True Love Awakens

Ten years ago, I saved a drowning boy.

After giving him CPR, he woke up and said, I'm claiming you. I'm gonna marry you when I grow up!

I just laughed it off, thinking it was a kids silly promise.

Ten years later, the boy had grown into an obsessive, controlling CEO.

At my wedding rehearsal dinner with my fianc, he showed up with a bunch of guys, beat up my fianc, and dragged me away.

"I told you I'd marry you. You can only be mine."

He threatened my family and forced me to marry him.

He kept me locked up in his mansion, forbidding me from any contact with other men.

He tried everything to win my heart, but I remained unmoved.

Frustrated, he found a look-alike, a girl who looked almost exactly like me.

This girl, empowered by his obsession, ran wild. She barged into my villa with her posse.

"Who is this trashy wannabe, trying to steal my man with my face? I'm gonna tear her apart!"

They tortured me to death. He arrived too late.

The look-alike dragged my body to him, gloating.

"Babe, this plastic surgery freak was trying to seduce you in here. I took care of her!"

...

Ethan was crazy in love with me. Obsessively so.

He said, from the moment I saved him, he knew he had to have me.

To win me over, he kept me locked up for three years, trying everything to make me happy.

But I didnt love him. I could never love him.

Recently, though, he found a girl who looked just like me.

They've been inseparable for months.

To taunt me, he'd send me videos of them together.

I was sitting in the courtyard, watching one of these videos when I heard a commotion outside.

Ethan's always sneaking over here. I'm gonna see what he's hiding!

But Mr. Hawthorne said this villa is off-limits. No one's allowed in.

Yeah, Brittany, I heard he broke some guy's arms and legs and blinded him just for peeking inside. Are we sure about this?

Relax. Ethans obsessed with me. He wouldn't hurt a fly I cared about.

Hearing the noise outside, I frowned, a bad feeling rising in my chest.

I knew how crazy Ethan could be.

He was possessive, treating me like a prized possession, keeping me locked away.

Someone had once snuck in out of curiosity, just to catch a glimpse of me.

Ethan had him beaten within an inch of his life and thrown out. The guy disappeared the next day.

At first, he was only jealous of men. Then he realized I was nicer to the housekeepers than I was to him.

He fired them all in a fit of rage.

He'd rather bring me my meals himself three times a day than let anyone else so much as look at me.

If these people came in, they were in serious trouble.

I got up to warn them to leave.

But as I opened the door, a face almost identical to mine stared back.

Before I could speak, she slapped me hard.

Who the hell are you? You got some nerve sneaking around Ethans place with my face! Trying to steal my man, are you?

The slap stung, my cheek burning.

"You cheap plastic surgery fake! Do you know where you are? How dare you trespass?"

And you have the nerve to get your face done to look like Brittany and try to seduce Mr. Hawthorne. Youre desperate!

It finally hit me. This girl whod just barged in and assaulted me was Brittany, Ethans look-alike.

Because of Ethans controlling nature, Id always been cold and distant.

Even after being forced to marry him, I remained aloof, never letting him touch me.

Maybe to spite me, or maybe to fill some void, he searched for someone who resembled me.

And Brittany was the closest he could find.

She was furious, her eyes practically spitting fire.

"You bitch, you know Ethans crazy about me. You think you can be me? Think you can replace me?"

Brittany was aggressive and nasty, but since she didn't know the truth, I decided not to dwell on the slap.

Instead, I tried to warn her.

"This isn't a place for you. Leave now, before Ethan gets here. You'll regret it otherwise."

But Brittany wasnt listening. She grabbed my hair and yanked.

"Ethan's my man. I can go wherever I want. You're just trying to get rid of me so I dont expose your little scheme, right? So you can keep playing the other woman?

Well, I'm gonna teach you a lesson about messing with me and my man!

She kicked me, sending me sprawling.

I hit my head on a rock, a gash opening on my forehead.

I touched the blood, looking at the furious Brittany.

"Aren't you afraid of what Ethan will do when he finds out?"

Brittany scoffed.

Ethans head over heels for me. Hed freak out if I even got a paper cut. Whats he gonna do? Punish me for you? Youre nothing.

Her friends chimed in, their voices dripping with scorn.

Yeah, everyone knows how much Mr. Hawthorne adores Brittany. You're just a copycat, a wannabe.

Brittany, Mr. Hawthornes rich and powerful. He probably has tons of gold diggers like this trying to get at him. Lets make an example of her, show them what happens.

Exactly! Let them know who Mr. Hawthorne's real woman is!

They glared at me, their words sharp and venomous, like they wanted to tear me to shreds.

My expression hardened.

You better ask Ethan who I am.

Brittany tilted her chin, her eyes full of disdain.

You? Some random girl sneaking around his villa? You think youre important enough for me to ask about?

Im Ethan's soulmate. My family's his biggest business partner. Who are you? You think you can compare to me?

Her eyes narrowed.

Rip her clothes off. Let's see if she's managed to copy everything about me.

Her friends lunged, their hands tearing at my clothes.

They stopped when they heard my words.

Brittany narrowed her eyes at me.

Youre saying youre Ethans wife?

I stated firmly, "Yes. Youre just a look-alike he found. If he knew you were hurting me like this, hed never forgive you."

I thought the truth would stop them.

Instead, they burst into laughter.

This bitch is delusional!

Shes using her fake face to try to climb the social ladder! Saying Brittanys the imposter!

Everyone knows Mr. Hawthorne takes Brittany everywhere. This girl snuck in here, and now shes claiming to be his wife?

Brittany smirked, a cruel glint in her eyes.

I thought youd at least be smart, trying to seduce Ethan with my face. But you're just stupid.

I've been with Ethan for so long, and I never heard of a wife. How many lives do you have? This lie is insane!

If you were really Mrs. Hawthorne, you wouldn't be hiding out in this deserted villa, all alone, would you?

She sneered, turning to her friends.

Rip those clothes off! Every last piece!

They resumed their assault, tearing at my clothes with renewed vigor.

They clearly didn't realize that the reason the area was deserted was because Ethan had bought up all the land for miles around. No one was allowed in without his permission.

There used to be guards and staff, but Ethans insane jealousy had driven them all away.

He hadn't announced my status because he couldnt bear the thought of anyone else even looking at me.

Even talking about me was, in his mind, a violation.

And now, these were the reasons they didnt believe me.

As my clothes were ripped to shreds, panic set in. I shouted,

I am Ethan's wife! Call him if you don't believe me!"

They ignored me, their assault intensifying.

Still lying, huh? We'll beat the truth out of you!

My face was red, swollen, and burning.

My hair was a tangled mess, and I was almost naked.

Brittanys eyes gleamed.

Her hairs annoying. Get it out of the way.

She pulled out a lighter.

And set my hair on fire.

The flames spread rapidly, engulfing my head.

The searing pain was unbearable.

My cheeks, ears, and scalp were on fire.

I tried to pat out the flames, but my hands were pinned down.

Within moments, my hair was gone.

Brittany laughed, satisfied.

Ha! Let's see you try to seduce anyone looking like that!

Her friends joined in, clapping and cheering.

I glared at them, my body trembling.

Youll regret this!

Imprisoned by Ethan for years, threatened with my family's safety, I had lost my freedom.

I spent my days staring at the walls of the empty villa, resentment simmering inside me.

And now, I had to endure this torture at the hands of his look-alike.

My resentment turned to burning hatred.

Brittany stepped on my face with her heel.

Still got some fight in you? Since your mouth won't say anything I like, how about we make sure it never speaks again.

Cut out her tongue!

A bodyguard stepped forward with a knife.

One of the friends, a little less bold than the others, spoke hesitantly.

Brittany, this is Mr. Hawthornes place. Shouldn't we, you know, tone it down a bit?

Brittany waved her hand dismissively.

What? Ethans my man. His house is my house. I can discipline a little slut in my own home, cant I?

Besides, Ethan adores me. He wouldnt even blink if I killed her.

The others agreed.

Yeah, Brittanys practically Mrs. Hawthorne already. She can do whatever she wants.

Mr. Hawthorne will probably just feel sorry for her, having to deal with this trash.

Reassured, the hesitant friend fell silent.

I lay on the ground, watching the knife get closer.

Terror seized me. I screamed,

I am Ethan's wife! Hell destroy you for this!

My words had no effect.

The bodyguard, emotionless, reached me.

I tried to escape, but Brittany's friends held me down.

The pain was excruciating.

I lay in a pool of blood, barely conscious.

Brittany looked down at me, her voice dripping with contempt.

"You think Ethan would even glance at you? He loves me. Me, the person, get it?"

"Not every stray can have a life like mine. Not everyone can capture Ethan's heart."

"Since you're so desperate for a man, I'll give you a few."

She turned to the bodyguards.

She's all yours. Whoever does the best job gets a two-hundred-thousand-dollar bonus.

The bodyguards' eyes lit up, their faces predatory.

They pounced.

I lay there, helpless, unable to fight back.

Ethan, despite his twisted possessiveness, had never hurt me, never touched me.

Even when I rejected him, he never forced himself on me.

He said he'd wait until I willingly gave myself to him.

He said I was destined to be his.

And now, I was being violated by these men, lost in a sea of despair.

I couldnt scream, only cry.

Ethan, is this what you wanted?

Brittanys friends watched, praising her.

"Brittany, you're a natural at this whole Mrs. Hawthorne thing. You really know how to handle these situations."

Yeah, look at her crying! She wont be trying to steal anyones man again, thats for sure.

Congratulations, Brittany! One less gold digger to worry about!

Brittany beamed, basking in their praise, like a victorious general.

Then, the bodyguards' expressions changed.

One of them stood up, pointing at me.

"Miss Brittany, she's dead."

Brittany frowned, disgusted.

How inconvenient. Just bury her somewhere. I don't want her stinking the place up when Ethan gets here.

Just then, Ethan walked into the courtyard.

"What's going on here?"