Swapped: His Dead Wife's Revenge

Chapter 7

June’s Pov

I walked out of Nikolai’s study with my bare feet slapping against the cold floor. Tears still burned on my cheeks. The hallway felt endless, every expensive painting and chandelier mocking me. This was not my room. This was not my life. I needed to get back to the hospital, to scream at the doctors until they put me back in my own body. But how could they? I had died. I had felt the bullet tear through me. My babies were gone.

The thought hit me so hard I almost collapsed. I pushed open the bedroom door and stumbled inside. My chest heaved with fresh sobs. I looked around wildly for something, anything that could help me escape. My eyes landed on a pair of fancy slippers near the closet. I didn’t care how ridiculous I looked. I slipped them on, the soft fabric strange against my skin.

I had to leave. Right now.

I hurried down the grand staircase, heart pounding. The mansion felt like a prison made of marble and gold. Halfway to the front door, Betty appeared from a side hallway, her satin robe hugging her curves.

“Hey, where are you going?” she called, her voice sweet but sharp underneath.

I ignored her and kept walking, faster now.

“Chloe!” she shouted after me.

The heavy front doors opened easily. Cool night air hit my face as I stepped outside. The compound was massive. Long driveway, perfectly trimmed lawns, security lights glowing like watchful eyes. Servants and guards turned to stare as I hurried past. Their eyes felt heavy on my hospital gown and messy hair.

“What the f**k are you looking at?” I snapped at one guard who stared too long.

He lowered his gaze quickly. “Sorry, ma’am.”

“Better for you,” I muttered, but my voice cracked.

I reached the tall iron gate at last. My legs burned. My eyes were swollen and red. I pushed through and stepped onto the street, the city lights blurring through my tears. Which way to the hospital? Which city was this even?

I stopped a man walking his dog. “Please, where is this? What city?”

He gave me a strange look. “This is Basel. Are you okay?”

Basel??? Three states away from home. The words hit like a slap. How? How had I ended up so far? What kind of witchcraft or nightmare was this?

I kept walking, but exhaustion crept in fast. I hadn’t eaten properly. I had no money, no phone, no coat. The night air turned colder. People on the sidewalk stared. Some whispered. A few pulled out phones to snap pictures.

I felt so small. So stupid. Why had I run out like this? It was impulsive and emotional. I should have stayed, found money, planned better. Now I was lost, barefoot and, looking like a madwoman in someone else’s body.

My legs gave out near a small porch in front of a closed shop. I sank down, hugging my knees to my chest. Silent tears fell again. Maybe I should just die. My babies were gone. Nikolai had killed them. Maybe Chloe had done something terrible to deserve this, but I hadn’t. I didn’t deserve any of it.

People passed by, pointing. “Is that Chloe?” someone whispered loudly. “Chloe Russell?” More phones came out. “Yes, that’s her!”

I tried to hide my face, embarrassment burning hotter than the cold. Celebrity? In this body I was apparently someone important. But right now I felt like nothing.

A sleek black car slowed and pulled up beside me. The window rolled down.

“Chloe! Oh my God, what are you doing here, love?”

Mrs. Alice’s voice, full of worry. She jumped out of the car, another young woman stepping out from the passenger side. Mrs. Alice rushed over and helped me stand, her hands gentle but firm.

“You’re supposed to be resting in the house. Why do you look so miserable? Come on, let’s get you back.”

I pulled away slightly, fresh tears spilling. “No. I don’t want to go back to that house. I don’t know you. My real mother is dead. My father is dead. I was married to a man named Frederick. He cheated on me. We got divorced. Then Nikolai shot me. He killed my babies…”

The other girl stepped closer, eyes wide. “Mom, I think my sister needs to go to the asylum. She’s talking nonsense.”

“I’m not your sister!” I cried, voice breaking. “This is the first time I’m seeing you. Why won’t anyone believe me? I’m not Chloe. I’m June. Please, someone has to believe me.”

People on the street were watching now, phones still recording. Whispers grew louder.

Mrs. Alice’s face softened, but I saw the worry in her eyes. She touched my arm gently. “Calm down, okay? I believe you. I know my daughter doesn’t act this way. That’s why you need to come with me. We’ll get you better and talk more. Do you understand?”

I stared at her. She didn’t believe me. Not really. She just wanted to take the “crazy” version of her daughter back inside where no one could see.

But I was hungry. Cold. Tired. And I had nowhere else to go.

“Okay,” I whispered.

I climbed into the back seat. Mrs. Alice got behind the wheel. The girl — Iris, I guessed — sat in front. Silent tears rolled down my cheeks the whole ride. In the rearview mirror, I caught Mrs. Alice watching me with that same worried look.

Iris turned slightly. “How did you even find me?”

Mrs. Alice answered softly, “I was coming to drop off more of your things when Iris saw someone online saying you were sitting on the street looking lost. We drove straight here.”

I didn’t reply. I just stared out the window as the mansion gates opened again.

When we stepped inside the house, Nikolai was waiting in the sitting room, lounging on the sofa like he owned the world.

“You’re back already?” he said, voice dripping with mockery. “Couldn’t even last twenty-four hours without me, Chloe? Is that how you plan to live now?”

I opened my mouth to say something sharp, something mean, but Mrs. Alice spoke first.

“She’s sorry, Nikolai. The accident has taken a real toll on her. She’ll be fine. Just give us a few days.”

Nikolai stood up slowly. “Whatever. Tomorrow the lawyer will be here to finalize the marriage papers. Dress nicely. Be downstairs at eight. I don’t like waiting.”

He turned and walked away without another glance.

I stood there in the grand hallway, still wearing the hospital gown under a thin coat someone had thrown over me, feeling smaller than ever.

No one believed me.

No one was coming to save me.

And tomorrow I would be legally tied to the man who had killed my babies.