MARIANNE Mildred lifted her gaze, which had been lowered, and stared at me in surprise. Her face was pale, and her eyes shimmered with a raw pain, but I couldn’t care less about her suffering. “What are you doing here, ma’am?” she asked in a trembling voice. I smiled, a touch of irony in my tone. “Is that the right question to ask the person who saved your life?” She gasped, her hand covering her mouth. “You... you saved my life?” “Let me show you something,” I replied, my voice steady as I took out my phone. Navigating to my gallery, I selected a video clip and turned the screen toward her. It captured the very moment Tony had thrown her into the river, rain pouring down on them. Her eyes widened in horror as she watched, unable to tear her gaze away. “Tony… he threw me into the river… he left me to die?” “Yes, even though he knew you were still alive,” I said coldly. “Last night, he threw you into that river, condemning you to a death as horrible as any punishment he c
MARIANNE On our way back home, Troy and I made a stop at the police station to deal with Paula and her mom. They had been locked up for quite some time, and now I had a decision to make—either have them formally charged and sent to court or let them go. "I'd like to speak to Paula first," I told the policeman attending to me, my voice steady but firm. Troy, ever attentive, squeezed my hand. "Are you sure you don’t want me to handle this while you wait in the car?" I glanced at him and smiled softly. "Don’t worry, Troy. I’m fine. This is something I need to do myself." When they brought Paula out, I was taken aback by her reaction. She immediately fell to her knees, her face streaked with tears. Her swollen, red eyes told me she’d been crying long before she was summoned to meet me. This wasn’t the proud, defiant Paula I once knew, the woman who’d never show weakness before me. "Please forgive me," she choked out, her voice thick with regret. "At first, I thought you were M
MARIANNE I waved Troy goodbye once again as he turned and got into his car. The moment he drove off, I went back inside, locked the door, and took out the gift he had given me. It was a stunning, floor-length red dress that practically radiated elegance and allure. The fabric was a rich, silky material that caught the light, with a daring slit down one side and a neckline that hinted at sophistication while teasing a bit of skin. Its deep crimson shade promised an unforgettable evening, perfect for a night filled with luxury and romance. "Wow!" I exclaimed as I stared at the dress, running my fingers over the soft fabric, feeling its weight and beauty. "He has such good taste," I admitted, before dashing into my room to get ready. I took my time with a hot, luxurious bath, feeling the warm water relax every muscle in my body. I brushed my teeth, the minty freshness leaving me invigorated. Wrapping myself in a plush towel, I moved to the mirror and began styling my hair, ca
MARIANNE "You have changed so much," Troy murmured softly as we continued to sway slowly to the soothing rhythm of the music, his hand warm against my back. I raised my brows, feigning amusement. "I have?" He nodded, his gaze steady and knowing. "Yes. After you regained your memories, you were brimming with so much hate and anger. I could tell you tried to keep it hidden, but it still surfaced many times." I sighed deeply, letting the weight of the past hang between us for a moment. "I can't deny it," I admitted. "I was furious. The people I trusted most betrayed me in the worst possible ways. But now... all those bitter feelings have faded away. It’s like they no longer hold any power over me." Troy nodded thoughtfully, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Yeah, I can see that." I felt a small, private smile tug at my lips, my heart stirring with a thought I could barely voice. "How do I tell you, Troy, that my heart has no more room for hate because it’s filled entirely wi
MARIANNE Troy's lips brushed against mine gently at first, then he deepened the kiss, parting my mouth with his tongue. A soft moan escaped me as I closed my eyes, surrendering to the warmth of his touch. He sucked on my lower lip, threading his fingers through my hair, tugging gently before letting his hand trail down to the neckline of my dress. His fingers slipped beneath the fabric, cupping my breast and brushing his thumb over my nipple, igniting a fire beneath my skin. Releasing my hair, his hand slid down, finding the slit in my dress and moving higher along my thigh until his fingers traced the edge of my g-string, teasing me with his touch. He paused, holding my gaze as he shrugged off his jacket, quickly removing his shirt and pants, leaving him clad only in his briefs. With a steady grip, he lifted me, settling me onto the bathroom counter, my back pressed against the mirror’s cool surface. Slowly, he reached for my panties, sliding them down with deliberate slownes
MARIANNE "No, I object to your buying a new car." Troy held his ground, his voice firm, and I scoffed, raising an eyebrow. The day before had been nothing short of amazing, all thanks to him. Our date had stretched well into the night. We left the hotel late, drove around town under the city lights, went for a moonlit stroll, and shared ice cream like carefree teenagers, laughing and teasing each other. Eventually, we ended up spending the night in one of my houses in the city and returned to my apartment on the outskirts in the early morning, feeling closer than ever. The memory of those blissful hours stayed with me, and I couldn’t help but smile. But recalling how difficult it had been for me while Troy was away, I’d decided that morning to get myself a new car, just for the times he wasn’t around. However, he was clearly not having it. "But why?" I asked him for the umpteenth time, exasperation creeping into my voice. He hesitated, glancing away for a moment, before fin
MARIANNE The policemen at the door barged into the house at this moment, and Mildred quickly came forward. Britney's eyes were wide with shock, while Sharon folded her arms, watching the scene quietly, her expression unreadable. Realizing that Mildred was not a ghost as he had thought, Tony suddenly yelled, "What are you all doing in my house? Get out, or else I'll sue you all!" I scoffed, "Your house? Are you certain that this house belongs to you?" Tony gulped, a hint of fear flashing across his face, while Mildred pointed both hands at him, her voice filled with fury as she spat, "That is the man who tried to kill me. He threw me down the stairs and carried my unconscious body to the river, tossing it in so I would die a horrible death, my body never to be discovered." Both his wife, Britney, and his mistress, Maya, were present when he threw me down the stairs." Despite the AC in the house, beads of sweat began to form on Tony's face, a visible testament to his guilt.
MARIANNE "And who the hell are you?" one of the policemen demanded, eyeing Sharon. "Obviously Tony's mistress, Maya," Mildred replied with a sneer. I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh as Sharon, showing a mix of fear and desperation, blurted out, "No, I’m not his mistress! I’m his maid. He’s a very good man and not capable of doing anything wrong." The policemen, unfazed, finished cuffing Tony before turning their attention to Sharon. "Whether his mistress or maid, were you here the day Mildred was pushed down the stairs?" one of them questioned. Sharon gulped, "Um...well..." "Go on, tell us. Did Tony push Mildred down the stairs?" the policeman pressed, his tone insistent. "It doesn’t matter," I cut in smoothly. "I have the video of Tony throwing Mildred into the river, which is more than enough. Take him away." As Tony struggled against his captors, Britney burst into tears, and Sharon ran after him, crying, "Don’t take him away... I promise you, Tony, I’ll get i
MARIANNE HOURS EARLIER My dream lingered as I woke, the soft voice of a little girl calling me "Mommy" fading into the morning haze. My chest felt tight, as though her voice had reached into the very core of my being and left an imprint I couldn’t erase. I washed my face, staring at my reflection, trying to shake the dream off. The face staring back at me seemed foreign—cold, calculated, and so far removed from the woman I used to be. I had to make a decision. I couldn’t delay anymore. Dr. Raymond was waiting for my answer, and I knew I needed to face him today. But as I dried my face with the towel, a nagging thought struck me. There was something I had ignored earlier—a file I hadn’t bothered to open. Curious, I grabbed my phone and opened it. My brows furrowed as I noticed it was an audio file from Sharon. I pressed play. The voices that came through made me lift my brows. Aislinn. Sharon. I listened intently as Aislinn spoke with venom, her words sharp and deliberat
MARIANNE When I arrived at my old apartment, I paused outside, scanning my surroundings with a cautious eye. The air felt heavy, as if it carried an unspoken warning. It was still my house though. With a deep breath, I approached the keypad, and entered the code. As the door clicked open, I stepped into silence. The house was eerily still, void of the warmth and familiarity it once held. “Sharon?” I called out, my voice echoing in the empty space. No answer. I fished out my phone and dialed her number, only to be met with a dead line. The same number that had called me earlier was suddenly unreachable. I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me that something terrible was about to happen, but not to me. Determined to figure out what was going on, I began searching the house. My steps were quick and purposeful, the creak of the wooden floors beneath me the only sound. As I ascended the stairs two at a time, a faint noise stopped me in my tracks. It was coming from the CCTV room. I
MARIANNE “What!” Doctor Raymond exclaimed, his voice a mix of shock and concern. “What are you saying, Marianne? I know you wanted to be a mother before and…” “No,” I interrupted, my voice firm but my heart unsteady. “I am not ready to be a mother. Not right now.” He hesitated, studying my expression before speaking. “I need to tell you something. There’s a high chance you’ll never conceive again.” The words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I kept my composure. I nodded slowly, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. “Okay, I can live with that. There are so many motherless children out there who need someone to look after them. When I’m ready to be a mother, I’ll fill that gap. I’ll adopt a few children and love them as my own.” “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice softer now, almost hesitant. “Yes,” I replied, but the resolve in my voice didn’t match the storm brewing inside me. He sighed deeply, almost as if he could sense my inner turmoil. “Alright, if you’ve mad
MARIANNE After Aislinn left, I got into my car and sat there, the echo of her words swirling in my mind, tightening the knot of anger in my chest. My hands trembled slightly as I gripped the steering wheel."I can't let Troy stay in my house anymore," I muttered, the words barely audible over the roar of my emotions. "He's out. Tonight."I started the car and drove towards my apartment on the outskirts of town, my jaw clenched and my heart pounding against my ribs. Every mile I covered only amplified my frustration. When I finally pulled into the driveway, his car wasn’t there.The silence when I stepped inside was deafening, but his presence lingered. His cologne still clung to the air, an irritating reminder of him. I sighed heavily and sank into the living room couch, my mind spiraling back to Aislinn’s threats."Interesting, Aislinn," I murmured with a bitter smile. "Don’t you just love to talk? Let’s see how much you’ll love it when you can’t hear or speak anymore."The thought
SHARON As I watched everything unfold before me, I felt a profound sense of satisfaction. Every detail had fallen into place, every move executed flawlessly. For the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to exhale deeply. My job was done, and it had gone exactly as planned. Yet, as the euphoria faded, unease crept in, wrapping around me like an unwelcome shadow. The discovery hit me like a lightning bolt: the woman I had loyally called Aislinn, my enigmatic boss, was none other than Marianne. The very same Marianne she had claimed was her late sister. At first, I dismissed the similarities as coincidence. But then, little things began to stand out—the way she spoke about her “sister,” often slipping into first person as if she were Marianne, the way her eyes gleamed with a depth of knowledge only someone who had lived through such betrayal could possess. And now, looking at her partially obscured face, there was no denying the truth. Marianne had survived. She had retur
MARIANNE “This court finds the accused, Mr. Tony Vane, guilty of four counts of complicity in perjury, unlawful imprisonment leading to death, attempted murder, and embezzlement of company funds, and sentences him to life imprisonment with hard labor in the Norwegian island prison.” “The court also finds the accused, Mrs. Britney Vane, guilty of five counts of kidnapping, bestickning and hot, bribery, Perjury, and unlawful imprisonment leading to death, and sentences her to life imprisonment with hard labor in the Norwegian island prison.” As I listened to the judge’s final verdict, I exhaled slowly, a quiet sigh of relief escaping my lips. It was over. Tony, Britney, and Mildred had been brought to justice. Mildred received eight years in prison for perjury and complicity in embezzlement, which I believed was adequate punishment. Yet, as the gavel struck, signaling the conclusion, an unexpected emptiness welled up inside me. This was everything I had fought for—justice for my
TROY The sharp sting of Marianne’s slap echoed through the courtroom and reverberated deep in my chest. My hand instinctively flew to my cheek, as if trying to confirm what had just happened. I stared at her in stunned silence, my breath caught somewhere between shock and disbelief. “How dare you touch me!” she spat, her voice laced with anger and an emotion I couldn’t quite place. “What happened to you?” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. She met my gaze, her eyes like ice, sharp and unyielding. “Listen to me, and listen carefully. Stay away from me and anything that has to do with me.” Her words hit harder than the slap. There was a cold finality to her tone that made my stomach twist. “Initially, I thought of sending you the divorce papers,” she continued, her voice steady but trembling at the edges, “but then it occurred to me that I married you as Aislinn. Everything—the identity I used—was a fake one. Hence, there’s no need for a divorce. You can go be with your A
TROY As the days dragged on painfully, I remained rooted at Marianne's apartment, unwilling to leave, despite her absence. I kept hoping she would return, but day after day passed—one, two, three days, then four—and still, there was no sign of her. The empty silence grew louder with each passing moment, filling me with a gnawing emptiness. My mind was clouded with fear, frustration, and an ache that wouldn’t let me rest. I searched for her tirelessly, refusing to give up. I went to her company every morning, visited the police station, and scoured every place I thought she might be. I was haunted by her absence, by the need to see her, to know she was safe. And with each fruitless attempt, the weight of despair only grew heavier, crushing my resolve bit by bit. Still, there was no sign of her. My phone chimed occasionally, and each time, my heart would leap with a flicker of hope—only to realize it was another call or message from Aislinn, whose persistence grated on my last ner
TROY I felt a tremor of shock ripple through me at what unfolded before my eyes. The turn of events was staggering, like a tidal wave crashing over my heart. When I first heard a female voice call out to me while I was still in the kitchen, I knew something was wrong. The person certainly didn't sound like Marianne. It was clear now—Aislinn was doing everything possible to provoke Marianne, to disrupt the fragile peace I’d worked so hard to establish. I just wished, more than anything, that Marianne would calm down, take a breath, and allow me a chance to speak. But she was stubborn, fiercely so, and that stubbornness was as much a part of her as the pulse in her veins. I loved her for it, yet sometimes, it drove a wedge between us. I tried to explain, tried to reach her through the wall she’d put up, but it was like trying to catch the wind. Watching her walk away felt like watching my world shatter, as if each step she took was ripping something vital from me. It was like a