Chapter 50 (1)
Abigail
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I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. His question wasn’t unexpected, but my unease had grown with every passing second of this conversation. I couldn’t trust lim–not fully. Not after everything I’d just uncovered. Whatever his reasons for disguising himself as “Daniel,” that revelation unsettled me more than I cared to admit. I wasn’t about to reveal all my cards to someone who’d been lying to me from the start. He’d gone to extraordinary lengths to keep his identity hidden from mehat alone was reason enough to keep him at arm’s length.
“You’ll know when the time comes. I’ll call for you,” I said carefully. “But for now, I need you to do something for
me”
His brow arched, a faintly amused expression flickering across his features. “And what might that be?” I leaned back
in my chair, forcing my body to appear relaxed even as my mind raced. “Susanna,” I said, watching his reaction closely. “I need someone to keep an eye on her
Alexander’s expression remained neutral, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes–something I couldn’t quite place.
“Susanna,” he repeated, his tone light, almost casual. “Why Susanna?”
I shrugged, forcing myself to appear nonchalant. “Because she’s the type to get sloppy when she thinks she’s won. And nothing will make her feel more confident than knowing I’m locked away from society for a crime I didn’t commit.”
Alexander tilted his head, studying me intently. “You think she’ll make a mistake.”
“I know she will,” I said firmly. “But I need someone who can meet her in person, someone who can keep a close eye on her. You can manage that, can’t you?”
He hesitated, his fingers drumming against the table once more. “It’s not a hard ask,” he said finally, though there was an edge to his voice. “I’ll make the arrangements. But why not involve someone else? Why me?”
I forced a small smile, though it felt hollow. “Because you’re the only one I can trust right now.”
The irony of the statement wasn’t lost on me. Trusting Alexander, of all people, felt like walking a tightrope over a pit of vipers. But I needed him–for now,
He nodded slowly, his expression inscrutable. “Alright, Mrs. Remington. I’ll keep an eye on her. But don’t keep me in the dark for too long. If this trap of yours is going to work, we’ll need to coordinate.”
“I’ll let you know when the time comes,” I said, my voice steady.
וויד
He rose from his chair with a fluid grace that sent another shiver down my spine. Watching him now, it was hard to reconcile this man with the image of “Daniel,” the unassuming secretary who’d seemed so mild–mannered, so harmless.
As he moved toward the door, he paused, glancing back at me. “Be careful, Mrs. Remington,” he said softly.” You’re playing a dangerous game.”
“So are you,” I replied, meeting his gaze head–on.
For a moment, we simply stared at each other, an unspoken understanding passing between us. Then odded once and stepped out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Chapter 550)
The phone’s dial tone droned in my ear, an annoying reminder of my growing frustration My hands gripped the receiver so tightly the plastic bit into my palms. For the second day in a row, I was desperately trying to reach Conrad, my so called husband, who seemed content to lear me stranded in this greitomaken rell unanswered call felt like a slap in the face and a glaring confirmation of just how little he cared.
Yet, this was the man who had declared how much he needed me after the kidnapping
After Alexander had left yesterday, I had barely slept that night. The cold, unappetizing dinner the officers provided sat heavy in my stomach, though forced myself to eat for the baby’s sake. Every bite tasted like ash an my mind twisted over the situation. No lawyers. No allies. Ho answers. And still, Conrad refused to pick up his damn phone.
By midmorning, my patience had worn razor thin. I leaned against the police pyplione, staring at the terished metal wall, my free hand cupped protectively over my belly One last call, I told myself. One more attempt, and then I would give up on thinking Conrad had any decency.
The line rang and rang, and I was just about to hang up when the click of the receiver being picked up stopped me Relief washed over me, but it was short–lived.
“Hello, who is this?” Susanna’s voice, as cheerful as a cartoon character, slithered through the line.
For a moment, I was too surprised to speak. What was Susanna doing answering Conrad’s phone?
I swallowed my surprise and forced my voice to remain calm. “Put Conrad on the phone.”
She laughed mockingly at my words. “Oh, Abigail. Why are you calling him? Shouldn’t you be asking your new boyfriend for help instead? Or is Daniel too busy polishing your shoes?”
I stiffened, gripping the receiver so tightly my knuckles turned white. Boyfriend? She thought I was dating Alexander’s secretary? The audacity of this woman never failed to amaze me. But it wasn’t her insult that struck me–it was the way she referred to Conrad as if I no longer had any claim to him.
“I didn’t realize Conrad had hired you as his secretary, Susanna,” I said coolly. “Is he there, or are you just playing gatekeeper today?”
Her laughter stopped, replaced by a sharp edge to her tone. You don’t get to demand anything. Abigail. Not after flaunting your little affair in public yesterday. Honestly, what makes you so confident to call your ex–husband for anything?”
My eyes narrowed at the word ‘ex–husband‘. Had Conrad already signed the papers, and told Susanna without even informing me first? “How do you know Conrad has signed the divorce papers?”
She let out a derisive snort. “Oh, he hasn’t signed them yet. But it’s only a matter of time, especially after your display yesterday, Honestly, Abigail, parading around with a man like Daniel? A secretary? It’s beyond insulting‘
I bristled at her condescension, biting back the urge to correct her misconception. Let her think what she wanted. If she was foolish enough to believe there was anything romantic between me and Daniel, whether or not she knew it was actually Alexander, I wasn’t about to waste my breath correcting her.
Instead, I smiled–a cold, sharp smile she couldn’t see but would feel in my words. “You know, Susanna, it’s funny. You talk about how insulting it is for me to be seen with Daniel, but what do you think people say about you? About how Alexander barely survived a near–death experience, only to come home to a wife who doesn’t seem to remember she’s married?”
Chapter 50 (2)
Chapter 50 (2)
Abigail
Her sharp intake of breath was deeply satisfying. “How dare you-”
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“How dare 1?” I interrupted, my voice rising with scorn. “How dare you, Susanna. You’re making up stories of an affair because I had lunch with someone you think is beneath me, but let’s talk about you. You’re the one who weaponizes everything you can–your words, your tears, even your pregnancy–to manipulate everyone around you. Including my husband.”
The line went silent for a beat, and I could almost picture her, lips parted in shock, scrambling for a response. I didn’t give her the chance.
“You think I don’t know what you’re doing?” I continued, my tone cutting. “You’ve slithered your way into Conrad’s life, and you have the nerve to call me out for disrespecting him? The real tragedy here, Susanna, is how blind you are to how unwanted you are. You’ll never be anything more than a pale imitation. A replacement for me.”
“You-” she began, her voice trembling with rage.
“Save it,” I said coldly. “We both know the truth, and so does Conrad. That’s why he still hasn’t signed those divorce papers, isn’t it? Because even with all your scheming, you can’t erase me. You can’t replace me. And you never will,”
Without waiting for her response, I slammed the receiver down, the metallic clang echoing through the small room. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at it. Susanna might have the upper hand for now, but I had won
this battle.
My words would eat at her like weevils and soon she would make a move. With any luck, she would make mistake. I had to let Alexander know.
The receiver felt cold and heavy in my hand as I picked I up, but I didn’t hesitate. I dialed the number quickly, my heart pounding a little harder than I cared to admit. After all, I wasn’t entirely sure what I would hear on the other end Alexander–or rather, “Daniel” had made an art of deception, and though I wasn’t ready to let on that I knew his secret, it left me uneasy.
The line clicked, and the voice that answered was Daniel’s. The real Daniel.
“Yes?” His tone was polite, professional, and unassuming, just as I remembered.
My fingers tightened around the phone. Even though they both spoke in reserved, calm tones, Alexander’s voice carried a weight of authority that Daniel’s didn’t. Alexander’s calm was calculated, the kind that came from knowing no one could challenge him. Daniel’s was born from something simpler–a quiet kind of patience.
I forced myself to match his tone. “Daniel. I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time. I need to speak with you privately.”
There was a pause on the other end, just long enough to make me wonder if he suspected something. Then came the response, and I froze.
“Of course,” he said. But it wasn’t Daniel’s voice anymore–it was Alexander’s. He’d raised it just slightly, mimicking Daniel’s cadence almost perfectly. Had I not known better, I might have been fooled, just as I been in the past.
He was good, too good. How many times had I been speaking to Alexander instead of Daniel? How many times had Alexander listened in while I spoke to Daniel?
Chapter!
50 (29
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“Thank you,” I replied, keeping my voice steady, as thought hadn’t noticed the switch. “I need your help, and it’s important that no one else knows about this. Are you alone
Another pause, shorter this time. “I am now.”
I let out a breath, leaning against the cold metal wall “Good Listen carefully. I need you to keep an eye on Susanna. Follow her. Watch what she does and who she speaks to. I’m certain she’ll make a move sonti, and when she does, she’ll slip up. When that happens, you need to catch it.”
“Why are you so sure she’ll slip up?” he asked, his tone skeptical but calm.
I couldn’t help but smirk, even though he couldn’t see it. “Because Susanna’s overconfident. She always has been. People like her can’t help themselves. They think they’re untouchable until the moment they’re not.”
He didn’t reply immediately, and I seized the silence to drive my point home. “Think of this as a probation period. All I’m asking is that you trust my instincts and stick close to her for the day. If nothing happens, you can walk away and dismiss our partnership entirely.”
That’s a lot to gamble on,” he said after a moment. “Especially considering you’re still in prison.
I couldn’t help but laugh softly, my smirk growing. “That’s how much I believe in my intuition.”
Before he could respond, the door creaked open behind me glanced over my shoulder to see a police officer new face–standing there with a neutral expression.
“Time’s up,” he said gruffly.
“I have to go,” I said into the receiver, my voice rushed. “Just make sure you do as I said.” I hung up before he could reply and turned to face the officer.
He wasn’t like the others. There was no sneer, no derision in his gaze. His expression was neutral, almost sympathetic.
As he led me back to my cell, he broke the silence. “I hope whoever you were talking to was a lawyer.”
I shrugged, keeping my tone nonchalant. “Why do you ask?
The corners of his mouth turned down, and he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. “Because the clock’s ticking. The police can only hold you here for so long without naming you the culprit in Marcy’s murder.”
I stopped dead in my tracks, my stomach lurching. “What does that mean?”
He hesitated, then sighed as though he hated being the bearer of bad news. “It means that soon, you’ll be officially named as the suspect. When that happens, you’ll be paraded in front of the media and moved to a proper detention center.”
The air seemed to leave the room all at once. “You’re saying I’ll be transferred?” I asked, my voice low and sharp- He nodded, his gaze tinged with pity as it met mine. “To a detention center. A place for people like you.” “People like me,” I echoed, the words bitter on my tongue, Will they at least be real murderers, instead of innocent people who were framed?”
the
He didn’t respond, just continued walking. My legs felt like lead as I followed him. A proper detention center, officer had said. A place with real criminals, people who would knife someone like me down for the righ ad of
cash.
When we reached my cell, he unlocked the metal bars and gestured for me to step inside. I hesitated for a moment, my gaze flickering to his face. There was no malice there, just a tired sort of resignation. As he locked
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Chapter 50 (2)
the door behind me, the officer spoke again, his voice quieter this time. “Your lawyer better be a good one.”
I sank onto the cot as the sound of his footsteps faded down the hall. My hands rested protectively over my stomach as I stared at the chipped paint on the wall. For the first time, fear crept in, curling cold in my chest. Not for myself, but for the life growing inside me.
I couldn’t let Alexander balling me out without catching Susanna or Liliana in a mistake. Doing so would make the time I had spent here worthless. But I also couldn’t play the game too deep it would swallow me. If I let the case move too far, I would be stuck in a web I couldn’t untangle myself from.
Whether it was Susanna or Liliana or whoever that had pirited Marcy’s death on me, the fact was they wanted me to disappear, to rot away in some cell where no one would hear my voice.
But they underestimated me.
They didn’t know what I was capable of. And they didn’t know how far I was willing to go to protect my child.
