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Chapter 9
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My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 1
"It appears she accidentally fell from a great height..." the police officer said, but his words felt like distant echoes to me.All I could see was my daughter, my precious, sweet girl. She was only five, as adorable as an angel. Her once-bright eyes were now closed, never to open again.I knelt beside her, cradling her tiny hands which were covered in bruises and cuts. Her smartwatch, the one I put on her, was nowhere to be found."Stella, can you open your eyes for Mommy? I got you your favorite doll. Remember, the one you wanted to hug every night?" I whispered, my voice trembling. "How could you fall asleep here all alone, sweetheart?"But no matter how much I called out to her, she never answered. I opened her little palm and found a crumpled family portrait she had drawn of our family. That was when my tears broke free, unstoppable.It was now 3 in the morning. An hour earlier, I found Stella's body at the foot of the mountain where she and her father, Cedric Fleetham, had
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 2
Right in front of the officer, I declined the call and blocked Cedric's number.The officer looked at me in surprise. "Are you sure you don't want the child's father to see her one last time?"My voice came out raspy and broken. "Officer, would you let a murderer see your child?"As I stumbled into the ambulance with Stella in my arms, the doctor told me that Stella had not instantly died from the fall. She had died slowly from internal bleeding. Her pain must have been unbearable.Before her death, Stella had dug into the earth with her hands, breaking her nails in the process. All ten of her fingers were bloodied. But no one came to save her. She died in despair, alone.I sat in the hospital's morgue the entire night until the sun began to rise. The medical staff gently urged me to lay Stella to rest soon. Not wanting my Stella to stay in that cold, lifeless place, I contacted a funeral home and arranged for her body to be taken away. I then returned home to prepare for her buri
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 3
Laura stood right behind Cedric, looking at me with a pitiful expression."Rachel, Ced just got back from his business trip. Tina wanted to see him, so I invited him over for dinner. If you're mad at me, fine, but how could you curse my daughter like that?" Laura spoke through tears.Cedric's face twisted in pain, clearly distressed for her. "Don't cry, Laura. Retribution will come her way soon enough!" he comforted her.My face had gone numb from the pain, and my heart was dead and hollow. Laura's daughter was still alive, being fed and cared for by Cedric. But my daughter, my Stella, was gone. Marrying Cedric was my retribution."Rachel, it's your daughter who's mute, not you! Stop pretending to be pitiful! It's disgusting!" Cedric yelled.His words stabbed at my heart. He could say whatever he wanted about me, but not about Stella. In anger, I raised my hand and slapped him.Smack!Cedric froze, then his face twisted in anger. "You dare hit me?!""You can hit me, but I can't
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 4
"It's a death certificate. Can't you read?" I snatched the document back, disgusted by the thought of Cedric's fingerprints staining it.Cedric stared at me, his gaze unsettling. "Have you lost your mind, Rach? Stella is your daughter, and you dare forge something like that just to trick me?"My tears had long dried up. There were none left to shed."Stella's my daughter. She has nothing to do with you," I retorted and turned to leave.Laura rushed forward and snatched the document from my hand. She carefully examined every word, even the cause of death. To my surprise, she seemed almost relieved."How could you do this, Rachel? Stella is also Ced's daughter. Even though you cursed Tina, I still hope Stella is safe." She shoved the certificate back into my hand, a smug glint in her eyes. "I know you're jealous, but could you stop this nonsense?""Get out of my way!" I shoved Laura aside and stormed out of the house. Anywhere they were, I felt suffocated.Just as I got into my ca
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 5
At the funeral home, the mortician carefully dressed Stella in a new little dress that looked like Snow White's. She loved the story of Snow White. She once told me she envied Snow White for having seven good friends.Stella had been mute since she was born, and the other children did not like to play with her. Even their parents said her muteness might be "contagious" and forbade their kids from playing with her.My daughter had always been alone. And now, so was I.The first light of morning fell across Bella's pale little face as I brought her to her final resting place. Here, the ground was flat. There were no mountains, no cliffs, and no stray dogs.During the burial, I placed the doll in Bella's arms and spoke to her one last time. "Baby, in the next life, be a small creature with wings, alright? One that can fly so that you'll never fall again."As soon as my words faded, a pure white butterfly landed right over my heart. It was as if Stella had returned.The little winged
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 6
"I'm sorry." Cedric got on his knees, bowing his head to me. "I'm sorry." He then turned to Stella's grave and bowed again. "I'm sorry."His voice cracked, and he muttered through his tears, "I deserve to die. I'm the one who should've died.""Yes. Why wasn't it you who died?" I said.I thought I would never cry over Cedric again, but tears rolled down my face once more. I met him when I was twenty, during the prime of my youth. Back then, I did not want much. I only wanted to have a child with him.He had said so many sweet sentiments."Rach, I'd be thrilled if you gave me a daughter. She'd be like you, beautiful and adorable.""You two could wear matching princess dresses, and I would be the knight protecting you both."He was the most skilled liar in the world, and I was utterly fooled. I paid a terrible price for believing his lies."Cedric, have you signed the divorce papers? If you have time today, let's go get it done." I smoothed out the earth over Stella's grave one la
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 7
As I walked out of the station, my mind replayed everything the officer had just told me. The mountain Cedric and Stella had gone camping in was remote, with no surveillance cameras anywhere. Also, they were not the only ones camping there that day. Others had been present."Don't worry. We'll find the real culprit as soon as possible and give your daughter justice," the officer had said. Seeing my pitiful state after losing my daughter, he returned the watch to me, letting me keep it as a memento even though it was meant to be evidence.The sun beat down fiercely overhead, but I felt nothing as I wandered the streets like the undead. I was recalling Cedric's every word and action over the past few days, wondering if it had been him. Would he really have killed his own daughter just to be with Laura and Tina?The thought chilled me to the bone, sending shivers through my body. I decided to return home and confront him directly.As soon as I got to the front door, I was greeted by t
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 8
"No!" Cedric was terrified. He raised both hands and stepped back, not daring to come any closer.I glared at him, keeping my eyes locked on his until he had retreated to a safe distance. "I'm not here to play at reconciliation. I have questions, and I need answers!" I had no patience for unnecessary words.Cedric looked at me, visibly tense. "Please put that down. Don't hurt yourself."I was not going to hurt myself. Stella's murderer had yet to be found. I intended to live, to see justice done.I put my hand down but kept the glass shard tightly in my hand just in case Cedric tried something reckless again."Cedric Fleetham, did you kill Stella?" I asked.A silence so thick that one could hear a pin drop settled over the living room.Cedric's pupils dilated, and his chest heaved. After a moment, he said, "You think I killed her?" He pointed to himself. "Is that how you see me? As someone less than human?! A beast who would kill his own daughter?!"His reaction was intense, ma
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My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 9
My heart started pounding as if it would leap out of my chest."Then why didn't you take Stella down to the foot of the mountain too? If you had brought her down, maybe someone would've seen them. She wouldn’t have...wouldn't have died." My eyes brimmed with tears.Cedric closed his eyes. "Because Stella said the butterflies on the mountain were beautiful, and she wanted to watch them a little longer."I thought back to the white butterfly at the cemetery.At that moment, there was another knock at the door, and Laura's anxious voice came through again. "Ced, you blocked me. I couldn't reach you. Can you open the door, please? I brought Tina to see you. From now on, you can treat her as your daughter. Haven't you always liked her?"I let out a cold laugh, and shame was written all over Cedric's face."Open the door," I commanded.Cedric did as I asked and opened the door. Laura immediately tried to dive into his arms, but he stopped her with a look of disgust."What are you doi
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 8
"No!" Cedric was terrified. He raised both hands and stepped back, not daring to come any closer.I glared at him, keeping my eyes locked on his until he had retreated to a safe distance. "I'm not here to play at reconciliation. I have questions, and I need answers!" I had no patience for unnecessary words.Cedric looked at me, visibly tense. "Please put that down. Don't hurt yourself."I was not going to hurt myself. Stella's murderer had yet to be found. I intended to live, to see justice done.I put my hand down but kept the glass shard tightly in my hand just in case Cedric tried something reckless again."Cedric Fleetham, did you kill Stella?" I asked.A silence so thick that one could hear a pin drop settled over the living room.Cedric's pupils dilated, and his chest heaved. After a moment, he said, "You think I killed her?" He pointed to himself. "Is that how you see me? As someone less than human?! A beast who would kill his own daughter?!"His reaction was intense, ma
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 7
As I walked out of the station, my mind replayed everything the officer had just told me. The mountain Cedric and Stella had gone camping in was remote, with no surveillance cameras anywhere. Also, they were not the only ones camping there that day. Others had been present."Don't worry. We'll find the real culprit as soon as possible and give your daughter justice," the officer had said. Seeing my pitiful state after losing my daughter, he returned the watch to me, letting me keep it as a memento even though it was meant to be evidence.The sun beat down fiercely overhead, but I felt nothing as I wandered the streets like the undead. I was recalling Cedric's every word and action over the past few days, wondering if it had been him. Would he really have killed his own daughter just to be with Laura and Tina?The thought chilled me to the bone, sending shivers through my body. I decided to return home and confront him directly.As soon as I got to the front door, I was greeted by t
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 6
"I'm sorry." Cedric got on his knees, bowing his head to me. "I'm sorry." He then turned to Stella's grave and bowed again. "I'm sorry."His voice cracked, and he muttered through his tears, "I deserve to die. I'm the one who should've died.""Yes. Why wasn't it you who died?" I said.I thought I would never cry over Cedric again, but tears rolled down my face once more. I met him when I was twenty, during the prime of my youth. Back then, I did not want much. I only wanted to have a child with him.He had said so many sweet sentiments."Rach, I'd be thrilled if you gave me a daughter. She'd be like you, beautiful and adorable.""You two could wear matching princess dresses, and I would be the knight protecting you both."He was the most skilled liar in the world, and I was utterly fooled. I paid a terrible price for believing his lies."Cedric, have you signed the divorce papers? If you have time today, let's go get it done." I smoothed out the earth over Stella's grave one la
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 5
At the funeral home, the mortician carefully dressed Stella in a new little dress that looked like Snow White's. She loved the story of Snow White. She once told me she envied Snow White for having seven good friends.Stella had been mute since she was born, and the other children did not like to play with her. Even their parents said her muteness might be "contagious" and forbade their kids from playing with her.My daughter had always been alone. And now, so was I.The first light of morning fell across Bella's pale little face as I brought her to her final resting place. Here, the ground was flat. There were no mountains, no cliffs, and no stray dogs.During the burial, I placed the doll in Bella's arms and spoke to her one last time. "Baby, in the next life, be a small creature with wings, alright? One that can fly so that you'll never fall again."As soon as my words faded, a pure white butterfly landed right over my heart. It was as if Stella had returned.The little winged
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 4
"It's a death certificate. Can't you read?" I snatched the document back, disgusted by the thought of Cedric's fingerprints staining it.Cedric stared at me, his gaze unsettling. "Have you lost your mind, Rach? Stella is your daughter, and you dare forge something like that just to trick me?"My tears had long dried up. There were none left to shed."Stella's my daughter. She has nothing to do with you," I retorted and turned to leave.Laura rushed forward and snatched the document from my hand. She carefully examined every word, even the cause of death. To my surprise, she seemed almost relieved."How could you do this, Rachel? Stella is also Ced's daughter. Even though you cursed Tina, I still hope Stella is safe." She shoved the certificate back into my hand, a smug glint in her eyes. "I know you're jealous, but could you stop this nonsense?""Get out of my way!" I shoved Laura aside and stormed out of the house. Anywhere they were, I felt suffocated.Just as I got into my ca
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 3
Laura stood right behind Cedric, looking at me with a pitiful expression."Rachel, Ced just got back from his business trip. Tina wanted to see him, so I invited him over for dinner. If you're mad at me, fine, but how could you curse my daughter like that?" Laura spoke through tears.Cedric's face twisted in pain, clearly distressed for her. "Don't cry, Laura. Retribution will come her way soon enough!" he comforted her.My face had gone numb from the pain, and my heart was dead and hollow. Laura's daughter was still alive, being fed and cared for by Cedric. But my daughter, my Stella, was gone. Marrying Cedric was my retribution."Rachel, it's your daughter who's mute, not you! Stop pretending to be pitiful! It's disgusting!" Cedric yelled.His words stabbed at my heart. He could say whatever he wanted about me, but not about Stella. In anger, I raised my hand and slapped him.Smack!Cedric froze, then his face twisted in anger. "You dare hit me?!""You can hit me, but I can't
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 2
Right in front of the officer, I declined the call and blocked Cedric's number.The officer looked at me in surprise. "Are you sure you don't want the child's father to see her one last time?"My voice came out raspy and broken. "Officer, would you let a murderer see your child?"As I stumbled into the ambulance with Stella in my arms, the doctor told me that Stella had not instantly died from the fall. She had died slowly from internal bleeding. Her pain must have been unbearable.Before her death, Stella had dug into the earth with her hands, breaking her nails in the process. All ten of her fingers were bloodied. But no one came to save her. She died in despair, alone.I sat in the hospital's morgue the entire night until the sun began to rise. The medical staff gently urged me to lay Stella to rest soon. Not wanting my Stella to stay in that cold, lifeless place, I contacted a funeral home and arranged for her body to be taken away. I then returned home to prepare for her buri
My Husband's Picture: Perfect Betrayal Chapter 1
"It appears she accidentally fell from a great height..." the police officer said, but his words felt like distant echoes to me.All I could see was my daughter, my precious, sweet girl. She was only five, as adorable as an angel. Her once-bright eyes were now closed, never to open again.I knelt beside her, cradling her tiny hands which were covered in bruises and cuts. Her smartwatch, the one I put on her, was nowhere to be found."Stella, can you open your eyes for Mommy? I got you your favorite doll. Remember, the one you wanted to hug every night?" I whispered, my voice trembling. "How could you fall asleep here all alone, sweetheart?"But no matter how much I called out to her, she never answered. I opened her little palm and found a crumpled family portrait she had drawn of our family. That was when my tears broke free, unstoppable.It was now 3 in the morning. An hour earlier, I found Stella's body at the foot of the mountain where she and her father, Cedric Fleetham, had
