The Betrayed Bride’s Deadly Comeback

Lost the Recording

~Lucyll's POV~

Disgust twisted in my stomach at the sight of Arlyne, standing before me with that feigned concern, as if she actually cared. As if she hadn’t framed my father for embezzling company funds. As if she wasn’t the very one who shoved me into Harvery’s arms like a pawn in her little game.

But I forced a polite smile onto my lips. I wasn’t about to let her see that I knew exactly what she would had done.

Dealing with Harvery was one thing. Dealing with Arlyne was another. She was sharper than her i***t son—calculating, patient, and far more dangerous.

I needed to be more cautious around her. The dumber she thought I was, the safer I became.

“Thank you so much for your offer, Mrs. Everest.” My voice was light, measured. “Would you mind if I got back to you after discussing this with my father?” I paused deliberately, as if hesitating, then sighed, pretending to be worried. “Ever since my mother passed, my father has been my only support. I’d like to talk to him before making any major decisions.”

In my past life, I had jumped at Arlyne’s suggestion. Eager. Naïve. And she hadn’t lingered that night—just left the ball without a second thought.

But this time, my response changed her move.

After our goodbyes, she didn’t leave the hotel. Instead, she headed upstairs, to the second floor.

That was my cue. If I could catch her with Harvery or anyone else discussing some inappropriate stuff, I might finally get something solid—something I could use against her.

All I needed was a recording, proof of her scheming, in case she tried to frame my father and me again.

Luckily, before leaving the house today, I had tucked a tiny recording pen into my pocket. It was meant for lectures, but tonight, it had a far better purpose.

I slipped up to the second floor, my heart steady, my footsteps silent. The hallway was quiet—only one door was closed. Not fully, though. There was a small gap.

Perfect.

I tiptoed closer, my breath barely there as I listened.

Arlyne’s sharp voice cut through the crack in the door. “I gave you one task, Harvery. One! Bring that stupid girl here so I could offer her a job. And you failed.”

Harvery whined in response, his tone petulant. “Mother, you weren’t at the graduation. Some guy interrupted me, and I lost track of her after I got off stage.”

I clicked the recording button, my fingers tightening around the device.

Arlyne exhaled sharply. “Luckily, she came here on her own. Otherwise, getting to her again wouldn’t have been so easy.”

Harvery huffed. “Alright, alright. Now that she’s here, she’ll definitely take the job. Mom, you don’t need to worry. She’s just a poor girl. A girl like that would throw herself at any opportunity.”

Arlyne sounded unimpressed. “Son, don’t underestimate her. I’ll admit, Lucyll is a simple girl—but she’s smart. You need to be careful. Don’t let her catch on to what you’re doing.”

Harvery let out a dismissive laugh. “Relax, alright? That poor girl’s practically already in love with me. I mean, come on. Where else is she going to find a man like me?”

I kept my grip firm on the recorder, my pulse steady despite the rage boiling under my skin. I took a slow, silent breath and leaned in just a little closer, careful not to let the door creak.

Arlyne’s voice came again, low and sharp. “Enough of those nonsense. I don’t care how charming you think you are, son, that girl is our way in, and we cannot afford any mistakes.”

A chair scraped against the floor, and my fingers twitched over the recorder’s button.

Harvery made a scoffing noise. “You are right. But I am telling you, Lucyll isn’t a special girl. She’s just a desperate little thing looking for stability.”

“Is she?” Arlyne countered. “Because she didn’t jump at the offer tonight like I expected.”

A thick silence settled between them, and I bit my lip to keep my breathing steady.

Finally, Harvery muttered, “She’s just playing hard to get. Give her a day or two—she’ll come crawling back.”

A slow exhale from Arlyne. “Perhaps. But I don’t like uncertainty. I’ll have someone keep an eye on her. If she so much as hesitates the wrong way, we’ll tighten the leash.”

My stomach turned.

Keep an eye on me? Tighten the leash?

They were planning something. Something worse than whatever game they had played in my last life.

I had been a fool then—too blind to see the web they were spinning around me. Not this time.

I had the proof. Now, I just needed a way to use it.

I slowly backed away from the door, my footsteps light, every movement calculated. The last thing I needed was to be caught. Then, a shadowy figure moved closer from the stairs.

Panic surged through me like a lightning strike. My heart slammed against my ribs as I sprang to my feet, bolting toward the fire escape.

I didn’t get a glimpse of who it was. Didn’t dare to stop and find out.

Only when I was far enough—when I was sure no one had followed—did I finally stop.

I doubled over, bracing my hands on my knees, forcing deep, slow breaths.

I was safe. For now.

But my fingers trembled as I reached into my pocket. The recording pen—

Gone.

No. No, no, no.

I spun, frantically checking my bag, my coat, my dress, every possible place I could’ve tucked it. But I already knew. I’d lost it in the escape.

The only proof I had of Arlyne and Harvery’s schemes—gone.

For Christ’s sake.

My stomach turned as the weight of it all sank in.

I had nothing. No leverage anymore. No way to expose them.

And worse? I still didn’t know what they had planned for my father this time around.

…

I took the subway home, the rhythmic clatter of the tracks doing little to quiet the storm in my mind.

When I stepped inside, the apartment was still dark, silent. The faint glow from the streetlights outside cast long shadows across the walls.

Father wasn’t home yet.

I let myself sink onto my bed, running a shaky hand through my hair. The what-ifs circled like vultures in my mind.

Had someone found the recorder? Had they listened to it? Worse—had Arlyne or Harvery gotten their hands on it?

No. I couldn’t afford to spiral.

Think.

Arlyne had made it clear—she didn’t like uncertainty. She’d be tightening her hold on me soon, which meant I had to get ahead of her.

If I couldn’t expose her yet, I needed to at least figure out what she was planning.

Which meant there was only one move left to play—agree to join Everest, agree to go on that stupid romantic reality tv show and play along, let them believe they were in control, and gather enough evidence to bury them for good.

I’d lost the recording, but that didn’t mean I was out of the game.

If anything, it meant I had to be smarter. More careful.

A slow exhale left my lips as I stared at my reflection in the mirror on the stand.

My eyes burned with determination.

Harvery thought he had me cornered. Arlyne thought I was still the naive, desperate girl she could manipulate.

Good. Let them. And they would be so dumbfounded when they found out I was nothing but.