The first thing I noticed was the cold.
It wrapped around me, heavy and unforgiving. The air smelled damp, thick with dust and something metallic. My body ached, my head pounding like a hammer was inside it. When I tried to move, my arms wouldn’t even budge.Panic crawled up my throat.I forced my eyes open.Darkness.A single dim light flickered above, its glow barely reaching the corners of the room. The walls were made of concrete, cracked and stained with things I didn’t want to think about. My breath came out in short, shallow gasps, fogging up the cold air.I tried to move again, but something tugged at my wrists.Tied.My arms were pulled behind me, thick ropes digging into my skin. My ankles were bound too, tight enough that I could feel the circulation slowing.I swallowed hard. My mouth was dry, my throat sore.The last thing I remembered was answering Sebastian’s call. Then the doorSebastian’s POVThe second I stepped into that place, I knew something was wrong.The air was damp, thick with the smell of dust and something metallic - blood. My fists clenched at my sides as my eyes swept across the dimly lit space. A warehouse. Abandoned, judging by the broken crates and rusted chains hanging from the ceiling. My pulse pounded in my ears, louder than my own footsteps as I moved forward.Natalie was here.She had to be.And if they had touched her -God help them.A low, taunting laugh echoed through the space. I froze.Then, a voice. Smooth. Cold. Familiar.“I was wondering when you’d get here.”I turned sharply, my muscles coiled, ready to strike. From the shadows, a figure stepped forward - Iris.She looked at me with suprise, arms folded, eyes gleaming with something dark. Like she had been expecting me. Like she was enjoying this.“Where is she?” My voice came o
The cold night air hit my face as I stepped outside the hospital. The chaos from earlier had faded, leaving behind an eerie quiet. My body felt heavy, my mind even heavier.I should have felt relief.Iris and Samantha were in police custody. They wouldn’t be able to hurt Natalie again. The nightmare should have been over.But it wasn’t.Something inside me wouldn’t rest.I stood near the entrance, watching as the police officers led the two women to the waiting patrol car. Samantha fought against their grip, her wild eyes burning with rage."You think this is over?!" she screamed, twisting in the officer’s hold. "You think you’ve won, Sebastian?! You have no idea what’s coming!"Iris, on the other hand, didn’t say a word. She simply walked forward, her face blank. But I knew better.She was calculating.Planning.Waiting for the right moment.The officers shoved them into the car and s
When I woke up this morning, if someone had tapped me and told me that the world as I knew it would come crashing down today, I would have laughed and said they were bluffing.But it is amazing how the worst can happen, at moments when we least expect it.I was smiling when I walked up the pathway to Alfred’s house, the warm June sun casting a golden glow over everything. It was one of those perfect days that seemed tailor-made for surprises. My heart raced with excitement, and I clutched the small gift I had brought for him—an antique watch he had been eyeing for months. Today marked our two-year anniversary, and I wanted to make it special.The front door creaked as I pushed it open, stepping into the cool, air-conditioned sitting room, where I found Marlene, the housekeeper, dusting a vase in the living room.“Hi Marlene!” I greeted her with a warm smile. “Where’s Alfred? I have a little surprise for him.”“Oh, Miss Natalie, he’s inside the house, resting,” she replied, returning
The world seemed to tilt, my knees threatening to give way beneath me. This couldn’t be happening. This had to be some kind of nightmare. But as I looked into Iris’s triumphant face and Alfred’s regretful eyes, I knew it was real. “How could you?” I whispered, more to myself than to them.Iris crossed her arms, her expression unyielding. “Because it’s about time I got what I deserve. You’ve always been the perfect one, the chosen one. Well, not anymore.”With that, she turned on her heel and walked back toward the house, leaving me standing there in shock. Alfred lingered for a moment, looking like he wanted to say something, but then he followed Iris without another word.I watched them go, my mind spinning. Everything I had known, everything I had believed in, was a lie. My father’s legacy, my love for Alfred, my bond with Iris—it was all gone, ripped away in the cruellest way possible.I sank to my knees, the gravel biting into my skin, but I hardly felt it. It is all gone.The r
Headache.That was the first thing I noticed, as I opened my eyes and closed it again to adjust better to the brightness of the day.Raging headache. It felt like my head was on fire.Pure mad headache.I opened my eyes again and stared at the very unfamiliar ceiling, and with a start looked around the room - but I was in a strange place. A room that looked like a hotel room.This wasn’t my hotel room. The bed was too large, the sheets too luxurious. Panic began to set in, but the throbbing in my head was too intense for me to move much. I tried to think, to piece together the events of the previous night, but everything was a blur.Suddenly, the sound of a toilet flushing jolted me further into consciousness. The bathroom door creaked open, and a man walked into the room. He was wearing nothing but a towel tied around his waist. I tilted my head staring at him. He looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place him.He caught my eye and gave me a knowing smile. “Good morning. How a
The satisfaction I felt knew no bounds as I watched Alfred and Iris' eyes widen in shock.Boom!I resisted the urge to go to their stupid faces and snap my fingers at them. “What!” Iris yelled, gaze darting frantically between Sebastian and I, “what?!”“Surely there must be a mistake,” she said with a chuckle and turned to Mr Knight, “Natalie can't possibly be -”“Natalie is my wife. And I demand you speak with some respect.”Dayumm.“This is a joke. Mr Knight I have no idea how she managed to lure you, deceive you into marrying her but Natalie is nothing but a low life. She has nothing and is not capable of anything except using her body to woo men.”You've got to be kidding me.I Clenched my fists as anger flared in me but I decided to not respond.“Like I said Miss Wilson,” Sebastian stated calmly, “you will speak to my wife with disrespect.”Iris' jaw dropped and I smirked when her gaze shifted to me.“Shameless whore!” She spat, “so that's what you've been doing huh? Throwing yo
I would have undoubtedly thought I had crossed the line the moment I made that statement,but Natalie never stops at leaving me in awe.“Alright,” she said. But before she responded, a disappointed scoff ran through her curled lips. Just then, I knew she was determined to get what she wanted.“I think we're good then, wife.” I pressed forward towards her as I shot a grin.“On one condition.”Hm, the lass with the conditions. I hoped it wasn't something serious. “I'm all ears.” “No strings attached. No feelings, just raw sex.”I paused. “Sure.”“Then we're good. Do have a nice day, husband.” She laid emphasis on husband as though she was insinuating something - something I couldn't seem to lay hands on as she turned on her heels and left, shutting the door behind her.I must say I'm pleased and intrigued by her - the way she makes unpredictable decisions…even though I had just known her for less than forty eight hours. Stupidly insane.I somehow needed to know more about my Natalie la
Anger still surged through me as I did , returning to that godforsaken house. Damn it. Knowing I had to see their face again made me feel strangely stupid.I finally reached and got a grip of myself. Me showing them they could annoy me gave them more power.I went in as my eyes roamed the sitting room. It was nowhere to be found. Just then, mother walked in, her voice shifting my attention to her.“I knew you would come back.” If only she knew why.“Can I have my phone back?” “Come over here, Sebastian. I want to talk. I want us to talk.” “What if I say there's no room for that?” “You don't have an option here, just listen to me.” I felt a chill down my spine as a trickle of tears ran down her face. I wasn't sorry she cried. I just didn't know what came over me that I listened so that she could do the talking.“I'm all ears.” I tried to hide my frustration and impatience. “Bear in mind that I don't have all night.” “What has come over you, son? “ The statement I hated hearing.
The cold night air hit my face as I stepped outside the hospital. The chaos from earlier had faded, leaving behind an eerie quiet. My body felt heavy, my mind even heavier.I should have felt relief.Iris and Samantha were in police custody. They wouldn’t be able to hurt Natalie again. The nightmare should have been over.But it wasn’t.Something inside me wouldn’t rest.I stood near the entrance, watching as the police officers led the two women to the waiting patrol car. Samantha fought against their grip, her wild eyes burning with rage."You think this is over?!" she screamed, twisting in the officer’s hold. "You think you’ve won, Sebastian?! You have no idea what’s coming!"Iris, on the other hand, didn’t say a word. She simply walked forward, her face blank. But I knew better.She was calculating.Planning.Waiting for the right moment.The officers shoved them into the car and s
Sebastian’s POVThe second I stepped into that place, I knew something was wrong.The air was damp, thick with the smell of dust and something metallic - blood. My fists clenched at my sides as my eyes swept across the dimly lit space. A warehouse. Abandoned, judging by the broken crates and rusted chains hanging from the ceiling. My pulse pounded in my ears, louder than my own footsteps as I moved forward.Natalie was here.She had to be.And if they had touched her -God help them.A low, taunting laugh echoed through the space. I froze.Then, a voice. Smooth. Cold. Familiar.“I was wondering when you’d get here.”I turned sharply, my muscles coiled, ready to strike. From the shadows, a figure stepped forward - Iris.She looked at me with suprise, arms folded, eyes gleaming with something dark. Like she had been expecting me. Like she was enjoying this.“Where is she?” My voice came o
The first thing I noticed was the cold.It wrapped around me, heavy and unforgiving. The air smelled damp, thick with dust and something metallic. My body ached, my head pounding like a hammer was inside it. When I tried to move, my arms wouldn’t even budge.Panic crawled up my throat.I forced my eyes open.Darkness.A single dim light flickered above, its glow barely reaching the corners of the room. The walls were made of concrete, cracked and stained with things I didn’t want to think about. My breath came out in short, shallow gasps, fogging up the cold air.I tried to move again, but something tugged at my wrists.Tied.My arms were pulled behind me, thick ropes digging into my skin. My ankles were bound too, tight enough that I could feel the circulation slowing.I swallowed hard. My mouth was dry, my throat sore.The last thing I remembered was answering Sebastian’s call. Then the door
The moment Natalie hung up, I was already moving.My car roared to life as I slammed my foot on the gas, gripping the wheel so hard that my knuckles turned white. The city lights blurred past me, streaks of yellow and red against the night. My mind raced faster than the car, faster than the panic crawling up my throat.What could possibly had gone wrong?Who was there?Did Samantha and Iris get to find where we stay? Shit.She had whispered, "They're here."Now, she wasn’t picking up.I dialed her number again. One ring. Two. Straight to voicemail.A curse slipped from my lips - fuck. I pressed harder on the gas, ignoring the honks of angry drivers as I weaved through traffic. The streets felt endless, stretching longer than they should, as if the universe was playing a cruel trick on me. But I kept going.The apartment we had rented came into view - a small, old building at the cor
Chapter 85 – Natalie’s POVI walked fast, my heartbeat pounding too loud in my ears. It was like my heart was screaming, "Be afraid! Be afraid!" The streetlights flickered above me, casting long, fearful shadows on the empty pavement. Every few seconds, I glanced nervously over my shoulder. He was still there. The man. The one who had been following me for the last ten minutes.At first, I thought it was just my imagination. But now, I was sure. He was following me. His slow steps matched mine, always keeping a distance. I couldn't see his face clearly, but his eyes seemed to gleam in the dark. My skin crawled with fear.So women weren't safe walking alone on the streets anymore?I quickened my pace, my breath catching in my throat. The streets were deserted, and the only sound was the echo of our footsteps. I felt trapped, alone, and scared. Why was he following me? What did he want?I took a sharp turn into a side alley, hoping to
I knew what I had to do. Sebastian had done his part. He had backed them into a corner. But it wasn’t over. There were still two people left. Iris and Samantha. They were careful. Too careful. But I had learned something important. Even the smartest people slip when they are afraid. I took a deep breath and checked my phone. Iris first. --- Iris I chose the café on purpose. Public. Bright. Safe. People talked here, laughed here. But behind the smiles and clinking cups, things could get ugly. Iris walked in exactly three minutes late. Always controlled. Always polished. She wore a beige blazer, matching heels, and sunglasses she didn’t need. She spotted me and walked over, her steps sharp. "Natalie," she greeted, sitting across from me. Her lips curled into a small, fake smile. "It’s been a while." I sipped my coffee. "It has." She
I sat at the table, my fingers tapping lightly against the wood. The room was small and smelled of dust. A single bulb flickered over on the floor, casting weak shadows on the walls. The air felt thick, like something heavy was pressing down on my chest.Natalie stood by the window, her arms crossed tight. She didn’t say a word, but I could feel her eyes on me. The room was quiet, too quiet. Outside, cars passed, their lights flashing through the glass. She looked like she wanted to speak but held back. Her fingers gripped her sleeves, and her lips pressed into a thin line. The air between us felt heavy, full of things unsaid. I tapped my fingers on the desk, waiting. Finally, I sighed. “Just say it, Natalie.”"You don’t have to do this," she said at last. Her voice was calm, but there was something tight in it.I didn’t look at her. Instead, I stared at the black folder on the table. Inside it was everything. Every secret. Every lie. Every crime they had
The weight of everything sat heavy on my shoulders. My mother’s betrayal, my stepfather’s schemes, and the way my entire world had crumbled right in front of me -it was too much.But I wasn’t going to sit back and do nothing.I sat at my desk, staring at the dim glow of the lamp. The room felt suffocating, as if the walls were closing in on me. Natalie sat across from me, her eyes filled with worry, but she didn’t say anything. She just watched, waiting for me to speak.I finally exhaled, tapping my fingers against the desk. “I can’t let this go.”Natalie frowned. “Sebastian—”“No,” I cut in. “Don’t tell me to let it go, Natalie. You heard what she said. She did this to me. She ruined me. And she doesn’t even care.” My jaw tightened as anger surged through me again.Natalie sighed, shifting in her chair. “I know. I know how much this hurts you. But revenge-”“This isn’t just revenge,” I said sharply. “This is justice.”
The room was silent, except for the sound of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.I stood frozen at the doorway, gripping the wooden frame for support. My breath hitched, and my stomach twisted as I tried to process everything I had just heard.Sebastian’s mother-his own mother -had betrayed him. She had admitted it without a trace of guilt, without even flinching. She had planned his downfall, worked with the very man who had tried to destroy him, and she had done it because of me.I swallowed hard, my throat dry.Sebastian sat behind his desk, his head in his hands, his shoulders stiff. He hadn’t noticed me yet. Or maybe he had, and he was just too overwhelmed to acknowledge my presence. I had never seen him like this before—so broken, so defeated.I took a shaky step forward. “Sebastian?”His body jerked slightly at the sound of my voice. He lifted his head, and when our eyes met, my heart clenched. His gaze was filled with something I couldn’t quite define—anger, pain, disbelief.