Shadows of Revenge

30. The Hidden Hand

Amid all the chaos and destruction, there was someone who watched it all unfold with a quiet sense of satisfaction. The unraveling of Freen and Becky’s lives, their broken love, the shattering of their spirits—it was all part of a carefully orchestrated plan. And now, as the pieces fell into place, this mysterious figure smiled to themselves, basking in the glow of what they believed was justice.

This person wasn’t a stranger. They were someone well-known, perhaps even trusted, by both Freen and Becky. They had always been there, lurking in the background, silently observing, playing their part in the shadows.

It was they who had sent the photo of Freen holding the bloodied knife to Becky. The timing had been perfect, right when Becky’s trust in Freen was fragile. They had planted the seed of doubt, watched it grow and fester until it consumed both women entirely. A single image was all it had taken to shatter the fragile bond between them.

And it was this same person who had quietly let Freen know that the figure in the CCTV footage—the one she had been searching for, the one tied to Sarah’s death—was Becky. They had watched Freen’s face when she realized the truth, watched the shock, the confusion, the guilt. It had been a masterpiece of manipulation.

Who was this person? The story knew them, or thought it did, but no one had ever truly seen them for what they were. Their presence was subtle, woven into the fabric of Freen and Becky’s lives, a puppet master pulling strings from the shadows.

They had played their role perfectly. They had made sure Freen believed she was alone in her revenge, and that Becky felt the weight of guilt pressing down on her soul. But what this person hadn’t counted on was the depth of the pain they had caused. It was deeper than they had anticipated.

Freen and Becky’s suffering was not just the result of a clever plan—it was a tragedy that went beyond anything this person had imagined. They had sought justice for Sarah, but in their pursuit, they had destroyed two lives.

Yet, this mysterious figure remained satisfied. To them, the end had justified the means. Sarah had been avenged. The people responsible for her death—John and his brother—were gone, and Freen had paid the price for her actions. Becky had been exposed for her role, however small, in that fateful night.

Justice had been served. Or so this person believed.

They moved quietly through the town, unnoticed, blending in like they always had. They watched from a distance, observing the wreckage of Freen and Becky’s lives with a sense of detachment. They had done what needed to be done. In their mind, it was all part of the greater plan, a necessary evil to bring about a sense of closure.

But what they didn’t realize—what they hadn’t foreseen—was the depth of the wounds they had left behind. Freen and Becky were both broken beyond repair, their lives spiraling into a darkness that no justice could fix.

As they stood in the shadows, their smile faded just for a moment. Perhaps, deep down, they knew they had gone too far. But the satisfaction returned, as they reminded themselves of their purpose, their mission. They had done this for Sarah. For justice.

And so, they disappeared once more into the night, leaving behind only the echo of their actions, their identity still a mystery, their motives unclear to all but themselves.

Who was this person? The story wasn’t ready to reveal the answer. Not yet.

But they were out there, watching, waiting, always one step ahead.

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Sorry for short chapter author busy busy