THE BILLIONAIRE'S TRAP

ropped her backpack on the couch and wandered into the kitchen, hoping to find something decent to eat. The fridge, howev

m, would come home late, barely acknowledge her and then leave for the hospital with sandwiches and fruit.

force than necessary. The taste was bitter, sou

om

eyes, making her look older. Zoe's anger flared up at the sight: she wanted to care about her mom's well-being, but a larger

the half-eaten apple onto the counter and grabbed the almost empty jar of pean

struggled out of her coat, avoiding eye contact with her daughter. Zoe also noticed how thin her mother had become, but the moment of concern quickly pas

volve around you, Zoe," she spat, her voice was sharp like a knife. "Your brother is lying in a coma in the damn

sation she had. Every argument circled back to Miles, to her father, to everything except her. Zoe, the invisible c

ck now. What about me? What about your 'daughter' huh? You haven't cared about me in years and since Miles

girl! You think you're the only one suffering? Yo

and she also blamed herself for his fall because if she had been there with him, Miles wouldn't have had that fall. But now saying she didn't care anymore

features. Then, her expression hardened into something cold, unforgiving. "If you can't even have t

her chest. "What is t

dangerous, "that if you keep acting like this, you'll find yoursel

ship with her mother was strained, but to be kicked out? For her mot

word from the ingrate she

Word. And you'll be out on the

d away, shaking her head in dis

ing t

whispered, her voice filled with venom. "I hate this house. I hate all of it and I wish you were

static now, background noise in the chaos of her minds she needed to get out; to breath

d down her face, but she didn't care who saw. She wiped her tears yes angrily and muttered under her breath, "Mayb

dencies but recently because of what had happened to her family, all what filled her head was suicidal

ant Zoe to leave like this, not in the middle of a fight. And she didn't think she would ever hear that from her child. She was asking herself if Zoe really meant what

unning out after her daughter.

ned the area, calling out Zoe's name, but the street was empty.

e doing something to herself scared her more than ever. One chil

group of cars parked at the edge of t

f the vehicles. Zoe was there, struggling against two men who were forc

y the time she reached them, the car doors had slammed shut

focating, and she could feel her heart hammering violently against her ribcage. Everything felt like a nightmare she couldn't wa

s and she hasn't made a choice. She couldn't disrespect her late husband by marrying another man a few days after his death. Barely a second

something inside her snapped. Wi

you want, Gregor

't scream just yet. Yo

ood for this right

from you, I took the liberty of

do you

daughter again, I suggest

dly believe what she was hearing. "You kidnapped

s Bambi. If you don'

is threats. Tears welled up in her eyes and this time she allowed them to fall. She couldn't tell if it was her pas

rd, she book

les...Zoe. Zoe might not know it but she was her mothers only hope. She was the reason.

n Gregory, standing tall and confident in his black tailored suit, she tore her eyes away from him and saw Zo

took a step back, the betrayal hittin

disbelief clear as she stared at

the floor , unable

orry. I didn't

'd stand by our side! You promised to help us! You were supposed to be our family, and now you switch

at her. "This was the order that Richard gave, Bamb

ad as she backed away from him. "No... no, you're

d handing it to her. "Oh, but he did," he said with an icy smile. "Six

back at her, mocking her, confirming the truth. She crumpled the document in her hands, her chest tighten

s she watched the scene unfold. She didn't know what to

h the tension. "So, Bambi. Ar

d at Zoe, saw the fear in her daughter's eyes, and knew she had no other choice. If she didn't marry Gregory, her son's

ed spirit, she nodded. "Fine,"

p foward," he said, motioning to the desk

his hand grazing the papers as he looked over at Bambi with a satisfied glint in his eyes. "Come on, l

ed at it. The weight of the rescission crushing her, her mind screaming at her to stop, to walk away, to run, but she co

d it to the paper. Her signature appeared on the

ed over at Bambi with a self-sa

marriage is now legally binding. You

de her sick. But before she could say anything, Gregory

you and your family... and to make sure you never want for anyth

, her skin crawling at the thought of being tied to him in any capacity. But she fo

ind the words. She didn't want to make promises she couldn't keep. Finally, s

's grin

em and nodded, signaling th

ere a normal ceremony. But nothing about this moment felt

allowing his lips to brush against her cheek instead. The disgust she felt was overwhelmin

d them neatly and slipped them into his jacket pocket. "I'll hold o

des, but she remained silent, he

hen you get home, pack your things. You and Zoe

thought, but she nodded stiff

to go." he said and left the registry without

nger. Walking up to him, she raised her hand and slapped him acr

illed with icy venom, "I will nev