hapter 11
Chapter 11
“You want to play victim, Linda?” I hissed, my voice cold as I held her under. “You think a little cold
water is going to be enough to frame me? Let me show you what it means to really suffer.”
Linda flailed, her arms thrashing wildly as she tried to free herself, but I didn’t let go. Her muffled screams were barely audible through the water, her desperate attempts to surface growing weaker by the second.
“Let go of me, you bitch-” she sputtered, gagging on the water.
I laughed, a dark, bitter sound. “What’s the matter, Linda? Don’t you love to act pitiful? Why is your mouth so dirty now? Maybe you should wash it out.”
I didn’t care if this was a real second chance or some strange hallucination after death. All I knew was that I had been given a chance to take back my power, to make those who had wronged me
suffer.
In my previous life, this night had been a nightmare. After Linda’s little performance, I had been branded a liar and a bully. My family’s name had been dragged through the mud, my brother’s position in Moonshadow Pack damaged by association, and I had spiraled into depression. That had been the start of it all –
the rumors, the isolation, and eventually, my marriage to Ryan, a man who had only wanted to control me.
But this time, things would be different. I would make sure of it.
–
That’s when I heard his voice a familiar, loathsome voice that made my skin crawl.
“Sophia, what are you doing?!”
I looked up, and there he was. Ryan, hurrying toward the pool, his expression one of false concern. In my past life, I hadn’t known better. I had trusted him, fallen for his lies. But now, I could see the
truth.
Linda’s frail body struggled as she pulled herself out of the pool, collapsing on the ground in a breathless heap. Her face, once innocent and pure, was now marred with red slap marks from the blows I had inflicted. The sight of her disheveled state made me feel a twisted sense of satisfaction, though I barely acknowledged it.
Ryan, standing a few steps away, hesitated. I could see his muscles tense as if he wanted to rush over to her, to cradle her in his arms and whisper some comforting lie. But with me still watching, he dared not move. After all, we weren’t married yet, and he couldn’t make such a blatant show of
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Chapter 11
affection for Linda right in front of me. Not yet, anyway.
Linda, her lip trembling, glanced at him with hope, but her expression soured when she realized he
wouldn’t defy me. Her eyes filled with hurt as she waited for Ryan, hoping for any sign of protection, but he remained indifferent, frozen in place. I walked up to the shore, looking down at Linda’s pitiful state, and the laughter bubbled out of me before I could stop it.
“Go ahead, cry your heart out,” I taunted. “Throw a tantrum, scream to the heavens. Then take that pretty face and tell the world that I bullied you. Go on. I dare you.”
Memories of the pain from my previous life flooded my mind–the cruelty I suffered, gang–raped to death by men she had sent after me. My anger flared uncontrollably, and without hesitation, I stomped on her face–once, twice, harder each time. Linda lay stunned beneath my foot, eyes wide with disbelief. She hadn’t expected this. Not from me. Not anymore.
Ryan reacted immediately, rushing to grab my arm. “Sophia, why are you doing this?” His voice was filled with feigned shock. “Who is she to you?”
For a moment, his words almost stopped me. Almost. The memories of my past life came crashing down again–how Ryan had deceived me, pretending to know nothing of Linda. He played the part so well, feigning ignorance as if they were just schoolmates at the academy, as if they shared no connection. But every time Linda framed me, every time she threw dirt on my name, Ryan had stood by her side, forcing me to apologize, making me seem like the villain. And with just a few manipulative words, he convinced me that everything was my fault.
Suddenly, without thinking, I slapped him hard across the face. The crack of my palm against his
cheek echoed in the air.
Linda, her shock morphing into rage, scrambled to her feet, pushing herself between us. “Sophia, you crazy bitch!” she screamed. “Why did you hit him?”
I sneered, unbothered by her outburst. “I slapped my man. Why are you so upset? Unless…” I tilted my head and smirked. “Unless you two are closer than you let on?”
Linda stammered, her eyes darting between me and Ryan. “I… I…” She couldn’t form a coherent
sentence.
Ryan’s reaction was slower. He blinked as if still processing the blow, then slowly reached up, his fingers gently brushing against his cheek. He recovered quickly, though, forcing a calm expression, bis eyes glinting with a familiar coldness. Lowering his head, he brushed a thumb along my cheek
with what appeared to be affection.
