Scandalous Games (Arranged Games Book 1)

There’s always a moment in your life—an intuition. An inkling. A premonition—when we realize our worst fear is winning. It’s the same feeling running through me right now.

It’s drowning me.

Clutching me.

Crushing me.

And we know what they say… Intuition is like a guardian angel. Yet mine feels like the devil perched on my shoulder. Justin’s words have left an unsettling sentiment in my chest. I’m unable to shake it off, overthinking every memory. Every interaction. Everything.

Dash always had an air of darkness about him. The intensity and ruthlessness, screaming he didn’t let anything stand in his way if he desired something. Someone. When he had confessed the same that day in Paris, I thought it was a harmless crush. Attraction. Lust at first sight. 

But it was more. Deeper. Darker.

The one moment that sticks out the most as I replay that night is the lack of surprise on his face when I knocked on his bedroom door. He didn’t look shocked to see me.

Almost like he was waiting.

Or is my mind playing tricks on me? I’m concocting a manipulative tale for no reason. I shake my head. I think being in this city again is fucking with my head. Since yesterday, Dash and I were inseparable and when it’s just us, I forget the world around us.

Gazing at my reflection in the mirror, I force myself to let go of the incessant doubts. I’m letting Niall’s hatred for his stepbrother cloud my judgment of the man who has been nothing but my protector—my possessive and mischievous beast of a husband.

I’m not going to let my fears win. Not again.

Giving myself a once-over, I wash my hands and walk out the bathroom in search of Dash. Hopefully, he’s free by now and even if he isn’t, I’d rather stay by his side.

Justin is nowhere near the bar where I left him when I enter the ballroom.

Fuck. I was going to ask him because I don’t even remember which direction Dash went. Pulling out my phone from the small bling clutch I’m carrying, I decide to call Dash. It goes straight to voicemail, so I decide to text him.

I’m typing away without watching where I’m going when a sweet voice calls my name, one I haven’t heard in ages but still remember like it was yesterday.

“Bianca.”

Whirling around, I collide with none other than Niall’s mom. I’m beyond shocked to see her here even though I shouldn’t be. After all, she is Dash’s stepmother, but I didn’t think he was in touch with her or that she was invited.

“Seema Aunty?” My voice is small when I speak.

Seems like the years that’s gone by haven’t been kind to her because she appears older than her age, even though her beauty hasn’t vanished. Seema Singh has always been a stunning woman, especially in the beautiful sari she’s wearing tonight. However, there is sadness and a vivid pain in her eyes that pinches my heart. She glares at me, the warmth she once held for me now missing.

“So you do remember me,” she sneers, and I’m taken aback by the cutting tone filled with hostility and hatred.

Is she mad at me for breaking up with her son? It’s the only explanation I can come up with. I bet he never told her he cheated on me. Glancing around nervously, I wait for Niall to pop up out of thin air with that cocky smile of his.

“Of course, Aunty,” I say politely. I’m honestly quite surprised that I had enough strength to maintain my composure. “It’s been years. How have you been?”

“You really have some nerve to return here, little girl.”

“Excuse me?”

Ignoring me, she continues in the same tone while staring daggers at my wedding ring. “I had to see for myself if you did marry that bastard who thinks throwing money will rid him of his sins.”

I take a threatening step forward and warn, “I suggest you watch your tone when you talk about my husband, Aunty.”

“Husband?” She just laughs manically. “He finally made you his, like he always wanted. Actually, you two belong together. You never deserved my son anyways.”

“I’m undeserving?” I shake my head sadly and years’ worth of anger, pain, and betrayal comes boiling out, tipping me over the edge. “Do you even know what he did? I loved him and he cheated on me. And he didn’t even have the decency to apologize.”

Eyes widening in disbelief for a second, she stumbles back and whispers ominously. “You don’t know?”

Her voice is so low I almost don’t hear it.

“Know what?”

My confused question snaps her out of the temporary haze and her features harden. When she speaks, her eyes tear up while her voice is a mixture of raw agony and malice. “Your husband killed my son.”

A silent deafening roar echoes in my ears at the revelation.

Killed my son.

Killed Niall.

Dash killed Niall.

“Niall? Wha… No.”

The room disappears as if the earth was yanked beneath me. It’s like someone pushed me into a pitch-black well with no way to climb out. My breath freezes in my throat as panic and shock cuts off the oxygen to my lungs. Niall’s mom cruelly continues, ripping me open until I’m sinking in her pain.

A loss I can’t even imagine.

A death she blames me for.

Just like that, all the resentment and anger I carried for Niall vanishes until I’m left with a hollowness in my heart. Until one single truth remains.

I gave my soul to a liar. A traitor. Maybe this is what I deserve. My karma for deceiving my family. I thought I was fooling the entire world but the biggest player turned out to be Dash.

“You’re no better than your husband because you were the reason he was even out that night, chasing after you. You say you loved my Niall yet not once did you bother to reach out to him over the years. Shame on you for accusing him of cheating. That boy loved you more than anything.”

Tears stream down my face while she raises her voice, drawing hundreds of eyes on us.

“I’m s-so sorry,” I apologize brokenly. Nevermind the fact that I remember with clarity what I saw. She’s right. I should’ve called. Checked. Been stronger.

And Dash.

His betrayal kills me the most. He fucking knew all this time and god, I let him into my life. My body. My heart.

Oh, how he played me for a fool. Everything falls into place. The fact that he never discusses his past, especially what happened to Niall. How could he hide that? A heartbreaking sob breaks past my lips and I swallow the broken whimper.

“Your husband kills everyone he touches. First his mom and then my son.” I look through blurry eyes while listening to her deliver blow after blow. It hits me like a thunderstorm that she doesn’t even utter Dash’s name. “He didn’t even spare his father. Now you already know he’s a killer and a liar, save yourself before he kills you too..”

Shoving my shoulder, she walks past me. Someone clicks my picture from my right and I run with my dignity on the floor and my heart shattered once more. Not shattered.

Killed.

Stabbed.

Left to bleed.

But I’m not running away like a coward. Mustering what little strength I possess, I go search for him. I find the event planner in the hallway and stalk toward her.

“Where is Mr. Stern?”

She startles at my rough voice, her gaze nervous when they see my tear-stained face. “Ma’am. No one is allowed back here.”

“I said. Where. Is. Dash?”

She flinches and stammers, pointing to her left. “He’s upstairs. In Room 101.”

My anger rises with every step and during the elevator ride. It’s a welcoming emotion compared to the searing pain of heartbreak and betrayal. I can’t allow myself to break and crumble right now. He doesn’t deserve my tears.

He never deserved my love.

Loud, angry voices greet me when I land on the right floor and I follow the sound, recognizing one of them as Justin’s. Each inch closer is like I’m marching to my own doom. My gait falters at the fact that I not only got played by one but two men. Justin lied to my face too, acting like a friend when he’s just as guilty.

“Why the fuck haven’t you told her the truth?” I halt right outside at Justin’s sharp tone. “She deserves to know.”

“You don’t think I know that? That I haven’t tried to confess?” Dash sounds pained, but not enough to douse the fire in my veins. He’s an actor. A manipulator. A fucking liar.

“Oh, come on, Dash. You bloody live with her, so don’t bullshit me.” Lowering his voice, he solemnly says, “She is in love with you and you’re betraying her, man.”

“I didn’t think she ever would.” Dash huffs a humorless laugh. The sound, like a brick to my chest. “I thought I could get her out of my system, sate my obsession and walk away. I should’ve known she’ll bury herself deeper.”

My vision blurs just as a sob rises to my throat. I slap my palm on my mouth to cover the sound.

“Then tell her the truth.”

“I will.”

“If you truly care for her, then you’ll tell her Niall is gone and that you broke them up by setting him up so she would catch him cheating.”

No. No. No. I stumble, clutching the wall as another wave of anguish unfurls in my stomach. He wouldn’t do that. Dash can’t be that vicious and cruel. But his rough shout digs the knife harder and deeper into my back. I bleed until I’m numb.

“I can’t lose her. She won’t forgive me.”

I rub the tears away and straighten.

“No, I won’t.”

The men freeze as I stagger into the room. Dash’s terrified and guilty eyes collide with mine. When he sees the haunted look on my face and tears of betrayal, twisted agony darkens his sharp angles. Somehow, he realizes I heard everything and he takes a step forward, his arm reaching for me. “Kitten.”

“What did you do?”

“Please, kitten. I was going to tell you.”

“What did you do!?” I yell.