The Betrayal Within (revenge)

ality of her surroundings. She found herself in a dingy, abando

ece together what had happened. Her clothes were slightly

waited for a response, but the only sound was the echo of her voice off

r gave way to determination. She stood up, smoothing

ped out into the bright sunlight, blinking away the dimness of the

embered her decision to go to the police station. But what had happened be

ith a shock. Lucas stood in the foyer, his eyes blazing with anger. Without warning,

of the rug, and she barely managed to keep herself from falling. Her hand flew to

anded, her voice shaking-not

her, his hand trembling as he pointed at the screen. "Are you

phone from his grip. The moment the video be

been cut and framed in a way that twisted reality

eath h

s tightening around the phone. "T

y across her face. "How did you get this?" she a

hat do you mean, how did I get it?" he sna

uck harder t

st ached as tears spilled over, not from guilt, but from th

her voice breaking slightly. "I did no suc

tomach churn. "You expect me to believe you when the pr

asked, her voice cracking under the weight of disbelief. "After everything? You think I w

t. "I know exactly what you are," he spat. "A cheating wife.

every word, but her voice remained steady. "I was kidn

ted cruelly. "Did you even watch the

bling with frustration. "They drugged me. They covered my face. I woke up afterward with no memory of what

the phone back from her, turned on

ammed shut

cruelly in her mind. The video hadn't shown consent, but her

what shatte

Maddie arrived minutes later, Olivia told her everything-the kidnapping, the vide

listened. When Olivia finished

station, Olivia," Maddie said shar

doorway. His presence sucked the air out of the room. His ey

y, his voice sharp with menace. "So

rted, but no words came immediately-not because

didn't

his tone cold and comm

but the tension in the room was suffocating. She s

Lucas's gaze locked onto Oli

d. "Were you planning o

ight of everything pressing down on her became unbearable. Tears stre

n hurting me for a long time." She lifted her head to look at him, her eyes

I don't matter. Like I'm nothing. Whether you love me or not doesn't

ten. If anything, his lips cu

aid coldly. "Let's see how brave you are whe

eart thundered violently as realization crashed into her all

was

the shock. She shot to her feet, her h

wrist midair, his grip tight and unyielding. He

goes public, being my wife won't protect you, it'll ruin you." His lips curved into a smi

ughly, straightening as

her sides. Tears blurred her vision, the crushing r

g Olivia standing alone in the silence, her heart pounding with fury,

being th