Love's Illusions: Secondhand Affections

The pain was at its worst when the last stroke of the blade cut my abdomen open. I couldn't hold on any longer.

Blood spread down my body as those wicked hands forcibly pried open my abdomen and pulled the child out.

I couldn't speak anymore. All I knew was that the person before me was a demon.

"Dead already?" He patted my cheek. "How boring! Does Matt really care about you? It's been seven days, and he still hasn't noticed you're here with me!"

I couldn't answer because I had already lost consciousness. As my body floated into the air, I impassively looked down at that blood-soaked corpse.

I suddenly saw a box beside it. There was a tiny lump of bloody flesh in it.

A pang of pain struck my heart. I rushed over, trying to reach out, only to fail at grabbing it.

My soul followed the box as it left the basement. I finally saw sunlight.

I had been missing for seven days after I was kidnapped by Matt Quillon's mortal enemy. Thinking I was Matt's weakness, he used me to threaten Matt.

What he didn't know was that I was just a stand-in. Rachel Saffron was the one Matt loved.

Ignoring my pleas, he tortured me to death.

I followed the small box all the way back home. But sadly, after seven days, dust had already settled in the room.

It seemed Matt hadn't come home at all.

Of course, with his company data stolen, Matt was probably overwhelmed. How could he have time to worry about me? Furthermore, my disappearance at such a crucial time made me the biggest suspect in all this.

The man in black placed the box in the living room. I was startled when he came out and sneered at the air where I floated.

He then left and closed the door, and I finally let out a relieved breath.

Just then, I heard a sound outside the door.

"Catherina? Are you home? Catherina!"

It was my best friend Winnie Hamilton's voice!

I excitedly replied, "Winnie! Winnie, I'm here!"

However, she couldn't hear me.

I walked outside the door, and Winnie was standing there, visibly anxious. She took out her phone to make a call.

"Matt, there are footprints and bloodstains at the door. You need to get here right away! Catherina might be in danger!"

My nose soured as I stood aside, listening to her.

Matt's emotionless voice came through the other end. "Better if she's dead! Listen here, not only did she cause the company losses, but she also dared to reveal Rachel's address. Just for that alone, she deserves to die!"

How could this be? I hadn't done any of that!

"Matt, are you stupid?" Winnie snapped. "You and her have been together for five years. If she wanted to ruin you, she could've done it long ago!

"Both you and Sean have lost your minds after Rachel came back. Catherina would never betray you. Get over here now, or I'll break down the door!

"Hey!"

Matt had already hung up.

Winnie stood at the door, trembling with anger.

I couldn't help but hold her, feeling empty as I broke down in silent, tearless sobs.

"Winnie, thank you for believing in me. I didn't do anything. You'd better leave before that lunatic notices you're here!"

My killer was Matt's arch-enemy, Yarick Colins. Both Winnie and I had been stand-ins for Rachel. Now that I was dead, I was terrified that Winnie might suffer the same fate.

But in the next moment, I followed Winnie as she moved.

"Winnie, where are you going? Go home! If Yarick sees you, you're done for!"

My voice couldn't reach her; all I could do was worry.

My soul floated alongside Winnie as she walked over to her car and grabbed a baseball bat. She soon returned to smash it hard against the window of my home.

With a loud crash, the glass shattered, and Winnie climbed inside.