Tania was beaming as she poured herself a glass of red wine, her fingers trembling with excitement. The article she released had caused just the right amount of chaos in Ella and Ethan’s lives. “This is only the beginning,” she thought smugly, sipping the wine and savoring the moment. She glanced at the television, eager to see more fallout from her latest stunt.
She settled down, her legs crossed, and clicked the remote to turn on the news. Her face fell instantly when she saw Ethan addressing the press. Her glass of wine froze midway to her lips as his words echoed in her head: “I never loved Tania. I stayed with her out of obligation… but my heart has always belonged to Ella.”
The glass slipped from her hands, shattering as it hit the floor. Red wine splattered everywhere, but she was too stunned to notice. Her heart raced, her mind spinning in disbelief. “He doesn’t love me?” she whispered, pacing around the room, her heels crunching on the broken glass. “No, no, that can’t be true! He’s lying! This is all Ella’s fault. It has to be.”
Tania’s thoughts spiraled out of control. “I love him! I gave up everything for him!” Her voice became shrill as she pulled at her hair, her eyes wide with fury. She stopped in front of the television, her chest heaving, as Ethan’s calm voice continued. He had made it clear for the world to see: Ella was his true love, not her.
“No!” Tania screamed, her eyes wild with hatred. “I’ll make them pay! I’ll make them both pay for this!” She grabbed the wine bottle and hurled it across the room. It crashed into the wall, sending shards of glass everywhere. The room, now in disarray, mirrored the chaos in her mind.
Back at the hospital, Ella sat on the edge of her bed, her heart pounding as she watched Ethan’s press conference. His open confession left her breathless. He still loves me? she thought, staring at the screen in disbelief. After everything, he still loves me.
Derek walked in just as the news ended, a smirk on his face. “Ready to get out of here?” he asked, glancing at the screen. He saw the look on Ella’s face, her confusion and lingering feelings for Ethan clearly visible.
“I’m getting discharged today?” she asked, snapping back to reality.
“Yup, the doctors gave you the all-clear,” Derek said, leaning against the wall. “So, how are you feeling?”
Ella gave him a small smile. “I’m fine, but I’ve got something up my sleeve,” she said with a glint in her eye.
Derek raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? What’s that?”
“I want Tania to feel what it’s like to be close to death,” Ella said coldly. “I want her to lose her mind, to never know if she’ll live or die. It’s time for her to pay.”
Derek stared at her for a moment, a flicker of concern crossing his face. “Ella, are you sure about this? Revenge is one thing, but…..”
“She tried to kill me, Derek,” Ella interrupted, her voice steady but icy. “She deserves to live in constant fear. It’s only fair.”
Derek nodded slowly, not entirely comfortable with the coldness in Ella’s tone. But he knew better than to argue with her now. “Just be careful,” he warned.
Ella’s smile widened. “I always am.”
Ella and Derek made their way home that evening, the tension between them palpable but unspoken. The weight of what lay ahead hung over them like a storm cloud, but Ella’s mind was laser-focused on one thing-making Tania suffer. The car ride was quiet, with the low hum of the engine the only sound between them. Derek glanced over at Ella every few minutes, concern etched on his face. She was staring out the window, her expression unreadable, her fingers tapping rhythmically against her knee.
“Ella,” Derek began hesitantly, breaking the silence. “I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be, but… don’t let this consume you. You’ve come too far to lose yourself in this.”
Ella’s gaze remained fixed outside, watching the darkened streets blur by. “I won’t lose myself, Derek. I’m just taking back control. Tania has manipulated and tormented me for too long. It’s time she feels what it’s like to be powerless.”
Derek sighed but said nothing more. He knew when Ella had her mind set on something, there was little anyone could do to stop her.
As they pulled into her driveway, Ella exhaled, feeling a brief sense of relief as the familiar sight of her home came into view. She had missed her home It was a sanctuary for her one of the few places where she felt she could let her guard down. But even that had been tainted by Tania’s constant interference.
“Thanks for the ride,” she said, offering Derek a faint smile as she stepped out of the car.
“Anytime,” he replied, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer before he drove off. Derek’s loyalty was unwavering, but even he wasn’t sure where this path Ella was on would lead her.
Inside, the house was quiet, missing the usual chatters of her boys Ella paused at the bottom of the stairs, staring up at the boys bedrooms she miss them, they are her world, her reason for everything. She would protect them at all costs, no matter what she had to do.
Before heading to bed, she pulled out her phone and dialed Rick, her voice soft but steady when he answered.
“Hey, Rick, can I talk to the boys?” she asked, her tone shifting as the weariness from the day melted away at the thought of hearing their voices.
“Of course,” Rick replied, the sound of shuffling as he went to wake them. A few moments later, she heard Leo’s sleepy voice on the other end.
“Mommy?”
“Hi, sweetie,” Ella said, her heart swelling. “How was your day? Did you have fun with Uncle Rick?”
“Yeah,” Leo yawned. “We watched a movie, and Liam fell asleep on the couch.”
Ella chuckled softly. “That sounds like him.”
“I miss you, Mommy,” Leo said, his voice small and filled with innocence that made Ella’s chest tighten.
“I miss you too, baby,” she replied, her voice thick with emotion. “you guys will be home soon, I promise.”
After a brief conversation with Leo, she spoke to Liam, who was groggy but excited to tell her about the new toy Rick had bought them. She laughed and assured them both she would see them soon, her heart aching as she hung up.
As she prepared for bed, Ella couldn’t help but reflect on everything that had transpired. Ethan’s confession, Tania’s unraveling mind, and her own darkening thoughts of revenge. She knew she was treading dangerous waters, but the pull for justice or perhaps vengeance was too strong to ignore.
She climbed into bed, the weight of her plan settling heavily on her chest. She didn’t feel guilt, at least not yet. She felt a strange sense of purpose, like she was finally reclaiming the narrative of her own life. No longer would she be the victim, the one waiting for the next blow. Now, she would be the one striking.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and she glanced at it, expecting a message from Derek. But it was from Ethan asking her how she was.
Ella stared at the message, her pulse quickening. Her heart fluttered as she saw his message, but she quickly shook it off. I’m fine she texted back. I guess I still love Ethan she said blowing out a breathe
Setting her phone down, she rolled over and closed her eyes, letting the darkness envelop her. Tomorrow, she would begin her plan in earnest. Tania wouldn’t know what hit her.
But as sleep finally took her, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered a warning: Be careful what you wish for.
That voice was soon drowned out by her exhaustion, and Ella drifted into a restless sleep, her dreams filled with shadows and the echoes of a fractured mind, hers and Tania’s blending into one twisted reality. The battle had only just begun, and Ella was ready for war.