Chapter 3 3

Markus' perspective:

"Hon? Hon? Hon!" I slowly woke up upon hearing that familiar voice. As I opened my eyes, I saw a woman standing next to me. Though her face wasn't clear, I knew it was Sapphire. She used to do this when she was still alive.

Ahhh, my sweet Sapphire.

"Hon, help me! Please save us!!!" she pleaded as she disappeared into the light.

"Sapphire, no!! Don't leave me!"

"No!!!" I jolted awake, sweating even though the air conditioning was on. My heart was pounding abnormally.

Every night, she visited me in my dreams. Each time, I wanted to avenge the woman who took their lives. Even though it might have been an accident, I could forgive her if she agreed to face the consequences in prison. But no!

Later, I discovered the reason the case regarding my fiancée's death wasn't progressing was because she had bribed the cops who were supposed to incriminate her!

I wiped my palms across my face. If only I had known earlier, I would have tripled whatever she paid! But don't worry, Honey, I'll make her pay for all of this. I just need her life, not money.

Serina's perspective:

I jolted awake, feeling a warm liquid on my arm. "Markus?!" I stammered. He stood there, eyebrows furrowed, holding a cup. It seemed he poured hot water on me.

"I'm sorry for cutting your dreams, my wife. But I think you have to get up and cook for me. We don't have maids anymore, so you're obliged to do the household chores," he smirked, playing with me.

I'm skilled in household chores since I practically became a mother and father to Selina, my younger sister. I was ready to serve him, but I couldn't accept the way he treated me.

"Are you deaf or something?! I said, cook for me!!!" My heart leaped in shock! His voice echoed, and even with the air conditioning, I felt a burning sweat. It seemed he's hungry, but his treatment was unbearable.

After about 30 minutes, done with the food, the doorbell rang. Who could that be?

I opened the door, and it was one of Markus' best friends. "Hello, beautiful! Why are you opening? Where are they?" he grinned, unaware of the situation.

"They moved to the hacienda," I replied. He teased about our supposed honeymoon.

"Do they know?" I hesitated, unsure of what to say.

"Ahm, they transferred the maids to the hacienda," I lied.

"Really? So how's the honeymoon?" he joked.

They didn't know yet? What should I tell them?

"Ahm, it's just that they..." I couldn't finish my sentence.

"Oops, don't share it with me. I'm still innocent... Ahahaha!" We laughed together, easing the pain.

Who would believe that Nicholas Bernard James Adam Byrne was innocent when it came to women?

"Hmm, where's Marky?" he asked.

"Probably in the room. Do you have plans?" I questioned, as he hadn't informed me.

"Don't you know? Oh!" He seemed clueless.

I decided to remain silent and led him to the kitchen, assuming he was hungry.

As we entered, he saw Markus seriously staring at a painting.

"The artist is talented, huh? He captured Mark's face perfectly." I smiled slightly, curious about Sapphire.

I had a strong feeling she was special to my husband.

"Do you know? Has he confessed to you?" he asked seriously.

"What do you mean?" I feigned ignorance.

"Please, Serina, tell me!" he pleaded with a concerned expression. "That painting has been hidden for a long time, right after her death. That's why I thought they-"

"If that's the case, you know about her plans, and you might be involved. Am I right?" I interrupted angrily. All these years, everyone I knew was pretending!

"No! Look, I'm so sorry, Serina. We didn't mean to hurt you. In fact, we tried our best to stop him from avenging her death. But when we realized how much he cared for you, we didn't think it would escalate like this. We really thought he had forgotten Sapphire," Nicky explained.

I laughed bitterly. So, it wasn't just me he convinced, even his friends.

"If that's the case, Sapphire was-"

"She was my fiancée and the mother of our supposed child," Markus cut in, facing me.

His face showed no emotion, and it terrified me.

"Dude, you've been here all this time?" Nicky exclaimed. Markus just looked at him, then turned to me.

"Now that you know the woman I loved the most, maybe you'd like to know what caused the deaths of my child and her. In case you don't remember," he said coldly.

"Markus, enough of this!" Nicky shouted, but Markus sneered.

"No, Nicks. Besides, I know you also hold grudges against her." He continued to look at me with a mocking smile.

I clenched my lips. Please, I don't want this! Markus, stop!

"So, what about it? She doesn't seem to want to hear my side... guilt striking my wife, huh?" he said.

I bit my lip. Please! I can't handle this! Markus, stop it!

"Markus, please, at least listen to her side!!" Nicky pleaded.

"Enough!! Will you both stop it?!" I shouted with my eyes closed. It hurts so much! My heartache is enough; don't add shouting to it.

"See? Look at her! She doesn't even want to hear my story. Guilt struck my wife, huh?" Markus said, still looking at me with disdain.

I bit my lip harder. Please, Markus, enough!

"So, what now? If your head got hit that night and caused you to lose your memory, I'll make you realize it every day," he said coldly. "Nicky, I think we should go."

"Serina?" Nicky asked with concern.

"I-I'm fine," I forced a smile, holding back tears. I felt a lump in my throat from suppressing my cries.

I heard their footsteps gradually fading as they left. Alone in the kitchen, I looked up and released the tears I'd been holding back.

Nicky's perspective:

"Dude, wait a minute! Why did you tell that to Serina?" I asked breathlessly as he briskly walked.

"What?" he asked with a smile.

"Markus, seriously! Stop smiling like that! I feel more at ease when I see your scowling face in anger, but when you smile like that, it gives me the creeps! I feel like I'm facing death, and it's smiling at me!" I complained.

This monkey has two types of smiles. At first glance, you won't notice the difference, but if you look into his eyes, you'll know.

One is an angelic smile – when he smiles, even his eyes are smiling. Another is a demonic smile – he's smiling, but his eyes are fierce. It's a killer smile, literally.

"Why? Do I really seem evil when smiling? Dude, you're hurting me," he said, pretending to be offended, but the smile lingered.

I was just gaping. He went straight to my car and sat in the back seat.

"Seriously! What do you think I am, your chauffeur?" I exclaimed.

He sat arrogantly, one hand on his head and one foot casually placed on the other. Just imagine how haughty this guy is, combined with his refined movements. He's not gay; in fact, he's the manliest among us. He just moves with elegance.

"Seriously, dude, don't continue whatever you're planning with Serina. I know you'll regret it someday," I said while driving. I glanced at him in the mirror, but he remained silent, looking thoughtful from a distance.

He maintained his composure, but from afar, it seemed like he had deep thoughts. I sighed. I witnessed his inner struggles, but I couldn't help but worry about Serina. Earlier, while talking to her, I noticed her rubbing her arm, which was red and showed signs of pain.

I didn't bother asking, thinking it might be nothing. I went straight to the kitchen and was shocked to see Markus' painting. Sapphire painted it and gave it to him on their anniversary. After her death, he hid all memories of Sapphire.

Everything clicked in my mind. Maybe this is the beginning of his reckoning. When Markus found out that Serina paid off the police, he was furious. It was a small amount compared to the Feehily family's wealth, and he could easily double it, but he chose not to. According to Markus, escaping the law might be possible, but not from him. Since then, he hired a private investigator to monitor Serina's condition while she remained comatose for two months. We tried to make the cop confess, but when he arrived at our hideout, Markus immediately blew his head off. Markus killed the cop before we could extract the information we needed.

"Why did you do that, Mark?" Kian exclaimed.

But Markus just raised one side of his lips, looking at us.

"Why bother asking him when it's clear that Serina Gonzales is responsible? I made up my mind; I'll make her pay in my own way. Get up and dispose of that person's corpse," he said coldly and left. We were all in shock; we didn't expect him to do that. Now, I'm extremely worried about Serina; I know he's capable of killing her.

Serina's perspective:

I was lost in thought when the doorbell rang. It must be Selina; I called her earlier. I wanted to share all my frustrations; it felt like I would go crazy being alone here.

I headed to the gate, and indeed, it was Selina.

"Come in," I greeted her with a smile.

"Sis, what's the matter? Why were you crying on the phone earlier? Where's Mark?" she asked, concerned.

"What!!! Mark did that to you!!!" she exclaimed. I'm crying now as I recount Markus' changed behavior and the accusations he made against me.

"I-I don't know, Selina! I am so helpless. It hurts so much! I've been hurt again. I thought he was the man who would truly love me, but I was wrong," I replied, sobbing. I saw guilt in her eyes.

Selina's husband is my ex-boyfriend. I knew he loved my sister, and one day I found out that Selina was pregnant with Travis' child. He was drunk, and my sister was beside him.

My world shattered when I learned about it! I was so angry at both of them. But when I saw Selina kneel in front of Travis to take responsibility, I realized that blood is thicker than water. Despite what they did, she's still my sister, and I felt sorry for her situation.

She was four months pregnant when we found out she had ovarian cancer. We had no choice but to remove the baby along with her ovaries. She was devastated, and I was the only one she had left.

Travis wanted to get back with me, but I declined. My sister lost her child, and I knew she couldn't handle losing her husband too.

I sacrificed my own happiness for her. Every day, she asks for forgiveness.

"I'm so sorry, sis," tears welled up in her eyes.

"It's okay. I'm fine. I just want someone to talk to. It's driving me crazy being alone," I replied, wiping away my tears.