Police cars and ambulances swarmed the Cortez Family estate, throwing everything into chaos.
*****
By the time the news reached me, I was basking in the sun at my estate overseas. Damian handed me a glass of red wine, his tone casual yet laced with amusement. “I heard Valentina lost her child, suffered massive bleeding and had to have her uterus removed.” “Meanwhile, the police found evidence proving she wasn’t responsible for your death. Kevin lost his mind at the station, accused them of falsifying evidence–caused such a scene that he got himself detained.”
“When they finally let him out, Valentina–who had escaped from the hospital–ran him over. Broke one of his legs. And as if that wasn’t enough, she drove straight to the Cortez Family estate and killed Mrs. Cortez. His husband is in a coma.”
I took the wine from Damian and drained it in one go. “That has nothing to do with me.”
Valeria no longer existed in this world. Anyone connected to her–anything tied to that name–was nothing but a stranger to me now.
I went by Verana now, the sole owner of this estate. This place was bought with the money Damian and I earned from a project we built together in university–one we later sold for a small fortune.
But Damian and I were never lovers.
Back then, when Valentina returned, Kevin became obsessed with her. So, I chose to step away quietly, letting Damian pretend to be my fiancé. But I never expected…
I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away.
Damian frowned and snatched the empty wine glass from my hand. “You just recovered. The doctor said no excessive drinking.”
I stared at the glass, lingering on the taste, not quite ready to let go.
For reasons unknown–guilt, conscience, or something else–Kevin’s doctor friend hadn’t followed through with the plan to kill me.
The sulfuric acid had been diluted a hundred times over. The initial burn was excruciating, but with time and minimal treatment, I healed completely.
The incisions on my abdomen had been shallow, barely more than surface wounds. No cosmetic surgery was needed. Once the scars scabbed over and fell away, it was as if they had never been there at all.
But…
I placed a hand on my lower abdomen.
The surgery three years ago–that had been real. My uterus was gone. And for that, I would never forgive Kevin.
Chapter 9
2/2 90.0%
08:50 Sat, 24 May G
The sulfuric acid had been diluted a hundred times over. The initial burn was excruciating. but with time and minimal treatment, I healed completely.
The incisions on my abdomen had been shallow, barely more than surface wounds. No cosmetic surgery was needed. Once the scars scabbed over and fell away, it was as if they had never been there at all.
But…
I placed a hand on my lower abdomen.
The surgery three years ago–that had been real. My uterus was gone. And for that, I would never forgive Kevin.
Damian hesitated, then said, “No one has arranged Mrs. Cortez’s funeral yet… Before she died, she kept calling your name.”
“Find a funeral service to handle it anonymously. But I won’t be involved.” I turned away, a single tear slipping down my cheek.
Silently, I wiped it away and walked off. Some people only realize the value of something after they’ve lost it.
But for me, the present was all that matters.
The past was gone.
The future? I would never have to see them again.
(The End)
