"No, you''re not just a stand-in."


    At that moment, my mind raced. If she was a stand-in, it meant I was dying any minute.


    I tried to convince Ka. "Since I married Clyde, he''s always had a parade of women, but you..."


    "But I was the one who looked most like you, right? York said so, too." Ka circled me, my hands trapped, head spinning, unable to muster my strength. "I used to be a whore. After my baby was born, and I couldn''t find a decent job, I returned to that life."


    Ka continued, "York, always acting all high and mighty, had a thing for naive college girls. He took one look at me and was totally smitten."


    Before I knew it, Ka had a switchde in her hand, gesturing with it as she spoke. "Then, he ced me close to Clyde. At that time, I thought Clyde had fallen for me. You had no idea how happy I was. I thought I''d hit the jackpot."


    "I thought the Patterson family all liked someone like me, that Clyde was head over heels, showering me with gifts. He spent a fortune on a pair of sandals, something I couldn''t imagine!" She went on about how Clyde doted on her and how she went from a club girl to his princess.


    I knew Clyde could be like that, spoiling a girl rotten when he was in love. But his affection for Ka didn''tst because he never slept with her.


    "I used to think he was so pure, in love with my soul since he was married. But then you showed up at thepany, and the moment I saw you, I almost puked!" Ka slid the knife back and forth across my neck. "You were so skinny, a ghost of yourself, but I could see the resemnce, especially after I did my makeup, even more so."


    Ka kept talking. "That''s why York said Clyde would like me. That''s why York chose me. It all made sense! I looked like you in a white dress. York showed me your picture, and it was uncanny. Clyde never touched me. I drugged him twice, but all he did was call out for you! Mnie! Mnie!" While feeling the sharp de trace a line of blood on my neck, my nerves tensed. In this condition, any infection could be a death sentence. Caught up in her emotions, Ka rambled on about her love for Clyde and how he didn''t return her feelings.


    Then, she looked at me. "I was carrying York''s child, and he told me to pin it on Clyde. My child, just like me, is unwanted and unloved! So, he''s gone. He''s gone!"


    For the first time, I saw genuine sorrow in Ka, her chest heaving with pain.


    I closed my eyes. "You know your child''s fate wasn''t my doing."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    She knew it deep down. If the child were York''s, it would never be born. York''s wife was a force to be reckoned with. There was no way she''d allow a bastard child toe into the world. Not to mention, there were Merritt and Clyde to consider.


    "I know it was the Patterson child, but what does it matter now?" She wiped her tears away forcefully. "Clyde''s after me. So is the police. Now, I only want the money and to leave the country."


    She grabbed my cor forcefully. "You''re my ticket out. What''s this?"


    Perhaps due to her tugging, my shirt buttons came undone, revealing scars beneath. Without hesitation, Ka tore open my shirt further, slicing through my undergarment.


    The next second, she gasped, "What''s this? Is this surgery?"


    The horror in her eyes suddenly turned to amusement.


    Holding the knife, Kaughed like crazy. Clutching her stomach, she stared at me. "So, that''s how it is. That''s how it is!"