—HARDY“I leave you for one minute and you go on go to throw yourself at some man—“I’m sorry?” Joanne turned to look at me as we both got back into my hotel room and she slowly let out a scoff.“You’re joking right?” She blasted.“Does it look like I am?” My voice came out as hard as I wanted it to be.“I had no idea Trevor was here and throw myself at him?” I scoffed.What was it to him if I actually threw myself to him.“Sure you had no idea. And why the hell is he here?” I scoffed.I only came here to let Lisa’s killer see me loose and tail me.“I don’t know,” Joanne shrugged.She looked clueless and as I watched those eyes looked at me like it needed someone to answer. I let myself breathe.Even if I was making Joanne bait. She deserved to know at least the truth that someone was onto her.“Joanne” I called and she turned and gawked at me like calling her name had made some part of her soul crash and burn.Ignoring her response, I carried on. "The purpose of this operation is to

-JOANNE Four days had passed since the incident in the hotel suite. Hardy and I were back in the mansion, and the tension between us was palpable. We hadn't spoken much since I challenged him to end my life, and he had walked away without comment. We both seemed to understand that it was better to give each other space, but it didn't make things any less awkward.His behavior was juvenile, moping about Lisa's death as if everyone else was to blame. At first, I thought it was jealousy fueling my irritation, but as I ruminated over the baby growing inside me, the real cause became clear: anger. Unrelenting, simmering anger that boiled just below the surface. It was infuriating to watch him wallow in self-pity while I carried the weight of responsibility, the burden of life, within me.Standing in my room and staring at the manically desired painting that somewhat gave me slight solace and redirected my anger every now and then. Trinity walked into the room, looking tired.She’s b

Author POVFLASHBACK contd. -Trinity could feel her entire body heating up from the inside.What was going on?How did her little advances get out of the way for Lisa to notice their great deal?If Hardy were to find out about it, He’d get disgusted and throw her out of his domain.Her quietness and shame caused Lisa to burst out laughing.“Look at you. I’ve got you right where I wanted.” Trinity snapped back to reality and shook her head.“I believe you’re mistaken.” “Mistaken?” Lisa laughed.“The only mistake here is you denying it.”Trinity gently walked out of bed and shook her head.“You are deeply mistaken. And to have my beauty sleep. I would love it if you left.“So now you’re throwing me out?” Lisa scoffed.“I’m sorry.” Was the only thing Trinity said.And after a few gazes of disbelief, Lisa walked out of the room.***Hardy's wedding to Lisa was a whirlwind of excitement, the talk of the town. Everyone wanted to be in Lisa's shoes, wishing they could understand the allu

-JOANNE -The present > As the revelations from Trinity poured forth, I found my jaw plummeting in stunned disbelief. My mind, once nimble and quick, now labored to organize this flood of disorienting information. Trinity's words had transformed what I thought I knew about Lisa and Hardy into a harrowing tale of deceit, confusion, and unrequited love, leaving my comprehension reeling.I was trying so hard to stay composed.It wasn’t just the fact that Trinity and Lisa had something going on. Well it was part of it. But it was mainly the fact that the woman Hardy was pulling all lengths for, pulling down seas and mountains for. Restraining every one that breathed out her name, the same woman that he had clearly offered his entire life to never loved him.It was shocking.Deeply.She only married Hardy to live a stable life?The fact that Hardy was clueless was alarming. Trinity let out a tired smile.“I’m sorry for boring your day out with this”I shook my head.“No. It’s good you sh

-JOANNE—I was gasping for breath as Anne’s grip tightened around my neck, suffocating me. She was a tornado, twisting me around and smashing me into the table like a ragdoll. Adrenaline kicked in, and I fought back with everything I had. My fingers clawed at her hair and pushed against her slim frame, trying to gain any kind of advantage. But her strength was superhuman, and her nails dug into my neck like talons.I had to think fast.Desperation set in. I lunged at her shirt, gripping it tightly as if my life depended on it—and it did. I pulled hard, forcing her slender form to stumble forward. It was a desperate gamble, a Hail Mary pass to even the odds. I might’ve been down, but I wasn’t out. Not yet. My heart was racing, my muscles screaming, but I wasn’t about to let Anne win. I wasn’t about to let her take everything from me.I finally got the upper hand at things, and as I tried to hit her, Ruby came in full charge at me, pushing me to hit my head on the brick wall and causi