From Rags to Riches: The Discarded Wife's Revenge

I Struck A Deal With The Devil

Chapter 5

Ethel POV

I opened the door and a woman stood there, badge in hand. "Mrs. Calloway, I'm Detective Fanny Vick. May I come in? It's about your husband."

The flash drive in my pocket—the one with all the photos, all the evidence—suddenly felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

"Yes," I managed. "Come in."

Detective Fanny stepped inside, her expression cold. "Mrs. Calloway, I need you to sit down. Your husband has been in an accident."

An accident?

"He's at Mercy General Hospital. It's serious. We need to ask you some questions about your whereabouts this afternoon."

"My whereabouts?" My voice came out strangled. "Why would you..."

"The accident happened on Ashland Street." Her eyes locked onto mine. "Near a brownstone registered under an LLC your husband controls. Witnesses reported seeing someone matching your description leaving the scene shortly after the incident."

The world stopped.

Ashland Street. The brownstone.

"I swear I didn't touch him," I said, my voice too loud. "I wasn't anywhere near...I mean, I was at the house, but he wasn't there. It was empty. I didn't..."

Stop talking. Stop talking right now.

But Detective Fanny was already pulling out her phone. "We found your fingerprints throughout the property. On doorframes, windows, furniture. Can you explain why your prints are all over a property you claim not to know about?"

"I can explain..."

"You'll have the opportunity to do that at the station." Her voice hardened. "But first, I need to show you something."

She pulled out an evidence bag. Inside was a printed email with my address at the top.

I took it with trembling hands.

"I didn't write this." My voice was barely a whisper. "I've never seen this before. I don't know anyone named A. Mark. This isn't..."

"Is that your email address?"

"Yes, but I didn't—"

"The email was sent from your IP address earlier this afternoon. Where were you at 2:47 PM today, Mrs. Calloway?"

I'd been at the brownstone. Going through the folder. Finding the photographs.

"I was out," I said. "Running errands."

"Can anyone verify that?"

No. No one had seen me. I'd been careful and parked far away.

Detective Fanny stepped closer. "Your husband is in critical condition. The doctors found traces of antifreeze in his system. He has acute kidney failure." She paused. "They're not sure he's going to make it."

The room tilted.

"I didn't poison anyone."

"We have a warrant to search your home and vehicles. Officers are on their way now." Detective Fanny's expression was hard. "But I strongly suggest you come with us voluntarily. If you run, it will not look good."

Through the window, I saw red and blue lights approaching.

"This is a mistake," I said. "I didn't do anything."

"Then you have nothing to worry about." She pulled out handcuffs. "Please turn around and place your hands behind your back, Mrs. Calloway."

"No. You can't...I have rights. I need to..."

Two more officers entered. One moved to my side, his hand on my arm.

"Ma'am, please cooperate."

I had no choice but to turn slowly as the cold metal closed around my wrists.

"This isn't over," I said, but my voice shook. "I'm innocent. I didn't..."

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you..."

The words faded to white noise.

As they led me to the police car, I saw neighbors on their porches. Mrs. Peterson from next door, her hand over her mouth. The Johnsons, whispering behind their hedge.

By tomorrow, everyone would know.

Billionaire's wife arrested for attempted murder.

I slid into the back of the police car, my hands cuffed behind me while my whole life was disintegrating.

And all I could think about was that woman. The one with my face. The one living in a perfect replica of my house.

Where was she now?

What was she doing?

The car pulled away, and I watched my house, my life disappear in the rearview mirror.

I had no idea that across town, in that brownstone on Ashland Street, the woman with my exact face was washing blood off her hands while practicing tears for the cameras to become the grieving widow.

While getting ready to take my place permanently.

I spent that night in the cheapest motel I could find. It wasn't cosy but I was desperate. No one would look for me here.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone. Only 3% battery remaining and one contact glowing on the screen.

I thought about running away to a place Morris's money couldn't reach, somewhere Detective Fanny couldn't find me.

But I only had $247 in my purse. My passport was back at the house, which was now a crime scene and running would prove I was guilty.

I looked at Lyke's contact information again as his words echoed in my head, absurd and terrifying.

A year of my life for freedom. Ten million dollars to disappear after and a legal team that could dismantle the prosecution's case.

But at what cost?

I'd just escaped one nightmare with Morris. One man who'd lied, manipulated, planned to replace me. And now I was considering binding myself to another man I didn't know or trust.

What if Lyke was just like Morris? What if this was another trap?

My phone buzzed. 2% battery.

A text from an unknown number appeared; Your husband died few minutes ago.

My hands shook so hard I nearly dropped the phone.

Dead? Morris was dead?

Which meant... Before I could think, the screen went black. I tried to turn it on but the battery was dead.

I sat in the darkness, my heart racing.

That gave me seven hours. Seven hours to decide if I wanted to go to prison or marry Lyke Ashford.

I had just seven hours to choose which nightmare to walk into.

The next night, I was out with my guy. It was supposed to be a fun guy's night, but this guy spent the whole time laughing.

"I am a serious guy; she told me I'd f*****g lost my mind and walked out," I ranted, gripping the glass in my hand like it might keep me from exploding. Chris, the bastard who had been with me for a long time, just laughed like I'd said the funniest joke ever.

"Stop laughing, man; you are pissing me off," I growled.

“What did you expect, Mr. ‘All-Powerful Lawyer’? He asked, finally sobering a little as he took a sip from the cup in his hand. "How did you propose to your brother's wife?"

"She doesn't know that; no one does except you, and I intend to keep it that way," I said firmly while he ‘air zipped’ his mouth.

I was supposed to play safe until Morris decided to mess with me. He didn't say anything a few months back when Morris held back my money; it is now that I am winning that my best friend wants to make me feel guilty all over again. me.

"You came up with the idea," I mumbled bitterly. "Now I have to come up with plan B. If I don't get married within a month, all my hard work, my sacrifices, and everything I've built will f*****g crumble.

I leave it to my old man to still have his claws in my life even from the dead. I hope you are enjoying the show in hell, Dad.

The will was read yesterday, one last punch from a man who for the past eighteen years only cared for me from the shadows.

" According to it, my brother and I will inherit 50% of his legacy only if I get married before 25, and my 25th birthday was coming up next week. If I don't, it all goes to Morris, who is a rich jerk already. "

That will never happen. Over my f*****g dead body. I have worked for every morsel and penny, and I wasn't going to let this silver spoon slip away from my fingers.

But the clause wasn't the worst part. The worst part is that it has to be for love, and I won't divorce her in three years. Now, where the hell did he expect me to find a woman who would agree to marry me on such short notice with all these annoying clauses?

“ You don't have to say the entire truth, "Chris said, and my eyes looked at him. "What do you mean?"

" All I am saying is, just tell her the not-so-scary legal stuff; she's already so desperate to clear her name, use it to your advantage. You are a lawyer, man. I shouldn't be telling you everything. ” He smirked, and I knew what he meant.

I downed the rest of my rum in one burning gulp. “I know what you’re about to ask. No, I don't love her. She’s not even in my top 5; I just need someone as desperate as I am.”

“ Come on, man, are you supposed to tell me? We have been friends since grade school; I know you in and out. "

His last statement made us burst out laughing. He was right. If anyone wants a biography of me, Chris would write a three-part series explaining me to such a person.

Before he could say more, his phone buzzed, and he slid off the bar stool. "I have to take this. “Don’t wait for me,” he said with a sly grin.

I nodded, swirling the remaining ice in my glass, lost in thought. That bastard always thinks so little of me. What did he mean by "Don't wait for me"? Now I was more determined to wait for him.

That's when I felt it, a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, and temptation smiled at me as I recognized her almost immediately. "Hey, handsome," the woman in front of me said in a sultry voice that made blood begin to descend. She was dressed in barely enough fabric, as her boobs were literally in my face. “Can I buy you a drink?”

Normally, I'd say yes, take the distraction, the escape, and the body and have fun all night. But tonight, I wanted to show Chris that I had self-control; besides, I wasn't feeling like it.

"Not interested, honey," I replied, forcing my voice to stay calm.

But she didn't budge. "Just one drink, and then I—"

She was interrupted by my ringtone. I've never been more grateful for an interruption.

I excused myself without looking back, stepping out, and I was greeted by the cool night breeze. I raised the phone to my ear.

" About your offer this morning… ” Her voice was shaky.

“ Is the offer still on, or were you joking? "

" It is, and I wasn't joking. ”

"I... I'll take it then."

I could hear the effort behind her words, though. I was dying to ask her the reason for her sudden change of heart, but I didn't.

If she was desperate enough to agree, she must have reached her breaking point.

And I didn't want to pry any further.

"OK," I said, my voice steady. "Meet me at my office tomorrow so we can talk about everything."

Then I ended the call and just stood there basking in the new wave of satisfaction that washed over me.

She finally said yes.

This might actually work. I might actually be able to change my fate, or... I might ruin everything.

But for now, I was going to celebrate my win. I walked back inside and beckoned on the lady from before. I was led into a private room, where I celebrated my success well.