Backstabber!

Backstabber!
I walked slowly toward Ellie's room, rubbing my fingers together as my heart refused to calm down. Every step I took made me wonder what she was going to say to me this time. Would she deny everything? Would she pretend to be innocent again? Or would she finally let something slip?

The hallway was unusually quiet. The only sound was the soft tap of my slippers against the polished marble floor. Warm golden lights lined the walls, making the expensive decorations glow. Everything about this mansion screamed wealth, from the crystal wall lamps to the carefully arranged paintings that looked like they belonged in a museum.

Normally, I would have admired the beauty of the place.

Not today.

My mind was too occupied with everything that had happened over the past few days.

As I got closer to Ellie's room, I instinctively slowed down.

I heard voices.

At first, I thought someone else was inside with her, but after listening for another second, I realized she was talking on the phone.

She's calling someone?

My brows furrowed.

Who could she possibly be speaking to at a time like this?

Her voice was low, almost like she didn't want anyone to overhear her conversation.

I reached for the doorknob, intending to walk in immediately.

Then I stopped.

Something told me to wait.

Maybe it was curiosity.

Maybe it was instinct.

Whatever it was, I quietly stepped closer to the slightly opened door and listened.

From where I stood, I could see part of the room.

Ellie was standing near the window with her back partially turned toward me. She had a smile on her face—a smile that looked genuine.

That alone made me uneasy.

She didn't look worried.

She looked... pleased.

"Well, they're going to be leaving soon," she said into the phone with a quiet laugh. "I'm so happy our plan is finally working out. Everything is falling into place exactly the way I wanted."

My heartbeat slowed for a second before it started pounding even harder.

Our plan?

I remained completely still.

"I was waiting for the perfect person to use," she continued. "But when Diego used my sister instead, and she found herself trapped with no way out, I knew that was my opportunity."

A cold feeling settled in my chest.

"So I decided to use everything to my advantage. Now I'll ruin both of their lives without them even realizing it."

My fingers curled into tight fists.

Every word she spoke felt like another blow.

Anger burned through my body so fiercely that it became difficult to breathe. For a moment, I wanted to storm into the room and demand answers.

But I couldn't.

Not yet.

My mother was still being held captive, and I had no idea who Ellie was working with. If I confronted her now, I could make everything worse.

I forced myself to stay where I was, even though every part of me wanted to expose her.

Ellie laughed softly before speaking again.

"The party is going to change her life," she said. "I'm going to ruin them little by little. I'll disgrace them one step at a time, and they won't even realize what's happening until it's far too late."

I frowned.

The party?

What party was she talking about?

I searched my memory, trying to remember if anyone had mentioned an upcoming celebration.

Nothing came to mind.

"Well, like I said earlier, everything has already been planned and mapped out," Ellie said confidently.

I watched as she rose from her chair and slowly walked toward the window, her free hand resting against the glass while she continued speaking into the phone.

"There won't be any problems. Someone is going to break the story at exactly the right time. I've already arranged for someone to spread the rumor that Lily is in love with Diego... my husband."

She chuckled softly.

"It'll attract plenty of attention. Everyone will see Lily as a desperate woman chasing another person's husband. They'll call her a homewrecker, and she'll never be able to clear her name."

I felt my stomach tighten.

Ellie continued as though she were discussing something as ordinary as the weather.

"And the best part is that I'll pretend I know absolutely nothing. I'll act surprised... hurt... innocent. Diego has no idea that I already know about him and Lily. He doesn't know I found out they slept together. That's exactly why this plan is perfect. I'll use everything to my advantage."

My breathing became uneven.

The words echoed repeatedly in my mind.

She knows.

She knew everything.

Every bit of color drained from my face as I stood rooted to the spot.

I had honestly believed that all Ellie wanted was for me to follow her instructions. I thought if I cooperated, she'd leave me alone and release my mother.

But I had been completely wrong.

She had never intended to keep her word.

I wasn't just someone she wanted to threaten.

I was another pawn in her game.

She wanted to destroy me.

She wanted everyone to believe I had been secretly chasing Diego all along.

If that rumor spread during a party filled with family, friends, and influential guests, my reputation would be ruined overnight.

People wouldn't ask questions. They would judge me immediately.

They would call me shameless.
Desperate. A husband snatcher.

And Ellie would stand there pretending to be the innocent wife whose husband had been stolen.

The more I thought about it, the sicker I felt.

How could I have been so foolish?

How could I have trusted someone like Ellie, even for a second?

She was a liar. A manipulator.

A backstabber who didn't seem capable of caring about anyone but herself.

She had even threatened her own mother without showing the slightest bit of remorse.

Why had I convinced myself that she might still have a conscience?

I slowly shook my head.

No. This wasn't good. Not good at all.

My mind raced as I replayed everything she had just said.

A party. There was going to be a party.

I hadn't even known one was being planned.

If I had walked into this room without listening first, I would never have discovered what she was preparing for me.

I silently thanked God for stopping me from opening that door.

At least now I knew. Now I understood why she had been acting so strangely these past few days.

Everything had been leading up to this moment.

I pressed a trembling hand against my chest, trying to steady my breathing.

Think, Lily. You have to think.

If I attended that party, I'd be walking straight into the trap Ellie had carefully prepared.

She already had people ready to spread the rumor.

Once it started, there would be no stopping it.

Even if I defended myself, most people would believe the gossip before they believed me. I couldn't let that happen.

I refused to stand there while my name was dragged through the mud.

The safest thing to do was leave before the party even began.

Yes... That was the only option.

I would disappear for a while.

I'd stay somewhere safe until the party was over.

After everything settled down, I could come back and figure out my next move.

It
wasn't running away forever.
It was buying myself time.

Time to protect myself. Time to come up with a better plan.

Because one thing was certain.
I wasn't going to let Ellie destroy my life.