Gracious Revenge

I stare at Beatrice, eyes wide open and my lips hanging open.

"Don't look at me like I'm crazy. You are Nelly, right?" Beatrice states more firmly, her voice rising higher. I glance behind me to find the bodyguards suspiciously looking at me and Beatrice.

Beatrice looks at the bodyguards and then back at me. She grabs my hand, "If you don't want to talk here, fine. Let's talk somewhere private."

I barely have time to react before Beatrice grabs my wrist and drags me inside the mansion. I am pulled inside the living room, then Beatrice lets go of me.

"Jane," Beatrice says, her voice trembling, "Are you Nelly?"

My heart races as I think of a response quickly, "What? Of course not. Why would you even think that?" I respond, trying to make my voice sound steady.

Beatrice narrows her eyes at me as if reading me before she points at my hand, "Then what is that?" She asks, her voice firm.

I freeze, clench my left hand instinctively. I hide my hand from her view. Beatrice had seen my scar on my hand when I gave her my mobile number. That's why she stared at my hand for a while

Beatrice steps closer, "I've seen that mark before," She says. "Nelly had that scar on her palm from the car accident with her parents. Exactly the same scar at the exact place."

Beatrice shoots her hand forward, grabbing my wrist before I can pull away. Beatrice's grip tightens on my wrist as she brings it to our view. There it is, a crescent-shaped pink scar on my palm. Beatrice's breath catches in her throat.

"No matter what other people think of me. I've not lost my mind. I'm still sane." Beatrice draws a deep breath before she continues, "I can never believe Nelly is dead. I didn't want to believe it. Now this proves that she is alive."

Beatrice looks eyes with me, "This was Nelly's mark. No one else has it. Tell me the truth, Jane. Please. Are you Nelly?"

The familiarity of the living room seems to close in around me as memories flood back. The warm hugs from Beatrice. The laughter we shared. Beatrice has brought it all back with a single glance. My resolve crumbles and I sink into the couch behind me. I stare at the floor.

"Yes. It's me. I'm Nelly." I say, my voice barely a whisper. I can't bear to torture Beatrice anymore.

Beatrice lets out a choked sob, covering her mouth with her hand. Beatrice walks over and sits beside me. "Why, Nelly? Why did you leave? Why did you let us think you were dead?"

I look at Beatrice at my side, my eyes brimming with tears, "Because I had to. I didn't have a choice if I was going to find out who really killed your husband, Jeremy's father."

Beatrice sighs heavily. She buries her face in her hands and shakes her head, "It wasn't supposed to be like this."

"Please, you have to believe me, Beatrice. I didn't kill your husband." I say, my voice quivering.

Beatrice pulls me in an embrace, then gently strokes my back, "I believe you, Nelly. I know you didn't kill my husband, that's why I called Jane to help you."

My breath hitches in my throat. Beatrice called Jane to my rescue when I was being taken to the police station. The room instantly falls silent. Beatrice pulls away from the hug and looks at me intently, "Jane? Why do you call yourself Jane?" Beatrice asks suspiciously.

"You called the lawyer. You called Jane to help me?" I ask, shocked.

Beatrice nods. "I did. I got her number from one of my friends. They said she's really good in her job. Nelly, why are you using Jane's identity?"

I sniff, wiping the tears off my cheeks, "The accident that happened ended Jane's life, and the explosion destroyed my face. Jane's mother, following Jane's last wish with the help of a doctor, saved me by implanting Jane's face on mine."

Beatrice looks at me, her lips wide open as she listens to my story, "Then the police were shown Jane's body and they believed I died in the accident."

Beatrice grips my hands tightly, "I'm really sorry about Jane and her mother, but I'm so happy you're alive."

I nod, my heart heavy with guilt and relief. Beatrice snaps her fingers, "We should tell Jeremy the truth."

My face hardens. Despite what Beatrice knows, I'm here for my revenge against Jeremy and Kyra for betraying me. Beatrice sees how tense I look and her face softens, "Nelly, what's the matter? Jeremy deserves to know the truth."

"I wasn't even dead for more than three months and he's already getting married to Kyra, and he deserves to know the truth?" I snap.

I cross my arms and look away, "He betrayed me therefore I don't have sympathy for him."

Beatrice rests an empathetic hand on my lap, "No, Nelly. Please don't talk like this."

I get on my feet and stare intently at Beatrice, "Why shouldn't I? When I was taken away by the police, Jeremy didn't even believe me. I begged for him but he did nothing. He doesn't love me anymore. I don't love him."

Beatrice gets on her feet. She grips the side of her blue gown tightly, "What do you intend to do as you're back?"

I draw a deep shaky breath, "I don't want to hurt you, Beatrice, but I don't have a choice."

Beatrice steps close to me and takes my hands in hers, "You always have a choice, Nelly. I understand how you feel, but it's not the right thing to do. Please, reconsider."

I pull my hands away from her grasp, "No. I will make them pay for what they did to me."

"Nelly, please. We can find another way to handle this." Beatrice begs.

"I'm sorry, mother." I apologize. I turn to leave and see Jeremy standing in a corridor leading into the living room. He stares intently at me. I draw a sharp breath, stunned.