ANMELDENSix months later… The Miller mansion no longer felt like a battlefield. The cold tension that once filled its halls had disappeared, replaced by something unfamiliar The morning sun poured gently through the tall glass windows, casting soft light across the garden. Outside, the once silent grounds were now filled with the sound of children’s laughter. Nathan ran across the grass. Not slowly. Not weakly. But freely. “Catch me if you can!” Mia shouted, her voice full of excitement as she chased after him. Nathan laughed—a clear, bright sound that Annie hadn’t heard in years. “You’re too slow!” he teased, turning back playfully. Annie watched from the garden bench. Her hand rested gently on her stomach. Round now. Full of life. A quiet reminder of everything that had changed. Her eyes followed her children as they played. Healthy. Safe. Happy. Everything she had fought for. Everything she almost lost. “You’re smiling.” William’s voice came from beside her. Calm.
The screen flickered. For a split second, nothing appeared. Just static. A faint buzz echoed through the hall, and the guests exchanged confused glances. Selena’s fingers tightened slightly around William’s arm. “What is this?” she whispered again, this time with a hint of tension in her voice. William didn’t respond. His eyes were fixed ahead. Cold. Unmoved. Then The video began. At first, it showed a quiet hallway inside the Miller mansion. A normal evening. Nothing suspicious. Guests leaned forward slightly, curious. Selena let out a small breath and forced a smile. Probably some kind of memory montage, she thought. Something romantic. Something safe. Then the scene shifted. The staircase. Clear. Focused. And then Selena appeared. Her smile froze. Her entire body went stiff. On the screen, she stood behind Mrs. Miller. Her expression wasn’t gentle. Wasn’t kind. It was cold. A ripple of whispers spread across the room. “What is that…?” “Isn’t that Selena?” “
The Miller mansion had never looked more dazzling. Crystal chandeliers shimmered overhead, casting golden light across the polished marble floors. Elegant music floated through the air as guests in luxurious gowns and tailored suits filled the grand hall. Laughter, clinking glasses, and polite conversations created the perfect illusion of celebration. Tonight was supposed to be perfect. The engagement party of William Miller and Selena Carter. To the world, it was a union of power and beauty. But beneath the glittering surface, something far more dangerous was unfolding. Annie stood quietly near the edge of the hall, partially hidden behind one of the grand pillars. She didn’t belong here. At least, that was how everyone looked at her. Her dress was simple, elegant but understated. She didn’t try to compete with the women dressed in diamonds and confidence. She didn’t need to. Her presence alone was enough. Her eyes slowly scanned the room. Every detail mattered tonight.
Three days passed after the incident. Three long, exhausting days. The Miller mansion remained tense, quiet, and divided. Mrs. Miller was still in the hospital, unconscious but stable. Selena had completely taken over the role of the “victim,” staying close to Mr. Miller and acting gentle, fragile… innocent. And Annie Annie felt like she was suffocating. That morning, Annie sat in a small clinic, her hands trembling as she held a white piece of paper. Two lines. Positive. Her vision blurred slightly. “Two weeks pregnant,” the doctor had said gently. The words echoed in her mind.Pregnant. Again. With William’s child. Annie let out a shaky breath, placing a hand over her stomach. So much had already gone wrong. Nathan was still weak. Mia was confused and scared. Selena was destroying everything. And now… This. A soft, bitter smile appeared on Annie’s lips. “Of all times…” she whispered.She didn’t tell anyone. Not Leah. And definitely not William. This was something she
The Miller mansion felt colder than ever. Tension lingered in every corner, thick and suffocating. Annie stood near the staircase, holding Mia close, her heart still racing from Mr. Miller’s shocking declaration. The children will stay with the Miller family. The words kept echoing in her mind. “No… I won’t let them take you from me,” she whispered softly, tightening her hold on Mia. Mia hugged her back. “I don’t want to stay here without you, Mom…” Annie’s chest ached. “You won’t. I promise.” Across the room, Selena stood quietly beside William, her head slightly lowered, playing the part of the fragile victim. But behind her lowered gaze… Her eyes were cold. Calculating. Mrs. Miller stepped forward suddenly. “Enough of this nonsense!” Her voice cut sharply through the room. Everyone turned. Unlike her husband, Mrs. Miller’s expression was filled with anger. She pointed directly at Selena. “This woman is dangerous.” Selena looked up, her eyes already filling wit
The city lights blurred into streaks as William sped through the empty roads. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, his jaw clenched so hard it ached. Nathan. His son. Taken right in front of him. A cold rage burned in his chest, stronger than anything he had ever felt before. “Track her phone,” he ordered sharply. Shawn, seated beside him with a laptop open, nodded quickly. “I’m on it… she turned it off, but I’m tracing her last signal.” William’s eyes darkened. “Find her.” Across the city, in an abandoned warehouse near the outskirts… Nathan sat on the cold floor, his small body trembling. Selena stood a few feet away, pacing. Her mind was racing. Everything had spiraled faster than she expected. But she wasn’t done yet. She looked at Nathan. The boy was weak. Pale. Fragile. One push… and everything could end. But she hesitated. Because if he died too soon, William would never forgive her. No. She needed control. Leverage. “Don’t cry,” she said coldly. Nathan wiped
That morning, a loud knock echoed through my door.I wasn’t expecting anyone, so the shock on my face was impossible to hide when I opened it and saw him standing there.For a moment, he just stared. I was still in my nightgown, my hair messy, my guard down. Embarrassed, I quickly stepped back and
Three days passed after everything I saw at the hospital.Three days where I barely existed.I slept. And slept. And slept.Morning, afternoon, night it all blended together. My body felt heavy, my mind numb, as if shutting down was the only way to survive the pain. When I finally woke up properly
A few days passed in uneasy silence. That evening, the front door opened loudly, followed by heavy, unsteady footsteps. I looked up from the couch just in time to see Shawn helping William inside. He was drunk. So drunk he could barely stand. “Mrs. Miller,” Shawn said awkwardly, clearly exhaust
The following morning felt heavy, like the air itself was pressing down on my chest. It was as if my stepmother and father had just left the house after threatening me all over again. I went to the office like I did every other day. William wasn’t there; his assistant, Shawn, handled everything th







