050TWO DAYS LATER *****ALORA'S POV****** I stared at myself in the mirror, barely recognizing the girl looking back at me. My heart pounded in my chest as the women tightened the edges of my gown, making it fit perfectly. Today was the wedding. The day I’d be marrying Stanley in public. Even though it was all fake, I couldn’t stop the nerves crawling under my skin. It didn’t make sense. I should’ve felt nothing—it was just a deal, a show. But somehow, it still felt real. The thought that after this we’d go our separate ways kept echoing in my head. No matter how hard I tried to block it out, it came back louder and I didn't know why. When the women were done with the gown, another set walked in. The makeup artists. They barely spoke as they worked, focused on making everything perfect. I sat still, watching my reflection change. The more makeup they applied, the more I felt like a stranger in my own skin. All this effort for a marriage that wouldn’t even last a full yea
051Ash’s POVAs the hearing began, the judge called on Ryan's lawyer."Mrs. Jane," he announced.She stepped forward confidently. Her posture was poised, her expression unreadable. Dressed in a sharp coat, she exuded authority. I had heard she never lost a case—and from the way she carried herself, I believed it. But I wasn't worried. My lawyer was better. I trusted his capabilities."My Lord," she began, voice clear, "my client, Mr. Ryan Hemsworth, has been accused of murdering his own brother, Lucas Hemsworth."She paused, then turned to the court.“Let me clarify everything. First, I’ll show the images of his brother’s dead body and the bruises he sustained after the supposed fight with Mr. Ryan.”She walked to her table, picked up her briefcase, and opened it. From inside, she pulled out a stack of photos.Approaching the judge, she placed the images before him. He studied them carefully before passing them to the jury.“Now,” she continued, “this is the first piece of evidence.
001 The setting sun painted the sky in hues of amber and violet as I walked home from the supermarket. The plastic bags in my hands cut into my palms, but I barely noticed.Life with Ryan wasn’t perfect after I left my father's house, my mother begged me not to leave but I did. Ryan and i didn't have much. We scraped by on my earnings as an author, stretching every dollar, but it was enough. We were enough. We had a roof over our heads, food on the table, and love—wasn’t that what mattered?I climbed the porch steps and reached for the door, but something made me pause. A glint of black caught my eye.A pair of black heels sat by the entrance.I frowned. Those weren’t mine.My grip on the grocery bags tightened. Ryan had company, but that made no sense. He knew how I felt about unexpected guests, especially women.I pushed the door open, stepping inside. The first place my eyes landed on was the table.A pair of panties lay draped over the edge, delicate lace with tiny heart-sha
002Ash was my best friend. The only friend I had after leaving my father’s house.We met at the park—heartbroken, she sat alone, crying after the man she loved dumped her for another. I consoled her, knowing all too well how it felt to lose someone you love. Ever since that day, we had been inseparable.I never thought she’d be the one to betray me like this. The one to come after my man. My Ryan.My fingers curled into fists, nails biting into my palms. Without hesitation, I walked toward her, my footsteps heavy with anger. She sat on the bed, oblivious to what was coming.The slap echoed through the room.Ash’s head snapped to the side, her dark curls shielding her face. Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating."You of all people?" My voice trembled with fury. "You disgust me, Ash! Do you remember the day we met? When I held you as you cried over that jerk who dumped you? And now, you're after my man? Shameless!" My voice rose, thick with betrayal.She didn’t answer. Te
THE NEXT MORNING 003 "It’s Ash I love. The moment I saw her, I lost interest in you. You’re just a good-for-nothing bitch." "No, Ryan. Don’t do this..." ******* I shot upright, gasping for air. My chest heaved, my hands clutching at the sheets beneath me. Cold sweat clung to my skin as I struggled to separate nightmare from reality. "Ryan can’t leave me," I whispered shakily. "He wouldn’t..." I squeezed my arm hard, nails digging into my flesh, hoping to jolt myself awake. The sharp sting spread through my nerves like wildfire. It wasn’t a dream. It was real. It all happened. The betrayal. The fall. The car. A beeping sound filled my ears, its rhythmic pulse anchoring me to the present. Slowly, I turned my head. The sterile white walls, the faint antiseptic scent, the oxygen mask pressing against my face—it all confirmed what I feared. I was in a hospital. A deep chill settled in my bones, making me shudder. The IV tugged at my arm with every small movement. The soft co
004 My breath caught in my throat, the words echoing in my ears. “Excuse me?” I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible. “You heard me,” Stanley said, his tone oozing with confidence, his lips curling into a smirk. “You want to work for me? Then prove your worth. Show me what makes you indispensable.” My hands trembled as I clutched the phone. His words were calculated, laced with arrogance, and it threw me off balance. I had expected something else, not this unnerving proposition. When I didn’t respond, he chuckled—a low, knowing sound. “Cat got your tongue? Or are you rethinking that desperate declaration of ‘anything’? I thought you were serious.” Tears stung my eyes, but I swallowed them back. His composed yet biting words were harder to endure than outright cruelty. I clenched my jaw, humiliation searing through me. “Well?” he prompted, his tone sharp yet disturbingly calm. “The clock’s ticking. If you can’t handle this conversation, you’re already wasting my time.
005 After speaking he slammed the door on my face. Tears stung my eyes as I stood frozen at the door, my heart heavy with doubt and fear. For a brief moment, I wanted to turn around and walk away, but where could I go? I had no place left to turn. No home. No safety. Just the cold streets waiting for me if I left here. I felt a sharp, biting pang in my chest as the thought crossed my mind: Maybe I should beg. But then, I shook my head violently. Begging Stanley again? I couldn’t. My pride, as small as it was, told me it would be too humiliating. But deep down, I knew that if I didn’t, I would have nothing. No future. No way forward. Survival, I reminded myself. To survive, I needed to put my pride aside, to face whatever humiliation came with it. My heart pounded in my chest as I slowly, painfully, raised my fist and banged on the door again, louder this time. Knock. Knock. Knock. I waited, but the seconds dragged by in agonizing silence. No answer. A lump formed in my throa
006Stanley turned abruptly, his piercing gaze locking onto me where I still sat on the cold, tiled floor. His voice dripped with disdain as he sneered, “Did you not hear me?” The harshness in his tone snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts, yanking me back into the unforgiving reality of the moment. My heart clenched as I hastily wiped away the tears that had pooled in my eyes, using the back of my palms to erase any evidence of weakness. Shakily, I stood, my legs threatening to give way under the weight of my humiliation. Without another word, Stanley spun on his heel and marched toward the door. I followed silently, my footsteps hesitant as I trailed behind him. Each step felt heavy, the air between us thick with tension. He led me through the grand hallways, past expensive art and pristine furniture that spoke volumes of his wealth and power, until we arrived at the kitchen. The room was nothing short of breathtaking—opulent and pristine, with gleaming marble countertops, g
051Ash’s POVAs the hearing began, the judge called on Ryan's lawyer."Mrs. Jane," he announced.She stepped forward confidently. Her posture was poised, her expression unreadable. Dressed in a sharp coat, she exuded authority. I had heard she never lost a case—and from the way she carried herself, I believed it. But I wasn't worried. My lawyer was better. I trusted his capabilities."My Lord," she began, voice clear, "my client, Mr. Ryan Hemsworth, has been accused of murdering his own brother, Lucas Hemsworth."She paused, then turned to the court.“Let me clarify everything. First, I’ll show the images of his brother’s dead body and the bruises he sustained after the supposed fight with Mr. Ryan.”She walked to her table, picked up her briefcase, and opened it. From inside, she pulled out a stack of photos.Approaching the judge, she placed the images before him. He studied them carefully before passing them to the jury.“Now,” she continued, “this is the first piece of evidence.
050TWO DAYS LATER *****ALORA'S POV****** I stared at myself in the mirror, barely recognizing the girl looking back at me. My heart pounded in my chest as the women tightened the edges of my gown, making it fit perfectly. Today was the wedding. The day I’d be marrying Stanley in public. Even though it was all fake, I couldn’t stop the nerves crawling under my skin. It didn’t make sense. I should’ve felt nothing—it was just a deal, a show. But somehow, it still felt real. The thought that after this we’d go our separate ways kept echoing in my head. No matter how hard I tried to block it out, it came back louder and I didn't know why. When the women were done with the gown, another set walked in. The makeup artists. They barely spoke as they worked, focused on making everything perfect. I sat still, watching my reflection change. The more makeup they applied, the more I felt like a stranger in my own skin. All this effort for a marriage that wouldn’t even last a full yea
049 Clark’s POV The silence in my living room was unnatural. Too still. Even the hum of the refrigerator felt louder than it should be. I’d already packed the flash drive—my only solid evidence against Ash—and slipped it into the inside pocket of my jacket. There was no mistaking it. After that video Drake sent me, I knew she'd come for me. It was only a matter of time. I double-checked the curtains, making sure they were still drawn. The night outside was darker than usual, as though even the moon had decided to stay out of this. I took a deep breath and stepped outside. My plan was simple: head to Officer Delvin’s house—an old friend and the one person I trusted with this kind of heat. I descended the steps, gripping my car keys tightly, my fingers twitching. My SUV stood parked in the driveway, calm and unaware of the storm coming. The second my boots hit the concrete, I heard it. A low engine growl. My eyes darted to the left. A sleek, matte black van turned slowly into my
048Alora's POV “What? In two days?” I exclaimed, eyes wide. “I know, I know, Alora,” Stanley said quickly, trying to calm me down. “I know it’s sudden, but I’ve already started making the arrangements. The venue, the people... I even invited some friends.” He paused for a second, then added, “Plus, most of the major servants will be there. All you need to do is put on the act. And then, when she’s...., when she's....gone, you’ll be free to go.” He said it like it was the simplest thing in the world, but I could see the torment behind his eyes. I stared at him, my heart softening. I could already feel pity for him. “Everything’s going to be fine, Stanley,” I said gently. “Just be positive. Your mom... she won’t die. Trust me, she can’t.” I wasn’t sure if I believed my own words, but I had to be strong for him. *********** Charles' POV I sat on Alora’s bed, still boiling in rage. How could she? I asked myself. How could she choose him over me? I had hinted at my feelings. I
*Alora’s POV* —047I lay on my bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The cursor on my laptop screen blinked mockingly, a silent reminder that the words I needed just wouldn’t come. Writer’s block had wrapped its cold fingers around my mind for hours now, and the silence of my room only made it worse.I sighed and shut the laptop with a soft click, rubbing my temples in frustration. That’s when I heard a knock on the door.Groaning quietly, I stood and shuffled over, barefoot on the cold floor. I pulled the door open—and froze.Charles stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe like he owned the world. He wore black trousers and a white shirt, unbuttoned halfway down his chest, revealing a sculpted torso. His hair was styled differently today, slightly tousled in an effortlessly attractive way.“What brings you here, Charles?” I asked, keeping my voice neutral.He smirked. “Well, isn’t it obvious?”I chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “No, it’s not obvious.”“Invite me in and m
046*Ash’s POV*I stared at the screen for a long time, my fingers trembling over the phone. My heart thudded so loud I could barely hear myself think. I swallowed hard and finally answered.“What do you want from me, Clark?” I asked coldly, not even giving him the chance to speak first.His voice came through, smooth as ever but laced with venom. “Oh, I don’t need anything from you, Ash,” he replied, mockingly calm. “I just wanted to inform you… about your doom.”I froze.“You think you’re so smart, don’t you?” he continued. “You played your game so perfectly—so damn perfectly—ruining the lives of two brothers. But now, it’s your turn. You’re going to pay, Ash. I’ll see you in court.”He paused. Then came the final dagger: “I can’t wait to see you in chains.”My mouth opened to respond, but the call ended.I stood frozen, the cold silence of the room wrapping around me like a noose. My hand went to my forehead, trembling.Drake. He must’ve told Clark something. No—he must’ve shown h
045Turning my attention back to the beautiful scene unfolding before me, I smiled faintly. Let me put up an act, at least, so I don't look like a bad sister.I took a deep breath and walked toward them, letting my performance begin.“Doctor, what are you saying?!” I cried out suddenly, my voice cracking. “Tell me this isn’t true!”At this point, my eyes were red and glassy, shimmering with tears that hadn’t fully fallen. I turned to Mr. Collins like a frightened child.“Dad, what is he saying? Nothing is going to happen to my sister, right?”Mr. Collins pulled me into a tight embrace, his hand rubbing circles on my back.“Everything will be fine, honey,” he whispered. “Everything is going to be okay.”I clung to him, letting the hug linger just a second longer to make it feel real, burying my face in his chest. But then, without warning, my head jerked backward as fingers tangled into my hair and yanked me away from him.“What the—!”I turned quickly—only to see her. My stepmother. H
044My heart pounded in my chest as I heard the shrill sound of footsteps rushing towards the stairs. Panic spread like wildfire, but I kept my face a mask of pure innocence. I rushed to the ground floor standing besides Chloe just as the maids and my stepmother flooded into the hallway.“What's going on here?!” my stepmother demanded, her eyes flicking between me and Chloe's motionless body at the foot of the stairs. Her voice was high-pitched, frantic. “Ash, what happened to Chloe? Why is she lying there?”I didn’t miss a beat.“Oh my God! I—I was just in my room when I heard shouting,” I said, my voice shaky but controlled, putting on the perfect act. “I rushed to Chloe’s room and—”“Shouting? What are you talking about?” My stepmother cut me off, now furrowing her brow at me.“Yes, shouting. I heard it coming from her room,” I continued, my eyes widening as I painted the perfect picture. “When I went in to see what was going on, she was smashing her phone against the wall. I asked
043 I glared at her. I didn't have time for nonsense now. The court letter crumpled in my fist, veins pulsing in my neck. My chest rose and fell rapidly with each breath I took. Without saying another word to her, I bolted out of the hallway, feet pounding against the marble tiles as I raced toward the Door. “Drake! Please wait!” I screamed, my voice cracking with desperation, once I arrived at the door. But he didn’t. He didn't even turn his head. He slammed his door shut, and the engine roared to life. My heart sank as the tires screeched against the pavement, leaving me there in regret. I froze, then slowly placed a trembling hand on my forehead. My eyes blinked back the tears that stung. The ache in my chest spread like wildfire, scorching every corner of my body. “You’re in a mess, Ash,” I whispered bitterly to myself. Dragging my feet back into the house, I closed the door behind me and sank into my bed. The silence was deafening, but my thoughts were louder. How did it a