Chapter 5: Choose!

Ophelia's Point Of View

Berry, filled with rage, took his phone and threw it against the wall, making a loud crashing sound that echoed in the room.

In the midst of this, he suddenly turned and grabbed my neck with a fierce grip.

It was hard to breathe, and as I struggled against his hold, I noticed Caroline standing behind him, wearing a smirk that filled me with disgust.

Right then, I had this overwhelming urge to shout a curse at her, to tell her how I felt about her gloating.

Berry's voice boomed as he yelled at me, filled with anger.

"How can you betray me like this? And how dare you bring someone else's child into my home!" As he said this, he squeezed my neck even tighter, and I clutched his hands, desperate to escape the pain.

"You're hurting me!" I cried out, my voice shaky as I struggled to breathe.

Looking into Berry's eyes, I saw a side of him that I had never seen before.

The warmth and kindness I once adored had vanished, replaced by something dark and frightening—he looked like a monster, ready to hurt anyone who stood in his way.

Finally, he let go of my neck, and I stumbled backward, falling onto the hard ground.

My elbow hit the floor with a painful thud, and for a moment, I just sat there in shock, trying to recover from the suddenness of it all.

"Is this how you're going to repay me after everything I've done for you?" Berry said, his voice laced with sadness.

I could see the pain etched on his face, as if he was grappling with emotions I couldn’t fully comprehend. It broke my heart to see him like this.

"Berry, please listen to me," I pleaded, tears streaming down my cheeks. "It was all part of Caroline's scheme.

She set me up to look like the bad one." I felt this heavy weight on my heart as I spoke, hoping he would believe me.

Berry stood there, silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on Caroline, who seemed to shrink under his gaze.

She looked nervous, gulping as if she had just swallowed something repulsive. The tension in the air was thick, and I could feel the fear crawling up my spine.

"How could you even think of putting the blame on me for your problems?" Caroline’s voice rang out angrily directed at Berry, her confidence returning yet again.

She had the audacity to look furious, while I was the one who felt completely helpless. Berry’s expression shifted to one of confusion, and he looked back at her, seeming lost.

"What do you mean, set up?" he asked her in a surprisingly calm tone, which made me feel even more baffled.

I was amazed at how much composure he had, considering the storm of emotions swirling around us.

Meanwhile, Caroline just smiled at him, a smile that sent chills down my spine, leaving me stunned by the whole situation.

"I have proof that she did it, Berry. You know I would never lie to you," Caroline stated, attempting to sound harsh as she took out her phone and pressed play on a recording.

Suddenly, there it was—a picture of me, kissing the man i was with that night in a way that seemed awkward and wrong. My eyes widened in shock because I was sure that picture was actually real.

As I sat there lost in thought, my mind drifted back to that moment when I saw his bodyguards being unexpectedly friendly towards me. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was all part of some scheme they had carefully thought up, a plan designed just for me.

The more I replayed that night in my head, the more I felt the heat of anger rising inside me, like a bubbling pot on the stove just waiting to boil over. My emotions were swirling wildly, and it felt like they were getting stronger and harder to control with each passing moment.

Just when I was about to open my mouth to speak out, to argue or perhaps to explain myself, I suddenly heard Berry's laugh. It was a laugh that sent a shivering chill through my spine, a sound that filled me with fear and made me feel completely vulnerable. It was as if ice water was coursing through my veins, leaving no room for warmth or comfort.

My heart started to race uncontrollably, pounding so hard in my chest that it felt like it might actually jump right out of me. I was scared, really scared, as if my heart was trying to escape the fear that was washing over me in waves.

"Are you messing with me, Ophelia?" he asked, his voice filled with anger.

I could see a nasty grin on Caroline's face as I noticed the dark fire glowing in her eyes, making my stomach twist with dread.

I felt so confused and scared, like I was trapped in my own mind, unsure of what to do next. I was completely lost.

"People like her don’t deserve a second chance at anything," Caroline murmured to Berry, her voice dripping with venom.

"She should be tortured or even killed!" Caroline scoffed, and I felt my mouth drop open in shock. How could she wish such terrible things?

"How can she hate her own sister so much to want to harm her?"

As I looked at Berry, searching for some sign of how he felt, I saw him silently gazing at me, not saying a word. Thoughts raced through my head.

"He wouldn’t actually kill me, would he?" My heart continued to pound in my chest, each beat echoing my panic.

Then, with a slow, deliberate voice, Berry finally said, "I'm going to make this easier for you."

A tiny flicker of hope bloomed on my face as I caught sight of Caroline's expression, which seemed to have fallen flat.

"Maybe Berry isn’t as bad as I thought," I dared to smile faintly, feeling a bit of relief wash over me.

But then, his next words sent shivers coursing through me, pulling me back into that pit of fear.