Chapter 3

Neriah’s POV

He paused and sniffled again. “She…she was drunk driving and got involved in a car accident yesterday evening. I…I did everything I could…I employed the best medical care, but…but she didn’t make it through the night.”

Liam broke down into crocodile tears and his secretary walked up to the podium, patted him and led him out of the stage. Camera shutters sound blared at every corner as the news of my death took over the news headlines.

I stared wide-eyed at the large television screen. A high-pitched alarm went off in my head and the throbbing headache spiraled into a migraine. I couldn’t believe what’s happening.

Within seventy two hours, my husband shamelessly had a baby with my younger sister, now he’s pronouncing me dead?

Tears stung in my eyes as the charring pain of betrayal slashed through my soul. He didn’t look sad.

He didn’t even look shaken.

Just… collected. Like this had all been rehearsed.

I clutched the sheets with trembling fingers, trying to hold onto something—anything—as my entire world flipped upside down again.

The man I had loved. Trusted. Built a life with.

Not only did he betray me… He buried me alive.

••••••

Laura's POV

God, it smells expensive inside here.

I step into Neriah’s walk-in closet, barefoot on her soft cream carpet, like I own the place. Well, I kinda do now.

The light sensor clicks on and illuminates the walls. My eyes washed over rows of designer heels lined up like soldiers. Her perfectly pressed gowns were organized by color and price tag. There were boxes stacked neatly in the corner, probably never opened. 

Neriah was always so neat. She kept everything perfect. Always proud of her quiet little empire. The way she curated it like an art gallery. No chaos. No mess.

I trail my fingers along the clothes, letting them glide across the silks and chiffons like I'm blessing them. My nails graze the diamond-studded shoulder of her evening gown — the one she wore to Liam’s fundraiser gala last year. He couldn’t take his eyes off her that night.

And I couldn’t take mine off him.

My mouth curled into a slow smile. “Oh, poor Neriah,” I murmured to the air, my voice thick with mock pity. “If only you weren’t so naive. So... painfully stupid.”

I walked deeper into the closet, stopping at the vanity where her jewelry is displayed like trophies. My eyes zero in on it — the ruby set. The jewellery was deep red, blood-bright, bold and gaudy in a way only Neriah could pull off.

I remember the day she got it. On their one-year anniversary. I remember how her face lit up like the sun, how she ran to show me as if I wasn’t already burning with envy. That was the day I decided Liam would never be hers for long. He should’ve been mine from the start.

I picked up the necklace and fastened it around my neck slowly, watching the stones gleam against my collarbone. Then the earrings. Then the bracelet. One by one, I wear her pride like it was always meant for me.

I tilt my head in front of the full-length mirror, running my hands down my waist, admiring the way the necklace sits like it belongs there.

“Stupid. Naive. Weak,” I whisper to my reflection, curling my lip. “That’s what you are, Neriah.”

I stare into my own eyes, tilting my chin. “Honestly, I don’t know what Liam ever saw in you.”

He’s mine now. 

The house. The man. The life she clung to like it made her special. She worked so hard to build it just to hand it over without even realizing it.

I let out a soft laugh and spin slowly in the middle of her closet, my arms out like a child playing dress-up — except this isn’t a game. This is a reality and in reality, the winners don't play by the rules.

I stop spinning and speak directly to the mirror now.

“You got to play queen for a while,” I say with a soft but cruel tone. “But now, sister… It's your turn to watch from the shadows. Everything you had — every piece of it — belongs to me now.”

My smile returns, wider this time. I step back, grab her silk robe from the hook, and wrap myself in her scent. She always thought I wanted attention.

No, darling.

I wanted her world.

And now, I’ve got it.

My train of thoughts were shattered the second I heard loud footsteps climbing the stairs, my stomach dropped.

Shit.

Liam.

I yanked the ruby necklace off so fast it scratched my skin. The earrings clattered onto the vanity but I didn’t even bother placing them back in the box. I slipped out of Neriah’s robe and tossed it over the chair, grabbing one of my plain silk camisoles as I dashed out of the closet. My heart pounded, but not out of guilt. 

Oh no. This was the thrill. 

I ran into the bedroom and slid into the bed like I’d been there all along, quiet and motherly, brushing curls off my son’s forehead, like the doting mother the world believed I was. My sweet trophy slept like a little prince. 

The door creaked open and there he was.

Liam. 

I tilted my head and softened my eyes just right. Wide, blinking slowly. My voice dipped to that sweet, barely-audible tone he liked best. The one that made him think I was harmless.

“How did it go?” I asked softly. Like I hadn’t just been in his ‘dead’ wife’s jewelry, admiring myself like a queen.

He stepped into the room, loosened his tie, and let out a small laugh. “It went well. The media ate the news up without even fact-checking anything.”

“They really believed she was gone?” I whispered, tilting my head like I was surprised, like I wasn’t the one who planted the seed in the first place.

He nodded and sat on the edge of the bed, one hand resting on my leg and the other brushing my hair from my face like I was some fragile flower. “Of course, baby. No one questioned a thing. The car was totaled. No witnesses. Her ID was found in the wreck. And no one’s seen her since.”

He leaned down, his lips brushing my cheek as his warm breath fanned against my skin. He smiled at me like this was something to celebrate.

“Don’t worry about anything now, baby,” he said, wrapping his arms around me. “She’s never coming back. I chose you and I don’t regret it.”

His words should’ve made my heart flutter, but it didn’t.

Because Liam didn’t choose me. I took him. Ripped him out of her world piece by piece. He didn’t leave Neriah out of love for me. He left because I played him.

I tucked my face into his chest, nuzzling like a loyal lover, my fingers resting lightly over his heart.

“I love you,” I whispered.

He kissed my forehead and I closed my eyes as a wicked little smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

Because if Neriah was dead… I had everything.

And if she wasn’t?

Well… I’d bury her properly next time.