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1124 Words
He smiled.
"Your daughter isn't dead."
"Don't joke around."
"Jared planned the whole thing. And it's your death he's been waiting for."
I stared at him. "What's your proof?" I asked, disbelief thick in my voice.
He turned his laptop screen toward me. A CCTV recording played—Jared with a young girl who looked a lot like Kylie. But I knew she wasn't Kylie, because Kylie would never dress like that. Kylie was a tomboy. She refused to wear skirts except her school uniform, and she always kept her hair in a ponytail. But this girl was different. Short skirt, rainbow-colored hair that screamed for attention.
"Who is she?"
"The girl who took your daughter's place in death."
"Then where's my daughter?" I started screaming, losing control.
"We'll find out together. And I promise you'll see your daughter again. But you have to help me."
"But..."
"You'll come back in two year. After everything dies down and my preparations are complete."
***
Two year later.
Just like J promised—that's what he wanted me to call him—I wasn't Regina Beaumont anymore. Not the weak, two-hundred-pound fool I used to be.
I was Velvet Bennington. A woman with a slim figure, long dark blonde hair, and sharp as hell. J taught me everything. About business and all its dirty secrets.
Even though we were technically married, J and I lived separately this whole year. He was busy preparing for revenge. Meanwhile, he sent me overseas for weight loss procedures and surgeries on different parts of my body.
I felt like I'd been reborn. And the whole time, J made sure my daughter was safe.
Just like I suspected, Cassandra and Jared got married only a month after my death. Even though my body was never found, Jared believed I was dead. He held a funeral for me. A memorial service. Delivered a eulogy about me while wiping fake tears from the corners of his eyes.
Meanwhile, J deliberately turned on the TV in my hospital room where I was recovering from liposuction, cranking up the volume and making me watch it.
It made me sick to my stomach, but J seemed to enjoy every second. He told me my hatred for Jared needed to run deep in my veins—to make sure I'd never fall for the same trap again.
"I'll take you to your private jet, Miss Bennington."
I climbed the stairs to J's private jet with confident, steady steps. J had asked me to arrive the day before my daughter's seventeenth birthday party.
Yeah, everything was just like J said. Kylie, my daughter, never died. Another girl had taken her place. And somehow Jared had manipulated Kylie. What I knew for sure was that during all this time, J kept me updated, telling me that Kylie hadn't once looked for me, asked about me, or even visited my grave.
J didn't tell me much. He just said he'd help me get my Kylie back.
***
Six hours later, I landed in the city I'd left two years ago. J picked me up and drove me to a condo downtown.
He didn't say much. Not much had changed about him except the scar that used to be on his cheek—that rough gash was gone now. J looked way more polished, and honestly, he was more attractive than before.
"Like you asked, Velvet. Separate bedrooms." He pointed to my room.
"And that's mine." He gestured to another door down the hall.
"Thanks."
"We're going to that party. I already got us an invitation."
He handed me an invitation wrapped in gold.
"He's throwing a huge party for your daughter. Even got her a supercar—the kind they only made two of."
Kylie's photo was right there on the invitation.
"My daughter grew up to be such a beautiful girl." I couldn't hold back the emotion in my voice.
J looked at me softly. "Just like her mother."
I looked up, meeting his emerald eyes. "Don't flatter me."
"You're beautiful, Vel. Even before all these changes." This time there was something different in his gaze, something I couldn't quite read. But I didn't try to figure it out since I just wanted to stay focused on our revenge plan.
*
"Oh, by the way, you need to come with me after this. I already picked out some dresses for you for tomorrow."
"We should go now. Sooner the better." I grabbed my purse again.
"You ready to play the part of my wife?"
I nodded. J offered his arm and I looped mine through his as we headed to the shopping center on the ground floor.
A few minutes later, the elevator brought us down. The doors opened and our eyes immediately landed on three people chatting right in front of us.
Jared. Cassandra. And Kylie. My daughter.
I thought I was ready, but suddenly my world flipped upside down when I saw how happy Kylie looked with Cassandra and Jared. She seemed so normal. Talking with a big smile on her face. And she clearly adored Cassandra since they were even wearing matching colors. Classic mother-daughter bonding vibes.
"Vel, calm down," J pulled me close, his hand rubbing my back gently.
"Just breathe. Everything's going to be okay..." he whispered.
I nodded. We walked out and of course Jared turned toward us, followed by Cassandra and Kylie. Jared looked shocked at first, then plastered on a bright smile. A few seconds later his expression froze, then shifted to something like awe.
"Hey, little brother," J greeted them warmly.
"Justice?"
"You live here?" Jared asked with a mocking tone.
"Yeah, since you took over the big house," J joked—though it wasn't really a joke.
"And her?"
"I'm married now. This is my wife... Velvet Bennington."
I froze for a second until J rubbed my back again and I quickly extended my hand to the bastard in front of me.
"So you're coming to Grandpa's will reading?"
"I'm still his grandson, Jared. Don't forget that."
"Yeah, from the mistress," Jared shot back fast. Meanwhile I was still frozen, too stiff to handle this awkward situation because I couldn't stop staring at my daughter.
"Miss, why are you staring at my daughter like that?" Cassandra frowned.
Your daughter? b***h. I thought.
"Beautiful. Your daughter is very—" I answered quickly.
"Kylie, introduce yourself, sweetie..."
"Hi, I'm Kylie." Kylie held out her hand. I took it. My tears almost fell until those words came out of Kylie's mouth.
"You are so beautiful, Kylie..."
"Of course I'm beautiful, Miss. Look at my mom—she's gorgeous. It's only natural I'm pretty, because my mom is the most beautiful woman..."
- Writer
