After I left, the twin Alphas went crazy novel Chapter 24

“You want to play victim, Linda?” I hissed, my voice cold as I held her under. “You think a little cold water is going to be enough to frame me? Let me show you what it means to really suffer.”

Linda flailed, her arms thrashing wildly as she tried to free herself, but I didn’t let go. Her muffled screams were barely audible through the water, her desperate attempts to surface growing weaker by the second.

“Let go of me, you bitch—” she sputtered, gagging on the water.

I laughed, a dark, bitter sound. “What’s the matter, Linda? Don’t you love to act pitiful? Why is your mouth so dirty now? Maybe you should wash it out.”

I didn’t care if this was a real second chance or some strange hallucination after death. All I knew was that I had been given a chance to take back my power, to make those who had wronged me suffer.

In my previous life, this night had been a nightmare. After Linda’s little performance, I had been branded a liar and a bully. My family’s name had been dragged through the mud, my brother’s position in Moonshadow Pack damaged by association, and I had spiraled into depression. That had been the start of it all — the rumors, the isolation, and eventually, my marriage to Ryan, a man who had only wanted to control me.

But this time, things would be different. I would make sure of it.

That’s when I heard his voice — a familiar, loathsome voice that made my skin crawl.

“Sophia, what are you doing?!”

I looked up, and there he was. Ryan, hurrying toward the pool, his expression one of false concern. In my past life, I hadn’t known better. I had trusted him, fallen for his lies. But now, I could see the truth.

Linda's frail body struggled as she pulled herself out of the pool, collapsing on the ground in a breathless heap. Her face, once innocent and pure, was now marred with red slap marks from the blows I had inflicted. The sight of her disheveled state made me feel a twisted sense of satisfaction, though I barely acknowledged it.

Suddenly, without thinking, I slapped him hard across the face. The crack of my palm against his cheek echoed in the air.

Linda, her shock morphing into rage, scrambled to her feet, pushing herself between us. "Sophia, you crazy bitch!" she screamed. "Why did you hit him?"

I sneered, unbothered by her outburst. "I slapped my man. Why are you so upset? Unless…" I tilted my head and smirked. "Unless you two are closer than you let on?"

Linda stammered, her eyes darting between me and Ryan. "I… I…" She couldn’t form a coherent sentence.

Ryan’s reaction was slower. He blinked as if still processing the blow, then slowly reached up, his fingers gently brushing against his cheek. He recovered quickly, though, forcing a calm expression, his eyes glinting with a familiar coldness. Lowering his head, he brushed a thumb along my cheek with what appeared to be affection.