For years, Macbeth Watkins and I had been entangled in a clandestine love affair. Since he was my so-called uncle, we had kept our relationship a closely guarded secret. At the engagement party with my childhood friend, I was struck by the news that he was planning to marry his ex-girlfriend, Sabina Stevens. Disregarding the stares of the crowd, I hurried to his house in a frenzy. Though I didn’t find him there, I inadvertently overheard a revealing conversation between two maids. “Macbeth is really doting on Sabina now, even more than he did with Lainey Stone.” “You bet. Back then, it was Lainey’s father who broke them up.” “He’s been secretly with Lainey all this time, maybe just to get back at her dad…” I stood there, thunderstruck, unable to process what I had just overheard. Before I could even begin to make sense of it all, Macbeth walked in with a woman by his side, Sabina. It was my first time seeing her in person, though her name was far from unfamiliar to me. I knew she was Macbeth’s ex-girlfriend, but I never imagined their breakup had been orchestrated by my father. The revelation hit me like a tidal wave, leaving me breathless and disoriented. He noticed me standing there, frozen, and his expression turned icy. He pulled Sabina closer and introduced her to me, his voice cool and detached. He said, “Lainey, this is Sabina, my fiancée. We’re gonna marry soon.” I was utterly devastated, my voice trembling with disbelief as I managed to ask, “Macbeth, what am I supposed to…?” He cut me off before I could finish, his eyes cold and distant, a stark contrast to the man I thought I knew. He exclaimed, “Enough. Today, we’re welcoming the future lady of the house. Sabina and I just want to enjoy the moment without any distractions. Unless you’ve got something important to discuss, you should leave for now.” Before I could even process what was happening, Sabina gently took my hand, her smile warm and unassuming, and uttered, “Come on, Macbeth. She didn’t mean any harm. Don’t be so hard on her. So you’re Macbeth’s niece, right? I’m going to be part of this family now. Looking forward to getting to know you.” Her tone was gentle, but the look in her eyes was sharp enough to devour me whole. Ignoring the venom in her gaze, I turned stiffly, ready to make my exit. But before I could take a step, she burst into tears and threw herself into Macbeth’s arms, her sobs echoing dramatically through the room. Then she said, “Macbeth, does your family not like me? Maybe… maybe I should just leave.” He pulled her closer, his voice softening with concern. He then turned to me, his tone firm but laced with an unspoken plea, and yelled, “Lainey, are you deaf or something? Sabina said hi. How about showing some respect and at least saying hello? What’s wrong with you?” It was the first time he had ever raised his voice at me since I moved into his villa. Back then, he promised he would always protect me, and he truly did. Throughout all those years of love at first sight and being together, he treated me with nothing but tenderness. He never let me suffer the slightest grievance, let alone dared to scold me. He spoiled me so much that even I began to believe he would always treat me this way. But today, for Sabina, he broke that promise. His furious voice echoed through the entire villa. I bit back my tears, stubbornly meeting his gaze, refusing to say a word. Then, with a sharp crack, a harsh slap landed across my face. The maids standing nearby shot indignant glances, their eyes filled with silent outrage. Having been in the Watkins family for so long, I had developed a bond with them that went beyond mere employer and servant. They knew all about the relationship between Macbeth and me, and now, they couldn’t bear to see him side with an outsider to hurt me like this. Sabina, noticing the disapproving glances from those around her, let out a soft, pitiful sob. Her voice quivered as she spoke, “Macbeth, just drop it. Don’t break everyone’s heart just for me.” In the end, he didn’t dare to push me too far. Instead, he immediately turned his anger toward the maids, venting his frustration on them. He shouted, “Lainey lacking manners is one thing, but what’s with your attitudes? Who taught you to act like this? Guards, hit them. Maybe that’ll teach them to remember their place.” The bodyguards behind him immediately sprang into action, their batons raised high before coming down hard on the maids. The agonized screams that followed echoed through every corner of the villa, a harrowing scene that was almost too much to bear. “That’s enough.” Unable to bear seeing them suffer because of me, I pleaded with a trembling voice, my words choked with desperation. I carried on, “Sabina, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. Please, just let them go. I’m begging you.” I knelt on the ground, pleading desperately, my appearance a complete mess. For a brief moment, a flicker of pain crossed Macbeth’s eyes, but in the end, he raised his hand, signaling the bodyguards to stop. He surveyed the chaos in the house, his gaze cold and commanding as he looked down at everyone, and exclaimed, “You all better remember today’s lesson. From now on, Sabina is the lady of this house. If anyone disrespects her, this is what’s gonna happen.”
The maids were punished; some were injured, and others were bruised. I tended to their wounds, my hands trembling as I applied the medicine, afraid to press too hard. One of the maids noticed the red mark on my face. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she whispered, “Honestly, it’s just crazy how Macbeth used to dote on you. How could he just change like that overnight? And now, for that Sabina, he not only went off on us but even laid a hand on you. Guess he really can’t get over her, huh?” Hearing this, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. He was utterly consumed by his love for Sabina, unable to let her go all these years, and now he was even marrying her. So why did he bother coming into my life in the first place? Macbeth and I weren’t related by blood. He was my father’s most trusted friend, my uncle by title. A man of principle and tradition, yet I fell for him the moment I laid eyes on him. When I threw caution to the wind and confessed my feelings, I was prepared for his stern rejection, for him to cut me off entirely. Instead, he took my hand, his eyes filled with tenderness, and promised to take care of me for a lifetime. I moved into his villa, and to outsiders, it simply seemed like a close family relationship. He claimed he didn’t care about gossip or what others thought. He asked me to give him a little more time. And then he would declare his love for me to the world. I believed him. But what I waited for wasn’t his declaration but his betrayal. Numbly, I got to my feet and stepped out of the room. Downstairs, Macbeth was celebrating with Sabina, as if the earlier events had never happened, as if nothing had changed. My heart turned to ash. With trembling hands, I dialed my father’s number. Through the phone, I murmured, “Dad, I know I messed up. Is the engagement with the Hayes family still on the table?” With a sigh, he said, “Lainey, I admit I was wrong to arrange the engagement with Cairbre Hayes behind your back. But I’ve known that kid since he was little. I know him inside and out. I’d never steer you wrong. Even after you walked out on him in front of everyone, he didn’t bat an eye. He said he’d wait for you to come back.” I froze for a moment, caught off guard. On the other end of the line, my father talked again, his voice earnest and pleading, trying to reason with me. He uttered, “Anyway, I’m just glad you’ve come around. This time, don’t you dare run off again. I promise you this. No more secrets, not even about the wedding date. We’re gonna do this right, give you the wedding you deserve, and make sure no one looks down on you.” A wave of warmth washed over me, and I agreed without hesitation. As I glanced around the house one last time, I finally made up my mind that it was time to leave. Early the next morning, the clamor of construction work buzzed through the house, grating on my nerves. Frowning, I made my way downstairs and found Macbeth directing workers, and overseeing the renovations. Sabina caught sight of me, a smug grin spreading across her face as she spoke, “Oh, I hope we didn’t disturb your sleep. Blame Macbeth. He insisted on redoing the whole place just the way I liked it. Pretty much everything’s been remodeled. Hope you don’t mind.” Well, none of this mattered to me anymore. Then, in a calm and steady voice, I said, “No big deal, as long as you’re happy with it.” Sabina’s expression froze, her mouth opening as if to say something. But before she could, Macbeth stepped in. He took her hand in his, his presence cutting through the tension, and drawled, “Let the workers handle the renovations. This afternoon, I’ll take you to try on your wedding dress.” Overcome with excitement, Sabina pressed a lingering kiss to his lips. I watched them, lost in their own world, and felt a bitter smile tug at the corners of my mouth. Without a word, I turned and headed back upstairs to finish packing. Not long after, Macbeth pushed open the door to my room, following close behind. “You mad?” The moment he noticed me packing my things, his face darkened with alarm as he asked, “Look, I know this is sudden, but I’m marrying Sabina, and whatever was between us is over. But you’ll always be my niece. Lainey, just stay here in this house. I’ll treat you the same as I always have.” A bitter laugh escaped me as I stared at him in disbelief, and then I scoffed, “How can you even say that with a straight face? You’ve got no shame. I’ve got my own home, and I’m leaving. For good.”
Seeing how coldly I responded, he suddenly broke into a smirk and sneered, “Lainey, you can’t live without me. The fact that you ran away from your engagement proves you still love me. But Sabina, she’s different. I can’t live without her.” As soon as he finished speaking, Sabina’s voice called out from outside, and he hurried off without another word. I took a deep breath and quietly continued packing my things. When I arrived home, my father’s face lit up with relief and joy as he chirped, “I get that you two are close, but Macbeth’s about to get married. It’s not really appropriate for you to keep staying there.” Though my mind was filled with questions, especially about how my father had driven Macbeth and Sabina apart, I simply nodded, promising I wouldn’t bother him again. In the days that followed, I threw myself into preparing for the upcoming wedding. When my father handed me the freshly printed invitations, he said, “Since you’re close, why don’t you deliver his invitation yourself?” My face fell. I wanted to refuse, but I couldn’t risk my father suspecting anything about our relationship, so I agreed. When I returned to Macbeth’s villa, I noticed the maids had all been replaced. The renovations were nearly finished, and everything felt unfamiliar, almost unrecognizable. Every corner of the house seemed foreign now. Ignoring the unease settling in my chest, I stepped into the living room, only to freeze in my tracks. There, on the couch, Macbeth and Sabina were lost in a passionate kiss, completely oblivious to my presence. I was about to drop the invitation and leave when Sabina caught sight of me. She shrieked, “Ah!” Her face flushed crimson as she buried herself in Macbeth’s arms. He, on the other hand, looked frustrated, his expression tinged with guilt and discomfort when his eyes met mine. He scoffed, “So you finally decided to come back, huh? Now that you’ve had your fun these past few days, try not to run off again. Just behave yourself, alright? After all, Sabina wants you at the wedding to see how happy we are.” I pushed down the unease in my chest, not in the mood to argue, and simply handed him the invitation, saying, “My dad told me to give this to you…” But he left it hanging, refusing to accept it. “What is it?” “A wedding invitation.” “Whose?” “Mine.” His head snapped up, and our eyes locked. The icy detachment in my stare seemed to hit him like a sharp jab. For a moment, he hesitated, then slowly reached out and took the invitation. After a brief look, he let out a quiet laugh and said, “Lainey, stop messing around. I’ll explain everything about Sabina and me later. But you don’t have to fake a wedding invitation just to get under my skin.” I dodged his hand, unsure of what he was getting at. Sabina’s eyes landed on the invitation, and her expression shifted to one of stunned disbelief as she spoke, “Lainey, so your wedding is on the 8th too?” It all clicked in an instant. So, our wedding was on the same day. No wonder he thought the invitation was fake. He probably assumed it was just some petty trick of mine, born out of jealousy. But there was no point in explaining further. I turned to leave, only for Macbeth to step in and block my way. He exclaimed, “Sabina mentioned that you girls probably have a lot in common. She’s been having trouble finding the right wedding dress and was hoping you could help her pick one out.” I couldn’t help but laugh, already forming a biting retort in my mind. However, Sabina abruptly lunged at me, her voice ringing out in alarm as she spoke, “Watch out.” The chandelier, freshly installed, came crashing down from above, right where I had been standing. She shoved me out of the way, taking the brunt of the impact, and collapsed, unconscious. But the floor, cluttered with sharp tools and nails from the renovation, became a minefield. My legs were impaled, the pain so intense that I let out a blood-curdling scream. Macbeth snapped into action, but his first instinct was to scoop up Sabina, who lay motionless. I was trapped, my legs immobilized, every inch of my body screaming in agony. As I watched him carry her away, panic surged through me. Driven by sheer survival instinct, I screamed at the top of my lungs, “Macbeth, help me, please.”
He paused, his gaze locking onto the blood soaking the ground around me. His face hardened, a serious, almost pained look replacing his usual calm, and he said, “I’ve already called 911. I don’t know how bad your injuries are, so I can’t risk moving you. Just hang in there. The paramedics will be here soon, and they’ll take care of you. Sabina’s unconscious. I have to get her to the hospital now.” I watched his retreating figure, tears streaming down my face as the pain consumed me. My vision blurred, fading into darkness until I finally passed out, overwhelmed by despair. Even as I woke up in the hospital, that same suffocating feeling clung to me, refusing to let go. I slowly opened my eyes, my body numb and heavy, as if disconnected from myself. In a daze, I could faintly hear Macbeth speaking with the doctors, their voices distant and muffled. “Kirsten Chapman is a bit of an eccentric, but he’s incredibly talented and one of the best in his field. This year, he chose our hospital for his only clinical surgery.” “Mr. Watkins, to be honest, if you weren’t the largest shareholder here, we wouldn’t have even considered giving this opportunity to you.” “This is a one-time chance. I think it should go to Lainey, given how severe her injuries are. Sabina’s brain damage is serious, but with long-term rest and proper treatment, she can stabilize over time.” “Lainey’s fall injuries are treatable, but her legs are full of sharp tools and nails. If she doesn’t get this surgery soon, the damage could become permanent, and she might never walk again.” The thought of never being able to stand again jolted me awake, panic surging through me. I mustered every ounce of strength to push myself up, only to collapse back onto the bed, weak and trembling. The noise caught Macbeth’s attention. He stood in front of me, his expression a mix of guilt and heartache. Tears streaming down my face. With my voice breaking with desperation, I begged, “Macbeth, I can’t lose my legs. You know what that would mean for me.” Before I got together with him, dance was my greatest passion. But my father, Tedros Stone, wanted me to take over his dull, monotonous business. He even sent Macbeth, someone I was close to, to convince me to give up the art I’d spent years mastering. “Lainey, can’t you just dance at home?” He whispered, “I’ll be your only audience.” I reluctantly agreed, stepping away from the stage for good, though a part of me always carried that regret. Now, struggling to sit up, I clutched at his sleeve, desperation in my grip. Just as he was about to make his decision, the doctor suddenly called out, “It seems like there’s something wrong with Sabina. I need to go check on her.” At those words, Macbeth sharply pulled back, his voice icy and unfeeling as he spoke, “I’m sorry, Lainey. But her condition has to be my top priority right now.” The flicker of hope in my eyes died out completely. I could feel just how severe my condition was. Every ache and numbness screamed the truth. If the doctor had said only Kirsten’s surgery could save me, then I would have believed it. After all, his clinical procedures were legendary, something even the wealthiest and most powerful couldn’t easily secure. Years ago, my father might have been able to pull strings, even if it meant spending everything we had. But now? It was really difficult. Macbeth had been given this rare opportunity, and he chose to save Sabina instead. With that, he shattered any last hope I had left. I lay in the hospital bed, my eyes empty, like a hollow shell of a person, devoid of feeling. Out of guilt, Macbeth stayed by my side, tending to me. My father called, his voice filled with concern and urgency as he asked, “Lainey, Macbeth told me you got hurt. What happened? Cairbre heard the news too. He was in Sparkletown picking out your wedding dress, but now he’s rushing back. Your wedding’s in a week. Let’s not have any more surprises, okay?” Before I could react, Macbeth’s hand clamped down on my wrist. He stood there, his expression stormy, and snapped, “What wedding?” I ended the call without a fuss, pulled my hand free, and replied, “Nothing important. I was just letting my dad know I’m okay, and we ended up talking about your wedding.”
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