Life in hiding wasn't easy. Laura and I found refuge in a remote village, far from the chaos we left behind. It wasn't the most comfortable place, but it was safe - for now. The mornings were quiet, and the nights were long, filled with restless thoughts of what lay ahead.
One morning, as we sipped on stale coffee, the peace shattered. The local news blared on the old TV in the corner of the rundown inn. There he was - Lorde, my husband, alive and well. My chest tightened as his familiar face filled the screen, but his words made my blood run cold.
"My wife, Jillian Winston, is wanted for arson, attempted murder, and jailbreak," Lorde declared, his voice steady and commanding. "A reward of five million dollars will be given to anyone who provides information leading to her capture."
My face flashed on the screen. Five million dollars. That kind of bounty was enough to make anyone desperate.
"This is bad," Laura muttered, her face pale. "We're not safe here anymore."
But I wasn't about to let fear consume me. Instead, I leaned into the anger bubbling inside me. "We'll adapt," I said firmly. "I'm not going down without a fight."
That night, Laura brought up an idea that seemed insane at first. "I know someone," she said hesitantly. "A surgeon. He's unlicensed, but he's discreet. He can help us… change."
It was risky, but I didn't see any other choice.
A few days later, we met the surgeon in a dimly lit basement, the stench of antiseptic hanging heavy in the air. The procedure was excruciating, but I endured it, fueled by the promise of safety and revenge. Months passed, and when the bandages came off, the woman staring back at me in the mirror wasn't Jillian anymore.
"Ynna Lewis Versejo," I whispered to my reflection, testing my new name.
Laura, now Darlea Martinez, smirked beside me. "You're unrecognizable."
"Good," I replied, determination sharpening my voice.
Our plan began to take shape. We staged our deaths meticulously, burning old prison clothes and planting them in the remnants of the women's cell. The authorities would find them and assume we were gone for good.
With our new identities, we could finally start plotting our revenge. I wasn't just running anymore - I was fighting back.
Weeks later, I found myself back in the city, standing before the gates of the Emillion estate. The air was heavy with memories, but I shook them off. I had a mission to complete.
I had emptied my secret vault to fund this plan, every last penny going into my new life and my ultimate goal: infiltrating the Emillion empire. Step one? Investing in Lorde's company, Emillion Real Estate.
"SHIT you're moving too fast," Darlea warned me one evening as we sat in our small apartment, poring over documents.
I didn't look up. "I know what I'm doing."
She slammed the papers down, frustration clear in her voice. "Do you? You're risking everything! It's too soon to make a move."
Her words struck a nerve. I snapped, my voice icy. "You… don't get to lecture me, Darlea. If it weren't for me, you'd have burned alive in that prison!"
Silence filled the room as my words hung in the air. Her face fell, but I didn't care. She didn't understand the fire driving me.
The tension lingered, but it was interrupted by an unexpected phone call.
"Ms. Versejo?" a calm voice greeted me.
"Yes, talking," I replied, masking my surprise.
"This is Glaiza, Mr. Lorde Emillion's assistant. Mr. Emillion would like to invite you to a business meeting tomorrow morning. Can you make it?"
I almost dropped the phone. Oh, why are they rushing things? "Of course," I said, keeping my voice steady.
After hanging up, I turned to Darlea, who raised a questioning brow. "Looks like I'm meeting Lorde tomorrow," I said sarcastically.
The next morning, I arrived at the towering Emillion building. My heart pounded as I stepped into the sleek conference room, but I kept my composure. If they saw through my facade, everything would be over.
As I waited inside the conference room, the door swung open, and in walked Venus. My breath caught at the sight of her. Her figure was different now - her stomach round and unmistakably pregnant.
"Ms. Ynna Versejo, right?" she said sweetly, extending a hand.
I took it, forcing a smile. "Yes. And you must be… Venus."
Her smile widened, and she patted her belly. "That's right. Lorde and I are engaged now, you know. It's such a tragedy what happened to his ex-wife, Jillian. But I suppose everything happens for a reason, right?"
I clenched my fists under the table, hiding the storm raging inside me. "Congratulations," I said, feigning delight.
Before she could respond, Venus suddenly gasped, clutching her stomach. Panic filled her eyes as her water broke, spilling onto the pristine floor.
"H–Help!" she cried, her voice shrill.
Without thinking, I grabbed my phone and dialed for an ambulance. This wasn't part of the plan, but I couldn't afford to blow my cover now.
As the paramedics rushed in, I stood to the side, watching the chaos unfold. My mind raced with questions. How far was I willing to go? And what would it cost me?
