alexander was moved by her tenderness, but in his mind, there were still his commitments to his wife. Her family was the main investor in his company. He picked up his phone with one hand and saw a message from his secretary—it was a photo of her, naked, telling him to come to the office when he could.

Alexander considered himself a lucky man.

The door burst open.

Time stopped, and the storm broke.

Standing in the doorway, fury burning in her eyes, was Katherine—Alexander’s wife. Her silhouette trembled between disbelief and rage, her plump figure seeming ready to explode.

—You filthy w***e! —she screamed, launching herself at Lya, reaching her across the bed.

The sheets flew as both women crashed to the floor. Hands pulling hair, nails scratching skin. Lya tried to defend herself, but Katherine had something stronger than rage—she had the right. She had been tracking her husband for weeks, about to give up until she found the apartment.

The dirty man had it under the company’s name, and there he kept his little mistress.

The woman looked fragile and thin, which only made Katherine angrier. She didn’t even find her beautiful—it was offensive.

She would ruin her face.

Alexander barely managed to separate them, grabbing his wife by the arms as she struggled. He pushed her a few meters back, feeling irritated—now she would make a scene when they got home.

—How long? —Katherine spat, looking at him with hateful eyes.

—It doesn’t matter —Alexander whispered, his face tense.

—Of course, it matters —Lya stood up, her lip split and her heart pounding, not caring that she was naked—. Because I’m pregnant.

The silence in the room was deafening, making the air heavier.

Alexander stared at her, frowning, unable to believe it.

Katherine gasped as if the air had been ripped from her lungs.

—What did you just say? —he murmured in an icy tone.

Lya placed a trembling hand on her stomach. It was now or never.

—I’m going to have your child… and it’s a boy.

Katherine froze. She and Alexander had never been able to conceive. And now, the other woman—the mistress—had given him the one thing she had always wanted.

—No… that’s not possible —Katherine whispered in denial, visibly relaxing in her husband’s arms.

But the truth was right in front of her, and the venom in her gaze turned lethal.

—If you think I will let you keep him… you’re wrong. —Katherine’s voice was deadly—. You will have nothing.

Lya looked at Alexander, hoping for something, but he only turned away.

—Get dressed and leave —was all he said.

Tears began to slide down Lya’s face. With a hand over her stomach, she chose to walk away. She had known this could happen when she became that man’s mistress, but… she had hoped, just a little, that things might turn out differently. He had made promises, whispered beautiful things—but it had all been a lie.

She picked up her phone, and a small hope crossed her mind. Maybe this was just about his wife. Maybe Alexander would come for her. Maybe this was just a moment of anger.

She went out for a while to calm her nerves and eat something. When she arrived at the café, she received a call from her boss.

—You’re fired —was the first thing he said.

—What? —she answered, startled.

—You pissed off the wrong person. Don’t come back. We’ll deposit your severance.

The call ended.

Tears streamed down her cheeks again. This was that woman’s revenge. Biting her lip softly, she felt powerless.

Everyone knew the truth.

She was sure she wouldn’t get another job in the legal field—not with Katherine’s influence.

When she tried to return to her apartment, a guard stopped her at the entrance.

—This is no longer your place. —He handed her a cold, legal letter, devoid of the warmth with which Alexander had once promised she would always be protected.

Now, all she had left was her child… and a war that had yet to begin.

Katherine had destroyed her in a matter of hours.

The rain began to fall—cold and merciless, soaking her thin dress. Perfect.

She walked aimlessly, feeling the eyes of the people on the street. Could they smell her misery?

Finally, she collapsed onto a bench in the middle of the city that had once been her home.

—Are you okay?

The deep male voice took her by surprise.

She lifted her gaze and saw a man watching her with a mix of curiosity and genuine interest.

He was tall, dressed in an impeccable suit—but not just any businessman. His presence radiated an air of refined danger. A sophisticated predator.

Green eyes. A lazy smile. The kind of man who would never bother speaking to a broken woman in the rain.

—I’m not interested in charity —she murmured hoarsely.

He tilted his head, his smile intrigued.

—I’m not offering charity. I’m offering an opportunity.

Lya eyed him warily.

—Who are you?

He sat beside her on the bench, unfazed by the rain soaking his expensive suit.

—Tristan Leduc.

The name rang a bell.

Owner of Leduc & Associates, one of the most prestigious law firms in the country. The direct rival of the firm where she had worked.

—Your name is famous in my field —she said dryly.

—And yours just became infamous.