54 A Calculated Victim’s Revenge
The folder struck my face with stunning forse scattering papers across my office. Pa
xploded across my cheek as Tanya’s perfectly manicured nails caught my skin,
“Your ungrateful bitch!” she screamed, grabbing another folder. “This is all your fault? stumbled backward, shocked by the sudden violence. “What are you talking about?
“They arrested Harold!” Tanya’s voice cracked with hysteria. The police came this morning tax evasion, financial fraud–She swung again, catching me on the shoulder. “You did this! You reported him!
Thadn’t, but the realization that someone had investigated my father sent a thrill of vindication through me.
“Get out of my office,” I commanded, reaching for my phone. “I’m calling security.”
“They’re taking everything!” Tanya shrieked, ignoring me completely. “Our house, our cars–all because you couldn’t let us be happy!”
My fingers trembled as I dialed 911. “I need police at Evening Gala headquarters,” I said when the operator answered. “I’m being assaulted.
Tanya’s eyes widened momentarily before narrowing with renewed rage. She lunged at me, clawing for the phone.
“My daughter is dying!” she screamed, raining blows on my arms as I tried to shield my face. “Ivy is suffering, and now Harold’s gone! We have nothing left!
Trefused to fight back physically. Each painful impact was worth the evidence it would create. Instead, I spoke clearly into the phone: “My stepmother is attacking me. Please hurry
“Don’t you dare play victim!” Tanya grabbed a crystal paperweight from my desk and raised it threateningly. “After everything we’ve done for you!”
The office door burst open, Cherry, my assistant, rushed in with two security guards
Ms. Shaw” Cherry gasped, taking in the chaotic scene.
Fanya spus sound, stab clutching the paperweight. “This is a family matter! Get ant
One guard stepped forward cautiously “Ma’am, please put that down
She’s Irving to destroy us” Tanya pointed the makeshift weapon at me. “My Ivy is dying, my husband is in pul, and this – this snake is similing about 107
wasn’t smiling. I was calculating. Every hysterical word, every violent action was being documented by the security cameras in my office ceiling Cameras Tanya had forgotten existed
Mrs. Turner the second guard said firmly, “you need to leave the premises now
“Not until she pays for what she’s done!” Tanya’s mascara ran in black streaks down her face. “You’ve always been jealous of Ivy. Always wanting what’s hers!”
The irony was breathtaking. I felt a small trickle of blood run down my cheek from where her ring had cut me.
“What’s mine?” I echoed calmly. “My fiancé? My wedding dress? Please tell me what of Ivy’s I’ve ever taken
“Your success should have been hers!” Tanya spat. “Your father always said she had
more talent!”
Cherry gasped audibly at this blatant lie. She’d seen my designs from childhood. watched my rise through fashion school while Ivy spent her father’s money on parties,
Two police officers appeared in the doorway, alerted by my 911 call. Their presence seemed to briefly snap Tanya back to reality.
“She attacked me first: Tanya immediately declared, dropping the paperweight onto my desk. “I was simply defending myself. A mother disciplining her rebellious
daughter”
dalmost admired her audacity.
“That’s not true? Cherry interjected boldly. “I heard Mrs. Turner screaming from the hallway. Ms. Shaw never raised her voice or het hands
One officer approached me, noticing the blood on my cheek. “You’re injured, ma’am
horrched herself Tanya insisted desperately. “She’s always been dramatic.
secking attention-
“Mrs. Turner the other officer interrupted. “please step away from Ms. Shaw
Tanya’s gaze darted between the officers, the security guards, and Cherry. She was
cornered and knew it.
“Will you be pressing charges, Ms. Shaw the first officer asked me
I touched my cheek, examining the blood on my fingertips. “Yes, I will
“This is ridiculous” Tanya sputtered. “Harold will never allow this!”
Harold is currently in police custody,” the second officer reminded her dryly. “He’s not in a position to allow or disallow anything
Something cold and satisfied unfurled inside my chest. For years, I’d endured Tanya’s emotional abuse, her favoritism, her cutting remarks. Now she would face
consequences.
“Officer.” I asked innocently, “will the security footage be helpful as evidence?”
Tanya’s head snapped up. “What security footage?”
Ipointed to the small camera in the corner of my office ceiling. “Standard security protocol. Every office has one.”
The color drained from Tanya’s face. “You set me up,” she whispered. “You deliberately provoked me knowing I was being recorded!”
Tlet my eyes fill with tears, allowing my genuine pain and years of hurt to surface. Tve endured your cruelty since I was sixteen. I said, my voice breaking perfectly “You slapped me at my mother’s funeral. You threw my things into the garden when you redecorated my bedroom for Ivy. You told everyone at my graduation dinner that my
success was due to my father’s connections.
The officers exchanged glances.
“She’s lying?” Tanya shrieked, but her outburst only made my controlled emotion more
convincing
Elever fanght back Econfined, a single tear siding down my bloody clvek. Nee
when you belittled me not when you encouraged by to steal my fiance: Even today
idn’t raise a hand against you
Cherry stepped forward. “It’s true, officers. Mrs Turner has always treated Ms. Shaw horribly. We’ve all witnessed it.”
“This is absurd!” Tanya lunged toward me agam, only to be immediately restrained by the police officers. “You manipulative little-
“Mrs. Turner, we’re taking you in for assault, one officer stated firmly, producing handcuffs. “You have the right to remain silent…
As they recited her rights, Tanya’s eyes remained locked on mine, burning with hatred. I watched her, my expression carefully vulnerable, my posture deliberately fragile.
But inside, triumph surged through me. After years of calculated cruelty from Tanya, watching her being led away in handcuffs felt like divine justice.
“Are you okay, Ms. Shaw?” Cherry asked softly after the police had escorted Tanya out.
“I will be,” I answered, my voice steady despite the throbbing pain in my cheek
When Cherry left to fetch the first aid kit, I allowed myself a small, satisfied smirk. For
the first time, I truly understood the power Ivy had wielded all these years–the power of appearing broken while actually being in complete control.
The victim card. The ultimate weapon.
My stepsister had mastered it, using her illness to manipulate everyone around her especially Alistair. She’d played on his pity, his guilt, his decency–exploiting his emotions until he betrayed me without a second thought.
Now I understood the game. And I could play it better.
dabbed at the blood on my cheek, mind racing with possibilities. Sebastian Sinclair had seen through Ivy’s act immediately. What would he think of mine?
The thought gave me pause. Was 1 becoming what I despised? Would manipulating others, even my enemies, make me just like Tanya and Ivy?
Yes Type
u then remembered Mistair’s cold dismissal of our six years together How easily he’d discarded me when faced with ivy’s tears and terminal diagnosts How he’d given her my wedding dress–the one I’d spent months creating with my own hands.
No. This wasn’t the same. I wasn’t manufacturing tragedy for personal gain. I was simply using the real pain they’d inflicted on me as a shield and, when necessary, a
sword.
My phone buzzed with a text message from Sebastian
“Heard about the incident at your office. Are you alright? Do you need anything?”
News truly did travel fast in bus circles. I considered my response carefully, typing: Tm okay Just a small cut. How did you hear?”
His reply came instantly: “I have my sources. Dinner still on for tonight? Or would you prefer to reschedule?”
I smiled despite my sore cheek. “Looking forward to tonight. I could use something good after today.”
Closing my eyes, I leaned back in my chair. My father arrested. My stepmother in
custody. And Sebastian Sinclair concerned about my welfare.
For the first time since Alistair’s betrayal, I felt truly powerful. Not just surviving, but
winning.
And I was just getting started.
