THE WIFE HE MARRIED FOR REVENGE

LISA'S POV The first thing I heard was my name. “Miss Lisa Corris?” The voice was sharp and unfamiliar. I turned around slowly, still holding the tray of champagne glasses in my hands. At first, I thought one of the guests needed help. But the moment I saw the men standing behind me, I lost my breath. They wore dark suits with police badges and carried an unfriendly expression. The loud music in the ballroom suddenly felt distant. My fingers tightened around the tray. “Yes… I’m Lisa,” I muttered. “New York Police Department,” one of them said as he reached into his pocket and brought out an ID card. “We need you to come with us.” My heartbeat stumbled. “What?” I screamed. Several people nearby turned to look at us immediately. The soft chatter in the ballroom slowly faded as whispers began spreading across the room. “What’s happening?” “Isn’t she one of the hotel staff?” “Did she steal something?” the people mummured. Heat rushed to my face instantly. “I think there’s a mistake,” I said quickly, forcing a nervous smile. “I work here,” I said. The older officer looked completely uninterested in my explanation. “You’ve been accused of financial fraud and identity falsification,” he announced. The tray nearly slipped from my hands. “I’m sorry… what?” I asked. “You are under investigation for illegal financial activities linked to multiple accounts,” he said. My ears rang. No!!! No, this had to be wrong. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” I whispered. One of the officers stepped closer. “Miss Corris, we advise you to cooperate peacefully.” The room no longer felt real. The lights looked too bright. Too many eyes and whispers. My breathing became uneven as panic crawled into my chest. “This doesn’t make sense,” I said shakily. “I’ve never…” “Lisa!” I turned sharply at the sound of my manager’s voice. Mr. Harrison was rushing toward us, sweat already forming on his forehead. “What is going on here?” he demanded. The officer spoke calmly. “This matter concerns Miss Corris directly.” “There must be some misunderstanding,” my manager said quickly. “She’s worked here for almost two years. She’s never caused any trouble.” “That can be discussed at the station,” the officer spelled out. Station? The word hit me like ice water. “No…” I breathed. My hands started shaking badly, this couldn't happen. Not now please. Not when my mother was already missing. I had spent the entire day trying to call her after receiving that strange message from her phone. Don’t come home tonight, that was all the message said. There was no explanation or calls after that. Fear had been sitting in my chest since morning, and now this? Something was terribly wrong. “I didn’t do anything,” I whispered again. But my voice sounded small now. One of the guests suddenly lifted a phone, then another. People were recording, humiliation burned through me instantly. The tray slipped from my trembling fingers. The sound of breaking glass echoed through the ballroom, making me flinch violently. Champagne splashed across the polished floor. “Oh my God…” “She’s really getting arrested.” “This is insane,” a few guests gasped softly and stepped back. I wanted to disappear. I felt a heavy weight on my chest as tears burned my eyes. “Please,” I whispered to the officers. “Please, there’s a mistake somewhere.” But they were already reaching for me. And that was when I saw him. Charles Manson. He stood near the grand staircase upstairs, one hand resting lazily in his pocket while the other held a glass of whiskey. A man people feared more than they admired. I had heard stories about him before, everyone had. And somehow, out of all the chaos happening around me. His gaze was the thing that made me most uncomfortable. Because while everyone else looked shocked, he looked calm and interested. My breathing became heavier. The officer touched my arm gently but firmly. “Miss Corris, you need to come with us.” “I didn’t do anything,” I repeated desperately. No one answered. My eyes found Charles again without meaning to. He still hadn’t moved, but there was something unsettling about the way his eyes stayed on me. Like he already knew something I didn’t. Fear crawled slowly down my spine. Then suddenly, My phone vibrated inside my pocket, the officers paused impatiently as I shakily pulled it out. It was an unknown number, with trembling fingers, I answered the call. “Hello?” There was silence between I and the caller for a few seconds, then a voice spoke quietly. “If you want to see your mother alive, do exactly what they tell you.” The call ended. At this point, I knew something creepy was going on but couldn't place my hands on it. My hand slowly lowered from my ear. Alive? What did that mean? My vision blurred instantly. No!! No no Something terrible was happening. What's going on? I'm getting arrested and my mom is trapped? The officer frowned slightly. “Miss Corris?” I looked around helplessly, the guests were staring and recording with cameras. Then my eyes lifted toward Charles again. And this time, he walked calmly towards us. The crowd immediately shifted aside for him without a word. Power followed that man naturally. My pulse pounded violently inside my chest as he stopped right in front of me. Up close, he looked even more intimidating. He stood tall with sharp eyes and straight face. The kind of man who looked dangerous even while standing still. He glanced briefly at the officers before looking at me again. And somehow, that frightened me more. “You look terrified,” he said calmly. “I don’t know what’s happening,” I said. His eyes stayed on mine for a few seconds too long. “Maybe I can help you,” he offered. ‘I'm sure he wouldn't offer to help if he actually knew my true identity,” so I thought. The officer beside me straightened immediately. “Mr. Manson, this matter is under active investigation.” “I know,” Charles replied smoothly, barely looking at him. Then his eyes returned to me. “But I think Miss Corris and I should have a conversation first.” Something about the way he said it made fear twist violently in my stomach. Because suddenly, I felt like my arrest was only the beginning. And somehow, Charles Manson was already part of it…