After Five Years, I Devour the Skeletons in His Closet

The year I hated Vernon Browett with every fiber of my being was when he brutally killed the dog I had raised for ten years… just to please his little secretary.

And in return, I plunged a knife into her body five times, savoring the sound of her frantic screams like I was admiring a masterpiece.

Everyone thought Vernon would kill me for it.

But instead, he only threw a divorce agreement in my face, coldly saying, “You’re nothing more than a dog in this family. Since you’ve gone mad, get lost!”

That night, I disappeared from his world.

Five years later, I had to attend a party on behalf of my dad. And that was when, once again, I saw Vernon’s secretary.

Wine splashed across my gown as she sneered, “Well, well… look who it is. Turns out it’s just the dog the Browetts threw away.”

Consequently, I grabbed the nearest champagne bottle and smashed it over her head.

“Five years have passed, and no one’s taught you how to act like a human being? Fine. Tonight, I’ll be your teacher.”

——

Her scream pierced the air.

Her little entourage rushed forward to shield her, shouting in my face.

“Who the hell do you think you are?!”

“Do you even know who you just hit?!”

The loudest of them jabbed a finger at me.

“She’s the future fiancée of the Browett Corporation’s heir! You’ve just written your own obituary! Vernon will never let you off!”

Another one blocked my path with a mocking laugh.

“Now this I gotta see—someone stupid enough to hurt Vernon’s queen, of all people. Don’t you know? That guy worships her! If a hair falls from her head, he’ll burn the city to the ground. And you? You smashed her head open!”

Clutching her bleeding forehead, Joanie glared at me like she wanted to rip me apart.

“Listen to me, Keyshia. Five years ago, I let you go out of the kindness of my heart. Don’t think that means I’ll be afraid of you now. You’re nothing more than the dog Vernon sheltered! Five years ago, I could have killed you. Five years later, you have the nerve to show your face to me, and I still can kill you!”

I studied her, taking in the changes time had brought.

I had to admit—Vernon had treated her well.

Back then, she couldn’t even lift her eyes when she called me Ma’am Keyshia. Now, she could publicly threaten to destroy me.

Too bad for her, I’ve never been someone easy to crush.

Not five years ago.

Not now.

A circle of people surrounded me, but instead of shrinking back, I bent down. The floor glittered with shards of broken glass.

Under everyone’s stunned gaze, I picked up a bloodied piece, smiling as I rose.

“Joanie.”

Step by step, I advanced toward her.

“Five years ago,” I said, lifting the bloodstained knife in my hand, “I gave you more dignity than you ever deserved.”

Her eyes widened as I dragged the sharp edge down from her cheek to her belly.

“What happened?” My voice was calm, almost teasing. “You still haven’t learned your lesson, even after you lost your uterus back then?”

“Well then…” A cruel smile curved my lips. Before anyone could react, I raised the shard and drove it toward her belly.

But before the glass could pierce her flesh, a strong hand seized my wrist.

Gasps and shrieks erupted around me. And over it all, Joanie’s trembling voice broke through, choked with tears.

“Vernon… I’m scared!”

Those were the same words from five years ago.

Back then, I pinned her to the ground and drove the knife into her again and again. She’d looked at me with the same wide and terrified eyes, crying out the same words.

“Vernon… I’m scared!”

Time folded in on itself.

And then, from just behind me, a voice I had not heard in years cut into the chaos. It was low, threatening, and achingly familiar.

“Keyshia. It’s been five years.”

His tone dripped with menace.

“What, you still haven’t learned your lesson?”

His grip twisted my wrist outward, pain flaring up my arm. My brows furrowed, but unlike five years ago, I didn’t lower my head in defeat. I didn’t surrender.

The sting only awakened something wild inside me.

I clutched the shard tighter, letting it cut deep into my palm. Blood trickled down my wrist.

And at the exact moment he tried to wrench it away from me, I whipped my head around and smiled at him.