My life

Chapter One

Unknown POV

It all began the day the judge delivered his final verdict. The gavel came down like thunder, sealing my fate.

“Ten years imprisonment,” he said.

Ten years. My whole world came crashing down. I was only seventeen. Seventeen and my life was already over.

That day, everything changed. I still remember the wide smiles that stretched across my enemies’ faces. They laughed like they had won some grand prize. Their eyes locked with mine as I was led away in handcuffs. The air was thick with satisfaction and mockery. And what was I being taken away for?

Murder.

They said I murdered someone. But I didn’t. I kept repeating it in my head like a broken mantra. i didn’t kill anyone. I didn’t do it. But no one believed me. Not the jury, not the press, not even my supposed friends. No one.

Because I was underage, they sent me to juvenile detention. And on the very first day, I had a visitor. Not my mother. Not a friend. But her. My enemy. The girl who made my life a living hell.

She strolled into the visiting room like she owned the place—her long brunette hair glossy and styled to perfection, her designer clothes screaming money and influence. She was the typical high school queen bee—the kind who smiled sweetly in front of teachers and then stabbed you in the back the second you turned around.

She sat on the other side of the glass, picked up the phone, and gave me a wicked smile.

“So, how does it feel?” she sneered. “To finally know your place, you murderer?”

My fingers tightened around the receiver. I stared at her, unable to respond. I didn’t do it. I knew I didn’t. I’d played that night over and over in my mind every moment, every detail. 'I didn’t kill anyone.'So why wasn’t anyone listening?

“Why’d you do it, huh?” she asked, tilting her head. “What did I ever do to you? Why would you ruin my life like this?”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I finally spoke, pouring out the words I’d been choking on. “Why? What did I ever do to deserve this? Why are you doing this to me?”

She giggled. Not just a small laugh no, a cold, amused giggle, like this was all a game to her.

“I like this,” she said. “You're miserable now. And you’ll still be miserable when you grow up. You know why? Because that little murder charge is going to follow you forever. No one will want to work with you. No one will even talk to you. And the cherry on top? Your poor mother is sick. And it looks serious.”

Her words hit like a punch to the chest.

I looked up at her, fire in my eyes. “Let my mother go. She’s done nothing. Please. Let her go!”

She leaned back and gave a fake pout. “Calm down. I’m not that cruel. Of course, I’ll take care of her. She was always nice to me. Think of it as... compensation for taking the fall for my crimes.”

My world stopped spinning.

“You....what?” I whispered.

She stood up, brushing invisible lint off her outfit. “See you in ten years, Layla.”

She walked away, waving mockingly as I banged against the glass and screamed her name.

Ten Years Later

I was finally free. But I didn’t feel it.

I stepped out onto the street, and the world felt unfamiliar. Everything had changed. buildings, roads, even the air felt different. Ten years had passed, and I had no idea where to go or what to do.

The first place I went was my old home. But it was gone. New people lived there. Strangers.

So I went to the hospital the one where they had taken my mom all those years ago. I needed to see her. I needed to know she was okay.

But what I heard shattered me.

“Your mother died nine years ago,” the receptionist said gently. “She had no one to support her. No family. No funds. Someone was paying her bills, but they stopped suddenly. I’m really sorry.”

Everything around me faded to silence. Her words became a blur. My heart clenched. My knees buckled, but I stayed standing. I walked out without another word, numb and broken.

I knew where I had to go.

I stood outside the gates of a mansion, her mansion. The one she probably bought with the money and life she stole from me.

I pounded on the gate until they finally let me in. And there she was Serena lounging like a queen on her throne.

“My mother is dead, Serena!” I screamed. “You promised to take care of her! You said you would!”

She looked at me like I was a stranger. Like I was crazy.

“Why?” I demanded, my voice cracking. “Why didn’t you help her? She was innocent!”

Serena shrugged. “I got bored. She was going to die anyway. Why waste money?”

My fists clenched. “You’re horrible. You’re a devil. I hate you!”

She smirked. “Aw, I would’ve loved to watch you cry, but I’m busy. This isn’t ten years ago, Layla. Guards, throw her out.”

“Serena, why?!”

She paused just before getting into her car. “Oh, I forgot. You owe me thirty thousand dollars. That’s how much I spent on your mother. If you don’t pay me back… you’re done for.”

The guards dragged me out and tossed me onto the pavement like trash.

I sat there, in the middle of the street, crying harder than I had in my entire life. The tears I couldn’t shed in juvie finally poured out. My mother was gone. The only person I had in this world. What was I supposed to do now?

And then just as if life wanted to mock me further, it started raining.

I leaned against a building, soaked to the bone, letting the rain mix with my tears. They say rain washes away sorrow, but mine stayed—heavy and suffocating.

Then a car pulled up in front of me, its headlights cutting through the dark haze. The door opened, and a woman stepped out with an umbrella.

“Layla! Are you crazy? Why didn’t you tell me you were getting out? I would have come to pick you up!”

That voice, warm, familiar wrapped around me like a blanket.

A small smile broke through my pain. “Aunt…”

She reached me quickly, covering me with her umbrella. “You’re soaked. You’ll catch a cold! Come on, let’s go.”

“I—” My voice trembled. “My mom is… dead.”

She stopped, her expression turning solemn. “Layla…”

“Just come with me, okay?” she said softly, avoiding the subject.

She grabbed my hand, but my head suddenly started spinning. Everything blurred. My legs gave out.

“Aunt…” I whispered, collapsing to the ground.

Her voice echoed as she screamed for help, but it faded away.

And that… that was the beginning.

My name is Layla Martins.

And this is the story of how I ended up marrying

him—

A mysterious man I didn’t understand.