CHAPTER 2

OLIVIA

As I stood in the cell, my thoughts went to my grandma. What would happen to her now that I was locked up? My chest tightened as I thought of her and her fragile health. Hearing about my arrest might kill her.

Nick turned to the officer. “She’s to have no visitors and isn’t allowed outside. Let her rot in this cell. She can die here for all I care!”

My heart shattered into a million pieces. I felt hot and struggled to breathe.

How was my grandmother going to know that I was all right if I couldn’t have visitors? This would kill her! My throat felt like it was closing, threatening to cut off my air supply. I wanted to give up so badly. But then I looked at the satisfied gleam in Sandra’s eyes. Determination flooded back into me. I wasn’t going to let that witch win.

By then, I was drenched in sweat, my eyes wide as saucers. I was sure I looked pale as a white sheet.

The nice policeman looked terrified. “Sir, she can’t breathe. Should I call the doctor?”

Maybe I should tell Nick I’m carrying his baby? “Nick, actually—”

“Why would you call a doctor?” Nick asked, snapping at the officer. “She’s faking to manipulate me—she’s a master at doing that.”

Tears continued to stream down my face. This was the man who once couldn’t stand to see me hurt, and now he was the one causing me the most pain.

What did Sandra do to my husband to change him so much? I wished I knew what she used and how, considering she had Nick eating out of the palm of her hand within six months.

I should have never have asked her to stay with us when she returned from abroad. I should’ve helped her find her own place to rent. If I had known her true intentions, I would’ve kept my distance. But I had thought I was helping my best friend. I had even begged Nick to give her a job at his company.

He eventually caved and put her a job in the finance department. Working there, she managed to make it look like I had stolen from my husband, and he had believed her.

“Sandra?” I said, wanting to plead with her, once again, to tell the truth.

Nick turned to me, shielding her with his body, further piercing my heart. He was so protective of her already.

“Didn’t I tell you to shut up?” He tilted his head to the side, daring me to say another word. I swallowed the words trying to escape. “You’ve hurt this woman enough. You have no right to speak to her now. And I swear to God, Olivia, I’ll make you pay for this.”

I wanted to speak, to beg him to hear me out. I wanted to ask him to not to tell my grandmother about this, to lie and say I was traveling or something. He knew how delicate her health was, and this was going to kill her.

Suddenly, the music on the radio at the guard’s station stopped, and a reporter’s voice came on. After a brief introduction, I heard words that made it feel like my world was truly spinning out of control. “The wife of the owner of Jones Enterprises was arrested this evening. The missus of the Jones family and former Financial Manager of the company is accused of stealing millions. Sources say that Mr. Jones called the police and had her arrested. We’ll bring you more as the story develops.”

“No! Nick, please, no! My grandmother will hear this! I don’t want her getting sick again. You know how fragile she is. Please, Nick please, go and see her. Make up something—tell her it’s all lies. Tell her I’m okay.”

My heart was breaking. My grandmother was all I had now that I’d lost him. I couldn’t let her to die; I still needed her.

“You love to run that mouth of yours, don’t you?” Nick sneered. “Say one more word, and I’ll personally make sure that your precious grandmother learns firsthand what it’s like to have a thief for a granddaughter. I’ll show you both a side of me you’ve never seen before.”

I opened and closed my mouth, too afraid to speak. Instead, I opted to let my eyes do the pleading, But Nick merely spun around and walked away.

I watched until he turned the corner and then broke into a choking sob, a lump in my throat making it hard to breathe. The man who had been my everything, who couldn’t go an hour without checking on me, was now my tormentor. It felt like I was dying—maybe I was and I just didn’t know it.

The officer noticed and rushed over with some water. I couldn’t understand why he was helping me, but I was grateful. I needed it.

“I don’t know what you did to cross a man like that,” he said, handing me the bottle, “but it seems you’ve made a big mistake.”

With trembling hands, I accepted his offer, then gulped the water down. My hands shook so hard that the water spilled down my chin, soaking my chest. I gave the officer a sad smile. “What I did was to help my best friend,” I said, “and she turned him against me. If I’d known she was going to do that, I never would have helped her.”

I laughed bitterly. I was no longer the protected and loved wife of the Jones family. Now, I was the laughingstock of New Village, the wife who was sent to jail by her own husband for stealing millions. I was pitiful, indeed.

My laughter turned into sobs once more.

“Oh, miss,” the officer said, “People can be cruel. I’m sorry you’re learning that the hard way.”

Someone clapped, and the officer turned to look. Sandra stood there, smirking.

“You’re good, Olivia,” she said. “I’ll give you that. Now you’ve managed to convince this idiot that you’re the victim. What did you promise him? A roll in the hay? Because we both know you’ve lost everything. Your body’s all you have left.”

Hearing her voice made me want to reach out and strangle her. “I’m not like you,” I spat.

The officer left, giving us privacy I didn’t want.

“Oh, you still think you’re better than me? Even after everything I’ve taken from you?” She cackled, clearly enjoying my misery.

Why hadn’t I seen her for who she truly was? “You’re vile,” I said, “and this isn’t going to last. I’ll get out of here, clear my name, and then I’ll come after you with everything I’ve got.”

She stopped laughing, her expression hardening in a way that shook me to my core. “Listen here, Olivia. This isn’t high school or college. I’ve grown up, lived, and seen things. I’m not the same Sandra from back then. I’ve changed. And I swear, if you dare come after me, I’ll do more than just frame you for theft. I’ll kill you.”