The Unlikely Ally's Vengeance

room counter, its faint blue lines confirmi

in

ller, had poured every ounce of my architectural talent, my energy, my love into helping Mark Johnson build his real estate empire. After my parents

deal yet, a deal built on the very land my family had owned for genera

s friends. I could already picture his face, the charismatic smile that

and boisterous. Mark' s voice, rich and confident, rose above the others. I paused, m

ower!" one of his

nt architect behind

warmed wit

stop. "So, Mark, with this deal closed, when are you and Lisa Chen makin

? My mind went blank. It had to

g. "Patience, my friend. We' re announcing the engagement at the gala next mon

uddenly cold, heavy. I leaned closer to

his voice lower. "She' s been with you for

all its warmth, dripped with a chilling disdain I had never heard

short, humo

land on a silver platter. And her talent? Can't deny it. She worked herself to the bone fo

reciative chuckles. My stoma

She has no idea I was the one who made sure that old farmhouse of hers had a little electrical 'a

arents. The fire. The smell of smoke that still haun

ices inside faded into a dull roar in my ears. He had killed them. He had killed my parents a

t, man. I heard her talking on the phon

aby to term, a perfect little surrogate. She' ll be so grateful I'm 'stepping up' she won' t ask any questions. Once the

sudden, silent void of my mind. He

he polished floor. The door swung open slightly more, but no one inside noticed. They were too busy laughi

een so excited to share just moments ago. It was all a lie. Our life

, a silent scream trapped in my chest. The world went dark at the edges as the monumental