Mag-log inI sat opposite a detective in a cold, windowless interrogation room, hands cuffed loosely in front of me. My whole body trembled. The metal chair felt too hard, the air too thin. How had everything turned this ugly so fast? The detective studied me for a long moment before speaking. “Miss Stacy. Do you have anything to say for yourself?” I shook my head hard. Tears already streamed down my face, dripping onto the table. “I didn’t do it. I was standing right outside the clinic with everyone else. How could I have started the fire? I didn’t do it.” His voice stayed calm, almost tired. “You brought Miss Mia to the clinic that evening. We also have information that you once attempted to kill her. That history, combined with tonight’s events, has now cost multiple lives.” “But I didn’t do it.” It was the only sentence I could force out. My mind had gone blank. Words refused to form. “We’re going to ask you a few questions,” he said. I nodded quickly, almost frantically. He leane
NEXT DAYSTACYI paced the length of my tiny apartment like a caged animal, phone pressed hard against my ear. Jessie’s number rang once… twice… then went straight to that empty, robotic tone that meant the line was dead.I tried again. Same result.“Does this bitch take me for a dog?” I muttered, voice shaking with a mix of anger and rising panic.Just minutes ago I had been smiling, already counting the money she promised. That cash was supposed to be my ticket out of this cramped, mold-smelling box of a house. Now the number looked like it had never existed.A cold thought slid into my mind.Don’t tell me she played me.I scoffed at first, trying to push the idea away, but the silence on the other end of the phone was too final. I was not that stupid. I had saved every chat, every voice note, every threat she had carelessly sent. If Jessie thought she could disappear and leave me holding the bag, she was wrong. I would drag her down with me. I hadn’t planned the fire. I hadn’t li
I rushed toward the scene with a heavy heart that felt like it was already cracking open.May my fear not come to pass.Smoke clawed at the sky. Flames painted the night orange and red. The hospital wing that had held my wife was half-eaten by fire. People ran in every direction, shouting, coughing, dragging each other away. I pushed through them like a man possessed, eyes wild, searching every face, every stretch of ground, every shadow that could possibly be her.I could find Mia. My mia is not here. I spotted Scar near the edge of the chaos, sleeves rolled up, face blackened with soot, desperately trying to beat the flames back with a half-melted fire extinguisher. It was useless. The fire was already winning.I grabbed him by the front of his shirt and yanked him around.“Where is my wife?”My voice came out loud and rough, almost unrecognizable. My eyes were bloodshot, burning from the smoke and from something far worse.Scar only stared at me. His mouth opened, but nothing came
MIAA sharp scream tore from my throat as another contraction ripped through me, clamping down like a fist around my womb.“Push, sweetheart! I need you to push!”I gripped the metal rails of the hospital bed until my knuckles went bloodless. Sweat slid down my temples, soaking the hair stuck to my neck and turning the thin hospital gown into a second skin. My legs shook uncontrollably against the stirrups.“I can’t…” The words came out broken, barely a whisper. “It hurts so much.”“You can do this. Your baby is almost here. Take a deep breath for me.”I dragged air into my lungs. It felt thin and useless. My chest rose and fell in frantic little bursts.“Now push!”I bore down with everything I had left. The pressure between my legs turned into something monstrous—an unbearable stretching, a tearing that made my vision white out at the edges. A raw, animal sound ripped out of me. My whole body locked, every muscle screaming.“That’s it! Keep going! Don’t stop!”My fingers twisted in
Oh my Goodness. What the hell am I supposed to do now? This wasn’t even the damn plan.Why does this bitch have to get a contraction now.Panic clawed up my throat. Today might be our only chance, I looked back and the cars were still trailing us. The driver too was one of Zamani’s men.I don’t even know why I am scared but I felt pressured. Probably because it’s not going as expected.What to do?My mind drifted to Jessie—the real mastermind behind all of this.She had approached me out of nowhere and sold me the perfect revenge. Get back at Mia, and walk away with a thick reward for my trouble.Benefits the both of us.I was broke. Completely, desperately broke. This was the only way out.That was Mia’s luck for messing with the wrong people. For thinking she could meddle in the world of those who lived far above her.I had to call her. Yes.With trembling hands I fumbled for my phone. I paused.But if I called, Mia would hear everything.I settled for a text instead, thumbs flying
ONE WEEKSTACYI sat on my rough couch with my back replaced on it.My mind drifted to Mia.I think one week is enough space to relax, bestie.Just know you pushed me to this.I looked around my surroundings in disgust. Everything was a mess—clothes draped over the broken armchair, empty takeout boxes stacked on the stained coffee table, dust coating every surface. I never used to clean, and I still couldn’t bring myself to touch anything dirty.Eww.Once I get this money out of this, I’m getting the hell out of this damn trash I call a house.I scoffed under my breath. I never realized you were secretly competing with me. You succeeded in living in a multi-million-dollar mansion while I’m stuck here in this cheap trash.I picked up my phone and dialed her number. It rang once. Twice. Nothing. I tried again. And again. Still nothing.Really? You really think you’ve made it now that you’re under Mr. Crawford’s roof? What a prideful bitch.But then lower I go, the more fulfilling I wil







