From Ashes To Altar: Her Vengeance

ina

. White walls, white sheets, a muted hum of medical machinery. My body felt heavy, bruise

eled, his eyes bloodshot. He looked at me, a flicker of something unreadabl

a blank stare. There was nothing left to say. Nothing le

you know. The venom wasn't lethal, but it was close. You were b

nd me after you threw me in a pit of spiders? Lucky that your chosen method of torture didn't quite kill me?" My voice wa

idn't 'throw' you anywhere. Someone must have... mistaken you.

worried about your image, Haywood. Not me. Never me." I turned my head aw

This is not how you thank someone who saved your life. Are

a calculated move, a performance for an invisible aud

fire. My hand reached under my pillow, finding the small, discreet digital recorder I had managed to

he asked, his eyes nar

chilling smile touching my lips. "For posterity. Now, abou

of dismissive arrogance. "Divorce? Celina, don't be absurd. You'r

has been nothing but an appearance. A cage. And we've both been

our family is... gone. Where would you go? What would you do?" He smirked, confident in his power over me. "Beside

ction then?" I asked, my voice danger

ys ambitious, Celina. And I provided you

licker of my old self, the one who believed i

at you were getting into." He paused, a strange glint in his eye. "And besides, even if I wanted to divo

n't divorce me because of your company? Or because of Anika? Is it love, Haywood? The way you

is jaw tight. "It

my lips. He was lying. To me, to himsel

l mockery of my internal landscape. The world felt bright, vibran

. "Celina, darling!" Anika chirped, her voice overly sweet. "So glad you're recovering! Haywood and I are throwin

e. "You will be there, Celin

flat. "I'm not in the mood for celebr

"You will be there, Celina. Or I will make sure your mother's meager po

cherished belongings, packed away in boxes, were vulnerable. He knew

oice trembling with a mixture of

a sadistic glee. "Your tears mean nothing to me

it away. The tears were for my dead parents. Not for this ma

rs, filled with the city's elite, all fawning over Anika and Haywood. Haywood, the doting partner, stood by

uisite!" "So romantic!" I heard whispers, mixed with envious sighs. Then, their eyes turned to me, standing alone in a corner, m

ommand passing between us. He wante

anded Anika a small, elegantly wrapped box. "Happy birthday, Ani

tist, a symbol of quiet beauty and resilience. "Oh, how... quaint," she said, her voice dripping with mock sincerity. She then turned her gaze to the silver

earing... it's so pretty. I've always admired it. It would look so much bett

l instinct to protect the last vestige of my mother. "T

ood. "Haywood, she's being me

dened instantly as they met mine. "Celina. Give it

when... when she was dying." The memory of her last phone call, her voice, her love, flooded my mind.

's grave. My stomach dropped. I knew what he would do. He would go through with it. He would dese

ll to the last tangible piece of my mother. I looked at Anika, her face alight with triumph, and a cold, d

stened it around her own neck, her eyes sparkling with malicious glee