Chapter 1

Laura sat in her hospital bed with her eyes fixed on the old television set mounted at the corner of the room. The television was playing the weather news - something about how great and lovely the beach would be this coming summer, but Laura wasn't paying attention to what the weather caster was saying even though her eyes were fixed on her.

It's been three months since her husband last visited her, and anytime she tried reaching him, the call would automatically divert to voice-mail. Initially, she had shrugged off the concern, convincing herself that Vincent's schedule was always chaotic, so even if he wanted to drop by and visit her, his schedule won't allow it but since last week, her certainty had begun to waver. The envelope from an unknown sender had shaken her convictions, hinting that Vincent's absence wasn't solely due to work.

Laura's gaze drifted from the television to the brown envelope on her bed, its presence suddenly mesmerizing. Her eyes fixated on the address: 'To Mrs. Laura Russell.' She repeated the words, savoring the unfamiliar title. 

As a member of the Russell family for years, she has never been permitted to use their name, her mother-in-law deeming her unworthy, but Vincent's love had made her forget the slight. Until now. The envelope's arrival had stirred dormant doubts.

With trembling hands, Laura opened the envelope and extracted the card. The message was concise, yet chilling: 'If you doubt me, be at the Russell vacation home at Rio estate on August 5th'

Laura's eyes lingered on the words, re-reading them obsessively. Then, she shifted her gaze to the pictures in the envelope. Vincent's face was unmistakable, but the woman beside him was obscured, as if deliberately hidden.

"It's today," Laura whispered, checking the calendar. The date matched the sender's cryptic message.

Despite her trepidation, curiosity got the better of her. Laura left the hospital without a word to her nurse, entering her car to the vacation home. En route, she called Vincent, but his phone went straight to voicemail.

As she arrived at the vacation home, Laura's heart sank. Vincent's car was parked in the garage, a rare sight. He seldom visited, and the one time he did, she wasn't invited.

A voice within her screamed to turn back, prioritize her health, and forget the envelope's contents. But her body seemed to move of its own accord, drawing her toward the house.

Laura pushed open the door, and her heart plummeted at the soft moans echoing through the house. Tears welled up in her eyes, and her legs trembled beneath her, but she forced herself forward.

As she entered the room, the scene before her confirmed her worst fears. Vincent and Diane were entwined, their bodies exposed in a vulgar embrace.

"Vincent!" Laura's voice shook with rage and anguish.

Vincent's eyes widened in momentary shock, then darted back to Diane.

"Are you cheating on me?" Laura's question hung in the air, obvious but necessary.

Her gaze shifted from Vincent to Diane, and a dagger pierced her heart. Tears streamed down her face as she beheld her best friend's unremorseful expression.

"Diane..." Laura's voice cracked.

"Didn't you say her condition worsened?" Diane asked Vincent, her brow furrowed. "She doesn't look like someone on the verge of death."

The word "death" echoed in Laura's mind, a cruel irony.

"How could you, Diane?" Laura's voice barely rose above a whisper.

Diane's gaze flicked from Laura to Vincent. "Take care of this nuisance quickly. I'm losing my mood with her here." She grasped her phone, her eyes flashing with disdain.

Laura's world crumbled as she confronted the ultimate betrayal. Her husband and best friend, the two people she trusted most, stood before her, their faces etched with indifference.

"You bastard!" Laura's anguish boiled over.

Vincent chuckled, his eyes glinting with malice. "That's an interesting choice of words from someone who doesn't even know who she is."

Laura's frown deepened, her gaze shifting to Diane. She was the only one who knew about her childhood accident.

"You told him?" Laura's voice trembled.

Diane remained silent, her eyes avoiding Laura's.

Laura's disgust grew. "You're not even sorry, are you? No apologies, no remorse?"

Vincent interrupted, his voice dripping with cruelty. "I'm glad I registered you for death insurance. Your demise will bring me a fortune. Just die already."

Diane smiled, her voice laced with satisfaction. "I told you it was a smart move."

Laura's rage erupted. She lunged at Diane, grabbing her hair. "You wicked, evil best friend!" Laura cursed, tears streaming down her face.

Diane yelped in pain, trying to pry Laura's fingers loose.

Diane shrieked in agony as Laura yanked out a handful of her hair. Vincent intervened, prying Laura off Diane.

"Evil best friend?" Diane seethed, her face inflamed with rage."You think you were my friend? Never! You weren't even worthy of being my maid. I tolerated you to spite my parents, who constantly compared us"

Diane's eyes blazed with resentment. "They wanted a daughter like you, not me. I was sick of hearing them sing your praises."

She took a step closer to Laura, her voice dripping with malice. "So, I thought, 'Stay close to your friends and closer to your enemies.'" A wicked smirk twisted her lips.

Diane stepped back, her gaze raking over Laura with disdain. "Your miserable life made me feel superior. I reveled in every misfortune that befell you."

Tears streamed down Laura's face as Diane's words cut deep. "Did you ever for a single day, considered me your friend?" Laura asked, her trembling voice barely audible.

Diane sneered, her voice laced with contempt. "You fool, do you think I, Diane Timmer, could befriend someone of your status? You were too dense and blind to see it." 

Diane's voice turned icy. "Just die already and let the living move on. The world would be better off without you. Haven't you wondered why your parents abandoned you? You're exhausting."

"There is no need to waste your strength on her," Vincent said, his voice devoid of empathy. "She's just a walking corpse."

Diane smiled, blowing a kiss at Vincent before turning to Laura. Her eyes gleamed with malice.

"I didn't want you to find out this way," Diane said, her voice dripping with contempt. "I wanted you to die happily, thinking the world revolved around you. But curiosity kills the cat, doesn't it?"

Laura's tears streamed down her face. "How could you, Diane? We were friends... best friends."

Diane chuckled, her eyes glinting with malice. "Best friend? You were just a pawn in my game, Laura. A game I was determined to win by any means necessary. To me, you were a competitor, a rival to be eliminated – not a friend."

Diane flashed a cold, calculating smile. "You were always so gullible and naive, Laura. You trusted me blindly, believing everything I told you, never questioning my intentions, and I used that to my advantage." Her voice dripped with disdain. 

Diane's gaze lingered on Laura, her eyes gleaming with contempt. "Richard will keep you company soon, so you won't be lonely in your grave."

Laura's anguish boiled over, and she launched herself at Diane once more, but Vincent 

 pushed her away, sending her crashing to the floor.

Diane smirked, leaning over Laura. "Your life is a perfect example of the saying salt also looks like sugar."

Laura's eyes flickered in shock as it stared into Diane's, but all it saw was disgust and hatred. 

Before Laura could process her next word, Vincent and Diane walked out, leaving her to her cruel fate. 

Laura grabbed her phone, she desperately needed someone to talk to or betterstill cry to but she couldn't find a single person to call, out of the hundred contact details registered on her phone.

"I'm alone, all alone in this miserable world." Laura said, feeling her heart get even heavier and tears gradually cluttering in her eyes.

After minutes of bawling her eyes out, Laura walked out of the house, heading straight to the Russell conglomerate. She was going to create a scene and tell the world everything she had been passing through. She wasn't going to let Vincent and Laura get the last laugh.

"Just wait, I will spill every tea, the reporters would have a field day," Laura said, increasing the speed of her car. 

She gasped hearing the loud horn of an approaching truck, she tried slowing down a bit to make way for the truck only to find out that her break was faulty, she kept trying but no matter what she did, the break won't respond and the truck was fast approaching. She turned towards the direction of the truck as if trying to plead with the driver to slow down, but it was already too late. That was the end for her. 

The two cars collided, making Laura's head strike against her steering with a sickening thud. A sharp pain shot through her head, and dizziness washed over her. Her vision blurred.

As Laura's consciousness waned, her life flashed through her eyes. Those times she thought she was happy surrounded by friends and family, but they just saw her as an unwanted card, a pawn to be sacrificed.

She closed her eyes as tears dropped, leaving her world dark.