When they pulled into the driveway, Suzanne was taken aback by the sight that greeted her. The maids stood in a line, beaming, shouting "Welcome back!" The house was filled with bright balloons and ribbons, an unexpected, almost festive display. It felt surreal, almost as if the entire world had decided to be on her side."Is this real?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.Before Charles could answer, her mother-in-law, Beatrice, stepped forward with a warm smile. "Of course, it's real," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "You deserve nothing less than the best."The maids eagerly gathered their bags and carried them to the room as Charles helped Suzanne inside. He guided her gently to the bed, making sure she was comfortable before sitting beside her. He looked at her, his eyes soft."I know the doctor said you need to rest," he began, his voice steady but sincere, "but I want to take you out for dinner. At least to celebrate this blessing. We need to mark this mome
The restaurant had an intimate feel to it, dimly lit with soft music playing in the background. Suzanne felt the sense of relief as Charles pulled out her chair, helping her sit with a smile. He was doing everything right tonight, making her feel special, like the woman he once cherished.As they settled into the cozy atmosphere, Charles leaned in with a grin. “Do you remember that time we went to that ridiculous theme park? You were so scared of the rollercoaster, and you screamed the whole way down.”Suzanne laughed, the sound light and free. “I remember! I thought I was going to die. You kept laughing at me the entire time.”“Well, I couldn’t help it. You looked so funny trying to hold on with both hands, like that was going to save you!” He chuckled, shaking his head. “But you were so cute, I just had to laugh.”Suzanne couldn’t help but smile, feeling a warmth she hadn’t in a long time. Charles was good at this, reminding her of the good times, making her feel like the world was
Charles's grip on her hand was tight, his anger palpable as he dragged Suzanne toward the car. She tried to pull away, her voice shaking as she said, "You're hurting me, Charles!" But he didn’t listen. His eyes were burning with fury, and his hold only tightened, making her wince with every step.Without a word, he shoved her into the car, slamming the door shut before walking around to the driver's side. The engine roared to life, and the car sped off, the tension thick in the air between them. Suzanne sat stiffly, her heart pounding in her chest, knowing that things were spiraling out of control.When they finally arrived at the mansion, Charles didn’t give her a chance to breathe. He got out of the car, marched around to her side, and grabbed her wrist again, his grip firm and unyielding. She tried to resist, but his anger was unstoppable. He dragged her inside, ignoring the startled looks of his mother and sister, who were deep in conversation in the living room.Anna rushed over
The next morning, Suzanne slept longer than usual, the weight of everything still hanging over her. She finally stirred from her slumber and rushed downstairs to make breakfast, but as she stepped into the dining room, she froze.There, sitting at the table, was her husband. Charles. He was already seated, a breakfast spread laid out before him, the smell of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. When last had Charles stayed till this time in the morning? And when had he returned? She couldn't help but wonder, a small flicker of surprise crossing her mind.Charles looked up and smiled as she approached. "Oh, darling, you're awake," he said, his voice soft but warm. "I made you breakfast."Breakfast?When was the last time Charles had cooked anything in this house? He doesn't even know how to make himself coffee.Suzanne stepped down the last step slowly, her eyes still unsure. As she reached the bottom, Charles stood, walking toward her with an almost tender expression on his face. He
The two of them stood by a nearby store, talking in hushed tones. Charles looked completely at ease, his posture relaxed as Sarah leaned in, her hand lightly brushing his arm.“Suzanne?” Anna’s voice broke through her daze. “What’s wrong?”Suzanne quickly averted her gaze, shaking her head. “Nothing,” she murmured, though the tightness in her voice betrayed her.Anna followed her line of sight and froze. Her face darkened as she spotted the pair. “That bastard,” she hissed under her breath. “I knew something was off.”“Anna, don’t,” Suzanne whispered, her voice trembling.But Anna was already stepping forward. “Oh, I’m absolutely going to,” she said, her tone sharp with determination.Anna strode toward Charles and Sarah, her heels clicking against the polished floor with purpose. Suzanne reached out to stop her, but it was too late. She could only watch, her stomach knotting with dread, as her sister-in-law closed the distance.“Charles!” Anna called out, her voice slicing through th
Liam drove in silence for a while, his eyes flickering between the road and Suzanne. The tension in the car was thick, and he couldn’t hold it in anymore. He needed to know."How long, Suzanne?" Liam finally asked, his voice low, but there was an undeniable edge of frustration to it. "How long has he been hitting you?"Suzanne stiffened, her heart skipping a beat. She didn’t want to answer. Didn’t want to relive it. But Liam’s gaze was unwavering, his anger barely contained, and it made her uncomfortable in a way she couldn’t explain. She shifted in her seat, looking out the window, pretending the passing scenery could distract her from his question."I—I don’t want to talk about it," she mumbled, trying to avoid his eyes.Liam’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, and for a moment, the silence was deafening. Then, his voice came out harder. "You don’t want to talk about it? You’ve been living in hell, Suzanne, and you don’t want to talk about it? God, this isn’t the life you deserv
Beatrice stood frozen for a moment, her eyes widening in shock. This was the first time Suzanne had ever spoken to her like that—stood up to her with such force. It caught her completely off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless. She had always been able to control Suzanne, belittle her, and make her feel small. But now... now there was a fire in Suzanne’s eyes, a determination that Beatrice had never seen before.For a few seconds, the air was thick with tension, and Suzanne could almost hear the disbelief in Beatrice’s silence. Beatrice’s lips quivered as she tried to form a response, her pride wounded deeply.Finally, she spoke, her voice strained with disbelief, her tone dripping with venom. "Get out? I should leave my son’s house?" she asked, her words almost mocking but laced with shock. She took a step forward, her face red with a mixture of anger and incredulity. "How dare you speak to me like that?"Suzanne didn’t flinch. Her chest rose and fell with controlled breaths, h
The next morning, the entire house was unusually quiet. The tension in the air was palpable as the maids moved about, attending to their duties in near silence. Suzanne walked down the grand staircase, her presence commanding attention. She looked stunning—dressed immaculately, her hair falling perfectly around her shoulders. Every step she took exuded confidence, the weight of the previous day's confrontation still hanging in the air, but now it was like a new, stronger Suzanne had emerged.Charles looked up from his seat at the table, his brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of what was happening. "Where are you going?" he asked, his voice laced with a mix of confusion and irritation.Suzanne didn’t even slow down. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, turned to him with a look of disbelief, and shot back, "And what sort of stupid question is that, Charles?" Her tone was icy, sharp, and filled with an edge that was new—she was done with him.In the midst of her biting response
Suzanne pushed open the heavy doors of the lounge, the dim lighting inside contrasting with the brightness of the night outside. Sarah was sitting at the far end of a long, sleek table, her fingers tapping lightly on the surface. The moment she spotted Suzanne, her lips curled into a small, almost mocking smile.“Over here,” Sarah called, her voice cold but calm.Suzanne’s heart raced. She had no idea what this meeting was about, but she already felt her patience thinning. She approached the table, glancing around, her eyes narrowing as she finally faced Sarah.“What do you want, Sarah?” Suzanne’s voice was steady, but the tension in the air was palpable.Sarah shifted in her seat, her eyes meeting Suzanne's with a deliberate coolness. “I wanted to speak with you. About Charles.”Suzanne’s brows furrowed. “Charles? What could you possibly want to say about him?”"Oh, come on, baby. Sit down and relax. Let me get the bartender," Sarah said, raising her hand to call over the bartender,
Liam’s expression hardened slightly at the mention of Miriam’s name. He took a step closer to Suzanne, lowering his voice as if the words he was about to say were too heavy for the celebration around them.“I learned some things… things I’m not sure you’ll want to hear,” he said, his tone cautious.Suzanne’s gaze narrowed, and she motioned for him to follow her further into the hallway, where the noise of the ongoing setup grew quieter. “We can talk in private,” she suggested, her voice steady, though a flicker of worry crossed her face.Once they were alone, Suzanne turned to face him, her eyes searching his for any hint of what was coming. “Tell me, Liam. What did you find out?”Liam ran a hand through his hair, his frustration and unease visible. “Miriam admitted that Mr. Langford was behind everything. She didn’t hesitate to tell me. But I think there’s more to it. It’s not just about him... there’s something else going on here, Suzanne. Something bigger than what we’ve been led t
The director shouted, “Cut!” with a sense of finality, his voice echoing through the set. “That’s a wrap, everyone! Great work, great work! This is the last scene of the movie!” His face broke into a wide smile as the cast and crew burst into applause, all of them proud of what they had just completed.Suzanne leaned back in her chair, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. She felt the satisfaction of finishing another project, the exhaustion melting away as she opened a can of juice, letting the cool liquid soothe her parched throat.Before she could take a sip, Paul Nick, her manager, rushed over to her, grinning ear to ear. “That was amazing! You nailed it, Suzanne,” he said, his voice full of admiration. He leaned down slightly to give her a quick peck on the cheek, a gesture that felt both professional and familiar.Suzanne’s lips curved into a smile as she looked up at him. “I have to say, I really like that stunt woman,” she replied, her tone playful. “Tell the producers to incre
After Suzanne left, Liam felt a sense of urgency. He had to know what was going on with the prescriptions.Determined, Liam went in search of Dr. Miriam Thompson’s office. It wasn’t hard to find—he knew the hospital well enough. When he reached her office, he knocked lightly before entering. Miriam was finishing up with a patient, her back turned as she wrote a prescription.The patient, an elderly woman, thanked Miriam and left, leaving the office quiet. Miriam turned to face Liam, her expression unreadable. She looked like someone who had been expecting him.“Dr. Carter, please sit down,” she said smoothly, gesturing toward the chair across from her desk.Liam did as she asked, sitting down slowly, his mind racing with questions.Miriam folded her hands in front of her, looking at him with a hint of curiosity in her eyes. “So, what brings you here today?”Liam didn’t waste any time. He reached into his bag and pulled out the bottle of pills Suzanne had shown him. He placed them on t
Suzanne made her way through the busy hospital, her heels clicking against the floor as she approached the emergency desk. “Excuse me, I’m looking for Dr. Liam Carter,” she asked, her tone polite but purposeful. The nurse behind the counter gave a quick nod. “Straight down the hall, take a left. His office is right there.”“Thank you,” Suzanne replied, already turning toward the direction she’d been pointed in.But as she rounded the corner of the hallway, a flash of movement caught Sarah’s eye. She froze, her heart giving a little jolt. Is that Mrs. Langford? The woman walking just ahead of her looked unmistakably like Suzanne, but Sarah couldn’t be sure. She squinted, watching as Suzanne moved farther down the hallway.Her instincts kicked in. I have to be sure. Without a second thought, Sarah followed, silently slipping through the corridor, making sure to stay out of sight. Her footsteps were light, her presence barely noticeable as she trailed Suzanne like a shadow.Unaware of th
-Presently-Charles’s car screeched to a halt in front of Sarah’s apartment building, the tires leaving faint marks on the pavement. He stepped out, slamming the door behind him as his heart pounded in his chest. His fury hadn’t subsided during the drive—it had only grown, fueled by the realization of just how much damage Sarah had caused.And without hesitation, he stormed up the steps and pounded on her door.It swung open, and Sarah appeared, her face lighting up at the sight of him. “Charles—”But he didn’t let her finish. “We need to talk,” he snapped, pushing past her into the apartment.Sarah closed the door behind him, her smile faltering. “What’s going on? You look—”Charles spun around, his eyes blazing. “What’s going on? You want to know what’s going on, Sarah? Suzanne lost the baby.”The color drained from Sarah’s face. “What?” she whispered.“She lost our child!” Charles roared, his voice echoing in the small space. “Do you know why? Because of you! Because of your jealou
Charles was pacing back and forth in front of the police officers, his hands trembling with frustration. His mind raced, a storm of panic and anger swirling inside him as he tried to make sense of everything. The last few minutes felt like a blur, and all he could focus on was Suzanne.One of the officers stepped forward, trying to calm him down. “Sir, we need you to take a breath. We’re going to help you, but right now, you need to remain calm.”Charles’s eyes narrowed in disbelief, and his chest tightened. He spun around to face the officer, his voice shaking with fury. “Calm down?” he repeated, his words coming out in a strained shout. “My wife is missing, and you want me to calm down? Are you serious? You think I’m supposed to just sit here and wait while she’s out there, God knows where, with God knows who?”The officer took a step back, surprised by the outburst, but Charles didn’t care. He ran a hand through his hair, a sharp, bitter laugh escaping his lips. “You don’t get it,
“Don’t you dare speak to me like that again,” Suzanne said, her voice shaking with fury. Her chest heaved as she stared Beatrice down. “You have no idea what I’ve been through! None! How dare you try to shame me for something I couldn’t control?”“Did you just…?” Beatrice sputtered, still holding her cheek. “You slapped me? Me?”Suzanne didn’t flinch. “Yes, I did. And I’ll do it again if you ever speak to me like that. I’ve had enough of your cruelty.”Charles stepped between them, his face pale. “Suzanne! Mother! Please—this isn’t the time for this!”But Suzanne wasn’t finished. Her voice rose as she spoke, every word filled with the pain and anger she had been holding in. “You sit here, judging me, insulting me, when you don’t even know the full story. Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I asked for this? I nearly died!”Beatrice opened her mouth, but Suzanne cut her off.“No! You’re going to listen. I lost my baby, and I’m grieving. So if you can’t offer support, then stay out
"We have a family doctor, Liam. She's in charge of everything that happens in the house. If Charles is behind this, we cannot tell him I'm pregnant. We have to keep it a secret," Suzanne said, her voice breaking as her eyes watered. She wasn’t certain yet, but if Charles had any involvement in this, she would never be able to forgive him. Not after everything she’d already endured.Her racing thoughts were interrupted when Liam gently squeezed her hand, his touch grounding her."I'm with you on this, Suzy," he said, his voice firm and reassuring. "I'll have my team keep quiet on this incident. But first, you need to bring me the pills. We need evidence."Suzanne’s heart skipped a beat. "Please, Liam," she whispered. "I don't want to believe this is true. But if Charles is behind it, I don’t know how I’ll be able to look at him the same way again."Liam nodded, his gaze softening. "I understand, Suzy. But we can’t act on suspicion alone. We need to be sure. I’ll help you get the eviden