The Wife He Didn't Recognize

The daughter I conceived after seven rounds of IVF hung lifeless on the wall.

Vincent Stone cradled his mistress and their illegitimate son, selecting darts.

Look, Vincent, she purred. A live target for our boyperfect, isn't it?

Beaten to near paralysis, I could only whimper through gagged lips.

I shook my head frantically at Vincent, begging for recognition.

He sneered down at me. "So eager to moan already? Pathetic slut!"

"The louder you scream, the better it calms our son's violent episodes!"

Darts thudded into flesh. My daughter Lily grew still.

The bastard child's laughter mingled with the drip of blood on concrete.

I glared at the mistress and her spawn.

Vincent backhanded me, then cooed to his mistress while texting:

"Honey, wrapping up with Dr. Reed. Be home soon to tuck you and Lily in."

He didn't knowthe wife he urged to "rest" was his son's human pincushion.

Amelia Reed stabbed Lily until her body was a sieve.

Vincent bounced their son on his hip, beaming.

"Good boy!" Amelia chirped, jabbing harder with each giggle.

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.

Soon, only Lily's vacant gray eyes remained recognizable.

I thrashed against my bonds, rage boiling as darts flew.

When Amelia grew bored, Vincent finally waved her off.

He tenderly wiped blood from Amelia's fingersas if she were defiled.

Last night, he'd cradled my pregnant belly, promising "the safest home in the world."

Now he comforted a murderer.

My throat burned raw. Tears had dried hours ago.

I'd have thrown myself in front of Lilybut shattered bones held me captive.

The bastard child kicked my ribs. "Shut up! I'll cut your tongue out!"

He yanked a rope. Lily's body crumpled to the floor.

My heart imploded. Agony radiated to every nerve.

Amelia applauded. "Such a brave boy!"

Someone whistled. "Genius, Mr. Stone. Look how calm he is now."

The man hugging my daughter's killer was my husbandLily's father.

That morning, he'd kissed my forehead, praising Lily's princess dress.

Vincent stalked toward me, cold amusement twisting his lips.

I mustered the last of my strength. "Vin...cent!"

He paused. For one heartbeat, confusion flickered in eyes that once held love.

He'll recognize me.

Amelia's smile tightened. "Lying trash! How dare she speak your name? Shameless!"

He let out a derisive laugh.. "Dreaming of being my bitch, are you?"

A dart grazed my neck. "Make her stop barking, Daddy! Poison her voice box!" the boy spat.

Vincent beamed. "My brave little man!"

I begged with my eyes: Save our Lily!

He handed Amelia a cattle prod. "Try this. Might work faster."

She jammed it against my cheek. "Let's ruin that pretty face! See you seduce anyone with this face now!"

I screamed, not for mercy, but for the monster I married.

Before I could speak, Vincent buried darts in my shoulder. "Scream again, and I take your eyes!"

Amelia studied my bleeding face. "She looks familiar... Could it be Sophia?"

Vincent froze. Then his resumed his cold, detached demeanor, looking down at me with utter contempt.. "My wife has a butterfly tattoo behind her ear. This whore doesn't."

He smirked. "Besides, Lily never leaves home without 99 bodyguards."

But the truth was, Amelia sliced off my tattoo after kidnapping us.

She forged Vincent's orders dismissing the guards.

On our wedding night, he'd kissed that tattoo and whispered. "You're pure perfection."

All of Riverdale knew Vincent Stone worshipped his wife.

He'd ended affairs, came home nightly, endured seven IVFs for Lily.

When Lily was born, he'd sobbed like a child.

"My princess deserves an army,"he'd vowed.

Now I understood, love meant nothing without a conscience.

Amelia patted my swollen belly. "Vincent's right. A bastard's brat deserves to die in the womb."

"What's the matter? Couldn't have a baby on your own, had to beg for one? Keep breeding. More for my boy's treatment."

Rage choked me. I strained, silent.

She leaned close, breath hot on my ear, "I knew Vincent first. You made me the mistress."

Her voice dropped to a hiss. "I'm his son's psychiatrist. I decide what's wrong with the boy."

So everyone knew. I was the only fool.

Amelia carried her shrieking son toward me.

I scrambled backward, pleading with my eyes.

Vincent just looked at me with impatience. "Try a different method. It might help stabilize our son's mood further."

They dumped me onto a steel table.

Amelia produced a jar of bamboo sticks etched with body parts.

"Pick a prize, sweetheart," she told the boy. "We'll cut it off the bad lady."

The child grabbed a stick, giggling. "This one!"

Amelia unrolled it. "A hand! What luck! Perfect first choice!"

Vincent took a scalpel. He wiped my left palm almost tenderly.

The blade came down.

Snick.

Bone cracked. The boy cheered.

Another stick drawn. Amelia's eyes glittered. "Eyes this time!"

Vincent bent over me. Cold steel kissed my lashes.

Last week, he'd murmured, "Let's have a son. He'll inherit everything. You and Lily will want for nothing.

Now he carved up his "treasure."

Darkness swallowed me.

The last thing I saw: three faces, laughing.