chapter 28

Amaira was just putting the finishing touches on the meal when the sound of the doorbell rang through the quiet house. She glanced toward the door, her stomach fluttering with excitement. Could it be Scar Boss? No, he hadn’t mentioned he’d be home yet. She wiped her hands on the apron, walking toward the door with a sense of anticipation in her chest.When she opened it, her breath caught in her throat. A woman stood on the doorstep, her posture haughty, her dark eyes cold and calculating. She wore an expensive black dress that clung to her body, a high-end accessory that made her seem untouchable. Her hair was slicked back into a tight bun, and her expression was anything but warm.“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” the woman said, her voice dripping with disdain as she looked up and down at Amaira, clearly unimpressed.Amaira blinked, trying to hide her shock. “Can I help you?” she asked, keeping her voice steady despite the unease crawling up her spine.The woman smirked, as if the question itself was beneath her. “I’m Selena,” she said, stepping past Amaira without waiting for an invitation. She moved inside, making no effort to hide her judgmental gaze as she looked around the house, taking in every detail with obvious distaste.Amaira stood frozen at the door, too stunned to speak. “Excuse me, but you can’t just barge in like that,” she finally managed, the words coming out firmer than she felt.Selena turned to face her, arching a brow. “Oh, don’t be so uptight. I’ve known Scar Boss far longer than you. If I wanted to come in, I’d come in. And I’m not here for pleasantries,” she said, her tone cutting through the air like a blade. “I’m here because I need to remind you of your place.”Amaira’s eyes narrowed. “My place?” she echoed, stepping back slightly as the tension in the room thickened. “And what place would that be?”Selena let out a mocking laugh, her eyes flicking over Amaira like she was some sort of pet. “You think you’ve won, don’t you? You think because you’re living under his roof, that you matter to him. News flash: you don’t,” she said, her voice dripping with venom. “He doesn’t even care about you. He never did. You’re nothing more than a contract to him. I’ve seen him come and go. You’re just the latest distraction.”Amaira’s heart stung, but she refused to let it show. She had no idea who this woman was, but she could feel the undercurrent of animosity in her words. “And who are you to speak like that?” Amaira asked, her voice cold now, challenging.Selena’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “Oh, I’m the one who actually matters. I’m the one he’ll always come back to. You’re just a temporary fixture in his life, something to keep him entertained for a while. But I’m the one he’ll always return to.”Amaira’s blood boiled. She didn’t understand this woman, nor did she care. “I don’t care about your history with him,” she shot back, her voice steady but filled with barely-contained rage. “This house, this situation—it’s between me and him. And you? You’re nothing but an intruder.”Selena took a slow step closer, eyes narrowing. “You don’t get it, do you? He’s not going to fall for you. You’re just a game to him. And I’m here to make sure you know your place before you get too attached.”Amaira opened her mouth to retort, but at that very moment, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. The familiar presence she had been anticipating all day came into the room.Scar Boss stood in the doorway, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. He glanced at Selena with an unreadable expression before looking at Amaira.Selena didn’t miss a beat. She turned to Scar Boss with a practiced smile. “Just checking in on your wife,” she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “Making sure she knows who truly belongs in your life.”Scar Boss didn’t acknowledge Selena's words immediately. Instead, he looked at Amaira, his expression unreadable.“Selena,” he finally said in his calm, commanding voice. “Let’s talk.”Selena blinked, surprised at his tone. “Now?” she asked, but she could tell there was no room for argument.“Yes. Now,” Scar Boss said again, his voice firm as he stepped aside and motioned toward the hallway.Selena hesitated for a moment, but then walked past Amaira with a smug smile. Amaira stood there, frozen, watching them leave the room. Her heart was pounding, and the words Selena had thrown at her echoed in her mind. You're just a distraction. You’re nothing more than a contract.She wanted to yell, to confront them both, but something about the cold, indifferent way Scar Boss had looked at her made her feel small, almost invisible. Was she truly just a contract to him? Did she mean nothing more than that?