Chapter 24

Kamila was caught. Her heart was pumping fast as she turned around, seeing ten men dressed in black in front of her holding their respective firearms pointed at her.

"Don't move, ma'am! If you argue, we will shoot Madam."

Kamila surrendered. Two men came over. Grabbed her by the arm and led her away. Kamila knew that if it wasn't to Gerald's room, it would be to the basement. Kamila didn't think long before running away. No matter what, getting out of the Arven family was the most difficult thing. Kamila has been found out and it is predictable that after this Kamila will be severely tortured. Kamila didn't think about the risks involved. In her mind, she only wanted to meet her family.

Kamila was taken to the basement. Her hands were tied to a pole and her feet were tied tightly together. The sound of applause distracted Kamila.

"Trying to escape apparently. Very good! Unfortunately, it had to fail. You're not smart enough to get out of this house." Of course that was Gerald's voice. Staring at Kamila with anger. He had tried to be nice, but Kamila just made him angry.

Gerald signaled for all the bodyguards to leave the place. There were only Kamila and Gerald who walked up to him.

"Where are you going? To meet your mistress? I really envy you, you are too in love to worry about him so much. If he were still alive, I would gladly kill him." Gerald vented his jealousy.
"Please, don't do that. I admit that I was wrong. I apologize." Kamila pleaded and started crying.

Gerald slapped Kamila on both cheeks. "I won't forgive you! You've gone too far!"

Gerald showed the cloth Kamila used to escape. "You're sneaky too! Looking for an opportunity. You left the room from the window using this, didn't you?"

Kamila's body trembled. Kamila was in pain when Gerald strangled her neck with the cloth. It was tied so tightly that Kamila felt suffocated.

"It hurts, Gerald. Let go!" Kamila could hardly speak.
"This is not enough, darling. You want another surprise, hmm?"

Kamila's skin crawled. The fear was palpable. Gerald's laughter sounded sinister. Kamila's eyes opened wide when she saw Gerald pull out a small knife from his pants pocket.

Kamila shook her head. Her body rebelled. Gerald was so horrible. Kamila thought her life would end now.

"This knife is brand new. It really likes human skin. Especially smooth, white skin like yours, darling."

Kamila glared as Gerald approached the knife to her neck. Gerald was very good at playing, he let Kamila feel the coldness of the knife without making her bleed from the tip.

Kamila shook her head again. She couldn't say much because the bonds around her neck would make it hurt even more.

Gerald seemed to think for a moment. "I think it's better here."

Kamila could not guess what Gerald was doing. Especially now that the gray shirt she was wearing was open. It was only Kamila's bra that covered her breasts.

Gerald smiled wryly. He pointed the knife at Kamila's chest. Instantly Kamila screamed in pain as Gerald cut her.

"My name would be better if it was in a beautiful place."

Gerald was crazy. Carving the name "Gerald" with a knife right on Kamila's breasts. Kamila screamed in pain. Not to mention her neck was also very sore. So much blood came out that it soaked Gerald's hand. While the man did not feel guilty, he laughed with satisfaction.

Kamila was very weak. It really hurts. Gerald had finished carving his name. He smiled.

"You are mine and I am yours." Gerald put the knife in his pants pocket and left Kamila for dead.
Leaving her helpless and unconscious.

***
"Mrs. Griselda. There is someone here to see you."

A bodyguard came over to Griselda who was enjoying breakfast alone at the dining table. It was a rule in the Gerald family not to let anyone in without permission from the owner of the house.

"Who?" asked Griselda.
"Miranda and her daughter Vira."

Griselda gasped. "Vira? Isn't she being held captive by Gerald?" Griselda was surprised. She knew Miranda was Vira's mother. Miranda and Griselda had met several times to discuss the marriage of their two children.

"Tell them to come in and wait for me in the living room." Griselda gave the order. Griselda looked confused. She had to meet Miranda with a woman called Vira.

Griselda went to the living room. There she saw Miranda and a woman who looked like Vira. Miranda smiled when Griselda approached her. Miranda immediately hugged Griselda.

"Griselda, how are you? I haven't seen you for a long time."

Griselda was uncomfortable being hugged by someone she disliked a little. "Fine." She replied briefly and then looked at a woman who smiled at her.

"You, Vira?" she asked.
"Yes, she's Vira." Miranda proudly introduced her daughter. Vira stood up and kissed Griselda's hand.
"So, who's in this house?" asked Griselda.

Miranda suddenly burst into tears. Vira was busy soothing her. It was all a drama they had put together. Griselda told them to sit down.

"I have something to tell you, Griselda." Miranda wiped away tears.
"Say it now!" Griselda was impatient.
"The one who lives here is Vira's cousin. Her name is Kamila. She's a wicked woman. You have to be careful with her." Miranda was telling a lie.

Griselda looked incredulous. She had always known her daughter-in-law to be a good person. "Wicked, what do you mean?"

Miranda cried even harder. "She is." The woman really couldn't say it.
"Mama, calm down. If you can't, don't tell," Vira said.

Miranda shook her head. "No, no, no. Griselda must know the truth. Kamila is a cruel woman. We must act quickly before this family is exposed to her."

Griselda remained silent listening to them talk.

"Kamila want Gerald. That woman framed my daughter, Vira, she had people kidnap Vira. I've been looking for Vira, but I can't find her. I wanted to report the police, but I was threatened by Kamila. The wedding day was coming up, Kamila forced me again to recognize Kamila as Vira and bring her to the wedding. She became Gerald's partner until now. Kamila is a materialistic woman. If I refused then she would harm me and also Vira. Kamila really cruel to us. Fortunately, my child is safe. We came to tell her everything. Before anything happens, Gerald and Kamila must separate."
Miranda explained through tears.

Griselda looked confused and dizzy. So, all this time her daughter-in-law was not Vira, but Kamila. However, if it was Kamila in this house. It seemed impossible that Kamila would have such a character.
On the one hand, Gerald's problems were not yet over because of the infidelity case. Griselda suspected that Gerald didn't know this fact yet. Gerald really wanted to separate from his wife. Should I ask Gerald to divorce her? Given that his wife is not Vira? Griselda thought to herself.

"Forgive us," Miranda said. Wiping away tears.
"I didn't know it would be like this. I'll try to talk to Arven's family about this," Griselda replied.
Miranda nodded. "Where is Kamila? We want to see her?"
Griselda didn't want to tell her what happened between Gerald and his wife."
"You don't need to see her for now." Griselda said firmly.

Miranda sighed. "Alright. I hope that this problem is quickly resolved and Vira is the right woman to be your son's wife."

Griselda looked Vira up and down. It made Vira misbehave, a little scared, but she tried to hide it behind a smile.

"Let that be our business," Griselda said.

Miranda and Vira decided to go home. They hoped the plan would work. Miranda didn't really want to come here, but Kamila was taking too long so decided to act on her own. After this, Kamila's family would suffer the consequences as well.
"Hey, you guys! Stop!"