The Cage Wife’s Revenge

Chapter 7

The wedding ring slipped from Milford's fingers and hit the floor with a loud clink. He didn't even glance down.

The officiant stammered something, trying to keep the ceremony on track, but Milford's voice shattered the air.

"What did you just say?!" he yelled. "I handled everything—I eliminated everyone. How the hell could they have backup?!"

The butler wiped sweat from his brow, stumbling over his words.

"I swear, sir—I wouldn't lie to you. If you don't believe me… you can see for yourself."

The butler handed Milford his phone, shaking so badly that the phone almost slipped from his hands.

Earlier that morning, Milford had deliberately left his phone with the butler, just in case I tried to stir up trouble before the wedding. He didn't want anything—or anyone—interfering with his "perfect day."

Under normal circumstances, the butler wouldn't have dared go through the phone. But he had been worried about Enid and me, and once he saw the video, he nearly collapsed.

The video showed me and Enid tied up at the edge of a cliff.

The men surrounding us were masked and hooded, dressed exactly like the ones who had ambushed our car days ago. Same boots. Same jackets. Same dead eyes.

One of them leaned in, asking if I had any last words.

I looked directly at the camera, my lips curving into a thin, weary smile.

"Milford," I said softly, "looks like I'm really going to die this time. You must be thrilled. No more interruptions. No more nagging wife to ruin your perfect little family. I wish you, Malissa, and your son a lifetime of happiness."

I paused, then added with a bitter edge, "Oh—and I left a wedding gift for you in your study. I'm sure you'll love it."

"This is it for us, Milford. We've run out of fate."

"Goodbye."

And then, just like that, they kicked us off the cliff.

"Lori! NO!"

Milford's voice cracked as he screamed at the phone screen. His knuckles turned white around the device, his eyes bloodshot and frantic.

The phone was still on speaker, the volume blaring, and the butler's earlier outburst had drawn every eye in the room.

One by one, the guests began to understand what was happening. A heavy silence settled over the wedding hall.

The bride stood frozen at the altar, the officiant pale with horror. Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Because now, everyone knew—Mr. Wright's "dead wife" had just died again.

This time, for real. Or so it seemed.

The room turned toward Malissa, eyes filled with suspicion, then judgment. The whispers grew louder.

"So that woman with the limp was really Lorraine? And Milford just pretended he didn't know her?"

"Of course he did. He didn't want his precious sister-in-law upset before the big day. Can't have the real wife crashing the fairy tale, right? From what Lorraine said in that video... she sounded like someone who had completely lost the will to live. That poor woman must've been utterly broken."

"Unbelievable. His wife wasn't even dead and he still went and played house with his late brother's wife? Had a kid with her? And now he's throwing a wedding? The nerve..."

Milford froze mid-step. The words hit him like stones. Was that it? Had he really driven Lori to despair?

The whispers didn't stop there.

"Don't even get me started on Malissa. Everyone's known for years she was all over Milford the second his brother died. Always crying, clinging to him, playing the poor widow card."

"She made Lorraine's life hell behind closed doors too—pushed her out of the house, bullied her kid, and now what? The real wife shows up alive, and she still goes ahead with the wedding like nothing happened?"

Malissa's face had drained of color. The spotlight that had once been so warm now felt like a heavy burden as judgment poured in.

In that moment, the perfect little lie they'd been living began to unravel in front of a hundred onlookers.