Chapter 6. Who's Cheating Whom?

Brie POV

Two days later, I was discharged from the hospital.

I could have left the hospital that day when I met my brothers for the first time, but my brothers insisted I had to stay for another day.

When it was time for my hospital release, I was surprised because, outside my room, men in black were standing in attention.

“Is there a VIP confined on this floor?” I asked Jenna, who only laughed and commented,

“Your brothers are crazy.”

Then, she gripped the handrail of my wheelchair to push me out of my room.

At the hospital entrance, I was amazed at the number of similar-looking cars parked outside.

When they spotted us, the first car moved forward until it stopped in front of me while the others followed close behind.

I could not believe my eyes. “S*it! Are you telling me this is for me?” I asked the four men when it finally dawned on me that the cars and the suited men were in their employ.

“No one but the best for our little queen.” My brother Marcus said before he lifted his arm and gently nudged me with his elbow.

I took his cue and curled my fingers to his proffered arm.

On my other side, so that they were now flanking me, Flint did the same.

We walked toward the car, a red BMW.  “This is yours,” Marcus told me before he helped me inside.

Ensconced with my two brothers in the backseat of the BMW, I heard the synchronized opening and closing of doors.  It was the sound of affluence.

“From now on,  you will leave like a pampered queen. We will make up for the lost years, Briana.” Marcus promised and winked at me.

From the hospital, we went straight to the airport, where a chartered flight to Woodside City awaited us.

Not used to this unimaginable luxury, my eyes widened in shock.

We spent the eight-hour-long flight getting to know each other. They filled me in on what happened to our family.

In flight, my phone rang.  It was my best friend, Hanna.

“Is it true?” Hanna sounded like she was crying.

“What did you hear?” I asked her, having had an idea that the humiliation I suffered from Noah Hunter and his uncle had already reached out of proportion.

“Noah divorced you. He kicked you out of your home and job.”

There was silence on my part because it was that one thing that I would rather forget. Still, I allowed myself to remember what happened that fateful day.  How I have suffered emotionally, bearing the shame and embarrassment Noah slapped me with.

“Yes. We divorced." I confirmed.

My friend choked back a sob.

“The company grapevine is feasting on the purported news that you cheated on Noah."

My chest constricted. Noah never gave me the chance to redeem myself in the eyes of our people. He made sure to shatter my reputation into pieces until nothing was left.

“It’s a lie,” I told Hanna while trying very hard to contain myself.

“Where are you? Are you safe? I wanted to see you.  Can I see you?” I shut my eyes because her kindness brimmed my eyes with tears.

“I left Redwood City,” I told her.  “Don’t worry about me. I am going to be fine.” I added, trying to comfort her.

“I am sorry I was not there.”

“It was not your fault. Besides, there's really nothing you can do. ”

Hanna just got back from a business trip abroad. She could not have known this would happen.

We were both silent after that.

I know I shouldn’t ask, but I could not help myself. 

“How is Hunter Enterprises?”

I heard Hanna’s long, indrawn breath from the other end.

“The company is fine, but it felt different without you and Noah.”

Something flickered inside me.

“What happened to him?” I said with a quickened breath.  Even when he did something bad. I could not help feeling concerned.

I have loved Noah for years. Even when he hurts me, that love will not disappear in a snap. It will fade in time. I knew that. It will die one day, just not now.

“Hanna…” I prodded.

“Matt Bryant was appointed OIC.”

“And Noah?” I asked.  My heart thumps fast.

I felt my two brothers stiffen at the mention of his name, but I ignored their reactions. I wanted to know. Unconsciously, my hand went to press my stomach.

“I heard Noah left the country to recuperate.” She told me. “It’s all over the news.”

We cut our call, and I retreated to my seat. My brothers must have understood my need to be alone, so they let me be.

I took my phone from my bag and started searching. I first checked the news for Hunter Enterprises. I found a news report confirming what Hanna told me.  Hunter Enterprises’ board of directors voted for Matt Bryant to be OIC, allowing Noah Hunter, its CEO, time to grieve the loss of his parents.

The news report mentioned that Noah was beside himself after learning about the demise of his parents and was inconsolable.

His grief, it said, was compounded when he woke up to learn that his wife cheated on him.

I had to smile at that. It was so convenient to paint a dark picture of me without proof. 

The news also mentioned the trip is to help Noah clear his head and heal emotionally from the trauma of his loss.

I was about to close the page when I noticed another news item. This one was short and with a picture attached to it.

It says Noah Hunter was spotted at the Redwood City International Airport with international model Britney White.

Reading her name from the article and seeing her with Noah had the corner of my lips curling contemptuously.

So, this is what he was up to. Now, the real reason he divorced stared back at me.

Noah wanted a reunion with his ex-fiancee. That bitter thought made me want to puke.

After making sure he crushed my spirit and life to smithereens while he was trying to build a new one with his true love.

Now, who is cheating whom?