Chapter 4
I woke up with my body burning, but not from rage this time–from fever. Every muscle screamed, every breath rattled. The throbbing in my toes from the cruel punishment made it impossible to walk properly.
Days had passed like that, slipping in and out of consciousness, but not once did Leandro open the door to check on me.
Not once.
Through the haze of fever, I heard laughter outside my room. Nadine’s shrill giggle, Leandro’s low chuckle. Sometimes there was more than laughter–moans that cut through the night and stabbed at me like knives. I buried my head into the pillow, forcing myself to sleep, forcing myself to let go of the sounds of betrayal. My body needed to heal. My mind needed silence.
But peace never stayed long in this house.
I was jolted awake one afternoon by the sharp, acrid smell of smoke. My heart jumped to my throat. I forced myself out of bed, leaning on the wall for balance, and stumbled toward the hallway. When I reached the back garden, my world stopped.
Flames licked through piles of fabric–my dresses, my books, even Gwen’s tiny toys. All of
it burning.
“What are you doing?!” My voice cracked as I ran forward, heat slapping against my skin. “Stop it! Those are mine!”
The maid avoided my eyes, her hands trembling as she fed another box into the fire.
“Miss… I’m sorry,” she whispered. “It wasn’t my order. Miss Nadine… she told us to throw your things. She said she didn’t want to see them anymore.”
For a moment, I froze. Nadine. Of course. It wasn’t enough that she had my husband–she wanted to erase every piece of me, too.
was about to turn away, to let it all burn–I didn’t care anymore, not really–until I saw it.
A small silver chain glinting in the flames. My mother’s necklace. The last gift she had pressed into my hand before she died, telling me, “This will always protect you.”
“No!” I screamed, rushing forward. I ignored the heat scorching my hands as I grabbed at the necklace, saving what little was left before it was consumed. My eyes burned–not from smoke, but from fury..
I stormed back into the house, the necklace clutched tight in my palm, and found Nadine in the living room. She sat there smug, her hand resting on her growing belly like a queen. “Why?” My voice trembled with anger. “Why did you burn my things? That necklace–it was from my mother.”
Nadine looked up, feigning innocence. “Oh, that? I thought it was fake. Honestly, Emerald,
with all the clutter vou left around. how was I supposed to know what mattered? I was just Chapter 4
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“Clear space?” I hissed. “This is my house. You have no right-”
“Enough.”
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Leandro’s voice cut through like a whip. He stepped into the room, his gaze cold, dismissive. “Stop fighting over nonsense. Emerald, clean this mess. I’m hosting a party tomorrow, and I want everything to be spotless.”
I stared at him, blood rushing to my head. “Clean? After what she’s done? After everything you’ve-”
“I’m not asking,” he said sharply. “I’m ordering you. Do it.”
Something inside me snapped. My fever, my wounds, the humiliation–I could no longer stay quiet. “No. I won’t. I’m not your maid, Leandro. Not anymore. If you want this house spotless, clean it yourself.”
Before he could reply, the butler entered, pale and shaken, carrying a small package wrapped in plain paper.
“It… it just arrived, sir.”
Leandro snatched it, tore it open–and froze.
A small bloodied bundle fell to the floor. My breath caught. A child’s arms. Look exactly as
Gwen.
My scream ripped through the air. “Gwen!” My knees buckled as tears blinded me. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t her–it couldn’t be. She was safe. But I pretended anyway, let the hysteria consume me. Maybe, just maybe, if I showed him how broken I was, Leandro would finally feel guilty. Maybe he would realize this wasn’t a game.
Leandro cursed, face hardening. He pulled out a note attached to the package. The words were simple, merciless:
One hundred million. Last chance. Or the child dies.
A phone chimed, and seconds later, a video played on his screen. Gwen–my Gwen- bound, crying, her tiny voice begging for her mommy. A masked man’s voice thundered, “Money. Or we’ll cut more.”
My stomach twisted. I reached out to grab the phone, but Leandro pulled it away.
And then he had the audacity to sigh. “Look at this. Another one of your schemes, Emerald. Admit it–you’re behind this. These men are probably yours.”
My eyes widened. “What? Are you insane? You think I’d mutilate my own daughter?”
Nadine’s sweet, poisonous voice slipped into the space between us. “Well… didn’t you mention to me once that you needed money for your family? Maybe this is your father’s doing. And you’re helping him.”
I froze. Father. The man I barely spoke to. The man they loved to throw in my face.
Leandro’s gaze sharpened, suspicion gleaming. “Of course. That’s it. You and your father. Scammers, just the same.”
Chapter 4
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Leandro’s gaze sharpened, suspicion gleaming. “Of course. That’s it. You and your father. Scammers, just the same.”
For a moment, the room spun. I couldn’t breathe. They were accusing me–again–while my baby was out there suffering… And it was even my enemy who saved her.
“Fine,” I said finally, my voice hollow. “Think what you want. If you want Gwen dead, then so be it. At least I won’t have to live tied to a man like you. Because Leandro, you’ve done nothing but disappoint me.”
And with that, I turned and walked away before my legs gave out.
Inside my room, I collapsed onto the bed, clutching my mother’s necklace, letting the last of my tears fall. My decision had already been made.
I picked up the phone, dialed a number I’d been saving for years. When the line connected, my voice came steady, unshaken for the first time.
“Hello, attorney? This is Emerald. I want to file for divorce.”
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