Chapter 4

I leaned my back against the car seat, which felt cold, letting the subtle hum of the engine become the background noise for the chaos in my head. My eyes were fixed on the bright glow of the phone screen in the middle of the dark cabin.

“Sakura Residence”

The name looped in my mind like a broken tape stuck on the most painful part.

In my previous life, I was so stupid. I remember how Mike gripped my hand, looking into my eyes with a spark I believed was love, and called it a "future investment" for the two of us. I even imagined what color curtains would suit the living room. It turns out, that place was nothing more than a disgusting nest where Mike and Lucy laughed at my naivety while sipping wine from glasses that I probably paid for.

My fingers moved quickly, trembling slightly from the rage I was trying to suppress. I typed a short reply to the mysterious number that had just given me the information:

"Who are you? And what do you want?"

I waited. One minute. Two minutes. Only a single checkmark appeared. It seemed the number was deactivated immediately after sending the message. I took a deep breath, trying to fill my lungs, which felt like they were constricting.

"Whoever you are, at least we share the same enemy," I whispered to the silence. My voice sounded foreign to my own ears—colder, sharper.

Sakura Residence 1205 - 8:00 p.m.

I decided not to go home. I wasn't going to be the submissive lamb waiting for Mike to pick me up for a "romantic dinner" that would only end in new lies. Using a backup ride-share account that I made sure wasn't linked to the credit card Mike monitored, I headed toward the luxury apartment complex.

Tonight felt more suffocating than usual. I wore a black hoodie and pulled my hat low to cover part of my face. Once I arrived, I didn't go through the main lobby. I slipped in through a side gate near the parking area—a security gap I knew about because Mike used to ask me to bring things through that way so it "wouldn't be a hassle." Now, that knowledge was my weapon.

I stood in the dim corridor of the 12th floor. The yellowish lighting created long shadows that seemed to lurk in every corner. My footsteps were nearly silent as I approached unit 1205. My heart thundered, but not from fear—rather from the anticipation of the bitter truth. I held my breath, pressing my ear against the solid, cold wooden door.

"She's getting bold, Mike. About applying for work again... and about the apartment..."

That was Lucy's voice. Her shrill tone carried an anxiety that made the corner of my lips curl into a cynical smirk. The "best friend" who trusted me most was starting to feel her position was threatened.

"Calm down, Honey," Mike’s deep voice replied. This was followed by the clink of clashing glass. "Bella is emotional and unstable. She’s just feeling insecure because our wedding day is getting closer. She just wants to prove she has value, that she isn't just freeloading off me. Let her feel like she's winning for a little bit, babe."

I could hear Mike chuckle—a sound I once thought was so soothing, but now sounded like sandpaper on my skin.

"Now, drink this wine. It's very expensive; I ordered it specifically to celebrate our plan, which is almost complete, babe."

I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms, leaving painful crescent marks. The plan that is almost complete. That sentence was the confirmation of all my suspicions.

"Once the marriage contract is signed the day after tomorrow," Mike continued in an authoritative tone, "all assets in Bella's name, including her parents' inherited land, will be under my legal control. Bella won't have the power to fight back anymore."

Bastard...!

I had almost forgotten his devious tactics. In my previous life, he took me to a notary who was a close friend of his. I signed a stack of documents without reading them in detail because I trusted Mike too much. I handed over my entire life to the person holding a knife behind his back.

I backed away slowly, making sure my steps didn't make a sound on the thick corridor carpet. I got away from that door before they decided to come out or order room service. While walking toward the elevator at the end of the hallway, I pulled out my phone and searched for one name in my contact list.

Jack...

He was a litigation lawyer known for being ruthless in court, as well as the former lover of my long-deceased brother. In the past, I avoided him because he always reminded me of sadness, but now, he was the only person with enough "teeth" to take on Mike.

"Hello, Jack? It's Bella," I said as soon as the call connected. My voice was steady, without a hint of hesitation.

"Bella? It's unusual for you to call. What’s up?" His voice was heavy and inquisitive.

"I need your help to secretly review a prenuptial agreement, Jack. I smell something fishy. And one more thing... I need you to track the owner of a phone number."

"You sound different, Bella. Did Mike do something?"

"Not yet... but he will. I'll send the details via email."

Just as I was about to hang up, my phone vibrated again. A message notification appeared from another unknown number...

"Don't go in there tonight. Too risky. Meet me at Cafe Noir in 15 minutes if you want to know who I am!"

My steps stopped right in front of the opening elevator doors. The air around me suddenly seemed to freeze. My heart pounded, as if it wanted to jump out of my chest.

This person... this messenger... they know Mike’s plan.

I stared at my reflection in the elevator wall made of polished metal. The weak girl whose eyes were always wet with tears was gone. What remained was the silhouette of a woman whose gaze was as sharp as a dagger.

"Let’s see who this mystery person is," I muttered to my own reflection.

I had to be brave enough to bet. If I wanted to destroy Mike and Lucy down to their very roots, I needed more than just freelance money. I needed an ally who knew where all the "bodies" were buried. I pressed the lobby button with firm pressure, as if that button were the neck of my enemy.

This game had just moved to a level I never could have imagined before. And this time, I will not be the victim. I am the director.