Share

Present Day-002

last update Last Updated: 2025-03-24 05:19:14

The first thing Jane noticed was the sharp smell of antiseptic and the cool, sterile air. She tried to move, but a dull ache spread through her body—as if she had been beaten for days. Her limbs felt heavy, and her throat was dry.

Weakly, she raised her hand. That’s when she saw it: a cannula. A shiver ran through her. This was not a nightmare.

"Where... am I?" she croaked in a hoarse whisper.

She tried to sit up, but her body refused to cooperate. Panic bubbled beneath the surface as her mind raced with questions. Was this the afterlife? No—it could not be. If this were heaven, why did everything hurt? Or was this already hell?

"I'm finished," she murmured.

Before she could think more, the door creaked open. A nurse entered, carrying a tray. Her steps faltered, and the moment their eyes met, the tray clattered to the floor. The nurse bolted out of the room and returned seconds later with a doctor in tow.

The doctor stepped closer and shone a light into Jane’s eyes. Squinting, she met his steady gaze. On his badge, she read: Dr. White. He was not an angel but a real doctor. Relief mixed with confusion. She was alive—but how?

"Can you hear me?" Dr. White asked in a calm, professional tone, though his eyes held a hint of amazement.

"Tell me your name," he prompted.

Jane swallowed hard. "Jane… Jane Stadlar."

The moment her name left her lips, panic set in. Her heart pounded as she scanned the room. "Where are they?" she whispered.

"Where is my husband?" she managed to ask, her voice weak. "Where is my sister? Where—"

Dr. White interrupted with a gentle but unreadable expression. "Relax. Take it slow." After a deep breath, he dropped a heavy truth. "You have been asleep for six years."

Six years. Jane blinked in shock, waiting for him to take back his words. But he did not. Six years had passed, yet everything felt like it had happened only yesterday—the rooftop, the fall, the betrayal. And Lucy… Lucy must have been the one who brought her here.

"How did I get here?" Jane’s voice trembled. "Where is the woman who brought me here? Lucy Stadler?"

Dr. White frowned. "Lucy?" he repeated, confused. "An old man brought you here six years ago, and since then, no one by that name has come."

Her breath caught. "The only person who has visited me regularly these past two years is the son of the man who brought me here."

Jane could barely understand his words. No Lucy? Her mind rebelled at the thought. She would not be abandoned so easily. Frantically, she searched her memory for any sign of contact—no calls, no texts.

Betrayal surged inside her. Her only choice was to wait for this mysterious visitor. The room was silent except for the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. As she stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything, she heard footsteps approach. Someone came near her bed and gently adjusted the covers. Her heart leaped. Could it be Daniel?

Forcing her heavy eyelids open, she saw not her husband, but a stranger. Her stomach twisted with dread and sorrow.

The man noticed she was awake and offered a small smile. "Hello, Miss Stadler. How do you feel?" His voice was deep, smooth, and confident, filling the room with a strong presence.

"Who are you?" Jane asked sharply, despite her weakness. "And what is happening?"

He smirked as if he understood her pain. "My name is Dante," he said casually. "I am an assistant to Mr. Orlov. I was sent by the organization to check on you."

Jane frowned. Organization? What organization?

Before she could ask more, a sudden cough rattled in her chest. Dante quickly turned to call the doctor. Within seconds, Dr. White returned and pressed a glass of water into her trembling hands. With more questions forming in her mind, she watched as Dante stepped out to take a call.

Left alone, Jane grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, desperate for a distraction. She needed an escape—a world where her life was not falling apart. On the screen, an interview began. At the bottom, a caption read:

  DANIEL CRESTWELL FOR ASSEMBLYMAN

A cold wave of dread crashed over her. Her stomach churned, and she fumbled with the remote to raise the volume. The interview continued, and there he was—Daniel, sitting next to a woman named Lucy.

Jane’s hands trembled as she watched. In the interview, Daniel smiled and said, "This is my wife, Lucy. She has been by my side ever since I lost my wife five years ago. She took care of me, supported me, and helped me love again." He continued, "She even gave me a son. Our boy just turned five."

Jane’s heart stopped. What was he saying? Had his wife died? Who was she now? Or did he think Jane was dead?

Her mind raced back to that fateful night—the woman on top of Daniel had worn a waist chain, and the mark on her body... it was the same as Lucy’s. The betrayal was clear. It had been Lucy all along.

A strangled sob tore from Jane’s throat as she realized the truth. She lurched forward, and the room spun. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the cold floor. As she hit the floor, the cannula tore from her arm, and hot blood stained her skin. The physical pain was nothing compared to the crushing betrayal in her chest.

Ignoring the pain, she screamed, "DANTE! Dante, please!"

The door burst open. "Jane! What happened?" Dante rushed in and lifted her effortlessly back into bed. Jane clutched his arm, her nails digging in as she pleaded, "Please, tell me this isn’t real. Tell me my husband did not just throw me away. Tell me they were looking for me—that I still matter." Her voice broke into anguished sobs.

Dante’s face grew dark with sorrow. "Miss Jane," he said softly but firmly, "I'm sorry, but this is the truth."

Her chest tightened as if an invisible weight pressed down on her. Dante continued, his words crushing her hope. "Your husband married her just a month after your accident," he began. "The day you were brought here, we called him. He said you were already dead. We called your sister—she denied even knowing you."

Jane clutched her chest, gasping as if the air had been knocked from her lungs. "Why would they do this to me?" she whispered in disbelief.

Dante’s next words shattered what little remained of her hope. "Two weeks later, they held your funeral on live TV. People came to pay their respects at an empty grave. Every donation, every asset you had, was transferred to Lucy—because legally, she is considered your sister, even though she was adopted."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "In the eyes of the world... you no longer exist."

At that moment, Jane understood the cruel truth. Her husband had not only cheated on her—he had erased her entirely. The realization burned through her like fire, and she could only lie there, broken, with the beeping monitor as the only witness to her shattered life.

Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Comments (2)
goodnovel comment avatar
Eunice Savage
Extremely wonderful
goodnovel comment avatar
Eunice Savage
This is one of the best thing I’ve read on this app ...️...️ The plot is breath taking
VIEW ALL COMMENTS

Related chapters

  • Taken By The Man He Fears    A Legacy I Didn’t Ask For -003

    She cried harder than ever before after hearing that, as if her chest were being ripped apart—the same agonizing feeling she’d experienced the night she lost her family. But this pain, this betrayal, cut deeper. Daniel’s disloyalty hurt, but Lucy—she wasn’t just her best friend; Lucy was the only family Jane had left. Jane had begged her husband to take Lucy in when she had nowhere else to go. She’d pleaded for him to give Lucy a job, to keep her safe. And now, this was how she was repaid? A strangled sob tore from Jane’s throat as she clutched her chest, gasping for air. “Doctor, please,” she managed between ragged breaths, her voice thick with panic. “can you run the check up again, can you Check if my heart is okay…I—I think something’s wrong. Why does it hurt so much? or do I need a heart transplant too?” she urged for answers for explanations The doctor’s expression softened with pity. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way. We wanted to wait until you were stronger before te

    Last Updated : 2025-03-24
  • Taken By The Man He Fears    A new beginning -004

    It had been a month since Jane woke up from her coma, and things were slowly starting to get better. One thing she was especially grateful for was that Dante and Diego never left her side. She would be lying if she said she was okay—her heart still felt terrible—but she reminded herself to be grateful for life once again.Leaving her room, she went to meet Dr. White for her final checkup. His response brought a sense of relief. "Congratulations, Miss Stadler. You are back on track. I will process your discharge now, so get ready to leave. I hope we don’t meet again unless it’s for something great, okay?" He had given her the best news she could have hoped for.After leaving his office, she returned to her hospital room and found Dante sitting there. "Miss Stadler, how are you doing today? I was ordered to come pick you up and also give you this," he said in his usual professional yet charming tone. Dante always had a way of passing messages, something Jane liked about him. But what ha

    Last Updated : 2025-03-29
  • Taken By The Man He Fears    new assistant -005

    “I didn’t know—when I slept off, when did you return?” Jane asked Diego. It felt weird, but after a month of knowing him, that familiarity was something she could cling to. Diego laughed. “You were really tired, I must say. Well, I wanted to address something important,” he said. What could he have to say to her… Jane wondered, before Diego continued, “Tomorrow I will be going back to the Orlov empire—not my own personal company—and as you know, it's a big name. Definitely, I will be holding a press conference. I know it's too soon, but get ready to step out of your comfort zone. Be prepared for questions, unless you want to change your name.” That was uncalled for, but Jane didn’t think she wanted to change her name just because she didn’t want people to find out she was alive. In fact, she wanted them to know that Daniel was playing a pity party; she wanted them to know that the wife he claimed died was very much alive. So, she turned to Diego. “No, I don’t want to change my name

    Last Updated : 2025-03-29
  • Taken By The Man He Fears    public announcement -006

    Jane knew that her presence at the office was seen as a threat, and she did not intend for things to escalate further. She had not come to make friends—she was here to learn and to prove to Diego that she was capable of taking over the business. Still trying to find her footing, she wondered what her next move should be.Perhaps she should wait until others arrived—or maybe just play a few harmless games on her phone. As she minimized an app, a message popped up from Diego:"Hope you are prepared for the press conference?"Jane frowned. She couldn’t recall being told about any press conference. Ever since waking up, it felt as though fragments of her past had been left behind. Explain to me why I'm still forgetting things like this, she thought.She quickly texted back, "Okay, when should I leave the office?" The word "office" was new to her—once, Jane had been just a housewife, but now she sat behind her own desk, attempting to live a life that felt both foreign and empowering. Just

    Last Updated : 2025-03-29
  • Taken By The Man He Fears    Unraveling Threads-007

    Back in the office, the corridors of the Orlov office buzzed with activity as whispers and sidelong glances followed Jane on her way to her new workspace. She moved quickly yet cautiously, anxiety gnawing at her. She was not ready for the world to know her past, and yet it seemed that everyone already knew. In a corner near the water cooler, a small group of employees exchanged hushed words."I heard she got married at 18 for money—when her husband refused to give her what she wanted, she manipulated him, and in the end she committed suicide," said a young man named Mark in a low tone.A nearby woman, Claire, scoffed. "Me too. I heard she even stole him from her sister. If I were her, I’d wish never to wake up from that coma. How is she going to face the world now after exposing herself?"Another voice added, "She is even her adopted sister, no less. That’s so embarrassing for her."Before Jane could reach her office, Sylvia—the head of PR—strolled up with an icy glare. Without a word

    Last Updated : 2025-03-30
  • Taken By The Man He Fears    situationship-008

    When they got home, Diego refused to let her walk; he carried her to her room. "Drop me, Diego—people are watching. I don't want to complicate the situation!" she screamed as she hit his back. But he didn’t even answer her. Immediately, Ms. Rose saw him and ran to get help. They quickly opened the door. Ms. Rose, the eldest assistant on the Orlov estate, had raised Diego Orlov after his mother abandoned him and left his father for someone richer. To this day, no one knows if Diego Orlov’s mother, Ms. Sarah Orlov, is still alive. People stared at them, whispering among themselves as Diego carried her to her room. Once he dropped her on her bed, she tried to speak, but he quickly shut her up. "Shhh... blabber mouth, do not say a word," he ordered. This made Jane remain silent, silently watching him as if she were speaking in her mind. She observed his every move.Diego then left the room and returned with a first aid kit while Mr. Leo ran after him. "Let me take care of her wounds," Mr.

    Last Updated : 2025-03-31
  • Taken By The Man He Fears    Revelation -009

    Diego spoke first. “Yeah, I said so. What is it that you want? Tell me, and I’ll do anything.” Jane used his words as an excuse. “I won’t need it now, so keep it for later, okay?” she replied.Even though Diego had answered, he was not satisfied. He kept staring at Jane, and she felt uneasy. Her stomach fluttered with nervous butterflies, and her heart tingled. “Why is he staring at me like that?” she wondered silently. To break the tension, Jane jumped up and said, “Don’t you have anything to do? Maybe Dante, John, Leo, or someone else needs you outside. Go join them—I’m fine.” She wanted him to leave quickly before she did something she might later regret. But Diego insisted, “I’d rather stay here with you and make sure you are okay.” His words made Jane feel guilty, and deep down she wished that Ms. Rose or someone else would step in.Outside the room, John and Leo were in the middle of an argument. “I think Jane likes the boss too, but she is scared because of what she’s been thro

    Last Updated : 2025-04-01
  • Taken By The Man He Fears    triggers-010

    "Who pushed me, Diego? Why won't you say anything?" Jane kept urging Diego to tell her who did it, but Diego remained silent. "I can't say things without facts. The only person who saw who pushed you—the only witness was my father and he—died years ago, so until I get my hands on evidence or probably another witness, I just can't tell you,I have my reasons" Diego responded, wanting to leave again."you have your reasons?? but Wait, don't go yet. What should I do now? I feel so horrible—I have been suffering all this time, paying debts without knowing they've been paid, performing duties that weren't needed. What should I do now, huh? Please don't leave yet," Jane muttered. She wasn't feeling fine at all; the pain and betrayal were hitting her hard. She wished she hadn't asked him, and at the same time, she was furious. Even though Diego refused to tell her and had a valid reason, she decided not to disturb him further. Instead, she asked, "How were you after your sister passed?" Immed

    Last Updated : 2025-04-02

Latest chapter

  • Taken By The Man He Fears    Gaslighting -013

    Shocked, Diego's eyes widened, his hands dropping to his sides. The moment Jane realized what she had done, she turned and ran. Without hesitation, Diego ran after her.As she neared Dante and John, who were standing by the car, she shouted, "Open the door for me!"Dante and John exchanged confused glances, unsure of what was happening. Jane reached the car, yanked the door open, and jumped inside. "Drive!" she commanded.Before Dante could get in, Diego caught up and stopped him. "Don't," he ordered firmly.Dante and John stood frozen, caught between Diego and Jane, unsure whose orders to follow."I'm your boss. Do as I say," Diego told them.Jane, from inside the car, countered, "And I'm your boss too. Follow my orders!"Diego reached for the door handle, but it was locked. He turned to Dante. "Open the door. Now."John hesitated, then clicked the unlock button on the key fob. Diego instructed him, "Drive us home. Dante, bring the other car you came with."Jane was about to step out

  • Taken By The Man He Fears    Jane is missing -012

    Back at the estate, when Ms. Rose was on a call with Clarita earlier, Diego was passing through the lobby when he overheard Ms. Rose saying, "What do you mean you are looking for Miss Stadler? She is not at home! I thought you were with her! Hello??" But Clarita ended the call. Diego turned and went straight to Ms. Rose."What were you saying just now, Ms. Rose?" he asked. Even when Ms. Rose tried to deny knowing anything and attempted to divert Diego's attention, it wasn’t working."I heard what you were saying just now. You can't lie to me. I have ears, so answer me—what happened to Miss Stadler?" he demanded.Ms. Rose hesitated but finally admitted, "Dante and Clari have been searching for her for a while now."Diego’s expression changed. He rubbed his head and then dropped his hands. "What do you even mean by Jane not being home? I saw her a few hours ago, and she isn’t even feeling well. So what do you mean by that?" he asked Ms. Rose.Trying to escape Diego, she said, "I have so

  • Taken By The Man He Fears    Site seeing -011

    "The last words that came out of his mouth were, 'Daniel Crestwell,'" Diego finally told Dante. "Damn, that man is really not a good person, and now he is a candidate for a position in the House of Assembly. What if we use this publicity as the perfect time to take him down?" Dante asked Diego, his eyes filled with curiosity. Diego smirked. "Do you think it's that easy? If it were, we would have had him behind bars already. He has done a lot of crimes, but he knows how to clean up after himself." Diego told Dante that he had received a business investment proposal from Daniel Crestwell. At first, he didn't want to accept it, but now he thought he would, just to know what exactly was going on with Daniel's man. "I will get close to him and get most of the information from his mouth... or what do you think?" he asked Dante. Diego isn’t someone who usually asks for people's opinions, but today he did—which meant he really wanted to move forward. He was tired of being stuck in one place.

  • Taken By The Man He Fears    triggers-010

    "Who pushed me, Diego? Why won't you say anything?" Jane kept urging Diego to tell her who did it, but Diego remained silent. "I can't say things without facts. The only person who saw who pushed you—the only witness was my father and he—died years ago, so until I get my hands on evidence or probably another witness, I just can't tell you,I have my reasons" Diego responded, wanting to leave again."you have your reasons?? but Wait, don't go yet. What should I do now? I feel so horrible—I have been suffering all this time, paying debts without knowing they've been paid, performing duties that weren't needed. What should I do now, huh? Please don't leave yet," Jane muttered. She wasn't feeling fine at all; the pain and betrayal were hitting her hard. She wished she hadn't asked him, and at the same time, she was furious. Even though Diego refused to tell her and had a valid reason, she decided not to disturb him further. Instead, she asked, "How were you after your sister passed?" Immed

  • Taken By The Man He Fears    Revelation -009

    Diego spoke first. “Yeah, I said so. What is it that you want? Tell me, and I’ll do anything.” Jane used his words as an excuse. “I won’t need it now, so keep it for later, okay?” she replied.Even though Diego had answered, he was not satisfied. He kept staring at Jane, and she felt uneasy. Her stomach fluttered with nervous butterflies, and her heart tingled. “Why is he staring at me like that?” she wondered silently. To break the tension, Jane jumped up and said, “Don’t you have anything to do? Maybe Dante, John, Leo, or someone else needs you outside. Go join them—I’m fine.” She wanted him to leave quickly before she did something she might later regret. But Diego insisted, “I’d rather stay here with you and make sure you are okay.” His words made Jane feel guilty, and deep down she wished that Ms. Rose or someone else would step in.Outside the room, John and Leo were in the middle of an argument. “I think Jane likes the boss too, but she is scared because of what she’s been thro

  • Taken By The Man He Fears    situationship-008

    When they got home, Diego refused to let her walk; he carried her to her room. "Drop me, Diego—people are watching. I don't want to complicate the situation!" she screamed as she hit his back. But he didn’t even answer her. Immediately, Ms. Rose saw him and ran to get help. They quickly opened the door. Ms. Rose, the eldest assistant on the Orlov estate, had raised Diego Orlov after his mother abandoned him and left his father for someone richer. To this day, no one knows if Diego Orlov’s mother, Ms. Sarah Orlov, is still alive. People stared at them, whispering among themselves as Diego carried her to her room. Once he dropped her on her bed, she tried to speak, but he quickly shut her up. "Shhh... blabber mouth, do not say a word," he ordered. This made Jane remain silent, silently watching him as if she were speaking in her mind. She observed his every move.Diego then left the room and returned with a first aid kit while Mr. Leo ran after him. "Let me take care of her wounds," Mr.

  • Taken By The Man He Fears    Unraveling Threads-007

    Back in the office, the corridors of the Orlov office buzzed with activity as whispers and sidelong glances followed Jane on her way to her new workspace. She moved quickly yet cautiously, anxiety gnawing at her. She was not ready for the world to know her past, and yet it seemed that everyone already knew. In a corner near the water cooler, a small group of employees exchanged hushed words."I heard she got married at 18 for money—when her husband refused to give her what she wanted, she manipulated him, and in the end she committed suicide," said a young man named Mark in a low tone.A nearby woman, Claire, scoffed. "Me too. I heard she even stole him from her sister. If I were her, I’d wish never to wake up from that coma. How is she going to face the world now after exposing herself?"Another voice added, "She is even her adopted sister, no less. That’s so embarrassing for her."Before Jane could reach her office, Sylvia—the head of PR—strolled up with an icy glare. Without a word

  • Taken By The Man He Fears    public announcement -006

    Jane knew that her presence at the office was seen as a threat, and she did not intend for things to escalate further. She had not come to make friends—she was here to learn and to prove to Diego that she was capable of taking over the business. Still trying to find her footing, she wondered what her next move should be.Perhaps she should wait until others arrived—or maybe just play a few harmless games on her phone. As she minimized an app, a message popped up from Diego:"Hope you are prepared for the press conference?"Jane frowned. She couldn’t recall being told about any press conference. Ever since waking up, it felt as though fragments of her past had been left behind. Explain to me why I'm still forgetting things like this, she thought.She quickly texted back, "Okay, when should I leave the office?" The word "office" was new to her—once, Jane had been just a housewife, but now she sat behind her own desk, attempting to live a life that felt both foreign and empowering. Just

  • Taken By The Man He Fears    new assistant -005

    “I didn’t know—when I slept off, when did you return?” Jane asked Diego. It felt weird, but after a month of knowing him, that familiarity was something she could cling to. Diego laughed. “You were really tired, I must say. Well, I wanted to address something important,” he said. What could he have to say to her… Jane wondered, before Diego continued, “Tomorrow I will be going back to the Orlov empire—not my own personal company—and as you know, it's a big name. Definitely, I will be holding a press conference. I know it's too soon, but get ready to step out of your comfort zone. Be prepared for questions, unless you want to change your name.” That was uncalled for, but Jane didn’t think she wanted to change her name just because she didn’t want people to find out she was alive. In fact, she wanted them to know that Daniel was playing a pity party; she wanted them to know that the wife he claimed died was very much alive. So, she turned to Diego. “No, I don’t want to change my name

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status