Chapter 3

~Aubrey

As I'm dragged away in the police car, I feel a wave of despair wash over me. I'm trapped in a living nightmare, with no escape and not only have I been reborn into the life of a mistreated wife, but now I'm being charged with murder. The injustice of it all feels suffocating.

As I think about Marilyn's distraught face, tears start to pour down my cheeks. She believes in my innocence and is trying to save me from this nightmare, but she has no idea that I'm actually Aubrey, trapped in Victoria's body. Her loyalty and trust in me only make this situation more heartbreaking.

The police car suddenly screeches to a halt right outside the station and I'm dragged out of the car and thrown harshly into a cold, dark cell. I bruise my elbow badly on the concrete floor in the process, but the pain is nothing compared to the anguish in my heart.

The police officers snickered. "Can't believe a pretty lady like her is actually a killer.. never judge a book by its cover, huh?"

"Yeah, and I even heard that she was having an affair with her husband's business partner."

"And I also heard that her husband never once came to visit her during her stay in the hospital, and look, he isn't here either.

“Ha! I guess he's been trying to get rid of her for years and has finally gotten the opportunity to do so."

Their gossip and laughter echo through the cell, making me feel sick to my stomach. I slam my fists angrily against the bars. "You have no right to take me in without evidence! This is unjust!”

But they just ignored me, leaving me alone in the cold cell.

And then it hits me, this must be the doing of The Winstons. They must have paid the police handsomely to arrest me. I tiredly slumped to the ground, feeling hopeless. I had no one to turn to, no money to hire a lawyer and asking Marilyn to help me with the bail money would be too much of a burden, I knew she was struggling financially as it is. I slowly hugged my legs, my face buried into my knees, I was completely alone.

"Mr Blackwood?!" A policeman suddenly said in shock, his voice echoing through the cold, sterile hallway.

I immediately lifted my head, my eyes scanning the doorway, and that's when I saw him, Alexander Blackwood, standing tall and imposing, his presence commanding attention. His eyes, cold and detached, swept past me without a flicker of emotion.

Why was he here?

He strode towards the officers, his movements fluid and purposeful, and he began to speak in a low yet authoritative tone. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but the officers nodded hastily, their faces lighting up with gratitude. One of them took a thick stack of cash from Alexander, and my eyes widened in shock.

Was he bailing me out? Why? I thought he hated Victoria?

As Alexander was talking with the officers, he turned towards my cell, his gaze finally settling on me, but his eyes didn't soften, nor did his expression change. He looked at me with a bland and disinterested expression, as if I were some worthless artefact, a mere inconvenience.

But why was he helping me? What did he want from me?

I felt a shiver run down my spine as he approached my cell, his presence suffocating and his gaze unyielding. Once he was some metres away, I couldn't help but notice his dark hair, which was neatly gelled back revealing his piercing black orbs that seemed to bore into my soul.

His nose was straight, his jawline chiseled, and his lips thin. He was currently putting on a black suit, the fabric accentuating his strong arms and broad shoulders. I remembered that he was 10 years older than my past self, Aubrey, which made him 15 years older than Victoria, the age gap only added to his intimidating presence.

As he reached the cell door, he adjusted his cufflinks, his movements precise and calculated. His gaze finally settled on me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. He didn't say a word, just gestured for me to follow him and I did.

As we walked through the police station, Alexander's silence was oppressive, weighing heavily on me. I tried to speak, to ask him why he was helping me, but he just raised a hand, silencing me and I felt like a child, scolded and insignificant.

We arrived at his car that was sitting outside, a black sedan with tinted windows. He gestured for me to get in, I hesitated, unsure of what laid ahead but nonetheless I got in, and he followed.

As soon as we were alone in the car, Alexander finally spoke, his voice low and cold. "I bailed you out because of my reputation, I couldn't have my wife rotting in prison." He suddenly tossed a huge stack of money at me, the bills fluttering everywhere. "Take it and leave, never show your face again, the world will think you're dead, and it will benefit us both. I don't need to be married to you, and you don't need to face the consequences of your actions."

"I'm not going anywhere." I said with a firm voice. That was far from the plan I had in mind. I couldn't just disappear without getting revenge on The Winstons now that I had the chance. I had to make them pay for all the maltreatment they'd done to me.

Alexander raised a brow, surprised by my refusal. "What makes you think I won't just get rid of you and simplify things?”

I gazed up at him, a fierce determination burning within me. "You cannot kill me, because you'd also take the life of your unborn child.”