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Feeling Alpha Xavier’s presence fading away after their brief interaction, Riya purchased a small batch of Honeysuckle before leaving the pharmacy. She walked briskly to her car, her mind weighed down by lingering worry. As she began the drive back home, she reached for her phone and quickly dialed her son’s number. Her voice was shaky but laced with urgency as she spoke. "Do you think he’ll suspect anything? What if he starts asking questions or digging into things?"
"Don’t worry, Mom," Clem’s calm voice came through the receiver, reassuring her. "He has no reason to connect you to anything. Trust me, Alpha Xavier won’t even think of you as a part of this."
Riya exhaled deeply, relief washing over her like a wave. Clem’s words were a comfort she desperately needed. She had always trusted her son to keep their secrets buried, especially the one that only the two of them—and Pamela—knew.
Thinking of Pamela brought back a flood of memories. She and Pamela had grown up in the same small village, a place called Little Parkview Street. They had been neighbors, their homes separated by just a narrow dirt road. Pamela was a few years younger than Riya, but they had spent much of their childhood together, sharing laughs and stories. Back then, they were more like sisters than just neighbors.
Little Parkview Street, however, was not a place of joy or prosperity. The area was notorious for being overrun with crime and corruption. Most families there were poor, struggling to make ends meet amidst the filth and lawlessness that plagued the streets. For Riya’s family, life was a constant battle for survival. They lived in a rundown shack, barely able to afford food, let alone any comforts. From a young age, Riya helped her parents run small stalls in the local market, selling whatever they could to scrape together enough money. Even as a child, she had felt the weight of their poverty, and as the years passed, her frustration with their dire circumstances only grew stronger.
When Riya was still a teenager, during one of her lowest moments, she caught the attention of a local ruffian. He was older and rough around the edges, but he had a way of charming her with his smooth words and occasional financial help. Blinded by his promises of a better life and a love she had never known, Riya fell for him. She believed his lies, convincing herself that he would save her from her misery. Under his influence, she made one bad decision after another, and before long, she found herself pregnant and unmarried.
Her life spiraled even further after her parents passed away within a short span of time. Left with no family and no support, she lived with the ruffian and his gang for a while, hoping to find some stability. But that hope was short-lived. Shortly after her son was born, the gang was arrested, and the ruffian was sent to prison. Alone and desperate, Riya couldn’t take care of her child. After much thought and advice from others, she made the heart-wrenching decision to give her son up for adoption. She entrusted him to the Moores, a childless couple who promised to raise him well.
However, the Moores imposed a strict condition: Riya was never to return to the area or contact the child again. Fearing that the ruffian might somehow cause harm to her son if he ever returned, Riya reluctantly agreed. The Moores gave her a small sum of money, which she used to leave the village and start anew.
With nowhere else to go, Riya decided to go abroad, taking on odd jobs to survive. It was during this time that she met Watson, a man who seemed kind and dependable at first. She married him, hoping to build a stable life. For a brief period, things were good. Watson treated her well, and she thought she had finally found peace. But that peace didn’t last. Somehow, Watson discovered her past and learned about her pregnancy before their marriage. His attitude toward her changed drastically.
Watson became cruel and violent, blaming Riya for deceiving him. He felt betrayed, believing he had married a pure and virtuous woman, only to find out about her "shameful" past. No matter how hard Riya tried to please him or make amends, Watson’s abuse escalated. He began seeking comfort in the arms of other women, leaving Riya feeling helpless and humiliated.
One day, Riya reached her breaking point. After enduring years of beatings and insults, she fought back. In a fit of rage and self-defense, she grabbed a hammer and struck Watson during one of his violent outbursts. The blow proved fatal, and Watson died. Riya was arrested and sentenced to over ten years in prison for manslaughter.
During her time in prison, Riya reflected on her life and vowed to change. Her good behavior earned her an early release, and once she was free, she worked tirelessly to rebuild her life. It was during this period that she reconnected with Pamela, who had married a wealthy secretary and moved far beyond the hardships of Parkview Street. Pamela, recognizing Riya’s struggles, offered her a job as a nanny.
Riya’s new role brought stability, and for several years, she worked diligently as a nanny for various families. Eventually, Pamela used her connections to place Riya in the prestigious Xavier household as Madam Elinor’s nanny. It was a significant step up from her previous jobs.
Although she was technically a servant in the Xavier family, Riya’s living conditions were far better than anything she had experienced before. She quickly learned how to manage Elinor’s fiery temper, enduring the older woman’s outbursts with a smile and a bowed head. Over time, Riya earned Elinor’s trust and became a permanent fixture in the household.
Three years into her role, Riya secretly returned to her old village to check on her son. To her horror, she discovered that he was in trouble with the law and facing a potential prison sentence due to an accident. Desperate to save him, she turned to Pamela for help. Pamela devised a plan to spare the boy from punishment and even secured him a job as Beta Craig’s driver.
Over time, Riya realized that Pamela had her own motives for helping her. Pamela had deliberately placed Riya in the Xavier household to act as her spy and accomplice. Riya, needing Pamela’s support, reluctantly went along with her schemes. She even played a part in sabotaging Bella’s chances of having a child, ensuring that Samantha would have a better shot at marrying Alpha Xavier.
Riya had always planned to save enough money and leave the Xavier household quietly. But recently, Elinor’s temper had worsened, and the constant abuse was becoming unbearable. When Riya confided in her son about her struggles, he suggested a plan to make Elinor more manageable. The idea was simple: buy a sleeping aid from the pharmacy to keep Elinor asleep for most of the day. That way, she wouldn’t have the energy to curse or mistreat Riya.
Riya had gone to the pharmacy to buy the sleeping aid, but the unexpected encounter with Alpha Xavier had thrown her off course. Now, as she drove home, her mind raced with thoughts of what might happen next. Would Xavier grow suspicious? Would their carefully hidden secrets be exposed? Only time would tell.