Bloody Revenge, Perfect Counterattack

Before heading to bed, I noticed a strong smell of sage coming from Josie’s room, mixed with something that faintly resembled blood. I could hear her mumbling—she seemed to be performing some sort of ritual.

Just as I was about to listen more closely, the door swung open suddenly. I straightened up quickly and managed a nervous smile.

“Aren’t you asleep?” Josie asked coolly.

“I burn sage and chant a prayer every night before bed,” she added, then shut the door firmly.

As she closed it, I caught sight of a dark object on her table. It didn’t look like any ordinary statue. Even though I was not superstitious, it felt unsettling.

I went back to our room and told my husband about what I had seen and everything that had happened over the past couple of days.

Given his experience in the business world, he took it seriously. After considering it for a moment, he said, “I’ll have someone check on our family’s situation. It’s unusual that Liam stood up to you like that. Also, Lorraine mentioned that several of the koi fish in the yard are missing. That’s definitely odd.”

I nodded. For now, I would need to keep a close watch on Josie without giving away my suspicions.

I managed to fall asleep, but was soon jolted awake. It felt like someone was whispering in my ear, though I couldn’t make out the words clearly.

I woke my husband in a panic, whispering, “I keep hearing someone chanting in my ear!”

Groggy and annoyed, he grumbled, “What are you talking about? You’re just scaring yourself. I have a meeting tomorrow; I need to get some sleep. Go back to bed!”

He rolled over and quickly went back to sleep, his indifference making me feel even colder. It seemed like I couldn’t rely on the men in my life. I’d have to look out for myself and talk to Yasmine.

I glared at his back before settling back into bed, feeling uneasy.

The next morning, I called Yasmine into the study and said seriously, “Yasmine, you’re old enough now and there’s something important you need to know. We might face some issues soon. You need to stay safe and keep your distance from Josie. If anything happens to me, don’t worry about it.”

Yasmine looked at me, clearly frightened and said, “Mom, what’s happening? Is this because of the shares? I can give them up if it helps. Please don’t be scared.”

“No, the shares are yours. Your brother and dad aren’t dependable right now and with Josie in the picture, it’s even more complicated. We need to rely on each other,” I said firmly.

Yasmine nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation. “I get it, Mom. I’ve noticed the shift in the house since Josie arrived. Dad and Liam aren’t the same.”

Her observation made me wonder about Marcus’s involvement. Could they be linked to this somehow? I felt a wave of unease, but at least I had my daughter’s support.

Just then, my phone rang. Liam was causing trouble with the shareholders over the shares and they were demanding I resolve the issue quickly.

I was stunned. It felt like Liam was pushing me too far and I was beginning to question my decisions.

Before I could react, I got another bombshell, Josie was pregnant.