That night I received a message that shook my entire being from within.

[Victoria: My dearest sister today was just a reminder to never go against me again.

I know very well that you are aware that the bastard you gave birth to is long dead and Austin is my and Alexander’s son.

But don’t worry, just like your daughter Mila, your son’s remains were disposed of too by Alexander himself.].

[Victoria: Alexander was busy playing with Austin so he did had time for proper funeral or to even bury your child in a soil inside the Salvatore mansion, so we decided to just burn the body.]

They… burned my baby like trash?

My fingers trembled as I stared at the phone, a video of a burning pyre played on screen making me fall down as my breathing became haggard.

[Victoria: You are a powerless fool who was born for my convenience. You were not meant to be loved, don’t cross me ever again.]

“How dare you touch my child?!” With bloodshot eyes that were bleeding tears, I rushed to confront Victoria.

“You call yourself a human after committing such atrocious acts!” my voice broke as I screamed like a wounded beast, eyes burning with miserable grief and anger like I couldn’t wait to rip her apart to shreds.

"Oh, my my, a small clip of your dear child and you came running like a headless chicken? How foolish.” Victoria smiled, her eyes full of provocation.

“Human? Ofcouse I am a human, but I can’t say the same thing for you and your children…small pests who were born to be squashed and thrown.”

“You demon! Ahhhh!” I wanted to strangle the woman infront of me yet Victoria took advantage of my fragile state and held my shoulders in a bruising grip, pressing down on my wounds.

“I wanted to show you that I won and you lost everything to me again bitch!" She leaned forward, her eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure.

“Alexander’s one true love is me and you? Do you know why Alexander married you in the first place?"

Because you are fucking convenient! He must have used you like his sex toy.

A thing he released his frustrations and sexual tensions upon, but his heart always lied with me.

You were nothing but a pig born to donate her organs to me when I needed them! Just because you spread your legs for Alexander while I was absent, you forget your filthy identity and even think of conceiving a child with my man!

He could have never loved you!”

I pushed her away looking at Victoria like she was a monster as she said the things I was most afraid of. It was as if I was living a nightmare.

“He married you Amelia because you looked like me.

That’s all you are…a cheap copy of mine."

The more Victoria said those things the more I looked at her calmly, my rage and hatred towards her intensifying as the hidden camera tucked in my shirt recorded everything.

"Do you want to see how much I mean to him?" Victoria smirked before reaching into her luxurious bag, and pulling out a small, hand-knitted sweater-the one I had painstakingly made for my baby in my nine months of difficult pregnancy where my body suffered severely.

“Alexander gave it to me saying that instead of a bastard, it would suit Austin better.

Something inside me snapped as I looked at the small pink cardigan with bloodshot eyes.

“If that was true then you already had Alexander!

What did my innocent children ever did to you?! Even a demon is not as cruel as you to experiment on innocent babies!”

Unknown to me Victoria smiled as she saw Alexander approaching us from behind. She came closer whispering softly.

"Mila’s death was a mistake…an unfortunate incident. But your newborn? That was pure science.

You should have seen him trying to gasp for his last breaths before I cut off his windpipe, his death contributed to my experience. You should be proud-“

Before Victoria could complete her sentence my palm connected with her cheek as I slapped her hard making her fall on the ground with a thud.

“Amelia how can you wish to kill me…I-I was just playing with Austin…”

Before I could understand what was happening a raged scream echoed.

"AMELIA!" The furious roar startled me, sending chills down my spine.

Startled all the servants in the mansion and they rushed to the scene in fear with my mother-in-law in front.

I turned around to see Alexander’s furious figure looming over me as his dark blazing eyes burning holes in my skull in wrath.

A bitter laughter left my lips when I saw Victoria whose eyes flashed with fury that I dared to slap her but soon a fake tremor passed through her body as she shuddered as if my presence threatened her with sobs escaping her lips.

So she would act right?

Too bad that I did not care anymore.

"You slapped her? Have you fucking forgotten your place Amelia!

You fucking dare slap Victoria?!”

“Instead of blaming me why don’t you tell everyone how did we lose Mila and our son?!” I sneered at Alexander making Victoria’s cries stop for a moment as she looked at me in surprise..

“It was because you were fucking careless! Mom was right, I could never be hard on you and you fucking took advantage of the fact and always bullied Victoria!”

Alexander closed onto me his eyes filled with fury,

“Today I will not repeat my mistakes, I will teach you a lesson you never forget in your life!”

With that Alexander held my hand dragging me out of the room as I kept resisting, amidst cries and tears his pace fastened making me trip multiple times yet all my sorrowful broken sobs fell on deaf ears.

“Leave me! Where are you taking me?!”

Soon with a kick the dark storage room without a single source of light was kicked open.

I shuddered in horror as I looked at my husband of three years whom I once loved with all my heart.

“I didn’t want to do this, but it is you who has forced my hands Amelia.” With that he pushed me inside the small dingy storage room despite knowing my absolute fear of darkness and shut the door tightly.

Falling down on the ground with a thud, I banged the door as I suffocated, clawing at my throat in desperate attempt to breathe.

Alexander looked uncertain for a moment before he was reminded of Victoria and Austin.

“Amelia is phobic to darkness so this is a good lesson, let her scream all she wants but nobody is allowed to open the door! I will come to bring her out tomorrow.”

“Open! Let me out! Let me out please!” The door was banged for two hours, it was only when my bleeding hands could not take any more that I fell down on the floor helplessly, my body convulsing violently with the lack of oxygen.

My biological mother once locked me inside a dark room when I was little, stuffing my mouth with a cloth so that I would not scream, often ‘forgetting’ to feed me for days just because I broke Victoria’s doll.

It was Alexander with whose help I learned how to smile, a husband who married and brought me out of the hellhole that was my parent’s home but this was the truth of his love.

Betrayal

Lying limp with a completely broken body I rocked my body back and forth in a slow rhythmic motion as I hallucinated.

My Mila was crying.

My son was weeping.

“Baby? Where are you my dear?” I stood up quickly searching each corner of the room but my children were nowhere to be found.

And it was at that moment the last thread of any relation between me and Alexander snapped and altogether the absolute fear in my heart stopped.

Taking out my outdated cellphone I dialled a number.

“It is me Amelia, Doctor Anderson.

If I am not wrong, it was you who injected me with a sterility drug right?” The panicked male voice on the other hand made me laugh through tears.

“If the truth comes out do you think you can survive? The only way I will let you live is if you follow my command.

By tomorrow arrange a deadbody that looks like me and yes don’t forget to bring an antidote of the drug you injected me with.”

Sitting like that for hours, I did not even get a wink of sleep and as soon as morning arrived the doors of my prison opened with Alexander entering inside looking at my eyes with some guilt.

“Amelia…are you alright? Why did you went against me-” Before the sentence could be completed I limped to my husband and embraced him lovingly almost as if nothing had transpired.

“I know I was wrong. I will apologize to your mother and Victoria.

Today is Victoria’s birthday right, how about I plan a grand party for her? I will cook all her favourite foods to show my change of heart.” Startled by my change in demeanour Alexander beamed not finding my sudden change suspicious.

He forgot that not only today was Victoria’s birthday but mine too.

A new birth of the woman whose dreams he murdered.

“That’s more like my Amelia! Docile and obedient, how can you ever go against me!” Alexander gave me permission not noticing the trace of ruthlessness that flashed in my eyes.

“Do you forgive me then Alexander?” He smiled gently as if he had not locked and abused me at all.

“Ofcouse Amelia. How can I not forgive you?”

But I have not forgiven or forgotten your cruelty Alexander.

Anyone who played a part in turning my word to ashes would pay a price.

A villaness you desired so a villaness you will get.

“Today is Victoria’s day, since you both look so similar can you please not appear in the party. I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable.”

After I worked relentless for hours decorating the mansion and cooking like a maid Alexander asked me hesitantly.

“Ofcourse” The words would have earlier shattered my heart but now it only made me smile widely as a glint of eerie excitement shone in my eyes.

“Today I have prepared a gift that neither you nor Victoria will ever forget so go ahead and enjoy.”

Enjoy while you can.

Alexander gave me a gentle kiss to which I turned my face away making annoyance flash in his eyes for a moment before he turned away to leave

The entire Salvatore mansion was decorated with tulips as Alexander invited dignitaries from all over the world, even going as far as to invite my birth parents whom he once hated for abusing me.

“Our beloved daughter! You are finally back!” My biological mother Lisa Vance embraced Victoria with love as they created a picture perfect family.

“Do you have any idea how much Mr.Alexander missed you! He waited for you all these years!

To think I see you two together now, I am hoping that I will hear a good news soon-”

“Mom!” Victoria looked shyly at Alexander as his hand went around her waist embracing her shamelessly.

“Ofcourse after Austin, we can still have more children. I am still young and Victoria is so beautiful so it is only natural.” My mother-in-law smiled as the perfect family huddled together to cut the lavish cake as fireworks went in the background.

“For you darling.” Victoria gasped holding a bouquet of flowers in her arms as Alexander smiled gently sliding a diamond pendant in on her neck.

“To the most precious woman in my life!” Cheers erupted throughout the mansion as Alexander pressed a gentle kiss on Victoria’s cheek.

“To think he treats his wife’s sister so well, Mr Salvatore is such a caring husband.”

“Now that Mrs Amelia Salvatore is sick and bedridden, it is so considerate of him to take care of her sister on Madam Amelia’s behalf- ah! What’s happening?!”

The words of a guest were interrupted as suddenly the power went off completely and entire banquet hall immersed in darkness.

I was watching everything that happened from a place they couldn't see me, and I pressed the remote control in my hand.

"Alexander, now it's your turn to receive the gift I carefully prepared for you."

The next second, the big screen in the banquet hall that was supposed to be showing Victoria's beautiful photos lit up, attracted everyone's shocked eyes.