The Carnival Betrayal

On our wedding anniversary, my husband, Nelson Vaughn, took my daughter and me to a carnival.

In the middle of the festivities, Nelson was called away on an "urgent matter," leaving my daughter and me stranded hundreds of feet in the air on a malfunctioning Ferris wheel.

I held my terrified daughter, my own sobs catching in my throat as I called Nelson again and again. Finally, on the last attempt, he picked up.

My voice was a hoarse rasp as I opened my mouth to beg for help, but all I heard were the slick, rhythmic sounds of lovemaking on the other end.

A moment later, a woman's voice purred.

"Nelson, you have no idea how moved I am... that you sacrificed your son with Cassandra for ours. The only way I can repay you is with my body..."

Nelson paused before replying, his voice a low growl. "I promised I'd protect our child, no matter the cost. As for my son with Cassandra... his life was forfeit from the start."

At that, the tears I’d been holding back finally fell.

I’d always believed my three-year-old son died in a family vendetta—a death I had blamed myself for.

It turned out my son hadn't died in a feud at all. He had been sacrificed by Nelson to save his mistress's son—Ella Fischer's son!

With the last of my strength, I dialed Killian Donovan's number.

"I'll marry you. But I want you to destroy Nelson Vaughn and his entire family."

A soft, dangerous chuckle came from the other end of the line.

"With pleasure."

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1

After hanging up, I hugged my daughter, Rosie, tightly against my chest.

Just then, a call came through from Nelson. I answered but said nothing.

"Nelson," a woman's voice cooed, "the news is reporting an accident at the carnival. Aren't Cassandra and your daughter there? Shouldn't you check on them?"

Nelson's indifferent voice drifted through the phone.

"Still have the energy to worry about them? Guess I wasn't working you hard enough. Besides, they aren't helpless. They probably knew the party was over the moment I left and went home."

The woman's sultry giggle was followed by the sound of a wet kiss.

It was only then that I recognized her. It was Nelson's mistress, Ella Fischer.

Years ago, when the Vaughn family was in turmoil, Ella had fled the country without a second thought.

And I was the fool who had broken her engagement to Killian Donovan, all to marry Nelson and help him solidify his position as Don.

In our ten years of marriage, he had always cherished me, treating me like a precious treasure. I had thought our life was a happy one.

It turned out Nelson's heart had strayed long ago, and I had been living in a gilded cage.

Tears streamed down my face. Rosie, her own little heart aching for me, gently wiped my cheeks with her tiny hands.

Ella was still talking. I covered Rosie's ears and kept listening, my heart numb with cold dread.

"Nelson, if something happens to our son again, would you still save him? I seem to recall Cassandra still has a daughter."

My heart seized. Ella had orchestrated my son's death, and now she was coming for my daughter.

I had thought Nelson, at the very least, would never harm Rosie. But his answer came without a shred of hesitation.

"If it comes to that, I won't think twice. I promised you, our son is the only heir."

Ella sounded overjoyed but feigned concern. "But if Cassandra finds out, won't she hate you?"

Nelson was silent for a moment. "She won't hate me. She owes me, after all. She was the one who crawled into Killian Donovan's bed. It's better that both of her children are dead."

"I'll never divorce her. I'll let her keep her title as Donna of the Vaughn family. It's a kindness she doesn't deserve."

As soon as he finished, more lustful sounds echoed through the phone.

Hearing this, the final piece of my shattered heart turned to dust.

A blood-red rage burned behind my eyes. I wanted to tear Nelson and Ella limb from limb.

Back when the Vaughn family was in trouble, my own Gallagher family's power wasn't enough to save them.

My only option was to use my past acquaintance with Killian and beg him to intervene.

Killian's condition was that I spend one night with him. In return, he would invest in the Vaughn family.

When I confessed to Nelson at the time, he had simply smiled, stroking my hair. "I trust you," he'd said gently. "You're doing this for the family, for me. I will never forget your sacrifice."

And this was how he repaid me.

Deep down, Nelson felt I had become "tainted" after that night.

He had even come to doubt the parentage of our children.

At that thought, I hung up the phone without hesitation.

I knew full well that Ella had made that call intentionally.

But I was still grateful. She had let me see the whole, ugly truth.

A few minutes later, Ella sent a barrage of taunting messages, complete with photos of them writhing in bed.

I saved them one by one, studying each grotesque image.

Soon, a text from Killian arrived.

I'll come for you in seven days. Wait another three minutes. My men are on-site at the carnival.

Reading his message, I finally let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

I had survived being stranded hundreds of feet in the air. Now, it was Nelson and Ella's turn to go to hell.