LOGINLILARY'S POVBefore leaving, I already instructed Dominic's guards not to step out to open the door for me, to lessen the suspicion.I looked outside the window as I searched for the apartment Anna gave me.Has she been living here ever since she found out she's pregnant?"Stay here. My husband might be right," I said to the two guards before stepping outside the car.I can't have Dominic thinking that he's always right. I want to prove to him that my decisions are also right."You can count on us, ma'am."I gave them a little smile before closing the door.I knocked on the door, and Anna immediately opened it and pulled me inside.She looks... genuinely frightened.But just as the others say, looks can be deceiving, and my sister is one of the proofs of that.I slightly gasped when she suddenly wrapped her arms around me and started sobbing."I knew you'd come," she said between sobs."What happened?" I asked but kept my guard up as I scanned the entire room for threats.Instead of a
"You can't go, wife." Dominic grabbed my wrist. It was hard enough for me to stop in my tracks, but it was not gentle either."She's my sister," I argued."Your sister who lied to you," he argued back.I stared at him."And what if she's in real danger, huh?" I challenged."You're not meeting her, Lilary." Dominic's voice was firm."And what if she's just playing you? What then?" He raised his eyebrow.I went quiet. He's right, though. What if it's a trap? What then?"Don't you see how dangerous it is, Lilary? Why would Daniel even steal those documents? Why would Daniel show up suddenly?""It doesn't mean that Anna—""I'm saying it's dangerous for you to go out there.""And what should I do? Stay here and ignore my sister?" I raised an eyebrow."You're so naive," he muttered."I heard that." I frowned."Good." He exhaled.What the? The real audacity of this man!"You may go—""Thanks—""I'm not done talking." Dominic's grip tightened around my wrist."Fine. Geez." I rolled my eyes."
LILARY'S POV"What do you plan on doing now, Lilary? I have the file."Oh, how I wish to punch that smirk off his face."In case you forgot, you're still inside my office."Daniel stared at me for a moment before laughing."Oh, Lilary, you make me laugh. Still have that humor, huh?" He clapped his hands.I stole a quick glance at Sarah, who was slowly approaching Daniel from behind with a thick book in her hand."You're creepy," I said.Daniel stopped laughing and glared at me."What are you so smug about, huh? Just give up whatever your plan is, Lilary. It'll just go to waste, I tell ya.""I doubt it.""Then I'll show you, so there will be no doubt left.""How? When you're going to sleep?" I raised an eyebrow."What?""Goodnight!" Sarah said before slamming the book against the back of Daniel's head."Great job," I said as I immediately checked Daniel's pulse."He fell asleep pretty quickly." I chuckled.I let Sarah tie Daniel's hands to the chair when a small camera fell out of his
LILARY'S POV"Give it back!" I reached for the file."You really thought that this is the safest place for you to hide these documents? How dumb is that?"I glared at the man while Sarah tried to free her hands from the rope tying them to the chair."Give it back, Daniel." I gritted my teeth."What are you going to do? Cry? Scream?" Daniel laughed.Daniel is Francis's best friend since middle school. Both of them are so close that they bought an island and named it after themselves.I visited that island two or three times, and I swear, I do not like it there. There are bars everywhere, and condoms are served for free whenever there's a party.Who's in their right mind to do that?And how the fuck did he even get past security?"What made you crawl out of your stupid island?" I raised an eyebrow."Just helping a friend." He shrugged as he ripped a page from the file.My eyes widened as I saw him rip a page."Stop that!" I yelled."Or else what? You'll tell your husband? You'll tell my
LILARY'S POVThis is ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.I paced back and forth with my phone in hand.I only needed to go to the bank. It's not like I'll disappear forever. Besides, I can take care of myself.They wouldn't even notice if I escaped... right?"Come on, Lilary. Think, just think."I peeked through the window and saw two security guards lurking around."Of course there would be security. Great. Just great," I mumbled.I sighed before my gaze landed on the balcony.A slow smile crept onto my face as an idea hit me."Sorry, not sorry."I started tying the bedsheets together and secured them to the balcony railing."It looks like it came straight out of a movie," I chuckled."I'll only be gone for an hour or so. They probably won't notice if I leave."I started carefully climbing down, and boy, it was terrifying. When my feet touched the ground, I felt relieved."Just like a piece of cake," I mumbled.One of the security guards started walking in my direction with his back faci
ANNA'S POVI tapped my fingers gently on the steering wheel as I secretly followed Francis."Where are you going, Francis?" I mumbled as I parked the car far enough away that Francis wouldn't notice me.My eyebrows furrowed. Isn't Francis's uncle rich? Why is he staying in some normal modern house?I watched as Francis entered the house.I got out of the car and looked for a window.There were two guards patrolling the area, which made it hard for me.I wandered my eyes around and finally saw Francis through a window, talking to his uncle.I carefully tiptoed and hid in the bushes near the window."Why do we have to involve Lilary?"My hand went to my belly, caressing it.Seriously? Lilary again?"She married your father. Did you forget that, Francis?"Francis's uncle's voice was stern."If she comes, she'll become a target.""You still love her, huh?" I muttered under my breath."Then why not become her hero?" Francis's uncle said.My hand formed into a fist."That's not how it works
"You're either brave... or stupid."The air between us turned heavy.His voice was low. Calm. Controlled. Like he already knew I was up to something.His eyes were sharp, assessing, like I was a puzzle he had already solved halfway just by looking at me.I didn't look away. No. That would be a sign
I didn't cry. Not even a single tear dropped. Because crying means I lost, and I'm done losing.My gaze slowly dropped to my finger. The ring. A symbol of my eight-year relationship with Francis. Eight years of promises and lies.For a moment, I couldn’t move. Then I laughed—soft, empty.“Eight yea
The registry office smelled faintly of paper and ink. It was plain and quiet.Nothing like a wedding should be.I stood beside Dominic, pen in hand, staring at the paper in front of me.My name is already written. Everything is ready except my signature."Last chance," he said, his voice low and st
The silence after his last words didn't fade quickly. It stayed in the room like a weight. It's suffocating but also... thrilling."You notice more than you should."That was what he said.We kept staring at each other's eyes. He didn't move away and neither did I.The distance between us felt wron







