Getting Back His ‘Dead’ Wife novel Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

In the days after the chandelier crash, Kendrick never came home.

Not once.

I was outside taking out the trash when two police officers stepped in front of me.

“Matilda Stratton?”

One of them held up a badge. “We’ve received a report from Lavinia Guthrie.

She accuses you of hiring someone for murder and orchestrating an acid attack.

You need to come with us for questioning.”

My mouth went dry.

“Me? Plan an acid attack?”

Before I could say another word, Kendrick appeared.

He’d clearly just arrived-still in his coat, looking rushed.

He heard the last part and his face went dark.

“There’s been a mistake.”

His voice was firm, protective. “My wife would never do something like that.

The officers didn’t budge.

“We have initial evidence.

Suspect’s confession. Transaction records.”

They handed him a thin file.

Kendrick took it.

Flipped through the pages.

”

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Chapter 4

His expression hardened with every line-jaw tight, eyes turning colder an

Then he snapped.

Hurtled the whole file at me.

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older.

Papers scattered across the driveway like confetti.

“Matilda-explain! What the hell is this?!”

I looked down.

Blurred screenshots of bank transfers.

A handwritten confession claiming “Ms. Stratton” paid to have acid thrown on Lavinia.

I opened my mouth to speak-

Kendrick cut me off.

Voice ice.

“Bring her in. Do whatever you need to do.”

Then he turned and walked away.

Fast.

Clearly headed straight to Lavinia.

They took me to the station.

I spent the night in a cold holding cell,

No blanket. No one to call.

Next morning the police came back.

“Lavinia accepted a settlement

You’re free to go.”

I signed the forms

Walked out.

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I was about to hail a cab when a damp towel clamped over my mouth and

Chloroform.

Everything went black.

When I woke up, I was inside a heavy sack.

Gagged. Hands and feet zip-tied.

The world rocked-car trunk? Boat?

Muffled voices filtered in.

“Ken… are you sure about this? Isn’t it going too far?

She’s still your wife.”

Kendrick’s voice-cold, flat.

“Too far?

Did she think it was too far when she paid someone to pour acid on your face?

You went through three skin grafts.

I’m going to teach her a lesson she’ll never forget.”

My blood turned to ice.

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e from behind.

The man I’d loved for seven years-the one I shared a bed with, built a life with-was kidnapping

To punish me.

For her.

The sack mouth tightened.

Something heavy dropped inside-landed on my stomach.

A rock.

“Mmm… mmph!”

I thrashed.

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Couldn’t scream.

Couldn’t breathe.

The sack was hoisted up-then dropped.

Splash.

Freezing river water flooded in through the fabric.

Filled my mouth. Nose. Lungs.

Panic.

Cold.

Suffocating.

They pulled me out.

I coughed, gasped, sucked air.

Seconds later-back in.

In. Out. In. Out.

Over and over.

A sick game of nearly drowning me, then letting me breathe-just enough to suffer longer.

I’d believed his love.

His promises.

The three years he came home every night.

All of it… a lie.

Maybe it had been real once.

Then he gave it away.

And I’d been the idiot clinging to the ghost of what used to be.

They dragged me out one last time.

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Chapter 4

1 coughed up blood.

Vision blurring.

From the riverbank, Kendrick’s voice-calm now.

“Enough.

Throw her there.

Leave her.”

I don’t know how long I lay on the muddy bank.

Dawn came. Pale light stabbed my eyes.

With the last of my strength, I fumbled for my phone.

Screen cracked but still on.

Two unread messages.

First: Kendrick.

“Tilda, I’ve chosen family.

I won’t betray you again.

But don’t hurt Lavinia.

She almost got disfigured this time. She’s in bad shape.

I’ll stay with her a few days, then come back to you.”

Second: my lawyer.

“Ms. Stratton, divorce finalized,

Certificate mailed to the house.

Wishing you all the best

I stared at the two texts.

Then I laughed.

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:

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Chapter 4

Laughed until I coughed more blood.

Tears mixing with river water on my face.

I blocked his number.

No hesitation.

I dragged myself up-body screaming-and limped away.

Back at the villa, everything was exactly as I’d left it.

Cold. Empty.

A package sat on the coffee table.

I opened it.

Two divorce certificates.

I placed one in the most obvious spot-right in the center where he couldn’t miss it.

Then I grabbed the suitcase I’d packed weeks ago.

Gave the house one last look-the place I’d loved in, cried in, waited in, been betrayed 1.

No regret.

Not anymore.

I opened the door.

Walked out.

And didn’t look back.

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