WRITER'S POV

Dacora Solace... A 25 hear old woman wedded into an arranged marriage to Niel solace by her father. She trusted her father's decision but did know her life would twist from that day onward...

Dacora’s hatred wasn’t born in a day. It grew, a slow-burning resentment wrapped in silence and pain.

 When she married Niel, she had believed, perhaps naively, in the fantasy. He was older, stoic, and strikingly powerful—CEO of a vast empire that dwarfed even her family's wealth.

She had stepped into his mansion wearing white and hope, dreaming of soft mornings and shared dreams. Instead, she was given cold walls and colder glances.

The night that changed everything happened just weeks into their marriage. There had been a dinner. A celebration, of sorts, meant to honor their union. Sabrina, her closest friend, had insisted on coming.

 Dacora had welcomed her with open arms. She remembered how Sabrina had arrived with a bottle of vintage wine, smiling, light-hearted, full of compliments and laughter. Niel, though distant as ever, had humored her.

What Dacora hadn’t seen was the brief flick of Sabrina’s wrist, the way she poured his wine when no one was watching. The toast had been warm; the hours that followed were not.

That night, Niel came to her room, intoxicated in a way he had never been before. He was not himself. He was rough, possessive, and in the morning, he remembered nothing. Dacora remembered everything.

She hated him for it. From that night forward, her heart sealed itself in frost. She refused to sleep beside him. She refused to speak more than necessary. She cooked nothing.

 She lifted no finger to build a home. Her hatred deepened when he never apologized—not because he refused, but because he seemed unaware of the gravity of what had happened.

And he never retaliated. That made her angrier.

He let her ignore him. He let her insult him. He let her loathe him—and bore it all with unyielding silence. He remained distant, formal, yet never cruel. His punishment was his absence, and to Dacora, that hurt more.

Ariana, their daughter, watched it all. At just five years old, the child had already taken her father’s side. She adored Niel’s quiet strength and resented her mother’s coldness.

 Every time Dacora reached out, it was met with a wall of silent rejection. And yet, Dacora loved her deeply—perhaps the only piece of her world not completely eroded.

Then came Sabrina again.

“You can’t live like this forever,” she’d said over coffee, legs crossed, voice smug. “You need someone who sees you. Who touches you like you matter.”

And then came Shawn. Sabrina’s so-called brother. Younger, charming, warm. He appeared like the spring after a bitter winter. Their connection was slow at first, innocent.

They met for coffee, laughed over art and music. Then the meetings grew longer. Then more private. Then came the guilt. And finally, came the choice.

Dacora didn’t hide it. She told Niel plainly. She was seeing someone. Niel didn’t shout. He didn’t argue. The next day, her driver changed. The day after that, she couldn’t leave without permission.

The mansion became a silent cage.

She pretended to change. Cooked once. Wore a smile. Even asked about his day. Niel, for a moment, relaxed. She escaped. She fled back to Sabrina and Shawn. It only worked once.

Then came the final escape.

Ariana saw her mother’s brokenness one night and said, “Do you want to leave, Mommy?”

Dacora stared at her daughter’s serious eyes.

“Linda left me this key. I didn’t tell anyone,” Ariana whispered.

That night, Dacora fled under moonlight, barefoot and desperate.

Sabrina welcomed her back. "You're free now," she said.

For a week, it seemed true. But then came the night of fire.

It began with soft footsteps and the whisper of a door. Sabrina, silent as a thief, stood over Dacora’s sleeping form. A needle. A drug. Shawn carried her out.

She awoke tied to a chair, dizzy, surrounded by the thick stench of gasoline.

“What’s happening?” she croaked.

Sabrina grinned. “Truth, darling. It’s time you heard it.”

“We’re not siblings. Shawn and I? We’re lovers. This entire thing—from the moment you invited me to that wedding dinner—was planned.

That night you hate Niel for? That was me. I put something in his wine. He wasn’t himself. He never knew. But I wanted to make sure you’d never love him. I needed you broken.”

“Why?” Dacora wept.

“Because he’s rich. And you’re dumb. And I like money.”

Shawn stepped forward, his smile bored. “You fell for everything. I was never into you. Just your bank account.”

Gasoline soaked the floor.

“You’re not leaving here, Dacora.”

The last thing she saw was a match. Then the pain. Then the fire.

She screamed Niel’s name, not out of hate—but regret.

Too late.

She finally knew the truth.

And it destroyed her....

Her life flashed beforehand her eyes as the fire continued to consume her...

Just once... She hoped she could've seen her family again ....

***

Dacora eyes flickered open... She let out a sigh of relief thinking it was all a nightmare. She sat upright on the bed and that's when she noticed her surroundings. It wasn't unfamiliar yet she felt confused.

'how the hell did I get here... Did he kidnap me from 'rina's house'. She thought.

She saw a phone on the cabinet beside her bed. She picked it and examined it

"isn't this my old phone" she switched it on "why does it still work" her confusions deepened... She brushed it off in order not to give herself a migraine

Just then someone walked in. She had brown hair reaching her shoulders. The lady bowed slightly

"good morning madam" the lady said "ah... Linda, I like the trim on your hair... It suits you" Dacora complimented. Linda looked up at her

"but my hair had always been like this" Linda replied "really..." Dacora's brows ringed. " Yes madam" Linda confirmed

"Anyway... Sir asked if you would take Ariana to school today" Linda said

"School? Isn't she on her holidays? " Dacora asked even more confused about her weird morning

"no... You even dropped her yourself at her school yesterday... Ma'am are you okay?" Linda asked ... Concerned

" Uhh... Yeah... I'll come downstairs after a bath" Dacora replied still not convinced

" Okay... I prepared your bath while you were asleep" Linda bowed slightly and left the room. Dacora walked to her bathroom contemplating on their conversation...

*

"No daddy... I want you to take me today. I want you to take me to school every day" Ariana complained with a cute pout. Niel squatted to her level but was still taller...

"I can't... I have work" Niel replied "That job is for your mom"

"Well you should switch with her. She goes to work while you stay at home and take me to school"

" That's just not how it works 'riana" Niel patted her head. They heard footsteps from the stairs and when it stopped, Niel stood and turned. His eyes met with Dacora and he quickly turned away.

Ariana grunted and sat on a couch with an unhappy but adorable face. Dacora's eyes lingered on Ariana longer than usual and that's when reality hit her...

Ariana looked smaller and younger... She put on her old phone and her eyes widened . It was January 5th 2022 instead of 2024...

'It wasn't a dream... I've gone two years back. That means Ariana's three, I'm 25 and I'm two years away from my death'

Her thoughts were interrupted by Linda who walked to her holding a jean jacket. She stretched her hand towards Dacora and handed her the jacket.

"It rained last night and your dress is armless... Sir insisted you should take this so you don't catch a cold" Linda said and Dacora simply nodded as she walked away from her.

'I can't believe sabrina used me. And how could I treat him that way... I was so cruel to him for something he wasn't at fault for' she thought and her eyes became watery as her heart stung...

She walked into the kitchen where Niel was setting Ariana's lunchbox. He backed her and didn't notice her presence until she spoke up...

"we should really stop using Linda as a way to communicate" Dacora said, and he paused but not facing her….

"I thought you liked it that way❄️" His voice... void of emotions came out... His tone only changes when he's talking with his parents or Ariana.

Sometimes she'd wonder why he became so cold "I thought you liked our distance... What changed?"

She inhaled and exhaled before speaking up" I know I've screwed up with you, Niel. I'm sorry for the way I treated you and not being a good wife. please give me a chance to make it up to you" tears rolled down her face

Niel snickered "Here we go again... Don't you ever get tired 'cora." He faced her

She sniffed "Tired of what? "

"The lies, The act..." he walked towards her and wiped her tears with his thumb "...the tears" he walked away from her and went back to continue what he was doing

"... I'm not falling for it again. Not ever ❄️❄️" he grabbed the lunch box and walked past her... His words stinging her deeply. She balled her fists tightly...

'This is all became of Sabrina and Shawn. I will gain Niel's trust again and I'll make sure to screw up your lives just like you did to mine'…

TBC

Dacora walked to the dining and sat on one of the chairs staring at Niel who was eating without sparing her a glance. Linda walked towards them

"Madam your breakfast is in your room" Linda said "bring it downstairs... I would like to eat here" Dacora ordered and Linda went upstairs and returned with the tray and dropped it in front of her

As she ate she kept staring at him... "If you keep this up you're gonna make Ariana late for school" Niel said

" she won't be. I wasn't done with our conversation in the kitchen and you just left" Dacora complained " I did you a favour... I saved you the trouble of wasting your time. I know staying or talking with me for more than a minute is hell for you" Niel said still not looking at her

" and what makes you think that? "

"you said it yourself... Yesterday to be exact"

" If you think I'm gonna run somehow then why would you send me to take Ariana to school "

" I've taken precautions, 'cora. Once you take Ariana into the school and if after five minutes, you haven't returned. The driver would go looking for you and call me"

" why are you always keeping ?"

" I'm trying to protect you"

" From what?"

" Yourself" Niel phrased

Dacora raised a brow... " what is that supposed to mean "

"It means you don't know who you're deals with, 'cora. Shawn, Sabrina... I don't trust those two. And I have to protect you because you're my responsibility..."

' he's right... I led myself into my own death' she thought

"It's not like I wanna keep you caged here or something... it's just... For your own good"

" You don't trust me, do you? " Dacora asked

"What do you think?" he looked at her...

Silence crept between their midsts as he stared at her, longing for an answer... She finally said something

"... Niel... I want you to give me a chance"

Niel sighed tiredly

" I know it sounds vague but I've changed and I'd like to prove it to you... Just give me one week... "

"... What are you up to this time, Dacora ❄️" He cut her words short

" Please Niel, A week to make it up to you.. We'll start our week from tomorrow " she pressed him

" I have a meeting tomorrow and another one two days after. I have responsibilities to carry out... I'm busy" Niel said

" But you said it yourself, i am your responsibility, so you should put me first. Please Niel, I won't ask for an excuse to leave the house. Send Ariana to your mother's place and give Linda a week off... Let it be just us and home warmth" Dacora pleaded

" Fine... But just know this. Nothing you do is gonna work❄️❄️" his voice sent chills down her spine and he stood. He held his briefcase and walked out of the house...

***