The Game of Masks and True Identity

Phoebe's POV

He ground his teeth, voice rough. “Phoebe, you really don’t want to give birth to my child?”

“No.” I looked up slowly, languid. “You have fifteen seconds to decide. Either save Margaret, or let me go.”

“If you hesitate longer, the crane’s rope will rip off.” I started, then made a falling motion with my hand and smiled cruelly. “Then you’ll be collecting your little girl’s body.”

“I choose… Margaret!” Cade finally cried, slamming his eyes shut as if pulling himself out of some impossible moment.

I smiled in satisfaction. “Too bad. It’s already been eighteen seconds.”

“What are you gonna do?!” His pupils widened the instant the crane let go with a thunderous sound, and Margaret’s scream followed immediately.

“Sorry, you were a second too slow.” I looked at my fingernails, amused and indifferent.

Cade swayed as if he might fall. By the time he reacted, he was already rushing outside.

However, Margaret had already hit the ground, struck her head, and gone limp. Blood also stained her white dress.

He scooped her into his arms, frantic. “Doctor! Get my private doctor!”

“Phoebe!!” he spat, hatred blazing. “You bitch! I already made a choice. Why would you hurt Margaret?! Don’t drag someone else into this! If you hate me, come at me!”

Watching him with that mix of grief and fury was delicious. I couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

“Oh?” I went on. “Then why weren’t you thinking like this three years ago when Renzo died?”

At my words, Cade’s face drained of color. “How do you know about Renzo? What… what is your relationship with my brother?”

“If you hadn’t killed him, I probably would’ve been your sister-in-law.” I dropped the bomb. “Cade.” I raised my eyes, cold. “Funny thing, he died the night before he was going to propose to me.”

I’d known it for a while. Cade had killed his own younger brother.

Renzo Oliver had promised to marry me. I was a breath away from wearing his ring. But because of Cade, he and I were torn apart.

That was why I’d built this reckless playgirl act to get close to Cade.

His eyes reddened as he still held the unconscious Margaret. His jaw also clenched, and a cold laugh escaped him. “So you came on to me on purpose, to avenge him?”

“Phoebe, you’re naïve. A loser like Renzo could never inherit our family's fortune.” He sneered. “Anyway, we look the same, and now you’re carrying my child. Why not just marry me? Isn’t that perfect?”

I slapped him hard across the face, turning his face sideways.

With his bloody hand, he touched his cheek and said, “No woman has ever struck me before. You’re the first.”

Cade lifted his head, voice like breaking ice. “Since your hands aren’t clean, they should be made useless.” He gathered Margaret and started to leave.

As he passed the guards, his step faltered. “Those who betrayed our family, take them out too,” he ordered.

Yet the guards didn’t move. They still looked to me for orders.

Cade had been careless. He assumed those men were loyal to him, that he had control over everything here.

Later, the eldest servant, Elmer Hersey, approached me with a respectful bow and asked, “Miss, that punk Cade laid a hand on you hard. Want to show him some real power so he learns his place?”