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
Ryder's pov The cold air hit my face as I stepped outside, but I barely noticed it. My head was filled with the thought of Ophelia.My mind was a whirlwind of questions, anger, and frustration. The image of Ophelia’s signature on those divorce papers kept flashing before my eyes, a reminder of what she was trying to do. How can she jump to a conclusion like that, especially immediately after telling me she was the cause of Olivia's accident? I was still doing my investigation on it but it was like that day never happened. My investigator has been checking for months but he hasn't gotten any hint.Maybe I should contact someone else. I was told of one of the best private investigators in Los Angeles. I would contact him now that I needed to find the truth the most but I have to hear from Ophelia first.I slid into my car and gripped the steering wheel tightly as I drove off. I had people watching her, but it wasn’t enough. I needed to see her for myself. I needed answers, and I was
Ryder's pov Entering the house, I pulled on my tie, releasing it from my neck and unbuttoning the first button on my shirt.“Welcome dear, Gina said, coming out of the kitchen with an apron. “You must be hungry. Should I set the table?”“Yes Gina, thank you,” I stopped on my way to my room and turned back to Gina.“Gina,” I called, and she turned back to look at me behind the counter.“Has Ryan and Olivia eaten?” I asked.“Ryan has had his dinner but Olivia is still waiting for you so you could have dinner together,” I nodded slowly, tired from the day's work.“I will call her for dinner after I freshen up first,” I told Gina.“Ryder,” she called softly before I could move. “You work yourself too hard, can you try to create time for your family? Ryan misses you,” her eyes gazed at me with care and hope.Since Ophelia left, I have buried myself in work, having no time to think about her. I leave early in the morning and return at night.And that is because I was now in control of Alic
Ophelia's pov Shortly after the security men reached my row, they caught the man with a bag of hidden drugs. It turned out he was referring to the man sitting next to me. His bag was searched and it was filled with clothes dipped in drugs. His flight was canceled, and he was led out of the plane.I breathed in relief when the pilot announced we were about to fly. I closed my eyes as the plane ran through the railway and was to taxi.I felt the plane lift from the ground, and I shut my eyes tightly, clenching firmly to my seat and biting hard on my lips.When the plane was finally in the air I unlocked my seat belt and breathed in relief. After some time, a waitress came to me asking what I wanted and I told her before relaxing back on my seat.I am starting a new life now. A life where no one knew me. Not as Ophelia Hamilton, the daughter of Alice Hamilton, or Ophelia Smith, the wife of Ryder and the mother of Ryan, but as Eva Hunter.I decided to use my other name, Eva, one of my
Ryder's Pov The airport came into view, and I slammed my foot on the brake as I skidded into the parking lot. Barely having time, I turned off the engine before jumping out of the car.I didn’t know what I would say to her if I saw her. I entered the terminal which was buzzing, scanning the crowd for any sign of her with my guard following behind me. Another of my guards joined us there.“I was keeping my eyes on her but she got lost in the crowd,” the new guard who joined us said.Why can't they do a simple task right?“She is just a fucking woman; how could you lose her?” I was losing my cool while staring at the guard.“She was sitting right here waiting before people started moving and I lost her in the crowd. I am sorry sir,” he apologized, bowing his head. My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it. I went to the nearest information desk. “Excuse me,” I barked at the woman who was sitting down there. “I am looking for someone who might have checked in recently. Ophelia
Ophelia's pov The cab pulled up to the airport, and I handed the driver some cash. “Keep the change,” I muttered, stepping out of the cab and I held the scarf tighter around my head. The air was crisp, biting against my skin, but it wasn’t enough to chase away the chill settling deep inside me. I walked into the terminal with my heart pounding with every step I took. The buzz of activity was washing over me. People were rushing past me, some dragging their suitcases, others clutching boarding passes in their hands, and some, their faces a mix of excitement and fatigue. I envied them. They had somewhere to go. They have a good reason. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I needed to leave. The phone I tucked away in the hotel room had been deliberate. I tossed it in the bin before I left the room. Even though it hurt me a lot, tossing a lot of memories away but I had to do it.I couldn’t risk anyone tracking me and finding me. I wanted to live far away from them, away f
Ryder's pov It was just between me and Ophelia. How did it leak out?A video began playing.Ophelia was standing In front of a burning car, and I could hear the pleading from the other side, but Ophelia just stood there, back to the camera, without doing anything.“Thank your stars, your son isn't with you right now; if not, he would have burnt with you to hell,” Ophelia said before walking to her car.I dropped to the couch as disbelief filled me. I was shocked.That was her voice, my body shook with rage as her words kept playing in my head.“Mama,” I heard Ryan's cry and looked down at him.His eyes were on the TV when he heard her voice. The reporter continued, “This video was sent to almost 15 media outlets with the sender anonymous. It leaves everyone to the question of why she would want to kill her sister and threaten to end her son's lie,”The room fell silent as the words sank in, leaving me breathless and with only one question in mind.Why?My heart went numb, I didn't k
Ryder's pov “That's true Ryder. I haven't seen Ophelia yet, why is she?” Mum asked, her eyes settling on me.“She is gone,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but my voice shook a little, almost giving away what I felt. “What do you mean by she is gone? Gone to where?” Dad asked, his voice sharp while his brows furrowed deeply.“She isn't interested in our marriage anymore, Dad. She gave me divorce papers and left,” The words felt heavy and like poison, burning my throat as I said them.“What are you talking about Ryder? She would never do that. I know her” Dad defended her, his voice in disbelief. He took out his phone and began dialing her number.The familiar sound of the ringing tone filled the room, but I knew she didn't pick up. “Did you two fight?” Mum asked, concern lacing her voice.“She was tired of pretending, Mum. She wanted to live her own life.” I shrugged, trying to mask the ache in my chest. Dad’s jaw tightened as he continued to listen to the ringing before the
Ryder's pov Finally, after leaving my office, I went to my room, had a quick shower, and slipped into casual clothes. I got little or no sleep and the pounding in my head demanded one thing—coffee. The house was still quiet, the morning light filtering through the windows. As I walked toward the kitchen, I paused by Ryan's room and pushed the door open slightly.He was still asleep, his small form curled up under the blanket, clutching his stuffed lion tightly, one of the gifts Ophelia got him on his birthday.For a moment, I just stood there, watching him. His soft breathing filled the room, a sound so comforting yet so fragile. He looked so much like her, Ophelia, when he slept.I shook the thought from my mind and headed to the kitchen to set about making coffee. The machine whirred softly, filling the air with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee.I leaned against the counter, staring into the mug in my hands. The silence wasn’t peaceful, it was suffocating. There was a time
Olivia's pov The room was wrecked with the smell of alcohol and cigarettes. The house was in complete disarray with everywhere littered with bottles of alcohol and the table filled with cigarette powder.Clothes were thrown on the couches, discarded, and scattered everywhere. My nose twisted with the smell emitting from his room. How is he able to breathe here? I went to the closed window and opened it, allowing fresh air to enter the house, giving more room for breathing.I turned to him “Why did you call me here? What do you want? I thought I asked you not to call me except I do”He chuckled, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “Oh, Olivia. Still as fiery as ever. But we both know why you are here.” I glared at him, my patience already wearing thin. “Stop playing games with me, I don't have time for your nonsense. What do you want from me?” He took a step closer, his smirk fading into something more sinister. “I want what you promised me. Do you think you can just cut
Olivia's povI poured myself a bottle of champagne and drowned it in a go. Everything was falling apart. Everything I thought I would hold back. Ryder might not have told me what happened in detail but I know Ophelia was gone from our lives.I saw the divorce papers on his desk. Ophelia's name and signature were already on it, which only remains Ryder's own.At least one of my plans worked even though it didn't take me so much effort. Ophelia had such a soft heart. She has always been and she is still a pleaser. She was always looking out for people and forgetting herself in the process. I thought she would have changed a little but she didn't surprise me.I knew I wouldn't need much work to do but only Ryder proved difficult. Always following Ophelia like a lost puppy.I eavesdropped on him while he was talking to Ryan who was sleeping. He keeps calling Ophelia Ryan's mum, he even still cares for her after she left. He keeps referring to her as his wife but I was his wife in the fir