Didn’t even look at me. And she hasn’t come back yet. You think she’ll turn on us? We can’t have that kind of mess.”
Sebastian snorted. “Relax. I’ve lived with her for thirty years. I know her better than she knows herself. She doesn’t have it in her.”
“At most, she’s upset she finally figured out she never had a place in my heart,” he continued. “I’ll smooth things over. It’ll blow over.
“She’s got no money, no family. What’s she gonna do? Without me, she’s homeless. If she dies out there? One less problem for us.”
Jack chuckled, admiration in his voice. “Dad you’re always a step ahead.”
Sebastian reassured him, “Even if she causes a scene, I’ve got a backup plan. If it comes to that… we’ll kill her again.”
“Before I go,” he added casually, “I’ll make sure she’s buried with me. No loose ends.
“Good!”
Jack didn’t just agree – he sounded downright thrilled at the thought of killing me.
1/4
Chapter 10
The chill creeping over me wasn’t fear. It was disgust.
Next to me, Stella clenched her jaw so hard, like she was one second away from storming in and ripping them apart. Her hand shook as she reached out to steady me, her eyes burning with a mix of fury and heartbreak.
Without a sound, we slipped away from the doorstep and headed back to the car.
The second we sat down, Stella lost it. She cling to me, sobbing, hard.
“Aunt Helena… you’ve suffered so much.”
That broke me, I’d been holding it together all day, but hearing her say it out loud- everything just hit me. Tears poured out, unstoppable,
I buried my face in my hands, sobbing quietly, like I could wring out all the pain and humiliation I’d carried for years.
By the time we finally cried ourselves dry, Stella took me back to her place.
She and Zayne lived together now. Their place was cozy, full of little touches that screamed ‘we’re in love.‘ Warm. Safe. Everything my old house wasn’t.
The minute we walked in, Zayne didn’t waste time. He started pulling together everything we’d need to press charges.
***
The next few days, the three of us were busy working on the case.
Meanwhile, Jack and Sebastian must’ve realized I wasn’t coming back. They called a few times. Blocked. Easy.
Then Jack called from a new number again.
I wasn’t paying attention and accidentally answered.
The second I picked up, he launched into his drama. “Mom! Where have you been? Dad and I are worried sick!
“He hasn’t caten. He tried to kill himself again because of you! He said he’s sorry! You’re the most important person in his life!
“You’ve been with him for thirty years! How can you be so heartless? Are you really gonna abandon us?
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Chapter 10
+25 BONUS
“Mom, he even burned his first love’s photo! He wants to fix things. He just wants peace. Please… come home.”
I listened like I was watching a bad soap opera.
Seriously? A few days ago, they wanted me dead. Now they couldn’t wait to call?
They weren’t worried about me–they were terrified of losing control.
I cut him off. “Unless this is urgent, I’m hanging up.”
“Wait! Dad wants to talk.” Jack switched to video before I could end it.
Curious, I let it connect. What now?
Sebastian appeared on screen, pale, in a hospital bed, eyes red and swollen. His face twisted in exaggerated grief.
I glanced at him and immediately looked away, disgusted.
Sebastian started his pity party. “Helena… how can you be so heartless?
“When we met through that matchmaking service, I knew you were the one. You promised you’d always take care of me.”
“I know I made mistakes, but I’ve already died once,” he went on. “You’re the most important person in my life…”
His little revisionist history lesson made my skin itch.
I couldn’t even recognize the version of us he was spinning. No clue where he pulled these stories from, but the way he said them – all soft and emotional.
Please. He was in his sixties, practically halfway in the grave, and still yapping about love and destiny? What a joke.
It was pathetic. The man hadn’t gained an ounce of wisdom with age. Just a sharper talent for manipulation.
Zayne had warned me not to engage. He suggested I let them talk. The more they said, the more evidence we got.
Só I stayed quiet, letting them dig their own graves. Every word? Recorded.
Honestly, I hoped they’d keep going. The more they rambled, the more mistakes they’d make and I wanted every bit of ammunition.
–
3/4
Chapter 10
425 BONDS
But after a while, the act started crumbling. No reaction from me? Yeah, that threw them off.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
Sebastian, always quick to pivot, wiped his fake tears and softened his tone.” Helena… let’s meet. Even if you want a divorce, we need to handle the paperwork in person.”
But his eyes gave him away. Beneath that faux remorse? Cold, murderous rage.
My skin crawled.
“No time,” I said flatly, then ended the call without hesitation.
The second I hung up, a shiver ran down my spine.
That look in Sebastian’s eyes?
Chilling.
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