Chapter Six

Grey Claremont —

Few years ago—

"Meet my mate, Bernadette Kenosha," I stepped into the room and introduced the red-haired, stunningly beautiful woman to Nevada.

Nevada stood in the living room, staring at us in shock. I smirked upon seeing her expression. I expected more honestly, but from the way she looked between us, it appeared that she hadn't quite processed what was going on yet.

"T-that's my sister," Nevada muttered, still in a daze.

"Indeed," I looked between the two women and tapped my chin, pretending to observe them for the very first time.

"There is some striking resemblance between the two of you... Or don't you think, Bernadette?" I concluded, turning to Bernadette with a small frown.

Of course, I already knew that they were sisters from the beginning, but it never hurt to humor Nevada every once in a while.

Bernadette chuckled, finding it funny. "True that, but I'm clearly the better one. Always have been," she said.

My lips curved up in a smirk. Bernadette was everything. She had the perfect shape and attitude, and exuded confidence.

Of course, the same could be said about Nevada, but there was a difference that I couldn't bypass.

I loved Bernadette. And I only got together with Nevada because I was forced to do so. I wasn't ready to put in the extra effort into pretending that I loved and cared about her. Well, at least not anymore anyway.

And Bernadette was already pressuring me into taking action. I knew that I had to prove my love for her. After all, she had waited for far too long.

"You're dumping me for my sister..." Nevada muttered, with a vacant look in her eyes.

"Tch tch.... You make me sound like the bad guy," I clicked my tongue, getting impatient.

This was not the scene that I was expecting.

"Aw come on sisters, isn't it pretty obvious all that is happening? You pointing out all the obvious details makes you sound dumb, you know," Bernadette snapped, staring back icily at her sister.

I knew that she was a bit too harsh with her, but I didn't mind. There was only one mission in my mind. And that was to get rid of Nevada, once and for all.

Nevada stepped forward, reaching out to me. Her eyes clouded over and she seemed to be finally processing what was happening right now.

"B-but you can't do that Grey, I'm your mate. You can't replace me with my sister," she said, her voice distraught with intense pain flashing across her eyes.

I stared down at her with a scoff.

"You're wrong Nevada, I already have. I guess Bernadette was right after all. You are a bit slow."

"You can't do this!" Nevada yelled, tears stinging at the corner of her eyes.

"Get rid of her Grey," Bernadette seethed beside me, her eyes blazing with anger.

"You're right," I said.

I turned back to Nevada, my eyes blazing with hatred.

I never loved her, not one goddamn day. Not even for the briefest moment. And I was a man who didn't enjoy being pushed around and being told what to do.

So imagine the intense rage that I felt when I was left without an option. When I had to make Nevada my mate and live with her if I wanted to inherit the Claremont empire. The very one I helped build.

I couldn't bear to see it handed to someone else and so I went on with the arrangement and agreed to get married to her.

I agreed to act in front of the camera and portray ourselves as the perfect couple on the outside and even went as far as to keep up the act in front of her too.

But not anymore. Now I was free to make my own decision. Now, no one was going to stop me.

And so, I poured out all the anger and resentment I kept boiled up in me and stood straight.

"I, Grey Claremont, hereby reject you, Nevada Kenosha, as my mate!"

The distant sound of thunder resonated in the sky above her and Nevada fell to her knees, just as the same time that I felt something snap inside me.

The bond, it was gone.

"No!" Nevada cried, tears falling down her eyes. "I did nothing wrong, you can't do this to me!"

"You're no longer needed here Vada. Get out," I said, my voice frostened.

Her tears intensified as she sobbed uncomfortably, turning into a teary mess in front of me.

Pathetic, I thought.

"Get up." Bernadette stepped forward and kicked her sister, staring down at her with a superior look.

"Hurry up and run along."

"Bernadette..." Nevada stared up at her with her teary eyes, pain and hate flashing across them.

"How could you? Don't do this Grey," she turned back to me pleading.

"W-we can resolve whatever misunderstanding this is. Please, I'm carrying your child, I'm pregnant!"

"You little whore!" Bernadette seethed, flames flashing across her eyes. "You dirty slut. You planned it all, didn't you? You targeted Grey for his fame and wealth and planned that one night stand with him in the hotel, just so that you'll get pregnant and pin him with the child!"

"I've rejected you Vada," my eyes hardened as I spoke.

It bothered me a little to know that she was pregnant. That could turn out to be quite a thorn in my side but I wasn't about to give everything up for it.

I worked hard for this moment.

"Pack out, before I bring in the security men to get rid of you."

I stepped away from her and left the room. Her sobbings got louder. How inconvenient, I thought, and I pulled out a pair of airpods and plugged them in to block out the noise.

I didn't care that I was sending out a woman who was carrying a life in her womb. I didn't care that I left her all alone and disgraced with nowhere to turn to.

I didn't want any attachments to the child.

Back then, I simply didn't care...

---

—Present Day —

"CEO, CEO Grey," someone called out.

My eyes snapped into focus and I looked around to see that I was still in the meeting room with the members of the board.

"Are you alright?" the chairman asked, tilting his head to one side with a frown.

I shook my head trying to clear it.

Fuck... I thought. What the hell was happening? I never spaced out during meetings. That meant my mind was losing control over my body and I didn't like that.

It always proved to be an inconvenience in the long run.

"I'm fine," I said in an expressionless tone.

I loosened my tie and stood up.

"Finish off the meeting without me," I said, making my way out of the room without looking back. An air of finality around me, leaving no room for negotiations.

I stepped out of the room and walked a little down the narrow corridor. I leaned against the rails and ignored all the people that passed by.

My eyes were on the driveway way down as I idly watched the cars speed down the road.

The truth was that, I wasn't really seeing anything, or paying any attention.

I was troubled. It was so rare to see me in this condition that I nearly forgot how bad it felt.

Somehow, my mind kept on going back to a little blonde girl choosing between toys in a small shop.

"What's your name..." I remembered asking.

She looked at me with those huge brown eyes and tilted her little head to one side, wondering where the hell I came from. At that moment, all I wanted to do was to reach out and pat her head.

She was too cute for words, but there was something else too.

She looked exactly like me. A striking resemblance and I was utterly mystified by the little female version of me looking up at me.

And then, the moment was ruined.

I rubbed my head feeling the headache coming back.

Nevada showed up out of nowhere and the little girl ran towards her.

"Mommy,"

That was what she said.

And I hadn't been able to get the voice out of my head ever since then.

That would mean that she was Nevada's child. But how could she look so much like me? I had a bad feeling about it and a gut feeling that told me that I should leave it at that and forget about the duo.

But it was impossible. I found it hard to concentrate and I knew that I had to get to the bottom of it.

Six years ago, I sent Nevada away pregnant. Six years later, a pretty little girl that looks just like me shows up.

And Nevada refused to give me an explanation.

Darn it, I cursed. I would just have to find out for myself then.

"CEO," I turned around to see my manager.

He had a worried look in his eyes.

"The company can't risk you being distracted," he said.

I sighed, knowing that he was right.

"I have a favor to ask," I looked ahead. If I wanted to get this over with, then I might as well start doing my homework now.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Look into Nevada Kenosha for me. I want a detailed report about her and her movements six years ago," a glint flashed across my eyes as I spoke.