The silver-ribboned box felt impossibly light in my hand as I stepped out of the car. Tonight was meant to be special - our first wedding anniversary. I'd planned everything: surprising Lorde at his company's year-end party, sharing a toast under the shimmering lights, and celebrating the future we'd built together.

But as I entered the brightly lit resort, a cold unease settled in my stomach. Something felt wrong. The hall buzzed with laughter and the clinking of champagne glasses, but my heart pounded in my chest as I searched for him. He wasn't in the main hall, not in any of the private lounges. With every step, the box grew heavier, the weight mirroring the anxiety building inside me.

Then, I heard it - his deep, unmistakable laugh. A wave of relief washed over me, until a second voice joined his, a light, teasing voice that sent a shiver down my spine. Venus.

My steps faltered. Venus was my best friend, or had been. Lately, her casual touches on Lorde's arm, her overly bright smiles, had set me on edge. But tonight, my suspicion sharpened into something darker, an icy blade piercing my heart.

Following their voices, my pulse roared in my ears. Peeking through a partially open door, I saw them: Lorde, glass in hand, cheeks flushed from drinking, and Venus, seated too close, her hand resting possessively on his arm.

"Truth or dare," someone called out, their voice slurred with alcohol.

Venus's smile turned wicked as she looked at Lorde. "Truth or dare?"

He grinned, swaying slightly. "Dare."

Her voice rang out, deliberate and loud. "I dare you to sleep with me."

Laughter erupted, but I froze, my chest constricting as if an invisible hand were squeezing the air from my lungs.

"No way!" someone exclaimed.

"Oh, he'll do it," Venus said confidently, her eyes fixed on Lorde, a predator sizing up its prey.

Lorde raised his glass, chuckling. "Challenge accepted!"

The box slipped from my hand, the sound of it hitting the floor drowned out by the thundering in my ears. I stood paralyzed, watching as Lorde, my husband, picked her up in his arms - bridal-style - and carried her towards one of the private rooms.

The door clicked shut, and my world cracked wide open. I didn't know how long I stood there, but eventually, I moved, drawn to the bar, its dim lighting offering no comfort. I sipped champagne, trying to numb the storm raging inside me, but the betrayal burned brighter with every swallow.

The hours blurred into a haze of pain. When I finally dared to approach the private room, the door creaked open just as I reached it. Venus emerged, wrapped in nothing but a towel, her smirk a dagger aimed at my heart.

"Looks like you stayed for the show," she said mockingly.

The slap came before I realized my hand had moved. Her head snapped to the side, but when she turned back, she was smiling.

"Feeling feisty, huh?" she said, her tone amused. She slapped me back, the sting sharp but nowhere near as painful as her next words.

"You should thank me, Jillian. At least now you know how pathetic you look clinging to him."

"How could you do this?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

Yes, she was my childhood bestfriend. We grew together as if were sisters but everything changed when we meet Lorde Emillion.

She shrugged, her gaze cold. "Please. You've always known I wanted him. You were just too naive to admit it."

I knew about. ALWAYS. But who would've thought that Lorde will choose me over her? It's not my fault!

My fists clenched. "Y-You're disgusting."

She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "Let's make this interesting. Whoever gets pregnant first wins. Loser walks away."

I stared at her, stunned. "So... fucking insane."

Her laugh was cruel. "We'll see who's insane when the winner takes all."

"Jillian..."

I turned sharply, finding Lorde standing behind us. His expression - confused, guilty - made my stomach churn.

"Jillian, I—"

I didn't let him finish. My legs carried me past him, toward the parking lot, tears threatening to spill. He caught up, grabbing my arm.

"Let me explain!"

I yanked free, my voice cracking. "E-Explain what? That you accepted her dare? That you carried her off like she was your bride? What part of that needs explaining?"

His hand raked through his hair, his desperation clear. "I was drunk. I didn't know what I was doing!"

"Drunk?" I laughed bitterly. "That's your excuse? A mistake doesn't look like that."

"Please," he begged, reaching for my hand.

I slapped him, the sound echoing in the empty lot. "There's nothing left to say."

I got into my car and drove away, his figure shrinking in the rearview mirror. The tears came then, hot and unrelenting, as my world fell apart.

When I reached home, the small silver box still sat in the passenger seat. I picked it up, my hands trembling as I carried it inside. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I opened it, revealing the pregnancy test I had kept hidden for weeks.

Positive.

This night was supposed to be a celebration - a moment to tell him he'd be a father. But how could I tell him now? He didn't deserve to know.

I paced the room, the storm inside me too much to contain. Then, a sharp cramp pierced my abdomen. I froze, clutching my stomach as panic set in.

Blood.

The sight of it spreading across my skirt sent shockwaves through me. I tried to move, to call for help, but my legs gave out, and darkness swallowed me whole.

The sterile white ceiling of the hospital greeted me when I woke. My body felt heavy, my mind foggy.

"Jillian, you're awake!" Glaiza, my assistant, sat at my bedside, her face streaked with tears.

"What happened?" I croaked.

Before she could answer, the doctor entered. His calm yet grave expression filled me with dread.

"Mrs. Javier," he began gently, "I'm sorry. You've had a miscarriage."

The words hit like a physical blow. My hands instinctively moved to my stomach, but the reality was undeniable. My baby was gone.

Tears streamed down my face as guilt consumed me. This was my fault. If I hadn't let my anger and heartbreak overwhelm me, maybe...

But the ache in my chest left no room for maybes.

Days passed in a haze of grief. I avoided Lorde, retreating to my room whenever he was near. My anger simmered, my heartbreak unyielding.

Then, on what should have been an ordinary morning, Venus barged into my room, her smug smile striking a nerve.

"Happy birthday, Jillian," she said, her voice laced with mockery.

"What do you want, Venus?" I snapped.

She held out a small black box. "Open it."

My stomach churned as I lifted the lid, revealing a pregnancy test. Two lines.

"It's mine," Venus said casually, her smile wicked. "Guess who the father is?"

I shook my head, my voice trembling. "Fuck... you're lying."

"Am I?" She crossed her arms. "Don't worry, Jillian. I'll take good care of what's mine."

Her words were knives. I stumbled, clutching the edge of the bed to steady myself.

Then her phone rang. She answered, her smirk slipping as her expression turned grave.

"W-What's wrong?" I asked.

Her voice trembled. "Lorde's in the hospital. He was shot this morning."

Her words shattered what little remained of my composure.

"No..." My knees gave way, and I collapsed to the floor, the weight of it all finally too much to bear.

B-BUT WHY? H-HE CANNOT DIE!

That night, I found myself heading to the hospital. I had to see Lorde. My heart was racing with so many questions. What was happening? Why wasn't anyone answering my calls?

But as I reached his hospital room, a guard blocked my way.

"Ma'am, you're not allowed in here," he said, his tone firm.

"E-Excuse me?" I snapped, my voice trembling. "I'm his wife. I have every right to see him!"

Before I could argue further, the door opened, and out stepped Venus. She looked calm, too calm for someone who was supposed to be grieving. My anger boiled over. Without thinking, I raised my hand and slapped her.

"Do yo plan this bitch, huh? H-How could you?"

She pointed at me. Her expression suddenly changed. "Y-You! You're the reason this happened!" she shouted unexpectedly. "If you hadn't - if you hadn't see me slept with him - none of this would've happened! I-It was just a dare and you took serious—"

I barely flinched. Instead, I gritted my teeth, trying to resist the anger boiling inside me.

"Oh, V-Venus," I said, my voice dripping with curiosity. "W-What are you talking about? Stop this nonsense! You have no idea what you're talking about."

I wanted to scream, to pull her hair, to make her feel even a fraction of the pain I was carrying. But then, from the corner of the hallway, a booming voice cut through the air.

"Jillian!"

It was Don Emillion, Lorde's father. His heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor as he marched toward me. The moment he reached me, he slapped me across the face. Hard.

"How dare you show your face here!" he roared. "You tried to kill my son, MY ONLY SON!!"

My mind went blank. "W-What? No! I would never—"

"Silence!" he barked. His face was a twisted mix of rage and grief. "You brought nothing but trouble into our lives. You're cursed, Jillian. Cursed!"

I couldn't breathe. His words cut deeper than I thought possible. My hands trembled as I clutched my chest, trying to hold myself together. Then, just like that, he turned his back on me and ordered the guards to escort me out.

Venus watched the entire scene unfold, her arms crossed and a victorious smirk plastered on her face. I HATED HER. She freaking brainwashed Don Emillion for what? To fucking get his trust?

I hated everything about her.

When I got home, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I grabbed the picture frame of Lorde and me - the one from happier times - and hurled it against the wall. The glass shattered, just like my heart.

Days passed. Each one felt heavier than the last. I packed my things, determined to leave the house before the memories could suffocate me any further. But as I walked past Lorde's office, something caught my eye. The door was slightly ajar.

Curiosity got the better of me, so I peeked inside. What I saw made my blood run cold.

Venus. She was rummaging through Lorde's desk drawers, her movements quick and desperate.

"What the hell are you doing?!" I demanded, barging in.

Venus froze for a moment, but then she straightened up, her usual smugness returning. "Just looking for something," she said casually, as if it was her office.

"You have no right to be here," I hissed. "I'm telling Don Emillion about this!"

I turned to leave, but before I could take a step, a shadow loomed behind me. When I turned back, my heart sank.

A man stood there - tall, broad, and terrifying. His face was partially burned, the scars twisting his features into something straight out of a nightmare.

"Who—" I started, but Venus interrupted me with a laugh.

"Oh, Jillian," she said mockingly. "Meet Darius McIllano."

Before I could process what was happening, Darius lunged forward, pressing a cloth against my face. A sickly sweet smell filled my nose, and the world around me faded to black.

When I opened my eyes, I was tied to a chair in a dimly lit room. My head throbbed, and my arms felt like lead. Venus stood a few feet away, her arms crossed as usual, while Darius loomed beside her.

"Well, look who's awake," Venus said, smirking.

"What…what is this?" I croaked.

Darius stepped forward, his voice low and menacing. "Where are the documents?"

"W-What documents?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"The ones proving Lorde put me in prison," he growled. "I know they're here somewhere."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," I said, my voice shaking.

Darius didn't like that answer. He grabbed a wet cloth and pressed it over my face, making it hard to breathe.

"S-Sto—!" I gasped when he finally pulled it away. "I swear, I don't know anything!"

"Liar!" he spat.

Venus watched the entire scene with a satisfied smile, as if she was enjoying my suffering.

"You won't get away with this," I said, glaring at her. "Don E-Emillion will find out."

At that, Venus laughed - a cold, chilling laugh that sent shivers down my spine.

"Oh, Jillian," she said. "You still don't get it, do you?"

"Get w-what?" I demanded.

She leaned in close, her eyes glinting with malice. "Darius isn't just some ex-convict. He's Don Emillion's illegitimate son. And he's here to take back what's rightfully his."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stared at her, my mind racing. If what she said was true, then everything I thought I knew about Lorde's family was a lie.

Before I could say anything else, Darius grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"You're going to tell us what we need to know," he said, his voice dripping with venom. "Or I'll make sure you never see the light of day again."

Days passed, but I kept silent about what Venus and Darius had done to me. No one would believe me anyway. And honestly? I didn't want to relive the nightmare. I thought I could keep my head down and figure out my next move. But life had other plans.

One morning, a loud knock echoed through the house. When I opened the door, I was greeted by stern-faced policemen.

"Jillian Laví-Emillion," one of them said. "You are under arrest for the attempted murder of Lorde Ace Emillion."

My heart sank. "W-What? No! I-I didn't do it!"

But my protests fell on deaf ears. They handcuffed me and dragged me to the station. Before I knew it, I was thrown into the women's detention cell - a place that felt more like a dungeon than a jail.

The cell was massive, crowded with women who wore their crimes like badges of honor. Tattoos covered their skin, their eyes cold and calculating. As I walked in, their whispers began, low and menacing. I felt their eyes on me, sizing me up like prey.

I clutched my bag tightly and headed to the farthest corner, pretending not to notice them. I just wanted to keep to myself, but that wasn't going to happen.

"Hey, new girl," one of them called out. Her voice was sharp, almost playful, but there was a threat hidden in her tone.

I ignored her, focusing on arranging my things.

"Don't ya ignore me!" she snapped, and before I could react, she grabbed my hair and yanked me back.

The next thing I knew, punches and kicks rained down on me. I tried to fight back, but there were too many of them. Pain shot through every part of my body as I crumpled to the floor, beaten and bruised.

When they were done, they left me there, lying on the cold concrete. My vision blurred from the pain, and I thought that was it - my breaking point.

But then, someone approached me. A woman with kind but wary eyes knelt beside me and helped me sit up.

"Here," she said, handing me a piece of cloth to wipe the blood off my face. "Uhm… I'm Laura. You shouldn't have come here unprepared."

I let out a bitter laugh, wincing as it hurt my ribs. "Like I had a choice."

Laura's expression darkened. "Listen, those women? They're planning to kill you. It's been in the works since before you got here."

My stomach twisted. I frowned, "W-What? Why?"

She hesitated before answering, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I've heard them mention a name. Venus. Do you know her?"

The air left my lungs. It was her? She wasn't satisfied with ruining my life outside - now she wanted me dead.

I spent the rest of the day stewing in anger. Every bruise on my body, every ache, every humiliation - it all fueled the fire inside me. I wasn't going to let Venus win.

That night, as the cell lights dimmed and the other inmates drifted off to sleep, I turned to Laura.

"Do you have a lighter and some cigarettes?" I asked in a low voice.

Her brows furrowed. "Why?"

"Just trust me," I said.

She nodded hesitantly and handed them over. I spent the next few hours tearing apart my mattress, using the fabric to create makeshift wicks.

By midnight, the cell was silent. Everyone was asleep - except for me and Laura. I nudged her awake and motioned for her to follow me.

"Damn! W-What are you doing?" she whispered, panic in her voice.

"You'll see."

We slipped into the small bathroom at the corner of the cell. Laura pulled out a one-liter bottle of gasoline she'd hidden earlier like I said - how she got it, I didn't ask. Some things were better left unexplained.

I poured the gasoline over the torn mattress pieces, creating a trail that led toward the exit.

"A-Are you insane?" Laura hissed.

"No," I said, flicking the lighter. "I'm desperate."

I lit the trail, and the flames roared to life. The fire spread quickly, consuming the mattresses and walls. Chaos erupted as inmates screamed and scrambled to escape the growing inferno.

In the midst of the chaos, Laura and I slipped out through the back, where the bars had weakened from the heat. We ran through the dark, our breaths coming in sharp, panicked bursts.

We reached the edge of the woods behind the prison, the fire still raging behind us. For the first time in hours, I allowed myself to breathe.

But Laura grabbed my arm, stopping me. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear. "What the hell did you just do?!" she demanded. "You know they'll hunt us down now! You just signed our death warrants!"

I met her gaze, unflinching. "Bitch! I had no choice. If I stayed, I'd be dead by morning. I can't let Venus win, alright?"

"W-Win… what?" she shot back. "What are you even fighting for?"

I took a deep breath, my hands balling into fists. "Revenge. Before she ruins what's left of my life, I'm going to destroy hers."

Laura stared at me, fear and uncertainty etched on her face. But I didn't care. I wasn't running anymore. It was time to fight back.