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.

The warm breeze carried the hum of quiet conversations and the clatter of dishes as I sat at the small outdoor restaurant. The peace of this place felt like another world compared to the chaos I’d left behind.

But for me, it wasn’t enough. Adrian and Carmela needed to crumble.

Pulling out my phone, I typed a quick message and sent it to several major media outlets, attaching the proof of Adrian’s affair. Photos of him and Carmela, intimate moments at the office, and the announcement of their unborn child—everything was there. It didn’t take long for the story to hit the airwaves.

I refreshed my news feed as I sipped my coffee.

“Breaking News: Adrian Rose Accused of Affair Amid Plane Crash Scandal.”

I smirked. Perfect timing.

The television inside the restaurant caught my attention as the screen switched to a live press conference. Adrian stood at the podium, looking solemn, his voice steady but defensive.

“I love my wife, Felicity,” he said, dripping with practiced sincerity. “Carmela is just a surrogate. The child was a decision made for the future of Rose Corporation because Felicity couldn’t produce an heir. It was never personal, and it was for the company’s success.”

I rolled my eyes, the coffee in my hand forgotten. His lies were pathetic.

He continued. “I did not harm my wife. Felicity’s disappearance and the plane crash are the work of someone else. Someone who’s wanted to destroy me for years. My rival, Hans Ward, has been trying to undermine me, especially after our recent project negotiations.”

Adrian glanced at the cameras. “I urge the authorities to investigate Hans. The truth will prevail because I would never hurt Felicity.”

I scoffed under my breath. He had no shame.

A group at a nearby table started whispering, their voices loud enough to reach me.

“Did you hear about that Rose woman?” a man said.

“Yeah,” a woman replied. “Her husband killed her because she couldn’t give him a child.”

“Honestly,” another chimed in, “a woman should be able to produce a child. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

Rage bubbled under my skin. Ever since Adrian and I couldn’t conceive, I’d been the one blamed. It was always my fault. I’d accepted it for years without question, but hearing strangers reduce my worth to my ability to have a child made my blood boil.

I set my fork down, my appetite gone.

Later that afternoon, I sat in the waiting room of a nearby hospital, my nerves frayed. I had never once thought to get checked. I’d always assumed it was my fault, just like everyone else did.

But what if it wasn’t?

When the doctor finally called me in, I explained everything—the years of trying, the lack of answers, the constant blame. She listened carefully before running a series of tests.

“It’ll take a few days for the results,” she said kindly.

I nodded, thanking her before leaving.

The wait was excruciating, but when the results came, I was stunned.

“You’re not infertile,” the doctor said, her tone firm but gentle.

I blinked, the words not sinking in. “What?”

She smiled reassuringly. “You’re perfectly healthy. There’s no medical reason preventing you from having children.”

Shock gave way to disbelief, then to something darker. If I wasn’t the problem… then who was?

I sought second and third opinions, each confirming the same thing. I wasn’t infertile.

The realization hit me like a freight train. Carmela.

Adrian wasn’t the father of her child. He couldn’t be.

The lies, the manipulation—it all made sense now. She’d spun her web, using Adrian’s desperation for an heir to secure her position.

That night, I opened my phone and typed a message to her under a new account.

“Adrian isn’t the father of your child. How ironic?”

The next moment, numerous messages flooded in.