All Chapters of CLAIMED BY HIS RIVAL FRIEND.: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

MAYA“Where the heck could all this noise be coming from?” I mumbled low. Tossed and turned. The sheets squealed beneath my heavy body. The screeching sound of something heavy, something metallic, still found its way into the room upstairs. I sighed defeatedly. The sleep finally left my eyes. I pulled the sleek sleep mask off as I sat up. The noise still pestered. No, I needed to check what was actually going on before I get moved too from this god-forsaken room without anyone realizing it. I grabbed the tiny clock on the nightstand, I had silenced it earlier.The clock chimed slowly, 7:14am. It was still too early for such noises this beautiful Saturday morning.My feet touched the cold floor, fishing for my slippers as they wove into the pair. I pulled my robe tighter, the silk brushing my upper thighs. Too short maybe, all thanks to Evelyn, the crazy girl had given that to me as a gift on my last anniversary. “Maybe a little change could spice things up between you and Gabriel,”

MAYALoud laughs woke me up. I didn't sleep early last night. I worked on the UrbanAxis realty project into the wee hours of the morning. Gabriel had mentioned how important it was for him to send the first sketch by morning. By the time I concluded the project it was well past two in the morning.I pulled up. Sketchboard, cardboards, and metre rules lay by the foot of the bed. I grabbed them, placing them on the desk that served as my workspace. Then I tilted my head, the window stood above it. I grabbed the curtains, pulling them apart. My eyes fell on them, laughing like the whole world bows to them. I moved closer and leaned against the window frame.Gabriel in a white vest soaked to the point that the outlines of his chest showed. He laughed the loudest.He had a hose in his hand splashing water on Amila instead of the rows of flowers before them. Amila brushed her face with one hand and retaliated with the hose in the other hand, her little girl, Hannah, running around in her

Evelyn’s Sedan nosed its way into the driveway and parked right under the mahogany tree that stood outside of her apartment. Cool breeze washed my face as I pulled myself out of the passenger's seat.What was worse than a broken heart? That should be finding out that not only did your husband cheat, but he also made sure to create a baby, a human from it, especially on your supposed happy day. Evelyn helped wheel my luggage into the one-storey apartment. “Gabriel is such a bastard!” She cursed. A knot clogged my chest. I fought hard to stop the tears from forming. Gabriel doesn't deserve any of the tears. But how do I look past four years of my life that were snatched away from me in just the blink of an eye?“Gabriel has a child,” the words fell out flat, and low—almost a whisper. Tears cascaded down my face as I thought about it. “A four-year-old child, Eve!” I yelled. She didn't try to stop me. She didn't try to stop the words. She let me yell. As she relaxed into the cream-col

“Maya!” He yelled still, banging loudly against the door. “You wouldn't open the door, right? You have just forty-eight hours! I give you forty-eight hours to get your sorry self back to the house or you have yourself to blame!” He threatened.I sat still on the cold floor, Legs clasped together, knee to my chest. Each word he thundered left a stab in my chest. A deep, scathing stab. Then the thumping sound of his feet reached me, he was finally gone. Slowly, I crashed to the floor.The pictures flashed back before my eyes. His lips tangled with Amila's. His hand resting at the small of her back like it belonged there. He had never held me that way. He had never kissed me so passionately.He barely ever touched me, all he ever did was fling his tie to one corner, his shoes to the other, then he moved and placed his camera in a way that it could get every scene of me humping off on him. That was the only way I could get him to send some money to my mother. If I ever denied him that si

Work for him?!” How could he have thought of that? Was he looking for possible ways to kill me faster? I dashed out of the hall before I could change my mind. The air outside flushed my skin instantly. I never knew I was choking in there. Heels clicked steadily as I moved like a whirlwind through the driveway. How could he even suggest that?Didn’t he understand what that meant? Didn’t he understand what Gabriel was capable of?A tight breath left my chest as I hurried toward the parking lot, my thoughts racing faster than my steps. Gabriel didn’t need much to react, he didn’t need proof, nor did he need any reason. If he decided I had crossed a line, I knew exactly what he would do.And my mother… He could go after her. My jaw clenched hard. That alone was enough to make my stomach twist.The parking lot was right before me, dimly lit by lights from nearby tall buildings, cars lined in neat rows. Some engines were already humming as some guests were already on their way home. But n