DEVIL IN A SILHOUETTE

Note: This book contains a blend of first person POV and third person pov.

Chapter 1 : A knife to the heart

Richard's snarl cut through the silence of the study. "Sign the damn divorce papers, Aurora."

A faint, cold smirk touched my lips. Did he truly think I was that much of a fool?

"You think I'll grant you the privilege of spending my father's wealth on your mistress?"My voice was as sharp as a shard of glass. "I'm not signing a thing."

A deadly glare burned in his eyes, his face a mask of pure rage. "You stubborn bitch. To hell with you!" he thundered, storming out and slamming the door so hard the walls shook.

The moment he was gone, the strength drained from my body. I slumped onto the couch, heaving a sigh that felt like it carried the weight of the last five years. I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting back the hot tears that threatened to fall.

Five years. Five years of a marriage I never wanted, a final promise to my father, before he passed. And in some foolish, hidden corner of my heart, I'd begun to feel something for this man. But Richard had only ever been a ghost in our home, draining the company accounts to fund his affairs. He never offered a kind word, never pretended to love me. Why would he? He didn't.

And now he wanted a divorce? He wanted to legitimize his theft and parade his whores on my father's fortune? I wouldn't give him the pleasure.

I snatched my keys from the table. I needed a drink, something strong enough to burn the memory of his voice from my mind. It was my only coping mechanism.

The bar was a blur of fluorescent lights and the dizzying hum of strangers' laughter. I slid onto a stool. "Tequila. Neat," I told the bartender. The glass was cold in my hand. I threw it back in one searing gulp, but it did nothing to silence the echo of Richard's words.

My grip tightened on the empty glass. Why couldn't he just love me? What did I ever do to deserve such hatred?

"Hey there, mademoiselle." A voice sliced through my thoughts.

I turned to see a tall man with a thick beard, a cocky smile plastered on his round face.

"Hey,"I replied flatly, signaling the bartender for another drink.

"You look exhausted.Let me guess... husband troubles?" he asked, his eyes flicking to the wedding ring on my finger. He dropped onto the stool beside me, that infuriating smirk still in place.

I let out a bitter scoff."It's none of your business."

"Oh,don't be like that. I could be of help, you know," he said, leaning in far too close. His voice dropped to a taunting whisper. "You never can tell. Your husband might be fucking another woman in your matrimonial bed right now."

The air left my lungs. My chest constricted into a knot of pain and fury.

I turned to him,my gaze hardening into ice. "Go to hell," I snarled.

I threw a bill on the bar,grabbed my keys, and strode out without a backward glance.

His vile words followed me, poisoning my mind. He was right. That bastard Richard could be with someone else right now, defiling the very room I slept in.

I slid into the driver's seat, my hands clenching the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. Even though I knew about his affairs, I had never had the misfortune of catching him. But the mental image, now vividly painted by the stranger's words, was a fresh, searing wound.

I parked the car in the garage and just sat there for a minute, my head leaning against the steering wheel. I took a deep, shaky breath. A stupid part of me still hoped Richard would prove me wrong. Just this once.

I walked into the quiet house and headed for our room. But I stopped dead at the door.

A woman's moan filtered through the wood. "Ahh, yes! Right there, baby!"

My blood ran cold. It was coming from our room.

I clenched my fists so tight my nails stabbed my palms. This was it. I shoved the door open.

And my whole world stopped.

Richard was naked on our bed, on top of some woman. And then I saw her face.

It was Jessica. My best friend.

Tears instantly flooded my eyes. I couldn't even breathe. How could she? How could he? This wasn't just a betrayal. It was a knife to the heart from the the friend I trusted most.

Chapter 2: Shattered 🥀

A numbing cold spread through my veins, locking my body in place.

"J-Jessica?How could you?" The words escaped my lips, a shattered whisper.

"Aurora, please, it's not what you think." Jessica pleaded, her blonde hair a messy curtain across her face.

Richard just sat on the couch, a glass of amber liquid in his hand, utterly unfazed. He looked like he was just waiting for me to have my little meltdown and leave.

"You're sleeping with my husband?" My voice sliced through the thick air, each word sharp as I felt hot tears trace paths down my cheeks.

And then, Jessica's expression shifted. The pleading mask dissolved, replaced by a wide, vicious smirk tugging at her lips.

"Husband?"she scoffed. "Come on, Aurora. You and I both know this marriage is a prison yard. Richard asked you for a divorce, but you refused. God, you're so stubborn."

She said it so casually, already starting to pull on her clothes. The audacity of this bitch, defending herself like I was the unreasonable one.

I raked my hands through my hair, a scream of frustration trapped in my chest. "I swear to God, you bastards will regret this. I swear it." The snarl ripped from my throat, a painful lump lodging there, choking me.

I couldn't stand the sight of them for a second longer. I turned and stormed out, my heels striking the tile floor with each furious step, echoing the rage pounding in my ears.

I stumbled into my car, my knuckles turning white as my hands clenched the steering wheel. My best friend. My husband. The betrayal was a physical ache, a fresh hell to add to my collection. Oh, my life was just getting better by the day.

With trembling fingers, I reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a worn brown envelope. From it, I slid an old photograph-a picture of me with my dad, from a time when he was still here.

Tears fell then, hot and unrestrained, splashing against the faded image. "Why is this happening to me, Papa? I need you here with me. I can't take this anymore... it's just too much to bear." My voice cracked, the plea swallowed by the silence of the car.

But in that despair, a cold, hard resolve solidified. I swear, I will make those bastards regret ever messing with me.

I swear it on my father's grave

---

Richard and Jessica sat across from each other, the air thick with tension, their expressions unreadable masks.

"I told you we should have met at the hotel" Jessica hissed,her voice sharp enough to cut a glass. "But no, you brought me here, to your bedroom, insisting your wife wouldn't be back till midnight, you bloody clown."

Richard let out a loud, derisive scoff.

"I brought you here deliberately" he said, sipping his whiskey with infuriating calm. " So that bitch would finally come to her senses".

A wave of panic washed over Jessica's face, replacing her anger.

"Now everything's messed up! Aurora knows I'm sleeping with her husband, that means I can't get anything from her fortune anymore!" she raked her hands through her hair in sheer frustration.

A wide , predatory smile tugged at Richard's lips.

"Relax, there's a way you can still get a piece of her fortune." he said, an evil grin flashing across his face.

"How?" Jessica asked,her voice a tight whisper.

Richard stood up and slowly closed the distance between them.

"By finishing her off," he said,his voice devoid of any emotion.

Jessica eyes widened in genuine shock.

"Richard, you don't mean...?"

"Yes" he cut her off coldly. "It's exactly what you're thinking".

He grabbed his phone from the table and dialed a number with practiced ease.

"Hello sir," a voice answered.

"Follow my wife's car", Richard commanded flatly.

" And finish her off, leave no traces behind", he hung up without another word.

Jessica shot him a strange appraising glance.

"I never knew you were this evil".

"Well, I need to get that bitch off my back", he shrugged. A dark hunger flickered in his eyes as he grabbed a fistful of her hair.

"Now bend that ass over for me" he growled throwing her onto the bed.

A wicked giggle escaped her lips.

" Sure, daddy ".

---

(Aurora )

I turned the ignition, the engine snarling to life, and pulled out into the cold, empty streets. I had no destination, just the need to move. My knuckles were white on the wheel, the only thing solid in my spinning world.

Jessica's words were a drumbeat in my skull.

And the hell of it was,she was right.

My marriage to Richard was a prison.But that didn't grant him a free pass to fuck my best friend-my ex-best friend. I wanted to burn their memories and never look back.

I was drowning in the noise of my own thoughts when a brutal, blinding light erupted from a side street. It was a stark, white van, idling like a predator.

I glanced, dismissed it, and drove on. I was too numb to care.

But then I saw it-a sudden, violent lurch forward, tires screeching, aiming directly for me. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic bird in a cage. I jerked the wheel, a useless, panicked gesture.

It was too late.

The world exploded.

The shriek of tearing metal.The crystalline shower of glass. The impact threw me forward like a ragdoll. My head cracked against the steering wheel with a sickening thud, and the warm, metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth.

The world flipped. My car tumbled, a weightless, crushing ballet of violence. I felt the hard, cold bite of twisted iron, the sickening crunch of something deep inside me giving way.

Hot tears cut through the blood and grime on my face as I fought the blackness creeping into the edges of my vision. I could feel a slow, thick trickle from my nose, painting my lips.

Then... nothing. Just Darkness.

Chapter 3: A Woman Scorned

Westland Hospital.

Richard and Jessica rushed into the hospital, their faces etched with panic. They hurried over to the reception counter where a receptionist was working.

"Please, I got a call that my wife was in an accident and was rushed here," he said, his breath muffled and short.

"Oh, yes, sir. She was brought in not long ago. She's in room 46; the doctor is with her now," one of the receptionists said.

Jessica and Richard dashed to the room where Aurora was. Just then, the doctor attending to her stepped out, his face pale.

"Doctor, how is my wife?" Richard asked, his voice trembling with a feigned concern.

The doctor heaved a long, heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry, sir. But your wife... she didn't make it. She's gone," he said, lowering his head slightly.

Richard and Jessica's expressions were unreadable, as if they were trying to mask the happiness they truly felt.

"What did you say?" Richard snarled, his voice laced with a hidden sarcasm.

"I'm so sorry. We did everything we could, but her injuries were too severe," he said.

Richard slumped into a chair, raking his hands through his hair.

"It's okay, Richard. Aurora is in a better place now," Jessica said, rubbing his shoulders.

The doctor excused himself and walked away.

Suddenly, their expressions changed completely.

"Oh, thank God. That bitch is finally gone," Richard said, his voice barely a whisper.

Jessica straightened her shirt, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.

"So, that means we can take her entire fortune now, right? I mean, now that she's gone."

Richard rubbed his temples, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

"You know, I'm almost glad Aurora never signed those divorce papers. I might not have gotten full access to her money. But now... it's a different story," he said, his voice buzzing with excitement.

"Don't get too excited yet. Remember, we have to put on our grieving masks and pretend we miss that bitch," she cautioned.

Richard let out a faint scoff.

"Well, that'll be easy. As long as I get the fortune, I'll play any part."

Jessica let out a soft chuckle, then quickly replaced it with a look of concern.

FIVE MONTHS LATER

(Aurora)

I woke up, a dim light piercing my eyes. I squinted, trying to adjust to my surroundings. I was in a hospital room, but it looked private. Flowers and get-well cards were arranged on a nearby table.

I tried to remember what had happened. Why was I here?

"Hello, ma'am! You're awake! Thank God," a soft voice came from the doorway. A young nurse walked in, a wide smile spread across her face.

Confusion must have been plain on my face. "Wait, what happened? Where am I?" I asked.

The nurse heaved a heavy sigh. "Ma'am, you had a bad fall down the stairs and hit your head. You were rushed here, but you've been in a coma for five months. I'm so glad you're awake now," she said, her tone dripping with genuine happiness.

Panic surged through me as I tried to remember. Then, the memories of that night came flooding back: catching my best friend in bed with my husband, leaving in a rage, speeding off in my car... and then a white van slamming into me.

"Arghh!" I held my head as a sharp pain accompanied the returning memories. "I didn't fall down the stairs. I was in an accident."

"Take it easy, ma'am. Try not to stress your brain," she said, gently rubbing my shoulder. "I'll go call your godfather and let him know you're awake."

"My... godfather?" I asked, my head throbbing from the information overload.

"Yes, ma'am. Your godfather."

I took a deep breath, trying to process it all. Then, my eyes darted to a mirror on the wall. My body froze completely. My eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

The face staring back was not my own. My hair was shorter, my lips were fuller-I was in a completely different body. How? How on earth was this possible?

"Nurse! This... this isn't my face! What the hell is happening?" I cried, hot tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Ma'am, you've just woken up. The emotions are overwhelming. I think you should rest," she said calmly.

I raked my hands through my hair in utter confusion. "Wait, where is this hospital? How far are we from New York?"

The nurse gave me a puzzled look. "New York? Ma'am, we're in Italy."

My jaw dropped. Just then, a news segment on the television caught my eye. It was a video of Richard and Jessica.

"Please, turn the volume up," I urged the nurse.

She did, and the headline on the screen made my chest tighten: "Businessman Richard Williams and his wife, Jessica Williams, have acquired a new private jet. Mr. Williams stated he wanted to celebrate his wife's birthday in style, so he fulfilled her wish. This couple makes falling in love look sweet. Following the untimely passing of his former wife, Aurora Cole, Richard has remarried; his wife is now the actress Jessica Williams."

Wife? Private jet? More hot tears fell. Those bastards had taken over my father's fortune now that they thought I was gone.

My mind snapped back to the white van. Had Richard orchestrated the whole thing? A huge lump formed in my throat as my thoughts spiraled.

Perhaps destiny was rewriting my fate. I swore then that I would make them pay. They would regret the day they chose to betray me.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

The door creaked open, and a tall, imposing man entered. He wore a hat and leaned on a walking stick. In his right hand, he held a beautiful bouquet of flowers. His aura was dangerously powerful, and his expensive clothes marked him as a wealthy man. His sharp Italian features were strikingly handsome.

"La Bonita, you're finally awake," the man said, his voice deep as he walked closer. He pulled me into a soft hug, his heavy cologne almost suffocating.

I pulled away and stared at him, bewildered.

"Who are you?"I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Confusion flashed across the man's face. He glanced at the nurse, then back at me.

"Sir,she has just woken up. I suggest we give her some time to rest," the nurse interjected gently.

"La Bonita, you don't remember me? Your godfather?" he said, ignoring the nurse's advice.

So this is my godfather.

I swallowed hard and forced a smile.

"Oh,godfather. I'm sorry for not remembering you. My mind is still a mess," I said.

He rubbed his temples lightly.

"It's okay,Bonita. See, I brought you your favorite flowers," he said, handing me the bouquet.

They weren't my favorite, but I figured they must have been his real goddaughter's.

"Thank you,"I said, genuinely.

Now, I had a new life, a new identity, and a new family. Maybe, just maybe... this was the first step toward my revenge.

Maybe...