Married To My Husband's Uncle

CHAPTER 1 The car hurtled down the highway like a beast gone rogue, its tires screeching in protest as it was now out of control. Something was wrong—very, very wrong. I clutched the door handle, frantically trying to search for an escape, heavy breathing clawing painfully at the back of my throat, but it was no use. We were locked in. Then my device rang, and Kenneth Winston's name lit the screen. Hesitantly, I answered, quickly wiping at my tears. "Ken.. Kenneth.. please, help us. T-the brakes— they're not working.” "Aubrey, my love.” His voice came out gentle yet cold, making my hairs stand at end. “I'm afraid I had to take drastic measures.” My heart dropped. "What.. what do you mean?" I gripped the door handle tighter. My mind spun with different horrible possibilities, each worse than the last. Kenneth had a dark side, but.. but he wouldn't go this far.. right? ..I did not want to believe that my own husband— No. But his next words confirmed my nightmare. "I cut the brakes, Aubrey. I had to ensure our little problem went away. You understand, don't you?" He paused. "You were going to go behind my back, Aubrey. You were going to expose my secrets. I couldn't let that happen." "K—" Beep. The line went dead. He hung up on me. The phone slowly slipped from my trembling hand, landing with a soft thud in my lap. My eyes now glistered with unshed tears. "Aubrey, what did Kenneth say?” Victoria asked from the driver's seat, still wrestling with the wheel, trying her best to keep us alive. But I was frozen, lips parted and heart cracked wide open. "Aubrey, what is it?" Victoria's voice came again, this time more desperate. I slowly turned my tear-streaked face toward her and choked out, palms trembling over my forehead. "K-Kenneth.. he cut the brakes. He wants me dead." Victoria's eyes immediately widened in shock. “Kenneth did what?!” I gave a slow nod, and like that, the uncontrollable sobs came, my shoulders quivering violently. And as quickly—a gravelly loud, ear piercing sound came from nowhere, filling the car. It was Victoria. I whipped my head around and followed her horrified gaze, and mine widened- wider than saucers. A bridge. We were seconds away from flying off a 200ft bridge! My glistening eyes tightly fluttered closed, accepting my fate, knowing that there was no escape. This was it. My husband—the man who always professed his love and kissed me like I was oxygen, had planned my own death. I clasped my eyes tighter. But what broke me most, was that Victoria, who had no involvement, was also going to die. Soon, a deafening and disorienting noise filled the car—and everything went pitch dark. ‡‡‡ The haze of unconsciousness slowly lifted, like a veil being pulled away from my eyes. My puffy eyes slowly fluttered open, and the blurry room gradually came into focus. The beeping sound of machines and the faint smell of antiseptics made me realize that I was in a hospital room, with IV drips plunged deep into my arms. I tried to sit up, only to fall back with a grunt. "Oh goodness, you're finally awake Mrs. Blackwood!" A gentle squeak broke the silence. I blinked. Mrs. Blackwood? I opened my mouth to speak, but my voice barely made it out. The nurse hastily rushed over, helped me up and handed me a glass of water. I sipped gratefully, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat. Soon memories began to resurface as I gulped the content—disoriented images of a car crash, a scream, and a lifeless body. But the details were fuzzy. No matter how hard I tried to focus, my head just spun, painfully. Why couldn't I remember anything clearly? "Can you help me to the toilet?" I asked, voice still weak. The nurse nodded and assisted me off the bed, my legs trembling like jelly beneath me—unaccustomed to bearing my weight after a while of bederiding. Every step felt like a struggle, as if I was learning to walk again. Finally, we made it to the bathroom, and I slumped breathless on the sink—then I glanced up at the mirror.. ..and froze. I’d expected to see my pale reflection, but the face staring back at me was unfamiliar, younger and prettier. It had cheekbones I had only ever dreamed of and lips that looked suspiciously plump. Fear immediately coursed through me. T.. This wasn't me. Who was this person? “Mrs. Victoria Blackwood?” The nurse called gently from behind. "Is everything alright?" My blood immediately ran cold. —And it dawned on me. Victoria Blackwood? That name.. it.. it belonged to Alexander Blackwood's wife, Kenneth's uncle! A wave of panic instantly coursed through me and I stumbled backward, sweat beading my forehead. What was happening? Why was I in her body? The nurse caught me just in time and hastily eased me back to bed, still clueless. "Steady Mrs. Blackwood, you're still recovering." No. But I wasn't recovering. I was lost. Trapped in someone else's life. I felt like a ghost possessing a body that was not mine. This.. this absurdity only happened in novels! The confused nurse gazed down at me, brows knitted with concern. "Do you want me to call in any family member of yours ma'm? They've been waiting relentlessly outside.” My heart practically leapt out of my chest—not in anticipation but in fear. Unfortunately, before I could respond, the nurse stepped out, willing my silence as affirmation—and milliseconds later, the doors to the hospital room burst open with a thunderous bang. ~~