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1642 Words
They finished their dinner in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Veronica didn’t even realize she had finished eating. Javier escorted her to the room he had prepared for her.
“This is your room, Veronica. It has its own bathroom, a large bed, and I’ve already replaced the curtains and bed sheets. I had Jordan clean it for you first. I hope you’ll like it. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know. Rest assured, you are safe with me,” the man beside her said.
He opened the door, and she turned to him. “Thank you, Javier.”
“I hope you’re truly ready for the surgery tomorrow. There’s no turning back. I’m counting on your word. And yeah… you’re welcome,” he responded in a deep voice.
She paused. Did he think she might change her mind? No. She had already decided to trust him. And she would do everything to get the justice she deserved. She was ready to help him.
She shook her head. “Don’t worry. I have no intention of going back on my word. No trial is without its challenges. But I know, in the end, the pain will be worth it. I trust you, Javier. Let’s make Angelo Fuentebella feel the wrath of the oppressed!” she answered with emotion.
He smiled and gently squeezed her hand. She felt the warmth of his support, something that had been denied to her by her own husband and his family.
“Alright, goodnight. Sleep long and soundly tonight. Tomorrow will be a long day. You’ll need your strength and rest.”
She nodded. “You too. Thank you, Javier. Goodnight.”
They exchanged smiles. Javier walked toward the door opposite hers—his own room. She pushed open her door and stepped inside.
She gasped as she took in her new room in its entirety. Oh my! She felt like a royal princess, hidden away by her parents in a distant castle. The bed was three times the size of her old one, elegant and clearly made from the finest materials.
She approached it and pressed down on the mattress. It was incredibly soft, making her feel that she really would sleep soundly. There was also a vintage-style dresser and a built-in wardrobe. Although she knew it was likely empty, she opened it anyway. She gasped again when she saw women’s clothes inside.
Wait, why was she even surprised? Those clothes probably belonged to Beatrice Romanov. This was the couple’s villa, so it wasn’t surprising to find a woman’s belongings here. She offered a small apology to Beatrice, as it seemed she had no choice but to use her clothes.
She hadn’t brought anything with her, not even her wallet. And even if she had her bank accounts with her, she wasn’t foolish enough to use them. Angelo might trace any activity on her accounts. She needed to be smart.
The window in the room was massive, and she felt drawn to it. She pulled back the curtains, and her lips parted in awe at the vast expanse of land before her. It was a bit eerie because it was nighttime, and she couldn’t see many houses outside—just trees and small lights from the lampposts. But she was sure that in the morning, the view would be beautiful and refreshing.
She made sure to close the window tightly—better to be safe. She adjusted the curtains to ensure her safety. She wasn’t one to sleep with the curtains or windows open, fearing she might wake up to find a monster staring at her. Especially now that she knew werewolves like Angelo were real.
She walked over to the bed, catching a glimpse of her reflection on the polished tiles. They were so shiny and clear that she could see herself in them. She had only seen tiles like this in high-end shopping malls. Just how wealthy was Javier?
She removed her clothes, feeling sticky and uncomfortable. She headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. Her lower lip caught between her teeth as she took in the bathroom’s beauty. The color scheme was white and gold, with an automatic toilet bowl and a large bathtub. The white tiles were spotless, without a trace of dirt.
But she was too tired and sleepy to linger there. Besides, she had to be careful with her face. Her wound wasn’t allowed to get wet, and her entire face was still bandaged.
She only washed her lower body and quickly stepped out. The cold air embraced her, so she hurried to the closet to grab some clothes.
"Sorry, Ms. Beatrice. I have no choice. Don’t worry, I'll help your husband get justice against Angelo," she whispered to herself.
She slipped into a plain white dress that was in the closet. Thankfully, the underwear also fit her. She lay down on the mattress, finally feeling the weight of her exhaustion and sleepiness.
Veronica quickly fell asleep. But in her deep slumber, she was visited by a terrible nightmare.
She found herself in a dark and abandoned room. Her hands and feet were tied behind her, and a cloth was stuffed into her mouth.
Panic set in. Where was she? Why was she tied up?
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and even in the darkness, she could see a demonic grin slowly coming into focus.
The figure moved closer and closer to her. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest. Something was wrong. She screamed when she realized it was Angelo!
He yanked her hair, and she felt the sharp pain in her scalp. "Look at that, I already killed you, but you're still alive. Your guardian angel must be something else, huh?" He sneered with a devilish smile.
She wanted to speak, but the cloth gagged her mouth. Tears of intense anger welled up in her eyes. Why was her demon of a husband here?
He laughed. “I know exactly what you’re going to say to me, my dear wife. ‘You’re a demon, Angelo! How could you do this to me? After everything I sacrificed for you, you still managed to kill me?!’” He mockingly mimicked her voice, which only fueled her anger further. There wasn’t a trace of remorse in him. “Am I right?” he asked, feigning innocence.
He slapped her hard across the face, and she felt the sting. “I don’t know how you survived, Veronica. But there’s one thing I do know—you can’t stay alive. So, just die already!” She watched in horror as his teeth grew into fangs.
He bit her, and she felt an excruciating pain. “Die, Veronica! Just die!”
All she could do was cry as he killed her. A scream escaped her lips, and she woke up, gasping for air, sitting up in bed.
It was a nightmare. She was drenched in sweat, and the dream had felt all too real.
She clenched her fists in intense anger. The pain and trauma he had inflicted on her—she wasn’t sure if they would ever heal. But one thing she knew for sure: Angelo had to pay for all the evil he had done.
She looked around the room. There was nothing unusual. It had just been a bad dream, likely trying to scare her into abandoning their plan. But she wouldn’t give in to fear. She needed to claim the justice she deserved.
She forced herself to go back to sleep, even though fear lingered in the depths of her heart. This time, she slept soundly without any problems.
She only woke up when she heard a knock on the door. She rubbed her eyes and tried to figure out the time. But there was no wall clock in the room. She guessed it was around seven in the morning based on the sunlight streaming through the window.
“Just a moment, I’m getting up!” she shouted to the person knocking. She opened the door and saw Javier. He was smiling, looking fresh and incredibly handsome. His aura was different today, almost lively and energetic.
“Good morning, Veronica. I’m happy that the clothes fit you,” he greeted her, glancing at the dress she was wearing.
Her cheeks flushed. “Good morning to you too, Javier. I’m sorry, I had to use the clothes in the closet. I didn’t have anything to wear,” she apologized.
“No worries. I knew you didn’t have anything to wear. You’re free to use Beatrice’s clothes. I don’t mind. I’m sure if Beatrice were alive, she’d let you use them too, since you had nothing else,” he replied with a smile.
Maybe that was just how kind-hearted Javier’s wife was. No wonder he loved her so much.
“Anyway, breakfast is ready. Let’s eat before we start the surgery. You’re ready, right?”
She was suddenly filled with a mix of nervousness and excitement as she realized that today marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life. She remembered the nightmare from earlier, and her fist clenched tightly. She wouldn’t allow fear or cowardice to stand in the way of her revenge and pursuit of justice. She didn’t care if Angelo haunted her nightmares a million times.
She nodded, giving Javier an assuring and wide smile. “I’m more than ready, Javier.”
She saw the relief on his face. He took her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. She felt the warmth and security in his touch. “Good. Let’s start our day, Veronica.”
And she would carve it in stone—starting today, this would be the downfall of Angelo and his family.
It’s her payback time now, and she will claim the fate that is rightfully hers!
- Writer
