ENTANGLED WEB

The rain poured fiercely outside, putting a dark mist over the luxurious, beautiful estate as Marie peeked through the window once again to see if she could get a glimpse of her husband driving in the building, but there was no sign of him....yet. She pulled herself back to the massive king-sized bed and sat on the edge, staring out the window with her eyes fixed on the rain falling like tears on the glass.

With just one candle blazing on the nightstand and weird shadows cast on the walls, the room was hardly illuminated at all. With her hands clasped tightly in her lap and her fingers tensely intertwined, Marie awaited her husband's arrival via the sound of the door opening.

She couldn't define what she truly felt. It wasn't excitement she was feeling, as for the past three years, her marriage to Max had been nothing but a nightmare. He had treated her as nothing more than trash, but still, she wanted him back home. Wondering why he hadn't returned home at that late hour, she speculated if he was with Lena. They were probably in a room getting intimate. She felt her heart starting to ache and quickly shrugged off the thoughts.

She was about to go to bed when her eyes met a small shiny package on the dressing table that looked like a jewelry box. She grabbed it and opened it out of curiosity. A diamond ring was in the little jewelry box. With astonishment in her eyes, Marie stared at the ring, her pulse pounding with anticipation.

Had Max gotten his for her? Was he finally realizing what was going on and trying to make things up? Without hesitating, she tried the ring on right away, sliding it onto her finger and clicking it gently. The diamond glinted on her skin, illuminating the space in small rainbows. Marie felt like a princess in a fairy tale, and she couldn't help but gasp with ecstasy.

The ring fit perfectly, as if it had been made for her alone. She twirled her finger, watching as the diamond flashed and shimmered, its beauty taking her breath away.

Just then, the door opened. Her heart skipped as she froze.

"What the heck are you doing?!" Max's voice echoed through the room, his piercing green eyes fixed on Marie with a mixture of irritation and anger.

"Honey... you're back," Marie stuttered, trying to shift his attention.

"I just asked you a question," Max ignored, as he dashed towards her in anger.

"I was just... I was just admiring it," Marie stuttered again, her heart racing seriously.

"And who said you could touch it!" Max roared as he dragged the ring and box from her grasp. "I got this ring for Lena; it must be clean and flawless. A dirty woman like you touching it makes me sick!"

Marie's heart sank as she stared back at him with tears gathered in her eyes. She slowly wiped them off with the back of her palm, the pain of the betrayal was a physical ache in her chest. 'A dirty woman like you...' his voice echoed in her mind, the words cutting deep like a knife. That's what she is to him? 'A dirty woman?' She lifted her gaze to meet his. The stare in his eyes were as cold as ice. This wasn't the man she had fallen in love with. No, this isn't Max.. Can't be.

"But why do you treat me like this, Max? I am your wife. Just what have I done to deserve this ill-treatment from you?"

"Did you just say wife?? How did you get into the position of being my wife? Do you need me to remind you?! I will never forget your face, you poisonous woman!" Max scoffed.

"Max, please, I don't deserve this..."

"Don't act pitiful in front of me!" Max spat, the words piercing Marie's heart like daggers. "Your presence alone sickens me."

He angrily flung the ring onto the bed. "Get this through your head: you mean nothing to me."

Marie's eyes widened, the tears threatening to spill. "Max please, listen to me," she choked out, her voice trembling. "I..."

Not wanting to hear any more of her words, Max dashed angrily towards Marie and dragged her outside the house, pushing her into the rain angrily. "Since you don't understand what I said, you will kneel here and reflect on yourself," he said without an ounce of emotion.

Marie could feel her heart shattering into a million pieces. What was he talking about? She had explained several times about the incident. She was really innocent.

"Is this about that incident? Max, it wasn't me who did it, I've told you before," she said without pause. "Why don't you believe me? It was Lena, she..."

"Shut up, you disgusting woman!" Max cut in. "Do you even have the right to call Lena's name?!" He paused, swallowing hard. "You really should feel lucky I'm only letting you kneel here. Even if you died a hundred times, it wouldn't be enough for all the things you've done to Lena over the years."

Marie bristled with anger and pain, feeling the injustice of the accusation scorch her skin. "I haven't done anything to harm her, Max, why don't you believe me?" Marie said with tears, feeling her heart heavy in her chest..it felt so heavy like it was going to burst out.

"Shut up! You witch!" Max roared. "If it wasn't for you, would Lena have had that accident?!... It's been four years, and you still show no remorse!"

"Max..."

"You kneel right there! When I calm down a little, only then can you stand up!" Max said, clenching his jaw as he turned to leave.

"Max, please!" Marie cried as the rain kept pouring on her, the pain all-consuming, leaving no room for anything else.

Marie's tears flowed down her cheeks as she watched Max walk away, and she made no attempt to stop them. He wasn't always that cold and ruthless. Their love had shone brightly, infusing her with warmth and pleasure that she believed would endure a lifetime. But now all that remained was a burning agony that had overtaken her whole soul, thanks to Lena, the Browns' adoptive daughter who would do everything to have Max all to herself.

Marie collapsed to the floor, crying violently. Max's remarks had triggered a flood of emotions that she had frantically struggled to contain. How could he talk to her with such hatred, to the woman who had supported him through thick and thin? Who had abandoned her family for him? Fine. He knows nothing about her family, but isn't he human? How could he treat her in this manner?

Marie was startled out of her reverie by the sound of approaching footsteps. She turned toward the footsteps, trying to make out the tiny lady dressed in a sleek green gown and black shoes. The lady had an umbrella, which partly hid her face.

"Hey, long time no see," the woman's voice said.

The voice seemed familiar, so Marie raised her eyes to examine the source. Her heart skips a beat. It was Lena.

The same Lena her husband had bought the present for was now a continuous source of contention in her marriage. It was as if time had frozen, and Marie was brought back to a better period when Lena had been a close friend until she was adopted into the Browns family, and Max's mother had chosen Lena over her.

"Why have you become like a homeless dog, kneeling out here pitifully?" Lena inquired, a cheeky grin forming at the corners of her lips.

Marie's jaw hardened at Lena's crude statement. Despite her tears and the pain in her heart, she lifted her chin with all the dignity she could summon.

"Our family matters are none of your concern," she said firmly, holding back the rage and anguish that threatened to boil forth.

"Lena, leave us. This is not the place for an outsider."

Lena scoffed, mischievously. "Really? 'Outsider?' She wrinkled her nose in distaste. "Marie, you truly are something. Who is the true outsider among the two of us?"

Marie looked at Lena, her face darkening. 'What do you mean,' she questioned.

Lena averted her eyes, as if Marie's inquiry was unimportant. "Anyway, I've got some fantastic news for you. I am pregnant," Lena replied, rubbing her stomach. "I'm carrying Max's first child."

Marie was astonished. Her whole body blew up, like a person who was being electrocuted. She couldn't think clearly because her heart was hammering in her chest. Did she mishear? Elena? Pregnant? No way.

Marie's hands clinched at her sides as she sprang up, her eyes flashing with rage. "What did you say?" she demanded, her voice low and threatening. "What did you just say?"

She approached Lena, her hands yearning to seize the other woman's shoulders and shake her until she realized the gravity of her remarks. "Are you pregnant?" "That cannot be!"

Lena, caught aback by Marie's sudden rage, took a step back. "Marie. I said I was pregnant; it's Max's baby," Lena remarked, smiling smugly.

The words seemed like a physical blow to Marie's chest, with each syllable digging further into her heart. Her legs shook and she lurched back, her hand reaching out to the wall for support. She attempted to talk, to construct a cohesive idea, but all she got out was a choked gasp, the agony and shock making her unable to breathe. The room started to swirl, and Marie's eyesight became blurry, tears mixed with fury and bewilderment.

"No," The words eventually came out. "It's impossible."

Lena's grin simply grew wider. "What's impossible?" she said, her fingers carelessly caressing her tummy. "In Max's heart, the person who saved him back then was me."

"The truth of what happened back then you know perfectly well!," she said. "So what?"

Lena inquired, her cheeks flushing with eagerness. "Max believes in me." She said as she continued to smile mischievously. "Marie, the baby in my tummy is a member of the Brown family. How would Max react if you killed this kid yourself? And... what will he do?

Lena's eyes widened as a grin curled her lips into a nasty pout. Marie clenched her teeth, causing her jaw to hurt as she gazed at Lena. The lady before her was a snake, spewing venom with every syllable.

"What are you aiming to accomplish? Frame me? Even if it means losing your unborn child?" Marie glanced away, not wanting to stare at Lena's face any longer. The woman's remarks sickened her, leaving a nasty taste on her mouth.

"You make me sick," she said, pushing her fingers into the fabric of her garment. "How could I possibly bear to use my own child like that?"

Lena's eyes twinkled with mischief. "But none of this matters, because this child will soon be killed by you, right in front of Max's eyes," she said, her lips twisting into a devious grin as she regarded Marie with a gaze that promised both difficulty and joy.

"You have obviously lost it, Lena." "Oh, really?" "Let us see who has it."

Holding Marie's eyes, she adjusted the fabric of her garment to show a blood bag neatly positioned between her laps. The alleged 'pregnant' tummy was a forgery, meticulously designed to trick Max.

"What?! Are you this low?" Marie inquired with contempt and astonishment.

As Max's footsteps neared, Lena stretched out and grabbed Marie's hands, her hold firm. Marie attempted to get free, but Lena's grip remained firm, driven by desperation and a warped desire of revenge. They battled, knocking over a neighboring table as Marie's power dwindled with each passing second.

Max suddenly entered the room, his face wrinkled with apprehension. Lena, seeing an opportunity, surged toward Marie, purposefully losing her balance and fell to the ground as if Marie had pushed her. A piercing scream of anguish from her lips as her hands raced to her belly.

Max was at her side in an instant, his face a mask of fear. "What have you done?" He yelled, his voice like a whip. "Marie, how could you?"

"No, Max, it's not what it seems," Marie implored, her eyes wide with terror. "She set me up, she's not pregnant!"

But Max's expression didn't change, his eyes still blazing with anger. "You've gone too far, Marie," he growled, his voice trembling. "You'll pay for this."

Max's eyes shifted between Marie and Lena, his face distorted with wrath and astonishment. He rose up, his muscles stiff with wrath, and scowled at Marie.

"Why did you push her?" He hissed in a deep murmur. "You understand how fragile pregnancy is. "How could you be so reckless?"

Marie's heart hammered in her chest, and her words stuck in her throat. "Max, please, you must listen to me," she begged, tears streaming down her cheek. "It wasn't me, it was..."

"Enough!" Max cut in. "I saw it with my own eyes, you pushed her!"

Lena carefully slid her hands to the blud bag between her thighs, releasing more blud.

"Max, it hurts so much," she wailed, faking tears.

"Don't be afraid, Lena; I am here," he added, still staring intently at Marie. "No one can hurt you."

"Max..." Marie stammered.

Max's rage spread like wildfire, searing everything in its path. His hands shook with barely restrained wrath as he made a menacing stride towards Marie.

"Lena has always been weak, and now she finally has this baby, and you dared to push her," he said.

"Max, please, you must believe me," Marie pleaded, her hands stretching out to him. But her comments fell on deaf ears.

Max pulled Marie aside in one fast sweep, his power propelled by hatred. She staggered backward, and landed so hard on the hard floor. A sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen.

"My belly!" She exclaimed.

"It was just a little push, and you start acting?" Max replied, disregarding her anguish.

Marie was unable to speak another word. She tried but couldn't, keeping her attention set on Max as he picked up Lena and carried her away, his protective hug covering her from danger.

Marie was left alone, with the sour taste of injustice still on her lips. She climbed to her feet, the ache in her arm forgotten, and tears flowed down her cheeks.

How could he trust Lena above her?

As Marie struggled with the crushing weight of betrayal, her body began to betray her. A piercing agony, like a thousand needles, stabbed her abdomen once again, and she slumped over, holding at her stomach. A unexpected flood of warmth between her legs warned her that her own baby was in danger.

She slumped to the floor, her breathing weak and ragged, blood staining her skirt, the truth of the situation coming on her like a black cloud as she felt her heart shatter. No. No, please.

Marie held her stomach in the deserted compound's calm, her head racing with terror and despair. She'd lost everything: her husband, her pride, and potentially her kid.

"Please, not my baby," she pleaded, her voice raspy with pain. "Please, don't take my baby."

But as the minutes passed, her strength dwindled, the anguish growing more intense and brutal, until she could only shut her eyes and yield to the darkness that threatened to engulf her.

**********

Marie awoke to the fragrance of antiseptic and a slight breath of bleach, the overhead lights blurring her vision. The sound of heart monitors and the murmur of conversations surrounded her like a dream.

"Where..." she muttered, her voice parched as sandpaper.

A soothing touch landed on her arm, and she turned to see Doctor Gates' worried expression. "You are in the hospital, Marie. Your husband brought you here as soon as he received a call from his gatekeeper."

He probably hadn't abandoned all of his compassion after all. Marie thought to herself. Her heart just skipped a beat.

"My baby." She grabbed the doctor. "Dr. Gates, how's my baby?" She questioned anxiously, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"Your baby is fine, but you should be careful the next time; you might not be so lucky," Dr. Gates said with a warm grin at the corners of his lips.

Marie nodded.

"I'll let you rest now," Doctor Gates replied, adjusting the stethoscope around his neck and turning to depart.

Marie sighed with relief as she saw the Doctor close the door behind him. Before she could blink, Max rushed through the door, his look hostile.

Max raced for Marie, pulling her off the bed with a firm grasp. "You'll pay for your sins," he hissed, his eyes filled with rage.

"Max, please, you're hurting me!" Marie sobbed, fighting against his grip. "Let me go, what is it you want from me?"

"Lena's life hangs in the balance because of you," he said with a sneer. "If you hadn't pushed her, would she be heavily bleeding and fighting for her life in the ER right now?" He yelled, "Do you even have a conscience, Marie?"

Marie's eyes burned with rage, and her jaw clinched in a vise-like grasp. "Even if she dies, what does that have to do with me?" She hissed, her voice full of defiance.

"Marie!" Max roared. "If it wasn't for you pushing her, would she have miscarried and be bleeding heavily now??" He said, "You're still as venomous as you were back then!"

"I have already said I didn't do anything back then!" Tears of frustration burned her eyes, but she refused to let them flow. "And now she is intentionally framing me by appearing to collapse. She is even faking her pregnancy! "Why don't you believe me?"

"Believe you?" Max spit, his voice full of disdain. "Why should I believe a woman who shamelessly climbed into my bed, betrayed my trust, and hired a murderer to kill Lena out of jealousy?"

He shoved her away in one fast, savage movement, his power propelled by his wrath. She staggered backward, losing her equilibrium and falling onto the bed behind her, her eyes wide with surprise. "Now Lena is in the ER, fighting for her life, and the doctor says only your blurd matches hers!" If you have a little conscience, go give blurd right now!"

Marie's fury was on fire, her words fuelled by the injustice she had experienced. "Lena is a liar," she said, her voice increasing in intensity. "Let her die if she wants to."

The words had barely left her lips before Max was upon her. He seized her by the chin, his fingers digging into the tender flesh of her neck, and lifted her from the bed with the force of his grip.

"How dare you?" he roared, the veins on his temples pulsing with anger.