4

Richard's hand froze where it rested on Freya's waist and Freya pulled away from the kiss.

Freya's face drained of color when she saw Kendra, she stood up from his laps and Richard immediately stood from his chair.

"Kendra—"

Kendra simply stared at both of them, the sight before her should have shattered her heart. If she had seen this last night, she would have broken down crying like a baby, questioning herself, questioning her worth, questioning what she had done wrong.

But now she just felt disgusted. Her eyes moved slowly over them.

Freya's lipstick was smudged and Richard's tie was crooked.

She still couldn’t believe it, these were the same people who had spent months treating her like a fool.

A smile slowly appeared on her lips."Continue, why did you guys stop? Oh because of me?"

The single word shocked them.

Richard frowned."Kendra?"

She stepped fully into the office and closed the door behind her.

"You don't have to stop on my account."

Freya swallowed nervously."Kendra, it isn't what you..."

"Don't explain shit to me."Kendra raised her hand.

Immediately silencing her, the authority in her voice startled even herself.

For years she had allowed these people to walk over her.

Not anymore.

"Do not insult my intelligence."

Freya's lips parted as she watched Kendra walk toward the chair opposite Richard's desk and sit down gracefully.

As though she were attending a business meeting, not catching her husband with her best friend.

The calmness made Richard uncomfortable."Kendra, listen to me."

She crossed her legs."Listening."

Richard hesitated.

The speech he had prepared in his head suddenly seemed ridiculous.

Because Kendra wasn't crying, she wasn't screaming, wasn't throwing things.

She was just staring at him.

"Kendra..." Freya started carefully. "Please don't misunderstand this,"

A laugh escaped Kendra's lips.

Freya immediately stopped talking.

"Misunderstand?"Kendra tilted her head. "That's the word you're going with?"

Freya looked away."Kendra, I know how this looks, we didn't mean to hurt you, it's just what it is."

Kendra nodded slowly."Exactly, it is what it is. Freya, kissing your best friend's husband is what it is..."

"Kendra, you're creating unnecessary drama, I never wanted you to find out this way, but stop all this drama. And as you can see you interrupted something."

For a second, she genuinely thought she had heard wrong.

Then she laughed again, loudly.

Richard frowned. "What is funny?"

His jaw tightened. "You think this is funny?"

"No."She rose from her chair.

"What I find funny is the fact that you're standing here cheating on your wife and somehow I'm the one creating drama."

Freya quickly moved beside him."Kendra, please calm down."

That sentence almost made Kendra lose her composure."Calm down?"

She stared at her former best friend because she's not seeing her as a friend anymore.

"Tell me something, Freya."

Freya looked nervous.

"When exactly did it start? Was it before my wedding?"

Freya's eyes widened."Kendra—"

"Answer me."

The sharpness in her voice cut through the room.

Richard stepped forward."You don't get to interrogate her, talk to me okay?"

"Oh?"Kendra faced him coldly."And who exactly is going to stop me if I decide to interrogate her?"

Richard "I cheated, okay? so look at me!"

Kendra looked back at Freya."How long?"

Freya lowered her eyes. "Two years ago...I've never loved anyone how I loved him and I couldn't control it.

"I found peace in his arms. Besides Kendra you should be happy, he never touched you, even the kiss never lasted." Freya said.

Richard didn't know what to say, he looked dumbfounded.

Freya was right, Richard never touched her, anytime she tries to have sex with him, he'd say he's not ready, manipulate her.

Kendra felt her stomach twist, he even told Freya about their marriage when she never shared her marriage problems with someone else.

And they've been together for two years out of her three years of marriage.

"You know what hurts the most?" she said. "I actually loved the both of you."

Her voice cracked slightly, the first crack in her armor.

"I trusted you."

Freya's eyes reddened. "Kendra, I never wanted to hurt you."

"Really?" Kendra smiled bitterly. "Then why sleep with my husband?"

The question slammed into the room.

Freya immediately looked away.

Richard became annoyed. "Kendra, stop talking to her like that."

The words made Kendra stare at him in disbelief.

Then she laughed. "Look at you defending her." she said in between her laughter.

Richard's expression darkened. "I love her, i never loved you, in fact I've always loved her from the very start! She saw me as a friend which is why i came for you. " The words escaped his mouth before he could stop them.

Then Freya slowly turned toward him.

Her eyes filled with excitement."You do?"

Richard glanced at her."Yes, I love you so much."

Kendra felt the last piece of hope inside her finally die. This is the height of their betrayal, he even confessed his love to her best friend in front of her.

A sharp ringing suddenly interrupted the silence—Richard's phone, they'll look toward the desk.

Richard sighed before walking to the desk to grab it.

The caller ID immediately caught his attention.

His expression changed.

"K&H Group." he said and looked at Kendra. "Kendra, we'll continue this conversation later."

Kendra smirked, he doesn't know what's coming for him.

He answered the call."Richard Thompson speaking."

A professional female voice responded. "Good afternoon, Mr. Thompson."

Richard smiled."Good afternoon."

"We are calling regarding the strategic partnership between Thompson Group and K&H Group."

"Yes."Richard leaned comfortably against the desk.

"I've been expecting your call."

Kendra remained silent watching and waiting.

The woman on the other end continued.

"After reviewing recent developments, our board has decided to terminate all ongoing collaborations with Thompson Group."

The smile disappeared from Richard's face."What?"

The office fell silent, Freya blinked and Richard sat upright.

"I'm sorry?"

"Our legal department will forward the necessary documents."

"There must be some mistake."

"There is no mistake, Mr. Thompson."

Richard's expression hardened."What happened?"

"That information is confidential."

The line went dead.

Richard stared at the phone.

The office suddenly felt colder.

"K&H terminated the partnership?" Freya asked.

Richard didn't answer.

His gaze slowly moved toward Kendra, seeing she didn't react.

Then his office phone rang.

Immediately afterward his mobile rang again.

And again.

And again.

One call after another but he didn’t pick.

The secretary rushed inside. "Sir!"

Richard sighed. "What now?"

The secretary looked terrified.

"Several investors are withdrawing."

"What?"

"The legal department also received notices regarding asset ownership reviews."

Richard's face darkened. "What are you talking about?"

"We're still investigating sir, i just wanted to inform you sir." The secretary hurried out without waiting for his response.

Richard slowly looked toward Kendra.

"Kendra." She looked at him."What did you do?"

For the first time since entering the office, she smiled genuinely.

"The better question is..." She slowly lifted the folder she had been carrying."What did I stop doing?"

Richard's eyes narrowed.

Kendra opened the folder.

Several documents slid onto the desk and Richard grabbed them.

His face paled.

Investment agreements.

Transfer records.

Ownership documents.

The very foundation of his empire.

"Kendra..." His voice dropped."What is this?"

"You always said everything you built belonged to you."

She folded her arms. "So I decided to test that theory."