Jay's POV
Underworld? Criminal?
Words like these were foreign to me. Heard them all the time in some silly fantasy stories. But having it as an existing example in life, not to mention it had to be no one—but my wife—was mind-boggling. I almost froze where I stood. Alex dropped to the couch as his knees gave up their strength.
There was a wide smirk on Edward's face, and even after being punched, Amy couldn't rub off his smirk. He looked at me with a wicked grin. The atmosphere felt grim.
Edward: You are so unaware of your dear wife. Sorry, ex-wife. She is inherent in the Dragons' clan.
Dragons? That name was quite familiar. It clicked. At one point in time, it was all in the news. They are a syndicate and have cases of human trafficking and murder, or, worse, dismantled body parts. Young girls are missing. Fights against the officials, corrupting the officers too. It was also a theory that an elite person in the industry was connected to the clan. But I could never fathom that it could be Amy. An impostor who was cunning, clever, and manipulative to make the officials dance at her fingertips.
She was clever enough to cover her crimes by donating 50% of her profits. It made me nauseous. Disgust was a better word. She stood in front of me, her profile facing towards Edward, her knuckles turning white as her hand clenched into fists.
Amy: Shut. Up.
It was a growl.
Edward: Or what? Would you keep your loved ones in the dark for the rest of their lives? I thought you had enough brains to leave them and come to me in the first place. But you chose him. This loser.
His voice was sarcastic, and his smile looked scary as his gums bled, making his white teeth tainted. He looked like a crazy psychopath.
Amy: You are obsessed with me.
Edward: You are no different, Ash! You are just like me. So let's not make things difficult. I need to put him out of my way.
His eyes darted at me; his eyes held the determination to shred my breaths out of my existence. He was crazy. His hand landed on the pistol that was tucked behind his waistband.
He aimed at me right on the forehead, his index finger almost pulling on the trigger. Before he could even pull the trigger. Amy had already pounced on him, making him fall to the floor, straddling his ribs. One of her hands gripped his collar while she punched his face with the other, almost everywhere. Taking hold of his gun, she hit the metal body on his face. The intensity of the punches had the room resonating. Until she finally pointed the gun at him.
This was getting gory. I rushed and held Amy back by her waist, breaking her away from Edward, who had been laughing even though his face was covered in blood and had started puffing red and bruised. Amy's knuckles were similarly covered in Edward's blood.
Eric: You did enough! Let's leave.
Eric had yanked Edward to the door, pushing him out deliberately. Things had gotten out of hand, I heard a sigh escape Amy's lips as she looked at the broken and dazed figure of her brother on the couch. His eyes aimlessly gazed at his lap. He looked at nothing.
Betrayal was a better word.
Alex: How long? Amy, how long were you in this? And when the hell did you guys get divorced?
Alex's gaze fluctuated between me and her. Amy crouched down near the couch, sitting beside Alex.
Amy: I'm sorry.
Alex: How long were you in this hellhole, Amy?
He yelled.
Amy: I..I was 14 back then.
Her words pierced like a needle. 14. She was just a small, young girl back then.
Alex: You hid things from me. You didn't tell me even once that you were in trouble! All these years, I thought we never had any secrets. Guess what? I was wrong!
He mumbled without glancing at Amy.
Amy's trembling hands gripped his knees as if it were a silent plea to him to at least look at her. But he didn't; his eyes were still lowered to his lap.
Alex: I failed. I failed to keep you safe.
His eyes brimmed with tears.
Amy: It's not your fault. Look. I had no other option; that witch of a stepmother wanted me dead. And to survive, I joined the clan.
She explained desperately, trying to prove her point.
Alex: But now, I can protect you. Why don't you leave it?
Amy: It's not as easy as you think. Once you are in, there's no way out. There are people out there who want to skin me alive. It's not safe.
With that, she rose to her feet, turning her heels toward the nearby drawer. Pulling it out, she fished out two guns.
Guns? They had been there all the time. And I didn't even bother to check the space once. She handed one to me and the other to Alex, who was as flabbergasted as me.
Amy: Give me a month, and I'll fix it. After that, if you guys want, then surrender me to the police. I won't hold a grudge. Till then, make sure you don't go out without these. You guys need to defend yourself. Do not trust anyone. Okay?
Neither I nor Alex were capable of reacting to her words. She had accepted that she was a criminal.
Amy: I know I have done the unspeakable. Even if I wanted to help those people who got stuck in human trafficking, I couldn't do anything. I was helpless back then. It was a sword blade on both ends. I could either be selfish or be selfless.
The more I heard her words, the more I realized how much worse the situation was for Amy. I couldn't imagine myself in her place. Ends up in the underworld as a girl, where women are looked down upon and treated like objects. Amy survived all those years and hid herself well as a man.
Her words from last night clicked with me. When she said she had the blood on her hands, she was talking about her being in a gang.
I didn't know whether to loathe her or feel sorry for her. But it wasn't her fault, was it? It was a mere survival instinct that she had faith in. My attention went towards Alex, who had finally looked up, feeling the intensity of the situation.
Alex: I want that woman behind bars. She will suffer.
His eyes held rage.
Jay: I would help you guys too.
Both bro-sis duos had finally bothered to look at me. I was non-existent for the whole time.
Amy: I need to talk to you. Alone.
Amy walked upstairs while I glanced at Alex for the last time and followed behind her.
Once we were inside her room, Amy locked the door.
Amy: Tell me the truth: why did you choose to be a doctor and work in this hospital?
The question took me off guard. With a lot happening, why did she suddenly talk about this? But still, I chose to answer.
Jay: I had told you before that I didn't have any interest in business -
Amy: Lie.
Her words cut through the sharp air.
Jay: What-
Before I could speak further, she cut off my words again.
Amy: You chose to be a doctor because you wanted to enter that hospital.
I frowned. Where was this going?
Amy: Your grandmother was admitted there before wasn't she? You want to get the files from the main office, don't you? You and Max are acting as rivals but actually, you guys aren't.
My eyes widened, and she walked towards the study table, leaning her back against it.
Jay: Were you stalking me?
Amy: You got promoted so fast. At the age of 22, you became a surgeon. You are a prodigy.
There was a smirk.
Amy: I am glad that you aren't into business. Or I would have to lose. Now be clear, what's in the office?
I sighed looking away. She almost revealed everything.
Jay: Because I believe the staff are hiding the truth. My grandmother wasn't that injured to die right after treatment. It wasn't an accident; it was murder. They are hiding the proofs. And I want them to spend their lives behind bars.
Amy looked dazed for a moment. Silence lingering in the air. Her hand caressed the box that was on the table. She held the box, giving it to me. I was perplexed.
My eyes peered at the embedded initials; they seemed special. Opening the box revealed a bracelet; it looked old but it was quite familiar to me.
Amy: All these years, I thought it was a good luck charm for me but all this time, it never belonged to me.
It was somewhere in my memory. The moment it flashed in my brain, it left me in shock. It belonged to Grandma. One of its beads held her signature initials.
I looked up at Amy, who had been waiting for me to react.
Jay: Why do you have this?
Amy: I wasn't bluffing when I was drunk. I was telling you the truth. I..I was the reason that you and Grandma that day were attacked.
She stuttered.
I remembered her saying, ' I kind of ruined your childhood.' 'I hurt you.' She did mean every word. She remembered everything.
Amy: I wish I could turn things back then.
If she knew my plan, it meant that she knew me way before. She hid the fact that she was the sole reason for the tragedy in my life.
My hands turned into fists, trying to control my boiling blood and my rising temper. My brain is malfunctioning.
Jay: You hid this from me. You planned everything, didn't you? From marrying me for fame to planning for divorce once you were done with your deed, I didn't know you could stoop that low.
My voice held venom, taking slow, predatory steps towards her. For the first time, I had seen fear in her eyes. But I wasn't remorseful of my actions. I didn't care if my actions hurt her. She deserved it.
I reached closer to her while she stumbled back on her steps, her eyes flickering with a change of emotions.
Amy: It's not like that.
Her voice was low and wavering. She gulped, noticing my reaction.
Jay: Then what is it?
My tone heightened, and my voice rose like never before. I saw red. She had staggered and reached the corner of the room, backed by the wall. As her steps were now restricted, she couldn't escape any longer while my figure towered above her.
Amy: I know I have hurt you but I didn't remember anything back then.
Her words made me snicker with sarcasm.
Jay: I suffered for years and went for therapy. While you lost your memories. I feel that our fates are pretty partial. Luck has been by your side.
My eyes glared into hers. She looked hurt. Very hurt. But I didn't care.
Amy: I am not lying. That day, when I had a panic attack, was the day I got my memory back. I wanted to tell you everything but I couldn't face you. I am.. sorry.
My knuckles had turned white; never had I ever had the urge to kill someone this bad. My senses had turned numb, and my fist was launching in her direction. Straight away, landing right on the wall beside her. She flinched.
Jay: I am glad that we are divorced. Now. Get. Out. I don't want to see you ever again.
My voice was low and intimidating. She stayed still. She was barely breathing.
Jay: Leave before I do anything worse and regret it.
Her eyes glistened red; she was on the verge of crying. Our faces held an inch of distance.
Amy: I'm sorry. Forgive me if you can.
She whispered, looking into my eyes for the last time, and moved away from my arms that had caged her to the wall. I heard her sigh while she fished out something from her pocket. A key as she kept it on the study table.
Amy: Those are the keys to the cabin that contain the hospital's records. Though you hate me, we have the same enemy. I have a hunch. It could be Mrs.Park. It might be that your grandma was the sole eyewitness to the happening. And Mrs.Park wanted to get rid of her. Because no witness means no crime.
Her voice was wavering but she managed to sound calm and collected. With that, she left.
The room was deserted again. My breaths were ragged and my heart ached. My legs felt like jelly, making me fall to my knees. Gripping my hair, I felt like pulling them out of the roots.
What was more to come?
