Isabella continued to sift through the contents of the envelope, her heart sank with each new discovery. Photographs, scattered like broken fragments of a shattered mirror, she picked up the one that stood out the most, lo and behold, her loving husband in the company of a mysterious woman, she couldn't make out her face because of the nose mask she had on, their faces alight with laughter and affection, with a smiling child sitting in-between them, great example of a happy family.
For a year, she hasn't seen her husband smile so heartily. He spends extra time in the office and more time in his study than the bedroom, unscheduled meeting with staffs and consequent meetings with stakeholders that requires him to travel for weeks. At first it didn't strike her as something to bother about, he is the CEO of a big company and probably just trying to sign new deals and broaden his horizon, she would tell herself, making up excuses for him in her mind. Six month passed and he just seems to be more absent, she had a feeling he's been avoiding her but everytime she tried talking about the rift growing between them, he smiled like it's nothing and kiss her forehead, hurrying out the door before she could debate the topic.
The truth unfurled like a poisonous vine, entwining itself around her heart, Isabella realized that she stood on the precipice of a new reality, one where trust was a fragile illusion and love a fleeting mirage. The air in the room grew heavy with the weight of her conflicting emotions. The whole world seems to be closing in on her. She clutched onto her chest with pain while hot tears streamed down her face. How could she have been so blind, so naive to the truth that had been lurking beneath the surface of their seemingly perfect marriage? How could she have not noticed when the red flags started popping? Was she really dumb or just clueless? So many questions but no answer.
Despite the glaring evidence in front of her, she's still in doubt, utmost shock and disbelief written over her features as she paced around waiting for Alexander's return.
All the twelve board members shifted uncomfortably in their seats, a collective rustling of expensive fabric and suppressed tension filling the room. Evelyn's expression remained cold and unreadable, a stark contrast to the anxious glances exchanged around the roomVice-chairman Kim, a man of sparse words and considered actions, initiated the proceedings with a voice that despite its softness, carried the weight of authority, "Everyone is gathered here today because of a proposed bill which will decide who sits as the head of Miller consortium, but before we start voting, if anyone has anything to say to Miss Miller here, do not hesitate, please."Evelyn's gaze swept across the room, her face a mask of icy composure. She caught the subtle tells of those who would vote her out - the averted eyes, the nervous shuffles, the whispered asides. 'If y'all want to be a pussy, at least have some dignity and do it with pride,' she mused, her internal laughter almost spilling over."I do not su
Three black cars, sleek and gleaming like panthers under the midday sun, pulled up in front of the Miller Consortium Group office building. The Rolls-Royce Phantoms, each worth over half a million dollars lined up in ceremonious precision. The building itself pierced the sky, a monolithic glass spire that stood as the tallest edifice in France after the Eiffel Tower, its mirrored surfaces reflecting the ambition and might of the empire it housed.Evelyn Miller was seated in the middle car, her presence even more commanding than the luxurious vehicle that enclosed her. As her bodyguards, clad in tailored suits that did little to conceal their readiness to protect, stepped out of the vehicles in front and behind her, the air seemed to hum with anticipation. One of them, his movements both swift and respectful, rushed to open the car door for her.She stepped out slowly, as though allowing the world a moment to prepare itself for her. The bodycon Stony black Louis Vuitton dress clung to
The insistent sound of a phone vibrating sliced through the silence of the early morning, tugging Alexander out of his deep slumber. Half-asleep, his hand fumbled on the nightstand in an attempt to find the phone. Claire's name flashed on the screen, an unusual occurrence for such an early hour. Without a second thought, he swiped to answer."Good morning, Alex," came Claire's voice, crisp and far more awake than he felt."Hmm..." was all he could mutter in response, his brain still thick with sleep."Alex, I think we should meet at the office in 30 minutes. There is something you need to see, and it's about the email we sent to the Miller consortium last night."The word 'Miller Consortium' was like a shot of adrenaline to his system. His eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright in bed. "What about it?" he asked. The fog of sleep rapidly cleared from his eyes."I can't discuss the details over the phone. Just get here as quickly as you can," she urged, leaving no room for argument.A
Evelyn's fingers hovered momentarily over the laptop's power button, a sharp breath escaping her as she contemplated the stillness of the night. The digital glow of the clock read just past midnight, adding a haunting luminescence to the room that should have been dark, conducive to sleep. Reluctantly, she pressed the button, the screen flickering to life and casting a pale light across her face. Work was the only antidote for her restlessness—a potion she'd brew for herself on nights like this, when the ghosts of her past refused to stay buried. As she logged into her office email, the mundane list of senders and subjects scrolled past until one name arrested her scrolling finger—a name tied to a history she had meticulously archived in the recesses of her mind. The technology and construction firm, ‘SynTech Construction Innovations,' belong to her ex-husband, Alexander, and it seemed to taunt her from the inbox. A ghost from her past that refused to be exorcised. A wave of emotions,
Alexander stood by the vast glass window of his office, gazing at the lively streets below, his mind was a whirlpool of strategies and what-ifs, each thought colliding with the urgency of his company's situation. Earlier he got news from the government regarding the proposal submitted for the proposed urban housing project which has been approved and a congratulatory message was sent to his email. But this was a bittersweet victory—an approval without funding was like a blueprint without bricks. He turned away from the window, his shadow stretching across the room as the sun begin to dip behind the city's silhouette. Taking another loan was out of the question, it's like a ship taking more water when it was already sinking, The weight of his existing debts was a heavy anchor, threatening to pull him and his company under. He paced the length of his office, the sound of his footsteps was a metronome to his racing thoughts. He paused, reaching for the office phone with a decisive mot
PRESENT DAY...The Miller's family cemetery is nestled amongst towering oak trees and fragrant blooms. Groups of mourners in black gathered around the freshly dug grave that is meant to be the final resting place for Maurice Miller, Evelyn's grandfather. Mournful clouds hung low in the sky, casting a dark veil over the cemetery.As the priest delivered the final prayer, a big knot of emotion formed in her throat with a suffocating intensity. Tears welled in her eyes, clouding her vision as she stood solemnly beside the freshly dug grave. She clenched her jaw tightly, fighting the tears that threatened to fall while she struggle to maintain her composure.'Its okay to be sad and emotional, but it becomes a sin and weakness when you let it show.' Growing up, those were the words her grandfather would say to her whenever something made her cry.People started coming forward to say something about the deceased. Everyone has something to say as they placed colourful flowers on the casket an