“What is the meaning of this?” I screamed at the top of my lungs witnessing the infidelity of my husband right before my eyes.
Justin could no longer justify himself for this act because what I've just witnessed could never get me wrong.
“Marga, let me explain.” Justin began to speak to me, trying to explain his side of the story.
Out of the fury I had been mustering up until now, I immediately raise my hand and flew it towards Justin’s face. My force was too intense that my hand left a red mark on his face.
“You have nothing to explain. That’s not something you can explain.” I screamed at his fac
My body stood frozen as though I had been turned into a sculpture of ice.In an instance, everyone looked at my direction while the last projection screen in front of everyone continued to flash those scandalous images that depict a so-called image of me with another man.The worst part of it all was that I didn't even know that man.I was completely clueless while everyone looked at me with such disgust. "That's...that's not true." my head shaking as I screamed my protest against what was on the screen. "I don't know anything about those photos."Yet, to my horror, Justin suddenly pulled me by the elbow to face him. "You dare come clean and yet, you are much worse than a hoe for hiding this all this time."Justin was obviously furious after witnessing those farce photos of me with another man entering a motel."There was no truth about that, Justin. believe me." I quickly denied accepting that accusation
My eyes grew wide in horror upon hearing that from my very own husband. I simply could not believe how it was just as easy for him to actually speak about wanting to divorce me in public.I understand that the fake photo from the projection could possibly have triggered him to actually say it, but if he truly valued me, at the very least, Justin wouldnโt even come to think about saying that to me.He wouldnโt possibly come to the conclusion of wanting to divorce me at all.โSo does this mean that youโll just completely ignore three years, Justin? Three years of our marriage just because you believe that i was the one one that stupid fake photo?โ I quickly protested once more. At the very least, I still wanted to continue fighting for what I wantโand that was for Justin to to believe me more than all the rest of the people surrounding us now. It was like a earnest desire that I thirst right now despite knowing that everything was at the brink of total failure.Justin just released my
As I waited for Justin’s response, I was then shocked out of the blue when all of a sudden, my mother-in-law suddenly emerged out of nowhere to slap me on my face.“You wench! I knew that you’re no good for my son the moment mother has chosen you to become my son’s wife!” She uttered with great rage. It was so intense that her slap left my cheek quickly swollen.“Mother, I am completely innocent of all these false accusations.”“There were no accusations because it’s the truth. You can’t possibly deny solid evidence now, Marga. And could you stop calling me mother? You are no child of mine.”Her words cut deeper than the slap, stripping
In that instance, Justin quickly pulled me in and gripped into my shoulders once more. His face was fuming with rage at the revelation he had learned.โTell me you didnโt do that?โ Justinโs voice was toned down for some reason. And yet, I could feel every seething fury in each of those words.There was silence that caused me to be like this for the next few moments. I donโt particularly remember being active about the project and yet, they had the audacity to accuse me of selling the project to the Alforques.โWhy would I even do that, huh? I donโt even know the Alforques.โ I quietly uttered, as I was trying to conform with the way that Justin spoke to me.
It was like even the clouded darkness of the night connived with the dark moments of my life. I had not only been accused for something farce, but here I was dumped and thrown away like a stray cat.At this point, I really wanted to go back and beg for Justin however, seeing how the security has tighten to prevent me from getting through, I supposed trying to get inside would be impossible.โIf I were you, Iโd leave.โ Claude immediately stated, breaking my moment looking from the party inside as I look at his direction.โWere those my things?โ I pointed at the luggage that was rested beside him. โYou seemed to be prepared that this will eventually happened. Which was why you already had my things prepared, huh?โ โThe moment I saw what you did with the project, miss Marga, I already had a hunch that youโll eventually be evicted from this family. And it was not because I already had it prepared.โโAnd you seriously think I would believe that lies?โ โI donโt know with you, miss Marga,
As soon as I laid eyes on them, a chill ran down my spine, leaving me frozen in place. I was completely unsure of what to do in this moment.Theyโre headed in my direction, and they look totally wasted."What do we have here?" A man with an unkempt, rustic red beard and scruffy appearance stared at me as if he had just stumbled upon a life-changing jackpot prize.In all honesty, he appeared quite foolish-looking to me. However, what truly terrified me was the presence of the other man by his side. His shaved head was barely thin, and he towered over the redhead guy. With regard to this particular one, there was something about it that caused me to feel both intimidated and nervous. It seemed as though he was looking at me with a desire that was both lustful and malicious inside of him. His gaze lingered on me, taking in every detail, as if he was undressing me with his eyes. It was quite unpleasant, especially considering he wasn't exactly attractiveโnot that I would have found it a
I needed to get away from here as soon as I could, but how would I even do that now that I appeared to be helpless from these drunkards.“Get your hands off me!” I immediately protested. Yet as I tried to struggle to free myself, the one with red head tightened his grip so that it was almost impossible for me to get away from him any longer.“You’re too loud! It’s so annoying!” The other one complained and he quickly covered my mouth with his filthy hands. I could smell the pungent scent of his palm that made me think if he even touched himself first before using this particular hand to cover half of my face.The stink has made me nearly throw up. I even had to wiggle m
“So, how did you even end up being in that place again?”The policewoman who had been trying to ask me the same question for over nth time was already growing a little impatient, yet I could see that she was still trying her best to understand my situation as her tone has not changed a bit.She was still calm and compassionate, especially whenever she asked me some sensitive questions that I dare not answer.“I came from an event inside the villa.” I uttered.It has been hours due since the nightmare with those drunkards happened. I had called my Aunt Lou, thanks to the cops who lent me their phone righ
The rain was falling again.It always did on days like thisโdays that felt like endings.I stood on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the stormy waters of Anacortes, my coat pulled tightly around me, the hood shielding my face from the wind that carried the scent of salt and something olderโsomething like goodbye.Leon stood behind me. I didnโt have to turn around to feel him there. His presence was familiar now, carved into my skin like muscle memory. Heโd been my gravity, my storm, my salvation, and my ruinโsometimes all at once.โItโs really over, isnโt it?โ I whispered, more to the wind than to him.He didnโt answer right away. His silence was as heavy as the stormclouds above us.โI wanted to fix everything for you,โ he said finally, his voice hoarse, like it had been dragged across a battlefield. โI wanted to give you a life that didnโt hurt.โI closed my eyes. The ache in my chest pulsed with every beat of my heart. โYou did,โ I said. โFor a while, you did.โI heard the crunch
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. โIโm not the same person I was before,โ I said, my voice firm, unwavering. โAnd Iโm not walking away this time.โThe manโs eyes flickered with a moment of doubt, just enough for me to catch. And then, before I could even register what had happened, Leon moved.Faster than I could blink, Leon was in front of me, his hand grabbing the gun and twisting it out of the manโs grasp. The force of it sent the man stumbling back, but he didnโt go down easily. His bodyguards rushed in, but Leon was already a step ahead, disarming one of them with a swift, calculated move.I stood frozen for a moment, trying to process what I was witnessing. Leonโalways so calm, always so carefulโwas ruthless. He was like a force of nature, determined to protect me at all costs.But the fight wasnโt over yet. The man recovered, his eyes burning with rage. โYou really think youโve won?โ he spat, his voice dripping with venom. โYouโre nothing but a pawn in a game you canโt ev
The sound of boots drew closer, pounding the floor with an urgency that echoed through the cavernous halls of the estate. My heart raced as the reality of what I had just heard crashed into me like a tidal wave. The man who had once been a part of my lifeโmy familyโs betrayer, the one who had orchestrated their deathsโstood there, calmly, as if this was just another night for him.Leonโs grip on my hand tightened, but I didnโt let him pull me away. I could feel the air thickening with tension, the walls pressing in as everything I thought I knew began to crumble.The intruders were only moments away.The manโheโsmirked, watching us. โYou think this will end well? Youโve no idea what youโre up against. My people are everywhere.โI took a step forward, ignoring Leonโs silent plea to retreat. โYou killed them. And you thought I would be the next one to fall in line?โ My voice was a whisper, but it held a power I hadnโt realized I had. โYou were wrong.โThe manโs face faltered, just for a
Next Morning at the Estate Archives. The basement was cold and damp, and the air smelled of mildew and secrets. Old boxes lined the walls, labeled in my fatherโs tidy script. Financial records. Land deeds. Correspondence.Leon sifted through a crate of documents while I dug through another.Then something caught my eye.A faded folder labeled: Project Thornfield.I opened it slowly.Inside were blueprintsโplans for development across coastal land that was supposed to be protected forest. There were signatures from multiple board members, including names I recognized.And then, one I didnโt.N. Vallis.Leon leaned over. โYou know that name?โI shook my head. โNo. But look hereโhe signed off on the project two weeks before my parents died.โLeon pulled out his phone. โIโll run a background check.โI kept flipping through the documentsโand found something that made my blood run cold.An aerial photo.Of the cliffside. Our property.With a giant red X drawn over the coordinates where my p
THREE WEEKS LATER...The investigation moved faster than Iโd expected. With the board fully on our side now, the paper trail unraveled like a thread pulled from an old sweaterโeach piece of evidence exposing the next. Shell companies. Forged contracts. Witnesses who had remained silent out of fear but were finally coming forward.Still, no one had seen him since the day of the summit. He had vanished without a trace. No flights. No offshore activity. No messages. It was like heโd disappeared into smoke.But Dorian didnโt believe in ghosts. โHeโs hiding,โ he said as he handed me a thick folder. โAnd thisโthis will force him out.โI flipped through the documents. Bank records. A property registered under an alias. Hidden deep in the woods outside of Anacortes. I felt my stomach twist.Leon stepped up behind me, his hand grazing my shoulder. โLetโs pay him a visit.โThe cabin was barely more than a shadow tucked between trees. No lights. No car. Just silence and the thrum of insects in t
Sunlight crept cautiously through the cracks in the blinds, casting golden slivers across the hardwood floor of the safe house bedroom. I sat curled up on the edge of the bed, a blanket draped around my shoulders and the journal heavy in my lap. The cover was cracked, worn with age and secrets. My fingers hovered over the first page for what felt like an eternity.Leon was nearbyโhe hadnโt slept much, either. He stood at the window with a mug of black coffee, watching the world outside with quiet alertness. When I finally opened the journal, he turned slightly but didnโt speak. He knew I needed silence for this.The first entry was dated nearly two decades ago.July 14th. We signed the contract today. Two families, one future. The woman from Delmar Holdings is more cunning than I expected. She knows weโre desperateโand she used it. I told Mariana to trust me. That this was the only way. God help me, I hope Iโm right.My breath hitched. Marianaโthat was my motherโs name.I flipped thro
MARGARETTE'S POVBefore we could react, the door behind us burst open.Three armed men rushed in, dressed in black, their movements precise and rehearsed. Leon shoved me behind him, drawing his gun up in an instant. Dorian, who had been lingering near the entrance, took cover behind a cabinet, gun already out.โEliseโs father wasnโt bluffing,โ I breathed, my heart hammering. โHe had backup ready.โLeon fired the first shot, catching one of the intruders in the shoulder and sending him crashing to the floor. Chaos erupted. Dorian ducked low and returned fire, narrowly missing another attacker who retaliated with a spray of bullets that shattered the windows.I crouched behind an overturned table, the sound of gunfire drowning out my thoughts. The locket in my palm dug into my skin, its edges sharpโa painful reminder that I couldnโt afford to lose control now.โEliseโs father!โ I shouted to Leon. โHeโs escaping!โThrough the haze of smoke and broken glass, I saw the man slinking toward
The sound of footsteps pounding in the hallway was the last thing I heard before the door slammed open.I barely had time to react before a rush of armed men poured into the room, their eyes scanning every corner, landing finally on me. There was no mistaking the intent behind their cold stares.โGet down!โ Leonโs voice crackled through the earpiece again, but there was no time to obey. I couldnโt allow myself to hesitateโnot now, not when the truth was within reach.I raised my gun, my hands steady despite the chaos unfolding around me. I wasnโt going down without a fight, not after everything I had lost. Not after everything Eliseโs father had taken from me.Before the first man could react, I fired. The sound of the shot echoed in the confined space, the bullet finding its mark in the manโs chest. His body crumpled to the ground with a sickening thud, but the others didnโt hesitate. They moved in faster, their guns drawn, but I was ready.I ducked behind the desk, using it as cover
Dawn came in silver slivers through the cracks in the window. I hadnโt sleptโnot really. My mind was too loud, looping the footage over and over like a broken reel.Leon sat across from me at the table, sipping his coffee like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. Neither of us had said much since the footage. We didnโt need to. The truth had cut so deep, it didnโt leave room for small talk.But I had questions.And I needed answers.โHow long do you think heโs known I survived?โ I finally asked, voice hoarse.Leon didnโt look away from his mug. โLong enough to start covering his tracks. But he didnโt expect the locket to resurface.โMy hand instinctively reached for it. The locket was warm now, like it had absorbed my grief and fury. Inside was a picture of my mother and meโher arm around my tiny shoulders, her smile soft but tired. A photo I hadnโt even remembered until last night.โHe killed her,โ I whispered. โHe killed my father. For what? A project?โโNot just a project,โ