In the courtroom, Zoe's loud sobs echoed through the room.
"Vic claimed that I had ruined her time with Martin. She accused me of stealing her opportunities, and then, out of nowhere, she attacked me with a knife!"
Dressed in her prison attire, Vic shut her eyes as if resigning to her fate.
All the evidence and false testimonies seemed to be stacked against her. It was as if Zoe had orchestrated the whole thing to frame her. Consequently, the trial concluded with Vic being found guilty and sentenced to 20 years behind bars.
** **
Days had gone by since Vic was imprisoned, yet she hadn't eaten a thing. She simply rested against the wall, lost in a daze.
Most of the time, she appeared to be waiting nonchalantly for her fate to catch up with her.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching. The sound ceased right in front of her cell. "Inmate 654. You have a visitor."
Who could be visiting her when she had no family?
Feeling feeble, Vic got up. Her heart was heavy, but she managed to shuffle her way to the visiting area.
Upon arrival, her eyes widened at the sight of her boss, Martin.
"S-Sir?" she whispered as she took a seat.
Martin gazed at her, someone he hadn't seen in a while.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Martin remarked.
"Yes," Vic replied.
Despite their circumstances, their conversation remained the same. It felt like they had just met yesterday.
Martin observed Vic closely, noticing how much weight she had lost and how tired she looked.
He was still in disbelief. How could he be having a conversation with Vic in this situation?
"Why did you come here, Sir?"
"I'm here to ask you something. Why did you do it? Why did you try to kill Zoe? Why?"
Martin asked the burning question, eager to understand Vic's true motives. Why would she do such a thing?
It was difficult for Vic to meet his gaze and confess that she was framed.
She had truly transformed into a criminal right before Martin's eyes.
To Vic, the question seemed incredibly ironic, considering she had been set up.
After pondering for a while, Vic decided to give the answer she had already prepared in her mind.
Even though she had no other choice but to follow Zoe's plan this time, Vic hoped that it would finally allow her to express her true feelings.
She longed for this moment, a chance to personally confess to him, even if everything she said afterwards would be a lie and her life would be ruined.
"I did it because I was jealous of Zoe," Vic admitted.
Her words reverberated through Martin, who couldn't fully comprehend what she meant. "So, you really did it."
Vic lifted her head, looking directly at Martin, and replied, "Yes. I did it."
The bodyguard's expression was firm, not suitable for her current situation.
Actually, Vic didn't shift her gaze from Martin, and neither did Martin.
At that moment, Vic had only one thought in her mind. 'Just let me see his face one last time.'
However, the face that Vic was staring at was filled with disappointment, disdain, and betrayal.
She felt so wounded as if her heart was being ripped apart by his harsh expression.
"Did you do it just because you're envious of Zoe? Why would you do something like that?" Martin asked, bewildered.
Vic composed herself and replied, "Don't call it nothing. It will never be nothing to me."
Vic's desperation was evident, leaving Martin unable to argue. He couldn't understand why she appeared so sorrowful.
At that moment, Vic didn't have the opportunity to speak as the familiar pain resurfaced. She remained in front of Martin, but this pain felt different from what she had experienced before.
Despite the agony coursing through her body, Vic attempted to maintain composure by leaning on the table and pretending everything was fine. Urgently, she repeated in her mind, "Just hold on a little longer until Sir Martin departs."
Unaware of the situation, Martin finally revealed his true emotions. "Please, tell me you didn't do it. If you didn't, I'll find a way for you to escape from here somehow."
"Why are you doing that?" Vic questioned, her voice filled with exhaustion. "I attempted to harm the woman closest to you. Why would you offer me something like this?"
Martin struggled to find an answer, his mind tangled in confusion. With a heavy heart, he finally responded, "Because you are my guard. You have become my friend. We have been through so much together."
Vic silently affirmed to herself, 'That's true. In his eyes, I will always be his guard and friend.'
Struggling to maintain her balance, Vic locked eyes with Martin. "Martin, I... ackk!"
Vic's sudden coughing fit interrupted her words, leaving Martin stunned and at a loss for what to say.
"Vic, you…"
Blood splattered across Vic's hands and mouth as she vomited, staining them crimson. She fought to hold on a little longer, knowing it wasn't her time yet, but the end was drawing near.
Vic retched once more, her eyes closing slowly as she collapsed to the ground.
"Vic! Vic!" Martin shouted, pounding on the glass window as he watched helplessly. The prison guard by Vic's side looked on in concern.
"Get an ambulance, now!" Martin pleaded, his voice filled with desperation.
Struggling to keep her eyes open, Vic gazed at Martin's frantic gestures. Her breaths came in shallow gasps, her weakening heartbeat signaling the inevitable. This was truly her final moment.
As Vic's strength waned, she gazed at Martin and silently whispered, "Martin, please forget about me."
From the moment she accepted her impending death, all Vic desired was for Martin to erase her from his memory.
And even if they meet again in the next life, she wishes not to meet Martin again and falls in love hopelessly.
"I don't want to love you anymore," she thought, holding onto that wish as her eyes shut tightly.
"Vic!" Martin's desperate cry was the last thing she heard before taking her final breath.
** **
Someone's eyes fluttered open.
The woman sat up and glanced around, coughing a few times.
As she took in her surroundings, she panicked.
"Where am I?" she muttered to herself.
The last thing she remembered was dying in prison. Yet, here she was, waking up in a luxurious bed.
"Didn't I die?"
She lowered her head, and as she did, her long blonde hair cascaded down.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"What in the world is happening?" she murmured, tugging at her hair. "I've never had hair this long, and definitely not blonde."
Before the woman could fully comprehend the present circumstances, the door swung open, and her gaze met the intruder's eyes.
A moment of silence hung in the air, making it difficult to decipher their thoughts. Judging by the attire, the person appeared to be a maid.
Both individuals stared at each other, their expressions contrasting, until it was the woman on the bed who broke the silence.
"Excuse me…"
"Young Miss!" the maid exclaimed.
When the maid shouted 'Miss,' the woman couldn't help but feel confused.
She observed the room, making sure she was the only one present. However, no matter how much she looked, there was no one else. And then...
"Oh my goodness! You're finally awake! I have to inform your parents!" the maid added.
Before the woman could stop her, the maid hurriedly left the room. As the woman watched her go, she couldn't comprehend what was going on, prompting her to eventually get out of bed.
However, as soon as she attempted to rise from the ground, her legs lacked the necessary strength to support her weight, causing her to collapse instantly.
"I wonder what happened. Did I spend too much time lying on the bed?"
She felt perplexed as her body didn't feel the same as it did during her training sessions. Nonetheless, she clung onto the nearby furniture and managed to pull herself up, standing upright.
Then, she struggled to take a single step forward, determined not to lose her balance.
Eventually, her gaze fell upon the clothes she was currently wearing, but it was the dress that particularly caught her eye.
"This isn't mine."
Finally, she stood before the mirror tucked away in the corner of the room and caught a glimpse of her reflection. Instantly, her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Is this really me?" she wondered aloud.
No matter how many times she blinked and rubbed her eyes, the image staring back at her was unfamiliar. It was not her true self.
Instead of her usual short, brown hair that stood stiffly, she saw long, flowing blonde locks that shimmered with a softness she had never known. And her eyes, once gray, now gazed back at her with an intensity she had never seen before.
Her complexion, once sun-kissed and bronzed from countless hours under the sun, now appeared ghostly white. It was a stark contrast to her own skin, which bore the marks of sunburns and tans.
Above all, her hands were spotless and devoid of any blemishes, contradicting the calloused hands she had acquired while honing her skills to become one of Martin's top guards.
"Wait, who is this?" she muttered under her breath.
She pondered if she was in a dream, so she slapped her face with force, expecting to wake up. However, all she felt was pain and a faint crackling sound. This made her realize that the present situation was indeed real.
"Of course, it hurt, but if this isn't a dream, then what on earth is happening?"
"Vic?"
Her name was called out, causing Vic to turn around and see a group of people standing by the door.
There was a woman in her forties with the same blonde hair, a man in his fifties with gray eyes resembling hers, and even a young man who could pass as her twin.
Before Vic could process what was happening, the man who looked like her father embraced her tightly.
As they hugged, Vic noticed tears in the eyes of the other two individuals.
It appeared to be an emotional moment, but Vic didn't feel the same connection. She was being embraced by strangers.
"You're awake at last, Victoria! We always knew you'd come around!" the woman exclaimed.
Victoria?
Vic's name is Vic, not Victoria. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had heard that name before.
Stepping back from the woman, Victoria gazed at her and questioned, "Am I really Victoria?"
The man glanced back, puzzled. Taking his time, he replied, "Yes, my dear. You are Victoria Red, my beloved daughter."
Victoria Red.
Vic's eyes widened at the name. "I knew that name!" she exclaimed silently.
"So, you're saying I've become Victoria Red?" Vic murmured slowly.
As the three approached her, Vic held her hand up, signaling them to stop.
Luckily, they halted in their tracks.
Vic lifted her head and repeated her question, "So, I'm Victoria Red, huh?"
"Sister, what's going on? Did you lose your memory after being bedridden for so long?" the young man asked.
Vic shook her head. "That can't be," she whispered.
Vic couldn't comprehend how, after dying, she had awakened in the body of Victoria Red - the woman destined to marry Martin Cadell!
Vic, who passed away in prison, found herself waking up in the body of a young, wealthy, and stunning heiress named Victoria Red."Victoria Red is the fiancée of my boss. She was in a coma for two years following an accident. If she doesn't wake up by next year, Martin was thinking of calling off the engagement," Vic whispered to herself in the hospital.It was still unbelievable to her how a simple guard like herself ended up in Victoria's body, inheriting the wealth and status of a prominent family.“Then how about my body? Did my body as Vic really die?”As she thought, the hospital door suddenly opened and she met three people. They turned out to be Victoria's family, all hoping for her to wake up from her coma."According to the doctor, there's nothing wrong with you," Victoria's father, Emmanuel, mentioned.Sitting beside Vic, her mother Sabby gently stroked her head. "Sweetheart, do you really not recognize any of us?"Vic looked at them and shook her head."Oh dear. My poor da
It's been a whole month since Vic passed away. Martin just couldn't focus on his work and he was lacked of sleep. On top of that, he found out that his fiancée, Victoria Red, had woken up from her coma. This meant he had to go see her and have a conversation about their engagement."Are you really going to see her today?" Hunter, his secretary, asked."I have to, even if I don't really want to," Martin replied."Her family still blames you for the accident, Sir.""Well, I can't really argue with that," Martin admitted.If only Victoria hadn't been so infatuated with Martin, she wouldn't have driven all by herself just to see him."All I want is to end the engagement. I heard she had lost her memory. This is my only opportunity," Martin said, grabbing his suit.When he stepped out of his room, he spotted his childhood friend, Zoe, wearing a bandage around her arm."Is it true? Are you really going to see your fiancée?" Zoe inquired with a concerned expression.Martin averted his gaze.
Victoria's family eagerly awaited her return home, prepared to offer comfort in case she arrived after Martin decided to call off their engagement.When Vic finally arrived, her mother, Sabby, quickly ushered her to the couch and wasted no time asking, "What's going on, dear? Did Martin really end things with you?"Her father Emmanuel added, "Seriously, what's wrong with that guy? We can definitely find a better business partner than that heartless jerk! Don't worry about him, Victoria. You deserve someone much better."Victoria's twin brother Mikhail simply rolled his eyes and remarked, "You guys are blowing this out of proportion. Victoria has amnesia, remember? Even if Martin ended things, she'd be fine. Unless, of course, she's fallen for him all over again. Have you, Vic?"Vic glanced upwards, feeling grateful that she, an orphan, now had a loving family. It was because of this newfound happiness that she made the decision to live life to the fullest.But why?Why would Martin at
Victoria Red would rather save a drowning ant than save Zoe from a crocodile. That's how deep her hatred runs.Every time Victoria encountered her fiancé, Martin, Zoe would conveniently appear and act sweetly while putting a facade of friendship towards him.Victoria imagined slapping Zoe repeatedly for her deceitful actions. However, she refrained from doing so out of love for Martin and the desire to maintain a good impression in his eyes.'Why did this woman try to deceive me?' Vic pondered silently after she doused Zoe's face with juice.Upon discovering that Victoria had lost her memories, Zoe saw an opportunity to manipulate her and falsely claimed to be her best friend.'As if I will fall for her scheme. This woman once accused me of attempting to kill her, and I would never let her trick me again,' Vic thought, determined to teach Zoe a lesson she would remember.Meanwhile, Zoe stood there, drenched in juice, her mouth agape like a fish out of water.She looked at Vic and thou
'Zoe will tell Martin what I did,' Vic was sure of this.But unlike before, she made the decision not to care about Martin's response. In the end, she was determined to break off her engagement with him.'If he gets mad at me and ends the engagement because of the incident, then it will be better,' Vic thought.Standing near the balcony, Vic overheard Victoria's twin brother's voice."Sis!" Mikhail called out, gasping for breath. "Did you really throw juice on Zoe?"Vic, who no longer worried about Martin's reaction, now found herself concerned if she had done something that would anger Victoria's family."Do our parents know?" she asked."No. I asked everyone who knew it to keep it a secret. So, why the hell did you do that?""She was rude," Vic said before biting her lower lip. She thought she would hear an earful nag from Mikhail. However…Mikhail patted her shoulder and said, "I'm really proud of you, Sis." Vic was taken aback and looked at him, waiting for him to continue."You u
A good-looking guy just finished preparing a pasta dish that he made from scratch. He snapped a photo of it and then savored a bite.“There’s something missing with this dish,” Gray Thompson, the CEO of Hajimiri steak and pasta restaurant, uttered.He's a young guy who spent his youth growing his first Italian restaurant, until he opened branches all around the globe. It's true that with his fresh recipes and innovative business concepts, he became one of the richest businessmen globally.“Sir Gray,” his secretary called.Gray turned his attention to his secretary and said, "You're just in time. I've come up with a new pasta recipe. Give it a try."The secretary tasted the pasta and remarked, "It's delicious, Sir.""Having you as a taste tester is pointless," Gray muttered, disappointed, as he tossed the failed recipe into the tr
In the Red family's mansion, a resounding "Happy Birthday!" filled the air, bringing joy to the madam of the house. The people who held a special place in her heart had gathered to celebrate this special day.Emmanuel, her loving husband, handed her an envelope and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. "This is my gift for you, dear," he said with a smile.Next in line was Mikhail, their son, who eagerly presented a box to his Mom. "And this is mine, Mom!" he exclaimed.While Emmanuel and Mikhail's gifts were small in size, Vic's gift stood out as it was quite large. Shyly, Vic approached Sabby, still hesitant to address her as "mother." "Here is my gift, Mom," she whispered.Sabby's heart melted at Vic's gesture. "Aww, you didn't have to get me anything. Waking up to see you is the best gift I could ever receive. But thank you, sweetheart," she said, planting a kiss on Vic's blushing cheeks. "I'll open all of these later. For now, let's eat!"The Red family has a unique way of celeb
The fire alarm blared through the mall, causing chaos among the shoppers. Martin and Vic, however, remained composed amidst the panic.Vic turned to Martin and suggested, "Let's get out of here quickly."Martin stiffened. He was perplexed that Victoria managed to stay calm, and she even prioritized his safety first. It was something like what his trained guard would do at the moment."I will call Hunter right a…" Vic halted. She realized she didn't have his phone number. Frustrated, she turned to Martin and asked, "Can you call Hunter and let him know we're leaving?"Martin stood frozen, unable to respond, as he gazed at Victoria in awe.'What's happening? Why was she acting like how my bodyguard would act during this situation?' he asked himself, questioning if he was still in his right mind.When Martin didn't respond, Vic took hold of his wrist."We need to hurry," she said, tugging him along.He allowed her to lead him until they arrived at the department store entrance, where the