THE PERFECT REVENGE

"I'm sorry who are you?" Richard looked at him with a confused expression before glancing at the two babies. "And what are you doing here?"

Thomas swallowed hard, having already recognized who the man was.

Richard Sterling.

The almighty business tycoon and Victoria's husband. He had found out about them during their engagement party that was shown on the news, and that alone gave Thomas more reasons to hate Victoria.

"I'm here to see my wife and check on my daughter."

"Your wife and daughter?"

"Yes, Maria Santos. She just gave birth."

Richard nodded, his expression indifferent. "Oh, your're the father to the second baby the doctor had told me about" His eyes briefly moved toward the cradles. "Congratulations."

"Thank you."

An awkward silence settled between them. Richard wasn't particularly interested in continuing the conversation. He had only come to check on Victoria and his child and had stopped because he had seen a stranger standing near the cradke his daughter was placed in. "Is your wife in this room?"

"Yes."

"Alright," Richard nodded after examining the babies and making sure he had already captured the face of his daughter, "I need to get back to my wife."

Thomas stepped aside. "Of course."

Richard walked past him without another word. Thomas waited until he disappeared down the hallway. Only then did he breathe again. He turned toward the cradles. His secret was safe, for now.

But Thomas hadn't become this reckless overnight. The hatred that had pushed him to this point had begun years ago, festering like an infected wound that never healed.

---

Thomas had never forgotten the day Victoria Sterling humiliated him. They had been in college, young and full of dreams that would never come true for him. Victoria was beautiful, popular, and from a wealthy family. She moved through the campus like she owned it, surrounded by admirers who worshipped the ground she walked on. Thomas had been completely fascinated by her, consumed by an obsession that bordered on unhealthy.

He had spent weeks gathering the courage to ask her to prom. He had practiced what he would say in front of his mirror, rehearsed his speech until he could recite it in his sleep. He had bought the most expensive flowers he could afford, saving money for weeks to purchase a bouquet that would impress her.

Finally, the day came. Thomas walked across the crowded courtyard holding the bouquet, his heart pounding with nervous anticipation. He spotted Victoria surrounded by her friends, laughing at something one of them had said. He approached her, his palms sweaty despite the cool breeze.

"Victoria."

She turned, her expression curious. "Yes?"

Thomas smiled nervously, holding out the flowers. "I wanted to ask you something." He took a deep breath. "Would you go to prom with me?"

The people around them immediately started paying attention. Conversations died down as heads turned toward the scene unfolding in the courtyard. Victoria stared at the bouquet for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she laughed.

Thomas's smile slowly disappeared. "Victoria?"

"You're serious?" She looked at him like he had just told her the most ridiculous joke she had ever heard.

"Yes. I've been thinking about it for weeks."

Victoria looked at him for a moment before shaking her head, her expression softening into something that looked almost like pity. "Thomas, I've told you before. I'm not interested."

"I know, but I thought maybe—"

"Maybe what?" Her voice became louder, drawing even more attention. "You really thought I would say yes to you?"

A few students laughed, their voices carrying across the courtyard. Thomas's face burned with humiliation. He could feel his ears turning red, could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on him.

Victoria took the bouquet from his hands. For one second, he thought she might accept. Instead, she dropped the flowers onto the ground, scattering petals across the concrete. "I'd rather go alone than go with you."

She walked away with her friends, their laughter echoing behind her. Thomas stood there, frozen, surrounded by the mocking stares of students who had witnessed his rejection. He never forgot that moment. Not the flowers lying crushed on the ground. Not the laughter that had followed him as he walked away. Not the humiliation that had burned through him like fire.

Most importantly, he never forgot Victoria's face when she looked at him as though he wasn't good enough to stand beside her, as though he was beneath her notice, a peasant begging for attention from a queen.

From that day forward, his feelings changed. The admiration curdled into something darker, something obsessive. He became consumed by her. He watched her from a distance, following her movements across campus, memorizing her schedule. He kept track of the people she dated, the places she visited, the friends she surrounded herself with.

Victoria eventually moved on, graduating and building a successful life for herself. Thomas never did. He remained stuck in that moment, replaying the rejection over and over in his mind until it became a part of him.

When she became engaged to Richard Sterling, his jealousy grew worse. He read about their wedding in the newspapers, saw their photographs in society magazines, watched as Victoria achieved everything he believed should have been his. She was happy, successful, and loved, while he was trapped in a life of mediocrity.

Months later, Thomas's obsession reached its breaking point. He secretly followed Victoria one night, watching her from the shadows as she walked alone through a poorly lit street. His mind was clouded with rage and desire, years of resentment finally boiling over. He waited until she was alone, until there was nobody around to help her, and then he attacked.

He concealed his identity, ensuring she would never know who had raped her. Victoria fought back, but she was no match for his strength. When it was over, he fled into the darkness, leaving her broken and traumatized on the ground.

Victoria survived, but she never discovered who had attacked her. She reported the assault to the authorities, but without evidence or a suspect, the case went cold. She tried to move forward, to rebuild her life, but the trauma never fully left her.

Thomas, meanwhile, continued with his life as though nothing had happened. He married Maria and pretended to be a normal husband, but the darkness inside him never disappeared. It only grew, feeding on his resentment and his guilt.

Now, standing in that hospital room, looking at the babies he had just switched, Thomas felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. He had finally done something to hurt Victoria Sterling. He had taken her daughter and given her his own. She would raise his child while her own child would grow up in poverty.

It was the perfect revenge.