Chapter 1

• Chapter 01
• *Emily
• Five years. I wasted five years of my life in a goddamn cell! For what? For a crime I didn't even commit!
• I will always remember that day, the day that changed my life so much. It was my wedding day, I was so happy, but someone had to ruin that wonderful moment in my life that only lasted a few minutes.
• The lifeless body of my sister-in-law, Paulina, will always be engraved in my memory. She was so sweet and kind, why kill her, why kill such an innocent girl?
• I was devastated when I discovered her lifeless body in my room, lying on the floor. There was blood everywhere. All over the place.
• But what hurt me the most was that everyone I trusted didn't hesitate to point fingers and call me a murderer. I was devastated. My parents disowned me, my friends turned their backs on me, and my fiancé spat hurtful words in my face that I will never forget. Words that pierced my heart. Words that finished me.
• I also remember the surprise I wanted to give him and my family and friends. However, I lost it after Leo hit me hard.
• A tear rolled down my cheek at the thought of that night. I had lost everything. Everything. I was so naive at the time that I didn't see it coming. But now it's all over! Yes, it's over. I spent five years of my life surviving in that hell called prison. I was beaten by many prisoners, day and night. And because of that, I became stronger! Stronger than I've ever been!
• After begging for some money, I stop at a phone booth and call the only person who can help me. Maria, my grandmother.
• "Hello?
• -It's me, Emily.
• -Oh, my God! Oh, my God! -Emily! Hi, how are you?
• -I'm fine, Grandma, but I have a little problem and I need your help. -I'm fine.
• -What do you want, dear?
• -Well, I just got out of jail and I have nowhere to go. Could you put me up for a while?
• -Of course, darling! You can come live with me as long as you want.
• -Can I?
• -Yes, that's right. I'll even cook your favorite meal.
• -Yes, thank you very much, Grandma! I love you.
• -You're welcome, dear."
• I hang up the phone with a smile. She was the only one who supported me and the only one who visited me when I was in jail. However, my smile immediately disappeared when I realized I had no money on me.
• ***
• When I arrived in front of her beautiful villa, I ran as fast as I could and entered the house without bothering to knock.
• I see grandma in the kitchen preparing food.
• "Grandma!" I shouted.
• She jumps up and turns around, glaring at me.
• "You scared me!"
• I scoop her up in my arms and she hugs me back. I've missed her so much.
• "I'm sorry I scared you Grandma."
• I apologize.
• - "It's okay. But the next time you do that to me again, I'm going to spank you."
• I laughed at her comment and helped her cook. She told me everything that had happened in the last five years.
• I make no secret that I was a little sad to learn that Leo, my ex-fiancé, had married Melina, his supposed "childhood friend". My parents are still busy working, while my brother, Steven, has married a Hannah and my sister, Elisa, has been away from home for five years now. According to Grandma, she left when I was arrested.
• "And you?" he asked me.
• -What about me?
• -How are you doing?
• -I'm fine, Grandma.
• -No, you're not! Stop lying to me, Emily. I know you and I can see the pain in your eyes. This is about Leo, isn't it?
• Just hearing his name, I start to cry. How could he do this to me? Why didn't he believe me? He was the one who promised me he would never turn his back on me.
• My grandmother stroked my back as I cried on her shoulder.
• After a few minutes I calmed down, but it was short-lived when my grandmother spoke.
• "Emily, I have to tell you something."
• Uh-oh. I'm not feeling it at all....
• "What do you want to talk about, Grandma?
• -Sit down first, I want you to eat and then we'll talk, okay? I don't want to spoil your appetite, honey.
• I nod and sit down at the table. I help myself and greedily enjoy my favorite dish, I've missed it so much!
• ***
• I help my grandmother clear the table and then we head to the living room. I sit on the couch and she does the same.
• "Well, what did you want to talk to me about?
• -About Leo.
• -We've already talked about him, Grandma. You told me he got married and...
• -That's what I wanted to talk to you about, Emily. She cut me off.
• -About his marriage to Melina?
• -Yes, he did.
• -I don't want to talk about it, grandma.
• -But we have to!
• -Granny! You know I still love him, and it hurts me to talk about it, so why do you insist?"
• She immediately shuts up and avoids my gaze. I have a feeling I'm not going to like what he's about to say.
• "Grandma, what's wrong with you?
• -The day the police took you away, Leo was very angry with you. He was out of control. He said he wanted to be alone, I didn't agree but he insisted. So I came home."
• She exhales a sigh before resuming.
• "But I had a bad feeling. I knew it wasn't a good idea to leave him alone, so I went back to his house. When I walked into the house, I..."
• He doesn't finish the sentence and stares at me. That makes me angry.
• "You?"
• -I caught him and Melina.... You... Well, you know."
• My heart skips a beat. What do you mean?! What the hell is this?!
• "Don't tell me he screwed Melina while I was being arrested.
• -That's what happened, Emily. But that's not all. She told me
• -What has he done now?
• Leo proposed to Melina the day after I found out about them and even threw a party that night to celebrate their engagement with your so-called friends and.... your parents.
• My parents?! Are you kidding me?!
• A tear rolls down my cheek. How could they? They were never around me when I was a child, but how could parents do this to their own child?
• "My parents?
• -Yes, dear. I broke up with your parents when they disowned you. And when I found out they were at Leo's engagement party, I made a big scene. But the worst part is that your parents were so happy for them.
• -Bastards!
• -But it gets worse.
• -And what's worse?"
• He looks at me sadly before resuming.
• "Honey, was Leo really in love with you?"
• Is she completely crazy or what!!! What kind of stupid question is that?
• "Of course he was! What a question."
• She looks away while I try not to hit the wall with the vase next to me. I need to calm down before my grandmother's beautiful villa looks like a dump.
• "Honey, I know this is hard for you, but you had to know.
• -I know Grandma and I thank you for telling me everything." I sighed. "I'm going to take a shower.
• -Okay, you'll sleep in one of the spare rooms."
• I go upstairs and head for a random room. Then I run to the bathroom. I need to take a cold shower to calm down. The hatred is still growing inside me.
• How could they do this to me, in one day? How could my parents forget me so easily? How could they be happy that their son-in-law married someone else? And Leo, that asshole who said he loved me! And that Melina who's fucking my boyfriend when she told me she loved him like a brother, nothing more. Bullshit!
• They've been laughing at me!