Marlina stepped out of the bedroom in a flowing white satin gown, elegantly draped over her body. She was more polished than usual that day. In her mind, a grand plan was taking shape. She knew time was running out. Since Orena and Merilton had schemed to “remove her” from this world, Merilton’s behavior towards her had completely changed. But Marlina wouldn’t just sit idly by waiting for misfortune to strike.
When she entered the dining room, Merilton was already sitting at the table, dressed in an expensive branded shirt, having breakfast. His hand fiddled with his mobile phone while occasionally sipping coffee.
“Good morning, Marlina,” he said without turning, his greeting cold and insincere.
“Good morning,” Marlina replied, a small smile playing on her lips. She sat down and poured herself a cup of coffee. For a moment, she looked at Merilton.
Merilton set his phone down and finally turned to look at her. “What is it?” he said in a loud voice.
Marlina gazed at him calmly, though a storm was brewing inside her. “I hear you’ll be going abroad soon.”
Merilton raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so you’ve heard? Yes, I’ll be gone for two months. I’ve got a lot of business matters to take care of.”
Marlina knew that was a lie. Merilton wasn’t leaving for work; he was going to have fun with Orena. Not to mention two months, Merilton, while acknowledged as a diligent and capable businessman, could do his job from anywhere. Still, Merilton had no real ties with his family, especially after marrying Marlina. She’d never been taken anywhere, let alone on a trip abroad. Luckily, she was allowed to visit the supermarket and use the phone, but even those were strictly controlled by Merilton. Only when they moved to this area could Marlina move around freely within the compound, as long as she didn’t leave. She could use the phone, but only Merilton’s number was stored in it. She couldn’t remember any other numbers, not even her own family’s, including her parents, siblings, or even her mother-in-law’s. Back in their previous city, it was her parents and mother-in-law who used to visit her. But now, they no longer came. What excuse had Merilton given them to stop visiting her.
Marlina paused for a moment. She seemed a little nervous. But instead, she spoke in a sweet tone while looking at Merilton, “If you’re going to be away for so long, I think I might need some... entertainment.”
Merilton set down his spoon, lifted his gaze, and met Marlina’s eyes. “What kind of entertainment?”
“Shopping,” Marlina replied with a sweet smile. “I thought, if you’re going to be gone for that long, I should enjoy a little luxury. After all, you always say I shouldn’t worry about money, right?”
Merilton chuckled softly, a proud look on his face. “How much do you want, Marlina?”
Marlina pretended to think for a moment, though she already knew the answer. “Maybe... $2000? That should be enough for a month.” She tried to tempt Merilton with a small amount.
Merilton leaned back in his chair with a cynical smile. “Only $2000? Marlina, you’re the wife of the richest man in this city. You’re embarrassing me, that’s why I don’t take you anywhere, you look like a poor person. I’ll give you USD10 million in cash. Take it, spend it however you like. But there’s one condition.” Merilton deliberately offered Marlina such a large sum because he wanted all their neighbours to see how well he treated her before she “disappeared.” Marlina wouldn’t be able to do anything with the money because she had no bank accounts, she couldn’t save it. In fact, the inheritance Marlina had was far greater than that sum, and Merilton smiled knowingly.
He was certain Marlina wouldn’t spend it because he knew she wasn’t the type to waste money. The proof was that the money he’d given her previously was still largely untouched since Marlina only spent it on food, personal items, and necessities for her cat. All the furniture, appliances, and bills were paid by him.
Marlina held her breath. Her trap had worked.
“You can’t leave this urban forest area,” Merilton said in a firm tone. “I don’t want to hear about you going anywhere. I’ll know if you do something stupid. Oh, and by the way, your car is being taken away today. You can walk, run, or ride a bicycle anywhere.”
Marlina nodded slowly, suppressing the burning anger inside her. “Okay, I understand.”
Merilton stood up from the table, walked over to Marlina, and stared at her with a commanding look. “Do you know what I like most about you, Marlina?”
“What?” Marlina asked softly.
“You know your place,” Merilton answered with a sneering smile before walking away.
Merilton went upstairs and placed a black bag on the table. “Take it, I’ve added extra money,” he said.
After Merilton left, Marlina stood by the large window of their house, watching her husband’s black Bentley roll out of the driveway. She knew this trip wasn’t just for business. Merilton was definitely going on a holiday with Orena. But... Marlina didn’t see Orena in the car.
“Where is Orena?” Marlina asked herself. “Is she waiting somewhere else, afraid of being seen by anyone?”
Her curiosity couldn’t distract her from the bigger mission at hand. Marlina now had USD10 million in cash, or perhaps more, a sum large enough to do whatever she wished. She knew Merilton was toying with her, but this time, she would turn his game to her own advantage.
Marlina decided to pretend to follow Merilton’s instructions. She spent time in the luxurious area, shopping at every mall. Marlina let herself be the centre of attention by buying expensive jewellery because she knew that’s what Merilton wanted: proof that she was treated well before she “disappeared” suddenly.
The mall staff couldn’t say anything except to comply with her requests. They knew Marlina was the wife of the wealthiest man in the area, and money wasn’t an issue for this woman.
Though busy with her plan, Marlina couldn’t shake off the feeling of curiosity about Orena. Where had that woman gone? Why wasn’t she with Merilton?
One night, Marlina opened the footage from the cat's camera. She hoped to find clues about Orena’s whereabouts. As she watched the footage, she saw something extraordinary.
In the footage, a woman, more precisely, Orena, was seen entering their house the night before Merilton left. She was carrying a large bag, her face looking panicked. Marlina frowned, trying to understand what was happening.
The footage showed Orena heading to the lower floor of the house, to a storage room that Marlina didn’t even know existed. Marlina was shocked. What was Orena doing there? Since when had this room existed? She had always assumed that the antique wardrobe in that room was just a wardrobe. It turned out to be a doorway leading to a basement.