Reborn to the Day I Chose My Nemesis

Beryl

Exactly a year after marrying Luke, I'd turned into a shadow of myself.

“Don't you worry about a thing,” Linda said with a patronizing smile, her hand lingered loosely on my legs, “out there, I'll make sure to represent you so well no one will remember to ask after you.”

Luke walked in shortly after, wearing the same smile on his face, and Linda immediately rushed to him, linking her arm with his.

“Just keep your eyes on the TV, everything will be on full display for you.”

A tear slid down the corners of my eyes and I could only watch helplessly as they both walked away.

I'd taken Luke from an average Businessman to one of the very top CEOs in Ashville. I signed my company and assets to him, and Linda? I took her in like my sister.

But 3 months ago after I got into an accident that paralyzed me from the waist down, they locked me away like I was a burden.

It started slowly. Their visits became less frequent, and whenever they came, they were always together. After the usual short pleasantries, they both get lost in their conversations, talking and laughing like I wasn't even there.

Slowly, Linda took my place by his side and Luke was not bothered.

I faded into the background, withering away, and today…? I dragged my eyes to the TV, while the tears continued to fall through the corners of my eyes. Today was supposed to be our anniversary.

The TV crinkled on, displaying the hall that was hosting the dinner tonight.

There were so many familiar faces, so many people I have helped, people I have worked with, but none of them looked surprised or wronged when they saw Luke walk in with her.

My hands slowly balled into fists and my lips quivered as I watched them converse and mingle with the crowd like it was right.

I didn't deserve this. Not after everything.

I wanted to stop watching, to close my eyes and pretend like it wasn't happening, but I couldn't. I was helpless against my heart that kept looking believing things would change at the last minute.

Lina breezed through the crowd like she had always belonged, but there was one person she never dared approach.

He lingered in the shadows, drink in hand, observing and interacting with no one.

I racked my brain for a full picture of his face and his name, but just as I was getting close, the volume of the TV suddenly went up and the camera zoomed in on Luke's face.

He had mounted the podium, clinking the glass with a spoon, by his side, Linda stood, grinning so wide.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for gracing our event tonight,” he started, “I know you all have gathered here to celebrate what once was between my ex-wife and I.”

My chest seemed to tighten, and I couldn't draw a breath in.

Ex-wife?

Since when? Our marriage wasn't over, we never divorced. Why? Why was he…?

My heart thumped loudly as he roped his arm around Linda's waist and pulled her in.

“But, we want you all to celebrate us instead. You all know just how much I've been through the past couple of months, and through it all, Linda has stood by my side, unwavering. In that, we both found love, and we want to show it off to the world.”

That was her cue to raise her hand, flashing an engagement ring - my engagement ring.

“Instead of celebrating what was, celebrating what is, with us. We are getting married.”

Not a single person frowned or questioned what was happening. They all raised their hands and clapped loudly, cheering them on like that wasn't The biggest betrayal.

If only… if only my legs could work.

My throat burned from all the tears I was trying to suppress.

The next minute, the TV went off and so did the lights in the room. Then I heard footsteps, they were hastened and soon, the door was opened.

“I had to,” Luke’s voice rang out in the dark room, “it was the only way for me to live like I've always wanted with the woman I truly love.”

“You are a bloody ungrateful bastard.” I managed to spit out, my voice hoarse and cracked from all the crying.

“That is why I am here, to make amends.”

I felt him grab my hand and he placed a small vial in it, but still didn't let go of my hand.

“This is the best way. I know you already know what that is.”

Poison.

He was asking me to kill myself. My stomach churned, has he always been this cruel? Was I so blind?

“Take it, you have nothing left to live for anyway. You've lost everything, everyone, you might as well end all of this.”

“You…”

“I am only looking out for you,” he cut in. “This is your only option, you already lived the life of a princess, you married me and had a life with me. What more do you want? This is your only way.”

He squeezed my hand and I felt the vial pressing into my palm.

“Take it, and when you get over there. Send my apologies to your father, he was a good man, but if I had let him live, he would have destroyed all my plans.”

The words rang in my ears and time came to a slow stop.

“Luke, what are you saying?”

“Oh please,” a new voice rang out - Linda. Before I could make her out in the dark, she had snatched the vial from me and was pouring it down my that.

I couldn't put up a fight, not with my weak limbs that haven't been fed in days.

Despite my thrashing around, she made me swallow everything then she threw the vial across the room, breathing heavily.

“This is how it was always supposed to end. If you weren't so far up your ass, thinking you were better than everyone and snatching everything, all this wouldn't have happened, he wouldn't have had to kill your father and I wouldn't have had to kill you. But, you deserve this and I hope you rot in hell.”

It felt like I was burning and swelling from the inside out, my eyes watered from the pain shooting through me.

I grabbed my chest and my stomach, tugging as though that would ease the pain.

“Please,” I choked out, “please help me.”

“I hope we never meet again, Beryl, and if we do, I hope you know better. Bye now, we'll take care of all you left behind.”

The pain pushed me from the wheelchair to the floor, where I laid, struggling to breath as I coughed up blood.

“What the fuck?!” I heard a deep baritone mutter and soon I was scooped up.

I could feel him slapping my cheeks and calling out my name, but I was already losing the fight to unconsciousness.

I managed to pry my eyes open for a bit, and I saw his face.

Ashville’s Devil.

Tears slid down my cheek and my eyes fluttered shut. The man the world feared was the one on his knees for me.

If only… if only I could go back in time.

That was the only thing running through my mind as the world slowly went quiet and I submitted to the darkness that has been calling out to me.