“I can't believe Damian did this to me,” I sobbed loudly, “He ruined my face!”

Ethan placed a reassuring hand on my cast, “Remember, you mustn't let your emotions run extreme. Your heart is very fragile at the moment.”

How could I not? I remembered my parents. I was their only child. I wondered how they felt thinking I was dead.

“Damian Hale has to suffer for everything he has done to me!” I ground out, my voice an unstable mixture of anger, sadness, and frustration.

Ethan put his hand beneath my chin and brought my eyes to his, “I agree. He has perpetuated evil for so long. But how do we go about it?”

“A man like Damian has secrets that will destroy him. I will expose all his secrets and make sure he suffers the consequences of his actions.” I promised.

“Sir,” The doctor interrupted, “I don't think the lady is in any state for that. It will take at least six months with intense physiotherapy for her fractures to heal, and because of the trauma she has experienced and the drugs we had to give her for her condition, she has a fifty-five percent chance of having a heart attack.”

Ethan looked like he was considering the doctor's words so I immediately called his name, “Ethan! Look at me. I don't know what Damian has done to you, but I know you want to bring him down almost as much as I do. I'm going to push myself past my limits so I can recover quickly. Please, I'm going to need you to repair, no, reconstruct my face. When I finally get better, I'm going to infiltrate Damian's life, find out the skeletons in his closet and have my revenge.”

Ethan looked up to the ceiling and sighed, “Fine. I'll help you but you must promise not to risk yourself stupidly, and not to do anything to impede your recovery.”

A heavy weight was lifted from my heart, “Yes, I agree.”

Ethan turned to the unhappy doctor, “Dr Rand, I need you to refer us to the best cosmetic surgeon you know. Money is not a problem.”

*

Seven months later, I was walking on my own and I could move my arms freely. I felt a little pain but it was nothing I couldn't handle. I'd wasted enough time, and I wanted to get my revenge on Damian immediately.

I was holed up in one of Ethan's numerous apartments in Paris, far away from the prying eyes of his family as well as mine.

The events of the last few months played in a non-ending loop in my head. My parents had put out many search teams to retrieve my missing body, but they'd all come up empty, so they'd had to bury an empty casket in my name. At my burial, Damian and Tiffany had shed crocodile tears, making the whole world believe they were actually grieving.

After that, Damian had tried to convince my parents to agree to the merger deal with my family's company, telling them it was what I would have wanted. At the moment though, my parents had not given him an answer.

I heard the front door unlock, and Ethan entered, wearing a well-tailored suit and holding a paper bag in his hand.

“I brought you croissants, I know how much you like them.” Ethan smiled.

“Thank you,” I tore open the bag and brought out the pastry, munching on it.

Ethan watched me guardedly, and my hackles rose.

“What is it? Is something wrong?”

“I have some news for you but you have to promise me you won't freak out.” Ethan warned.

Eager to hear the news, I nodded.

“Your parents are going to sign the merger deal.”

I dropped the croissant on the floor, “No! No! No! They can't do that! If they do, Damian wins! How did you know? I haven't heard anything on the news!”

After I'd been discharged from the hospital, I'd spent my days soaking up every tidbit of news, facts, and rumours I could find on Damian. If the merger deal was going to happen, I'd have known.

Ethan ran his fingers through his hair, “It's not official yet, but you know Damian. He called me to brag about it. He said the deal will be signed in about three months' time.”

“Shit! That gives me three months to get my revenge!” I'd drawn up an elaborate plan that would take my a year at least, but now I was forced to dump that.

I quickly rushed to my bathroom and went to the mirror. Immediately I saw my face, I stilled. Three months had passed after the extensive reconstructive facial surgery and I still had not gotten used to my new face. It was the antithesis of my old face, angular, slim, with a less pronounced nose and wider lips. While before I'd looked like a choir girl, now I had the aura of a movie star.

I took a pair of scissors from a drawer, and began to snip at my hair. A knock sounded on my bathroom door, and a moment later, Ethan walked in, his hands in his pockets. When he saw my hair on the counter, his eyes widened.

“What are you doing?”

“Cutting off my hair.” My hair had been back-length because that was what Damian liked, but I no longer had to please him. With each lock of hair I cut, I felt like a heavy weight was being lifted off me.

When I'd cut my hair to a chin-length bob, I looked at Ethan through the mirror and asked, “How do I look?”

Without hesitating, Ethan swallowed, “Beautiful as always.”

“Which do you prefer? My old look or this?”

“It doesn't matter. I still know it's you. You're beautiful either ways.”

I nodded, satisfied, “Good to know. Ethan, I'm ready to have my revenge.”

“Sophia, you haven't received a clean bill of health yet.” Ethan complained, “I don't want anything to go

wrong.”

I gripped the edge of the counter, “Ethan! We're running out of time. Either you help me with this, or I sneak out and do it on my own.”

“So, your new identity is Elena Montgomery. You're a Canadian socialite and heiress to three diamond mines but you've spent all your life in the US, and you're looking to invest in Hale Oil and Gas.” Ethan tossed a passport and an ID card to me. We were in a private jet, flying to his family's penthouse in Manhattan.

“You're also my girlfriend,” Ethan looked away and shrugged, “So don't be surprised when I indulge in a little PDA with you.”

“Got it.” I gave him a thumbs-up. I was excited and anxious. Finally, my plan to get revenge was underway. After I'd given Ethan the ultimatum in the bathroom, he'd tried to talk me out of it.

When I'd gone to my room and started packing, Ethan had finally given in and twenty-four hours later, we were en-route to the USA.

Ethan glanced at me, “Get some sleep. The jet lag is no joke.”

I nodded and closed my eyes, but I was too keyed up to sleep. So instead, I daydreamt of scenarios where I exposed Damian's dirty linens in public.

Almost a lifetime later, our plane landed in a private hanger. The door opened and Ethan held me as we climbed down the jet to his personal car where a chauffer waited.

His hand on the small of my back gave me rather pleasant sensations, and I almost jumped away from Ethan.

“Do you have to hold me like that? There's nobody here to see.” I asked.

Ethan helped me get into the car before going round and joining me in the backseat.

“Maybe I like touching you.” He whispered quietly as the driver sped off.

Our next stop was at a designer store in Manhattan. I'd shopped there a few times, so I knew their products were sold at exorbitant prices.

“What are we doing here?” I asked Ethan as he got out of the car and held the door open for me.

“We're having dinner with my family, you know how that goes. If you turn up looking like a tramp, my stepmother won't accept you.” Ethan laughed.

I looked at my long dinner dress, “You don't think I look good?”

“You always look beautiful to me. It's going to be a different case for my stepmother.” Ethan guided me into the store, leading me directly to the VIP section.

He called a personal shopper and asked her to get me a dinner gown, “I don't care how expensive it is.”

The personal shopper nodded and brought in a rack of dresses. I tried on about six dresses, and finally decided on a jet black strapless dress with a sequined skirt. Looking at myself in the full-length mirror, I felt like a black swan.

The personal shopper left me and returned with a jewellery box. When she opened it, I gasped with surprise. In the box were the most beautiful and eye-catching diamond necklace and matching earrings.

“Oh my God! I can't accept it.” I shook my head at the woman.

“Mr Ethan Hale already paid in full for it, and we don't do refunds.” The personal shopper told me.

I had no other option but to accept the jewellery.

Then, the shopper got me a pair of stilleto heels. I stepped into them and took one last look at myself in the mirror. Loving what I saw, I walked out of the VIP changing room.

Ethan was glancing through something on his phone, but when he noticed me, he stared.

“What? Do you like the dress?”

He nodded wordlessly.

“I still think the jewellery is over the top.” I touched the necklace, “You shouldn't have gotten it. I knew it's expensive.”

Ethan rose from his chair and came to meet me, “Are you kidding? The jewellery is the best part. The diamonds match your eyes, and they'll make your backstory more believable as you're supposed to be affiliated with diamond mines.”

Ethan's point made sense, “But I can't accept it from you. I'll pay you back for the expenses you made today.”

Ethan laughed it off, “Sophia, no, Elena, this is no skin off my back. I can afford a billion diamond necklaces.”

Together, we got into his car and the driver put it in motion. Soon, I was sweating profusely in the air-conditioned car. With each passing minute, I got more restless and my heart beat faster. I gripped my dress, willing my anxiety to go away.

Ethan must have felt my distress because he took my hand in his.

“Ethan, I'm scared.” I admitted.

“Don't be. You've worked hard to come this far, so you have to see it through.”

I was about to see Damian again. What if I couldn't control my rage? What if I failed?

“Hey, Elena.” Ethan patted my hand, “You're not doing this alone. You've got me by your side. I'll be there to take care of you and protect you. That's my promise.”

Soon, the car stopped in front of an intimidating black skyscraper, and Ethan helped me alight.

“Welcome to Hale Tower. My stepmother is waiting for us in the penthouse.” Ethan told me.

Together, we made our way through the lobby and into the elevator. Throughout all this, Ethan held onto my hand and whispered reassuring words in my ear.

The elevator doors opened and we found ourselves in an expensive apartment with security detail posted by the door.

“Ahh, little brother you've finally arrived.” The voice I heard in my horrific nightmares said.

My eyes widened as Damian Hale walked up to us. I began to fidget but I chided myself, Sophia, don't give yourself away.

“Hello, Damian.” Ethan answered in an annoyed voice, “Sorry I'm late.”

“I can see you brought a plus one too, that's a first,” Damian ribbed, “I mean, I thought maybe you didn't fancy women.”

“Oh he does fancy women,” I spoke up, “especially me.”

I looked Damian in the eye, hoping something would tip him off that he was in the presence of his nemesis. A part of me wanted him to know I was still alive, and that he'd failed.

Damian narrowed his eyes at me for a moment,

“Say, something about you seems familiar. Have we met before?”

My breath hitched, I wanted to scream, “Yes you do! I'm your wife whom you tried to kill!”

But at the same time, I knew I couldn't. So instead, I forced a little smile, “No, we haven't met before. My name is Elena Montgomery.”

Damian held out his hand for a shake, and I took it, squeezing it hard.

Damian grinned, “Quite the grip you have there.”

I immediately released his hand and the three of us went to the large dining room.

I heard Damian whisper to Ethan, “She's feisty, just my type.”

I almost snorted. Damian had told me he loved quiet and demure women, and whenever I'd tried to be fun and lively, he'd frowned at that.

“From that attitude,” Damian continued, “I know she's a wildcat in bed.”

Ethan shoved Damian, “Stop talking about my girlfriend that way.”

“Ethan, stop shoving your brother.” Denise Hale warned. Denise was Damian's mother and Ethan's stepmother. An old woman with exquisite fashion taste and a face that had received more botox injections than I cared to know, she was shrewd and ruthless, and thought Damian could do no wrong.

When she saw me, she eyed me suspiciously, “Ethan, who is your guest?”

“Elena Montgomery,” Ethan introduced as he pulled out a seat for me at the dining table, “She's my girlfriend. Elena, this is Denise, my stepmother.”

Denise assessed me, her eyes noting the necklace around my neck, “Pleased to meet you, dear. If you don't

mind my asking, what do you do for a living?”

I lied smoothly, “Nothing much. You see, my family owns three thriving diamond mines. So, I just keep myself busy investing my money in profitable businesses.”

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Damian's eyes light up. I knew he was searching for investors for a new secret subsidiary of his, and I needed to get more information on that. Who knew, maybe that was what held the key to destroying him.

Damian opened his mouth to ask me a question when a woman rushed into the room.

“OMG! Everyone, I'm sorry I'm late. Traffic was a bitch.” It was Tiffany, my ex-bestfriend. She was dressed in a short gown and high heels.

Denise eyed her disapprovingly, “Watch your language, young woman.”

“Oops,” Tiffany feigned remorse and dropped a bottle of wine on the table. Then, she leaned in and kissed Damian thoroughly on the lips.

I watched them smooch and anger rose in my stomach. I held my knife tightly, a part of me wanting to stab the treacherous couple.

Ethan shot me a pitying glance and gently tugged the knife away from me.

“Cut it out.” Denise snapped at them, and Damian pulled away from Tiffany.

“Sorry for that,” Tiffany laughed, her cheeks red, “Damian and I love each other so much, sometimes we forget we're not alone in the room.”

“Yes,” Damian took Tiffany's hand and kissed it.

This was the same Damian who had scolded me when I'd tried to display my affections in public. It seemed he no longer minded kissing in public, the hypocrite.

Tiffany looked around the table for the first time and saw me, “Oh, hello. You're new.”

“Hi, I'm Elena, Ethan's girlfriend.” I choked out.

“Oh, Ethan. You finally found a girlfriend, good for you.” Tiffany congratulated him.

Then to me, she said, “I'm Tiffany, Damian's fiancée.”

The whole table went silent. Wheels turned in my head. Just seven months after my 'death', and Damian was already planning to marry Tiffany? The horror of it all.

Denise cleared her throat, “Damian, is this true?”

Damian nodded happily, “Yes, mum. I love Tiffany, and I'm tired of hiding our relationship. I proposed to her this morning, and I'm going to have my secretary release an announcement to the general public.”

Denise hissed, “Is that really smart? We're yet to sign the merger with your dead wife's parents. Don't you

think they'll feel betrayed when they hear you're marrying their daughter's best friend? Moreover, I'm quite shocked you didn't ask for my permission on this. There are more suitable women out t—”

“That's enough, Mummy!” Damian hit his fist on the table, “You don't have to worry about Sophia's parents. All I have to do is shed a few tears and tell them how much I loved their daughter, and I'll have them stupidly earing from the palm of my hand.”

It enraged me that Damian thought my parents were stupid. Back then, he was always respectful and polite towards them, winning their hearts with gifts and thoughtful gestures. To think all that had been one big fat lie.

“As for Tiffany, she may not be from a rich family but I still love her. Without her, I wouldn't have achieved half of what I have today.” Damian finished and kissed Tiffany once more.

Bile churned in my stomach and I abruptly stood up, “Excuse me, I'd like to use the bathroom.”

Ethan stood, “Honey, is something wrong? Do you want me to come with you?”

“Not really, I just have to ... powder my nose.” I answered.

“Okay, hurry back.” Ethan gave me directions to the bathroom and surprised me with a quick peck on my lips.

I stumbled away from the table and into the bathroom stall. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and willed myself to not get mad.

“You can do this,” I mused, “Remember what's at stake here. Don't let your emotions run amock.”

I was encouraging myself when the bathroom door opened and Tiffany walked in.

She went straight to the mirror and began to reapply her lipstick, “Are you scared of Denise? You shouldn't be, she's all bark and no bite.”

I frowned, “Isn't that something rude to say about your future mother-in-law?”

Tiffany guffawed, “Please, she's said worse things about me. She doesn't think I'm good enough for her son.”

I shrugged. Denise had felt the sake way about me too.

“But she's wrong,” Tiffany smacked her lips, “I'm the best fucking thing to happen to her son.”

Tiffany felt so confident, so I decided to shake her up a little bit, “Back at the table, I got a little confused. You said Damian's first wife died, and you're her bestfriend. Don't you feel like you're betraying her by dating her man?”