LOGINI glanced back at the living room, relieved to find it mercifully free of scattered documents and files. “Uhm—yeah… sure, come in,” I stuttered. I wasn’t even sure what I was saying anymore. All I knew was that I wanted him to stay. He handed me the bouquet of roses—my favorite. Of course they were. “Thank you,” I murmured, my fingers brushing his as I took them. “How’ve you been?” he asked softly. “Good. I’ve been good.” A lie. A fragile one. “You’ve been ignoring my calls.” “I wasn’t ignoring them, I—I was just…” My voice faded as the excuse dissolved before it could even form. “Elizabeth,” he whispered, stepping closer. “I’ve been a mess without you. I miss you. I need you.” His hot breath skimmed my skin, sending a shiver straight through me, my stomach fluttering traitorously. I pressed my palm lightly against his chest, trying to push him back, trying to remember my pride. “Charles, if that’s all you came to say, then I think you should leave.” Instead, he pulled me
I hurried upstairs to Richard’s room, straight to the exact spot where I’d seen the mirror. I pushed it. It gave a faint, protesting groan. The mirror resisted me, heavier than it looked, as though it had been guarding its secret for years. My arms strained as I pushed harder, my heart thudding violently in my chest. I had to know what was behind it. Finally, it shifted. Sweat beaded on my forehead as the mirror slid aside, revealing what Richard had so carefully hidden. A safe. Cold. Steel-gray. Built straight into the wall like it had grown there. Its surface was smooth, unmarked, almost arrogant in its silence. No scratches. No dust. Just a small keypad glowing faintly, as though it were alive—waiting. I’d never seen this safe while I was married to him. That bastard had always been as secretive as a sealed tomb. Several buttons lined the front, neat and precise. A password was required. That was a problem. “What could this bastard have used for the password
The next morning— “How long are we going to stay in that school?” Jessica asked, angling her phone just right as she snapped yet another selfie. Her stylist hovered close, blending foundation with practiced precision. “We’ll be there for just two hours, ma’am. You know this event is practically a tradition for you,” her manager replied patiently. Jessica yanked her face away, irritation flashing across her features. “Two hours?” she scoffed. “You know I can’t put up an act for more than one.” Every year, without fail, Jessica maintained a carefully curated tradition—visiting schools and orphanage homes, donating essentials, smiling for the cameras. It wasn’t compassion that drove her; it was optics. Charity, to her, was simply another role she played convincingly. “Listen, Jessica,” her manager lowered his voice. “The People’s Choice Awards are coming up. With all these donations, you could easily win the public’s heart. Humanitarian of the Year isn’t far-fetched.” Jessi
Chapter 41: Aurora “Take this shit to the trash—burn it all!” Richard barked at Maria. “Yes, sir,” she replied instantly, scrambling toward the roses, her hands shaking as she gathered them. He turned sharply. “Listen carefully, Maria. You saw nothing tonight. You heard nothing. Understood?” “Y-yes, sir,” she stuttered, clutching the flowers as she hurried back into the kitchen. Jessica’s voice trembled. “What do we do now, Richard?” Fear clung to her face, etched into every tight line and darting glance. Richard dragged his hands through his hair, pacing like a caged animal. His breathing was heavy, ragged with fury and confusion. “Someone is playing games with us. I know it,” he growled. “And I swear, the day I find out who it is, I’ll cut off their head and feed what’s left to the dogs.” Jessica laughed softly—hollow, unhinged. “Now you see? You finally see that I’m not crazy. I’ve been saying this all along.” Richard clenched his fists until his knuckles whitened, the
Chapter 40 : She's back We finally arrived at the movies after a few minutes of painfully awkward silence in the car. The moment I stepped out, a harsh blast of cold air slapped my skin. I instantly regretted not bringing my jacket. Then, suddenly, warmth. A jacket draped over my shoulders. “It’s freezing,” Charles murmured softly as he walked ahead. My heart did a strange, unreasonable flip. Don Julio turned back with a mischievous smirk—one of those “I told you so” looks only he could pull off, before heading inside with Charles. I pressed my lips together. My godfather definitely knew what he was doing. The movie room was packed, buzzing with chatter, heat, and the smell of popcorn. I hated crowded places, but being with Don Julio somehow made it tolerable. He took the seat at the end of the row. I moved to sit beside him, but someone slipped into the spot before I could. I shot the person a lethal glare. “Bonita, it’s okay,” Julio said calmly. “Sit beside Charles, the
Chapter 39 I was busy putting the final touches on my present for Richard when my phone buzzed sharply against the table. I glanced at the screen—Chuka, my private investigator. My heartbeat hammered so hard it echoed in my ears. I picked up. “Hello.” “Hello, ma’am… it’s done. I have her.” For a moment, everything around me stilled. Then my lips curled into a slow, victorious smile. Finally. I wasn’t going to let Richard win anymore. Not this time. Not ever again. And I would make damn sure he never got anywhere near Vanessa’s mother. “Thank you, Chuka. Take her to my home in Albany. I’ll arrange for a private nurse and doctor to take care of her. I’ll come see her tomorrow. Make sure she’s safe… and comfortable.” “No problem, ma’am.” The call ended, but my fingers stayed wrapped tightly around my phone, knuckles turning white. My mind ran wild with all the ways I would deal with Richard, how I’d make him and that stupid wife of his finally feel the pain they had caused m







