Ophelia pov I stared at her long and hard as she finished talking and laughed hard, taking her by surprise. Tears threatened to fall but I held it in even when the situation was enough to make me cry.“You are mistaken Olivia, if you think I was going to believe that. You couldn't sleep, and you called him to come to the hospital, and he left very early to get me a present. You can try to fool me but I won't fall for your tricks,” I shook my head.“Then you should have heard me crying to your husband that I needed him and he ran back here to take me in his hands. His firm strong arms round around me comforting Mr until he—” “Enough,” I shouted, unable to hear any more nonsense she was spilling. The image of Ryder doing everything he did to Mr last to Olivia caused my heart to ache so much that I was afraid it was going to start bleeding.“You should know this because you deserve to. Didn't you stop to reason why Ryder just came with the thought of taking you out, out of the blues? I
Ophelia's pov Waking up from my nightmare, I was drained of sweat. It was this same nightmare tormenting me. I have been hospitalized for two days and I still haven't heard anything from Ryder.Was that how little I meant to him? Even if he didn't love me back, I was still his wife.I sat up from the bed unable to sleep. My recovery was fast and I will be leaving the hospital bed this morning.I swung my leg to the other side, and immediately, I saw a flash of my memory.I was standing in front of the burning car as the person inside yelped for help. I only stood there, watching the person burn. After a while, I got into my car and drove off, leaving the person there to burn to death.How could I do that? How could I be so heartless? It wasn't me. Why would I do that?There was a knock on the door, breaking the me from my thoughts and the doctor came in with a basket of food.I composed myself and smiled at him. “How are you doing now?” He asked, setting the basket down beside me.“
Ophelia pov Days went by really fast and I saw little of Ryder day after day. Because of the time he took to take care of Olivia, he had tons of work to attend to.And when he comes back, he goes to see Olivia in her room and spends some time with Ryan before coming up to our room.I tried everything to avoid him. Not only because he didn't come to check up on me but because I was scared to meet him face to face after confessing my feelings to him.I was already doing fine and my cut had healed well. I decided to stop my former medication, and I started using the new one the doctor prescribed for me.Olivia was recovering quickly, and with every passing day, her presence in the house felt more permanent. She had begun to assert herself, taking over small routines and making sly comments whenever Ryder wasn’t around. It was as if she wanted to remind me of her hold on him, on this family.I couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy when I saw Ryder with her, even though I told mysel
Ophelia povThe shower water poured over me as if it could cleanse the guilt clawing at my chest. My sobs echoed off the tiles, raw and uncontrollable as I let the tears fall. How hard did I bury this memory so deep? How had I convinced myself I was blameless and I didn't do anything when I had taken everything from Olivia, her family, her husband, her life? How did it happen? How could I travel back to London with remorse or guilt? How?I couldn’t stay here. Not like this. Not after I have learned the truth.If I could do that to Olivia, I was scared of what I could do to Ryan, to Ryder. The thought of hurting them caused me so much more pain than I knew.Quickly, I turned off the water, wrapped a towel around myself, and stumbled back into the bedroom. Ryder was still asleep, his chest rising and falling peacefully, oblivious to the storm raging within me. I stared at him, a lump forming in my throat. He deserved to know the truth, but how could I tell him? How could I admit th
Ryan's POV I stared at the divorce papers in my hands and they felt heavier than anything I had ever held. Ophelia’s words echoed in my head, louder and more crushing with each replay. “I was the cause of her accident.”How was I supposed to process that? The woman I had been falling for, the woman who stepped into my life when everything was crumbling, was the same person who tore it apart. I stared at the pictures, unable to reconcile the vibrant woman in my memories with the shadow of betrayal now hovering over everything. My chest tightened. My mind raced with questions. How did it happen? I didn't see Ophelia the last time she came when Olivia was still alive but I knew the day I received the call of Olivia's accident, Ophelia was on the plane back to London.So how?I need more answers. I need clarity. I stared at the door she left and bolted out of the room, my anger and confusion fueling each step. She wasn't in the house anymore. I ran out of the house, gaining a glan
Ophelia's pov The cab ride felt endless, even though the city center was only a few miles away. I kept my gaze fixed on the window, watching the world blur past and fast. My chest aches while I manage to keep my tears in by biting my trembling lips, my hands shaking as I clutched my bag tighter.I didn’t know where to go or what to do next. All I knew was I just had to leave. But where? Where was I running to?London flashed in my mind for a moment. Was it back to my life in London? I can't go back there. London reminds me of my old life. The life I have forgotten. The life I didn't want to return to.Staying back also meant facing Ryder, his anger, and the storm of emotions I had unleashed. I deceived him, I broke his family apart, and even worse, I played the victim card on everyone.I can't stand looking into Olivia's eyes. I can't stand her accusing stares. I have caused her more sorrow. I always had, even as a kid. There was no reason for me to stay.I pressed a hand against my
Ophelia’s povAs I ate, my mind wandered back to Ryder. I imagined him at home, pacing in his study, a glass of whiskey in his hand. Would he be furious? Devastated? Or would he feel relieved to know the truth, no matter how painful? Would he be glad to be able to find an escape from our marriage? After all, he never wanted me in the first place, and his first love was back in his life and house.And Olivia, what would she say if she found out I was the cause of her accident then? What would she say if she found out I stood there watching her car burn with her in it and didn’t offer help to her?What would she say or do if she found out she had run away? Would she gloat, reveling in my weakness? Or would she be happy, content that I had removed myself from their lives? I pushed the thoughts away and focused on the soup I was drinking, letting its warmth spread through me. For the first time in hours, I felt a small measure of calm. But it was fleeting, a thin veneer over the chaos
Ryder's pov The silence in the house was deafening. Ryan was playing by himself in the living room while Olivia was with him, watching over him.She doesn't know of anything that happened between me and Ophelia.I sat in my study, the amber liquid in my glass barely touched as it reflected the dim light of the room. Papers were scattered across my desk, including her papers, which stood out. Divorce papers. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling as her words echoed in my mind. “Those are divorce papers from the court. I am relieving you of this marriage. Sign the divorce papers, Ryder, and live your life. Goodbye.”It wasn’t just the divorce that was upsetting me. It was the way she left, quiet, decisive, like a ghost disappearing into the night. She didn't give me an explanation; she just left. Like she didn't owe me a fucking explanation. Was I just meant to accept the divorce and sign the papers?A sharp knock on the door broke through my thoughts. "Come in," I said
Ophelia's Pov I opened my eyes to the cold room. I checked beside me but didn't find Ryder with me. The duvet was on me which I didn't do myself.I swung my leg to the floor and stood up from the bed. I headed to the living room, and I saw Mum sleeping on the couch.What is she still doing here? I thought she went home.I walked past her to the kitchen to make myself something to eat. At the sound of moving about and making noise, she woke up and sat straight, rubbing her eyes.When her eyes settled on me, she stood up immediately.“You should go home, Mum. You will have body pain by sleeping on the couch,” I said without giving her a glance.“I am not leaving until you talk to me,” I continued doing what I was doing.“And I don't want to,” I said.“Please, even if it is the last thing you do if I join your father,” I froze before turning to look at her.“Are you threatening me with that now? I have lost Dad, not you, again. Is that how you want to play it? I am angry with you but I
Ophelia's Pov I moved my eyes from the bottles on the table to Mum.“What truth mum?” I asked, curiosity eating me up.“I would like you to listen to the story I am about to tell you,” I said slowly, trying to gain my acceptance and I nodded.“When your father died, it was the darkest time of my life. I couldn't handle a kid all by myself not to talk more of two girls.I tried to handle both of you together, bring you closer, and make sure you are alright, but you withdrew yourself totally. I should have put in more effort but I didn't. I only made sure you were safe because of your illness, but emotionally, I didn't try.Olivia was the only one who I was close to so when the two of you went to university, I didn't monitor her like I did to you. I knew nothing about her love life or health,” she paused before continuing.“Few days for you both to graduate, I stumbled across your book when you wrote about hating a guy Olivia was with. Then I started looking after her and that was when
Ophelia's Pov As the car drove from the station to the house, Olivia's confession didn't leave my head.How? How did it happen? I have always blamed her for everything but I was the villain in her story. She was hurt because of me.As I rested my back on the passenger's seat, my thoughts went back to 20 minutes before I left the station.******“Since when and how long do you have more?”“Since I was in university. I had a breakdown and was rushed to the hospital, tests were conducted and I knew about it. I don't know how long I have but I know it isn't soon.”“Why did you tell Mum or me?” I asked as a tear escaped my eyes and rolled down my cheeks.“It was bad enough I was the black sheep. I didn't want to make Mum worried. It was hard seeing her breakdown during Dad's death and how she struggled. If you don't notice, she still dies and that is why she buried her head in work.”“You should have told someone, we could have helped. Is there any treatment for it or any way you can man
Ophelia's Pov “Why?” I paused trying to brace myself together, “I didn't take dad from you. I never did,”“Really? You didn't?” She moved her chair and fixed her gaze on me. “Who was his perfect princess? Why read day and night to make sure Dad is proud of her? Who goes to meet Dad any chance she gets so he can spend time with her? Who was Dad's favorite?”“Olivia—” I started, but she interrupted me.“You made him distant from me. Then you came sick and all the attention was shifted from both of us to only you. Only Ophelia deserves to rest while I go to school activities. Only Ophelia deserves 24/7 monitoring. I began to fade and I became your shadow. It was all about you,” she screamed with tears flowing down her eyes.She is getting it all wrong, or is she right with what she said?I was suffocated and choked. I blamed my sickness for that and envied Olivia whenever she could go anywhere she liked or do anything she wanted.“I didn't know you felt that way,”“You wouldn't because
Ophelia's PovI sat in the interrogation room waiting for the officers to bring Olivia out.The sound of the door opening reached my ear, and I saw Olivia enter the room.My eyes met mine immediately, and I offered a little smile, which she returned forcefully.“Hi,” I said as she took her seat.“How are you doing?” I asked and she shook her head.“Shitty,” she replied and I nodded, looking down my fingers.“I know. It isn't the best place to be in,”“Are you finding means to get me out?” She asked.“Not yet—,”“Why?” She interrupted me with her voice harsh. I looked into her eyes, and for the first time, I saw something I had not noticed before.Anger.“Olivia, why?” I asked, maintaining eye contact with her. I watch her eyes transition from anger to confusion.“What?”“Why did you do all of these? Why did you hurt your family? Why did you hurt me?” She didn't reply to me; she only held my gaze for a few seconds.“Do what, Ophelia. You and Ryder should find out how to get me out of
Ophelia's Pov Three million dollars.The amount kept ringing in my head. The amount was huge. Why did she take a loan of that amount and what did she use it for?“Got it,” Dave said and gave me his phone.I read through her information, and every line I read got me more confused.I looked up from the phone back to Ryder. “How is this all true?”“There are pictures to prove it; scroll down,” Dave said, and I did as he said.There were a few pictures of her, from old to recent, but a picture caught my eye, and I zoomed in on the picture.The cloth. It looks familiar. I went to the search bar and typed my name. Many articles popped up, but I went to the videos and searched for the video of that day's accident. There was no video of the accident on the web. But I saw it while I was in Brazil.At that moment, Ryder came down and I turned to him immediately.“Ryder, the accident video is not on the web anymore,”“Yes, I took them all down,” he said, sitting down next to me. “Why?” he a
Ophelia's Pov As I watched the video, I felt a strangling knot in my stomach.Paul was on the call with someone as he placed about.“Did you do everything I asked you to?” He asked the person on the other side.“Listen to me. Go to my place and do exactly as I instruct you unless the boy dies,”“Talk to you later, Olivia. I have to feed the boy,”On hearing Olivia's name, the knot in my stomach tightened.I turned to Ryder.“She knew,” I said and he nodded.“That is the only evidence we got that the kidnapping is tied to Olivia,”Wow.“I need time to process this,” I stood up and walked to our room.I lay on the bed and closed my eyes, wishing that what I saw would disappear, but it only got clearer.I knew Olivia was tied to it one way or the other but confirming it now was hurting me more than I thought.After some time, I felt fatigue slowly kicked in and I slept off.******Waking up from the bed, I stood up and went to the bathroom to wash my face before leaving the room.I went
Ophelia's Pov Desmond and Ryder were checking all the CCTV cameras around the side where we found Ryan.They are looking for any connection with Olivia.I was with Ryan as he played with his toys. His little fingers moved busily as he stacked colorful blocks on top of each other. His soft giggles filled the room.I felt my phone vibrate beside me and I removed my eyes from Ryan to my phone.I saw 5 missed calls from Dave. When did he call that I didn't pick up? My brows furrowed. I looked at Ryan to make sure he was alright before calling him back.“Hi,” “Ophelia, are you alright?” He asked directly.“Yes, I am. How is Lily?” I asked.“She is fine. We are married,” the line went silent after that.The words settled in, a strange tightness forming in my chest.“Erm,” I cleared my throat. “That is good; I am happy for both of you,” I said, my voice coming out tighter than I intended.“Ophelia, I—”“It is okay.” I cut in, forcing a small smile even though he couldn’t see it. “You are
Ophelia's Pov A heavy silence fell over the room. The implications of what we had just uncovered were unsettling. Could Olivia have orchestrated Ryan’s kidnapping? Why would she do that if she did?I glanced at Ryder, his jaw tight, his hands clenched into fists. His expression was unreadable, but I could sense the storm brewing beneath the surface. Gina sat stiffly on the couch, her fingers twisting together. “I— I don’t want to believe it,” she whispered. “But if she could do this to Ryan, what else is she capable of doing?” Ryder exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face. “If Olivia did this… If she put our son in danger…” His voice trailed off, but the quiet fury in his tone was unmistakable. “She faked her death and framed me, what else can she not do?” I asked aloud, trying the grasp the realization we just made.A cold shiver ran down my spine. Olivia had always been manipulative, but would she really go that far? To harm an innocent child? Her biological child?