“He just couldn’t bear to see me suffer with him, so he needed someone to take the burden and that’s why he chose you.”
“Now that you’ve lost your child, why are you still holding on here?”
I stopped, my eyes growing colder. “What did you just say?”
“I said, you’re only my replacement.”
Maya dragged out the word “replacement,” her face full of pride.
I froze for a moment, then saw Maya, her face twisted and grim, pull a dagger from behind and rush at me. “Hannah, pay with my child’s life. Go to hell.”
Carlos ran after her, but he was still too late. I dodged and Maya stumbled out of control, tumbling down the stairs as the dagger clattered on the steps.
I stepped forward, seized the dagger and struck toward Maya. By the time Carlos caught up, the blade had already cut across her neck. His face darkened and he quickly stood in front of her, his eyes filled with turmoil.
“Hannah, this ends here.”
“Carlos, she said I was your stand-in. Tell me, is that true?”
Carlos hesitated at my words and I used the moment to drive the dagger into Maya’s chest again.
My wrist was caught in a tight grip, but I clenched my teeth and ignored the tearing pain. A scream rang out as the blade finally sank into Maya’s chest.
Before I could pull it out, I was kicked hard to the ground, my already broken wrist crushed under a leather shoe and I gasped from the pain.
“Hannah, let’s divorce.”
How ridiculous. He had always said only death could part us, yet now he agreed so easily for Maya’s sake.
The divorce papers were thrown at me carelessly and then Carlos tried to carry Maya away. But she resisted, forcing herself to stand in front of me as she dropped the lighter.
Flames quickly devoured the things prepared for the funeral, books Carlos and I had once read to our children and toys we had chosen together.
I tried to grab them back, but my fear of fire pinned me helplessly to the floor.
She leaned against Carlos’s arms and sneered at me. “Hannah, that fire ten years ago should have taken your life.”
And Carlos only stood there watching. Hatred rose endlessly in my heart and I suddenly dropped to the ground and burst out laughing.
“Carlos, I haven’t seen you fall into hell yet, so how could I leave so easily? For ten years I’ve turned my blade on others and now it’s your turn to feel it. None of you are leaving today.”
As soon as I finished, the villa door slammed shut.
“Open it!”
Carlos kicked the door again and again, his face growing cold. “Hannah, you were the one who asked for divorce. Now that I’ve agreed, what more do you want? Do you really want to die?” He shouted at me in anger while holding Maya tightly.
The scars on his face didn’t make him look harsh; his protective stance only made him seem more striking.
I slowly stood and tore the divorce papers apart without pause. “Carlos, you said only death could end our marriage. How could I divorce you without you and Maya dying?”
A faint sneer touched Carlos’s lips. “Hannah, do you really think closing the door means you’ve won? You’re relying on those two people you’ve pulled to your side. I don’t want to argue with you about today. Maya needs the hospital. Open the door, now!”
“I said no one leaves today.”
At my words, a cold light flickered across Carlos’s face. “Hannah, you’ve forced me into this.”
He raised his hand, and in an instant, dozens of people filled the villa. “Kill her.”
But his order lingered in the air and no one moved. His eyes turned red as he shouted again at the leader, “Kill her! Anyone who refuses today will be my enemy!”
What came back were dozens of gun barrels pointed at him. “No one leaves without Miss Hannah’s order!”
“Hannah? What do you mean her?”
Carlos demanded, but silence filled the villa.
