“I wanted to come with you.”
Mira froze, one hand on the suitcase, the other on the doorknob.
“What?” She asked lightly, turning towards her husband as though the idea amused her.
“I intended to come with you.” Adrian shrugged.
“To help with the partnership negotiations.”
Mira let out a soft, warm laugh, indulging him.
“You’re already doing your best.” She gestured at the almost empty closet.
“You came all the way here to help me pack.”
He studied her face carefully, as if searching for something.
“But I wanted to do more.” Adrian stood, closing the distance between them.
He palmed her cheek with a tenderness that made her heart stop.
“I can’t though, because of the baby.”
Mira’s heart gave a little thud.
She smiled shakily, her limbs stiff.
“Ivy has been having a lot of accidents lately.” He continued, tilting her chin to face him.
“You understand.
Right?”
Mira nodded, her hands coming up to cover his.
His skin was cold, devoid of any warmth, of any spark.
She let her touch linger a bit, before easing it off.
“Yes.” She added, stepping closer to him instead of away.
“I completely understand.”
A knock sounded at the door.
“Adrian?” Ivy’s voice drifted—sweet.
Too sweet.
Mira immediately knew she was up to no good.
This time though, she was prepared.
Her lips curved slightly.
“Come in,” she called before Adrian could respond.
The door opened.
Ivy stood there, one hand resting protectively on her stomach.
As usual.
Her eyes flickered between the couple, darkening slightly at their proximity.
“I need your help with something, please.” She batted her eyes innocently at Adrian.
Adrian hesitated, torn between both of them.
“It’s okay,” Mira reassured, a warm smile on her face.
“Go help her.
I’ll let you know when I’m ready so you can drive me to the airport.”
“Alright.” Adrian sighed.
Mira nodded, then did something she hadn’t done in a long time.
She caught Ivy’s gaze, then got on her toes, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.
The kiss was soft, lingering a second longer—deliberate.
Ivy’s nails bit into her palm, her brows twitching.
“Oh Adrian?” Mira called out, glancing around.
“I just realized.” She looked up, smiling sheepishly.
“I have to go now.
So I won’t miss my flight.”
Adrian nodded, proceeding to help with the suitcases.
“We should get going then.”
“Oh wait.” Mira turned to Ivy, who stood there silently, eyes dark.
“Didn’t you need help with something?”
“Oh.” Adrian paused.
“That’s right.
What did you need help with again?”
Ivy forced a smile, shaking her head.
“Oh nothing.
It can wait. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
She needs to get to the airport.”
Mira clapped her hands, once.
“You’re the best.”
As Adrian returned to the suitcases, Mira caught the flicker of contempt in Ivy’s eyes—and hid her own sly smile.
***
The drive to the airport was tense.
For the first time, it wasn’t because of Adrian, but because of Ivy.
Mira had sat in the backseat with Adrian, while Ivy sat at the front, occasionally glancing back at Adrian’s hand resting on Mira’s thigh.
Mira hadn’t pulled away.
When Ivy winced climbing out of the car, Adrian rushed to her side, playing the part of an attentive lover.
Mira followed him, slowly.
“Take care of her,” she told him gently, her voice loud enough for Ivy to hear.
“The stress hasn’t been good for the pregnancy.”
Ivy’s jaw tightened.
Adrian glanced between them.
“I will.”
Inside the terminal, he insisted on carrying Mira’s suitcase.
“You don’t have to,” she said softly.
“I want to.”
Ivy’s composure began to fracture.
Her breathing had become heavier.
They stopped for coffee at a cafe.
The second Adrian stepped away to pay, Ivy perked up.
She made sure he was completely out of earshot before she turned.
“You look very confident for someone being replaced.” Ivy hissed, all pretenses gone.
Mira adjusted her sleeve calmly.
“Replaced?” she echoed, feigning confusion.
“Don’t pretend,” Ivy snapped quietly.
“You think clinging to him today will change anything?”
Mira tilted her head to the side, studying the other woman.
“I don’t need to cling,” she replied.
“You’re the one having accidents.”
Ivy stiffened.
“You think he doesn’t see it?” Mira continued gently, her tone mocking.
“The timing.
The drama.
The panic.”
Ivy’s face flushed.
“He chose me,” she hissed.
Mira smiled, a sad, almost pitying smile.
“Then you have nothing to worry about.” She responded.
That was the worst thing she could have said.
Ivy’s cheeks reddened, her eyes instantly watering.
She opened her mouth to speak but Adrian interrupted, returning with the coffee.
“Everything okay?” he asked, his eyes shifting between both women.
“Of course,” Mira said brightly.
“We were just talking about baby names.”
Ivy stayed silent, but her eyes were murderous, flickering between yellow.
“It’s time to go.” Mira clapped, smiling sadly at Adrian.
“I’ll miss you.”
Adrian returned the smile, wrapping his arms around her in a hug.
Mira resisted the urge to pull away.
“Call me when you get there.”
“Alright.”
They pulled away, and Mira turned to Ivy, hiding back her smile as she saw the woman’s furious face.
“Can I?” She opened her arms, hesitating slightly.
Her eyes flickered to Adrian, then back to Ivy.
“Of course.” Ivy forced a tight-lipped smile, stepping into Mira’s hug.”
Adrian stared at the exchange with a warm smile, oblivious to the tension between the two women.
Mira picked up her luggage, turning away from them without any further goodbyes.
As she boarded the plane, she could no longer fight the smile that stretched across her lips. The source of this chapter is g.com.
She shut her eyes and leaned into the seat, her heart lighter.
***
“Miraaa!” Jenny waved excitedly.
Mira giggled, running to her best friend.
The two shared a hug before pulling away.
“I’m so happy you’re finally out of the clutches of those draculas.” Jenny rolled her eyes, pulling Mira to the waiting car.
“How’s Ivy?”
Mira bit back a giggle.
“Unraveling.”
“Good.”
The car ride was spent catching up, Jenny telling her friend about her latest fling with an older man.
The apartment Jenny had prepared was quiet.
The moment the door shut behind them, Mira’s expression changed.
There was no more softness.
“Are the cameras live?” she asked.
Jenny handed her a tablet, her expression matching Mira’s.
“Activated this morning.”
Mira took it, her fingers steady.
The screen flickered to life.
She checked each angle, the footage bright and clear.
The living room.
The hallway.
Their bedroom.
She clicked on the bedroom footage, zooming in.
Right on time.
Ivy stood in the master suite doorway.
Alone.
Mira watched without blinking as Ivy stepped inside.
“She’s bold,” Jenny murmured.
“She’s insecure,” Mira corrected, recalling her unraveling at the airport earlier.
On the screen, Ivy moved slowly through the room—touching the dresser, the bed, the framed photographs.
Then she opened the wardrobe.
Mira’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
Ivy reached for something delicate.
Lace.
Silk.
Mira’s negligee.
“She won’t,” Jenny breathed in disbelief, leaning in slightly.
But Ivy did.
She lifted it, held it against herself.
Then smiled.
Mira’s expression didn’t change.
She expected it, or something similar.
“She wants proof,” Mira said quietly, having studied the girl enough.
“Of what?” Jenny questioned.
“That she’s winning.”
On screen, Ivy slipped into the bathroom—the negligee draped over her arm.
Mira set the tablet down carefully.
“Good,” she said.
Jenny blinked.
“Good?”
“Yes.”
Because insecurity makes people reckless.
And reckless people make mistakes.
And mistakes, can be used as a weapon.