I thought I had finally escaped. Walking away from my toxic marriage should have been the end of my suffering. Instead, it was only the beginning. Betrayed by my husband, deceived by my best friend, and used by my own mother—I was nothing more than a pawn in their game. But when the truth about my family’s legacy came to light, I seized the chance to take back control. With Justin, a man whose intentions I still can’t fully trust, I begin rebuilding my life. But just when I think I’m free, the threats start. Bloodstained baby clothes. Anonymous messages. A shadow that refuses to let me go. And when we finally uncover the person behind it all, the truth is far more horrifying than I ever imagined. Because some betrayals cut deeper than others. And some ghosts refuse to stay buried.
View MoreI took a quick look at the wall clock, 9:17PM
Where is he? I had eaten dinner already, alone as usual, at this point it was becoming normal to not have him at the dinning table. Taking a glance at his food,well served and untouched, looking back at me, the food already grew cold. I murmured with annoyance, tapping my fingers on the table trying to calm my nerves The routine of late coming from work was becoming awfully frequent these past few weeks, but he always had something to dish out as excuse, be it having to cover for a colleague or having extra meeting or traffic, Micheal never disappointed in having a comeback to when I questioned his tardiness coming back from work, but it had gotten to his stage where I doubt I was going to buy those bullcrap anymore. Picking up my phone, I dialed his number, no answer, tried it a couple more times and still no answer, rather I got sent to the voicemail, my annoyance became frustration. Two years into this marriage and the bond between me and my husband kept on fading rather than getting stronger, it was scary. We were never the lovey dovey type, but at the very least we talked, had fun and laughed sometimes, but now? We barely spoke unless it as necessary, this wasn't my definition of marriage and I definitely didn't like the direction we were headed. Maybe it was my fault. Maybe because I hadn’t given him a child yet. My throat tightened as the memories from the last family meeting lingered in, Two years with no baby nor pregnancy, the words of his mother echoed in my mind, my belly became unsettled at the sudden thought of this. "A wife’s duty is to give her husband an heir." A soul-crushing statement that had haunted me ever since. I shook it off and scrolled through my contacts, tapping on Evelyn’s name. My best friend. Also, Michael’s assistant. If anyone knew where he was, it would be her. She picked up immediately. “Adaline?” “Hey,” I said, keeping my voice light. “Is Michael still at the office?” A pause. Then, “Um… no. He left a while ago.” My grip tightened around the phone. “Oh.” “Why?” Evelyn’s voice was careful. I forced a small laugh. “No reason. Just checking.” Silence stretched between us before she spoke again, softer this time. “Come meet me at the bar. You need a drink.” I hesitated. Going out wasn’t exactly appealing, but sitting here alone, waiting for a husband who clearly had better things to do, wasn’t either. “Alright,” I said. “I’ll be there soon.” Before heading to the bar, I decided to stop by Michael’s office. Maybe Evelyn was mistaken. Maybe he really was working late and just hadn’t seen my calls. But when I arrived, the receptionist barely looked up before saying, “Mr. Pratama isn’t in.” So Evelyn was telling the truth. I clenched my jaw, murmuring a polite “Thank you,” and left. As I stepped outside into the cold night air, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach. Where was he? I drove through the city, gripping the steering wheel. The road lights flickered past my window, a blur that I never paid attention to. I should have been home, curled up in bed, waiting for Michael to walk through the door like I always did. But tonight, I couldn’t stand waiting. Evelyn’s invitation had been unexpected, but maybe it was exactly what I needed. A distraction. A change of scenery. Anything to silence the thoughts screaming in my head. Still, I wasn’t looking forward to it. I hated parties. The loud music. The suffocating mix of sweat and alcohol. The way people lost themselves so easily in the noise. It never made sense to me. Evelyn always teased me about it, said I needed to loosen up. But I wasn’t uptight. I just didn’t see the appeal. Even in college, when everyone else went clubbing, I preferred quiet nights with a book. Or simple dinners with Michael. Back then, he’d smile at me across the table, reach for my hand, and say, "I love that you’re not like other girls." Now, that same man barely looked at me. My stomach twisted. I pressed my foot harder on the gas. I just wanted this night to be over. When I reached the bar, the parking lot was packed. Cars lined up haphazardly, people stumbling toward the entrance, laughter spilling into the night. I sighed. This wasn’t just a regular night at the bar. This was a party. A big one. And I hated it. I sat in my car for a moment, fingers drumming against the steering wheel. Every instinct told me to turn around, call Evelyn, and make up an excuse. Maybe I should just go home. Maybe, for once, Michael would be there. But another part of me—the part that was tired of waiting, tired of feeling like I was second place in my own marriage—made me open the car door. The moment I stepped out, the heavy bass from inside vibrated through the ground. I didn’t belong here. That was my first thought as I walked toward the entrance. Inside, it was worse than I expected. The air reeked of alcohol and sweat. Bodies pressed together on the dance floor, moving in ways that blurred the line between dancing and something much more intimate. Dim lighting. Flashing neon signs. A sea of strangers drowning in liquor and bad decisions. What am I doing here? I wasn’t dressed for this. While the other women wore tight dresses and heels, I was in jeans and a blouse. No makeup, just a swipe of lip balm. I looked lost. Out of place. I pushed through the crowd, already regretting my decision. My phone buzzed in my hand. My heart jumped. Maybe it was Michael. No new messages. Of course not. Jaw clenched, I shoved my phone into my pocket—just as a drunken man stumbled into my path. “Hey, pretty lady,” he slurred, whiskey on his breath. He grinned, eyes hazy. “Be my girlfriend for the night?” I barely resisted the urge to recoil. “No, thanks.” I stepped aside. He swayed, still smiling. “Come on, don’t be shy. You’re too beautiful to be alone.” I sighed. I really don’t have time for this. “I’m married,” I said, flashing my wedding ring. His grin widened. “Married women are the best kind.” Disgust crawled up my spine. I pushed past him, patience running thin. Where are you? I texted Evelyn. Her reply was instant. Upstairs. Room 899. I frowned. Upstairs? I knew what kind of rooms were up there. Private suites. The kind meant for privacy. A strange feeling twisted in my gut. But I told myself I was overreacting. Maybe she just needed a quiet space. Maybe I needed to stop overthinking. Taking a deep breath, I climbed the stairs. Room 899. The door was slightly ajar. I reached for the handle. Hesitated. Then, gently, I pushed it open. And that’s when I heard it. "Baby, go faster. Cum for me." Michael’s voice. I froze. And then I saw them. Michael. My husband. Evelyn. My best friend. Tangled in the sheets. Michael’s hands on her. His lips against her skin. A sharp, cold pain exploded in my chest. For weeks, I had wondered. Now, I knew. I had been replaced. And it had been happening right under my nose.Michael watched as Justin's penetrating gaze bore into Evelyn, who seemed to be fading under the scrutiny, he knew they were moments away from their scheme getting exposed completely. Stepping forward, he placed a protective hand on his wife's shoulder."My wife is pregnant," Michael interjected, his voice softer but still carrying authority. "She's been experiencing unusual cramps all day, perhaps it was something specific in her meal that triggered a reaction, pregnancy makes women's bodies react differently to foods."Justin's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't immediately challenge the explanation. Michael could see that Justin wasn't convinced, but was calculating something in his mind."I see," Justin finally said, his tone measured. "Dr. Hanson, would you continue to monitor Mrs. Anderson's condition?""Of course," the doctor replied.Justin turned to address the gathered guests. "Ladies and gentlemen, please continue enjoying the evening, it seems it was just a simple misun
"Your food," Michael accused loudly, pointing at Adaline. "It's been poisoned, my wife and our unborn child is in danger!"As all eyes turned to Adaline, a slow, calculated smile spread across Michael's face. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for, Adaline cornered, her reputation at stake, and Justin watching it all unfold.The room fell silent, all attention focused on the drama unfolding before them, confused glances passing between guests as they looked down at their own plates, then at Evelyn who continued to writhe in apparent agony."Poisoned?" an elderly woman whispered loudly. "But we've all eaten the same food.""Yes, and we're fine," another guest added.The murmurs grew louder as guests tried to make sense of the situation. If the food was indeed poisoned, why was only Evelyn affected? Several guests were already on their second serving, clearly enjoying the meal without any ill effects.Adaline stood frozen, her chef's whites stark against the elegant evening we
"Adaline?" Olivia whispered, her eyes wide with recognition.Once the formal introduction was over , she rushed towards where Adaline had been standing, but she wasn't there anymore. The chef had vanished as quickly as she had been spotted, Olivia scanned the room looking for her, memories flooding back of their time together years ago.Justin approached his sister, confused by her sudden distraction. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost.""I think I just saw someone I know," Olivia replied, still searching the crowd. "Adaline Watson, we were friends in college, she saved my life back then.""Saved your life?" Justin asked, surprised to the new information. Olivia nodded. "At a carnival during our sophomore year. I ate something that gave me severe food poisoning, she recognized the symptoms immediately and got me to the hospital, the doctors said if she'd waited even a little longer, I might not have made it." She paused, her mind filled with questions, “but what could s
I took the lead in the kitchen, tasting the remade sauce one final time before nodding with satisfaction. Our hopes were getting restored after the disaster with my mother's sabotage, I was proud of how quickly we were able to get the situation under control and recover from it. The new sauce was beaming with perfection, even better than the original. "More thyme in the chicken marinade," I instructed one of the sous chefs, moving to the next station, “and please check the temperature on those potatoes."The staffs followed my directions without hesitation, as I'd earned their respect, especially after turning around what could have been a complete catastrophe in less than 50 minutes. My throat still felt raw from tasting the excessive chili powder my mother had dumped into the original sauce, but I pushed the discomfort aside."Everything's back on schedule," I told Lisa, my assistant. "We'll be ready to serve on time."I caught movement at the kitchen door and glanced up to see Jus
Adaline moved through the kitchen with practiced efficiency, checking each station as the clock ticked closer to service time. Everything had to be perfect for Justin's sister's homecoming.As she approached the sauce station, a peculiar sensation prickled at her nose—something sharp and fiery in the air. Her instincts, honed through years in professional kitchens, immediately signaled that something was wrong."The main sauce doesn't seem right," she murmured, leaning over one of the large pots. The rich aroma she had carefully developed hours ago had been overtaken by something else—something aggressive and pungent.Following her chef's instinct, Adaline took a small spoon and dipped it into the sauce, bringing a tiny sample to her lips. The moment it touched her tongue, her mouth erupted in flames. Her eyes widened in shock as the burning sensation spread across her palate, scorching her throat as she swallowed."Water!" she gasped, her voice barely audible as she doubled over, cou
Melanie Waston's fingers tightened around the kitchen knife as she chopped vegetables, cursing under her breath. The humiliation of being put in her place by her own daughter burned like acid in her stomach. "That girl will never get away with this," she muttered, the knife coming down with unnecessary force on an innocent carrot. "Never." The young kitchen assistant working beside her glanced over nervously. Melanie noticed the look and forced her expression into something more pleasant. "So," she began, her voice honey-sweet, "how long has my daughter been working here? I've been... away, you see. Family matters." The assistant seemed hesitant but eventually replied, "I just saw her for the first time this morning. But everyone respects her already." "I'm sure they do," Melanie said, her smile not reaching her eyes. "And... the Westfields? How do they treat her?" The assistant's face lit up. "Oh, Mr. Westfield—the CEO—he really likes her skills. Might even like her too, if yo
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