That night, Marlina was sitting in her living room, accompanied by a silence that only deepened the loneliness in her heart. Ever since the shocking incident at Tenuksia’s house, Marlina had become more cautious. She could not shake the feeling that her life was under the threat of dark magic. The miniature camera attached to Kelabu’s collar had now become an invaluable tool for her no need to step outside or hire a private investigator.
Marlina’s mobile phone vibrated on the coffee table, alerting her to Kelabu’s whereabouts he had left the house as usual. She opened the app and saw the map indicating that Kelabu was now at Orena’s house. At first, Marlina paid no attention to it, but curiosity soon crept into her heart. She accessed the live stream from Kelabu’s camera.
Kelabu slipped effortlessly into Orena’s house through the wide-open kitchen window. Marlina’s eyes were fixed on her screen, watching the live footage from the cat’s perspective. Orena’s living room looked lavish, adorned with expensive furniture far more than what a young unemployed woman could afford. Something felt off to Marlina, but what she saw next made her blood boil.
In the corner of the room, Orena was chatting intimately with Merilton. Marlina could hardly believe her eyes, her husband, the man she had always thought to be loving and faithful, was in another woman’s house, looking completely relaxed and affectionate. She watched as Orena flirtatiously fed Merilton a bite of food, their laughter echoing through the room. That scene alone was enough to shatter Marlina’s heart. So, the neighbours had been right when they claimed to have seen Merilton frequently entering Orena’s house, she thought to herself.
Kelabu continued to move around the house, offering Marlina a clearer view of everything happening. The camera on the cat’s collar captured Orena and Merilton engaging in an affair without a hint of guilt. Their laughter turned into hushed whispers of seduction, and Marlina could only watch, seething with anger and despair. Every movement they made felt like a dagger to her heart, and Marlina felt as if the world around her was crumbling.
However, what truly transformed Marlina’s grief into fury was the conversation between the two lovers. During their affair, Orena sneered, “You know, Marlina is too stupid to notice anything. She just sits at home, waiting for you like a loyal wife. Funny, isn’t it?”
Merilton chuckled. “That’s why I chose you. I don’t understand why my mother insisted on marrying me off to Marlina. In fact, the entire family fortune was transferred to her name. But don’t worry, I’ll get rid of her slowly—after reclaiming all that wealth. If done correctly, she won’t even realise what’s happening to her.”
Marlina widened her eyes, holding her breath to hear more. Their conversation became increasingly detailed, making her feel as if she were listening to a twisted thriller plot. Her mother-in-law had transferred all her assets to her. But why? And why had she never been told that Merilton never agreed to this marriage in the first place? Marlina clutched her head as a dull ache began to form.
Merilton and Orena started plotting how to gradually take over Marlina’s fortune. Their ultimate plan was to kill her once all her assets were legally transferred to Merilton’s name.
“I’ll make sure she has no reason to fight back,” Merilton said with a sly grin. “And after that, we can live in peace, without having to worry about her anymore.”
“What if she suspects something?” Orena asked.
“She won’t. Marlina trusts me too much. Besides, my job keeps things looking normal, I’m still working, even from here, and there are no issues at the company. She has food, she has shelter, and she has no contact with the outside world. Everything is under control,” Merilton replied confidently.
“But what about her phone?” Orena asked, curiosity lacing her voice.
“Oh, it’s only for contacting me—her beloved husband. Other than that, she just watches shows, listens to music… she has no idea that her access to social media and other communication platforms is restricted,” Merilton explained, bursting into laughter.
“And her parents?” Orena pressed further.
“They’re abroad, and I’ve already told them that there’s no phone signal or internet here. Even my own mother is overseas right now… what’s the problem, love? Just use the same excuse,” Merilton said dismissively. “They believe me without question because I’ve always treated Marlina like a princess.”
Marlina’s heart burned with fury at every word her husband uttered. The sorrow and betrayal that had consumed her moments ago were now replaced with a blazing determination for revenge. She knew she couldn’t let them win. She had to act and she had to act wisely. With tears brimming in her eyes yet filled with resolve, Marlina decided to save every bit of footage she had just witnessed. She knew that this evidence would be her greatest weapon.
Kelabu, having lost interest in exploring, eventually leapt out of Orena’s house through the window. Marlina watched the footage until Kelabu returned home, and she scooped the cat up into her arms, hugging him tightly. “Kelabu, you’ve saved me,” she whispered gratefully. The cat rolled on the floor before hopping onto the sofa and grooming his fur.
That night, Marlina couldn’t sleep. Instead, she began planning her next steps. She knew that to escape from someone like Merilton and Orena, she had to be smarter and more careful. She meticulously organised all the evidence she had collected, including the footage from Kelabu’s camera and any other information she could gather.