Life in hiding wasn't easy. Laura and I found refuge in a remote village, far from the chaos we left behind. It wasn't the most comfortable place, but it was safe - for now. The mornings were quiet, and the nights were long, filled with restless thoughts of what lay ahead.

One morning, as we sipped on stale coffee, the peace shattered. The local news blared on the old TV in the corner of the rundown inn. There he was - Lorde, my husband, alive and well. My chest tightened as his familiar face filled the screen, but his words made my blood run cold.

"My wife, Jillian Winston, is wanted for arson, attempted murder, and jailbreak," Lorde declared, his voice steady and commanding. "A reward of five million dollars will be given to anyone who provides information leading to her capture."

My face flashed on the screen. Five million dollars. That kind of bounty was enough to make anyone desperate.

"This is bad," Laura muttered, her face pale. "We're not safe here anymore."

But I wasn't about to let fear consume me. Instead, I leaned into the anger bubbling inside me. "We'll adapt," I said firmly. "I'm not going down without a fight."

That night, Laura brought up an idea that seemed insane at first. "I know someone," she said hesitantly. "A surgeon. He's unlicensed, but he's discreet. He can help us… change."

It was risky, but I didn't see any other choice.

A few days later, we met the surgeon in a dimly lit basement, the stench of antiseptic hanging heavy in the air. The procedure was excruciating, but I endured it, fueled by the promise of safety and revenge. Months passed, and when the bandages came off, the woman staring back at me in the mirror wasn't Jillian anymore.

"Ynna Lewis Versejo," I whispered to my reflection, testing my new name.

Laura, now Darlea Martinez, smirked beside me. "You're unrecognizable."

"Good," I replied, determination sharpening my voice.

Our plan began to take shape. We staged our deaths meticulously, burning old prison clothes and planting them in the remnants of the women's cell. The authorities would find them and assume we were gone for good.

With our new identities, we could finally start plotting our revenge. I wasn't just running anymore - I was fighting back.

Weeks later, I found myself back in the city, standing before the gates of the Emillion estate. The air was heavy with memories, but I shook them off. I had a mission to complete.

I had emptied my secret vault to fund this plan, every last penny going into my new life and my ultimate goal: infiltrating the Emillion empire. Step one? Investing in Lorde's company, Emillion Real Estate.

"SHIT you're moving too fast," Darlea warned me one evening as we sat in our small apartment, poring over documents.

I didn't look up. "I know what I'm doing."

She slammed the papers down, frustration clear in her voice. "Do you? You're risking everything! It's too soon to make a move."

Her words struck a nerve. I snapped, my voice icy. "You… don't get to lecture me, Darlea. If it weren't for me, you'd have burned alive in that prison!"

Silence filled the room as my words hung in the air. Her face fell, but I didn't care. She didn't understand the fire driving me.

The tension lingered, but it was interrupted by an unexpected phone call.

"Ms. Versejo?" a calm voice greeted me.

"Yes, talking," I replied, masking my surprise.

"This is Glaiza, Mr. Lorde Emillion's assistant. Mr. Emillion would like to invite you to a business meeting tomorrow morning. Can you make it?"

I almost dropped the phone. Oh, why are they rushing things? "Of course," I said, keeping my voice steady.

After hanging up, I turned to Darlea, who raised a questioning brow. "Looks like I'm meeting Lorde tomorrow," I said sarcastically.

The next morning, I arrived at the towering Emillion building. My heart pounded as I stepped into the sleek conference room, but I kept my composure. If they saw through my facade, everything would be over.

As I waited inside the conference room, the door swung open, and in walked Venus. My breath caught at the sight of her. Her figure was different now - her stomach round and unmistakably pregnant.

"Ms. Ynna Versejo, right?" she said sweetly, extending a hand.

I took it, forcing a smile. "Yes. And you must be… Venus."

Her smile widened, and she patted her belly. "That's right. Lorde and I are engaged now, you know. It's such a tragedy what happened to his ex-wife, Jillian. But I suppose everything happens for a reason, right?"

I clenched my fists under the table, hiding the storm raging inside me. "Congratulations," I said, feigning delight.

Before she could respond, Venus suddenly gasped, clutching her stomach. Panic filled her eyes as her water broke, spilling onto the pristine floor.

"H–Help!" she cried, her voice shrill.

Without thinking, I grabbed my phone and dialed for an ambulance. This wasn't part of the plan, but I couldn't afford to blow my cover now.

As the paramedics rushed in, I stood to the side, watching the chaos unfold. My mind raced with questions. How far was I willing to go? And what would it cost me?

The drive home after the commotion with Venus left me emotionally drained. Every mile back to my small apartment felt like a dagger twisting deeper into my chest. Once inside, I collapsed onto my bed, letting the tears come freely. It wasn't just the sight of Venus and her baby bump that broke me - it was the cruel reminder of everything I had lost.

The memory resurfaced like an old wound. Venus and I had made a pact back then, a foolish one born out of competition and pride. Whoever got pregnant first would claim Lorde. It had been a playful challenge at first, one we didn’t take seriously - until it wasn't.

I had been pregnant once. My hands instinctively went to my stomach, now flat and barren. I had wanted to surprise Lorde with the news, to see the joy light up his face when I told him. But fate had other plans. I lost the baby, and I never got the chance to tell him.

A sob escaped me as regret clawed at my chest. If only I hadn't waited. If only I had told him. Maybe then he wouldn't have turned to Venus. Maybe I would be the one he held now, not her.

The sound of the door opening snapped me out of my thoughts. Darlea stepped inside, her eyes narrowing in concern as she saw me curled up on the bed. "Ohh… what's wrong?" she asked, sitting down beside me.

I hesitated for a moment before spilling everything - the pact with Venus, the pregnancy I lost, the regret I carried every single day.

Darlea listened quietly, her face softening as I finished. "Do you still... love him?" she asked, her voice gentle but firm.

I nodded, my voice trembling. "I never stopped. No matter what, he was always it for me."

She sighed, leaning back against the headboard. "Ynna, you can't keep torturing yourself like this. He's married now. He has a family. You need to focus on what we planned."

Her words stung, but I knew she was right. No amount of tears or longing would change the fact that Lorde had moved on - with Venus, no less.

The weeks that followed were painful but necessary. I threw myself into our plan, pushing aside the heartbreak whenever it tried to resurface. But moving on wasn't easy, especially when I saw Lorde and Venus every day at the office. Their laughter echoed through the halls, a constant reminder of what I had lost.

One afternoon, as I reviewed some documents in the conference room alone, a knock at the door startled me. Venus stepped inside, her radiant smile masking whatever venom she was undoubtedly hiding beneath.

"Ms. Versejo, I have something for you," she said, handing me a pink envelope.

I opened it, finding an invitation to their baby shower. My stomach twisted, but I forced a smile.

"We'd love for you to be the godmother," Venus said, her tone saccharine.

Godmother. The word felt like a cruel joke, but I nodded, not letting my true feelings show. "Of course. I'd be honored."

The day of the baby shower arrived, and I walked into the lavish venue carrying a large, intricately designed cake. The room was filled with investors, family, and friends, all mingling under the glow of chandeliers. I put on my best smile, moving through the crowd and chatting with the guests, carefully picking out those who could be useful to my plans.

I was determined to stay composed, even as Venus flaunted her happiness. She was the perfect hostess, glowing with pride and stealing glances at Lorde, who stood nearby, looking every bit the doting husband.

As the event went on, I managed to blend in, keeping my emotions in check. But just as I thought I could get through the day without incident, chaos erupted.

A loud explosion shook the room, followed by panicked screams. One of the cakes had detonated, sending frosting, debris, and smoke everywhere. I ducked instinctively, my heart racing as I tried to process what had just happened.

Guests scrambled for the exits, some tripping over overturned chairs. In the chaos, I spotted Venus clutching her belly, her face pale with fear. Lorde was at her side in an instant, guiding her toward safety.

I stood frozen, my mind racing. This wasn't part of the plan! Someone else had just turned this baby shower into a battlefield - and I had no idea who it was.

The only question baffling inside my head was, "WHO?"