I stopped in my tracks, just outside the partially open door, my heart racing. I had returned early from my business trip to surprise my husband Adrian with a sealed deal—a partnership that would bring massive growth to his company and a key to a mansion as a gift. But what I heard inside made my blood run cold.

“Felicity is just convenient for my business but overall, she’s useless to me, so you don’t have to worry about her.”

I felt like the air had been sucked out of my lungs. What is my husband talking about… and with my secretary Carmela?

“What’s important now is the baby.” I watched as Adrian leaned closer to Carmela and kissed her belly. “This baby is gonna be an heir to the Rose Corporation.”

The betrayal was like a physical blow. All this time, I had trusted Carmela, confided in her. I thought she was just my secretary, but now I realized she had been more—so much more—to Adrian.

“Do you think she’ll agree if she learns about our baby?” Carmela was worried.

“She doesn’t have a say in this, Carmela. We announced it to the board already and they agreed. Once the project she has been working on was sealed, I’ll dispose of her and we’ll be happy. For now, let’s just tell her you’re necessary as the surrogate for an heir she couldn’t produce.”

My breath caught in my throat, my fingers tightening around the folder. Adrian, my husband of five years, was planning to throw me away like I was nothing. How could he do this to me when I had helped him build everything he has right now?

I wanted to storm in, to confront them both, but instead, I stepped back. I threw the keys in the nearest bin.

The whispers started before I even made it back to my office.

“Poor Felicity,” someone muttered. “She can’t have kids, so Adrian—”

“Shh,” another voice cut in, but I’d already heard enough. Their pity stung more than their words. I held my head high, ignoring the looks, but each one felt like another crack in the armor I’d built. They thought I didn’t care.

But I did.

That evening, I waited for Adrian in the living room, my hands clenched tightly in my lap. The clock on the mantle ticked loudly, marking every agonizing second until the door opened.

“Felicity,” he greeted casually, as if nothing had happened, his tie loosened and his demeanor infuriatingly calm as if he didn’t betray me.

“Care to explain what I heard today?” I asked, my voice trembling but sharp.

He didn’t flinch, didn’t hesitate. “You mean Carmela?”

I stood, unable to keep my voice steady. “She’s pregnant? With your child?”

“Yes,” he said simply, as if discussing a business arrangement. “It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

My chest tightened. “Nothing? You call having a child with my secretary nothing?"

“It’s not like that,” Adrian said, stepping closer. “She’s just the one carrying my heir. I love you, Felicity. This doesn’t change that.”

I let out a bitter laugh, the sound foreign even to my own ears. “It changes everything, Adrian! I’m your wife. Something like this should have been discussed with me. And, love? Well, your love is bullshit!”

Adrian sighed. “You’re overreacting. This is for the good of the company. Once the baby is born, I’ll dispose of Carmela.”

Lies. Does he really think I was stupid? He was cheating on me with that bitch!

“But for now, Carmela will stay here so I can take care of our baby. Be good to her. She’ll need the larger room, so you’ll move to one of the smaller ones.”

I stared at him, my heart breaking all over again. I’m done and whatever I say, it’ll not change a thing. “Do whatever you want,” I said coldly, turning away.

“Felicity—”

I didn’t let him finish. I walked out of the room, out of the conversation, and out of the life he thought he could control.

The city lights blurred as I drove aimlessly through the streets. I slowed the car and pulled into an unmarked parking lot on the outskirts of town. The building in front of me was plain, nondescript—just like I’d been told.

A woman in a tailored suit sat behind the desk. “What do you need?”

“I need to fake my death,” I said, my voice colder now. “Can you do it for me?”

"Is this it?" I asked, staring at the body laid out before me.

The man nodded. "Identical to your measurements. Once the switch is made, no one will know the difference."

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to inspect every detail. It looked eerily real—down to the faint freckles on the arms. This was it. The first step to freedom.

"Good," I said finally, standing straighter. "Make it happen."

Without waiting for a reply, I left the building, the cool air outside clearing my thoughts. My next stop was my lawyer’s office.

“I want the divorce papers ready as soon as possible,” I said, sliding into the chair opposite his desk.

The lawyer raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure, Mrs. Rose?”

“I’ve never been sure of anything,” I replied firmly.

He nodded, scribbling down notes as I gave him instructions. Everything was moving into place.

From the lawyer’s office, I went to the pharmacy, slipping inside with my coat pulled tightly around me.

“Do you have something…” I hesitated, lowering my voice. “Discreet. For termination.”

The pharmacist glanced at me, then wordlessly handed me a small bag. “Follow the instructions carefully,” he said.

I nodded, clutching the bag tightly as I left. The plan was in motion.

When I arrived home, the sight before me made my blood boil.

Carmela was rearranging the living room, moving things that had been perfectly fine where they were. She spotted me and immediately pasted on a sugary smile.

“Oh, Felicity,” she said sweetly. “I hope you don’t mind. Adrian told me I could redecorate. For the baby, of course.”

I didn’t respond, walking past her without a word. Her fake kindness grated on me, but I wasn’t about to let her win.

In my room, I began packing.

Carmela appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame. “Going somewhere?” she asked, her tone falsely casual.

“A business meeting,” I said curtly.

Her smile widened. “Too bad I’m not your secretary anymore. Adrian asked me to resign so I could focus on our baby.”

I turned to her, my lips curving into a mocking smile. “Our baby? Funny. Adrian told me you’re just the surrogate. That baby will be ours soon, and you’ll disappear. Just like that.”

Her face fell, and I saw the panic flash in her eyes. “That’s not true,” she snapped, her voice rising.

I shrugged. “Ask him yourself.”

Carmela’s hands flew to her stomach, her breathing shallow as she turned and fled the room, tears streaming down her face.

Minutes later, Adrian stormed into my room. “What did you say to her?” he demanded.

I looked at him calmly. “I told her the truth. Isn’t that what you said? The baby is ours.”

“Felicity,” he said sharply, “don’t be insensitive. You’re upsetting her.”

“Is that my fault?” I asked, my tone flat.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Just… cook dinner for us, okay? It’ll make up for the mess you’ve caused.”

I smiled faintly. “Of course.”

In the kitchen, I started cooking, ignoring the murmurs I could hear from the living room. Adrian and Carmela were talking in hushed tones, but I didn’t care. This was my moment to act.

Once the food was ready, I carefully added the medicine to the dish meant for Carmela. Stirring it gently, I set the plates on the table and called them in.

They sat down, thanking me as if everything were normal.

“I’ll be leaving for a business trip tonight,” I said, picking at my food.

Adrian barely looked up. “Fine. Just make sure the project stays on track.”

I nodded, rising from the table. “Enjoy your meal.”

Grabbing my bag, I walked out the door, my heart pounding. The cab I’d called earlier was waiting at the curb.

As I drove away, the sound of an ambulance siren pierced the night. It raced past us, heading toward the house I’d just left.

I didn’t need to look back to know where it was going.

Adrian’s going to lose that baby just like he had lost me.

My phone buzzed relentlessly in my bag, and I hesitated before pulling it out. The screen lit up with a call from one of the staff at Rose Corporation.

“Mrs. Rose,” the voice on the other end said, tight with urgency. “Adrian cancelled your flight and is demanding you go to the hospital. Something happened to Carmela.”

“I’ll handle it,” I lied, my voice calm.

Hanging up, I instructed the driver to drop me at the train station instead of the airport. Adrian expected me to take the plane, but I wasn’t about to make this easy for him.

At the station, I secured my ticket under my new identity. Boarding the train felt like stepping into another life, one where Adrian’s control couldn’t reach me.

The hum of the train filled the air as I settled into my seat.

My phone buzzed again, this time with Adrian’s name flashing across the screen. He wasn’t going to stop.

I answered, my voice icy. “What do you want?”

“What did you put in the food?” he demanded.

I feigned confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“Carmela lost the baby,” he snapped. “It’s your fault, isn’t it?”

I froze for a moment, then forced myself to sound indifferent. “You’re blaming me for something I didn’t do? Typical.”

“Don’t play games with me, Felicity!” he shouted. “Come back and face this. Now.”

“I’m done letting you control me, Adrian,” I said, my voice firm. “I’m not coming back. Ever.”

Before he could respond, I hung up, tossing the phone onto the seat beside me. My hands shook slightly, but I wasn’t going to let him get to me.

I dialed my lawyer next. “Deliver the divorce papers to Adrian immediately,” I instructed.

The train rocked gently as it sped toward its destination, the rhythm almost soothing. My phone vibrated again—this time, a message from Adrian.

“What the hell is going on, Felicity? Divorce papers? What’s happening?”

“What about the business plan? The project? Everything we built together?”

I smirked, snapping a photo of the ripped contract from the deal I had worked so hard to secure. I sent the image with a single caption:

It’s gone. I gave it to your rival.

The reply came almost instantly.

“You’ll regret this.”

“I’ll make you pay for everything.”

I stared at the screen, his threats igniting a fire in me instead of fear. Every message he sent was another weapon I could use against him. I compiled the screenshots and attached them to an email, scheduling it to send to the police.

Finally, I blocked his number.

The train arrived at a quiet town just after sunrise. I stepped off. This place was nothing like the chaos I’d left behind. It was peaceful, slow—a good place to disappear for a while.

I found a small inn and checked in under my new identity.

After a quick nap, I ventured out, hoping to find something to eat. A cozy restaurant caught my eye, so I slipped inside and ordered something simple.

The television above the counter was on, the news playing in the background. I wasn’t paying attention until the words Breaking News flashed on the screen.

“The private plane carrying Felicity Rose, wife of billionaire Adrian Rose, has crashed,” the reporter said. “Authorities confirm remains have been recovered and believe Mrs. Rose to be dead.”

I froze, my fork halfway to my mouth. The reporter continued, showing images of Adrian walking past reporters.

“In a shocking twist, threatening messages sent by Adrian Rose to his wife have surfaced, making him a prime suspect. Police are currently investigating the possibility of foul play.”

A police officer appeared on screen, holding a file. “Mr. Rose’s messages indicate a motive,” he said. “We’re pursuing every lead.”

I leaned back in my chair, hiding a small smile. Everything was going according to plan.

Pulling out my phone, I opened a dummy account I’d set up earlier. I typed a single message and sent it to Adrian.

I know what you did. You killed your wife, Felicity.