Chapter 01
1194 Words
Amanda Stone couldn't help but remember all of the terrible choices she had made throughout her life. The consequences of her mistakes loomed over her like a dark cloud, threatening to destroy everything she stood by. But what was her crime? That she loved too much? She cared too much. She gave her life, her dreams, only for life to spit back in her face.
How could she have been so blind? How could she be this stupid? She was so naive and trusting, and it cost her everything in life—even the things the universe couldn't replace.
“I've failed you, Jenny. This is all my fault. Even when you warned me, I didn't listen. And look where it has gotten me,” she cried loudly, but no one could hear her sorrows now.
Everything in her life changed when she trusted him, Robert Fawn. But how could she not? She loved him, and she would do anything for him. Even after finding the truth, it hadn't changed her feelings very much.
Amanda knelt, bound by her legs and hands, in a dimly lit room. The tight ropes dug deep into her skin. The concrete floor was cold and hard beneath her knees. The room had no windows and only one door. There was no furniture, only empty crates and old, useless boxes lying around. It had a strong smell of dust and musty mold that made it hard for her to breathe, the dirty cloth covering her mouth making it even harder.
She had no escape. This was it. This was the end of the line. And she would get to live the next life with all this regret. It sounded even worse than burning in hell.
The door suddenly opened, making a loud creaking sound, illuminating a long shadow in the room. Her head jerked up quickly to see the dark silhouette of Robert and Lisa Larson highlighted by the light from the open door. As they approached, Lisa had a smug look on her face.
Amanda wanted to curse angrily, but all her words were muffled by the cloth around her mouth. Tears trickled out of her eyes, making her vision blurry. The physical pain couldn't even compare to the pain in her heart. It felt as though someone had ripped it from her chest, thrown it in a blender, and tried to put back the pasty pieces.
“Well, well, well. Isn't it nice to see you again, Amanda,” Lisa grinned from ear to ear, pleased at the sight. Finally, she could get rid of her. This was the moment she had been waiting for. It took a lot of persuading and scheming, but now no one would stand in her way. She could finally get rid of the dead weight once and for all. “But I must say, you look horrible,” she pointed out.
Robert bent down and ripped the cloth out of her mouth. She heaved a sharp breath, coughing heavily before managing to look up again.
“Any last words?” Robert asked coldly.
Who was this man? Amanda didn’t understand. This couldn't be the same man she fell in love with. A cold, heartless, and selfish asshole.
“Robert? Why are you doing this?” Amanda cried. She couldn't believe the man she loved all her life could be so cruel. When did he become so cold? Robert used to be so kind and loving. Was it all pretend? How much money could change a person so much?
Amanda couldn't even recognize the monster standing in front of her. This was the man she fell in love with. The man she still loved even to this day.
“Why am I doing this? Isn't it obvious? All my life, I've been poor and looked down on by the rich bastards. But I swore that my day would come too,” he chuckled slightly. It was finally time for people to see who he was and what he was capable of. Robert always hated the rich people with a passion. And he had taught Amanda to hate them too.
“But at what cost, Robert? Look at you. Can you even look at yourself in the mirror? How do you sleep at night, Robert?” Amanda questioned, but she knew it might have been too late to get to him now. He was too far gone, consumed by power and control. He had taken his heart and conscience and thrown them where no man could reach.
“I still look just as handsome, if not more. And I sleep like a baby. And now, my darling, it's time for you to sleep too,” he responded smugly.
Lisa took out a knife from her bag, flashing it slightly in the light.
“I did everything for you. I gave up college, my dreams—I gave up my life just so you could pursue your own. I did everything to make you happy,” Amanda cried. “And you promised that we would always be together. You promised me all the love in the world. A family.”
“People lie. You've always been so naive. It was so easy to make you eat from the palm of my hand. How pathetic. I can only thank you for being so stupid. You even turned against your own sister, and now she's dead. And now it's time for you guys to have a little family reunion. Don't you miss your parents?” He laughed coldly.
“You'll never get away with this,” she spat at them both, though she didn’t believe her words herself. She had already accepted her fate. This was the end, and no one could save her from this. She would forever rest in shame and regret.
“On the contrary, we already have,” Lisa answered with a wicked grin.
With that, a set of footsteps walked into the room. They all turned to see their source. Amanda couldn't believe her eyes. Anastasia with Mrs. Anderson? What were they doing here? Were they connected somehow? But how? Why?
“What's taking so long? I don't have all day. I have a company to take over,” Anastasia grunted impatiently.
“Is Jayden taken care of?” Robert asked as they approached.
“Don't worry about him. Jayden will be a thing of the past,” she grinned, looking at Mrs. Anderson, Jayden's wife.
“Jayden?” She felt her heart beat faster at the mention of his name.
“Kill her already. It's getting late, and we need to get rid of the body as soon as possible,” Anastasia ordered.
“Yes, ma'am,” Lisa nodded and turned with an evil grin, looking at Amanda.
“Goodbye, b***h!” she said as she held the knife against her throat and slit it open.
In the fading distance, Amanda could hear them laugh as blood gushed out of her neck. She could feel her soul leaving her body. Everything faded into darkness—the pain, the memories. Her whole life flashed before her eyes. Darkness consumed her completely.
- Writer
