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Home / Romance / Unfaithful: Web of Betrayal / Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

Lahat ng Kabanata ng Unfaithful: Web of Betrayal: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

78 Kabanata

Twenty One: Olivia

Surviving is probably the word she would use to describe her marriage.It wasn't a secret, people talk. The woman Declan was having an affair with was one of his employees. She was a high-rank manager in one of the companies he owns. A married woman too, it was convenient for them to have something on the side without the other person demanding more from that relationship. That's how it went on for 2 years.All the symptoms were there. Late night meetings, more frequent business trips, secret conversations on the phone, hidden text messages, he would be chatting for hours at dinner time and told her it was an urgent work matter he had to deal with. He wouldn't look her in the eyes when he told her about these things. Deep down she knew he wasn't truthful.But she had her own demon to deal with. Depression was lurking in the quietness of her mind, and not being able to get pregnant took its toll on her. She felt lost as if her marriage was aimless. Her life was purposeless. She lived d

Twenty Two: Two Years Later

She woke up to the warmth of his breath on her neck. He nibbled in her ear and his hand was rubbing her belly from behind."Wake up birthday girl ... it's your big day today," Declan whispered in her ear.She smiled with her eyes still closed, "Oh God ... it's today?"He laughed softly, she's been dreading her 40th birthday for months. The big 4-O was like an official number for women that puts them in a different category."How are you feeling? It's gonna be a big day, I was too excited to sleep last night," he had prepared something very special for his wife. Her birthday was their wedding anniversary so they will be celebrating their 15th year of marriage as well.She sighed deeply, "I feel old," she laughed."Honey ... whenever you feel that way, remember that I will always be 6 years ahead of you," he kissed her neck and slowly slid down her panty from under the blanket."Let's start the day with something nice," he turned her face to kiss him.His hand was under her nightgown ca

Twenty Three: The Birthday Party

"Do I look alright? How's my tie?" Declan asked in the car before stepping out in front of the venue."You look fine, here ..." she fixed his tuxedo collar and they were set to go.They walked into the venue with her arms looped around his. Some of the guests were already there. Declan had booked The King's Table for the night to entertain close to 60 guests. It was an upscale restaurant in the commercial district of Lancaster.He had arranged for the place to be closed to the public almost two months in advance. The King's Table was not an easy place to get into, and only those who are well connected and with excellent credentials can make such a booking.Declan has impeccable taste in everything. It was a lifestyle he was accustomed to since he was born in it. His taste for luxury rubs on her when she started dating him. The dress she was wearing was one of the results.She was wearing a long sleeve mermaid tail dress with Sabrina neckline, off-white with dark blue intricate embroid

Twenty Four: Ghost From The Past

Her blood curled when she heard it. She was unable to process the situation. The conversation around her sounded like a murmur.Roman stretched his arm to shake her husband's hand."What a fine young man, I would never have guessed ... you surely got your mother's gene," Declan said to tease Brian."Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Hunt," he replied."Likewise, please, call me Declan ... and this is my wife, Olivia."Her pulse increased rapidly, her mind was foggy as she reached to shake his hand. She noticed he had an earring on his left earlobe, something that wasn't there when they first met. He looked different, but the same. It was surreal. But one thing was for sure, he didn't look surprised to see her."Delighted to meet you, Mrs. Hunt ... happy birthday, by the way, and congratulations on your wedding anniversary," he said without taking his eyes off of her."Thank you," she pulled her hand back. Did he know this was going to happen? Did he know who she was prior to that night?"

Twenty Five: Collaboration

"Brian is so excited about his son's gallery opening," Declan said at the breakfast table. "The prodigal son had returned," he chuckled.Olivia took a sip of her hot coffee, "How do you mean?""He left home before he was 18 to do his own thing ... well, obviously, art and photography is not the kind of thing Brian Murphy would encourage his sons to pursue ... he has too many companies for them to run, but then again ... not everyone wants to run companies like a workhorse."She bites on her croissant, "And now he's back to work for his dad?"Declan creased her brows, "No, he came back to prove his dad wrong, I guess, he's opening his own gallery, he's made a name for himself abroad ... he's been a working artist these past few years and Brian is actually very proud of him ... he put quite an investment on his gallery and artwork which his son insists on paying him back," he chuckled. "Which reminds me, I think it's a great idea to collaborate with him for your studio as well ... I mea

Twenty Six: Opening Night

The gallery opens to a foyer blocked by a white wall. The first piece that welcomes the visitors was a glass case, inside it was a row of blue flames that was fueled by gas. It was burning softly and steadily, the bottom part was opened because that's where the gas pipe was hidden inside the white display table.A woman greeted them by the reception desk on the left, she handed everyone a pamphlet that contains the list of items that were exhibited that night. The interior was a typical art gallery with wide spaces, paintings hanging on the walls, and glass displays in the centers of each part of the rooms divided by thin walls.Many of the pieces there were artworks from various artists, The Blue Flame was Roman's and when they walk further inside they find other of his works. Some are paintings, others are pieces of objects that were explained by the Head of Sales to the potential buyers.She raised the scarf around her neck when a breeze of air conditioner blew past her shoulders.

Twenty Seven: Adele Leighton

It didn't take him long to realize that Adele Leighton was not her real name. He searched for it on Google, and every social media platforms imaginable. He even searched for it in the Lancaster city directory. Adele Leighton was not the woman he was with on that ship.It broke his heart to even smaller pieces. How could she have lied to him like that? Leave him without a trail to find her again?He was a traveling artist. He worked freelance here and there and took him on an interesting journey for years. But Ludus had changed him profoundly. He went to Japan afterwards, that's where he learned the Kintsugi technique. The idea of The Heart of course came from his personal experience that left a permanent scar.Roman likes to think that the piece he made depicts his struggle to repair his broken heart. Mending the ceramic with gold took him two years to perfect, mending his own heart was a different story.While creating his masterpiece, he took on other adventures that led him back to

Twenty Eight: The Wives Club

"Let me see it ... let me see it," Gloria Hanson extended her hands to Olivia.Everyone wanted to see her ring again, even though they'd seen it at her birthday party. It was astonishing jewelry, Declan had gone to lengths to custom-made it months prior to their anniversary."My God ... look at that," Gloria turned Olivia's hand to the left and right, the stones flickered against the light at the cafe.It was the unofficial wives club. They gathered every once a week or two weeks at the same cafe not far from Olivia's studio. Ever since she opened her business on Pioneer Crest, it was harder for her to get away from the brunch meeting with the wives. Talking about other people was not her favorite thing to do, and they never seem to run out of gossip."What did you do to him to get this giant of a stone," Helena Nordstrom was there too. "Look at the intricate detail, how much do you reckon?" she asked Regina.Regina rolled her eyes, "That is easily 8-carat blue diamond, depending on t

Twenty Nine: The Tour

She'd been dreading the tour ever since she agreed to do it. A private tour means more time alone with him. She wasn't ready to talk about it yet. Is he going to bring it up? But she needed to know if he had told anyone about them, now that they are working and living in close proximity. Now that they have mutual friends. They're not strangers anymore. It was silent in the gallery. The only sound she could hear was the humming from the air conditioner and her footsteps walking into the spacious building. It was a little after 7 PM, the gallery was closed to the public and all the employees had gone home. A soft floral scent soothed her sense of smell. The dim lights made the place feel homier. Then she remembered that Roman actually lives there, and she was entering his home. She took a deep breath and hugged herself from the chill. She should've asked him to do the tour in the daytime when there are people around. The whole setting felt too private, she was getting cold feet. As s

Thirty: Alone

She took off her ring and put it on the counter beside the sink. She washed the plate she just used to have her meal. Alma had cooked a very nice chicken dinner for two with salad on the side. She left Declan's half on the dining table.The music was on, it's always on when she's home by herself. It felt different listening to her favorite music alone. When Declan is around, he usually talks over it, he wasn't into music the way she is. She kept her champagne glass full, trying to wash down what was said in that gallery.She put up her legs on the sofa armrest, her mind wandering to that big bright blue eyes, the dark lines around them, and the black dot in their centers. His eyes were hypnotizing, and they were always looking at her in a way that made her feel ... adored."I miss you so much," his words replayed in her head.She closed her eyes. Those simple words had thrust deep into her because she felt it too. She gulped down her champagne and poured some more. She drew herself a

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