6: Hate For Him

Allison's POV.

The first week in town was restless. My team, a unit of elite secret agents, was tasked with dismantling an international crime syndicate using high-profile museums as fronts for smuggling stolen artifacts.

We had been briefed, geared up, and ready to strike. Our informant had pinpointed the heist location: the newly opened government museum.

The museum, filled with valuable artifacts, was crowded with visitors. Under the guise of tourists, we blended in, assessing potential threats.

The air was thick with tension as we walked through the grand hallways. The call came through our earpieces, Viktoh’s voice steady and authoritative: “It’s time.”

With practiced precision, we walked through the museum, our eyes sharp, our movements calculated.

As we approached the target area, I felt a surge of adrenaline as we removed our disguises and began to attack.

We were closing in on the thieves, ready to intercept, when I saw him.

Williams.

For a moment, everything else faded. He was lying near an exhibit, his presence unmistakable.

Memories crashed over me like a wave. Our wedding, his betrayal with Jessica, the devastating accident that took our child, and the cold, indifferent divorce papers. The sight of him stirred a wide range of emotions within me—anger, pain, and above all, hatred.

I forced myself to focus. The mission came first. The thieves were our target, not him. I signaled to my team, my movements sharp and precise. We moved in, each of us taking our positions. The thieves didn’t stand a chance.

The museum erupted into chaos—shouts, gunfire, and the thud of bodies hitting the ground. My strength took over, every move deliberate and deadly.

As we secured the last thief, the police moved in to take control. I allowed myself a brief glance at Williams. He looked just as powerful as ever, not aged by time, but he was clearly shocked to see me. He didn’t recognize me. Good.

We exited the museum, heading towards our vehicle—an unmarked, heavily modified SUV we called “The Ghost.” As we made our way through the parking lot, a voice cut through the air, sharp and desperate.

“Seraphina, wait!”

I froze. My team turned, weapons ready, eyes narrowed. It was Williams, walking towards us, carrying himself with so much power and boldness.

Two moved to intercept him, trying to restrain him, but he shrugged them off, his eyes locked on me.

“She’s someone I know!” he shouted, pushing past Viktoh with a force that surprised even him.

I turned slowly, meeting his gaze. The look in his eyes was of desperation and determination.

“You don’t know me,” I said, my voice cold and unyielding. “My name is Allison.”

His face hardened, and he took a step forward. “You’re Seraphina, my ex-wife.”

I stared at him, my heart pounding, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. “Seraphina is dead,” I said firmly, holding his gaze. “Allison Miles is who I am now.”

Williams’ eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place, but he didn’t back down. “I don’t believe you,” he said, his voice strong and firm. “You’re my ex-wife. I know it.”

My team stood ready, tense and alert. I felt a surge of frustration and anger. “Your ex-wife died the day you betrayed her,” I said, my voice cutting through the night. “Now step back, or you’ll regret it.”

He hesitated, his eyes searching mine, but he didn’t move. “Seraphina,” he said again, softer this time, almost pleading.

I turned away, signaling to my team to move. “Let’s go,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

We climbed into The Ghost, leaving Williams standing in the parking lot, a powerful figure shadowed by the weight of his own actions.

As we drove away, I couldn’t shake the feeling of his eyes on me, the memories he had stirred. But I was Allison Miles now.

Being back in town was never just about the mission. Sure, our main task was to dismantle the international crime ring using the city’s prestigious museums to smuggle stolen artifacts. But for me, there was another layer – a personal vendetta.

Williams and Jessica, the ghosts of my past, were here, and I was determined to confront them. I had anticipated crossing paths with them eventually, but not so soon, not like this.

I stared out the window, trying to steady my racing heart. The vehicle hummed as it sped away from the scene. Viktoh, always perceptive, broke the silence.

“Allison,” he said carefully, “who was that man back there?”

I kept my eyes fixed on the passing cityscape. “Just someone mistaking me for someone else,” I replied, my voice flat.

Viktoh wasn’t buying it. He shifted in his seat, turning to face me fully. “Come on, Allison. That wasn’t just a case of mistaken identity. That was personal. It was written all over your face, and his too.”

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. “It doesn’t matter, Viktoh. He’s nobody to me now.”

He sighed, leaning back but keeping his gaze on me. “That was your ex-husband, wasn’t it? Williams. I could tell from the way he looked at you.”

My jaw tightened. The last thing I wanted was to discuss Williams. “Yes,” I admitted reluctantly. “But like I said, he’s nothing to me.”

Viktoh nodded slowly, digesting this. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softer now, laced with concern.

“I’m fine,” I snapped, a bit too quickly. “I’m moved by nothing.”

The lie hung in the air, heavy and unconvincing. I could feel Viktoh’s eyes on me, but I didn’t dare meet his gaze. Instead, I focused on the mission ahead, on the revenge I needed to exact. Williams and Jessica had taken everything from me, but now I was stronger, more focused. This was my chance to reclaim my power, to show them the woman I had become.

I took a deep breath to calm my raging nerves. I wasn’t here to dwell on old wounds. I was here to close them, once and for all. And I wouldn’t let anyone, not even Viktoh, see how deeply they still cut.