Chapter 2 The pursuit of truth

Sarah started working in a bookstore not too far from Kevin's house. She knew Kevin had secrets, ones that could never be allowed to surface. Having shared years with him under the same roof, she understood his tendency for secrecy and his involvement in dangerous activities. As she embarked on her quest to expose him, she pondered where to begin.

Suddenly, her mind flashed back to a specific day...

"Honey, I have something for you," Kevin called out one evening as he arrived home from work. Sarah greeted him and took his briefcase, curious about the surprise.

"Take this," he said, producing a flash drive and handing it to her. "Keep it safe because once... never mind, just keep it safe, locked away somewhere," he added cryptically.

Puzzled, Sarah asked, "What's this?"

"Don't worry about that, just trust me and keep it safe," Kevin replied. "Everything I do, I do it for us."

The flash drive contained sensitive files and pieces of information detailing some of Kevin's wicked actions. Sarah agreed to keep it safe, promising to safeguard their shared future.

However, Sarah struggled to recall the exact location where she had hidden the flash drive. She eventually remembered that she had placed it under a box in her room, a place where even Kevin's new wife would never find it.

As Sarah planned her next move, the thought of entering Kevin's house consumed her mind. She knew she needed access to retrieve the flash drive and see its content but entering the house without being detected would be no easy task.

She began devising a plan to access the house discreetly. The journey to uncovering the truth had commenced, and Sarah was ready to confront the shadows of her past, one step at a time.

On this fateful morning, Sarah walked hastily to Kevin's house. When she arrived, she waited until Kevin drove off for work. Taking a moment to observe her surroundings, she noticed that his wife, Julie, was alone at home, and Kevin had already taken the kids to school.

She gave a gentle knock on the door and waited for Julie to answer. "Who is it?" Julie's voice came from the other side.

"It's just me, Sarah," she replied.

Julie opened the door, her expression curious. "Do I know you?"

"I don't believe we've met. I'm Sarah, and I'm currently looking for employment. I heard you might need a hand around the house," Sarah said, hoping her offer would catch Julie's attention.

Julie considered Sarah's proposition, "I didn't think I needed help, but now that you mention it, I could use some assistance. Juggling three kids and taking care of my husband is a lot to handle."

"May I come in?" Sarah asked.

"Of course, make yourself comfortable," Julie replied warmly, inviting Sarah into the house.

As Sarah stepped inside, she noticed the changes in the house. It was as if she had never been there before, but it looked even more beautiful than before.

"Please, take a seat," Julie offered, surprising Sarah with her openness.

"So, you're Miss Sarah, right?" Julie asked.

"Yes, that's correct," Sarah affirmed.

"Any marriage or kids in your life?" Julie inquired.

"Well, I was married once, but no children. That's a story for another day," Sarah replied, guarding her past and true identity. "My apologies, I didn't catch your name," Sarah said again.

"Oh, how rude of me. I'm Julie Green. My husband is Kevin Green, and I'm currently expecting my fourth child," Julie shared with a smile. Her friendly and cheerful behavior put Sarah at ease.

"That's good to know. I used to work at a restaurant, but I lost my job because of..." Sarah began.

"Oh my, I was cooking and completely forgot," Julie interrupted. "Please excuse me for a moment, I'll be right back."

As Julie left, Sarah saw this as an opportunity to search for the flash drive. She walked quietly to the room, despite the time that had passed, she could still identify her once-lived house.

After searching meticulously, she finally found the box. Relief washed over her as she discovered that the flash drive was still safely tucked inside.

Meanwhile, Julie had returned to the sitting room and couldn't find Sarah. She checked the guest restroom, but Sarah wasn't there either. Curious, she decided to go upstairs to her room.

As Sarah emerged from the room, she accidentally collided with Julie in the hallway.

Startled, Julie asked, "What are you doing in my room?"

Apologizing, Sarah swiftly improvised, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Green. I was looking for the restroom and got a bit turned around. My apologies if I intruded."

Julie's suspicions remained, but she responded, "It's alright. The bathroom is downstairs, the green door."

Feeling unsettled, Sarah rushed downstairs to the bathroom, pretending to have the urgent need she claimed earlier. Her heart raced as she knew she had to be cautious and avoid arousing any suspicion from Julie. Inside the bathroom, she took a moment to collect herself, grateful for the opportunity to regain her composure and strategize her next steps.

She got out a few minutes later to join Julie, who was already seated and awaiting her return.

"Do you need anything to drink?" Julie asked, raising her eyebrow.

I'm good, thanks," Sarah replied with a polite smile.

Returning to their conversation, Julie continued, "So, where were we?"

Sarah steered the discussion toward a safer territory, "I was saying that I was working at a restaurant and recently got fired."

Julie's curiosity remained evident, "Why's that?"

Sarah seized the opportunity to craft a relatable story, "Well, you know, my boss's husband asked me out, and I, being my honest self, told my boss about it. Instead of understanding, she accused me of trying to steal her husband and fired me. It's happened a lot to me; it's tiring."

Julie's gaze remained fixed on Sarah, assessing her words. She couldn't deny the striking beauty of the woman before her, but could she trust her around her husband?

After a thoughtful pause, Julie spoke, "Alright then, kindly drop your number. I might need help in the future, but for now, I can handle things."

Sarah's heart skipped a beat; her plan was falling into place. She responded with a genuine smile, "Of course, here's my number," extending a piece of paper. "Feel free to call me if you ever need assistance, Mrs. Green."

Julie collected the paper, but as she watched Sarah walk away, she couldn't shake off her suspicions. She decided not to take any chances and threw the paper away, hissing in annoyance. Heading back to the kitchen to continue her cooking, she couldn't help but wonder about the boldness of the woman who thought she could win her trust so easily.

Kevin got home later that day, his mind already consumed by the news of Sarah's release, leaving him furious. As he entered the house, Julie, his wife, decided to share her encounter with the mysterious woman who had visited earlier.

"Babe, you won't believe what happened today," Julie began.

However, Kevin, not in the mood for conversation, replied sharply, "What, babe?"

"A lady came today, offering to help me at home if I could employ her," Julie explained.

Kevin's curiosity was piqued at the mention of the lady, wondering if it could be Sarah.

Julie continued, "She was acting suspicious, especially when I caught her coming out of one of the rooms. She claimed she was looking for the restroom, but something felt off."

With each word, Kevin's anger grew. He was convinced that the woman was Sarah. "Why did she find her way here? She must know now that I'm alive, and she even approached my wife," he thought.

"Did she tell you her name?" Kevin demanded, his unease evident in his tone. "Did she leave her address?" he asked again.

"Babe, what's wrong?" Julie noticed his agitated state.

"Nothing, but how could you allow a stranger into our home?" Kevin said, his anger flaring. "What was her name? Answer me!" he insisted.

"Ehm, ehm... Sarah, I think," Julie replied uncertainly.

It dawned on Kevin that his worst nightmare had come to fruition. He was certain that Sarah was there for the flash drive. Panic washed over him as he wondered if she had obtained it.

Without a second thought, he stood up and rushed out of the house, ignoring Julie's confused expressions and desperate calls for him to stay.

In the meantime, Sarah hurriedly made her way to a nearby store, her heart pounding with anticipation and anxiety. With a humble plea, she convinced the store staff to let her use their laptop. As the flash drive slid into the laptop's port, Sarah's eyes widened in disbelief. The revelations that unfolded before her were nothing short of staggering. She had suspected Kevin's involvement in something ominous, but the extent of it left her dumbfounded. The contents of the flash drive revealed shocking truths and sinister secrets. She realized that her fight wasn't just about proving her innocence for the crime she didn't commit, but it involved something far more dangerous.

Realizing the sensitive nature of the information on the flash drive, she carefully deleted any traces of it from the laptop at the store, leaving no room for evidence. Thanking the store owner, Sarah left and quickly headed to the nearest electronics store to purchase a laptop of her own.

After she acquired the laptop, she stored the crucial information on it and decided to entrust it to her boss, Mya. Mya was a young woman who had experienced an early marriage, running a bookstore with her husband before their divorce. Sarah knew she could trust Mya to keep the laptop safe.

"Please, Mya, can you help me keep this laptop?" Sarah urgently requested. "I'll be back, but please keep it safe," she added, not revealing the gravity of the situation. Oblivious to the seriousness, Mya agreed to help, though she wondered why Sarah had to visit her so late in the night.

"Sure thing. Is that why you came over to my house this late?" Mya asked, curious but unaware of the dangerous game Sarah was involved in.

"I'm sorry. See you tomorrow at work," Sarah hurriedly replied, making her way out of Mya's place and rushing back to her dwelling.

As she left, Mya couldn't help but find the situation a bit peculiar. "Weirdo," she mumbled playfully, closing the door behind her. Unaware of the imminent danger that lurked within the secrets held in the laptop.

Kevin went straight to his guys, the ones he used for his dark and illicit activities. "You remember the lady I was married to before, right guys?" he asked, his face contorted with anger and frustration.

Three hefty men responded in unison, "Yes, boss."

"Find her," he commanded, his voice sounded cold and commanding. "No questions asked," he added, emphasizing the urgency of the task.

The men understood the severity of their boss's order and wasted no time, swiftly setting out to carry out their mission. Meanwhile, Kevin drove back home, his emotions in turmoil. He couldn't shake off the thought of Sarah's unexpected return, and he blamed the police for not informing him earlier.

While driving, almost reaching his residence, he saw someone who bore a striking resemblance to Sarah trying to enter the bookstore, which was close to his house. His heart pounded, and his eyes widened as he tried to confirm if it was indeed her. Seeing her brought forth a jumble of emotions within him-anger, fear, and an unsettling satisfaction.

Without a second thought, He jumped out of the car, quickly closing the gap between them, driven by a dangerous mix of anger and his twisted desire to control. His fingers closed around her hair in a painful grip, catching her off guard, and Sarah found herself in his clutches, her heart pounding in fear.

"Hi, baby, welcome back," he said, his voice dripping with false affection and a twisted smile on his face. His words and expression sent a chill down Sarah's spine, reminding her of the dark and scary side he hid behind his fake charm.