Tania paced her dimly lit office, her nails digging into her palms as she thought of Fabian’s betrayal. She couldn’t believe he’d had the nerve to walk out on her, especially with so much at stake. After all the secrets they’d shared, all the plans they’d concocted together, he’d just turned his back. She clenched her jaw, feeling both livid and helpless. Fabian’s departure left her vulnerable, without one of her most reliable tools. All she had left was Fred.
As her anger simmered, another thought surfaced, one that brought a smile to her lips. Fabian didn’t know about the baby. For now, at least, she had a secret weapon, something she could use if it came down to it. The fact that he didn’t know, she mused, could work to her advantage. In any case, if she ever did decide to tell him, it would be on her terms not his.
With a frustrated sigh, she sat down and opened her phone, scrolling through her messages, contemplating what move to make next. She’d call Fred later to see if he was up for one final job. As for Derek, Tania considered letting him go; he was nothing more than a nuisance and probably harmless. Still, she kept him on her radar, just in case he became more of a problem.
As Tania sat in the dim light of her living room, the quiet of the empty house pressed in around her, amplifying the silence. It felt strange, almost unsettling, to be alone in a space that once felt full of warmth and laughter. She leaned back, her gaze drifting over the familiar furnishings and decor, memories flooding her mind. The laughter, the quiet nights in with Ethan, even Grace’s tiny voice as she toddled around asking her endless questions it all felt like a distant dream. A painful dream.
Ethan’s decision to divorce her gnawed at her, and she felt the familiar surge of anger return, coupled with a darker resolve. He thought he could just leave her behind and reclaim his life? As if she’d ever allow that. Her hands tightened around the arms of her chair, her nails digging into the fabric. She would make him regret every single step he took away from her.
She began to plot, ideas swirling as she mapped out exactly how she would make Ethan’s life miserable. Divorce or not, he was still bound to her through Grace, through the memories they’d built, and soon enough, through their unborn child. And if she played her cards right, he would never get rid of her influence over his life. She smiled at the thought, a plan solidifying with each passing second. He would think he was free, but Tania knew how to make chains invisible yet unbreakable. She would use both Grace and the child she carried to her advantage.
Tania allowed herself to picture her schemes in motion, a plan as meticulous as any she had laid out before. She would ensure that Ethan had no choice but to provide for her financially. There was no way she would allow him to move on without her exacting a high price. If he thought a divorce could save him from her grip, he had yet to learn just how relentless she could be.
And Grace sweet, trusting Grace, with her bright eyes and easy smile. Tania felt a flicker of fondness for the little girl who saw her as a mother, even if that affection was tainted by her bitterness. She knew that Ethan loved Grace deeply, and that was her leverage. If she played her cards right, he would never be able to take Grace away from her. Tania vowed to use every weapon at her disposal, every shred of influence, to keep Grace with her and to break Ethan’s resolve in court.
The unborn child was her ace in the hole. The fact that Fabian didn’t know about the baby was a small victory, one she held close to her heart like a secret talisman. The baby would be her way to secure a future that neither Ethan nor Fabian could control. She imagined the shock on Fabian’s face if he ever found out, but that was something she intended to keep for herself until the right moment. For now, she would use the pregnancy to her advantage, a bargaining chip she could pull out at will to bend Ethan to her will.
Tania took a deep breath, steeling herself with resolve. She refused to be the woman left behind, abandoned and discarded. If Ethan wanted to move on, he’d have to pay a high price a price Tania would make sure was both painful and endless. Her eyes flicked to her phone on the coffee table, and she swiped through her contacts until she found Fred’s name. Yes, he’d be helpful for this last task, and if all went well, he’d be all she needed.
Still, her thoughts lingered on the quiet house around her. A wave of melancholy washed over her, brief but undeniable, as she thought of the life she’d once envisioned. Her heart twisted with a pang of nostalgia, but she quickly pushed it aside. That life was gone, fractured beyond repair, and the only thing left was to wield her power over Ethan and ensure he felt the weight of everything she’d lost. It was time to make him regret walking away, to show him that leaving her wouldn’t be as easy as he thought.
As Tania rose and wandered to the mantle, she let her fingers glide over a framed photo of her, Ethan, and Grace a rare snapshot from a weekend at the lake. She remembered the way they’d laughed that day, the warmth in Ethan’s eyes as he wrapped his arms around her and Grace. The image felt almost foreign now, as though it belonged to someone else’s life. Yet, it was a powerful reminder of everything Ethan would lose once she was done with him. Her grip on the frame tightened before she placed it back, her smile sharpening into a determined line. She’d make sure he remembered those moments too, especially when the reality of his decision came crashing down on him.
Sliding back into the chair, she stared blankly at her phone, tapping her fingers against the screen as she considered her options. She opened Ethan’s contact and hovered over it, fighting the urge to call him, to remind him that he’d never be free. But she knew that if she reached out now, her emotions would betray her. She needed patience, restraint. Time was on her side she just needed to wait for the perfect moment to strike. Besides, she had Grace and the baby, two undeniable claims that bound them together in a way no legal document could undo.
But Tania wasn’t one to leave things to fate. She would create the pressure points herself, orchestrating his misery piece by piece. Perhaps it would start with Grace’s custody battle. She knew Ethan would fight for her, but she would drag him through every inch of legal mud, discrediting his ability as a parent, painting him as the unfit father in a courtroom drama that would exhaust both his spirit and his wallet. She had the means, the resources, and, most importantly, the resolve. Tania would make sure he paid in full for daring to turn his back on her.
A twisted excitement rose in her as she pictured Ethan’s defeated expression, his frustration, his despair. In her mind, she saw him breaking down, not knowing how to get through to Grace, how to explain to her why Tania was keeping them apart. And all the while, Tania would be there, whispering into Grace’s ear, nurturing the wedge between them, ensuring the little girl looked to her for comfort.
Her thoughts then turned to Fred, and she smirked. He was loyal enough, and while not the most competent, he was eager to please. She’d seen his ambition, his desire to climb higher in her ranks. Perhaps he was even willing to get his hands dirty, and Tania had no qualms about leveraging that. Fred could be her extra set of eyes, maybe even her enforcer, ensuring that Ethan stayed exactly where she wanted him. She made a mental note to contact him soon. She’d find out how committed he was, just how far he’d be willing to go for her.
As she let these plans settle, she glanced back at the empty house. There was a haunting quality to the silence, a coldness that crept in, reminding her of everything she’d sacrificed and lost. It would be easy to feel lonely, even defeated, if she allowed herself that luxury. But Tania wasn’t built for self-pity. If anything, the emptiness around her only fueled her fire. It reminded her that, in the end, she could rely only on herself.
Moving to the kitchen, she poured herself a glass of cold juice, savoring the rich taste as she took a long, slow sip. The coolness refreshed her, its soothing effect calming her frayed nerves as her thoughts returned to Fabian. Despite her anger, a hint of disappointment lingered. She’d once thought he’d be a partner, someone capable of following through on her ambitions. But he’d proven himself weak, soft even. He’d walked away, just as she feared Ethan might have, had she not fought to keep him close. She’d use her secret about the baby like a noose around Fabian’s neck if she ever needed him again. Until then, he was just another tool discarded, another loss she’d turn into an opportunity.
For the first time in a long while, Tania felt a glimmer of satisfaction as she finished her wine, set the glass down, and leaned back into the quiet, darkened room. She was ready for what lay ahead, and no matter who she had to sacrifice, she’d do it.