into?
Chapter 12
Mrs. Woods stood before me, her posture rigid yet defiant as she began to speak. I could tell by the firm set of her jaw that whatever she was about to say carried weight.
“Melanie was never the saint you guys thought she was,” she started, her tone sharp but measured. “She was a brat when I worked at her house ten years ago before she left for the Netherlands. Do you know she almost hurt my daughter–Nia?”
My chest tightened as I looked at her, skeptical but curious. Mrs. Woods reached
into her handbag, pulling out her phone. She swiped through her gallery before holding the
Chapter 12
screen up to me. The photo showed a girl, vaguely familiar, smiling in a school uniform.
“That’s your daughter?” I asked, leaning in slightly.
“Yes. You know her, right?” she replied, her voice steady but filled with something unspoken.
I studied the picture a bit longer before the memory clicked. “I think she was classmates with Melanie back in high school.”
“She was,” Mrs. Woods confirmed. “Melanie’s father gave Nia a scholarship. He was a good man, but his daughter… was the complete opposite. Melanie hated my daughter. One day, she almost killed her.”
“What?” I nearly choked on the word.
20% 20:02
Chapter 12
“That‘ s… you can’t be serious.”
Her face darkened, her eyes glistening with pain. “She almost forced Nia to take poison. I filed a case against her, Niklaus. But I lost. It was swept under the rug, thanks to her father. He wanted to protect his ‘innocent‘ daughter. I didn’t tell anyone, not even your family. I was afraid–afraid for my daughter‘ s safety, afraid for mine.”
My hands clenched into fists. “I can’t believe this. Melanie? She’s always been… well, I’ve never seen her like that.‘
“Because you, your mother, and your sister think she’s a saint. But I can prove she’s not. Her voice dropped, each word like a ticking time bomb. “Also, I can also prove
Chapter 12
she wasn’t the one who saved your father that night. She caused the accident.”
“What?” I took a step back, the accusation hitting me like a punch to the gut. “That‘ sa massive claim, Mrs. Woods. I know you have history with Melanie, but this–this is too much.”
“Niklaus,” she said, her voice trembling, “you need to see her for who she really is. You don’t know her the way I do.”
I stared at her, torn between disbelief and the uncomfortable nagging in my gut that she might not be lying. “Okay,” I said finally, exhaling. “What do you want me to do?”
“Take me to her place,” she said firmly. “Now.”
Chapter 12
Reluctantly, I agreed. We drove in silence to Melanie’s house. As we parked outside, Mrs. Woods turned to me. “I want you to hear everything. I’ll go inside and call you. Don’t hang up, just listen.”
I nodded, still uncertain. Part of me hoped she was wrong, that Melanie couldn’t be the person Mrs. Woods described. Yet, the unease in my chest refused to settle.
Mrs. Woods stepped out of the car and walked to the front door. She knocked once, twice.
Moments later, the door opened, and she disappeared inside. I sat in the car, my nerves on edge, until my phone vibrated. It was her call.
“Georgia,” I heard Melanie’s voice
Chapter 12
through the line, sharp and mocking. “I wasn’t expecting you to set foot in this house again after pretending not to know me at the McDonald’s house for the past two years.”
“You must feel so smug with everything going your way,” Mrs. Woods replied, her tone biting.
“Maybe. What about you? And your daughter? How‘ s Nia?” Melanie’s voice turned venomous. “I know you‘ ve hidden her from me in another city. It’s good. Lucky, even. If I ever saw her again, I’d kill her.”
“You dare say that to my face?” Mrs. Woods hissed.
“Oh, please,” Melanie scoffed. “Don’t act
20% 20:02
€79
Chapter 12
tough. You‘ re no match for me. What do you want?”
“I’ve waited years to ask you why you
nearly killed my daughter ten years ago. You were friends… high school.
“Friends?” Melanie laughed, the sound cold and hollow. “I hated her. She was worthless and unworthy. She dared to crush on Niklaus back then. Your daughter was a betrayal. She would’ve been better off dead.”
My breath caught as I gripped the steering wheel, every muscle in my body tense.
“You‘ re despicable,” Mrs. Woods said, her voice shaking with rage.
“I don’t care,” Melanie sneered. “At least I’m not a lowlife like you or your daughter-
* 20% 20:02
719
Chapter 12
or Rosalyn, for that matter.”
Mrs. Woods pressed on. “You made up stories and schemes to keep Niklaus close, didn’t you? Admit it.”
“Of course, 1 did,” Melanie confessed, her tone smug. “Do you think he’d notice me otherwise? Everything I’ve done has been to keep him—and I don‘ t regret a single thing.”
I felt sick, my stomach twisting into knots. But then she said something that froze the blood in my veins.
“And his father?” Melanie chuckled darkly. “I planned that accident.”
My heart stopped. What?
Chapter 12
The line was still connected, but I couldn‘ t hear anything over the roaring in my ears. Melanie’s words reverberated in my mind, shattering every illusion I’d ever held.
Mrs. Woods‘ silence was deafening, and I sat frozen, unable to move, unable to process what I’d just heard.
