I was with him for seven years. Now, he’s getting married. On our last night, he was like a starved animal, tracing every inch of my body as if trying to memorize the map of me. When I woke up, he slipped a five-carat diamond onto my finger, his voice a low, gravelly hum: "Every night, same as always. You stay here with me." My body went rigid. Zane Sterling arched a brow, letting out a sharp, mocking breath. "You actually believed me? You really can't let go, can you?" "My fiancée is the jealous type. I don’t want her finding out about our... history." "I’ve set you up on a date tonight. Treat it like a business meeting. Got it?" He didn't know that the moment I walked out that door, I was boarding a sailboat headed for New York. Leaving the harbor. Never coming back. 1 The moment the words left Zane’s mouth, it felt like a physical blow to the face. My skin burned with a phantom sting. "What’s with that look? Did you actually fall for me?" He leaned back against the headboard, the picture of effortless, cruel elegance. I looked up, catching the faint, angry red scratches I’d left on his lean, muscular back during the night. From eighteen to twenty-four. I had been in this cycle with Zane Sterling for exactly seven years. In the beginning, he’d send a car to pick me up from my dorm at the university every other night. Eventually, outside of classes, I lived here. A glass-walled mansion perched on the cliffs of Queen Anne, overlooking the entire Seattle skyline and the Puget Sound. I adopted a ginger cat named Tater. Zane was always buried in work, but he’d still find the patience to spend an hour helping me pick out the perfect cat tree. He was the man who, when I was sick, would stay up to make me a bowl of handmade chicken soup. He acted like a real partner. I forced my gaze back to the diamond ring. Five carats of cold, hard compensation. Zane leaned down, brushing his lips against mine, his voice a dark rasp. "Isn't this the ring you always wanted? Consider it a parting gift." "From now on, we’re strictly professional. Employer and employee." "Sienna Montgomery is the nation's sweetheart. You’re Seattle’s top news anchor. Don’t let resentment turn you into a tabloid headline. Don’t leak her secrets." "I protect what's mine, Mila." It was a warning. A threat wrapped in silk. The bitterness burned the back of my throat. I opened my mouth to speak, but my stomach suddenly lurched. I bolted for the bathroom. 2 "Mila." Zane followed me in. His eyes darkened, his gaze sweeping over my midsection like a blade. "The Sterling family doesn't do bastards." "You've been with me long enough to know what happens when someone tries to trap me with a pregnancy." My breath hitched. I pulled my hand away from my stomach and looked up, forcing a mask of calm. "I didn't sleep. It's just a stomach bug." He frowned slightly, then turned and walked out. I let out a shaky breath. Yesterday, I felt off. I went to the clinic. The doctor told me I was eight weeks along. The math tracked back to two months ago—Zane’s birthday. He’d told me he didn't want to use protection that night. I was so exhausted I didn't even argue. I forgot the morning-after pill. I had planned to tell him today. Now, I realize how much of a mistake that would have been. Like he said, the Sterlings don't allow illegitimate children. I’d seen their methods six years ago. Zane’s older brother had a child with a model in London. The moment the baby was born, both mother and child vanished from the face of the earth. Someone had leaked the crime scene photos to my email back then. I only looked once. I had nightmares for a month. Composing myself, I reached into my bag and pulled out the ultrasound photo. I traced the tiny black dot with my thumb, then crumpled it into a ball and dropped it into the trash. 3 When I stepped out of the bathroom, Zane was already dressed in a bespoke suit, scanning the Wall Street Journal by the floor-to-ceiling windows. He saw me with my suitcase. He put the paper down, his eyes drifting to Tater lounging on the sofa. "Mila, there’s no rush to leave. You can keep the villa. You and the cat." "No. I prefer a clean break," I said, shaking my head. "I'll be out of here in forty-eight hours." Zane didn't argue. He headed downstairs. By the time I followed, he had already prepared breakfast. There was a small cup of herbal tea steaming on the table. "Drink it. The weather's turning cold. You need to be careful." I froze. He actually believed my lie about the stomach bug. To keep the ruse up, I took a few sips. It was bitter. He reached into a glass jar, pulled out a lemon drop, unwrapped it, and gestured for me to open my mouth. I stared at the candy, my eyes stinging. I hate bitter things. The lemon drops were always my reward for taking medicine. But now... The sweetness didn't reach my tongue. "It’s sour and bitter. It’s actually pretty gross," I said with a hollow laugh. Zane’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly. But only for a second. He picked up the jar and tossed it into the trash can. "Fine. Good riddance." "Sienna hates sugar. The smell makes her nauseous." I looked at the jar in the trash. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand. The jar was a royal antique he’d bid on for me at an auction in Paris when I was twenty. The legend said that for every candy eaten, a piece of happiness would be gained. If the jar was empty... the misery would double. As I headed for the door, Zane stopped me. He sent a location pin to my phone via Signal. "Caleb Brooks. The heir to the Liberty Group. He’s a sailor, spends most of his time at sea." "You remember him? On your last birthday, he flew back specifically to give you that handcrafted sailboat model." "That’s the address for your date tonight. The paparazzi will be there." I understood. The Sterling family had already announced the merger-marriage with Sienna. I’d been with him for seven years. Now, he needed to scrub me from his records. The best way to do that was to link me to another man. To marry me off. "Don't worry. I'll be there." I turned to leave. Zane grabbed my wrist, his expression unreadable. "Mila, seven years is a long time. I won't leave you empty-handed. Tell me what you want." I looked at the dark mole just beneath his right eye and smiled softly. "I want you to marry me. Can I have that?" Zane froze. His brow furrowed. Before he could speak, I swallowed the lump of glass in my throat and forced a grin. "I'm kidding." "I have to go to the station. I'm up for the Journalist of the Year award today. I can't be late." 4 At 7:50 AM, my Uber arrived at the Sterling Media Tower. When I reached the 18th floor—the broadcast division—I saw Sienna Montgomery. She was wearing a bold red dress, laughing as she walked out of the Director’s office. Before I could process it, the Director’s assistant stood up and made an announcement to the floor. "Attention everyone. Effective immediately, Mila Thorne is being reassigned to the digital archives department." "The prime-time anchor slot will be taken over by Sienna Montgomery. As you all know, she is an Oscar-winning actress." Reassigned. My brain felt like it was short-circuiting. A cold shiver climbed my spine. The assistant gave me a pained look and added: "This was Zane’s personal directive. The Journalist of the Year award is also being presented to Ms. Montgomery." Zane. Zane Sterling was the owner of Sterling Media, the largest news conglomerate in the Pacific Northwest. I took a deep breath, fighting back the tears. I set the tray of coffees I’d brought onto a table and smiled. "Coffees on me. Let’s call it a celebration for my new role." Usually, my colleagues would swarm me. Today, no one moved. Sienna stepped down from the platform, her red lips curving into a smirk. "Hi everyone! I’m so excited to be here. I really wanted to experience a real corporate environment for my next role." "I brought gourmet pastries and latte's for everyone. Hope we can be great friends!" Sienna started handing out her drinks. The room immediately bustled with fake laughter. There was no room on the table, so she picked up my thirty-two coffees and tossed them into the bin. She turned to me, offering a single cupcake. Her eyes were full of triumph. "You must be Mila. So sorry about taking your desk and your trophy." "I heard sugar helps with the mood. Do you want one? You look like you need it." My throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton. I couldn't say a word. 5 I left the broadcast floor and used the private keycard Zane had given me to take his personal elevator to the 112th floor. By the time I hit floor 50, the rain had turned into a downpour. The city was drowning in gray. I suddenly remembered the first time I saw Zane. I was at my lowest. Seven years ago, right after high school, I’d moved from the Midwest to Seattle for college. I was desperate for tuition money and got tricked into working at a high-end "gentleman’s club." I was being forced to drink by a group of rich frat boys. I was crying, fighting them, until Zane Sterling walked in. His suit was sharp, his expression icy. He had a cigarette between his fingers. His voice was a low growl: "Move." They let me go instantly. I didn't know he was the most powerful man in the city; I just knew I wanted to live. I followed him like a shadow. But when we reached the exit, a hit squad opened fire. I was paralyzed with fear. Zane grabbed my waist and threw me into his car. During the chase, a tire blew, and we were cornered in an alley. He took a bullet in the shoulder to shield me. In the alley, he slumped against a wall and looked at me. "Go." "We go together or we die together," I blurted out. He actually laughed at that. "You think you're qualified to die with me?" I ran to a nearby pharmacy, bought bandages and disinfectant, and ran back. He had passed out. I patched him up and stayed until the Sterling security arrived. I thought I’d never see him again. But a day later, he called me. "Mila Thorne. Do you want to be with me?" "I live a clean life." "Stay with me, and in this city, you won't have to follow anyone's rules but mine." I thought about it for one night and said yes. Back then, he was twenty-two, freshly returned from an Ivy League school, ruthless in business. I didn't know he was just as ruthless in bed. When he wasn't busy, he’d take me to galleries around the world. He’d teach me how to find the "hook" in a news story. He taught me how to ride horses and play golf. When I was stressed about finals, he’d tutor me himself. The security and love he gave me were things I had never known. My parents had divorced when I was a kid. I was shunted off to an aunt’s house. Living as a guest in someone else’s home is a slow poison. I chose Seattle because it was the furthest point on the map. 6 The elevator opened at floor 112, Zane’s office. He was focused on a file, but he noticed me immediately. We locked eyes. My vision blurred. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks. "Why did you give my anchor slot to Sienna?" He didn't blink. His voice was level. "Give? Mila, you're mistaken. I own the station. I decide who sits in that chair. I didn't 'give' her anything. It’s mine to distribute." My shoulders shook. "And the award? I nearly died in Gaza six months ago for those stories. She hasn't even written a headline. Why her?" Six months ago, I was a war correspondent. I survived ten near-death encounters. Those reports sent Sterling Media’s stock to a ten-year high. Zane stood up and walked toward me, towering over me. "How did you graduate from Stanford, Mila? You should know better than to question my decisions." "I could fire you for this." I felt a wave of nausea. My voice rose. "There are a thousand roles in this company. Why mine? I worked my way up from an intern to that chair. I bled for it!" He let out a cold scoff. "Because Sienna is my fiancée. She’s the woman I’m spending my life with." "You? You’re just a canary I keep in a cage." "I can throw you away whenever I want. You have no standing to compete with her." "Be grateful, Mila." "Three years ago, you applied for the staff position. Your test scores were number one, but you didn't have the background to clear the interview. I’m the one who opened that door for you." I froze. Zane reached out, wiping a tear from my cheek, his voice softening. "Sienna just took a role as a news anchor in a movie. She needs the experience. I know you're the best. When she’s done filming, I’ll give the desk back to you." That was when I realized it. Zane Sterling, the billionaire shark, never saw me as a person. Every success I’d achieved through my own hard work was credited to his "generosity" in his eyes. I had never asked him for a favor. I’d never used his name to pull strings. But in the end, he used his power to strip me of everything I’d built. I was left with nothing but scraps. At eighteen, I didn't understand the glass ceiling of social class. Between the lover and the beloved, there is no such thing as an equal trade. Today, I finally woke up. A canary is just a canary. Not a partner. Not a lover. Just a pet. I don't want the prime-time slot anymore. I walked out of his office and booked a flight to New York for 7 PM. Then, I called a friend at a hospital and scheduled an appointment for next week. 7 I went back to the 18th floor and handed in my resignation. The Director sighed. "Mila, if you leave now, you lose your severance. Can't you just wait?" I shook my head. "No." No one at the station knew my real relationship with Zane. They wouldn't tell him I quit. "Mila, you're the best we have. When Ms. Montgomery is done, the seat is yours. I’ll make sure of it." He patted my shoulder, genuinely wanting me to stay. I smiled. "I'm going home." "Home?" "Back to the East Coast." He looked surprised. "The top anchor slot in Seattle... people kill for that. You’re really walking away?" "I'm a journalist," I said softly. "I have the skills. I can find a stage anywhere." I took a car back to the Queen Anne mansion. Everything there was chosen by me. But as I looked around, I realized the only things that truly belonged to me were my books. Everything else was bought by Zane. Two walk-in closets full of designer jewelry. Too much to carry. I didn't want it anyway. The only thing I packed was a small wooden music box he’d handcrafted for me in Italy when I was nineteen. As the sun set, I was rolling my suitcase toward the door. Sienna Montgomery showed up with two bodyguards. She blocked my path, smirking. "Mila, you might have slept with him for seven years, but you’re just a toy he used to kill time." "Did you know he chased me for six months in college? He used to buy me breakfast every morning. I told him I liked skiing, and he ditched his finals just to fly me to Whistler." I checked the time for my flight. "Ms. Montgomery..." Before I could finish, she slapped me. "You’re a nobody, Mila. You think you can compete with me?" Tater suddenly bolted out of his bed and hissed at Sienna, swiping at her. "Filthy stray!" Sienna’s face twisted. She kicked Tater with everything she had. The cat flew three feet, hit the wall, and slumped to the floor. He spat up a bit of blood. He was shaking, making a low, pained whimper. I couldn't breathe. I raised my hand to strike Sienna, but someone caught my wrist from behind. The grip was iron. I turned. Zane’s cold, dark eyes met mine. "Zane! Help Tater!" My voice was a frantic, broken sob. Zane looked at the cat on the floor and signaled his guard. "Take him to the emergency vet." 8 Sienna’s eyes instantly filled with tears. "Zane, that cat tried to bite me. I was just scared. I didn't mean to kick him so hard." "You're not mad, are you?" Zane narrowed his eyes, wiping a tear from her face. "Why would I be mad? If a cat is aggressive, it needs to be disciplined." "But don't do it yourself next time. You’ll hurt your foot, and then I’ll be the one in pain." Sienna pouted. "If you really cared, you’d have Mila kicked out of Seattle." "She called me here to provoke me. She’s just a Midwest girl. Who does she think she is, trying to steal you?" "A media scandal about you keeping a mistress for seven years would ruin the merger." "I know what I'm doing." Zane’s face was a mask of ice. He looked at his guard. "Take Ms. Montgomery home." "No!" I tried to stop Sienna, but Zane yanked me into his chest. His eyes were predatory. "Mila, didn't I warn you? Stay away from Sienna." I dug my nails into my palms. I wanted to scream, but the sight of the blood on the floor made my stomach churn. Zane looked at my suitcase. "It's late. Where are you going?" Sienna’s stunt had made me miss my flight. Fine. I'll go on that date. I smirked. "Zane, are you getting early-onset dementia? You set me up with Caleb Brooks for 8 PM." His expression soured. He let out a dark laugh. "You’re taking a suitcase to a date? You think Caleb is actually going to want you?" "Mila, after seven years with me, who else would even touch you?" I stood my ground and slapped him with everything I had. Zane’s eyes flared. He dragged me up to the master bedroom. He was like a wild animal, throwing me onto the bed and tearing at my dress. I fought him, sobbing in pain. "Mila, why can't you just submit?" His eyes were bloodshot. He looked desperate. "If you stay, I’ll let you go on the date. I just won't let you marry him." "I'll give you everything. Money, affection... just not the title." His hands were rough. He was trying to kiss me. His phone rang. It was Sienna. He hesitated, then picked up. "Zane, I'm so scared," Sienna sobbed through the speaker. "The image of that cat... it’s giving me a panic attack." "I can't breathe. Please, come over." Zane’s eyes remained locked on mine. "Mila. Beg me." "Beg me to stay, and I will." I shoved him off. "Zane Sterling, you disgust me. Get the hell out of my sight." He smirked. "You’re a terrible liar, Mila." "You say you're going to see Caleb, but you packed the music box I gave you six years ago. You’re still obsessed with me." I went to retort, but his gaze turned icy. "One last time: Sienna is the woman I love." "Know your place as a canary." "Otherwise, I will make it impossible for you to exist in this city. I brought you up from the mud, and I can send you back down." The tears were burning my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I let out a sharp laugh. "Don't worry. I'll be at the date." Zane gritted his teeth. "Good." He slammed the door and left. 9 The storm lashed against the windows. I curled up under the blankets, shivering. I remembered Zane’s mother, Elena Sterling, visiting me once. She said: "Mila, Zane is the new head of the family. He’s only good to you because you're useful. If you ever become a liability, he will destroy you himself." "Don't be smart. The 'pregnancy trap' doesn't work on the Sterlings." Back then, I was naive. I thought love could fix anything. But clearly, a pet in a cage is not the same as a bride at the altar. He would always choose the Montgomery merger over me. Always. At 7:30 PM, my phone buzzed. A FaceTime call from Caleb Brooks. I answered. Caleb was on the deck of a boat, wearing a black raincoat. The sail behind him was whipping in the wind. He gave me a roguish grin. "Mila, I'm sorry. The storm is too bad to dock. I'm stuck at sea tonight." "Can we push the date to tomorrow?" Caleb was an old classmate. He didn't care about the elite circles. While others were gambling and partying, he was out on the ocean, free. He knew I loved boats. Last year, he’d built me that model. But I wasn't going to be here tomorrow. "Caleb, I..." "Signal's dropping. Talk soon!" The call cut out. I went onto the Delta app and booked a new ticket for 10 AM tomorrow. As dawn broke, a video of Zane at Sienna’s apartment went viral. The curtains were open. The paparazzi caught them kissing on the balcony. The last sliver of hope in my heart burned to ash. As I packed, a notification popped up in the station’s group chat: [Weather update: Record low temperatures. Chance of snow in Seattle tonight.] I stopped. I still remembered. When I was nineteen. I asked Zane, "Zane, will we ever get married?" He didn't answer. Later, I stopped asking. I just asked, "Zane, does it ever snow in Seattle?" "When it snows here, I'll marry you. Deal?" He’d nodded. Some promises made at twenty are meant to be anchors for a lifetime. I had spent years praying for snow.
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