Miller Household, Sterling Heights, Velori.
"Amelia, your father will be back soon. Come, let's get you changed." I scooped up my three-year-old daughter, her cheeks smeared with frosting, and carried her upstairs.
"Hurry, mummy!" she giggled, sticky hands clutching at me.
I had just finished arranging the surprise for our wedding anniversary—nothing extravagant, just a candlelight dinner with dessert. The last three years we had celebrated with family and friends, but this time I wanted something quieter. More intimate. Just us.
After cleaning Amelia up, I came downstairs just as Lewis walked in. He paused at the doorway, his tired eyes lighting up at the sight of the table.
"You didn't have to go through all this trouble," he said, kissing my cheek.
"I wanted to," I smiled. "It's our night."
Amelia clapped her little hands. "Happy 'versary, Daddy!"
Lewis laughed, scooping her up before sitting at the table. Dinner passed in warmth—laughter at Amelia's silly stories, soft teasing between Lewis and me, quiet glances that reminded me why I had chosen him. By the time dessert came, Amelia was fighting to keep her eyes open.
"Someone's sleepy," Lewis chuckled.
"I'll tuck her in," I said, lifting her gently. Amelia murmured goodnight before drifting off in my arms.
When I returned downstairs, I expected silence. Instead, I heard voices. Low, urgent. Lewis's voice. And—my heart stumbled—Audrey's.
I crept down slowly, the words becoming clearer.
"What do you mean, Audrey? How could you let this happen?"
"I didn't know! I only just found out today!"
"This is insane. I thought we were careful. How do we fix this?"
"We don't fix it, Lewis. I'm keeping it."
A pause. Then his voice, strained. "Audrey, I'm married to your sister. You can't---"
"We can. And we will. This child—our child—will be born."
"Serena---"
"Don't say her name!" Audrey snapped. "I don't care about her. I care about us. Our little family."
The room tilted around me. My breath caught. My chest burned. No. This couldn't be real.
I stepped forward, my voice breaking. "What… what is going on here?"
They both spun around, their faces pale.
"Serena," Lewis whispered.
"Don't," I snapped. "Don't lie. Not tonight."
The silence fractured, giving way to chaos.
"How long?" I demanded, eyes burning. "How long have you two been doing this behind my back?"
Lewis stammered, "It's not what you think---"
"Not what I think? I heard you! Every word. My sister, Lewis. My own sister---"
Audrey's lips curled. "Stop acting like the victim. You've always had everything—his love, your perfect little family, your career. For once, I have something for myself."
"You call this love?" My voice shook. "Betrayal? Lies? Sneaking around in the shadows?"
"It's more real than anything you ever gave him," Audrey hissed.
Lewis tried to step in, hands raised. "Serena, please, calm down---"
"Calm down? You destroy my marriage, my trust, my family—and you want me to calmdown?"
Audrey's face twisted, rage flickering in her eyes. "You don't get it, Serena. You don't get to control everything. Not anymore---"
I pointed at her, trembling. "You both will regret this. I swear you will---"
A sharp pain tore through my chest. I staggered, staring down at the knife buried in me. Audrey's hand still clutched the hilt, her eyes wide, her breath quick and shallow.
"You…" I gasped, voice breaking. "You stabbed me…"
The room spun. Lewis shouted something I couldn't hear. Audrey's face blurred. The pain swallowed me whole.
And then—darkness.