Chapter 4

All those years ago, Samuel and I had grown close while working together. Eventually, we got married. It was not a grand affair, since my undercover status made that impossible. Still, everyone at the station celebrated with us, and we handed out sweet wedding gifts.

That should have been the start of my happiness. But Samuel started becoming increasingly argumentative.

"What’s the big deal about giving her a ride home after a late shift? We’re just colleagues."

"Can you stop being so unreasonable?"

"I’m begging you, Emilia. Quit being so paranoid. I told you, Jas and I are just friends!"

Had any of that been true?

What kind of "friend" chatted casually about lacey underwear every other day? What kind of "friend" accidentally sent bathrobe-selfies to someone else’s husband? And what kind of "friend" took time off work to go hiking with said man while his wife was home recovering from a miscarriage?

And the worst of it all, I still remembered the call Jasmine made while drunk.

"Sam, why didn't you wait for me? I know you still love me!" she cried.

Samuel did not answer right away. He had to get away from me first.

He went to the bathroom and turned the faucet on full blast to mask his voice. "Yes, Jas. I still love you," he said solemnly. "But it’s too late. I’m already married to Emilia. If there’s a next life, I won’t let you slip away again."

But Samuel had forgotten who I was. I was not just any cop. I was the best undercover agent, trained to endure the harshest of conditions. He really thought the sound of running water would have kept me from hearing his every word?

That was the first time I confronted him, but instead of empathy, he met my pain with frustration. "What do you want from me, Emilia? Will this never end?

"Are you going to treat me like a criminal too? I married you, didn’t I? What more do you want?"

Each word stabbed at my heart. Through sobs, I choked out, "You're the one who proposed to me, Samuel."

He responded by storming out and slamming the door behind him. I spent that night curled up in bed, sobbing hot tears.

The next day, I submitted my application to return to undercover work. I figured we needed time apart to clear our heads. And that decision had cost me everything.

The mission given to me involved staging a raid, and we planned to use a third-year police academy student as the hostage. We were going to use someone trained, with some combat skills, and a fresh face. It was the perfect setup for the operation. But somehow, the drug lord took Jasmine hostage instead.

Her presence threw me off. I hated her. She had become a constant shadow, always trailing after Samuel. She tagged along to crime scenes, clinging to her position as the team's forensic intern. That was a job Samuel had pulled strings to get her.

Meanwhile, I, his wife, felt like an afterthought.

But I was a police officer, and my duty came first. No matter how much I despised Jasmine, I would not let her die. Even if it meant sacrificing myself. That was why I secretly slipped her a knife to defend herself.

But instead, she used it to stab me in the back. And just before plunging that blade into me, she screamed for all to hear, "This woman is Emilia Crux! She’s an undercover cop!"

The whole scene was a nightmare. Even the drug lord could not have dreamed of such a gift landing in his lap. I felt like I had been plunged into a sea of ice water.

"Why?" I gasped, my voice weak.

"Because you disgust me." Jasmine sneered. "While Sam and I were on a break, you seduced him and tricked him into marrying you. You’re the most shameless person in the world, Emilia."

"Do you even realize what you’re saying?" I asked in disbelief. We were surrounded by dangerous criminals, drug dealers ready to kill. Yet here she was, betraying me over a man.

Jasmine said nothing more. She turned to the drug lord, her expression twisted with malice. "I’ll buy you time to escape. Just make sure Emilia doesn’t make it out alive."