Swapped: His Dead Wife's Revenge

Chapter 16

June’s Pov

Nikolai stared at me for a long moment after I shared my location. His eyes were cold, unreadable. Then he turned around without another word and walked back into the house. I stood there for a second, heart still racing, before I climbed into the back seat of the car.

“Take me home,” I told the driver quietly. “To my father’s house.”

He nodded and started the engine. I leaned back against the leather seat and looked out the window, watching the mansion gates fade behind us. In my head I kept begging silently. Please let the driver know the way. Please don’t ask me for directions. I had no idea where Chloe’s family home was. If he asked, I would look crazy again.

The city streets passed by in a blur. Tall buildings, busy roads, people walking like their lives made sense. I wondered if any of them would believe me if I stopped the car and told them the truth. A woman shot and killed, now trapped in another body, married to her killer. Anyone who heard that story would think I had lost my mind. I kept quiet and stared at the sky instead, hoping for some sign, some answer from my parents watching over me. Nothing came.

I must have zoned out completely because the next thing I knew the car slowed down in front of a large gate. Security checked inside, saw me, and nodded. The gates swung open. We drove through.

The house was beautiful. Luxurious. A big fountain sparkled in the front, gardens stretched out neatly on both sides. But it was not as overwhelming as Nikolai’s mansion. This place still felt like a home someone actually lived in. The driver stopped and I stepped out, legs a little shaky.

Mrs. Alice came rushing out the front door almost immediately. “Chloe! Oh my goodness, you didn’t tell me you were coming!”

She pulled me into a warm hug. Her perfume was soft and familiar in a way that made my chest ache.

“I… I didn’t plan it,” I said, trying to sound normal. “I just needed to come.”

She pulled back and looked at me with worried eyes. “Is there a problem? Are you sure you’re fine?”

“I’m okay,” I lied. “I just wanted to discuss something with my father.”

The word “father” felt strange and heavy in my mouth. My real father was dead. This man was a stranger who had helped force me into marriage with a killer.

Mrs. Alice smiled brightly. “Come inside first. We just finished preparing lunch. You will eat with us. It will be like old times. Your father is not back yet. You know how work is. He should be home in two or three hours. Stay and relax until then.”

“I’m not really hungry,” I said. “I ate earlier.”

She waved her hand. “Nonsense. You have to eat. Come on.”

I followed her to the dining table because refusing felt too risky. Iris was already there, wearing a crop top and jeans, earphones around her neck, black painted nails tapping on her phone. She looked up when I sat down and gave me a long, suspicious stare.

Mrs. Alice kept talking happily while we ate. “I heard Nikolai’s parents are in town. How are they treating you? Mrs. McCoy and I have been friends for years. We always wanted this marriage to work. Is she being nice to you?”

I answered her questions one by one, trying my best to sound like I knew what I was talking about. She asked so many things I had no answers for. My head started to hurt.

“What exactly do you want to discuss with your father?” she asked finally.

Before I could answer, her phone rang. She stood up with an apologetic smile. “I’ll be right back. Wait for me.”

She left the room. Suddenly it was just me and Iris at the table. Iris kept looking at me, her eyes narrow.

“Can I ask you something?” she said after a minute.

“Sure.”

“Now that you’re married, you won’t be here much. We have so many rooms, but… can I take your room? It’s really spacious and has the best view.”

I didn’t know what Chloe would say, but I didn’t want to make an enemy. “Yeah, of course.”

Iris stared at me like I had grown two heads. “It is unlike you to say yes so easily. I was just testing my luck.”

I shrugged. “People change.”

“Yeah,” she said slowly, dragging the word. “You’ve changed. A whole lot.”

She stood up and left without finishing her food. I stayed at the table, scrolling through the phone to look busy. A man’s voice suddenly called out behind me.

“Chloe?”

I startled and turned around. It was the doctor from the hospital. Chloe’s father. He looked tired but sharp in his suit.

“You are here,” he said. “I hope there is no problem.”

“No,” I answered, standing up. “I just wanted to discuss something with you.”

He nodded. “Come with me to my study.”

I followed him down the hallway, my heart beating faster with every step. Maybe here, in this house, I would finally find some answers about what had happened to me.

****

The study was quiet and smelled of old books and expensive wood polish. Chloe’s father sat behind a large desk and motioned for me to take the chair across from him. I sat down carefully, my hands folded in my lap so he wouldn’t see them shaking.

“We have not seen each other properly since that day at the hospital,” he said, studying me. “How are you feeling now?”

“I’m fine,” I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.

He raised an eyebrow. “Are you?”

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

He said nothing for a moment, just watched me. Then he leaned back in his chair. “So, to what do I owe this pleasant visit?”

I took a deep breath and tried to sound confident, like I imagined Chloe would. “It is about your part of the bargain for my marriage. I don’t want them looking at me like we used them just to get into the family and then you don’t hold up your end. Can it please happen faster? I am begging you.”

The words felt strange coming out of my mouth. I was begging a stranger about a deal I did not understand. But I needed to play the part.

My father looked at me for a long time. “Is that the only thing you came for?”

“Yes, Dad.”

He nodded slowly. “Anything for my daughter. I will make sure it moves faster. I will let you know when it is done.”

Relief washed over me so strongly that I stood up and hugged him without thinking. “Thank you, Father.”

He stiffened in surprise, then patted my back. “Chloe, you have not hugged me like this in almost ten years. What is going on with you?”

I pulled back quickly, forcing a small smile. “Nothing. I am just happy today that you granted this for me.”

He studied my face again. “I have given you many things greater than this, and you have never been this happy. What changed?”

I thought fast. “I think I just started looking at life differently after the accident. Seeing things more clearly.”

He nodded, though he still looked doubtful. “Okay. That is fine. I have to go now and attend to some business. We will talk later.”

I left the study feeling a little lighter. At least one thing had gone right today. Mrs. Alice was still on a call when I found her in the hallway. She ended it quickly when she saw me.

“Oh, my baby, are you going already?”

“Yes,” I said. “I have some things I need to do.”

She gave me a warm smile and hugged me. “Please get back to work quickly. There are so many endorsement deals waiting for you. We cannot slack because of one accident.”

“I won’t, Mom. I promise.”

She walked me out to the car herself. I climbed into the back seat, but instead of telling the driver to take me back to Nikolai’s house, I said something different.

“Take me to a nearby bar. Any quiet one.”

The driver turned to look at me, surprised. “Ma’am, I don’t think that is a good idea right now.”

“I don’t need to hear why,” I said firmly. “Just take me to a nearby bar. Please.”

He hesitated for a second, then started the engine. I leaned back and closed my eyes. I was not ready to go back to that cold mansion yet. I was not ready to face Nikolai again, to listen to his cruel words or feel his hands on me. I just needed one hour. One drink. Something to help me breathe and forget, even for a little while.

The car moved through the streets while I stared out the window. I just wanted a moment where no one was watching me, expecting me to be Chloe, waiting for me to mess up.

The driver finally pulled up in front of a quiet-looking bar. I thanked him and stepped out before he could say anything else. The sign above the door glowed softly in the evening light. I took a deep breath and walked inside.