Mag-log inCHAPTER TWENTY TWO GERALD'S POV My voice resounded in the house as I stepped in, eyes searching furiously for Ria. “Ria!” I screamed. My eyes were already puffy from crying and the evidence of the hit I had taken from Byran on one side of my cheek had now darkened. Ria rushed down stairs, her eyes wide open. She grabbed my face before I could say anything, slightly moving her hands over the swollen cheek.“What happened to you?” She asked, pulling me to the chair but I only pushed her away.“Why did you keep the papers?” I asked, frustrated. She had me already. I loved her and I gave her everything. She had no reason to keep that sort of information. And as I stared down at her, the face that brought me happiness in the early hours of the day suddenly transformed into one I almost didn't want to look at.“What papers?” Her hands grabbed mine again. I stepped out of her reach and clenched my fist.“Why did you do it?” My chest tightened. “You already had me to yourself. It was a
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. GERALD'S POV. “It's over, Gerald,” Bryan said, his eyes pinning me to the ground. “Accept it.”My chest burned even as he continued to speak, making me feel guilty. “You wanted her to leave. She has. Forever.”I braced my hands over the large conference table in the middle of the office, the contents of my breakfast threatening to spill everywhere.This couldn't be. I refused to believe that in her dying moments, she hadn't requested me but a friend. I was her husband if there was a need for anyone to be by her side, it would have been me.Before I could stop myself, I slammed both hands against his chest, he staggered back almost falling to the ground.“You have no idea what you're getting yourself into,” I snarled, I was never violent but with Lara presumed to be dead. Everything seemed to slip out of my control. My actions included.Bryan's eyes bulged as he placed a hand on the table to steady himself. “Have you lost it?,” he barked. “Is this what I get for
CHAPTER TWENTY GERALD'S POV.[Three years ago]I pulled into the building, and rushed out of my car, not bothering to park my car properly.My shoes clacked against the tiles as I rushed into what I assumed was the reception.I stopped in front of the table and tapped my hands on the table. A short lady stood up, smiling gently.“Good morning, Sir. You're welcome to..” I slammed my hand on the table startling her and the few people seated at the reception but I didn't care. I couldn't care when a coffin allegedly containing my wife had just been lowered into the ground.“Where is Bryan?” I asked, forcing my voice to remain steady.She glanced at the door behind her briefly, a huge mistake. Now I knew where Bryan was . “He's currently in a meeting. Do you have an appointment?”Her voice was shaky as she stared at me like I was about to pounce on her. “I need to see Bryan, now!” “He's not on seat…. At the moment,” she stuttered, breathless, her eyes darting around helplessly.“Get Br
CHAPTER NINETEEN.GERALD'S POV.[Three Years Ago]Clutching my suitcase in one hand, I pulled Ria into a hug, inhaling her scent. One I had become obsessed with.“I'll count the hours till you're back.” She said in her usual soothing voice. “I'll miss you too, baby.” I confessed. She pulled away and I stepped into my car. I couldn't help but note the difference. With Ria, it was a struggle to leave the house, I always wanted to spend the whole day with her but with Lara, I never seemed to want to return home. I’d spent the past weeks wrapped up in Ria—her warmth, her laughter. And the way she looked at me like I was her entire world made me feel so alive. With Ria, love felt easy, effortless. With Lara, it was a battlefield of missed calls and silent dinners. Yet the guilt now burning through me proved I wasn’t as detached as I’d convinced myself.She was still my wife.“I'll divorce her,” I told myself. “Maybe not now, but soon. I don't love her anymore.”And it wasn't a lie.My
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. LARA'S POVThe door opened and before I could step down from the car, the flashes of light hit me from every corner. I squinted, forcing a smile to my face as I resisted the urge to put my hands over my face. Bryan alighted as well and hurried over to my side, placing his hand on my back. A quiet reminder, as always, that he was there.I straightened next to him and waved at the cameras. It was my first business gala as Bryan's wife. I had no doubt all attention would be on me, I just didn't expect this blinding welcome.Bryan caught my expression and laughed, pulling me closer to himself as we approached the huge doors to the mansion. The room simmered with elegance, billionaires from all parts of the world. People I would never have met if not that Bryan had granted me the access. For three years, he had held my hands throughout it all. The empire I built was no mistake, Bryan had opened doors I wouldn't dare come across if I didn't have him. He had mentioned m
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.GERALD'S POV.The news was everywhere—Lara’s press conference, her return and reemergence into the society, her past with me, and her current study as the mystery CEO. Everyone now knew what I had lost.It was why I had switched off my phone and let it sit in my pocket. To obstruct everything that constantly reminded me of all I had lost. She had taken his name in front of everyone. That bastard, Byran.Mrs Roberts.No longer Stone.No longer mine.His.The room continued around me, the hum of the air conditioning, the distant sound of the building, and I sat in the middle of it like something had been removed from my chest and not replaced.She had built an entire life. Taken an entire name. While I spent three years mourning a grave.Praying for a chance to make things right. Suddenly, she stormed back into my life only with no allowance for me. Not even on business terms.And I couldn't even be offended because when she reached for me. I had ignored her.My m
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.GERALD'S POV.[Three years ago.]“Wakey, wakey, sleepy head.”My eyes fluttered as the soft voice against my ears was drawing me back from the sweet subconcious state of sleep.I recognized it.And it belonged to Ria.She leaned in and kissed me on my forehead. “Wake up you.” “Hmm
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.LARA'S POV.My hands were shaking as I readjusted my shiny dress for the upteenth time. But it did nothing to calm my racing heart. The conference was scheduled for 2pm. Everything I needed for the event had been made available, all I needed was to stand before the public and anno
CHAPTER FOURTEENGERALD'S POV.[Three years ago]I pressed the knife against the apple, peeling off the epicarp so Ria could eat the fleshy part. Her soft eyes stayed with me like I was the best thing in her life at the moment.Her wounds had closed up and she was sure to be discharged in a few day
GERALD'S POV.It took everything not to fidget under her intense stare. This woman was not the same person I had allowed to walk out of my life. Her glare burned into my skin with hatred so deep it could almost be felt.She had died. For months, I had mourned her and here she was before me, as lar







