Lily’s Pov
“Mom, I’m ready for the arranged marriage, please just get me out of here, I’ll do anything,” I sobbed into the phone.
My mom’s panicked voice sounded over the phone, “Should I come get you now?”
“In seven days, Mom, I need to tidy things here,” I whispered.
My hands shook and my stomach hurt as I ended the call, sprawled on the floor bleeding.
My entire world had collapsed two days ago when I found out about the biggest betrayal ever from the three most important people in my life.
I was three months pregnant when I was kidnapped by some unknown gunmen.
That night they called and called but he didn’t pick up his damn phone.
The kidnappers had mocked me, “Your husband doesn’t even love you enough to pick your calls.”
Ninety-nine missed calls, that’s how many times they called him with my phone.
Then they called Peter, Jacob’s younger brother and my childhood friend.
I was certain he would pick up and he did but his words made me wonder if truly this was the same person who had vowed to always protect me.
“Stop calling, Lily, can’t you see we’re in a business meeting?!”
He had ended the call and switched his phone off before they could call back.
Furious, the kidnappers shoved me out of a moving car. There was so much blood, I passed out.
—
When I opened my eyes I was in the hospital. My body hurt and there was no one by my bedside.
“How are you feeling, Miss?” the doctor asked me.
I blinked, my throat felt sore and I stared at him, “No one came to visit me?”
The doctor shook his head, “I’m sorry but no.”
I grabbed my phone from the bedside and still there were no missed calls from Jacob or Peter. No one replied to the messages I had sent either.
“Your accident was fatal and you survived by luck but your baby didn’t,” the doctor informed me.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I touched my now flat stomach.
I dialed Jacob’s phone again and I heard the familiar ringing tone just down the hall.
Frowning, I limped out of bed when I heard familiar voices in a room across from mine.
“You guys are so sweet, your wife gave birth two days ago and neither you nor your brother would leave her alone,” a nurse was saying.
Then I heard my husband’s familiar voice as he replied, “I’d never leave Nadine’s side. She’s given me an heir, she deserves the whole world.”
“I feel so bad for the woman down the hall. She came in two days ago battered and bruised. She even had a miscarriage and no one has visited her,” the nurse said.
“Well, that’s sad but Nadine is never going to be alone, not when she has us,” Peter’s voice sounded.
The door opened slightly and I saw them, my husband, and my so-called brother-in-law as they hovered around my best friend and the new baby in her arms.
The resemblance was uncanny, it was indeed Jacob’s baby and suddenly everything clicked.
While I was kidnapped and shoved out of a moving car, bleeding to death and losing my baby, my husband was down the hall with another woman taking care of her and their new baby.
My heart squeezed painfully in my chest. I almost passed out as I stumbled to the restroom and threw up in the sink.
Tears ran down my cheeks as I held my flat stomach and cried my eyes out.
Four years of marriage was ruined in an instant. But how could I have missed it? All those months they had lied that Nadine traveled overseas for work; it was only because they were hiding her pregnancy.
Just then the door opened and I heard Nadine’s mocking voice.
“Oh sweet Lily, I’ve waited for nine months to rub it in your face,” Nadine laughed.
I stared at her, my eyes filled with hurt, “How could you? I trusted you! You were my best friend!”
“Oh please,” Nadine scoffed, “I was only close to you so I could seduce Jacob. Imagine my surprise when I found out you were also pregnant.”
I turned away as bile rose in my throat, “Well, you have nothing to worry about anymore. The baby is gone.”
“I know,” Nadine giggled, “I sent the kidnappers!”
I turned to her as I felt blood rush to my ears and I stopped thinking at that moment, I lunged at her.
Nadine let out a high-pitched scream as she fell to the floor.
As if on cue, the door of the restroom was pushed open as Jacob and Peter stood in front of it.
They turned accusing eyes toward me.
“What have you done?!”
“Jacob, Nadine is responsible —” but I didn’t finish as Jacob pushed me roughly.
“How could you be so cruel?! Nadine just gave birth and you’re bullying her?” he snarled at me.
I whimpered softly as I felt pain bloom in my stomach from the way he shoved me.
“But Jacob —” I tried to speak again.
“Shut up!” Peter snarled as he kicked me harshly.
I gasped, losing my breath as I sprawled on the floor. I felt the blood trickling down my thighs as I watched them leave with Nadine without sparing me a second glance.
No one asked why I was in the hospital restroom or why my stomach was so flat.
All they cared about was that I had hurt Nadine. At that moment I realized, I was all alone.
But soon I’ll be gone. In seven days, this will all be over.
Lily’s Pov
After they left, I managed to crawl to the door but it was locked. I started banging on it but it wouldn’t budge.
“No, no, no,” I mumbled, tears rolling down my cheeks.
My stomach hurt so badly as blood trickled down my thighs.
I grabbed my phone and hurriedly opened it just as a voice note from Nadine popped up on my phone.
I tapped it and her mocking voice filled the restroom.
‘Hey, bitch, so I mistakenly locked you up and put up a do not disturb sign. Oops, guess no one would find you now. Just bleed to death already and die!’
Immediately I finished listening to the voice note, it was automatically deleted immediately.
Tears ran down my cheeks as I dialed Jacob’s number. He picked up on the fifth ring.
“Please, Jacob, help me. I’m stuck in the bathroom. Nadine —”
“I know,” Jacob’s cold voice sounded over the phone, interrupting me.
I paused as I stared at my phone, my mouth open in shock.
“You know she locked me up?” I asked, desperately hoping it wasn’t what I was thinking.
“Yes, it’s your punishment for trying to hurt her. Sleep on that cold dirty floor and reflect on yourself,” Jacob answered coldly.
Peter’s voice sounded immediately, “And don’t come back if you aren’t ready to beg for forgiveness!”
The line went dead immediately as I stared at my phone speechless.
The two people who had vowed to protect me had just locked me up leaving me in so much pain after the trauma I’ve gone through in two days.
I was kidnapped, shoved out of a moving vehicle, lost my baby, all because of Nadine and I’m the one who hurt her and should apologize.
That night I laughed so hard my cheeks hurt. My laughter sounded hollow, like someone who had lost her mind.
By morning, the cleaners found me passed out in the restroom. They took me to the doctor who sighed when he saw me.
“What have you gotten yourself into, Lily?” he asked me with a weary sigh.
I gave him a teary look, “I have no idea, doctor.”
“You’ve lost so much blood, Lily, you’ve been through a lot of stress. I’m afraid if you don’t rest and recover your body could face irreversible damage,” the doctor advised me.
I nodded, “Thank you, doctor.”
“Also, the nurse will bring the bill. You don’t have insurance to cover your medical bill with us,” the doctor informed me.
I sat up on the bed, wincing and frowning, “What do you mean, doctor? I have insurance with my husband’s account.”
The doctor frowned as he tapped on his phone, “I’ll call the nurse in accounting to come sort this out.”
Shortly after he left, the nurse stepped inside holding a laptop.
“Miss, please what’s your husband’s name?” she asked.
I felt bile rise in my throat, I hated acknowledging him now but I had no money to pay for my bills.
“Jacob Reynolds,” I answered.
The nurse tapped furiously on her keyboard and then looked up at me with a frown.
“I’m sorry, there’s no record of you in our system. The person recorded under Jacob Reynolds insurance is Nadine Grey and their daughter, Angel Reynolds,” the nurse informed me.
For a moment I forgot how to breathe as I stared at the nurse with my mouth hanging open.
“W…what?” I stuttered.
My husband had registered someone else under his insurance leaving me out to dry.
“How do you intend to pay for your bills, Miss?” the nurse asked impatiently.
I gulped softly, “Credit.”
She glared at me and nodded. Immediately she left, I grabbed my phone ready to call Jacob and yell at him but I thought against it.
If he didn’t see me as his wife then I would end this sham of a marriage.
I limped out of the hospital despite the doctor and nurses protesting for me to rest and recover. I hailed a cab and went straight to a lawyer’s office.
I sat down in the receptionist office, patiently waiting for the lawyer to request my presence.
Thirty minutes later, the lawyer called for me. I entered his office and sat across from him, my eyes filled with determination.
“How may I help you?” the lawyer asked.
“I’d like to file a divorce and erase all ties with Jacob Reynolds,” I answered.
The lawyer nodded and started typing on his computer when he frowned.
“Are you Nadine Grey? You’d like to divorce your husband, Jacob Reynolds?” he asked me.
I frowned, “No, I’m Lily Reynolds. I’ve been married to Jacob for four years.”
The lawyer frowned, “According to the national database, that’s incorrect. There’s no record of Lily Reynolds married to Jacob Reynolds. The only marriage record here is the one of Nadine Grey and Jacob Reynolds from two years ago.”
I frowned, shaking my head, “That’s impossible, Sir. We had a court wedding and all.”
I showed him the picture of the wedding certificate on my phone but he just shook his head.
“That’s a fake, Miss. See for yourself.”
He pushed the computer toward me and my heart stopped.
Right before my eyes was the legal proof that Nadine and Jacob had been married for two years and Peter had witnessed it.
And the date? It was the exact date my car had broken down in the middle of a storm. I had called Jacob and Peter begging them to come pick me up but they didn’t pick up my calls and claimed they were in a meeting.
That night I took a shortcut and was robbed and stabbed twelve times and almost bled out in an alley except for a stranger who saved me.
I was nine months pregnant then, I lost my baby and had eighteen stitches.
So two years ago when I almost died, my husband was getting married to someone else which made him too busy to save me.
My chest clenched so violently, I couldn’t sit still.
I stood up—but the ground spun. My knees gave out. I hit the floor, sobbing, gasping for air.
“No… it can’t be.”
The lawyer rushed to my side.
“Miss, are you alright? Should I call an ambulance?”
His voice echoed like it was underwater.
I curled into myself, rocking back and forth. My nails digging into my arms. The pain was suffocating.
“No, it can’t be. No, it can’t be. No, no, no—”
Lily’s Pov
I don’t know how long I cried on the floor in the lawyer’s office curled up like a ball but when I finally stood up, I wiped my tears and sighed.
It couldn’t get any worse than this. My marriage of four years to Jacob Reynolds had been nothing but a farce.
I wanted to scream at him and ask why he would do such wickedness to me. Why tie me down for fifteen years?!
Fifteen years ago, I moved into Jacob and Peter’s mansion to take care of them after they lost their parents and their sister in a car accident.
I had been their best friend and they asked me to live with them. For years I helped them heal, I woke Peter up when he screamed from the nightmare of the crash.
When we became adults I fell in love with Jacob and he said he loved me back. He married me shortly after and like a fool I happily did whatever I could to keep making them happy.
Even when Nadine came into the picture a year after my marriage, I hadn’t been bothered. Nadine had been my best friend in college.
Nadine was my childhood friend. She was my bridesmaid, she’d never harm me but I was so wrong.
The three of them hurt me in a way that I couldn’t even think about it fully without losing my breath.
What did I ever do to deserve this? Why didn’t he just tell me he never loved me? Why go through all this hell just to ruin me?
“Miss, should I call someone for you? Hospital? Police? Friend?” the lawyer’s voice broke through my thoughts.
I stared at him and smiled bitterly, “Thank you so much, I’ll leave now.”
I staggered out of the office watching as they all stared at me, pity evident in their eyes.
I hailed a cab to head back to the mansion. I had nowhere else to go and I needed to pack my things.
I had one goal now: get my passport. Cancel this identity. Erase “Lily Reynolds” for good.
The house was quiet when I entered and I was grateful. However after I grabbed my passport and started coming out, I heard voices in the sitting room.
Putting on a calm facade, I walked out and ignored them. Peter and Jacob were having dinner while Nadine was lying on Jacob’s legs.
They looked like a beautiful family. A perfect picture of a deceitful family.
I had barely taken three steps when Jacob’s voice rang out.
“Lily!”
I didn’t stop, however, I felt a painful grip on my arms. I turned to realize Peter had grabbed me.
“Are you deaf? Can’t you hear us calling?” Peter snarled at me.
I ignored him and yanked my arm away from him, “I don’t have time for whatever this is.”
Peter threw his head back and laughed coldly as he suddenly grabbed my bag.
“Kneel and apologize to Nadine for hurting her earlier and then maybe we’ll let you leave,” Peter said.
I turned my sad eyes to Jacob hoping that just maybe he might help me.
But instead, he agreed with Peter.
“Yes, Lily. The doctor said if we hadn’t come in time Nadine would have bled and died. You almost killed her so an apology is the least you can do.”
I scoffed softly, “I almost killed her? She wanted me dead! I have been through hell for two days and no one asked me anything. Then —”
“It’s fine, Jacob. Let her be, Peter, she doesn’t have to apologize,” Nadine interrupted me softly, acting like the victim once again.
Jacob suddenly stood up, furious, “No, it’s not okay, Nadine. She can’t harm you and go scot-free. If you don’t apologize this instant, I will punish you, Lily!”
I shrugged, “I’m not apologizing for what I didn’t do, Jacob. Do your worst.”
Jacob dragged me roughly outside as he grabbed a bottle, smashed it against the floor.
Peter shoved me forward.
They forced me to kneel on the shards.
Pain sliced through my skin. I gasped as glass embedded in my knees.
“Count to one hundred,” Peter snapped.
I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. They stood over me. Watching.
Nadine smirked behind them.
By the time they reached a hundred, I was faint from blood loss.
Peter tossed my bag at me.
“Fucking useless bitch.”
“Next time you touch Nadine, I’ll kill you myself,” Jacob added.
They walked away.
I staggered to the side wall, pulling glass from my knees, barely holding back screams.
I tore an old dress hanging outside and wrapped my knees. I refused to let this stop me. If anything it made me want to cancel my identity more.
I hailed a cab and went to the immigration office. I was attended to immediately by a junior staff member.
“Are you sure about this? Once we sign these documents Lily Reynolds doesn’t exist again,” the staff said.
I nodded, “That’s what I want.”
He asked for my passport and I handed it over as he scanned it when suddenly red lights flashed, sirens blared and alarms echoed through the room.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
Men in black surrounded me. Guns holstered. I was seized, dragged into a cold, sterile office.
“What are you doing?! I didn’t do anything!”
The chief officer slammed the passport down.
“Fake document. Fraud. You’re under arrest.”
I was stunned as I stuttered, “No—Jacob Reynolds gave me that passport! Call him. He’ll explain—”
He picked up the phone, tapped into the registry system, then dialed.
Jacob answered, “Reynolds residence.”
“Mr. Reynolds, this is Chief Immigration Officer Lambert. A woman named Lily Reynolds—she claims you gave her this passport. Can you confirm that you know her?”
There was a pause.
Then Jacob’s voice—calm, composed, merciless.
“I don’t know anyone by that name.”
I screamed, “Jacob! It’s me! Please—”
The officer ignored me, “Just to confirm, sir. You deny giving her any documents? Please be certain because she will be arrested.”
Without a moment of hesitation, Jacob’s voice sounded again.
“I don’t know her, do whatever you wish. I have to go take care of my wife and daughter,” then the line went dead with a click.
I watched in horror as I was handcuffed and led out of the office but I couldn’t cry or scream. All that kept resounding in my ears was Jacob’s last words.
‘I don’t know her, do whatever you wish. I have to go take care of my wife and daughter.’
Lily’s Pov
That night, I couldn’t speak. I just sat there—staring at the stained walls of the prison cell, numb.
I’d been arrested for submitting a fake passport. And the one person who should’ve saved me? Threw me to the wolves.
“Do you have anyone to call, Miss?” the warden asked, locking the cell.
I nodded silently. My heart was hollow. My cheeks were crusted with dried tears. My throat raw from screaming and begging.
“You’re allowed one call. Don’t waste it.” He handed me a phone.
I tapped in the number. It rang once.
“Hello? Who is this?” My mother’s voice sounded over the receiver.
Relief flooded me.
“Hi, Mom. I need your help.”
“Lily? Why are you calling with a different number? Where are you?” my mother asked worriedly.
“It’s a long story. There was a mix-up. I’ve been arrested—”
“What?!” she shouted. “Who dares lay a hand on you?! Do they know who you are?!”
“Please, just talk to Dad. I need out of here… and a new passport. In my name.”
She paused.
“Alright, baby girl. Hang in there. You’ll be out soon.”
The line disconnected.
The warden gave me a suspicious look, then left. A while later, he returned with a bitter update.
“No one’s available to process your release tonight. You’ll have to stay till morning.”
I didn’t answer. I climbed onto the narrow spring bed, curling into myself. But every time I closed my eyes, I heard Jacob’s voice. Nadine’s laugh. Peter’s silence. And their baby’s cries.
They’d taken everything from me. In five days, I’d be gone. And when I left— They’d regret it.
Around midnight, I drifted off.
I woke to scraping metal.
My eyes opened just as the cell door creaked.
Seven women stepped in.
My heart stopped.
Before I could scream, a hand clamped over my mouth.
“Nadine sends her warmest regards,” one of them sneered.
And then the beating began.
Fists rained down. Kicks to my ribs. Fingers clawed at my skin—one bit my shoulder, another yanked my hair until I screamed.
I whimpered and tried to fight, but it was useless.
When they were done, I was barely breathing. My body throbbed. Blood soaked the floor. I heard faint shouting… guards rushing in… and then everything went dark.
—
When I opened my eyes, everything smelled like antiseptic.
The sharp beeping of machines echoed beside me. I was in a hospital. Pain lit up every nerve in my body.
“Don’t sit up,” a voice warned.
I turned slowly.
The same doctor. The one who’d warned me before.
“How do you feel?”
I tried to shrug. My shoulders screamed.
“Terrible,” I rasped.
My voice was gone. My throat was shredded.
“You were in critical condition. You’ve been unconscious for three days.”
“Good,” I whispered. “Two more days to go.”
He frowned.
“No, Lily. This isn’t good. I warned you. And now… I’m sorry—but you’ll never be able to carry a child again.”
I stared at the doctor without blinking, my heart already numb. My hands subconsciously touched my stomach and a small whimper escaped my lips.
“I’m so sorry, Lily,” the doctor said, “The bleeding was too much, it was the only way to save your life.”
I was heartbroken and devastated but still the tears couldn’t drop. I let out a sigh, they’ve taken everything from me and left me with nothing. I’ll do the same to them.
The doctor handed me my phone.
“It’s been ringing nonstop for three days,” he said, “Please take care of yourself.”
I took my phone and saw several missed calls from my mom including messages and pictures.
‘Where are you, Lily? What happened? Your dad got you released but the warden said you had an accident. Please call me.’
‘Lily, your father has done what you asked and you’ve gotten a new passport. I sent a picture below and mailed the passport to you.’
‘Lily, I’m worried about you. Your flight has been booked. You leave in two days, call me!’
I stared at the screen for a moment… then typed the only thing I could.
‘Thank you so much, mommy. I’m fine just tidying things up here. See you soon.’
As I hit send the door opened and Nadine walked inside with her baby in a stroller.
“Oh, Lily, imagine my happiness when the doctor told me you’re awake,” Nadine gushed in a fake cheerful voice.
I glared at her, my eyes blank, “What do you want?”
“I just brought you lunch. The boys were just messing with you by leaving you there, they didn’t know you’d be hurt.”
She set down a flask. Pulled out a steaming bowl.
I recoiled. Seafood, she knew I was allergic.
“Leave me alone,” I said through clenched teeth. “Before I strangle you.”
Her smile turned sharp.
“But I’m not done yet, love. You’re not dead.”
She leaned in and shoved the plate closer. The smell made my stomach twist.
I swatted it away—reacting on instinct.
The plate shattered as Nadine screamed, staring at her baby in horror.
I turned toward her baby’s cries. My eyes fell on a tiny shard embedded in the infant’s hand. My fingers froze as I saw the blood on the baby’s hand.
And then the door burst open—Jacob and Peter staring down at me like I’d just committed murder.
“What’s going on here?” Jacob snapped.
Lily’s Pov
Immediately Nadine saw them standing by the door. She ran toward them and clutched Jacob’s hands.
“She hurt baby Angel!” she cried, “I just brought her soup to cheer her up and she threw it away.”
“You wanted to poison me. You know I’m allergic to seafood!” I snapped.
“I swear I had no idea, Jacob,” Nadine said and started sobbing pitifully again.
I scoffed, the fact they fell for her fake tears was pathetic.
Jacob and Peter marched toward me like soldiers defending their queen’s honor.
“How could you be so vicious, huh?” Peter sneered at me.
“A night in jail hasn’t done much to reform you, huh? Do you want more punishment?” Jacob snarled.
I stared at them blankly, “What more do you want to do, huh? You’ve done everything you could ever possibly do to hurt me.”
Jacob’s eyes softened for a bit before the baby’s cries sounded again and they hardened.
“I’ll let you off the hook just this time!” he snapped as he left with Nadine and the baby.
“Let me off the hook?” I scoffed, laughing like a crazy person, “Do you even know what I’ve been going through all these days? Do you even know that I lost —”
“We need to take Angel to the doctor,” Nadine’s teary voice interrupted me.
And just like that she managed to silence me once again as the boys rallied around her and left with the baby while she gave me a smug smirk before leaving.
I stayed in the hospital for a few more hours and they didn’t return.
When the doctor discharged me he gave me a strict warning.
“If you don’t rest, you will die and I’m not joking here,” he said.
I nodded, “I understand, doctor.”
When I got back to the apartment they weren’t back yet. I went into the room I had shared with Jacob for four years and I brought out a big box.
I carried the box outside and I lit a fire in the big metal drum in the courtyard. Then I opened the box and was assaulted with years of memories.
Inside the box was filled with wedding pictures, gifts Jacob and Peter had gifted me over the years whenever I celebrated my wedding anniversary.
As I tossed them into the flame it felt like I was liberating a piece of myself. How naive I was—to love two people who hated me this cruelly.
Every piece of paper, jewelry, picture, dress, everything I burnt had a story behind it but I realized it wasn’t a true story, everything was just a reminder that I had been lied to over the years.
As I picked up the last item in the box I stared at it a bit longer. It was a friendship bracelet that I made with the boys six years ago.
“I promise to never ever let anyone hurt you. I’ll die before I let someone lay a finger on you,” Peter had promised.
“You already know I love you, Lily. I’ll love you forever and never let anyone hurt you,” Jacob had promised, kissing me.
Now as I held the bracelets and their voices sounded in my mind I smiled bitterly and tossed it into the flames.
That was the exact moment the boys arrived and saw the bracelet. They ran toward me.
“Have you lost your mind? That’s our friendship bracelet!” Peter snapped as he tried to retrieve it but ended up getting burned.
“Why are you burning up our things and throwing a tantrum, Lily?” Jacob asked.
I scoffed, “They’re old and need to be discarded. They don’t matter again.”
Then I walked away and went upstairs ignoring them.
As I entered my bedroom my phone rang. It was my mom.
I picked up the call immediately and her worried voice sounded through the phone.
“What happened, Lily? Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick!”
I chuckled softly, feeling lighter now that I’ve erased all memories I had with the boys.
“I’m sorry, Mom, I didn’t mean to worry you but I assure you, I’m fine,” I said.
My mom sighed, relieved to hear my voice.
“Your father is still a bit upset with you because you ran off fifteen years ago and didn’t come or call home.”
I always knew my dad was the difficult one.
“I’ll make it up to him when I’m back,” I said.
My mom giggled cheerfully, “He’s happy that you’ve finally agreed to the wedding though. The reason I was calling was because I wanted you to pick out your wedding dress. I sent a couple of pictures.”
“Mom, don’t worry. I’ll come back soon so we can go shopping for wedding dresses instead, how does that sound?” I asked.
She chuckled happily, “Oh that sounds wonderful, Lily. I’ll be waiting.”
“Alright then, Mom, I’ll be back in time for the wedding dress shopping,” I said and hung up.
Just then the door was pushed open and the two boys stood before me, their eyes wide with horror.
“Wedding? What wedding?” Jacob asked.
Lily’s Pov
The boys stared at me, folding their arms across their chests.
“What do you want?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“Who were you talking to and what wedding dress shopping?” Jacob queried.
“My wedding and you both aren’t invited,” I answered nonchalantly.
The boys stared at each other and then burst into laughter.
“Oh stop, Lily, you’re already married to Jacob,” Peter said.
“Yes, babe, if you’re doing this to get my attention then don’t bother,” Jacob added.
I stared at them, and I should have felt insulted by their audacity in assuming that I was married to him and wouldn’t marry anyone, but I kept calm.
“I was talking to my friend about her wedding,” I said instead.
Peter frowned, “You don’t have any friends besides Nadine.”
I glared at him, “I have a lot of friends.”
Jacob sighed, “So about earlier, we’re sorry we’ve not been paying you any attention. It’s just with Nadine and the baby, everything is so sudden —”
“How did Nadine become pregnant and I didn’t know? Who owns her pregnancy?” I asked, interrupting him.
I wanted to know what lie he would tell just to keep his secret.
Jacob exchanged a nervous glance with Peter and Peter spoke up immediately.
“The baby is mine!”
Jacob agreed immediately and nodded as I raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, is Peters’. We just didn’t know how to tell you ‘cause Peter and Nadine hooked up once and then she got pregnant and you know, she’s your best friend and all,” Jacob rambled on.
“Yeah,” Peter nodded.
I stared at them half-amused. They must think that I’m such an idiot and I haven’t figured out the truth yet.
“Listen, maybe I’ve been a bit harsh on you, especially with the immigration thing. It’s just you’ve been making things hard for us too,” Jacob said.
“Also what did you go to do at the immigration?” Peter asked.
“I was trying to get my passport, I lost mine,” I lied smoothly.
They nodded and Jacob started speaking again.
“So uh… how about we take you to lunch tomorrow afternoon. It’d be like old times just the three of us,” Jacob said.
I frowned, “What about Nadine and the baby?”
“It’s just one afternoon I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Jacob said.
I nodded, “Alright, that’s fine.”
They squealed excitedly as they hugged me even though it made my skin crawl.
When they left I locked the door and grabbed my suitcase and started shoving the rest of my things inside it.
When I was done, I hid it under the bed and I brought out the tickets my mom had sent along with my passport which I had grabbed from the mailbox earlier.
My flight was at noon the same time I was supposed to be at lunch with the boys. Imagine their surprise when they wait and I never arrive.
Filled with excitement for my trip tomorrow, I decided to get an early sleep and rest my aching body.
—
By morning, the boys were knocking furiously on my door. I opened it and was instantly blinded by a slap that sent me reeling to the floor.
I saw stars as I saw Jacob standing over me, his eyes bloodshot with anger.
“W…what is going on?” I managed to croak out.
“What did you do to my baby? Something is wrong and she’s not breathing properly, you vile creature!” Jacob yelled at me.
“I… I didn’t do anything, I’ve been sleeping —”
Nadine’s loud sobs interrupted me as she ran toward me and knelt.
“If you were upset why didn’t you hurt me instead, huh? Why offer to feed my baby last night and poison her?” Nadine cried.
I was stunned, “Poison? Feed? I haven’t even left —”
“And to think we were trying to be nice to you. Witch!” Peter spat on me, interrupting me.
“If anything happens to Angel, I will make sure you beg for death, Lily!” Jacob swore.
I watched with swollen eyes as they all left in a hurry. I slowly stood up from the floor, my ribs aching in pain.
Wincing slightly I stared at the calendar and a bitter smile crossed my lips. Today was the four-year anniversary of me and Jacob’s fake wedding.
I took off my clothes and stood in front of the mirror naked and I couldn’t recognize the woman staring back at me.
She seemed to have aged faster than her age. She was covered in bruises—the price she paid trying to make love work.
I shook my head. This isn’t the woman I want to keep being. I walked into the bathroom and took a long hot shower as I massaged my swollen eyes with an ice pack.
Then I did a little makeup and dressed up in a beautiful short red dress. The next time I looked into the mirror again with my dark sunglasses, I saw a different woman filled with confidence.
I spent the next hour curating an anniversary package for Jacob. I wrapped up three boxes and wrote a small note and pinned it to those boxes as I gave them to the mailman.
“Make sure they’re delivered and opened immediately to Jacob Reynolds,” I instructed.
After the mailman left, I grabbed my box and ordered a ride. As I stood inside the mansion, a cruel laugh escaped my lips.
“Wait for my revenge, sweet Reynolds family,” I giggled.
Then I turned on the gas and walked to the front door. I lit the match and threw it into the house and walked out of the house.
As my Uber drove me to the airport, I watched as the house exploded in flames and I felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
But this was only the beginning of what I had planned for them.
They just wait and see.
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