After the Heir's One-Night Stand

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I have an empire to inherit. All I wanted was an heir, not a husband.

I scouted for a long time, but the men in my circle were all damaged goods.

The only exception was Donovan Shaw, Westports golden boy. He was supposedly saving himself for the one that got away, so his stock had to be top-tier.

Then I heard he was playing the field, trying to make her jealous.

That was my opening. I slipped into his life disguised as a broke, innocent girl. To make sure he didn't burn himself out with others, I disrupted the market. I didn't want his money. I let him have me for free.

Everyone called me the ultimate doormat, convinced the prince was just using me as his personal plaything.

Little did they know, I was just using him as my personal stud.

The gossip spread like wildfire.

Finally, the news came: his old flame was flying back home to reclaim her man.

...

In the velvet-draped private room, a pack of wealthy heirs was teasing Donovan.

"Donovan, don't tell me you're actually falling for that charity case."

A smirk played on Donovans lips. "My girl works five jobs a day for me, you know. And every penny she makes, she spends on me."

I stood just outside the door, the corner of my mouth twitching.

My father had been sued into oblivion by my mother for his affairs, forcing us to reluctantly inherit his billion-dollar fortune. Id learned early on how selfish and faithless men could be.

The last thing I wanted was to spend my money on one, so I crafted my persona as a poor, struggling girl. Id bring him little gifts Id found, cheap trinkets Id scavenged.

I almost thought Donovan was a man of deep feeling.

But it only took a few lingering glances from me before he couldn't control himself.

Tonight, I carried a meal packed with every aphrodisiac and vitality booster my family's nutritionist could think of. I entered the room, my head bowed timidly.

"Donovan," I whispered, "I made this for you. Please, try it."

One of his friends, a man with a nose for luxury, took a deep sniff. "Whoa, this is the real deal! Shaw, your little girlfriend must have spent a fortune. How many jobs did this cost her?"

Donovan just smiled, not correcting him, and pulled me tighter against him.

The smirks on his friends' faces widened. "You've been on a dry spell for years, man. This little bird must have some serious tricks."

Donovans voice was low, but laced with pride. "She's so eager to please, she won't even let me wear anything."

I had to bite back a laugh.

Im trying to have your baby. Protection would defeat the whole purpose.

I buried my face in his chest, pretending to be overwhelmed with shyness.

Just then, the heavy, soundproof door to the room was kicked open with a violent bang.

The room fell silent. All eyes turned to the entrance.

Sabrina Vance.

She was back early.

I was the one whod leaked my location to her. I was pregnant. It was time for my exit.

Sabrina stormed in, snatched a bottle of champagne from a nearby ice bucket, and fixed her eyes on me.

"So you're the pathetic little homewrecking tramp."

Before the words had even settled, she swung the bottle.

Bubbly champagne cascaded over my head, soaking me completely.

Donovan let out a low chuckle, his gaze on Sabrina filled with indulgence. "Sabrina, still as wild as ever. We agreed we were broken up. You can't tell me I'm not allowed to see other people."

He then patted my back gently, as if calming a frightened pet. "Startled you, didn't she? Don't worry, I've spoiled her rotten."

The jealousy in Sabrinas eyes burned like fire. "Donovan is mine. Even if I'm not here, he's still mine. Who gave you permission to touch him?"

"Donovan," she purred, her voice turning venomous, "the thought of her makes my skin crawl. Why don't we make her so filthy that she'll never have the nerve to show her face to you again?"

The smile on Donovan's face deepened.

"Alright, princess. Anything you want. Just don't take it too far."

On his cue, three burly men entered the room.

Sabrina laughed, a cruel, triumphant sound. "Take her somewhere far away. I don't want to get my eyes dirty."

Donovan crouched down in front of me, making no move to help. His voice was a whisper only I could hear.

"Sabrina is always throwing these little tantrums. I need to show her that if she doesn't come back, there are plenty of others willing to take her place."

"Thanks for taking care of my needs these past few weeks. You're not needed anymore."

I put on a mask of pure devastation, but inside, I was sighing with relief. Finally, I could make my getaway with the baby.

He waved his hand dismissively, and the three brutes dragged me out of the room.

They closed in, grinning as they started unbuckling their belts. The moment their rough, greasy hands touched the collar of my dress

A dull thud echoed in the hallway.

Behind them stood two of my own bodyguards, tall and sharp in tailored suits.

"Are you alright, Miss?"

I straightened up, smoothing my disheveled dress as I looked down at the three men now writhing on the floor.

"We were just doing what we were paid to do!" one of them groaned. "Sabrina Vance, she told us to get some compromising photos and videos of you. Ah! It hurts!"

"Please, let us go"

I walked over and crouched down. He flinched away, but a bodyguards shoe pinned him in place. I looked into his terrified eyes and pulled a small USB drive from my pocket.

"No need for you to film anything," I said coolly. "Take this back to her instead."

They exchanged bewildered glances before scrambling to their feet and fleeing.

When I got home, my mother gasped.

"Sweetheart, what happened? Who did this to you?" she cried. "Get the doctor, now!"

Our family physician arrived within minutes to check on me.

"The young lady is perfectly fine," he assured her. "And the baby is healthy and strong."

My mother clutched her chest in relief. "Oh, thank goodness, thank goodness."

She beamed at me. "Between the two of us, we could wear a new set of jewels every day and still not make a dent in this fortune! Now we'll finally have a little one to help us spend it."

I nodded. Donovan, for all his faults, had been prime breeding stock. The baby was in perfect health.

The next morning, feeling light and unburdened, I went to work at our family's auction house.

The five jobs a day story was true, in a way.

The empire my father left behind was vast: international hedge funds, hotel chains, tech parks it all fell on my shoulders. I was always busy. It's why everyone in high society knew of the Lockwood daughter, but no one knew my face.

I couldn't believe my luck when I walked in and saw Donovan and Sabrina.

Sabrinas expression froze. "You you weren't ruined?" Her eyes scanned the opulent surroundings. "What are you doing in a place like this? You work here? As a waitress?"

She sneered. "Fine. You can serve us today."

A staff member started to step forward to explain, but withered under Sabrina's glare.

I simply waved my hand and offered a serene smile. "Of course. It would be my pleasure."

Business is business, after all. I led them to the VIP lounge.

I was surprised when, during a mid-auction break, Donovan followed me out and pinned me against a wall in the corridor.

His breath was hot against my ear. "Baby, I miss you. I'm coming to your apartment tonight."

A bitter laugh escaped me. His precious Sabrina was back, and he still couldn't control himself. Men were all the same.

The sound of my struggle brought Sabrina running.

Her hand cracked across my face in a sharp slap.

Donovan immediately backed away, his face a mask of innocence. "It was her! She came onto me."

Sabrina's anger turned into a triumphant, chilling smile. She pointed a finger at my nose. "I knew it was you, you little witch. Well, I have a special gift for you at today's auction."

She looked ecstatic. "That video of you being humiliated the other night? I sent it to the auction house. It's been mixed in with today's special lots."

"In a few minutes, when it flashes up on that big screen, your reputation will be destroyed. You'll never be able to show your face in this city again."

She clearly thought the USB drive contained a video of my assault.

I frowned slightly. "Miss Vance, what's on that drive is"

Sabrina cut me off, her finger jabbing the air in front of my face. "Don't you dare, you little tramp. If I don't teach you a lesson today, my name isn't Sabrina Vance."

The auction resumed shortly after.

As the head of the house, I went on stage to give the opening remarks.

Sabrina stared at me, a malicious smile playing on her lips. She leaned into Donovan's ear, her voice just loud enough to be heard by those around them in the quiet room.

"Tsk, tsk. Some people are picking through trash in a tiny apartment in the morning, and by night, they're playing dress-up as a manager. I wonder how many beds she had to warm, how many boots she had to lick, to get that outfit and this position. Utterly pathetic."

The eyes of those nearby turned towards me, filled with amusement and speculation.

I gave a slight bow and stepped down from the stage. Before I could return to my seat, Sabrina's imperious voice called out.

"Hey, you there. The manager."

I paused. "Miss Vance, how may I help you?"

Sabrina looked me up and down, then her eyes locked onto the ring on my finger. She gasped dramatically.

"That ring on your hand Thats a Lockwood family heirloom! I recognize it. Eleanor Lockwood used to wear it."

Her shout drew immediate attention. A buzz of whispers filled the air. The auctioneer paused, looking over with a confused expression.

Sabrina, reveling in the spotlight, stood up, her voice ringing with righteous indignation.

"I knew it! I knew there was something fishy about you being here, pretending to be some manager. You're sleeping with that old man, Marcus Lockwood!"

"Marcus Lockwood got taken to the cleaners by his wife in the divorce! He's a washed-up loser now. You're so desperate for money you'll even latch onto someone old and broke like him. Is he keeping you? Is that ring his payoff for your services?"

She grew more animated with every word, casting herself as a crusader for morality. "Poor Eleanor Lockwood. She finally got rid of one homewrecker, only for a younger, more shameless one like you to crawl into her ex-husband's bed. Women like you are a disease!"

The gazes of the surrounding guests turned sharp and judgmental.

Donovan's face had gone pale. He probably thought I was not only clinging to him but two-timing him with Marcus Lockwood.

I stood there, absorbing her accusations, buffeted by the waves of scrutiny. The whole situation was utterly absurd.

Sabrina shook off Donovan's restraining hand and shouted towards the stage.

"Wait! Before the auction continues, I think everyone here deserves to see the true face of this woman, who pretends to be so pure while climbing her way up on the backs of men."

Donovan looked utterly betrayed, his face colder than before. "I never thought you were this kind of person. I only let you near me because I thought you were clean."

I was speechless.

Still, I tried to give them an out, for the sake of their own dignity. "Miss Vance, the content of that video it's really not suitable for public viewing. Showing it in a place like this won't reflect well on Mr. Shaw, or on you. Are you absolutely certain you want to do this?"

This only enraged her further. Her voice became shrill. "Scared now, are you? A little too late for that! You're a coward who doesn't have the guts to face what you've done. If you have the nerve to crawl into men's beds and play your dirty games, you should have been prepared for a day like this."

The technician at the control booth looked at me, seeking confirmation.

I sighed and gave a slight nod.

The next second, the main screen lit up.

People in the audience were already raising their phones to record.

"Look, look, it's starting!"

"Wow, she really will do anything to get ahead. Donovan Shaw's mistress and Marcus Lockwood's side piece. This woman has quite the appetite."

"Appetite? She's filthy. Sabrina Vance is doing a public service."

The video began to play.

The image was blurry, showing only the back of a woman hunched over a sink in a bathroom.

"See? Everyone, look at her!" Sabrina's voice was distorted with manic glee.

A vein throbbed in my temple. I slapped my hand on the table.

"Hold on. To avoid any future misunderstandings, I need you both to sign this document."

I had an assistant bring over a liability waiver. After years in the business world, I was nothing if not cautious. I had a feeling theyd try to cause trouble for me after seeing the video, and a pre-signed release of liability was essential.

They didn't even glance at it before scrawling their signatures.

"Stop wasting time and play the damn video!" Sabrina snapped.

Then, she picked up a card from the table and dialed my mother's number.

"Eleanor, dear, it's Sabrina. Donovan's fiance," she cooed. "I have to tell you something urgent. There's a seductress here wearing the Lockwood family's sapphire ring. She must be one of the mistresses Marcus is keeping on the side."

"She's also latched onto my Donovan, and now she's parading around Sovereign Auctions pretending to be a manager. It's completely out of control! Its happening in your own auction house! A mistress has come knocking on your door! You have to come down here and teach her a lesson."

On the other end of the line, my mother was silent for a few seconds.

She was clearly confused, but she loved nothing more than an opportunity to gossip about my father. "Fine," she said. "I'm on my way. I wouldn't miss this for the world."

I gestured for my staff to resume the playback.

My mother, a whirlwind of designer fabric and righteous fury, arrived just as the video was about to start, her heels clicking like gunshots on the marble floor.

"Where is she? Where is Marcus's new tart? No, wait, is she number six or number seven by now? That dog will never learn."

Sabrina's eyes lit up. She rushed to my mother's side, linking their arms and guiding her to face the large screen.

"Eleanor, don't you worry. We just need to watch this video. Once you see it, you'll understand just how depraved, how utterly worthless, this woman really is."

My mother, ever the fan of drama, completely forgot her purpose and glued her eyes to the screen.

The file loaded. The progress bar crept across the screen.

The video began to play.

The room was dead silent. Everyone held their breath, waiting to pass judgment on me.