FLASH BACKIn the city of Redwood, winter had been long in coming, but when it finally arrived, it was not a gentle frosty season but rather a fierce and blustery affair. Hail-like snowflakes pelted the streets, piling up in icy drifts that were as beautiful as they were dangerous. Inside the Ashland Hospital, a young woman lay pale and frail in a ward bed, her breathing labored and her pulse weak. Amelia Clifford was the daughter of a powerful and wealthy family, but even their money and influence could not save her from the grip of death. "Mrs. Clifford," the doctor said, his voice breaking as he turned to face the grieving mother. "She's not going to make it. Without a blood transfusion, she'll be gone in a matter of hours." The doctor's words were like a knife to the heart, and Mrs. Clifford could only look on in shock. Her daughter, Amelia, was lying so still and pale on the bed, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Mrs. Clifford's hands trembled as she reached
Emily opened her eyes slowly, the world around her still blurry and unfocused. All her blood had been drained out of her. As her vision cleared, she saw a familiar face sitting next to her. It was Amelia, with a relieved smile on her face. "Thank goodness you're alive," she said, reaching out to take Emily's hand. Emily could smell malice that she tried to pull her hand away, but Amelia's grip was strong. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you," Amelia said, her smile fading. "I just want to talk." Emily wasn't sure if she could trust her, but she knew she didn't have a choice. Emily eyes looked around in panic. Where was Jackson and why was she left alone with Amelia?Emily's heart was racing, and her mind was spinning. "Where's Jackson?" she asked, her voice trembling. Amelia's smile was gone, replaced by a look of cold determination. "He went out to get something," she said. "He'll be back soon." Emily tried to pull her hand away again, but Amelia held on even tighter. "Pleas
“Now that you’re okay, I’ll opt for your discharge,” Jackson suggested, adjusting his suit. There was a smile on Amelia's lips.“I can’t afford to waste more of my money on you.”Jackson started heading for the door. Emily on the other hand had no say. Amelia winched her fingers at Emily. “I’ll see you soon, Emily, stay strong.”They both exited after. Emily's eyes were so hung in the air that she forgot to breathe. For the past few minutes, she released her breath. At Jackson Apartment. Emily was lying on the full-sized bed. She had just taken her shower. She had planned to drown herself but thinking about it, there was no way she was going to benefit from killing herself. After drying up her wet body and hair, she received a call. She rushed to her phone and a smile came to her face. Maybe it was Jackson. He hadn’t gotten back home yet, maybe he had something to say to her, apologize…When she looked at the screen of her cellphone, she felt disappointed. Lisa. “Hey, Emily.” Lis
*TRIGGERED WARNING*(You can choose to skip this chapter as it contains hate and violence, which might somewhat offend viewers.)Jackson sat on the Luxurious bed, his fingers hovering over the phone as he debated whether to make the call to Amelia or not. But before he could dial, his attention was diverted by a putrid smell that seemed to seep into his nostrils. His face frowned in distaste as he sniffed the air, trying to locate the source of the odor.His nose twitched, guiding him to the motionless form beside him. Emily, his wife, lay still, her body emitting the foul smell that had caught his attention. Jackson's eyes widened in alarm as he quickly tapped her shoulder, his touch urgent and insistent."Emily, Emily, wake up!" he called out, his voice laced with no concern, as he shook her aggressively, hoping she would respond.Emily's eyes went open and she turned around to look at her husband who was doting his eyes at her like some wild animal. “What’s it?” she asked, “What h
Emily collapsed onto the cold, dark floor of the closet, her body shaking with sobs. Tears streamed down her face, mingling with the bitter taste of regret and betrayal. She felt like she'd made a monumental mistake, marrying Jackson Timberlake. The contract, once a symbol of security and love, now seemed like a prison sentence."Why did I sign it?" she whispered, her voice cracking with anguish. "Why did I think he loved me?"The memories of their whirlwind romance and lavish wedding now seemed like a cruel illusion. Jackson's charm and charisma had blinded her to his true intentions. He didn't care about her; he only needed her blood to sustain his precious Amelia.Emily's thoughts swirled with feelings of worthlessness and foolishness. She'd sacrificed her freedom and dignity for a lie. The closet, once a temporary refuge, now felt like a suffocating trap, mirroring the confinement she felt in her own life.As she wept, Emily realized she had to escape, not just the closet, but th
Emily's voice was barely above a whisper, her words laced with desperation. "Please, Lisa, take me to the hospital."Without hesitation, Lisa swept Emily into her arms, and in what felt like an instant, they were standing in the emergency room. The doctor's face came into focus, his expression stern and concerned."What happened?" he asked, his eyes scanning Emily's frail form.But before Lisa could even begin to explain, the doctor's gaze locked onto Emily's condition, and his expression turned grim. He nodded curtly, his eyes widening in alarm.The pungent aroma of infection and decay wafted from Emily's body, a stark testament to the severity of her situation. The doctor's face paled, and he quickly ushered them into a treatment room, his team springing into action with a sense of urgency."We need to act fast," he muttered, his voice firm and commanding. "We'll get you taken care of, Emily. You're safe now."In what felt like a blur, Emily was wheeled out of the emergency room and
Emily opened the front door, stepping into the quiet morning stillness of the house. She had returned alone, Lisa having already left for her own home. The silence was a stark contrast to the chaos of the hospital, and Emily felt a sense of relief wash over her as she closed the door behind her.She walked into the dining room, her eyes scanning the space, when she spotted Jackson sitting at the table, sipping a cup of coffee. As soon as he saw her, his face lit up with a warm smile. "Emily! You're home already?" he called out, his voice filled with enthusiasm.Emily's response was laced with skepticism. "I thought you didn't want me to come back home," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly.Jackson's smile faltered for a moment before he stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. "Why would you say that?" he asked, his voice filled with concern, as he walked towards her.Emily's defenses began to crumble as Jackson enveloped her in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're home, Emily.
Emily's voice was firm and resolute. "I can't allow this, Jackson. You need to send her back home."Jackson shook his head, his expression unyielding. "I can't do that, Emily. I can’t send her back."Amelia's face contorted in a pretence of distress, her voice trembling. "But I can't stay in my house alone, Jackson. I'm so scared and vulnerable."Emily's eyes flashed with anger. "You can't stay in my husband's house with me his wife, Amelia. That's not acceptable."Jackson's face hardened, his voice cold and detached. "If you can't accept it, Emily, then maybe you should leave."Emily's gaze locked onto Jackson, her eyes wide and disbelieving. She seemed to be searching for any sign of the man she thought she knew, but his expression remained unyielding.Jackson repeated himself, his voice firm and unrelenting. "If you can't accept it, Emily, then you should leave. It's as simple as that."Amelia's face contorted in a exaggerated display of distress, her voice trembling. "Oh, I don't