SOPHIA I clenched my fists, staring at Evelyn with all the anger and pain I had kept buried for too long. “I know exactly what you and your son are doing to me,” I said to her. “I see it all. The insults, the humiliation, the way you starve me and turn the maids against me. And even preventing me from getting a job. I’ve kept quiet, not because I don’t know how to fight back, but because I didn’t want to waste my energy on people like you.” Evelyn smirked, sipping her tea like she wasn’t even listening. “But now,” I continued, stepping closer, “this is different. My health is at stake. And after everything I’ve done for Victor, I deserve medical care. If I had spent the last three years working instead of being locked inside like a prisoner, I would have had enough money to take care of myself.” Evelyn scoffed. “And whose fault is that?” “Yours!” I snapped, my voice rising. “You forced me to stay home. You made sure I couldn’t step outside. You had bodyguards at every ex
SOPHIA Victor didn’t wait for my response. He got into his car, slammed the door, and drove away, leaving me standing alone on the sidewalk. His words echoed in my mind. "You are not worthy to bear my child." I swallowed hard, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall. How had my life come to this? I started walking, my steps slow and heavy. I didn’t know where I was going, but I needed to think. I needed to breathe. But as I walked, my phone kept ringing. It had been ringing all afternoon, and I knew who it was. Evelyn. I ignored the call, but she didn’t stop. Again and again, my phone buzzed in my hand. I exhaled, knowing I couldn’t avoid her forever. By the time I reached home, I barely had the energy to step inside. The moment I opened the door, Evelyn was waiting. She grabbed my wrist, pulling me inside. “Where have you been?” she demanded. “Why haven’t you been answering my calls?” I yanked my hand away. “What do you want, Evelyn?” Her eyes narrowe
SOPHIA The moment Victor walked away, I felt something inside me break. I dragged myself back to my room, my body trembling, my heart aching. The moment the door shut behind me, I collapsed onto the bed and let out the sobs I had been holding in. Tears streamed down my face, hot and endless. How could he be so cruel? I wrapped my arms around my stomach, cradling the tiny life growing inside me. My baby. Would my child suffer the way I had suffered? Would he grow up without a father? I had done everything the right way. I hadn’t made the mistakes my mother had. I got married first. I was a wife before I became pregnant. I had done everything properly. So why did I still end up like this? Alone. Rejected. A soft knock on the door startled me. I quickly wiped my tears as a maid entered, carrying a tray of food. She placed it on the bedside table and stepped back, avoiding my eyes. “Madam, you should eat.” I stared at the steaming food—nutritious, balanced, nothin
ISABELLA I stormed out of Victor’s house, my heels clicking against the pavement, my blood boiling with rage. My hands clenched into fists as I struggled to keep my breathing steady. This was not how things were supposed to go. Victor belonged to me. I had worked too hard, spent too many years by his side, molding him into the man he was today. The accident had ruined things for me. I had thought he would never wake up again but now that he had, no one was going to take him away from me. However, Victor's mother wasn't a simple woman. Victor was a grown man, yet Evelyn still made decisions in his life. The fact that she left her own house, moved into Victor's house and made herself the boss without Victor having a problem with it, did not sit well with me. And Sophia? That pathetic girl was nothing but an obstacle standing in my way. I had underestimated her once, but not anymore. I climbed into my car and gripped the steering wheel so tightly as my mind spun with pos
SOPHIA The moment I received the text message confirming I had gotten the job, my heart swelled with relief. Finally. After weeks of rejection, after struggling to even afford a meal, I had an opportunity. I didn’t care that I was pregnant, I was willing to work. I needed to stand on my own two feet, and no one, not even Victor’s family, would stop me. I quickly typed out a reply, confirming my attendance, and rushed to get dressed. As I stepped out of my room, I nearly bumped into Evelyn. “Where do you think you’re going?” she asked, crossing her arms. I forced a polite smile. “I have something important to do. I won’t be long.” Evelyn frowned. “The doctor warned you not to stress yourself. You need to be careful.” “I know,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “And I care about this child more than anyone.” Evelyn studied me for a moment, as if trying to decide whether to stop me. Finally, she stepped aside. I nodded. “I’ll be back soon.” Without another word, I wa
CALEB**Weeks Earlier** I stared at the plate of food in front of me, but I had no appetite. The rich aroma of home-cooked meals filled the air, and I knew my mother had gone out of her way to have this prepared for me. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to eat. Across the table, she watched me expectantly, a hopeful smile on her face. “I spoke with the cook and told her to make this especially for you,” she said gently. “It’s been so long since you came home. I wanted you to have your favorite food today.”"Where's my jacket, mom?" I asked. "You took it away earlier and did not return with it."She smiled, "Don't worry, your jacket is safe." I sighed, picking up my fork and stabbing at the food. “Mom, you know why I avoid coming home.” Her smile faltered, but she quickly masked it. “Let’s not talk about that now,” she said. “Tonight, I just want to spend time with my son.” I didn’t argue. It wasn’t worth the fight. So, I started eating. She poured me a glass of wine, a
CALEB I sat in silence, my fingers pressing into my temples as my assistant paced the room. He had no answers. I had no answers. The woman from last night—whoever she was—was a complete mystery. I hadn’t even looked at her face. I couldn’t remember what she looked like. I clenched my jaw. How could I have been so careless? The only clue we had was the hotel’s security footage, so we went straight to the manager and demanded to see it. The moment the footage played, I leaned forward, my eyes locked on the screen. The camera showed a woman walking down the hallway, hesitating before my door. She knocked. Once. Twice. Then again. A few seconds passed before she finally stepped inside. I frowned. She knocked first. That meant she had walked into the wrong room. But why the hell hadn’t she left when she realized that? Something wasn’t adding up. I turned to my assistant. “Why didn’t she leave when she realized she was in the wrong room?” He shook his hea
SOPHIA A soft beeping sound pulled me back to consciousness. My eyelids felt heavy as I forced them open, blinking against the bright light. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled my nose, and as I turned my head slightly, I saw the IV drip attached to my arm. Where am I? My body ached all over, but I wasn’t in pain...just weak. Then it all came rushing back. The fire. The ropes around my wrists. Victor’s cold eyes as he kicked my chair over, leaving me to burn. A gasp escaped my lips as my breathing quickened. My chest felt tight, my heart pounding. I should be dead. I remembered the flames creeping closer, the suffocating heat pressing against my skin. I had been sure that was the end. But I was here. I was alive. Tears pricked my eyes, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Do not cry, okay?” The deep voice startled me. I turned sharply, my body tensing as I saw a man sitting beside my bed. He was a stranger. Strong features. Sharp jawline. D
CALEB Earlier, when Victor called Melody and she gave him her location, I followed behind his car in silence, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Every part of me wanted to reject the possibility that Melody—my sister, the girl I’d grown up with, the one Mom loved like her real daughter—could actually be behind Sophia’s disappearance. But the look on Victor’s face when he spoke to her, the cruel satisfaction in his voice when he said I needed to hear it for myself... it wouldn’t leave my mind. Still, I didn’t trust Victor entirely either. There was a reason I had called the police earlier and asked for backup. These were officers I’d privately reached out to the moment Sophia’s call went unanswered. I asked them to dress like civilians and join me at the location Victor had mentioned, but I didn’t want to act until I was sure. Now, as Victor’s car pulled up to a gated compound, I parked at a safe distance and called the officers again to confirm their arrival. Eight of them, sc
SOPHIA We sat huddled together, whispering in tense voices, tossing ideas back and forth, each one sounding more impossible than the last. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like the walls of my chest were trembling. I wanted to scream, to cry, to do anything.... but I couldn’t afford to break down. Not when the lives of three people, and the life inside me, depended on what we did next. It was Alina who finally spoke up with a clearer plan. “Listen, I’ll start screaming. I’ll say you, Sophia passed out. That you’re bleeding. That you’re dying. You’re obviously the main target here, so they’ll have no choice but to come in. When they do, we strike.” “Strike?” Irene asked, her eyes narrowing with worry. “We catch them off guard,” Alina continued. “Once they come to check on Sophia, you and I grab whatever we can—sticks, ropes, anything. I’ll go for one of their pockets. I just need to get a phone and call my brother. He’ll come, for me and for you, Irene. He’s not the kind
CALEB I took a step back, my mind spinning. Victor’s words rang in my ears like a bell that refused to stop clanging. I remembered that day clearly—the day Sophia and I walked out of court victorious. Melody had come to the house, drunk, loud, hysterical. She’d made such a scene that my mother had to escort her away. I hadn’t thought much of it then. I’d chalked it up to her disapproval of Sophia. But now… now, pieces I’d never tried to connect were starting to fall into place. Could it really be true? Had Melody…? No. No. It was impossible. She was my sister. She was family—even if adopted. My mother raised her as her own. I grew up seeing her as blood. I trusted her. I protected her. She'd been with us for years. How could she have done something so monstrous? I shook my head furiously. “No,” I said through clenched teeth. “You’re lying. That can’t be true.” Victor simply shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t care whether you believe me or not. I’ve already let go of Sophia. I
CALEB I was already burning when I left the house. The rage in my chest didn’t give me a moment to breathe. Every second that passed without knowing where Sophia was felt like a curse. I wasn’t going to wait for answers to magically fall into my lap. I knew where to go. And I knew who to confront. Victor. The moment I pulled up outside his house, I spotted him. Calm like nothing was wrong. He was wheeling out his luggage toward his car, dressed for travel, every move unbothered, every breath infuriating. I didn't think. I charged at him, closing the distance in seconds, and slammed my fist into his cheek. The force of the blow made him stumble back a step. He hadn’t seen me coming. He lifted a hand to his jaw and rubbed it slowly, his expression tightening, but he didn't retaliate. “What the hell was that for?” he asked, as if he didn’t already know. I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and yanked him forward. “Where is she?” I growled. “Where is Sophia?” He bli
SOPHIA “I got a call,” I told the girls quietly. “Someone said my fiance, Caleb had been in an accident. I tried calling him, but his phone wouldn’t go through. I tried his mother, too, but she was unreachable. I panicked. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I should’ve known better, but I was so afraid…” My heart raced as the image of Caleb filled my mind. “What if someone actually hurt him?” I whispered. “What if something really happened?” “Hey,” Irene said softly, her voice firm and reassuring. “I’m sure it was a trap. Your fiancé is probably safe. Right now, you have to focus on yourself, on us. We’ll get out of here, and then you’ll find him.” Alina nodded. “We just need a phone. That’s all. Once I get to a phone, I can call my brother. Trust me, he’s not the kind of person who lets things like this slide. He’ll come for us.” I looked down at my wrists. “My bag isn’t with me,” I muttered. “Mine’s gone too,” Irene added. “They must’ve taken everything.” A quiet wave of r
SOPHIA When I opened my eyes, it took a few seconds for the reality around me to register. My arms ached, twisted awkwardly behind my back, and as I shifted slightly, I realized they had been tightly bound. Panic crept into my chest as I lifted my head and looked around, trying to understand where I was. The walls were bare, the air stale, and there were no windows—just a single wooden door that looked as worn as the floor beneath me. My heart began to race as I took in my surroundings. This wasn’t a hospital. It wasn’t anywhere I recognized. It was quiet. I forced myself to stay calm even though my hands were trembling. Then I saw two young women slumped against the wall just a few feet away from me. Their hands were tied too, just like mine. Their eyes were closed, their heads hanging low. And then I recognized them. They were the same girls I had seen before everything went dark. The same ones who ran toward me outside the house. The ones who called out my name, warned me
CALEB After lifting my glass and clinking it gently against Melody’s, she smiled brightly as though nothing in the world could go wrong. I raised the drink to my lips and swallowed it in one go. It was smooth. I didn’t think much of it. Maybe it was just good wine. When I placed the glass down, she immediately reached for the bottle again and filled it without asking. I let her. She seemed so excited, her eyes shining with something I couldn’t quite place. I picked it up again and drained the second glass, just as quickly as the first. The room was quiet for a moment after that, both of us simply breathing and acting nirmal. When she reached for the bottle to pour a third, I raised my hand and shook my head. “No, no,” I said, letting out a breath. “That’s enough. I have a dinner date with Sophia tonight, and she’s probably waiting already. I can’t stay too long.” Melody pouted slightly but nodded. “Okay, okay. In that case, I’ll go in and change quickly so I can walk you to
CALEB When I opened my eyes, the room was quiet. The scent of disinfectant hung in the air, and the dull hum of machines pulsed softly in the background. My head felt heavy, my body weak, but I could feel the presence of someone close. As my vision cleared, I saw two familiar faces—my sister, Melody, and our mother. They were sitting on either side of my hospital bed, both looking like they hadn’t slept in days. I blinked slowly, trying to process where I was. My throat was dry, but I managed to sit up halfway. “What happened?” I asked, my voice hoarse. Melody leaned forward immediately, her face filled with worry. “You passed out, Caleb. We were just talking, and then suddenly… you collapsed. I panicked. I called the driver, rushed you to the hospital, and then called Mom.” She reached for my hand, and I didn’t pull away, but my mind was elsewhere. Her voice faded for a moment as memories came back to me, slow and broken, like puzzle pieces rearranging themselves. I remembe
SOPHIA “I’m looking forward to it,” I said with a small smile, though a part of me wished I could go with him. Caleb had already told me where he was going. He said he was meeting Melody. He wanted to talk to her face-to-face, find out if she really said those things to Victor. I didn’t like it. Something about it made me uneasy. I told him I wanted to go with him, but he refused. “You’ve been through too much,” he said gently. “You need to rest. I don’t know what I’m walking into with Melody, and I don’t want to risk anything that might upset you.” I knew he was right. But I still hated letting him go alone. After a while, I gave in. I stood by the door and watched him leave. He smiled back at me one last time before getting into his car and driving away. The house felt too quiet after he was gone. I tried to distract myself by going over the wedding plans again. I sat at the dining table, scrolling through the files the wedding planner had sent, trying to convince mysel