Planted seed of betrayal
1308 Words
INT. LUXURY LOUNGE – NIGHT
The air was thick with expensive cigar smoke and the clinking of wine glasses. Raymond leaned back in his chair, a crooked grin on his lips, while Mr. Roland swirled his drink with calculated calm.
MR. ROLAND
“They’re quiet… too quiet. Isabella and Nathan aren’t the kind to go down without a fight.”
ANGELA (smirking)
“They’ve lost everything. What more can they do?”
ALINA
“I don’t trust that silence. They’re planning something. I can feel it.”
Mr. Roland nodded slowly.
“Then it’s time to move on to the next phase. We need to eliminate every advantage they have left.”
Suddenly, Angela’s eyes lit up as she sat up straight.
“Wait… what about Mercy?”
Everyone turned to her.
ANGELA
“She’s still with Isabella. My father had her planted there years ago, remember? She’s probably seen and heard everything.”
MR. ROLAND (smirking coldly)
“Well then… it’s time we reminded her where her loyalty lies.”
RAYMOND
“Call her. Tonight. No more waiting.”
Angela picked up her phone and dialed. A few rings, then the line picked up.
ANGELA (V.O.)
“Mercy. Meet us. Now. You know the place.”
---
INT. ABANDONED PRIVATE SUITE – NIGHT
A dimly lit room cloaked in shadows. Raymond, Angela, Alina, Mr. and Mrs. Roland sit around a sleek glass table. The tension is thick. The door creaks open, and Mercy steps in, hesitant but composed.
MERCY
"You called for me?"
Angela stands first, her eyes sharp with expectation.
ANGELA
"You’ve been quiet, Mercy. We don’t like quiet."
RAYMOND
"We need intel. What are they planning?"
Mercy’s eyes flicker with discomfort. She clutches her bag tighter.
MERCY
“I’m sorry… I can’t do this anymore. Isabella trusts me. She’s good. I— I care about her.”
A heavy silence falls over the room.
MRS. ROLAND (coldly)
“You forget why you’re there in the first place, Mercy. We own you.”
MERCY
“You don’t. Not anymore.”
Mrs. Roland stands slowly, her voice slicing through the tension.
MRS. ROLAND
“Oh, really? And your little brother’s heart surgery next month? Should we cancel it? Or maybe let the authorities know about your father’s old debts? We still pull those strings.”
Mercy’s resolve visibly cracks, her face pale.
MERCY
“You wouldn’t…”
MR. ROLAND
“Try us.”
Mercy’s shoulders slump. Defeated. Tears burn in her eyes as she whispers:
MERCY
“…I’ll do it. Just don’t hurt them. Please.”
Angela smirks, satisfied.
ANGELA
“That’s more like it.”
As Mercy walks out, her back to them, her face hardens. She wipes her tears away and whispers to herself:
MERCY
“I’m sorry, Isabella… I’ll find a way to protect you… even if it means walking through hell.”
---
INT. MARCUS MANSION – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
The room is dimly lit, quiet and heavy with stillness. Rain taps softly against the windows. Isabella sits on the couch, barefoot, sipping tea absentmindedly. Across from her, Mercy stands stiffly, wringing her hands.
ISABELLA
“You’ve been quiet all evening, Mercy. Is everything alright?”
Mercy’s eyes flick up quickly, guilt flickering like lightning.
MERCY (forcing a smile)
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired, that’s all.”
Isabella studies her, concern etched on her face.
ISABELLA
“You know you can tell me anything, right?”
Those words crush Mercy. She nods, but her eyes begin to water. Isabella notices and sits forward.
ISABELLA (softly)
“Mercy?”
MERCY
“I’m sorry…”
ISABELLA
“For what?”
Mercy breaks. She turns away, hugging herself as she speaks through tears.
MERCY
“I shouldn’t be here. I don’t deserve to be near you. Not after what I did… five years ago…”
Isabella stands, startled.
ISABELLA
“What are you talking about?”
MERCY
“I was… supposed to spy on you. On your family. Mr. Roland… he threatened my family. I was desperate. I agreed. But I never told them anything. Not one word. I couldn’t. I grew to love you, Isabella. You were the only one who ever treated me like I mattered.”
Silence hangs between them.
Isabella walks toward her, her voice a whisper.
ISABELLA
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
MERCY
“Because I was scared. And ashamed. And now… I can’t even look at you.”
Isabella takes her hand gently, surprising her.
ISABELLA
“You chose the right side in the end. That’s what matters.”
Mercy sobs harder, collapsing into Isabella’s embrace.
Meanwhile…
---
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – NIGHT
Nathan sits beside his parents’ beds, holding his unconscious mother’s hand. His jaw clenched, his eyes red from crying. His mind miles away—at home, with Isabella… unaware of the turmoil Mercy is going through.
_____
INT. MARCUS MANSION – MERCY'S ROOM – LATE NIGHT
Mercy paces nervously, her mind spinning. She picks up her phone, her hand trembling as she dials a number. It rings twice before connecting.
VOICE (MRS. ROLAND)
“Mercy. I hope you have something useful for us.”
Mercy steels herself, her voice now calm, calculating.
MERCY
“Yes. But I need to meet in person. No more phone calls. Too risky.”
MRS. ROLAND (suspicious)
“Hm. Very well. Tomorrow. Our usual place.”
She hangs up.
Mercy stares at her phone, then at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes are fierce.
MERCY (whispering to herself)
“You want a spy? I’ll give you one… but not in the way you expect.”
_____
Isabella paced the room, her mind racing with Mercy's confession. Nathan stood across from her, his arms crossed, his gaze intense.
“I just don’t know what to think anymore. Mercy... she said she loves me, but can we trust her?” Isabella asked, her voice trembling.
Nathan sighed heavily, stepping closer to her. “I don’t know, Isabella. She’s been working for them all this time. I can’t shake the feeling that she’s still hiding something.”
“But she said she was sorry,” Isabella said, her voice soft. “She’s been holding this guilt for years. I... I don’t know. Part of me wants to believe her, but I also feel like she’s part of the reason everything has happened to us.”
Nathan stepped forward, taking her hands gently in his. “I want to believe her, too, but after everything we’ve been through... I can't let my guard down. I can't let anyone hurt you. If she’s truly changed, she needs to prove it.”
Isabella looked down, thinking. “I know. But it’s hard. She’s been part of my life for so long. It feels... like betrayal.”
Nathan’s expression softened as he touched her cheek. “I get it. But I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you. I won’t let her—or anyone—hurt us again.”
Isabella met his gaze, her eyes filled with emotion. “I just don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t,” Nathan assured her, his voice steady. “I’m here, Isabella. I’ll always be here.”
They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air. Nathan’s grip tightened on her hands as he spoke again, his voice filled with determination.
“We’ll figure this out. Together.”
---____
INT. ISABELLA'S HOME OFFICE – NEXT DAY
Mercy hands Isabella a cup of coffee.
ISABELLA (tired)
“Thanks, Mercy.”
Mercy hesitates, then finally speaks.
MERCY
“If… if I wanted to make things right, really right… would you let me?”
Isabella looks up, studying her closely.
ISABELLA
“I already have.”
Mercy smiles softly, holding back tears—but inside, she's made up her mind..
- Writer
