Jeremy hadn’t suspected a thing.
Three days had passed, and he still believed my lie. I told him I was spending time at the orphanage we supported—the one for deaf children. It was the perfect excuse, something he wouldn’t bother questioning. After all, in his eyes, I was still his devoted, helpless wife.
But in reality, I was locked away in a hotel, watching him through the hidden cameras I had installed in our house.
And Jeremy? He was busy screwing Amber in our bed.
I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to keep watching. Every touch, every whispered promise, every filthy word—it was all there, recorded in crystal-clear quality.
"I can’t wait until we don’t have to hide anymore," Amber murmured against his skin, tracing a finger down his chest.
Jeremy smirked, brushing her hair back. "Just a little longer. Once everything’s settled, I’ll take care of everything."
Amber pouted. "I still don’t like that she’s coming back. I thought she’d be out longer."
Jeremy sighed, rolling onto his back. "She’s still useful. But don’t worry, babe. Soon, she won’t be a problem anymore. Just promise me that Jack won't be a problem, okay?"
My stomach twisted.
I had been nothing but a problem to him from the start.
Without hesitation, I opened my laptop and got to work. Within minutes, I created a dummy account, encrypted and untraceable. The files uploaded, the videos set on a timed release. One copy would go to Jack, Amber’s husband.
The other? Straight to the media. Amber had spent her life crafting the perfect image. Faithful wife. Loving partner. The one who got away.
This would ruin her. And Jeremy? He would lose much more.
A slow smile curled my lips as I set the final email. All of it was scheduled to go off in a few days—right when my body would be found floating in the river.
Suicide. A tragic accident. And all fingers would point to Jeremy.
I leaned back, exhaling slowly. Almost there.
Then, my phone buzzed.
A message from the agency. Everything is in place.
The escape plan was finalized. A new identity, a new life. By the time Jeremy realized what had happened, I would be nothing more than a ghost.
But I still had to wait for the banquet.
Jeremy had planned it as some grand, inspirational event—celebrating his "deaf wife" and his support for people like me. It was all a show, a carefully crafted performance to make himself look good.
The perfect stage for his downfall. Then, another buzz. Jeremy.
Why are my cards frozen? I can’t buy anything.
A slow smirk formed on my lips.
What were you trying to buy? I typed back.
The reply came instantly.
A gift for you. Something special for the banquet.
Liar.
I already knew the truth. I had people tracking his movements. Jeremy had been at a luxury jewelry store earlier today, picking out something expensive—not for me, but for Amber.
I played along.
Oh, I thought it was a fraud. I’ll lift it.
No fraud. Just fix it.
I let my fingers hover over the screen before responding.
Of course. I’ll lift it now.
Then he replied again, “Yes. I’ll buy something for Amber, too. Don’t forget to attend her birthday party later. Okay?”
Birthday party. I had almost forgotten about it. I never planned on coming, but skipping would raise suspicion. I had to play my role a little longer—smile, nod, pretend. Just a little longer, and it would all be over.
Amber’s estate was packed. Guests in glittering dresses and sharp suits, laughter spilling through the night air. Fake. Everything about this place, about these people, was fake.
Jeremy was already there, but so was Jack. That meant he had no choice but to stay by my side.
I felt his irritation before he even spoke. His grip on his glass tightened. "Fucking joke," he muttered under his breath. "Seeing them together. That should have been me."
I said nothing. Just smiled at passing guests who whispered as they looked at me.
"Poor girl. Imagine not being able to hear anything."
"She’s so beautiful. What a waste."
"Jeremy’s such a saint for staying with her."
I kept smiling. Pretended I didn’t understand. Pretended I didn’t hear Jeremy when he exhaled sharply and muttered, "Now I’m stuck with this deaf."
I was getting good at pretending but not for long. I needed air. The weight of my performance pressed too heavily on my chest, so I stepped outside toward the pool. The cool night air wrapped around me. I counted down the hours until I could finally leave all of this behind.
Then, Amber’s voice sliced through the air like a knife.
"Poor girl," she crooned, stepping beside me. Her lips were stretched into a bright, perfect smile, but her voice dripped with poison. "Do you actually think Jeremy loves you?"
I didn’t react.
She took a slow sip from her champagne glass. "Hell no. He loves me. Just like Jack. I got them both, sweetheart. They love me, not you."
My nails dug into my palm. I willed myself to stay still.
"You will always suffer, Cornelia." Her voice was sugar-coated poison. "You will always be cheated on, humiliated, discarded. As long as I’m here, you will never win. I used to be jealous of you, you know? But then I realized something…"
She leaned in, close enough that I could smell the alcohol on her breath.
"I can take everything from you."
I swallowed the rage burning inside me and lifted my hands, pretending to sign, feigning confusion.
Amber laughed. "God, you’re pathetic." She tilted her head. "Can’t even hear me, can you?"
Her fingers curled around my wrist. Before I could react, she shoved me.
The world tilted. The cold water swallowed me whole.
I thrashed, heart slamming against my ribs. I couldn’t swim. My limbs flailed, but the water was too heavy, too strong. A sharp splash—Amber had lost her balance, too. But she knew how to swim.
I didn’t.
I fought to break the surface, panic clawing at my chest. Above me, muffled voices screamed.
"Help! Someone, help!"
Amber. She was crying for help. She was the one being rescued. A shadow moved above the water.
Jeremy.
I reached for him. He saw me. He knew I couldn’t swim.
And still—
He dove in.
For Amber.
Not for me.
I sank, the betrayal heavier than the water dragging me down.
