One Day 66

Chapter Sixty–Six 

Lillian’s POV 

Kyle is a fool. 

+25 Points 

That’s the only thought that echoed in my head as I sank into the velvet armchair in our bedroom, crossing my legs, while I leaned back on my two arms. A charming fool. Because that’s the only thing to describe his sudden affection, thinking I would reciprocate it. 

I 

I smile to myself. A real one this time. Not the rehearsed kind I gave him a moment ago when he dropped me off with the saying that he had something urgent to attend to, or the one I used when I kissed him back just hours ago. No, this smile comes from somewhere deeper in my heart. 

Because I thought my plans had spiraled out of control. But I finally got the rope back. 

For a while, I truly thought my plans were slipping out of my grasp, that I had lost control over everything. When Klye collapsed weeks ago, unexpectedly and so dramatically, I nearly screamed. That wasn’t the plan. He was supposed to die, clean, quick, and untraceable. As simple as that. The poison was supposed to work slowly, build up in his system until it pushed him over the edge. That was the sole reason I made sure the poison was administered in an inconsistent, tiny dose that would take a little time to manifest. But of course, fate had other plans. It had to turn out that way. 

The moment the doctors started taking his blood tests, I knew it wouldn’t take long for them to figure the poison out. That was when I knew I had to sever the tail, which meant stopping the slipping of poison into his herbal drink. And of course, the maid. 

She was a simple thing. A girl so desperate for work, easily tamed with promises and threats. She came from nothing, just like the rest of them. A paycheck, a roof over her head, and a promise to provide for her family were all it took to make her mine. All she had to do was follow my instructions. She did everything I asked, dosed the drinks, stirred the drops into his herbal tea like honey. She never asked questions; she knew not to. But once I realized Kyle’s condition could lead to an investigation, she became a liability. 

So I had to cut her loose. 

I remember her shaking hands as she scribbled her name across the NDA I handed her. Her fingers were barely holding the pen as she did. Beside her on the table was a bundle of hush money I had tossed to her before making her sign the document. It wasn’t enough to live lavishly, but it was enough for her to start over somewhere far and quiet. Somewhere, she can never be found if Kyle and his people eventually think of looking for her. 

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< Chapter Sixty–Six 

“If you are found,” I had whispered into her ear, “you’re dead.” 

Her face drained of color. She didn’t say anything, just nodded in understanding. 

+25 Points 

I exhale, tapping my fingers on the armrest. That was the right move. The maid was a troublesome thread I had cut cleanly. But what I hadn’t anticipated, what truly surprised me, was Kyle turning affectionate. At first, I thought he was playing, acting for a reason, because men like Kyle don’t change overnight. He had sworn off ever touching me or being nice to me over and over again through his bitter words and attitude, and yet, suddenly, he was soft, listening, and, God help me, smiling. 

It had felt creepy. However, there were moments when I almost believed it myself. Almost believed his sudden change of attitude was real. Moments like when he traced my wrist so affectionately and asked questions that concerned me. When he reacted to memories, I had mostly cooked up skillfully. And when he leaned in and kissed me, and I kissed him back, like the fool I swear I’m not. 

It was suspicious. Of course it was. But the woman and the risk–taker in me wanted to believe it. I even urged myself to enjoy it, with the notion that if this was his way of letting me in, if he was actually being true with his change of attitude, then I would play along. Anything to get me to attain my goal. I would even suck his balls if needed. 

So I held his hand and let him believe I was weak and in need of his affections. However, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something wasn’t right. I still couldn’t tell if he was being truthful or faking it. I mean, do people change that suddenly? 

With skepticism in mind, I began to look for signs the moment I walked in tonight. I went into my room and checked my drawer, my desk, even the open and hidden parts of my closet, but everything was as I had left it. I even went into his room and searched his closet and desk drawers. I checked the laundry baskets and every corner of his room, but everything was untouched. Everything was exactly as he had left it, too. 

Still, I wasn’t satisfied, so I went back downstairs and called the maids. “Did anything unusual happen while we were gone?” 

“No, ma’am,” they had all answered with a clueless look. “Everything was fine.” 

Had I been wrong? Was he being sincere then? Was he really trying to rekindle our relationship? Not like I wanted that. 

But, for a moment, just a breath of a moment, I wondered if I was wrong. Maybe he was 

trying. Maybe he was truly trying to change, and that could be the key to finally getting into his head? 

OMG! 

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Chapter Sixty–Six 

I didn’t think a day like this would come, a day Kyle would willingly come to me. 

+25 Points 

I was thrilled that everything I thought had slipped out of my grasp was finally settling back into place. Now I could use his softness to get into his head. 

But then I remembered the document. 

The divorce papers. 

He hadn’t told me; I was sure he didn’t expect me to find them, but I had discovered them weeks ago. Neatly tucked inside a locked drawer in his study. He’d signed them, probably waiting for the right time to present them to me. I didn’t say anything to him; I didn’t give him any sign that I saw those papers. A man who did that wouldn’t just change suddenly like that without a motive. No, I refuse to believe his sudden affections were genuine. There has to be something. He must have found something. 

I rose from the bed and proceeded to lock my bedroom door. Then I moved to my closet, pushing back the racks of dresses until I reached the dark corner. I felt for a button. When I found it, I pressed it, and the wall slid open to reveal a space where I kept an old duffle bag I hadn’t touched in weeks. From inside, I pulled out a plain gray phone and switched it on. It had no apps, just one contact named “unknown” that appeared on the call log. 

I typed quickly. 

“Status on the girl? Is she still hidden? 

I sent the message, breathing deeply as I awaited a response. 

A few seconds later, the screen lit up with a message. 

“She’s safe and well hidden. However, I got a hint that your husband sent his team to search your house today. And the staff quarters, too.” 

I went still, my throat tightening with anger and betrayal. 

So that was it. 

That was what today was about. 

That was the reason for the sudden affection. The smiles and sudden kindness. He hadn’t kissed me because he cared or because he wanted a fresh start. He hadn’t changed or anything. Instead, he had played me. He had distracted me long enough to search the house without my knowledge. Took me out so I wouldn’t be home during the search. 

My instinct had been right all along. 

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Chapter Sixty–Six 

How stupid do you think I am, Kyle? 

How stupid do you think I am to play me into thinking I had the upper hand? 

+25 Points 

I gritted my teeth, my fingers curling around the phone until the plastic creaked as rage bubbled up in my chest. In a fit of fury, I hurled the phone across the room. It shattered against the wall with a satisfying c***k. 

“You bastard,” I whispered under my breath, my body trembling with anger. 

I paced the room, gripping the sides of my head. 

You shouldn’t have underestimated me, Kyle. You shouldn’t have played with my intelligence. 

I don’t know what he knows, I don’t even think he found anything, but the mere fact that he was digging means something had slipped. But one thing he doesn’t know is that I’m not like him. I don’t get sentimental. I’m not burdened by morals, or guilt, or soft hearts. I don’t hesitate to push pawns off the board to reach the king. I don’t care who gets hurt along the 

way. 

I am a gamer. A strategist. And a risk taker. 

He doesn’t know the kind of woman he married. 

He doesn’t know the depths I’ll go to win, the risk I’d take by burning down everything and everyone just to get what I want. He doesn’t know me. 

I turned back to the closet and dug deeper into the duffel until I found the small black box hidden inside. I pulled it out carefully and opened it to reveal a syringe. 

I held it up to the light, admiring the viscous liquid inside. 

I didn’t plan on using it, unless necessary, of course. I guess now it is. 

You don’t know you’re playing a dangerous game, Kyle. But I’ll show you. I’ll show you the risk of playing me. I’ll make you regret what you did. 

I walked slowly to the mirror, still holding the syringe. I lifted it, held it to the mirror, and smiled at my reflection, a slow, cold smile that didn’t reach my eyes. 

“If you want to play a game,” I whispered, “then you’ll get one.” 

Because, unlike you, Kyle, I don’t bluff. I don’t hesitate. I am a risk–taker. A heartless b***h. And I don’t lose, nor do I tremble, when I set my heart on something. 

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