The Game of Masks and True IdentityChapter 1
Phoebe's POV
The year I partied the hardest, I was reckless and selfish, sleeping around without a care. One night, I made the mistake of crawling into the bed of a crime boss, Cade Oliver. I thought it would be another fling. But I didn’t expect him to want more, to keep coming back for me.
When I found out I was pregnant, he had me locked away.
By accident, I overheard a conversation between him and the butler.
“Once she delivers her baby, she’s gonna be useless,” he said. “With her baby in our hands, we can dispose of her stubborn old family and take everything the Dunns own.”
Upon hearing that, rage burned up inside me. So while he slept, I stabbed one of his eyes.
Humiliated and furious, he smashed my legs again and again so I couldn’t run. Then he ordered doctors and caregivers to attend to my every need.
One night, I used a hidden table knife to cut open my five-month belly.
“Phoebe, do you want to die?” he snarled, his eyes rimmed red, and he lifted me up, carrying me toward the car to the hospital.
But I smiled, grabbed his hand, and thrust the knife toward his other eye.
“No,” I said. “We’ll die together.”
——
He pulled the knife hard, causing it to slide and stab his left shoulder. Blood then spattered everywhere, soaking his white shirt.
“Phoebe, are you fucking crazy?” he roared as his hand clamped around my throat, seemingly beside himself. The eye I’d already blinded flashed something brutal.
I stared back, gasping, and sneered, “I’ve always been crazy. Did you only notice today?”
Maybe he was afraid something would happen to the baby, because finally he loosened his grip and then slammed me onto the floor.
My legs were already shattered, but I still kicked and tried to stand. Yet, it was useless. Still, I wasn’t afraid to speak hard truths.
“Cade, I’m not going to let this child be born,” I said.
“Bring her back!” he ordered.
He cursed under his breath, pressed at his wounded shoulder, and coldly warned the bodyguards, “Nothing must happen to the baby. If anything goes wrong, you’ll be the ones getting shot.”
As they dragged me away, Cade gave me a cold smile.
“Phoebe.” His fingers were oddly gentle as he stroked my face. “Remember this. With me around, you won’t die. As for the baby, there’s only one future for it. And that is to be born safe."