MARIANNE Mildred's body began to drift away, her form growing smaller as my vision blurred and my arms fell still. A deep numbness settled over me, and for a moment, I welcomed it, the darkness closing in. I shut my eyes, surrendering briefly, and then a face appeared in my mind—Troy’s. The memory was sharp and vivid, cutting through the haze. “I am your husband, Troy Stanford.” I remembered the first time I met him, after waking up disoriented in the hospital. His steady gaze and calming voice had anchored me, though I barely knew who he was. "We’re here to get married," I recalled, almost smiling at the memory of standing before the courthouse, Troy staring at me in stunned disbelief. That look in his eyes—it was confusion, maybe even anger, all mixed together. He hadn’t expected me to come up with something so crazy, but somehow, we’d found ourselves entangled in this pact. His voice echoed in my head, breaking through the fog. “I’ll stay by your side until the very end.”
TROY Something suddenly felt off. The four men in front of me were far from the formidable threat I had anticipated. Two of them were in wheelchairs, frail and haggard, while the other two appeared unharmed, at least physically. Yet the expressions on their faces betrayed a different story—a mix of helplessness, fear, and a shadow of regret that didn't quite sit right with me. I kept my gun trained on them, as I struggled to piece together what exactly had happened. And then, Astrid's face twisted with rage, his voice a low, venomous growl as he spat, “Tell that monster you call a wife to run as fast as she can. Because the moment I catch her, I swear, I'll tear her apart.” A cold fury washed over me as I leveled my gaze at him, warning, “Threaten my wife one more time, and I will not hesitate to tear you apart. I dare you.” His words had stirred a flicker of hope within me—hope that Marianne had outwitted these men, whatever they’d planned for her. But there was still no clar
MARIANNE I could not hold back anymore. Perhaps I would regret my actions, but that could come later. At this moment, I wanted Troy. I would not deprive myself of the pleasure of being in my husband’s arms. I would savor every second of the time we had left. However, Troy suddenly pulled back from me, his eyes wide with confusion. Was he about to reject me? My heart pounded in my chest, and I swallowed hard as he took another step back. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. "I'm afraid if I don't pull away now, I’ll lose control," he panted, his voice strained. "I’m scared of pushing you away from me." Relief flooded through me as I realized the implications of his words. I smiled, and he mirrored it with his own grin. "Are you a virgin, Troy?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood. He raised his brows, looking amused. "Are you serious?" "Is that a yes?" I asked, arching an eyebrow. He scoffed, "Do you really want to know?" I chuckled, folding my a
MARIANNE After a quick shower, I laid beside Troy, feeling his warmth against me as I drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep. When I woke up in the morning, the bed was empty, with no sign of Troy. I stretched my hand across the cool sheets, wondering if last night had all been a dream. A soft laugh escaped my lips, realizing that the scattered evidence—my clothes tossed on the floor and the fact that I was naked—proved otherwise. I freshened up, choosing a sleek, fitted white dress that hugged my figure and made me feel both powerful and beautiful. As I walked out of my room, a mouth-watering aroma filled the air, leading me to the kitchen. My stomach grumbled, and I found myself smiling as I spotted Troy, focused on making breakfast. Without a second thought, I wrapped my arms around him from behind, resting my head against his back as I whispered, "Good morning, hubby." He turned with a grin, his eyes warm as they met mine. "Good morning, Cherie. I was hoping to serve yo
MARIANNE One hour later, Troy opened the door of his car for me, and I slid in. He got in beside me, his face taut with frustration. "I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that you risked your life to save Mildred's. What the hell were you thinking, Marianne?" Troy demanded, his voice laced with both anger and worry. Seeing the fierce expression on his face, I let out a weary sigh. "Come on, Troy. Everything worked out in the end, didn’t it?" I replied, trying to sound reassuring. "She’s awake, and I’m going to see her. Don’t be upset, okay?" "Do you think I want to be upset like this?" he shot back, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "You take your life for granted, and it's driving me crazy. What would have happened if you had drowned? You could have died a meaningless death, with no one there to save you." I managed a small smile. "Okay, okay, I was wrong. I promise, I won’t risk my life like that again." He shook his head, exasperated. "I don’t care what you sa
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
Freya quickly made a phone call, and as she had promised, Alva was offered a job and asked to report for work the very next day. "I still can’t believe it—I actually got a job! Thank you so much, Freya," Alva said, her face lighting up with excitement. "You’re welcome," Freya replied, smiling. "And the good thing is, this place pays weekly, so you won’t have to wait too long to get your money." "That’s great, but it doesn’t matter much to me," Alva said. "I’m not planning to spend the money—I’ll save every bit of it." When Alva arrived at the supermarket, she was amazed at how luxurious it was. "Freya’s boyfriend must be incredibly wealthy," she thought. "If he can bring her to such a high-end place, he must have more money than I imagined." As she reported for her first day, Alva realized that a different manager was on seat and the latter stared at her with an air of disdain. Alva tried to brush off the unease she felt, smiling politely. She regretted not wearing one o
Freya smiled warmly at Alva and said, "Come on, have you forgotten how you’ve been cooped up at home all this time? Ever since you lost your Granny, you haven’t really been yourself. How could I have introduced you to him then?" Alva nodded slowly, her eyes thoughtful. "You’re right. But now, I really want to meet him, okay?" Freya grinned. "Okay. He’s really busy, but I’ll talk to him. Of course, he’ll make time to meet my best friend." As they sat in the cab heading back home, Freya turned to Alva, her face lighting up. "You know, Lance promised to buy me a car soon." Alva’s eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That’s amazing!" Freya nodded, clearly excited. "Yeah, he said it could be any day now. I can’t wait!" "You’re so lucky," Alva said, a hint of awe in her voice. Freya beamed. "I feel like all my dreams are finally coming true. Oh, and guess what? Lance also said he wants to send me to college. What do you think? We could go together—he’ll take care of everything
After Pete left her alone in the room, Alva struggled against the ropes binding her hands, twisting and pulling with all her strength. The coarse material bit into her skin, leaving red marks, but she couldn’t free herself. Tears welled up in her eyes, frustration and anger bubbling inside her. The door creaked open, and Pete entered, accompanied by a group of maids. Alva’s heart sank as she watched him approach with an infuriatingly smug expression. He walked over and untied her hands. “Here you go,” he said, gesturing to the maids. “These are the women who will be at your beck and call.” Alva glanced at the group of over twelve maids and rolled her eyes. "As if I need all this fuss," she thought bitterly. “And,” Pete continued, “there are also ten bodyguards assigned to you. They’ll keep an eye on you, so don’t try anything funny. You wouldn’t want to get hurt, would you?” He turned to one of the maids and ordered, “Make sure she eats. She looks too pale—it’s making me lose my
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Alva remained at home, crying harder than she ever had in her entire life. Her Granny had been her entire world—the only person she truly considered family, the only one who had ever shown her unconditional love. Her mother and brother? They couldn’t have cared less about her, and she knew it deep in her soul. While Alva grieved, her best friend Freya was out shopping, spending the money from Jonas’s card. Freya bought everything her heart desired—clothes, furniture, and even a house. Each time Freya spent the money, Jonas received an alert. Every time his phone buzzed, he shook his head, muttering to himself. "I’ll wait and see what she does when the money runs out." Freya purchased a new house for her parents and even bought herself a smaller, beautiful home. Despite her spending spree, Freya made time to check on Alva. She called, visited, and tried to comfort her grieving friend. But Freya never told Alva the truth about the card.
After hiding the card, Freya returned to the room and knocked softly on the door. Alva, who had just finished drying herself and putting on the dress Freya had brought, opened the door. Her eyes were still red and swollen from crying. Freya stepped inside, trying to keep her expression calm. "What happened?" Alva asked, her voice shaky. "Did you return the card?" Freya nodded quickly, forcing a reassuring smile. "Yes, I gave it to the staff at the counter. They said they’ll contact him immediately." "Good," Alva muttered, her fists clenching at her sides. "He can take his dirty money and go to hell." Freya reached out and touched her arm gently. "Come on, let’s get out of here." Just as they turned toward the door, it suddenly burst open, and Diego stormed in, his face twisted with anger. "Well, well, well. Look who we have here," Diego sneered, his eyes narrowing at Alva. "You call me names, act like you’re chaste, and then run straight into another man’s bed. You’re no
Alva reached for Jonas once again, her hands going around his neck as she tried to kiss him. Pushing her hands away, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her toward the bed. "Enough with the act," he said sharply. "I’m not falling for it." When she fell on the bed, Alva rubbed her hands around her body seductively, as she felt the heat course through her body. She could not recognize the man standing in front of her, and at this point, it didn't matter to her. Diego had slipped a potent Aphrodisiac pill into the wine she drank, knowing she would lose control of herself. He had believed she would willingly give herself to him once the drug took effect, but unfortunately for him, he could not go into Jonas' room as he feared that the latter could get upset and destroy him. He had seen Jonas take Alva into his room and shut his door, and at this time, he stood outside Jonas' room, his fists balled as anger and frustration bubbled inside him. Knowing how much wealth and
After drinking from the glass Diego gave her, Alva felt her stomach twist, but she tried to ignore it. She turned to leave, eager to get away from him. But Diego’s voice stopped her. "Hold on. Aren’t you going to stay and listen to me make the call? Sit down and wait. I promised I’d call your mom." Alva shook her head. "It’s okay. I trust you’ll do it." Diego’s eyes darkened. "If you walk out of that door, I’ll change my mind." Her heart sank. She had no choice. With a reluctant nod, she returned to the chair, her hands gripping the edge of the table. Diego, meanwhile, took his sweet time operating his phone, smirking every now and then as if enjoying her discomfort. "Um, anytime now," Alva muttered impatiently. "I need to get back to my Granny at the hospital." Diego pretended to act surprised. "Oh, right, my bad. Let me call your mom now." He dialed the number and put the phone on speaker, glancing at Alva as her head dipped slightly. She blinked hard, feeling dizzier
"Alright, fine! Just leave her here for now. The day isn’t over yet. I’ll get the money before the day ends, I promise!" Alva pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation. The nurse shook her head firmly. "I’m sorry, but we can’t keep her here. We have to move her to the public ward. The bill from last night hasn’t been paid, and today’s charges were due this morning. Once you pay everything and show us the receipt, we’ll bring her back to the private ward." Alva’s heart sank. "How much could it possibly be? Isn’t it just a few dollars?" The nurse gave a bitter laugh. "A few dollars? No, your grandmother owes almost a hundred thousand dollars." Alva froze, her voice rising in disbelief. "That’s impossible! That’s a lie!" The nurse’s expression remained calm, almost pitying. "You can check with the accounts department if you don’t believe me." "But how did the bill get so high? How can it cost that much?" The nurse sighed. "Her surgery was never paid for. Your mom, or wh
EARLIER IN THE DAY After saying goodbye to her friend Freya, Alva returned home. As she walked through the door, she immediately noticed her mom waiting in the living room. Her brother, Spear, was nowhere in sight, but there was someone else sitting on the worn-out couch—a man whose presence made her stomach churn. Alva froze for a moment. She recognized him. His name was Diego, a notorious figure in the city. He was involved in shady businesses and also managed several bars. Just seeing him in her house sent a wave of unease through her. “Mom, what’s going on?” Alva asked cautiously, walking to her mother’s side. Her mom smiled, her expression unsettlingly warm. “Sit down, my dear.” Alva hesitated. That smile wasn’t normal—it was too forced, too sweet. She knew her mom didn’t really like her. Ever since Alva could remember, she had been treated like an outsider. Being adopted only made things worse. The only people who had ever truly loved her were her father and grandmothe