Ditch the unfaithful husband who loves snakes

chapter 3

I forced myself to the banquet hall, fevered and swaying with every stepjust in time to see Dean fastening a diamond necklace around Sally's neck.

The look in his eyes I'd never seen it before.

Soft. Tender.

"Sally," he said gently, "meeting you is the luckiest thing that's ever happened to me."

My heart clenched.

Then Sally spotted me. Her voice rang out, deliberately loud.

"Sister Carol! Today's my birthday, and that necklace you're wearinghow special! Give it to me as a gift, okay?"

I stiffened.

The wooden necklace around my neck was the last thing my sister ever made for me. Her final gift.

"Give it to her." Dean didn't even look up from his wine.

I bit back the pain, forcing a hollow smile. I unclasped the necklace, placed it into Sally's hand, then reached into my bag and pulled out the divorce agreement.

Without a word, Dean signed it.

"Fine," he said coldly. "Go find Assistant Mike. He'll arrange a new medical team for you."

Then he turned to Sally and pulled her into his arms.

Just as I was about to leave, Sally grabbed my wrist. Her expression shifted to mock concern.

"Oh no, Sister Carol, your hand is burning up. Let me get you some antipyretics."

She gripped me tighter. I tried to pull away, but I was too weak.

Then she leaned in close and whispered, her voice dripping with poison.

"By the way what do you think Bruno would like for a treat today?"

Before I could react, she pulled a small porcelain jar from her coat pocketthe one I knew too well.

My sister's ashes.

"Give it back!" My voice cracked as I lunged toward her.

But she let go on purpose.

The jar hit the ground with a sharp crack, shattering.

The ashes scattered across the floor.

Bruno came bounding over, tail wagging. He sniffed the messand began to lick.

"No!" I screamed, falling to my knees. "Stop! Please!"

Sally stood above me, smiling as if she were watching a performance.

"Mr. Keynes only has me in his heart," she said sweetly. "Why do you keep embarrassing yourself?"

Then she tossed the wooden necklace into a nearby trash bin.

"You and your short-lived sister? You both deserved it."

"Shut up!" I slapped her across the face. "Don't you dare talk about my sister!"

She held her cheek, then smirked.

"Why not? She's dead. Isn't it fitting her ashes fed a dog?"

I raised my hand againbut it never landed.

Dean caught my wrist midair. His face was a mask of fury.

"Carol," he said darkly, "are you looking for death?"

Sally immediately turned on the waterworks.

"She called me a country girl. Said I was no better than a chicken. Said I didn't deserve to stay in the Keynes family"

At a glance from him, two bodyguards rushed forward and forced me to my knees.

"Hit her," he said coldly.

Sally hesitated for show.

"Isn't that a bit too much?"

But Dean took her hand himself and swung it hard across my face.

The slap rang out, sharp and final.

My skin stung, my mouth filled with the taste of blood. My face went numb on one side.

I lifted my head, dazed.

And I looked at the man I had loved for over a decade.

He wasn't even looking at me.

He was gently cradling Sally's hand, rubbing it like something precious.

"Did that hurt, sweetheart?" he asked softly.

That's when I finally woke up.

To him, I wasn't even worth the attention he gave a dog.

Dean looked at me again, frowning.

"I think I'll take back the medical team"

But before he could finish, I let out a bitter laugh.

Tears streamed down my burning cheeks.

"There's no need," I said hoarsely. "My sister died long ago. Her ashes are gone now, too."

He stared at me, briefly speechless.

Then he turned awaycold, unmovedhis arm around Sally as they walked off together like nothing had happened.

I dragged myself back to the villa, every step heavier than the last.

I began packing what little I had.

Five years in this place, and nothing truly belonged to me.

The wardrobe was filled with dark dresseshis favorite.

He hated bright colors. So I never wore them.

I never dared to keep anything with almonds in the kitchenjust the faintest trace could trigger his allergies.

Every year before Memorial Day, I would travel to Napa Valley myself, just to bring back the freshest premium green tea.

I remember the time he became obsessed with racing.

I secretly enrolled in driving courses, passed the test, and earned a licensethinking I could surprise him.

But when I told him, smiling with excitement, he only gave me a cold glance.

"Don't touch my car."

Five years of marriage.

All I had left was a marriage certificate.

No photos.

No shared memories.

Even our fights were one-sidedI argued in silence, and he never bothered replying.

At dawn, the door slammed open.

Dean burst in, face twisted with fury.

He stormed up to me and wrapped his fingers around my neck.

"Where's Sally?"

I gasped, clawing at his hand. "I don't know"

"Still lying?" His grip tightened, cutting off my breath.

"She disappeared this morning after getting an anonymous message. Who else but you would want to hurt her?"

"I really don't know," I choked out, shaking my head.

His eyes darkened.

He motioned to the bodyguards.

Before I could react, they dragged me out to the pool and threw me in.

The icy water slammed into my body, stealing the air from my lungs.

I struggled to surface, coughing

Only to feel Dean's hand push my head under again.

"I'll ask one last time," he said above me. "Where is she?"

Water surged into my nose, my throat, my lungs.

The world spun, and my vision began to blacken.

Somewhere, through the growing numbness, I heard his voice:

"You really won't cry until you see the coffin, will you?"

---

When I came to, bright white lights stabbed into my eyes.

I was tied to an iron chair, wrists bound, my body aching.

Across from me sat Dean, his once-familiar gaze now filled with cold, murderous rage.

Sally curled in his lap, sobbing dramatically.

"Mr. Keynes If you hadn't arrived when you did I I would've been"

She let the words trail off, her shoulders shaking in practiced tremors.

I turned my neck, muscles stiff, and saw more than a dozen men kneeling on the ground.

Faces bloodied.

Begging.

Dean didn't spare them a glance.

He crossed his legs slowly, voice sharp as frost.

"Carol, I underestimated you. Even this kind of despicable trick all to win sympathy?"

I opened my mouth to explain

But in that instant, he lifted his hand.

A flick of his wrist.

The venomous snake he had raised for years slithered free

And lunged at me.

Its fangs sank deep into my arm.

Agony exploded through me like fire, spreading fast, relentless.

My vision blurred. My body trembled uncontrollably.

"When you wake up," he said, standing up with Sally in his arms, "come back to meon your knees."

The warehouse door slammed shut behind him.

Silence.

Then low, cruel laughter echoed from the bloodied men on the floor.

The one in front spat out blood, his smile turning savage.

"Dean dares to mess with us? We'll make him paythrough his woman."

Panic surged, but the venom had already paralyzed my limbs.

I thrashed in my restraints as their footsteps closed in.

Rough hands tore at my collar

And the world went dark.

---

When I woke again, everything was quiet.

Too quiet.

Pain wracked every inch of my body. My ribs felt shattered, my skin torn open.

I coughed, and blood spilled from my lips.

My fingers twitched weakly, every movement screaming.

Memories flickered like a dying reel of film

My sister's gentle smile.

The way my heart once raced when I first saw Dean.

Those nights spent listening to him and others from behind a locked door

And then

The iron door creaked open.

A figure stood in the doorway, tall and backlit by blinding white light.

His face was shadowed, but the silhouette was firm, unmoving.

I didn't know who he was.

But he wasn't Dean.

With the last shred of strength left in my body, I raised my bloodstained hand, trembling.

"Help me"

When he looked up, I froze.