NancyThe days passed slowly, and with each one, I felt like I was being pulled back into a life that no longer belonged to me. Pretending to be Bruce's ideal wife again seemed like a temporary task at first, something I would do until I could execute my plans. However, as time went on, the line between what was real and what was an act began to blur within me.The imposing mansions, the dazzling dinners in polished marble halls, the expensive perfumes mixed with the subtle scent of freshly cut flowers—all of it began to feel disturbingly familiar again. Extravagant parties where crystal glasses reflected the golden chandelier lights, social events full of fake smiles and political alliances, luxurious trips to paradise destinations aboard private jets… All of it became part of my daily life once more. And somewhere in the middle of it all, I began to wonder: did I still want revenge? Or was I slowly conforming to this life again?It was hard to realize that, on some level, I was los
Nancy I needed a distraction. In recent days, my mind has been in turmoil, a complete chaos of thoughts that has robbed me of peace. Wandering through the Morton house day after day, feeling the weight of what my life used to be and what it had become, was suffocating. The mere thought of spending another afternoon doing nothing deeply bothered me. So that morning, I decided to clean Bruce's office, a task that, in some way, could offer me relief, even if only temporarily. It was a way to try to regain some control over my life. I had always been the submissive wife, responsible for the household chores, even while living in a mansion and having access to all the wealth Bruce had accumulated. In the past, I was used to following orders and dedicating myself completely to the details of the house. Now, that same role seemed to be the only thing I could still control. The idea of organizing Bruce's office seemed like the perfect way to occupy my mind and hands. As I entered the offic
NancyIn the days following the discovery of the documents in Bruce’s office, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I had seen. Every time I closed my eyes, the names and figures replayed in my mind like an unending film. What lay before me was not just a corruption scheme; it was something far larger and more sinister. The Mortons, the family to whom I had devoted so much of my life, were not merely manipulative and cold. They were murderers.Anger boiled within me, but at the same time, I needed to be smart. I couldn’t rush into anything. I knew that if Bruce or any other Morton suspected I knew something, it would be the end of me. They had too much power. And after everything I had suffered, I couldn’t afford to be reckless.The first thing I did was transfer the photos I took of the documents to a secure device. I didn’t trust keeping anything on my phone. It took me days to set up a secure system to store the information, and even then, every time I reviewed those photos, dread ov
Avery's POVThe lights of New York flickered incessantly in the dense night, like artificial stars scattered across the concrete. The air was heavy, saturated with smoke and pollution, filling my lungs with each breath as I walked through the illuminated streets, trying to make sense of what had gone wrong that night. The city felt colder and more distant than ever. Every car that passed was a cruel reminder of how quickly things changed, slipping through my fingers like fine sand."Avery, I'm sorry, but to me, you're just a good friend..."That night should have been a milestone. Deep down, I knew Jake would never be mine. He was always the kind of man who seemed unreachable, like a distant star. Still, I found myself fantasizing and wishing, if only for a second, that he would choose me. That he would look at me the same way he looked at Nancy, with that intensity and passion that consumed me with jealousy. Every word he spoke about her cut me like a sharp blade, and yet, I couldn’t
Avery YoungThe cold night continued to wrap around me as I hid in the shadows, my heart beating erratically in my chest. Every sound seemed amplified—the heavy footsteps of the surrounding men, the hum of the helicopter in the air. My lips trembled, and I struggled to stay in control. Fear spread through my body like an electric current, making it hard to breathe. The idea of doing something—anything—flashed briefly through my mind, but I hesitated.The men who had taken Jake weren’t ordinary people. They exuded violence, as if they knew they were in control. And as a woman alone, what could I do against them? The image of Jake being overpowered and of Nancy being dragged into the helicopter still pulsed in my mind. Adrenaline made my hands shake, and for a moment, I considered calling the police. "Would 911 fix this?" I thought, my fingers moving automatically toward the phone in my pocket.But I stopped. What if they found out I had made the call? What if those men knew I was here,
AveryFear gripped me as I watched Jake's chest rise and fall in that shallow, fragile rhythm. He lay on the bed, hooked up to all sorts of medical equipment that I’d smuggled from the hospital. It wasn’t difficult, not with the access I had. Being a nurse had its perks, but none of them had ever felt as desperate as this. Keeping Jake alive—keeping him hidden—had become my sole mission, the only thing I could think about day in and day out.The night they dumped him into that lake felt like a blur now, a foggy nightmare that replayed every time I closed my eyes. I still couldn’t believe he had survived. I couldn’t believe that I had pulled him from the water, that I had resuscitated him, and that he was here, in a darkened, unused room in the hospital, teetering on the edge of life.Jake had been in a coma for weeks. Each day that passed without him waking up chipped away at my hope, like water eroding stone. I had begun to wonder if he would ever wake up. And yet, no matter how hope
AveryWhen Jake finally opened his eyes, it was as if the weight of the world had fallen on his shoulders again. His expression, as he regained consciousness, said it all. There was no joy in being alive, no sense of relief at having escaped death. On the contrary, it seemed like his soul was in pieces, shattered by what had happened.I watched him in silence for long minutes as he looked around, trying to understand where he was and what had happened. He didn’t ask anything right away, but his eyes searched for answers, and I knew that soon enough, he would face the harsh reality.“You’re safe, Jake,” I said softly, my voice barely a whisper. I didn’t want to scare him, not at that fragile moment. He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply, as if trying to absorb everything. He didn’t respond, just letting the silence between us grow.For weeks, Jake had been there, in that makeshift bed, unconscious. I didn’t know if he would survive, but I refused to give up. I couldn’t let
Months laterAmberI've never been a big fan of Christmas. Those cheesy songs, little lights flashing everywhere, and that air of "forced joy" always irritated me deeply. And of course, after everything that's happened in the last few months, my contempt has only increased. Kris was dead. My father... well, I still couldn't even think about him without feeling a shiver of disgust.But there I was, months later, returning to Denver, where the snow insisted on covering everything with a cold, white layer. I spent days trying to pretend my life was normal — posting happy photos on social media, buying new clothes, and publishing as if nothing had happened. But inside, I was devastated. Guilt followed me like a shadow, and the antidepressant was the only thing that allowed me to put one foot in front of the other.I couldn't run away forever. It was Christmas, and, as always, I had to make my grand appearance at my parents' house. Even though every fiber of my being wanted to stay in New