Before she remembered that she left her phone closer to me, I quickly sprang into action like a coiled spring. I delved my hands into her bag and brought out the phone.First things first, knowing that my vigilant searching of her phone could be interrupted by any sudden call, I pulled down her phone screen and tapped on the airplane icon. Now that I saw that her network was off and her phone was in airplane mode, I knew that the darkness in the library could easily give me away; hence, I reduced her phone brightness to ten percent.With this done, I brought up her home screen and realized that her phone was not passworded or locked with any kind of different lock.“This husband snatcher is not that smart after all,” I thought as I lifted a brow and swiped the screen to the right in search of her WhatsApp.Scrolling past three screens of her phone and with my eyes searching through all apps at a faster pace, I realized her WhatsApp was missing from her app shelves.“Where the heck is
“We will talk about you later, Nancy. Just keep arranging; I have to be out cooking before fifteen minutes run out,” I said aloud for her to hear, and I waited a bit more to hear the sound of books she was arranging on the shelves so I could carry on with investigating her phone like a spy who is ready to infiltrate anywhere to get the information she needs. When I saw that she was now arranging the books, even though the sound of her tears never stopped, I gently picked up her phone again from the shelf and walked slowly to the left-edge corner, where it was darker in the library.As I reached the left-edge corner of the library, I pressed her home button gently and quickly shot my eyes at the right-edge corner on the other side. I saw her, not minding where I was in the library. Everything she kept doing was what I asked her to help me do. Thus, I suddenly wondered.“How can you sleep with my husband and still look at me in the face without remorse?”Wondering about that, I also wo
“What the f**k are you doing with my phone, Alda?” Nancy yelled at me again. However, if I had any words to say, it was a lie. I remained as stunned as a deer caught in headlights. “I… I… ahem… I…” I continued to stammer, immediately resembling a stuttering record caught in a loop. “Oh sh**t up, Alda, and f**king tell me why you have my phone in your hand,” Nancy yelled again. Her voice was louder than before, and her face showed anger. “F**k it, Nancy, who were you sending nude images to?” I blurted. I couldn't handle the confrontation anymore, and I preferred initiating the confrontation to get the truth out of her. “What? What nude?” She acted dumb about it. “Oh, do not play this stupid game with me, Nancy. Who were you sending those nudes to?” “What business do you have with whoever I sent my nudes to? How are you even sure that they were mine? I could have downloaded them from the internet or something.” “That doesn’t look like any pictures downloaded from the internet, Nan
I didn't even know that my loud tears had already traveled out of the library and knocked on Diana’s door like a desperate plea for solace. In the same way, they had already reported to Emily and Olivia like swift messengers, bearing the weight of my emotions on their tear-stained journey.Suddenly, Diana barged into the library like a gust of wind, her face as rigid as a rock and her eyes as cold as the unforgiving stare of a winter’s night.“I asked you to f**king make the library as neat as the king’s palace, but you fool only made your eyes as teary as a cloud-laden sky on a stormy day." Diana's brows furrowed, and her voice rose even more.“You disturb my peace like a relentless echo, persistently reverberating through the tranquility I sought, and all for what? Because you suddenly found out that your best friend has been sleeping with your husband?"As soon as Diana mentioned this, I couldn't believe my ears, like I had heard something wrong, as I continued to stare at Diana in
As I prepared lunch and began to set the table, Tyler arrived home in his suit, looking at me like he had just seen a monster. With this, he said nothing but made his way upstairs.The way his eyes were reddish, like he had been drinking, and how his suit was loose on his body as if he were involved in a street fight spoke volumes.For whatever reason he came home like that, I did not know. But what I do know is that I should be the one who was vexed at him and not the other way around.However, following him up to the room without completely setting the table and serving the food would be a way for me to summon trouble from its palace. I already knew this, so I kept myself on my ten toes and completely set the dining table.As soon as I was done setting the dining table, I walked up the stairs towards Diana’s room, which was adjacent to the room Tyler’s and I shared. Hence, I saw that Tyler did not or forgot to close the door behind him.Seeing this, I decided to use it to my advanta
I could see our neighbors staring at me from their windows like watchdogs, curious about what was happening. Only that they were not curious. They knew how my mother-in-law maltreated me and had advised me many times to call the police.It got to an extent where one of them could not take it any longer and called the police on my behalf to have my mother-in-law and her children arrested.However, among all they thought they knew, what they did not know was that I used to own the house before I transferred ownership to my husband, and I would do anything not to lose this house.When the police arrived, with my own mouth, I made them understand that the neighbors were only mistaken and that my mother-in-law was the best mother-in-law I had. Ever since then, even if my mother-in-law pointed a shotgun at my head, they would only watch from their window and fill their eyes with empathy and nothing more.The way I cried on the lawn, even a woman who just lost her husband did not cry to this
In the trunk of his car, I heard the car’s front door and felt a sudden shake, almost immediately like the unexpected tremor of a distant thunderstorm rolling in. This was not an earthquake. At this moment, I knew Tyler had already gotten into the car and was ready to meet with Nancy.And as I was right, I instantly heard the gentle roar of the car come alive and felt it moving forward in a gentle motion like the smooth acceleration of a familiar car, gliding down a quiet neighborhood street on a lazy Sunday afternoon.Suddenly, the motion increased in speed, and the car accelerated to a very fast speed like a thrill-seeking roller coaster racing down a steep track, exhilarating and full of heart-pounding momentum.Tyler was someone I knew to be in love with any sporty kind of vehicle, like a moth to a flame. Even before our wedding, he had contemplated becoming a race car driver. However, after our wedding and their bankruptcy, he opted out of his dream like a dream deferred, put on
Even though I filmed the whole damn thing, I could not bear to look at what was happening. Hence, I took my hand and phone to the window while I looked elsewhere like a painter, reluctantly observing the disarray of colors on a canvas that was once a masterpiece.How they were f**king continued for more than ten minutes, which left me confused at once, like a student solving math and arriving at the right answer but with the wrong working and strategy.“Does this mean that Tyler never loved me and only had eyes for Nancy all along?” I thought to myself, like a gardener, realizing that the flowers she nurtured with tender care were wilting under the shadow of neglect. Knowing fully well that Tyler had never lasted five minutes with me in bed before. He'd always just dig it in, and after a few strokes, he'd already poured it in and called it a day.But with Nancy, though I couldn't bear the confidence to watch them do it, I heard how Nancy moaned sweetly, and I heard the sound of their
Robert’s POVMy job is simple: protect Alessandra at all costs. But as I stand here, watching everything unfold, one thought keeps repeating in my head—I’ve failed her.I should never have stayed behind at the hospital, no matter how much she insisted. Alessandra may be strong, but I should’ve known better. I should’ve been there, more alert, more prepared. That woman who pretended to be hit? I should’ve seen right through her. Everything is finally falling into place, and the truth hits me like a punch to the gut.I know who Diana is. I’ve figured out who Emily and Olivia really are. And those three idiots hiding behind their ridiculous code names? Yeah, I know them, too.It was them—we passed them on the road earlier. The bodies scattered across the pavement... the blood... It all makes sense now. Alessandra—Matriarch Alessandra—is in serious danger.That’s why I don’t waste any time. My foot slams down on the gas pedal, racing us past the chaos on the road. Stopping isn’t an option
Sandra’s POVWe pull up to the warehouse, and the moment I spot the front door slightly ajar, I know it’s time. I drive inside, parking with purpose as the tension in my chest tightens. Locking the door behind me, I take a deep breath, bracing myself for what’s next.I watch Alessandra step out of the vehicle, her face calm—too calm. She doesn’t look scared, like I thought she would. Instead, she’s asking, “Where are we now? Are they gone?”I pause. What? Does she seriously think I’m here to save her?A twisted laugh threatens to escape my lips, but I swallow it down. Instead, I turn toward the backseat and yank open the door. My fingers grip the cold steel of the sniper rifle. The weight of it feels satisfying in my hands, a reminder of the power I hold.Without missing a beat, I swing the rifle around and aim it straight at her. “On your knees, now!” I command, my voice as sharp as the edge of a knife.For a second, her eyes widen, but then realization sinks in. She knows now. She’s
Brandon’s POVI never thought I'd find myself here. In custody. The cold metal of the handcuffs still lingers on my wrists even though they’ve been removed. My mind is racing, struggling to keep up with everything that’s happened. How did I get here?I’ve already contacted my family lawyer. He promised he’d help—at first. But then he learned that bigger forces are involved, and he left me to fend for myself. I don’t blame him, though. When powerful people decide you’re guilty, it doesn’t matter what the facts are. According to them, I committed a crime too big to ignore, and they want me to pay for it, no matter who I am.But how do I make them see I’m innocent? How do I prove I’ve been framed? The evidence stacked against me is so clear, so detailed, that even I would think I did it if I were on the outside looking in.It feels hopeless.I sit in the interrogation room, staring at the dull gray walls. The weight of everything crashes down on me. But the thought of Alessandra pushes t
Diana’s POVOut of nowhere, Olivia, Emily, and I suddenly see Viper, Red, Jinx, and Blade fall to the ground, each with a bullet wound to the head. Blood pools around them, dark and terrifying, staining the ground beneath them. The sight makes my heart race, and for a moment, I can’t believe what I’m seeing. My breath catches in my throat, and time seems to stand still. I’m in shock, completely blindsided by the sudden violence. How could this have happened? One moment, we’re in control, and the next, everything’s gone to hell. But as I watch them fall, one after another, the horrifying reality hits me: we’re under attack. We’re not safe. We never were.This can’t be anyone but the police. Who else would come at us like this, so precise, so deadly? And it’s my fault. My fault we didn’t get out sooner. My fault this mission is hanging by a thread. I should have listened to Viper when he told us to leave. We should have been long gone, but I hesitated. And now they’re dead—Viper, Red, J
Sandra’s POVI steady myself in the cramped toilet, heart pounding as I carefully position the sniper rifle out the narrow window. The cold metal of the trigger grounds me, and I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts.Through the scope, I zoom in to 8X. Alessandra finally comes into focus as she steps out of the law firm. She looks composed, but there’s a tension in her movements that makes my gut clench. Something’s wrong.In the distance, off to the right, a group of people is watching her with an intensity that makes my skin crawl. Their eyes are locked on Alessandra, and the cruel twist of their lips sends a chill down my spine. They’re like predators circling wounded prey, relishing the kill before it even happens.I should take the shot now, end this. It’s the perfect moment. Then Brandon would finally be free, and he’d be mine. But something holds me back. These people, whoever they are, might be more dangerous and I need to know why they’re after Alessandra.As
Diana’s POVAs Viper deftly tosses a small canister of smoke into Alessandra’s car. We don't waste a second, swiftly moving to take control of the other vehicles in her entourage.Alessandra is being escorted by three cars: one at the front, one in the middle where she sits, and one at the rear. The plan is precise, and we execute it with the efficiency of seasoned professionals.Olivia and Emily take on the first car. They expertly deploy another smoke canister, filling the vehicle with a thick, suffocating fog. Meanwhile, I focus on the rear car, tossing a canister of my own into it. Smoke quickly engulfs all three vehicles, forcing their occupants to open their doors, desperately gasping for fresh air. Even Alessandra, who had been hysterically screaming moments earlier, is silenced by the choking haz
Diana’s POVWhen Jezebel’s message arrives, confirming what we've been anxiously anticipating—Alessandra is alone. My heart beats faster, not out of fear but from the anticipation of what's to come. It’s time to set our plan in motion.With a cold, calculated calm, I gather Viper, Red, Jinx, and Blade. “She's alone,” I say, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. “Jezebel’s done her part. Now it’s our turn.”They nod in unison, a silent agreement passing between us. There’s no need for words; we all know what needs to be done. The stakes are high, and failure is not an option.We regroup at my rundown, hidden in the shadows of the city. Viper, the most experienced among us, checks his blade, its edge gleaming under the dim light. “Remember,” he says, his voice low but firm, “guns are for boys in the game. Blades are for men.”His words echo in my mind as I glance around at the others. Red is sharpening his weapon, his eyes filled with a cold, ruthless determinati
Sandra’s POVStepping out of the warehouse, I don’t know where I am, and it’s terrifying. I’m stranded, disoriented, and powerless.I stand by the road, feeling utterly lost, watching taxis whiz by as if the world is oblivious to the chaos inside me. My hands shake as I lift them to flag down a taxi. But just as I do, my phone rings.The sound sends a jolt through me, and I glance at the screen. My heart pounds as I see the caller—Private Number. Dread tightens around me like a noose, and I hesitate before answering, my breath shallow.“Hello?” My voice barely escapes, trembling with anxiety.A cold, deep voice responds, as sharp as ice.
Jezebel’s POVI’ve been treated at the nearest hospital, but if I let this personal assistant slip away now, then I’m not the Jezebel everyone thinks I am.The doctor finishes up, wiping his hands as he says, “There you go, ma’am. You’re free to leave now.”I flash him a polite smile, but my mind is already elsewhere. My fingers tighten around the personal assistant’s arm, my nails digging into his sleeve as I anchor him beside me.The room is cold and sterile, yet I feel the heat of the moment. Matriarch Alessandra sits across from us, her silence dominating the room. When I grip her assistant’s arm, I catch the flash of surprise in her eyes, the slight parting of her lips. She wasn’t expecting this.“I still feel pain in my leg,” I say, my voice tinged with just enough distress to sound convincing. “It’s much worse than I thought. I don’t think I can walk.”Alessandra’s eyes narrow ever so slightly as she watches me closely, trying to figure me out. Let her think I’m putting on an ac