Chapter 59
Chapter 59: Poisoned Blood
Anderson Estate, Main Foyer
Monday, 11:40 AM
The marble floors gleamed under the massive crystal chandelier, but the air felt thick enough to choke on. Rain hammered the tall windows in sheets, turning the manicured gardens into a blurred watercolor of green and grey. Imani stood at the top of the curved staircase, one hand gripping the polished banister, her silk robe wrapped tight around her like armor.
She had come down for coffee. Instead, she found chaos wearing designer heels.
Ivy Lukeman stood in the center of the foyer, drenched designer trench coat clinging to her curves, one hand dramatically cradled over her flat stomach. Her makeup was flawless despite the rain—blood-red lips, smoky eyes that scanned the room like a predator. Two suitcases sat beside her like trophies.
"Damian," Ivy said, voice soft but carrying, "I'm pregnant. It's yours.you know
She smirked
"From the bachelor party."
The words dropped like a grenade.
Damian froze mid-step, phone still in his hand from the board call he'd just ended. His face drained of color, then hardened into something colder than Imani had ever seen. "What?"
Ivy tilted her head, letting the silence stretch just long enough to feel intentional. "You heard me. That night… you were so drunk, so hungry. You pulled me into the private suite. Said you needed to forget the pressure of the wedding." Her eyes flicked upward to Imani. "Guess the pressure won."she smiled touching her belly
Imani's stomach plummeted. The memory of the blurred video flashed—Damian's face, a woman's neck. She had chosen trust last night. Now trust felt like a knife twisting between her ribs.
Temi swept in from the east wing, moving too quickly for someone who claimed to hate drama. "Oh my goodness, Ivy darling!" Her voice dripped honeyed concern. "Come here ,she pulls her in for a hug. You poor thing. We'll get the guest rooms prepared immediately."
Jude appeared last, summoned by the raised voices, his expression thunderous. "Everyone. My study. Now."
Cross-cut – Jude's Private Study
Monday, 11:55 AM
The door clicked shut. Rain lashed the windows harder. Jude stood behind his desk, knuckles pressed white against the oak.
"You're telling me you got another woman pregnant the night before your wedding?" Jude's voice was low, lethal.
Damian's jaw worked. "I don't remember touching her. I barely remember the night."
He glanced at Imani, who stood rigid by the bookshelf, arms folded so tight her nails dug into her own skin. "I swear to you, it's not—"
Ivy cut in smoothly, placing a protective hand over her belly again. "DNA will prove it. I have the hotel footage timestamped. You were very… enthusiastic." She smiled at Temi. "Your mother always said I'd make a perfect Anderson wife. Looks like fate agreed."
Temi's eyes sparkled with barely concealed triumph. "Some mistakes turn into blessings. A grandchild is a grandchild, Jude. Blood is blood."
Imani felt the room tilt. Blood. The word echoed with everything Temi had thrown at her yesterday—lower-class, bribe-taker's daughter. Now this.
Jude exhaled sharply. "The board cannot hear about this. Not with the merger hanging by a thread. Victor is already circling." He looked at Ivy. "You'll stay here. Discreetly. Until we verify and contain."
Ivy's smile sharpened. "I'll need to stay in the master suite. With the father of my child. For the baby's sake. Imani can take the guest wing—it's only fair."
Damian's voice cracked like a whip. "Absolutely not. Imani is my wife. She stays with me. You go in the east guest suite or you can leave."
Ivy's eyes narrowed,well I guess "If this leaks before we control the narrative, your precious empire takes another hit. Your company Stock drops. Your Partners pull out. Do you really want that, Damian? Over her?"
He turned to her
And answered in a tone nobody has heard him used before,eye red,like he about to kill her
"She stayed with me"not you,she!!!
The fact you are my best friend and did this
The fact I took you like a sister and decided to ruin it,says a-lot about your character,
I can never be yours never!!!
Ivy was dumbfounded,she didn't know what to say again
Cross-cut – Master Suite Balcony
Monday, 1:20 PM
Imani stood outside under the overhang, rain misting her face. Her phone buzzed—an unknown number.
Mother's new nurse seems friendly. Hope she stays that way.
She deleted it, hands shaking.The pressure she is feeling now is Manageable. But it wasn't. Not anymore.
Inside, she could hear Temi's voice floating up from the sitting room below—laughing with Ivy over herbal tea for "the mother-to-be." Mocking little comments carried on the wind: "Some women just know how to secure their place… others don't ."
Imani closed her eyes. Last night she had let herself believed ,Let Damian inside her body and heart while the world waited to strike. Stupid. So stupid.she said
Cross-cut – Anderson Estate, East Guest Suite
Monday, 3:45 PM
Ivy unpacked slowly, humming. Temi sat on the chaise, watching with approval.
"She's crying in the garden again," Temi said softly. "Poor thing. So fragile."
Ivy laughed, low and satisfied. "Let her. The cracks are showing. Soon she'll run back to whatever slum she came from." She touched her stomach. "And when the 'pregnancy' disappears after a few weeks… well. Accidents happen."
Temi raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean!!
She got hold of herself and answered nothing
"Necessary," Ivy replied, eyes cold. "Damian was always supposed to be mine. That girl is just… temporary furniture."
Cross-cut – Garden Path
Monday, 4:10 PM
Imani walked the same shaded path as yesterday, but everything felt poisoned now. The mango trees dripped rain like tears. Her mind replayed Damian's words from last night—I love you. You're my everything—while Ivy's voice overlaid them: You were so hungry.
She stopped at the fountain, staring at the churning water.
Contract. She should have Stick to the contract. Feelings were the mistake,she shouldn't have have feelings for him,she tears up
Regrets how stupid she has become,
Her phone buzzed again. Damian. She silenced it.
Cross-cut – Master Suite
Monday, 7:30 PM
Damian found her packing a small bag. His hair was damp from the rain, shirt unbuttoned at the collar, eyes wild with exhaustion and something rawer—fear.
"Imani, please. Just talk to me."
She didn't look at him. "There's nothing to say. You told me you didn't remember. You said it wasn't you. Now she's here. Pregnant. In our house." Her voice cracked despite herself. "I let myself believe you last night. I let you inside me while your ex was carrying your child. How naive was I?"
She was never my ex!!!
We never dated!
He cut her off
Damian stepped closer. "I never touched her. Not willingly. I was drugged—I know it now. The fragments don't add up. Ivy's lying."
Imani zipped the bag. "Even if she is… this is too much. The video, your mother, now this. I should never have let feelings overtake the contract. You're a playboy, Damian. I was warned . I was stupid enough to think you could love someone like me."I should have stick to the contract and leave once we were done,
I was supposed to have this feelings"
She was tearing up so badly
He reached for her. She stepped back.
"Don't."
"Please Don't"
Am tired"
Cross-cut – Dining Hall
Tuesday, 8:15 AM
Breakfast was torture served on fine china.
Ivy sat beside Damian—too close—sipping ginger tea Temi had personally prepared. "The nausea is already starting," she cooed, placing a hand on his arm. "Your baby is demanding."
Temi smiled at Imani. "You look tired, dear. Late night? Or just… adjusting to new realities?"
Imani said nothing. She pushed her akara around the plate, her appetite is gone. Every bite felt like swallowing glass.
Damian's eyes never left her. "Imani—"
She stood abruptly. "Excuse me."she said
As she left, she heard Ivy's soft laugh. "Poor girl. Some people just aren't built for this life."
Cross-cut – Jude's Study
Tuesday, 10:30 AM
Jude paced. "The board is already whispering. Another scandal this fast? You made us look weak. Victor will use this."and you know that "He stopped, staring at Damian. "How did you let this happen, son? One night."
Damian's fists clenched. "I'm telling you, something is off. Ivy's too confident. Too prepared. This feels orchestrated."
Jude rubbed his temples. "Orchestrated or not, she's here. We contain it. Get the DNA test quietly. Until then… keep the peace."
But peace was a lie.
Cross-cut – Master Suite, Night
Tuesday, 11:05 PM
Imani lay on the far edge of the massive bed, back turned to Damian. He had insisted she stay in the room. She had agreed only because the guest rooms now felt contaminated by Ivy's presence two doors down.
He moved behind her. His arms came around her waist, pulling her back against his chest in a desperate hug. Holding her tight,She stiffened.
"Stop pushing me away please ," he whispered against her hair, voice rough with pain. "This isn't fair, Imani. You could have give me a chance to explain myself to you,What I feel for you is real. I've never felt this for anyone. Not Ivy. Not anyone. You're not temporary. You're my wife. My choice."he kissed her neck,I missed you "
She closed her eyes, tears slipping silently. His warmth, his scent, the way his heart beat against her back—it all hurt. "Then why does it feel like everything is breaking?"
He held her tighter. "Because someone is breaking it on purpose. Trust me on this,Let me fix it. Please,Give me time to prove it."
She didn't answer. But she didn't pull away either.she just closed her eyes and slept off
Cross-cut – Temi's Private Sitting Room
Wednesday, 1:20 AM
Temi and Ivy sat over wine and tablets showing fresh gossip site drafts.
"Leak it softly tomorrow," Temi instructed. "Anonymous source. 'Anderson heir's secret baby with ex-flame days after wedding.' Let the pressure build."
Cross-cut – Unknown Location
Wednesday, 2:45 AM
An anonymous figure watched the live feed from a hidden camera in the estate's garden. He smiled as Imani appeared on screen, wiping tears.
"Perfect," he murmured. "Keep pulling the strings."
Cross-cut – Master Suite
Wednesday, 7:55 AM
Imani woke to an empty bed. Damian had left early for damage control meetings.
Her phone lit up with a new message—from an unknown number. A photo attachment.
It was a clear still from the bachelor party: Damian and Ivy in an embrace, his hand on her waist, her lips on his neck. Timestamped. Undeniable.
Below it, one line:
He lied again. How many more before you leave?
Imani stared at the image until her vision blurred. Something inside her finally snapped clean in two.
She opened the contract file on her laptop, scrolled to the fidelity clause, and highlighted it.
Then she started drafting an amendment.
Cross-cut – East Guest Suite
Wednesday, 8:40 AM
Ivy answered her door to Temi, who carried a fresh tray of pregnancy-safe breakfast.
"Damian's been avoiding me all morning," Ivy pouted.
Temi's smile was pure ice. "He'll come around. Men always do when the right pressure is applied." She leaned in. "And if he doesn't… we have other ways."
Ivy took the tray, eyes gleaming with darker intent. "Good. Because I'm not leaving until that ring is on my finger instead of hers."
Cross-cut – Anderson Estate Driveway
Wednesday, 9:15 AM
Damian returned early, storming through the front door, face tight with fury after another threatening call from a board member. The pregnancy rumor was already leaking—small at first, but spreading.
He headed straight for the master suite, determined to make Imani listen.
But the room was empty.
Her suitcase was gone.
On the bed lay a single sheet of paper—her amended contract terms, with one line boldly underlined in red:
Full separation of living quarters until proof of fidelity is established.
Damian's hand shook as he read it.
His phone rang. Unknown number. He answered.
A distorted voice whispered: "Tick tock, Anderson. The empire is cracking… and your wife is about to walk out of it."