Without a word, Billy shot the henchman who'd lied about Teresa's situation. The man crumpled in a pool of blood."This is what happens to traitors," Billy said.His men were terrified, unable to breathe easily."Who else betrayed me? Step up, and I might spare you," he demanded."I did," said Tom Wilson, his trusted right-hand man, shaking.Billy was surprised, and Tom added, "Owen sent word, and I was gonna tell you. Then Alicia said you'd punish me if I ruined the party. Everyone knows you're sweet on her. I was scared."He went down on his knees and begged, "Boss, I messed up. Please forgive me."Billy's face twisted. He hadn't realized how others saw his obsession with Alicia.He aimed at Tom's head but didn't bear to shoot.Alicia chimed in, sobbing, "I just wanted Izzy's birthday to be perfect. I didn't mean for this to happen. If you want to kill someone, then kill me. It was all my fault."She burst into tears, grabbing Billy's gun and pointing it at herself.Billy
I shook my head, tears falling as I stared at Teresa's body.Despite my best efforts, I couldn't save her life.Everything blurred, and I passed out....When I woke up, all I could feel was the dim light around me and the strong smell of mildew in the air."You're awake." Emily felt me stir.I touched my belly. I knew the baby was gone, but the pain hit hard."I'm so sorry," Emily said. "I shouldn't have sent you to Brenden. You wouldn't have lost your child."She paused. "Billy still doesn't believe Mom is dead. Says we faked the body."I shook my head bitterly. "It's not your fault."Billy stormed in with Alicia, his eyes blazing with anger. "Where did you hide my mom?"I looked at him in disbelief. He had seen her body."That's her body," Emily cried, her chest heaving. Why can't you see it? What has Alicia done to you?"Billy didn't listen. He slapped her, sending her crashing down.I moved to help her, but he grabbed my arm. "You two are lying with a fake body. I ch
A guard rushed in and bumped into Alicia, who had been showing off in front of me.She stormed over to Billy and pointed at the guard's nose. "Watch it, you blind! You're lying like Isabel now, huh? What corpses?"She slapped the guard, but Billy paused. "What do you mean?"Before he could press, Emily walked in, dressed in black. Behind her, several men carried Teresa's body."No, it can't be," Billy stammered."Mom is dead, and it's your fault!" Emily screamed. "She could have lived, but you did nothing. She raised us. How could you do this?"Her voice shook the room. Everyone felt her pain."No way. Mom is at home. How could it be?" Billy shook his head, trembling.He didn't dare to step closer.Emily ripped off the cloth covering the body. "Look for yourself!" Billy was dumbfounded. "Mom!"...Alicia reached for his arm, but he shoved her down.Teresa's face was twisted, and her limbs were severed, screaming the ordeal she had been through before her death.Billy br
"They sent her body back," Emily added, her voice breaking.Billy's eyes flickered with panic, but then something hit him. He grabbed my hair and growled, "You're good! Even got my sister in on your lies?"He shoved me away and smashed his phone into my forehead.Blood poured down, but I ignored it, studying the video sent by his man. Finally, I spotted a flaw. "This video is fake. It's daytime, but the lights are on. Teresa never uses lights during the day. Remember?"He ignored me, smashing the phone to the ground. "You're twisting everything. I'd be a fool if I believed you.""Believe it or not, Teresa is dead because of you!" I screamed.She died waiting for him, hopeless. Now I just wanted to go back and see her one last time.I stood to leave, but Alicia blocked me. "Leaving so soon? You haven't wished Izzy a happy birthday."She turned to Billy, pouting. "She ruined Izzy's party. Make her apologize."Izzy was her dog's name. When I first heard it, I was mad, but Billy b
Billy smirked through the screen. "You're going all out for this act, Isabel. Forgot what happened last time? Need to lose the baby to learn?""I'm not acting!" I screamed.My abdomen sank, something slipping away. Blood pooled beneath me.Something was wrong with the wine. I realized it had been spiked with an abortion drug."This is our child! He's eight months old!" I cried my heart out.He didn't flinch. "You know how that kid happened. Good riddance. You don't deserve my child. Only Alicia does."I knew what he meant. Teresa, desperate for a grandkid, had spiked his milk to get us together.Billy always thought it was me, no matter how hard I tried to explain it. Since I got pregnant, he'd been cold to me and stuck with Alicia all the time, saying he owed her.Just then, Emily sent a video of Teresa, beaten and bruised.Her legs were detached, and she moaned in pain, "Billy, I can't take it. Save me!"I shoved the phone at them, but Billy only got colder. "One trick fail
I hugged myself, remembering how I had slapped him once for getting handsy. He clearly held a grudge."I'm sorry. I was young and ignorant," I said, swallowing my pride. "Please forgive me and help me."Saving Teresa was what mattered now, but he didn't budge.He sneered, "And that's your apology? Not sincere at all."Desperate, I slapped myself and said humbly, "I was out of line. I'm really sorry. Please send some men to save Teresa. She is too old to take the ordeal."He leered at me, grabbing my chin and lifting my swollen face."If you'd come earlier, I might've believed you. You look so pitiful," he said. "But Billy just called, saying you're working with the kidnappers to kill Alicia. She is my girl. You think I'd help you hurt her?"His tone shifted as he added, "A vixen like you need a lesson for causing so much trouble for her."It turned out Billy had gotten to him first.Ignoring my eight-month pregnancy, I dropped to my knees. "It's not true. I'll explain later, b