019"What are you saying, Detective Clark? Are you seriously accusing me of framing the man I love? I wouldn’t, for any reason, frame Ryan. Why—why the hell would I want to do that to him?""Well, you’re the only one who has the answer to that question. I don’t," he replied coldly."Detective, I’m innocent. I’m the victim here! Ryan invited his brother over to visit. He got a call and decided to step out briefly. I even asked him to get some groceries for me. But when he came back, he was so angry he lunged at his brother and started hitting him. I tried to separate them, to calm him down, but I was pushed aside, Detective."As I spoke, I let the tears fall freely from my eyes."I...I wouldn’t, for any reason, want to frame Ryan, Detective."He leaned back, a smug smirk creeping onto his lips. "Well, I never said you framed him. I guess your conscience is eager to spill the truth.""No, Detective, that’s not it. I—""Not another word from you, Mrs. Ash. This is an interrogation, not a
020The cell was cold, the kind of chill that burrows deep into your bones. I shifted on the hard bench, feeling the weight of the morning sun pressing heavily on my shoulders. My head throbbed from hours of restless thoughts—Ash’s betrayal, the blood on my hands, Lucas’s lifeless eyes staring back at me. The image wouldn’t leave.The metallic clang of a door echoed through the narrow hallway. I looked up, weary eyes narrowing as Detective Clark strode in. His expression was unreadable, the kind of mask I’d come to associate with men in his line of work. Cautious. Calculating. Relentless. He stopped just outside my cell, crossing his arms.“Morning, Ryan,” he greeted, tone clipped.“Detective,” I rasped, my throat dry. I hadn’t slept, and it showed. “Back to accuse me of more crimes I didn’t commit?”He smirked, but the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “Not today. I’m here because I believe you.”A laugh bubbled up, bitter and humorless. “You believe me? That’s rich. Yet, here I am.”
021Clark’s words were a punch to the gut—an agonizing, paralyzing blow that left me gasping. My legs felt weak, and my grip on the cold metal bars tightened until my knuckles turned white. I stared at him, disbelief and desperation twisting inside me. He was the one person I thought I could count on, and now he was leaving me to rot.“No,” I choked out, my voice breaking. The lump in my throat felt like it was choking me. “You can’t just walk away. You can’t leave me here!”Clark’s eyes met mine, regret flickering across his face before he forced a mask of resolve. “Ryan, my hands are tied. This is above me now, I can only help you get a lawyer.”“That’s not good enough!” I shouted, panic creeping into my voice. “What if the lawyer doesn’t defend me well? What if he’s paid off or doesn’t care? I’ll be screwed!”Clark sighed heavily, running a frustrated hand through his hair. The deep lines etched into his face made him look older than usual, and for a moment, he seemed as tired as I
023TWO DAYS LATER[ALORA’S POV]Earlier today, all the maids were given strict instructions. We were expecting two visitors—Stanley’s mother and Charles’s sister. We worked tirelessly, cooking and cleaning as if royalty was visiting, even though it was just two people.It was frustrating. I had better things to do, like updating the chapters of my book. But here I was, preparing meals for people who wouldn’t even appreciate my effort. As if that wasn’t enough, I was told I’d be the one to show Charles’s sister to her room and cater to anything she needed. The thought alone made me sick.“It’s just a matter of weeks, Alora, and you’ll be out of here,” I reassured myself as I walked out of the kitchen, my chores finally done.I strode to my room, locked the door behind me, and went straight to the shower. Stanley had made it clear—he wanted no issues or complaints during the visit. He even claimed he didn’t want anything that could worsen his mother’s health. That man was impossible. D
024I stared at her, my chest aching with anger and regret. Words tangled in my throat, refusing to come out. Without a second glance, I turned and walked away.The hallways felt narrower as I stormed back to my room. Lost in thought, I collided with Charles. I was too furious to speak, my expression hardening. I tried to brush past him, but he grabbed my hand.“Hey, I’m sorry,” he said, eyes earnest. “I know my sister said some harsh things. Don’t listen to her—she’s just jealous you’re prettier than she’ll ever be.”I didn’t smile. “Thank you,” I muttered. “But I have to go.”He released my hand reluctantly. I could see the disappointment in his eyes, but I ignored it. I couldn’t afford to get closer to him, not when he was starting to make advances. If I let him think I felt the same, it would only make things worse.I didn’t look back. My footsteps echoed in the silence until I reached my room.STANLEY’S POVI sank into the couch, trying to bury the anxious knot in my chest. The b
025 ALORA’S POV My eyes flew wide open. Had I heard him right? Stanley Richardson—cold, ruthless, and annoyingly arrogant—had just called me his fiancée. My gaze darted to him, and then to the elegant woman beside him. She was pale, her frail figure wrapped in a classy dress that looked a size too big for her. Despite her condition, a gentle, approving smile graced her lips. I shot Stanley a look, eyebrows arching in disbelief. His jaw was tight, desperation flickering in his eyes. He leaned slightly forward, lips parting as he mouthed a single word: Please. Stanley Richardson was begging. The same man who ordered me around like a servant and regarded me as an inconvenience was now pleading. The absurdity of it nearly made me laugh. But then I caught sight of Chloe. She stood frozen at the bottom of the staircase, eyes glistening with unshed tears. Her hands were curled into trembling fists, and she glared at me like I’d snatched her world away. The satisfaction that surg
026 My mouth dried up as Mrs. Richardson’s gaze locked onto me. Her eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across her features. “What do you mean by that?” she asked, her tone laced with confusion. A nervous laugh bubbled out of me before I could stop it. “Oh, Mrs. Richardson, I didn’t mean it that way!” I hurriedly waved a dismissive hand. “It’s just...Stanley loves teasing me. He always calls me his ‘maid’ to remind me of how clumsy I was when we first met.” I nudged Stanley with my elbow, forcing a strained grin. “Right, darling?” Stanley caught on quickly, letting out a low chuckle. “Yes, she almost ruined my shirt at our first meeting. Called her my personal maid ever since.” Mrs. Richardson’s face relaxed, a warm smile stretching across her lips. “Oh, you two are adorable,” she cooed. Relief washed over me, though Stanley’s grip on my waist tightened, a silent warning. “I need to grab something from my room,” I announced, offering a quick smile. “Won’t be long.” Mrs. Richard
027How dare… She wanted to scream, but she held back, clenching her fists till they turned red."Trust me, I'll make sure you pay for this! I'll make sure you're thrown out of here, filthy maid!"After speaking, she glared at me and walked away, brushing past my shoulder before slamming the door shut as she left.I heaved a heavy sigh. Alora, you really need to work on your temper, I said to myself. I knew I was going to get scolded, but what's done is done.Chloe, on the other hand, stormed her way through the house as she headed for her brother's room.Her heels clicked ominously on the tiles as she walked in anger, her mind reeling back to how Alora had slapped the shit out of her."I'll make sure you pay, Alora. You'll surely get sacked, or my name isn't Chloe," she made a silent vow to herself as she barged into Charles’s room."Charles, we need to talk," she said, pacing back and forth.Charles, who was sitting on the bed, just stared at her, watching. He didn’t respond."Charl
064 **ALORA'S POV** “You were right, Alora,” he said, his voice tinged with grim satisfaction. “He called just as you predicted, asking me to accept his proposal and cover up his mess without the reports.” My voice crackled through the phone, sharp and focused. “Hope you got everything recorded without any mistakes?” “Yes, I did,” he replied. “I’m sending it to you right now.” “Thank you very much, Mr. Kyle. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.” “It’s nothing much,” he said modestly. “I just wanted to help. For now, try to rest and stay alert. The results will be at your door tomorrow morning.” “Alright, thank you so much, Mr. Kyle,” I said, gratitude flooding my chest. He ended the call, and within seconds, my phone pinged with the recording he’d sent. I opened it, listening briefly to confirm its clarity. Charles’s voice, smug and manipulative, echoed through the speaker. Got you. I smirked, leaning back in my bed. “You meet your doom tomorrow, Charles.” ******
063ALORA'S POV I turned and stared at him. "Why the hell do you need his number?" I asked as I walked forward to where he stood beside Doctor Kyle. "So what? Now I don't have the right to have the number of the doctor who'll be handling the test results? Remember, this is our child we're talking about." "Our?" I asked. I chuckled. "You're so delusional, Charles, and I can't wait for everyone to find out the truth." "What truth?" he asked, smirking at me. I glared at him. "The truth—that I'm not carrying a child in my womb. Not for you. Not for anyone." Without another word, I turned and walked out of the room, my legs carrying me faster than I could ever imagine. I strode to the car and got in, shutting the door behind me. Soon enough, I spotted Stanley, Chloe, and Charles coming. I couldn't help but smile. Charles thought collecting Doctor Kyle's number would do him any good. He thought he'd be able to bribe him. Well, from what I know about Doctor Kyle, he's a very honest
062ALORA'S POVI picked up my phone from the bed—again. I needed to search for an AI expert, someone skilled enough to detect whether a video was fake or not.I kept scrolling, but most of the profiles I found lacked experience. Their bios made it obvious—they hadn’t been in the field long.I sighed and rubbed my forehead. All this stress, all because of a false allegation. But it was worth it if it meant proving my innocence.I continued searching until I stumbled upon one bio that caught my attention. The man wasn’t too young, but not old either—55 years of age with twelve years of experience. His name was Jeremy.A smile tugged at my lips. I quickly scrolled up to check how much he charged, and to my surprise, it wasn’t much.He looked perfect for the job. Even in his photo, he looked strict—like someone who couldn’t be easily bought.I copied his contact details and placed a call immediately. The first call rang out. Then the second. Still nothing.“I’ll try one more time,” I mut
ALORA'S POV061“Really?” I asked, stepping closer to him, my voice tight with disbelief.“Yes, really,” Mr. Grey replied, tapping a few keys on his laptop. “When I checked the footage again, I noticed it had been blurred using some kind of virus filter. But it’s not permanent—I can fix it. I can help you.”I stared at him. My heart jumped, but I forced myself to stay calm. I couldn't afford to let hope ruin my focus.“Thank you,” I breathed. “Seriously, Mr. Grey, I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. Do you think you can get it done by tomorrow?”He hesitated for a second, then nodded confidently. “I’ll work through the night if I have to. You’ll have it by tomorrow. I promise.”I let out a slow breath, tension peeling off me like old skin. “Thanks,” I said quietly. “I’m counting on you.”“You should,” he said simply.Without another word, I turned and left the room. There was no time to lose. I needed to show Stanley the footage of Chloe pushing his mother. He deserved the
ALORA'S POV060"Uhm, I… I uhm, I'm…" I stammered, my voice faltering as a knot formed in my throat. I had no idea what to say to the stern man staring at me. But then it struck me—everyone believed I was Mr. Stanley’s wife now. If I played that role convincingly, and backed it with the photos I’d collected, there was no way he wouldn’t believe me.Straightening my shoulders, I forced the trembling out of my voice. “I’m… I’m Mrs. Stanley. Mr. Stanley’s wife. And you must be Mr. Grey.”He stared at me, his lips tightening. “Women like you disgust me,” he snapped without hesitation.My breath caught in my chest. Had I heard that right? “Did you just say I disgust you?” I asked, stunned.He didn’t even blink. “You claim to be his wife, yet you go around cheating on him. Yeah, I saw the whole thing.”“Mr. Grey, please,” I pleaded quickly, pushing down the wave of anger and shame rising in me. “I need your help. This is about my dignity—”“Dignity?” he barked out a dry laugh. “What dignity
059ALORA'S POV I had been waiting in my room for the past two hours, ever since the chaos that had unfolded downstairs. My heart was still racing from what had happened, but I needed everything to settle. Everyone had to be asleep before I could make my move. Silence was my ally tonight. Charles thought he was clever—thought he could twist things and make it look like I was lying. But he didn’t know who he was messing with. I was going to show him what smart really looked like. By now, the house had gone quiet. Lights were out in most rooms, and the occasional creak of settling wood was all that could be heard. That was my cue. I stood from my bed, my bare feet making no sound as I slipped out of the room and into the dimly lit hallway. My destination was clear: the CCTV room. That room held the truth—hard evidence of what happened that day. If I was going to expose Charles, I needed the footage. I had heard an old man named Grey was usually stationed there, but rumor had it he w
058 STANLEY'S POV After my mom had passed, Chloe and I were headed back home. It was already late at this point. I was driving. And just then, my phone began buzzing through the call. When I looked at the name on the screen, I saw that it was Alora, and I ended the call instantly. I didn't want anything to do with her. Not now. Especially now that my mother had passed away. I needed to find myself. Alora had betrayed me in the worst way ever. So I thought. After a while, I arrived home. I parked the car in the parking lot, and Chloe and I got out from the car. We both walked into the house and just as, we did. I saw Alora sitting on the couch in the parlor. I wanted to ignore her at first. But when she spotted me, she stood up and walked towards where I was. I wanted passing her, but then she blocked me. She didn't allow me to pass. "I don't have time for your nonsense, Alora. I have a lot of things way more important than the act you're putting up here right now. Let me pass
STANLEY'S POV 057I gripped her hand tightly, nodding through my uncontrollable sobs."I promise you, Mom. I promise you I won't leave Alora," I said, my voice breaking with emotion.Just as the words left my mouth, she smiled warmly at me. A smile so weak, yet so full of love."Thank you, Stanley," she whispered. "I'm glad... I know you keep to your promises."But suddenly, the machine tracking her heartbeat began to beep faster, shrill and frantic. My mom gasped for breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly as tears streamed from her closed eyes.Panic exploded inside me."Doctor! Doctor!" I screamed at the top of my lungs."Mom, hold on! I'm coming!"I sprinted out of the ward, my heart pounding in terror. I saw the doctor rushing towards me, alarmed by my cries."Something's happening! My mom — the machine — please hurry!" I stammered desperately.Without wasting a second, the doctor dashed into the room with me close behind.But it was too late.The moment we entered, my legs
ASH'S POV056The courtroom felt like it had frozen in time. My heart pounded loudly in my chest as I stood, my hands trembling, as I stood there waiting for the words of the judge, the final verdict." innocent and Mrs. Ash Collins guilty."I staggered back, my breath catching in my throat. No… this can’t be... The verdict echoed again and again in my ears, each replay slicing deeper into my soul. Across the room, Ryan jumped to his feet, unable to contain his joy. He laughed, arms raised triumphantly in the air, while the crowd erupted into wild cheers. Even the jury wore smiles of satisfaction.But for me... the world tilted dangerously.I stood there, frozen, the weight of the moment crushing me. Then, the judge’s voice thundered once more."Mrs. Ash Collins, the court sentences you to five years in prison… followed by execution by shock upon release."The words struck like lightning.Execution?My eyes widened in horror. I must have misheard him. No, no, this isn’t real!Before