"Good evening, Flora," he said, his voice smooth and measured. "I trust you're not too uncomfortable?"
Her head snapped up so fast she was surprised her neck didn't break. Her eyes went wide as she stared at the newcomer. Flora's breath hitched. It couldn't be. The voice, distorted by the mask, was unmistakable – Henry. Her ex-husband. Disbelief battled with a cold dread in the pit of her stomach.That was Henry's voice.Flora's eyes widened in shock. "Henry?" she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper.The man removed his mask, revealing the smirking face of Henry, Flora's ex-husband. His dark eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and malice. Disbelief battled with a cold dread in the pit of her stomach. Henry tossed the mask to the dirty floor. It landed near her feet with an unpleasant clattering sound.“Well, well, Flora. Surprised to see me?" Henry taunted, his grin widening.“I'm disappointed in myself for thinking that you'd be far too smart to puFlora's mind whirled with anger and betrayal. "You think this will end well for you, Henry? You're deluding yourself."Henry chuckled, caressing Esther's hair. "Oh, Flora. Always the optimist. But you're wrong. This is just the beginning."“Why, Esther?" Flora pressed, her voice trembling slightly. "Why help Henry? Why believe his lies?"Esther's gaze flickered towards Henry, then back to Flora. A flicker of defiance sparked in her eyes, a warped sense of loyalty.”Because you're a wicked harpy, Flora," she declared, her voice tight with conviction. "That's what he says. You're trying to ruin his life, take everything away from him. I couldn't just sit back and watch him suffer because of you. Because of one little mistake. I love him, and I was going to help him get what he deserved."Flora's eyes widened. Henry, a master manipulator, had spun a web of lies, and Esther, blinded by misplaced affection, had fallen prey to it. The woman who had worked for her, serv
“Of course not. I haven't gone through all this trouble for a meager slice of the pie." He leaned forward again, his voice turning cold. "Second, you will hand over all your shares in Sungate Manufacturing to me. And third, you will stop this ridiculous merger with Equinox Celestial. My company will not be subject to such a silly change."Flora's blood ran cold. He wanted everything – her financial independence, the company she'd helped build, and control over her business decisions. "You're being unrealistic, Henry," Flora countered, her voice tight with suppressed anger. "That 'silly change' is the same thing that has saved the company YOU put in hot water. And the alimony is not even a fraction of what I rightfully deserve for all you've put me through. It's mine - the cars, the houses, all of it -and it's not going anywhere."Henry's masked face contorted in a brief flash of fury. "Don't be naive, Flora. What's the point of handing you all that wealth on a silver p
Days passed before the door to their dirty prison opened again. Flora's mind was a whirlwind of plans and possibilities as she sat in the dimly lit room with Catarina. The rhythmic click of the approaching footsteps sent a jolt through Flora. This time, she was ready. As the footsteps grew closer, she knelt beside Catarina, her voice a soothing murmur.“Catarina, don't worry," she whispered, squeezing the maid's hand reassuringly. "They'll take me again, but I'll be back. Stay strong, my friend."When the door creaked open and the masked man appeared, Flora gave Catarina a reassuring smile.Catarina's eyes filled with tears, but she nodded, her faith in Flora unwavering. "Be careful, Miss Flora."Flora squeezed her hand tighter, willing her own strength to flow through their bond. The masked man, his silence deafening, barked an order. "Let's go."Catarina stumbled to her feet, her eyes fixed on Flora. Something flickered in her eyes as she rose to her feet and
Flora reached out and grasped Catarina's trembling hand. "There's more, my friend. And it's… difficult to explain."Catarina's gaze, filled with a heartbreaking vulnerability, searched Flora's face. "Please, Miss Flora. Tell me everything."Taking another deep breath, Flora poured out the entire story – the revelation of Esther's betrayal, her role as Henry's informant, and the manipulative way Henry had twisted the truth to suit his agenda.Catarina listened, her face turning pale with each word. When Flora finished, a stunned silence filled the room. The woman they had welcomed into their home, who had shared their meals and secrets, was a pawn in Henry's game. The weight of betrayal seemed to bear down on them both."Esther?" Catarina finally managed, her voice barely a whisper. "But… but she was like family. We trusted her."Flora squeezed her hand tightly. "I know, Catarina. I know. It's a terrible shock."Catarina's eyes welled up again, but valiantly,
The thick silence was broken only by the occasional creak of the floorboards outside the room, each sound making Flora's heart rate spike up.The door creaked open suddenly, the rusty hinges screeching, but this time it wasn't any of the masked man but instead it was Esther entered, carrying a tray of food. She placed it on the floor in front of them with a contemptuous sneer. The meal was plain and unappetizing—stale bread, a small portion of watery soup, and a few wilted vegetables. The soup was nothing more than a lukewarm broth with a few soggy herbs and bits of meat sat on a chipped tray, the very image of neglect.Their stomachs growled in unison, but the meager offering Esther placed on the floor did little to quell the pangs. Flora and Catarina exchanged a glance, both internally resolving not to touch the meal. Their hunger was gnawing at them, but they knew they couldn't show any sign of weakness.When neither Flora nor Catarina reached forward to take t
Exhaustion, both physical and emotional, eventually claimed them, and they drifted off to sleep, their conversation unfinished.The sound of the door creaking open tore them from their uneasy slumber. Disoriented and blinking away the remnants of sleep, Flora and Catarina watched in numb silence as the masked figure reappeared. This time, it was the man with the D*nald mask. He was slightly shorter than the man with the M*ckey mask but no less menacing."You," he rasped, his voice distorted by the mask.a gloved finger pointed straight at Flora. "You're coming with me."Rough hands grabbed her arms, hauling her to her feet. A surge of adrenaline coursed through Flora. She hoped David had stayed true to his word and relayed her message to Damien. A silent prayer escaped her lips. She didn't need another betrayer like Esther.The masked figure led her through the dark corridors, the silence broken only by the rhythmic thud of her own heart. Finally, they reached the now
You're a monster, Henry," she spat."Perhaps," he conceded with a nonchalant shrug. "But a monster who's about to win."He tapped the pen on the table impatiently. "So, Flora, are we going to do this the easy way or the hard way?"Flora's gaze darted around the room, searching for an escape, a weapon, anything. But there was nothing. She was trapped, a prisoner in Henry's twisted game.Stalling for time, she picked up a document, pretending to read it closely. Her mind buzzed with frantic activity. She thought of Damien, praying he'd received her message and was working on their rescue. But what if he hadn't? What if they were on their own?A desperate plan began to take shape in her mind. It was risky, reckless even, but it was the only chance she saw."Alright, Henry," she said finally, her voice laced with a false sense of defeat. "I'll sign the documents. But first, I need a lawyer to review them."Henry's eyes widened in surprise. "A lawyer? That was
Flora's knees buckled with relief as Damien charged into the room, his presence a beacon of hope in the darkness. But even with her savior here, the situation remained precarious. Henry, caught off guard and his face contorted in a mixture of rage and fear, fumbled for a reaction."Flora, step away!" Damien repeated, his voice leaving no room for argument. His gun, aimed steadily at Henry, underscored the urgency of his command.Slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements, Flora backed away from Henry, keeping the pen trained on his throat. Her heart pounded a frantic rhythm against her ribs, but a glimmer of defiance sparked in her eyes."Put the gun down, Henry," Damien ordered, his voice firm. "This is over."Henry's eyes darted between Flora and Damien, his mind racing for a way out. The smug assurance that had only moments ago colored his demeanor had evaporated completely, replaced by a raw desperation."This isn't how this was supposed to go," he stam
Hello everyone, Ena here! Phew, this has been quite a journey. I can hardly believe that we've reached the end of this story together. What started as a simple idea has grown into something so much more, and that’s all thanks to you readers and your support. Thank you for sticking with me and I'm grateful to every single one of you. Though we’re closing this chapter, I hope this isn’t goodbye. I have more stories to tell, and I’d love to share them with you. I'll be back soon with an even better book. Until next time 💛 All my love, Ena Starr.
Two Weeks Later The evening had settled into a comfortable warmth as Flora parked her car in the driveway of Damien’s estate. The sky was a gentle gradient of fading sunset hues, a perfect close to what had been a long but fulfilling day with Eva. They had been going over the offers from several publishing houses and TV studios, that wanted to monetize Flora's experience with Alice and Janice. It had been exhausting, but there was a sense of peace that came with knowing everything with Alice was truly over. Justice had been served, and Flora was finally free. With a content sigh, she gathered her things, pushing open the front door. The house was unusually quiet, save for the faint rustle of the breeze outside and the distant clinking of glass from the kitchen. A cozy warmth greeted her, the familiar scent of home wrapping her in comfort as she stepped inside. "Hello?" she called out softly, slipping off her shoes and setting
Flora’s breath caught in her throat, but she held her composure, her hands clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. She cast a glance across the courtroom and met Alice’s eyes. There was no fire in them, no anger or hatred. Only resignation. This was her fate, sealed and unchangeable. Alice would spend the rest of her life in jail. There would be no escape, no return to the life she once knew. She would die there, alone. The judge then turned her attention to Janice, who sat trembling in her seat. “As for Janice Holden,” the judge said, her tone unwavering, “for the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, and for the misuse of her professional authority as a nurse, resulting in the death of Vera Wicks, this court finds the defendant guilty.” Janice sobbed openly as the judge delivered her sentence: twenty-five years to life, with the possibility of parole only after serving the minimum term. But even with parole, Janice would never fully escape her crimes.
The next few days blurred together, filled with a whirlwind of action and emotion as Flora set the final stage for justice. Filing the formal report against Alice was both cathartic and devastating, but it was something Flora knew she had to do. This was the final step in a journey that had begun when her life was torn apart by betrayal, and now, she was finally fighting back. Alice was arrested almost immediately after Flora's report, and to everyone's surprise, she didn’t resist. For the first time in their long and painful history, she didn’t fight back. There were no screaming matches, no attempts to manipulate or twist the situation in her favor, no venomous remarks hurled in Flora’s direction. Instead, Alice turned herself over with an unsettling calm, submitting a written confession detailing her involvement in both the death of Flora’s mother and the accident that had left her father a prisoner in his own mind. Flora knew Alice’s cooperation wasn’t born
A chill ran down her spine, and she stammered out the first question that came to mind. “Olivia…are you—”Before she could finish, Olivia let out a bitter laugh, the sound filled with a weight of sorrow and exhaustion. It wasn’t a happy laugh, but one of disbelief at her own situation.“Yes, I’m pregnant,” Olivia confirmed softly, cutting off Flora’s stumbling attempt to find the right words. She rubbed her palm lightly over her stomach as if to comfort herself more than anything else. “And before you ask, it’s Cyprus’s.”Flora’s breath caught in her throat. Cyprus. Of course it was his. Her mind flew to that one disastrous night that Olivia had had with the arrogant vice president of Defendwise Ventures.“Olivia…” Flora whispered, her voice thick with disbelief. “What are you going to do?”The question hung in the air like a fragile thread, and for a moment, Olivia seemed lost, her gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the supermarket, beyond the immediate rea
Olivia’s face was puffy, her eyes rimmed red and swollen from crying. She looked utterly devastated, her usual composed demeanor shattered. Her bottom lip quivered as she attempted a smile, but it was weak, trembling at the edges. "Flora," Olivia whispered, her voice cracking. Flora stepped forward, unsure whether to close the distance between them or keep some space. She could see the exhaustion written across Olivia’s features, the turmoil swirling behind her eyes. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of what had brought them here pressing down on both of them. Olivia broke the silence first, her voice barely above a whisper. “I—I didn’t know.” She choked on the words, shaking her head as fresh tears welled in her eyes. “I didn’t know what my mother was capable of. I swear to you, Flora, I didn’t know any of it.” Flora stood still, absorbing Olivia’s words. She wanted to believe her. Desperately. But the betrayal of the past day,
The buzzing of Flora’s phone startled her out of her thoughts. It was Olivia. The message read:“Can you meet me in thirty minutes? There's a small 24-hour supermarket called "Pinegrove Market" not far from the estate. I’ll be there. Please, Flora, I really need to talk.”Flora’s pulse quickened as she read the message. Thirty minutes? She glanced at the clock. It was late, and while her body still ached with exhaustion, the urgency in Olivia’s words cut through any hesitation. Something in her gut told her this couldn’t wait. Without overthinking it, she typed a quick reply:“I’ll be there.”She stood up from the couch, assessing her loose pants and short-sleeved top. They would have to do for such an impromptu meeting. She padded quietly upstairs, not wanting to disturb the peaceful quiet of Damien’s home. He was fast asleep, one arm draped over his eyes, his breathing steady and calm. Flora felt a pang of guilt for slipping out, but she had to do this. Bending dow
Just as the words left Eva’s mouth, the kitchen door opened, and Damien stepped inside. He looked at Flora, his gaze soft and warm, and without a word, he crossed the room and kissed her gently on the temple. “Eva’s already started drafting the court papers,” he said, finishing Eva’s sentence. His voice was calm, matter-of-fact, as though they were discussing something far less monumental.Flora blinked, still processing everything. “Has Alice made a move since we left the estate?” she asked, her voice quiet but steady.Damien shook his head. “No,” he replied. “I think she knows this is the end for her.”The weight of his words settled over the room, and for a moment, there was nothing but the soft sound of the stew bubbling on the stove and Whiskerton’s contented purring. Flora exhaled slowly, a mixture of relief and exhaustion washing over her.That night, after dinner had been cleared away and Catarina and Eva had gone off to bed, Flora sat alone on the couch in t
Flora blinked, her eyes stinging with fresh tears. She knew who had orchestrated this—who had called Catarina and Eva, who had made sure that when Flora woke up, she wouldn’t be alone. It had to be Damien. He had seen how close she was to breaking, how much she needed the people around her now. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Flora looked between Catarina and Eva, her lips trembling with a bittersweet smile. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for coming.” Catarina patted her cheek affectionately. “You’re stuck with us now,” she said with a soft almost motherly smile, before turning back to the stove to finish serving the stew. “Now, sit down and eat before you collapse. I made your favorite.” Flora’s stomach growled again in response, and she let out a soft laugh. Their presence, combined with the savory aroma of the stew, filled the room with a sense of comfort that Flora hadn’t realised she'd been craving .