CHAPTER 38
Something cracked inside me when I saw the triplets smile–truly smile–at someone else.
I raised them. Fed them. Sat by their beds when they were sick, chased away their nightmares. Yet, they still looked at her like she was their sun.
I stepped forward. But before I reached the door, Levi turned around. He stood at the threshold like a little soldier.
“Who told you to come in?” His voice was flat. Cold. “Go be with your dog. He might be lonely.“}
He pushed me with his small hand, slammed the door, and I heard the click of the lock.
He locked me out, just as the sky darkened with wind and rain starting to fall harder.
I curled up beside Pebble’s grave as thunder rolled. Rain soaked my clothes, cold and punishing. Inside, the house glowed with warmth.§
Then a maid came out. “Ma’am… Mr. Hudson asked you to come in.“}
I didn’t ask why.
Inside, the living room looked like a staged family portrait. Luca on Amber’s lap, Levi and Leon beside her. Oliver next to them, laptop open.
I tried to head to the bedroom, but his voice stopped me.”
“You know the kids don’t like being left with a nanny. Why did you leave them alone?“}
I turned. Forced a smile.
“Maybe it’s time they got used to it. Or better yet, ask Miss Peyton. They seem closer to her.“}
His face hardened.}
“I told you I want a divorce.“}
Oliver stood. Slammed his laptop shut. Crossed the room in three long strides and grabbed my wrist.
“You still dare to say that?“}
“Why not?”
“I won’t let you go.“}
I looked at the triplets. “Then ask them. Maybe that’s what they want too.“}
“Just go!” Levi shouted. “I don’t want a murderer for a mom!“}
“Our mom is Maureen! You’ll never be her!” Luca muttered.”
Leon said nothing. But his silence was worse.}
I stared into Oliver’s eyes. “You heard them.”}
“You’re so stubborn.” He turned to Amber. “Take them upstairs.“}
Amber hesitated, her face disappointed, but she obeyed and took the kids away.§
Oliver turned back to me.
“You really want this divorce?“}
I nodded.
“I won’t allow it. Don’t bring it up again.”}
He left.2
A second after Oliver walked away, Amber approached me. She looked at me with a mix of triumph and pity. Pity not just because I was an orphan, but because I was rejected by both husband and triplets. Even after seven years of marriage, I hadn’t had any children with Oliver.2
“So sad,” she said. “You thought being Maureen’s sister would give you a chance to replace her?”
I remained silent.
“You know Oliver prefers me, right? Every night. Every inch of me.” She leaned closer. “You? Just a substitute.”>
I clenched my fists. Her words slid in like poison.
“You should’ve died with Maureen,” she hissed. “Then I could’ve had Oliver without competition.“@
My heart sank. For seven years, only the Hudson family kept the secret of Maureen’s death. No one even knew I was in that accident, except the doctor and police who handled Maureen’s body–and my mother.
The media didn’t even know what caused Oliver Hudson’s wife’s death, so how could Amber know? I remembered she was overseas for school at the time.
Amber smirked, “pathetic. She knows nothing.”
“Shut up!”
It’s not true, I was sure it was all lies. Maureen–Oliver loved her so much. There’s no way his behavior all this time was just a facade
Amber, for some reason, I was beginning to suspect her. Ever since she came back, maybe her mission was to get rid of me using the triplets. I was sure she had said something about Maureen’s death and made me a suspect, earning the triplets‘ hatred.!!
Then I understood–she knew more than she should have known.
Amber nnnned She had said too much 2
1:03 PM ·
Amber grinned. She had said too much.
I stepped forward, my anger boiling over. “You–“>
She screamed. Grabbed my wrist. Threw herself backward.
Leon, who had been coming down the stairs, witnessed the whole thing.
He ran toward her. “Amber! Are you okay?”
She groaned, fake as plastic. “She accused me of forcing you all to hate her, Leon…”}
Leon turned to me. His gaze pierced right through me.}
“First you killed my mom. Now Amber?“)
“No–Leon, I didn’t-”
“Liar!” He shoved me hard. “You hurt everyone!“}]
He ran to the front door and kicked my suitcase.
“GET OUT!“}
Levi and Luca followed him. No questions. Just action. Just fury. They pushed me. Dragged my suitcase out. Slammed the door. Before it closed, I saw Amber standing behind them, smiling.
It was over.
Before I left, I visited Pebble’s grave. Poured my heart out like I always did, though there was no longer her thick fur to comfort me.” Unfortunately, Oliver approached me.
“Laura,” he said gently. “Come with us. We’re going out of town for a bit. Just to clear our heads.“}
I looked at him. “After your kids threw me out, now you want a vacation?“}
“I’ve spoken to them,” he said. “They regret it.”D
That line again.
I once dreamed of this, going on a little trip, camping, spending time together as a family. But I had long accepted that it would never happen.”
Now, after everything, they suddenly offer me the one thing I’ve always longed for?!
“There’s nothing left to regret,” I said.
“Just for the kids,” he pleaded.}
Always about them. Never about me.§
I sighed, forced myself to nod just to end the conversation. I wasn’t going to see it as a chance to mend things–this was just my last act of service.
We left when the sun was at a 45° angle. The car was silent the entire drive. When we arrived at a clearing in the middle of the forest, the triplets got out and walked ahead.
Oliver took a call from a business partner, pulled over briefly, and asked me to watch the kids. They ran off, wandering freely like they had no fear. I followed them, just to be sure.”
They reached the northern edge of the forest, standing with their backs to a steep waterfall.}
Luca looked at me and pulled something out of his pocket.}
My mother’s antique pearl necklace. It had been missing for years, ever since I came to the Hudson estate.
“Where did you get that?“?
He didn’t answer. He just threw it toward the edge of the cliff.”
Leon nodded at it. “It’s yours, right? Go ahead and take it.”
I stepped forward, unwilling to let my mother’s keepsake be discarded by their behavior. Leaves crunched beneath my feet as I made my way through the brush where Luca had thrown the necklace.
I didn’t realize how close I was to the edge.
For a moment, I felt relief in my chest when I managed to spot the necklace, I bent down to pick it up–when footsteps behind me made me turn around.”
The triplets stood in a line, ten meters away from where I stood.
In their hands–small crossbows with sharp tips. Each of them raised their weapons and aimed directly at me.
*Kids…” I whispered, stepping back slightly, but the ground behind me was sloping steeply.”
There was no emotion on their faces. Just emptiness, cold resolve.”
“Why…?” My voice barely came out.
Then–without a word–they pulled the triggers at the same time.
One bolt struck my shoulder, sending me staggering. The pain burned like fire.
I stumbled backward Gravel loosened beneath my feet. My breath caught.
They were really trying to kill me.
This wasn’t just hate. This was an execution. A carefully laid plan.
