Semua Bab The Mistress: Bab 61 - Bab 70

The morning sun streamed through the large windows of Victoria’s newly organized studio, illuminating the canvas before her. A spectrum of paints, brushes, and tools surrounded her, each item placed meticulously, ready to bring her thoughts to life.For the first time in what felt like years, she felt the weight of expectation lift, replaced by a liberating sense of purpose.She stared at the blank canvas, her fingers brushing over its surface. It wasn’t just a piece of cloth stretched over a wooden frame; it was an invitation to express the emotions she had bottled up for so long. With a deep breath, she dipped her brush into a mix of muted blues and grays, the colors swirling together like a brewing storm.As her brush swept across the canvas, the shapes began to form—raw, unfiltered emotions translated into texture and hue. She painted the chaos of betrayal, the pain of Ethan’s tears, and the fiery resolve she had found within herself. The strokes were bold and deliberate, a stark

Victoria woke up early the next morning, a quiet sense of resolve settling over her as the sun peeked through the curtains. She glanced over at Ethan’s empty bed, a pang of guilt tightening her chest. His bright, carefree smile from the day before had already been overshadowed by the cruelty of the world around him.After a quick breakfast, Victoria decided that today would be about Ethan. She needed to shield him from all the turmoil that had been swirling around her. She couldn’t undo the hurt or the insults that had been thrown his way, but she could be the kind of mother who made him feel safe. The kind of mother he deserved.She knocked gently on his bedroom door. “Ethan, sweetie, are you up?”There was a faint rustling sound before Ethan’s voice called out, muffled by the door. “Yeah, I’m awake.”Victoria opened the door to find her son sitting up in bed, still in his pajamas, holding his stuffed bear tightly in his arms. His eyes were a little red, like he hadn’t slept as well

Maya sat on the edge of her bed, her gaze locked on the dim glow of the city lights. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, but she didn’t reach for it. She knew it was Daniel—he was always calling when things got complicated. But tonight, she wasn’t ready for him.The phone buzzed again. She sighed, picking it up before the call could end.“Hello?” she answered, her voice barely above a whisper.“Maya,” Daniel’s voice came through, softer than usual. “Are you okay? You haven’t responded to my messages.”She closed her eyes, leaning back against the headboard. “I’m fine.”“Don’t lie to me.” His voice was firm now, like he could see right through her. “I know this isn’t just about what happened with Victoria.”Maya shifted uncomfortably, biting her lip. “It’s everything, Daniel. I thought I knew what I was doing, but now… now I don’t know who I am anymore.”“Listen, we don’t have time for this,” he said quickly. “We’ve already crossed the line, Maya. There’s no turning back. We can’t just

The tension in the air was suffocating as Daniel stood in front of Victoria, his eyes burning with rage. The months of pent-up frustration, anger, and humiliation had boiled over, and he wasn’t about to let Victoria’s public exposure of his secrets go unanswered. He had always prided himself on being in control, but now everything felt like it was slipping through his fingers—his marriage, his reputation, his life. All because of her.“How dare you?” Daniel’s voice was low but seething. “You think you can just destroy everything I’ve worked for without consequences?”Victoria stood firm, refusing to back down, even though the words stung. Her hands trembled slightly at her sides, but her gaze never faltered. “I didn’t destroy anything, Daniel. You did that yourself. You think I’m the only one who’s hurt here? What about Ethan? What about your own family?”He stepped closer, his fists clenched at his sides. “You’re not a victim here. You think this is just about you? You think you’re s

The day after the phone call with Daniel, Victoria walked through her neighborhood with a tight, controlled expression. The usual hum of the streets felt different now, quieter, as if the air itself was holding its breath.Word had gotten out about Daniel’s actions and the way things had unfolded between them. She could feel the stares of passersby, the whispers just out of earshot, the tension in the air as her name was spoken with a mix of disdain and pity.As she passed by familiar faces, she noticed the looks: some full of sympathy, others full of judgment. She had always prided herself on being a part of this community, on the friendships she’d cultivated over the years. But now, it felt like the ground beneath her was shifting.Her neighbor, Mrs. Klein, who had been a mother figure of sorts to Victoria when she first moved into the area, greeted her with a hesitant smile. “Victoria, honey, I heard what happened… are you alright?”Victoria nodded, though it wasn’t the answer Mrs.