The Billionaire’s Wedding Trap - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

"She's my wife, Aliyat. We're married, and you're letting her go right now."
"No! I worked too damn hard to bring her here just to punish her for what she did to us. She ruined our lives, Cain!" Aliya screamed.
"I'm taking her now," Cain stated, circling the chair and wrenching my wrist free from the ropes.
"Stop! Get your hands off her!" Aliya shrieked.
"Elle, we need to move," Cain urged, hastily loosening the ropes and yanking me up, his grip painfully tight.
I jerked my arm away and stumbled back. "Why are you even here, Cain? Why bother saving me now?"
He dragged a frustrated hand through his hair. "Because I can't just watch you die, Elle."
A bitter laugh escaped me. "Now you care? After everything? After letting Aliya torch my entire life? Don't play the hero, Cain. You never loved me. You just wanted my father's company. And I'm not your wife."
"You're wrong, Elle. I've always loved you."
The words sliced deep, but I steeled myself. "I don't buy it. What's your real angle?"
Cain exhaled sharply. "I need to fix what I destroyed. To save you—even if you hate me forever."
"You can't undo what you did. You took everything from me. And now you expect me to trust you?"
"I expect nothing. But I won't let you die for my mistakes."
"Enough!" Aliya's scream cut through the room.
We whirled to see her blocking the exit, gun trembling in her hands. Tears streaked her smeared mascara, her eyes burning with fury.
"Why does everyone always love you, Elle?" she whispered, voice cracking. "Perfect little daughter, everyone's favorite. While I was just the unwanted stepchild—never good enough."
I froze. "Aliya..."
She barked a hollow laugh. "You'd never understand. Watching Father pretend I didn't exist. I was just his wife's baggage."
Cain stepped forward, palms raised. "Aliya, drop the gun. Now."
She ignored him, laser-focused on me. "You floated through life on easy street while I scraped for crumbs. Then you got to marry Prince Charming and inherit King Corp—while I got nothing."
My pulse hammered. "So that's why? You wrecked me because I had it all?"
"You always had everything! The golden child!"
Cain shifted between us. "Aliya, if you ever cared about me—even a little—stop this. Let Elle go."
Her face contorted. "You were supposed to love me. But you're picking her."
"I was never yours. You used me to hurt Elle. I loved you for years, and you ignored me—until you needed revenge."
"I never forced you! You followed every order!"
"I did it all for you. And I'll never forgive myself."
"Move, Cain. I want her dead, not you."
"Not happening. Drop it!" Cain roared.
"I killed the baby in her stomach too," she spat.
Cain went rigid. "What?!"
"Pushed her down the stairs. Wasn't letting her have your child—that wasn't the plan."
"You monster!" Cain's whole body shook with rage.
Aliya faltered. "It wasn't supposed to be real! We just needed the property—"
"How could you?!" Cain's voice shattered.
Aliya sobbed, fear flashing in her eyes. The room hung in deadly silence—until she suddenly swung the gun straight at me.
Cain moved like lightning, shielding me. It happened too fast to process.