Chapter 2: Shattered 🥀

A numbing cold spread through my veins, locking my body in place.

"J-Jessica?How could you?" The words escaped my lips, a shattered whisper.

"Aurora, please, it's not what you think." Jessica pleaded, her blonde hair a messy curtain across her face.

Richard just sat on the couch, a glass of amber liquid in his hand, utterly unfazed. He looked like he was just waiting for me to have my little meltdown and leave.

"You're sleeping with my husband?" My voice sliced through the thick air, each word sharp as I felt hot tears trace paths down my cheeks.

And then, Jessica's expression shifted. The pleading mask dissolved, replaced by a wide, vicious smirk tugging at her lips.

"Husband?"she scoffed. "Come on, Aurora. You and I both know this marriage is a prison yard. Richard asked you for a divorce, but you refused. God, you're so stubborn."

She said it so casually, already starting to pull on her clothes. The audacity of this bitch, defending herself like I was the unreasonable one.

I raked my hands through my hair, a scream of frustration trapped in my chest. "I swear to God, you bastards will regret this. I swear it." The snarl ripped from my throat, a painful lump lodging there, choking me.

I couldn't stand the sight of them for a second longer. I turned and stormed out, my heels striking the tile floor with each furious step, echoing the rage pounding in my ears.

I stumbled into my car, my knuckles turning white as my hands clenched the steering wheel. My best friend. My husband. The betrayal was a physical ache, a fresh hell to add to my collection. Oh, my life was just getting better by the day.

With trembling fingers, I reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a worn brown envelope. From it, I slid an old photograph-a picture of me with my dad, from a time when he was still here.

Tears fell then, hot and unrestrained, splashing against the faded image. "Why is this happening to me, Papa? I need you here with me. I can't take this anymore... it's just too much to bear." My voice cracked, the plea swallowed by the silence of the car.

But in that despair, a cold, hard resolve solidified. I swear, I will make those bastards regret ever messing with me.

I swear it on my father's grave

---

Richard and Jessica sat across from each other, the air thick with tension, their expressions unreadable masks.

"I told you we should have met at the hotel" Jessica hissed,her voice sharp enough to cut a glass. "But no, you brought me here, to your bedroom, insisting your wife wouldn't be back till midnight, you bloody clown."

Richard let out a loud, derisive scoff.

"I brought you here deliberately" he said, sipping his whiskey with infuriating calm. " So that bitch would finally come to her senses".

A wave of panic washed over Jessica's face, replacing her anger.

"Now everything's messed up! Aurora knows I'm sleeping with her husband, that means I can't get anything from her fortune anymore!" she raked her hands through her hair in sheer frustration.

A wide , predatory smile tugged at Richard's lips.

"Relax, there's a way you can still get a piece of her fortune." he said, an evil grin flashing across his face.

"How?" Jessica asked,her voice a tight whisper.

Richard stood up and slowly closed the distance between them.

"By finishing her off," he said,his voice devoid of any emotion.

Jessica eyes widened in genuine shock.

"Richard, you don't mean...?"

"Yes" he cut her off coldly. "It's exactly what you're thinking".

He grabbed his phone from the table and dialed a number with practiced ease.

"Hello sir," a voice answered.

"Follow my wife's car", Richard commanded flatly.

" And finish her off, leave no traces behind", he hung up without another word.

Jessica shot him a strange appraising glance.

"I never knew you were this evil".

"Well, I need to get that bitch off my back", he shrugged. A dark hunger flickered in his eyes as he grabbed a fistful of her hair.

"Now bend that ass over for me" he growled throwing her onto the bed.

A wicked giggle escaped her lips.

" Sure, daddy ".

---

(Aurora )

I turned the ignition, the engine snarling to life, and pulled out into the cold, empty streets. I had no destination, just the need to move. My knuckles were white on the wheel, the only thing solid in my spinning world.

Jessica's words were a drumbeat in my skull.

And the hell of it was,she was right.

My marriage to Richard was a prison.But that didn't grant him a free pass to fuck my best friend-my ex-best friend. I wanted to burn their memories and never look back.

I was drowning in the noise of my own thoughts when a brutal, blinding light erupted from a side street. It was a stark, white van, idling like a predator.

I glanced, dismissed it, and drove on. I was too numb to care.

But then I saw it-a sudden, violent lurch forward, tires screeching, aiming directly for me. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic bird in a cage. I jerked the wheel, a useless, panicked gesture.

It was too late.

The world exploded.

The shriek of tearing metal.The crystalline shower of glass. The impact threw me forward like a ragdoll. My head cracked against the steering wheel with a sickening thud, and the warm, metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth.

The world flipped. My car tumbled, a weightless, crushing ballet of violence. I felt the hard, cold bite of twisted iron, the sickening crunch of something deep inside me giving way.

Hot tears cut through the blood and grime on my face as I fought the blackness creeping into the edges of my vision. I could feel a slow, thick trickle from my nose, painting my lips.

Then... nothing. Just Darkness.

Chapter 3: A Woman Scorned

Westland Hospital.

Richard and Jessica rushed into the hospital, their faces etched with panic. They hurried over to the reception counter where a receptionist was working.

"Please, I got a call that my wife was in an accident and was rushed here," he said, his breath muffled and short.

"Oh, yes, sir. She was brought in not long ago. She's in room 46; the doctor is with her now," one of the receptionists said.

Jessica and Richard dashed to the room where Aurora was. Just then, the doctor attending to her stepped out, his face pale.

"Doctor, how is my wife?" Richard asked, his voice trembling with a feigned concern.

The doctor heaved a long, heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry, sir. But your wife... she didn't make it. She's gone," he said, lowering his head slightly.

Richard and Jessica's expressions were unreadable, as if they were trying to mask the happiness they truly felt.

"What did you say?" Richard snarled, his voice laced with a hidden sarcasm.

"I'm so sorry. We did everything we could, but her injuries were too severe," he said.

Richard slumped into a chair, raking his hands through his hair.

"It's okay, Richard. Aurora is in a better place now," Jessica said, rubbing his shoulders.

The doctor excused himself and walked away.

Suddenly, their expressions changed completely.

"Oh, thank God. That bitch is finally gone," Richard said, his voice barely a whisper.

Jessica straightened her shirt, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.

"So, that means we can take her entire fortune now, right? I mean, now that she's gone."

Richard rubbed his temples, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

"You know, I'm almost glad Aurora never signed those divorce papers. I might not have gotten full access to her money. But now... it's a different story," he said, his voice buzzing with excitement.

"Don't get too excited yet. Remember, we have to put on our grieving masks and pretend we miss that bitch," she cautioned.

Richard let out a faint scoff.

"Well, that'll be easy. As long as I get the fortune, I'll play any part."

Jessica let out a soft chuckle, then quickly replaced it with a look of concern.

FIVE MONTHS LATER

(Aurora)

I woke up, a dim light piercing my eyes. I squinted, trying to adjust to my surroundings. I was in a hospital room, but it looked private. Flowers and get-well cards were arranged on a nearby table.

I tried to remember what had happened. Why was I here?

"Hello, ma'am! You're awake! Thank God," a soft voice came from the doorway. A young nurse walked in, a wide smile spread across her face.

Confusion must have been plain on my face. "Wait, what happened? Where am I?" I asked.

The nurse heaved a heavy sigh. "Ma'am, you had a bad fall down the stairs and hit your head. You were rushed here, but you've been in a coma for five months. I'm so glad you're awake now," she said, her tone dripping with genuine happiness.

Panic surged through me as I tried to remember. Then, the memories of that night came flooding back: catching my best friend in bed with my husband, leaving in a rage, speeding off in my car... and then a white van slamming into me.

"Arghh!" I held my head as a sharp pain accompanied the returning memories. "I didn't fall down the stairs. I was in an accident."

"Take it easy, ma'am. Try not to stress your brain," she said, gently rubbing my shoulder. "I'll go call your godfather and let him know you're awake."

"My... godfather?" I asked, my head throbbing from the information overload.

"Yes, ma'am. Your godfather."

I took a deep breath, trying to process it all. Then, my eyes darted to a mirror on the wall. My body froze completely. My eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

The face staring back was not my own. My hair was shorter, my lips were fuller-I was in a completely different body. How? How on earth was this possible?

"Nurse! This... this isn't my face! What the hell is happening?" I cried, hot tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Ma'am, you've just woken up. The emotions are overwhelming. I think you should rest," she said calmly.

I raked my hands through my hair in utter confusion. "Wait, where is this hospital? How far are we from New York?"

The nurse gave me a puzzled look. "New York? Ma'am, we're in Italy."

My jaw dropped. Just then, a news segment on the television caught my eye. It was a video of Richard and Jessica.

"Please, turn the volume up," I urged the nurse.

She did, and the headline on the screen made my chest tighten: "Businessman Richard Williams and his wife, Jessica Williams, have acquired a new private jet. Mr. Williams stated he wanted to celebrate his wife's birthday in style, so he fulfilled her wish. This couple makes falling in love look sweet. Following the untimely passing of his former wife, Aurora Cole, Richard has remarried; his wife is now the actress Jessica Williams."

Wife? Private jet? More hot tears fell. Those bastards had taken over my father's fortune now that they thought I was gone.

My mind snapped back to the white van. Had Richard orchestrated the whole thing? A huge lump formed in my throat as my thoughts spiraled.

Perhaps destiny was rewriting my fate. I swore then that I would make them pay. They would regret the day they chose to betray me.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

The door creaked open, and a tall, imposing man entered. He wore a hat and leaned on a walking stick. In his right hand, he held a beautiful bouquet of flowers. His aura was dangerously powerful, and his expensive clothes marked him as a wealthy man. His sharp Italian features were strikingly handsome.

"La Bonita, you're finally awake," the man said, his voice deep as he walked closer. He pulled me into a soft hug, his heavy cologne almost suffocating.

I pulled away and stared at him, bewildered.

"Who are you?"I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Confusion flashed across the man's face. He glanced at the nurse, then back at me.

"Sir,she has just woken up. I suggest we give her some time to rest," the nurse interjected gently.

"La Bonita, you don't remember me? Your godfather?" he said, ignoring the nurse's advice.

So this is my godfather.

I swallowed hard and forced a smile.

"Oh,godfather. I'm sorry for not remembering you. My mind is still a mess," I said.

He rubbed his temples lightly.

"It's okay,Bonita. See, I brought you your favorite flowers," he said, handing me the bouquet.

They weren't my favorite, but I figured they must have been his real goddaughter's.

"Thank you,"I said, genuinely.

Now, I had a new life, a new identity, and a new family. Maybe, just maybe... this was the first step toward my revenge.

Maybe...

Chapter 4: Elizabeth

A few days later, I was finally discharged from the hospital. The doctor confirmed I was in good health and fit to go home. My godfather handled my belongings, and we stepped out into the fresh air.

A sleek black Mercedes waited at the curb. A chauffeur stood attentively by the vehicle, a warm smile spreading across his face as he opened the rear door. "It's wonderful to see you, ma'am," he said.

"Thank you," I replied, sliding into the luxurious interior. My godfather settled in beside me.

"Everyone at the estate will be thrilled to have you back," he said reassuringly.

I swallowed hard, offering a small smile in return. I had no idea what to expect, and I sent a silent prayer that his household was free of the family dramas I dreaded.

The car eventually glided through imposing wrought-iron gates, sweeping up a long, manicured driveway lined with cypress trees. My eyes widened as the mansion came into view. It was a breathtaking palazzo of cream-colored stone, with grand arches and terracotta roofs that glowed in the afternoon sun. Even having been born with a silver spoon, this level of opulence was staggering.

As we stepped out of the car, a row of staff-security, maids, and housekeepers-stood assembled before the grand entrance, their faces beaming with genuine welcome. "We are so happy to see you, ma'am!" they chorused in unison.

The grand gesture touched a deep chord within me. "Thank you, all," I said, feeling the sting of tears in my eyes. It had been so long since my father's passing that I had forgotten what such a heartfelt welcome felt like.

"Let's go inside, Bonita," my godfather said, guiding me forward. The name gave me pause. Bonita-was it his granddaughter's real name, or simply a Spanish term of endearment? I took a steadying breath and crossed the threshold.

The interior was even more magnificent. A colossal diamond chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling, scattering prisms of light across the marble floors. Ornate portraits adorned the walls. One featured my godfather, resplendent in a sharp black suit, with the name DON JULIO ALVAREZ inscribed boldly at the top. Another depicted him with a middle-aged woman and a young lady who shared my face, undoubtedly his late wife and the granddaughter whose life I now inhabited.

"Bonita, one of the staff will show you to your room. You must rest, my dear. I will check on you later," Don Julio said kindly.

I gave a faint nod, and a maid escorted me upstairs.

My new room was... peculiar. Eerie skeletal drawings and macabre portraits hung on the walls. The heavy curtains and bed linens were a stark combination of black and blood-red. The overall decor felt like it belonged to a cult initiate. It seemed Don Julio's real goddaughter had been quite the eccentric.

"So, ma'am, if you require anything, please don't hesitate to ask," the maid said.

"Uhm, actually, could you please help me change all of this?" I gestured around the room. "The curtains, the bedsheets, and especially these portraits. I'd like them removed."

Confusion flickered across her face. "But, ma'am... you were always so passionate about your dark aesthetic and music."

I heaved a long sigh. "Well, not anymore."

She nodded and began the task of dismantling the strange decor. Once she left, I slumped onto the bed, cradling my head in my hands. The reality of my situation was overwhelming. I walked to the full-length mirror and touched the unfamiliar face staring back. I was living in another person's body. Transmigration had been a fantastical concept until this very moment.

My gaze fell upon a laptop resting on an ottoman. I opened it to find a half-empty pack of cigarettes lying across the keyboard. Wrinkling my nose in disgust, I immediately tossed them into the trash.

I powered on the laptop and began to research. A search for DON JULIO ALVAREZ yielded immediate results. Pictures of my godfather confirmed he was the owner of the largest conglomerate in Italy, with a vast empire spanning companies in Australia, Canada, Paris, Spain, and America-New York, to be precise. A faint smirk touched my lips at the mention of New York.

Delving into his personal life, I discovered his wife had passed away from cancer five years prior. They had no children of their own. His only goddaughter, the child of a former employee, who was also dead, had been adopted by him. The pieces were falling into place.

Further articles described his goddaughter- Elizabeth Alvarez,as notoriously reckless, known for her drinking, smoking, and string of questionable relationships. I rubbed my temples lightly. It appeared I had my work cut out for me in redeeming this young woman's reputation, now that I was irrevocably stuck in her skin.

Then, a strangely comforting idea began to form in my mind.

A soft knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

"Bonita?May I come in?" It was Don Julio.

I quickly closed the laptop."Yes, of course."

He entered,carrying a small plate of cookies, a warm but weary smile on his face. "I hope you're feeling more settled," he said, his voice laced with genuine concern.

"I am,thank you," I replied, returning his smile. I took a steadying breath. "Actually, there's something important I'd like to discuss with you."

His expression shifted instantly,the smile fading into apprehension. "I hope there's no problem, Bonita."

"No,not at all," I assured him, shaking my head. "It's just... I've been thinking. I would like to go to New York to take charge of the company there."

Confusion etched deep lines onto his forehead."Are you serious?" he asked, his tone disbelieving.

"Completely,"I said, nodding firmly.

He heaved a long,heavy sigh, the sound filled with a history of disappointment. "Bonita, I must confess, I'm shocked. You've never had any interest in the company. You actively hated the mere mention of responsibility, preferring... other pursuits." He paused, and his voice grew thick with pain. "Before your accident, you came home intoxicated. I had reached my limit with your lifestyle. We had a terrible argument, and in your anger, you tried to run out. You tripped and fell down the stairs." He lowered his head slightly, weighed down by guilt. "It was my fault. I never should have raised my voice at you."

My chest tightened. The real Elizabeth had put this kind man through so much.

I gently placed my hand over his."Godfather, that girl you're describing is gone. I am different now. I promise you, I will make you and the Alvarez name proud."

He looked at me,his eyes tired but searching. A flicker of cautious hope shone through the exhaustion. "It gladdens my heart to hear you say that, Bonita. So, when were you thinking of leaving for New York?"

"Tomorrow,"I stated.

"Tomorrow?"A flash of hurt crossed his face. "You don't wish to spend some time with your old godfather first?"

I offered him a reassuring smile."Please, don't worry. We will keep in constant touch, and I will visit often. It will only be for a year. You'll see."

He rubbed his temples,a gesture of surrender mixed with concern, before finally meeting my determined gaze. "Very well. You may leave for New York tomorrow."

"Thank you,Godfather." A calculated smile spread across my face.

Yes.I was going back to New York. I was going to find Richard.

And I was going to make him,and everyone who betrayed me, pay.