Chapter 2: Secrets Behind Closed Doors

…until I overheard Jason and his seven brothers talking outside a private lounge at his family’s country club. I wasn’t supposed to be there.

I’d slipped away to the powder room, but their voices carried down the hallway. Cigar smoke and expensive whiskey drifted out. Lemon polish stung my nose, sharp against the wood paneling.

“It’s been a month. Whitney should be pregnant by now, right?”

The casual way they dropped my name sent a chill through me. I pressed my back to the wall, heart pounding.

“Yeah, the timing adds up. No way all seven of us missed. Please.”

They all cracked up, laughter bouncing off the marble floors. I bit my lip, barely daring to breathe.

Jason had a cigarette in his hand, his new personal assistant, Tessa Monroe, perched right on his lap.

She giggled, twirling a strand of blond hair around her finger. Jason’s arm was draped around her waist, like she was right where she belonged. My stomach twisted.

“I’ll take her to the hospital for a checkup tomorrow.”

My heart almost jumped out of my chest.

The air felt thin, like I couldn’t get enough in. My hands shook so bad I had to press them flat against the wall to keep from falling.

What did that even mean?

My mind was spinning, trying to piece together what I was hearing. Nothing added up, but the dread in my gut just kept getting heavier.

I couldn’t wrap my head around any of it. Jason kept talking:

“If she’s really pregnant, get ready to hand over twenty million.”

His voice was smug, like he was sharing a hot stock tip—not talking about a human life. The others snickered, clinking their glasses together.

“Ha! Twenty million? You think any of us can’t afford that?”

Their laughter was sharp, mean. That old money arrogance—like nothing was off-limits if you could just pay for it.

“I gotta say, Jason really knows how to play. Most guys only put their wives on the line, but he’s betting both his wife and her unborn kid.”

My skin crawled. I pressed my fist to my mouth so I wouldn’t scream.

“Jason, you’re generous, I’ll give you that.”

Another voice, deeper and colder—maybe Lucas. The kind of voice that makes you want to run.

“What can I say? Life’s been a little too boring these past few years. I could use some excitement.”

Jason’s voice was almost bored, like he was talking about painting the house—not destroying someone’s life.

Tessa suddenly blushed. “Mr. Quinn, you’re not going to make me… tomorrow, are you?”

She looked up at him through her lashes, all fake innocence. My stomach twisted even tighter.

Jason pinched her chin. “You’re not ready for my brothers’ beds yet.”

His friends howled with laughter. The sound was ugly, echoing off the high ceilings.

His pack of scumbag friends raised their glasses, cheering each other on.

They toasted, crystal glasses clinking loud in the hush of the club. I wanted to smash every last one of them.

“Yeah, who else has Whitney’s looks and body? Jason, you’d even share her with us. We’ll be sure to return the favor someday.”

I felt filthy, exposed—like they’d stripped me bare and passed me around like a trophy.

“Right, and we agreed—if any of us ever gets married, we have to play the same way. Otherwise, you’re out of the group for good.”

Their laughter turned vicious, like a pack of wolves circling. I pressed myself tighter against the wall, wishing I could disappear.

A chill ran down my spine. My legs shook.

I hugged myself, holding it together by a thread. My knees wobbled, but I forced myself to stand tall. I wasn’t going to let them see me break.

These bastards were using me as a bet. Using my child as a bet. Like I was nothing.

The realization hit me like a slap. I wanted to scream, to rip the whole place apart. But all I could do was stand there, shaking.

And the ringleader was my own fiancé.

That betrayal burned worse than anything. Fifteen years of history, five years of what I thought was love—trashed for a game.

My fingers clenched into fists. I wanted to storm in and tear them apart.

I could feel my blood roaring in my ears, adrenaline flooding me. My vision narrowed to Jason’s smug face. I was ready to fight—no matter what happened next.