Page 104 of Broken Destiny

I knew Jiya.

I had loved her.

She could not have changed so completely. If she had betrayed my family and me, there had to be a reason.

There had to be more to the story.

And I needed to uncover the truth before it destroyed me.

“Everything’s fine,” I said finally, standing up. “There’s no need to worry. Come on, let’s head back out.”

We rejoined the party, and I forced myself to mingle with everyone. After all, my mother and fiancée had planned the evening because they believed it was what I wanted.

“Thanks, Mum,” I said, kissing her cheek. “It’s a great party.”

“I’m glad you like it,” she replied with a satisfied smile. “Your fiancée and I went through a lot to make it perfect for you.” Her lips curved slightly. “Did you meet the Morrisons?”

For a brief moment, my mind drifted back to Lucas’s birthday party.

The laughter. The warmth. The intimacy of being surrounded by people who actually mattered to him.

Not strangers making small talk they would forget tomorrow.

The rest of the party passed in a blur.

More introductions followed by handshakes, polite smiles, cake-cutting, dancing, and endless business conversations.

I tried to dull the noise and the emptiness inside me with alcohol, hoping the distraction would quiet the restlessness building in my chest.

As midnight arrived and everyone gathered to sing, the crowd cheered and celebrated the start of my birthday.

Eventually, the guests began leaving, and by two in the morning, the mansion finally grew quiet.

Tatiana and I stayed the night.

She was already asleep when I walked into the bedroom.

Just as I slipped into bed, my phone buzzed softly against the nightstand.

I picked it up and unlocked the screen.

A video message appeared.

The second it started playing, warmth spread through my chest.

Jiya and the children smiled brightly at the camera while wishing me a happy birthday. Emma’s excited little voice echoed through the speaker while Lucas grinned beside her.

For the first time that night, a genuine smile touched my lips.

I replayed the video once more before setting the phone down carefully beside me.

I could not wait to see her and the children again.

Holding onto that thought, I closed my eyes and drifted into sleep.

31

JIYA