I thought I had finally escaped. Walking away from my toxic marriage should have been the end of my suffering. Instead, it was only the beginning. Betrayed by my husband, deceived by my best friend, and used by my own mother—I was nothing more than a pawn in their game. But when the truth about my family’s legacy came to light, I seized the chance to take back control. With Justin, a man whose intentions I still can’t fully trust, I begin rebuilding my life. But just when I think I’m free, the threats start. Bloodstained baby clothes. Anonymous messages. A shadow that refuses to let me go. And when we finally uncover the person behind it all, the truth is far more horrifying than I ever imagined. Because some betrayals cut deeper than others. And some ghosts refuse to stay buried.
Lihat lebih banyakMichael watched as Justin's penetrating gaze bore into Evelyn, who seemed to be fading under the scrutiny, he knew they were moments away from their scheme getting exposed completely. Stepping forward, he placed a protective hand on his wife's shoulder."My wife is pregnant," Michael interjected, his voice softer but still carrying authority. "She's been experiencing unusual cramps all day, perhaps it was something specific in her meal that triggered a reaction, pregnancy makes women's bodies react differently to foods."Justin's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't immediately challenge the explanation. Michael could see that Justin wasn't convinced, but was calculating something in his mind."I see," Justin finally said, his tone measured. "Dr. Hanson, would you continue to monitor Mrs. Anderson's condition?""Of course," the doctor replied.Justin turned to address the gathered guests. "Ladies and gentlemen, please continue enjoying the evening, it seems it was just a simple misun
"Your food," Michael accused loudly, pointing at Adaline. "It's been poisoned, my wife and our unborn child is in danger!"As all eyes turned to Adaline, a slow, calculated smile spread across Michael's face. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for, Adaline cornered, her reputation at stake, and Justin watching it all unfold.The room fell silent, all attention focused on the drama unfolding before them, confused glances passing between guests as they looked down at their own plates, then at Evelyn who continued to writhe in apparent agony."Poisoned?" an elderly woman whispered loudly. "But we've all eaten the same food.""Yes, and we're fine," another guest added.The murmurs grew louder as guests tried to make sense of the situation. If the food was indeed poisoned, why was only Evelyn affected? Several guests were already on their second serving, clearly enjoying the meal without any ill effects.Adaline stood frozen, her chef's whites stark against the elegant evening we
"Adaline?" Olivia whispered, her eyes wide with recognition.Once the formal introduction was over , she rushed towards where Adaline had been standing, but she wasn't there anymore. The chef had vanished as quickly as she had been spotted, Olivia scanned the room looking for her, memories flooding back of their time together years ago.Justin approached his sister, confused by her sudden distraction. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost.""I think I just saw someone I know," Olivia replied, still searching the crowd. "Adaline Watson, we were friends in college, she saved my life back then.""Saved your life?" Justin asked, surprised to the new information. Olivia nodded. "At a carnival during our sophomore year. I ate something that gave me severe food poisoning, she recognized the symptoms immediately and got me to the hospital, the doctors said if she'd waited even a little longer, I might not have made it." She paused, her mind filled with questions, “but what could s
I took the lead in the kitchen, tasting the remade sauce one final time before nodding with satisfaction. Our hopes were getting restored after the disaster with my mother's sabotage, I was proud of how quickly we were able to get the situation under control and recover from it. The new sauce was beaming with perfection, even better than the original. "More thyme in the chicken marinade," I instructed one of the sous chefs, moving to the next station, “and please check the temperature on those potatoes."The staffs followed my directions without hesitation, as I'd earned their respect, especially after turning around what could have been a complete catastrophe in less than 50 minutes. My throat still felt raw from tasting the excessive chili powder my mother had dumped into the original sauce, but I pushed the discomfort aside."Everything's back on schedule," I told Lisa, my assistant. "We'll be ready to serve on time."I caught movement at the kitchen door and glanced up to see Jus
Adaline moved through the kitchen with practiced efficiency, checking each station as the clock ticked closer to service time. Everything had to be perfect for Justin's sister's homecoming.As she approached the sauce station, a peculiar sensation prickled at her nose—something sharp and fiery in the air. Her instincts, honed through years in professional kitchens, immediately signaled that something was wrong."The main sauce doesn't seem right," she murmured, leaning over one of the large pots. The rich aroma she had carefully developed hours ago had been overtaken by something else—something aggressive and pungent.Following her chef's instinct, Adaline took a small spoon and dipped it into the sauce, bringing a tiny sample to her lips. The moment it touched her tongue, her mouth erupted in flames. Her eyes widened in shock as the burning sensation spread across her palate, scorching her throat as she swallowed."Water!" she gasped, her voice barely audible as she doubled over, cou
Melanie Waston's fingers tightened around the kitchen knife as she chopped vegetables, cursing under her breath. The humiliation of being put in her place by her own daughter burned like acid in her stomach. "That girl will never get away with this," she muttered, the knife coming down with unnecessary force on an innocent carrot. "Never." The young kitchen assistant working beside her glanced over nervously. Melanie noticed the look and forced her expression into something more pleasant. "So," she began, her voice honey-sweet, "how long has my daughter been working here? I've been... away, you see. Family matters." The assistant seemed hesitant but eventually replied, "I just saw her for the first time this morning. But everyone respects her already." "I'm sure they do," Melanie said, her smile not reaching her eyes. "And... the Westfields? How do they treat her?" The assistant's face lit up. "Oh, Mr. Westfield—the CEO—he really likes her skills. Might even like her too, if yo
The kitchen was a flurry of coordinated chaos as the evening of Justin's sister's homecoming party approached. Steam rose from pots, the aroma of herbs and spices filled the air, and Adaline moved with practiced efficiency between stations, checking sauces and inspecting plated appetizers."Perfect. These look absolutely stunning," she praised one of the assistants who had artfully arranged canapés. The young woman beamed with pride.The kitchen doors swung open, and Adaline expected to see Justin or perhaps Grecia checking on their progress. Instead, her blood froze. There stood Melanie, her mother, dressed in the uniform of a kitchen assistant, her eyes widening in shock as they locked with Adaline's.For a moment, neither moved. The bustling kitchen seemed to fall silent around them, though in reality, the work continued, unaware of the tension crackling between mother and daughter."Mother?" Adaline finally managed, her voice barely audible over the kitchen's din.Before she could
Adaline wiped the sweat from her brow as she surveyed the busy kitchen. The clatter of pots and pans, the sizzling of oil, and the rhythmic chopping of vegetables created a symphony of culinary activity around her. As the newly appointed head cook, she felt the weight of responsibility bearing down on her shoulders. Tonight's party wasn't just any gathering—it was a statement, a demonstration of her capabilities."The sauce needs more seasoning," she instructed one of the new recruits, a young woman whose hands trembled slightly as she stirred the large pot. "Remember, we're cooking for discerning palates tonight."The kitchen doors swung open, and Justin entered, his presence commanding immediate attention. His tailored suit contrasted sharply with the white uniforms of the kitchen staff, a stark reminder of the different worlds they inhabited."How are preparations coming along?" he asked, his eyes meeting Adaline's."On schedule," she replied confidently, though her heart skipped a
The elegant teacup shattered against the wall, porcelain fragments scattering across Melanie's living room floor. Evelyn didn't flinch, merely arching a perfectly groomed eyebrow as she rubbed her swollen belly."That was Limoges, Melanie. Worth more than your monthly rent, I'd imagine.""I don't give a damn about the cup!" Melanie hissed, her face contorted with fury. "You were supposed to play the part! 'I'm so sorry, Adaline. It was a mistake. I was weak.' That's all you had to say!"Evelyn rolled her eyes. "I couldn't do it. The moment I saw her face in that courtroom, looking all righteous and wounded... I just couldn't stomach it.""Couldn't stomach it?" Melanie's voice rose dangerously. "This was the plan! Get her to forgive Michael, bring her back into the fold, and then we'd all have access to what we need!"Michael emerged from the kitchen, a tumbler of whiskey in hand. He looked exhausted, his suit jacket discarded, tie loosened. "It's over, Melanie. She's not coming back.
I took a quick look at the wall clock, 9:17PMWhere is he?I had eaten dinner already, alone as usual, at this point it was becoming normal to not have him at the dinning table. Taking a glance at his food,well served and untouched, looking back at me, the food already grew cold. I murmured with annoyance, tapping my fingers on the table trying to calm my nervesThe routine of late coming from work was becoming awfully frequent these past few weeks, but he always had something to dish out as excuse, be it having to cover for a colleague or having extra meeting or traffic, Micheal never disappointed in having a comeback to when I questioned his tardiness coming back from work, but it had gotten to his stage where I doubt I was going to buy those bullcrap anymore. Picking up my phone, I dialed his number, no answer, tried it a couple more times and still no answer, rather I got sent to the voicemail, my annoyance became frustration. Two years into this marriage and the bond between me...
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