Alison had just left the shop, where she had bought a gift for her husband to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
It was their fifth anniversary, and she wanted to surprise him. Her feet moved swiftly towards the room, unable to contain her joy. But just as she opened the door of their matrimonial room, she was greeted with the worst thing she could ever imagine. Bruno was in bed with another woman, having sex without a care in the world. She stood frozen, unable to utter a word, even though many thoughts were running through her mind. "Bruno?" Her voice, now almost lost, filled the room, putting a distraction between the two, as the gift box fell off her hands. He turned, a hint of surprise crossing his face before it hardened to something she could not place a hand on. "Alison, what are you doing here?" His voice came through, breaking her heart further. "What am I doing here?" she echoed, her voice rising with anger. "What are you doing here, Bruno? With her? Worst of all, it had to be on this special day of ours!" Bruno frowned, "what are you talking about? What's so special about today?" He asked, getting off the bed. Alison's gaze locked onto Bruno, her eyes burning with a pain that she had never felt before. "You don't know what I'm talking about? You don't know that this is our anniversary? Five years, Bruno, five years of marriage, and you choose to celebrate it with her? You chose to defile our matrimonial room with another woman?" He scoffed, his eyes cold. "Don't be ridiculous, Alison. This is my house, I can do what I want. Besides, there is nothing special about the wedding anniversary." "This is our house," she corrected, her voice filling the room. "And you call this 'doing what you want'? And then, you say you love me." Bruno's lips curled into a sneer. "Love? Do you think this is about love, Alison? This is about freedom, about doing what I want, when I want, with whomever I want. And when have I ever told you I love you, genuinely? Heck, those are facades for the public to not be skeptical." His words were like a dagger, plunged deeply into her heart. Although her marriage with Bruno was an arranged one, because her father could not pay his debt before he died, she didn't think it would get to this point. "You're a monster," she spat, clutching the fabric over her chest. "I'm a man who wants to live his life," he retorted, his voice cold and resounding. "And you, Alison, are a woman who is holding me back. Have some sense, will you? Why are you even so bothered when this marriage is just a disguise." Alison's heart ached, as she moved forward immediately, standing in front of the woman, whom she now recognized to be one of the employees working in the company. "You...how dare you?" She said, smacking her right cheek. She clutched her reddened cheek and looked down. "I.. I'm so—" Bruno, whose face was now filled with anger, grabbed Alison's arm tightly. "Alison, you've gone too far!" He pushed her away, causing her to hit her back hard on the wall. "Don't you dare touch her," he hissed. "You think you can just throw me away like a piece of trash? After five years of marriage, after everything we've been through, you think you can just walk away? You told me you married me, not because it was an arranged marriage, but because you were interested in me. What did I do wrong to you, Bruno? I tried my best to be a good wife, yet you don't ever appreciate it." He stood there, waiting patiently for her to finish ranting. Just as she was done, he looked at her in the eyes, and said, "It is over, Alison. We are done." Alison could feel her world-shattering as those words left his lips. "Wha.. what did you say?" She asked, trying to confirm if what she heard was true or maybe, she was only hallucinating. Bruno did not say a word, he turned to the table and picked up a large brow envelope. He moved closer to her as he shoved the envelope roughly into her hands. She looked down at it with tears in her eyes, as her voice became lower than a whisper. "What is this?" She asked, looking back at him. He leaned in on the table and shrugged. "Open it, will you?" She swallowed hard, not sure of what the envelope held inside. As she split it open, she brought out a white paper with words imprinted on it. The heading caught her attention, and she stepped back a little. "DIVORCE AGREEMENT" was its heading, and now she was sure that this was no joke. "Bruno, you can't just divorce me!" She said, unable to accept the reality of things. He scoffed, shaking his head. "Oh, I can. I can divorce you anytime I want to, and that's what I'm doing now." Tears fell from her eyes, and she replied, "Why? What did I do to you? I'm sure we can work it out—" "Stop making this seem hard, Alison. Sign those papers and be free. Isn't that what you have always wanted? To be free from a man like me; a monster as you call me." "When you said you were interested in me, was it a lie?" She asked, swallowing hard. "I never loved you, Alison. I was interested in your capability and what you had to offer to the company. Your father owed our family a huge debt, of course, you had to pay for it with your skill, and now that I no longer need your service, I'm done with you," he paused, picking up a pen. He stretched it over to her, "Alison, do yourself a favor and sign these god-damned papers!" He yelled, shoving a hand into his hair. The words hit her hard like a storm. She had been used and dumped. She looked at him, and a flash of all that had happened in the past few years rushed into her mind. She grabbed the pen from him and signed her name. "You want a divorce, here it is, Bruno Francisco."The moment she signed the papers, she turned her gaze to him, "Are you happy now, Bruno?""Happy?" he repeated flatly, a chuckle escaping his lips. "This isn’t about happiness, Alison. Let's stop lying to ourselves." She stared at him, her heart shattering into pieces. Without another word, Alison walked out of the room, unable to hold in anymore. She had no one else now, except her son and her mother. She headed to his room so they could leave since they no longer belonged to the Francisco's.When she pushed the door open, the room was eerily quiet. The bed did not look like it was even touched. It was still neatly arranged, unlike other times. Panic rose in her as she called out, "Theo? Sweetheart, are you hiding?"But the only thing that greeted her was the silence that followed her words.She hurried out of the room and found a maid, who was just about to enter the kitchen. "Where is Theo?" Alison asked, her voice tinged with desperation.The maid looked startled. "I haven’t s
The cold prison cell reminded her of how cruel the world was for the low-class people. For months, she had begged Bruno to allow her to see their son, and today was no different. She sat in the visitors’ room, her heart beating fast as Bruno entered with his mother.“Bruno, please,” she began, her voice hinting with desperation. “Let me see him. I just want to hold my son. Or at least, let me hear his voice.”Before Bruno could respond, his mother interrupted, her voice sharp, as always. “Absolutely not. I won’t let you traumatize the poor boy. He’s better off without a criminal like you. He needs to focus on Zurich. You can speak with him after you have served your jail term.”She clenched her fists, her glare piercing through the duo. “You will regret this,” she mouthed, her voice low, but filled with fury. “Both of you will.”Margaret laughed mockingly, the sound echoing in the room. “Regret it? What can you possibly do from prison? You will rot here. That is where you belong. Le
Four years had passed since she escaped the confines of the prison gates. With a strong desire for revenge, she fled to Germany. There, she rebuilt herself to become stronger and more powerful. Every time she thought to give up, she remembered how her son was taken away from her, her mother's death...Establishing her law firm had not been easy, but she proved herself by winning every case she handled and becoming the go-to lawyer for high-profile divorces and corporate disputes. Due to that, she became famous and known as the Queen of Justice.One evening, as she celebrated her latest win with her aunt, Megan, she finally made up her mind.“I’m ready to go back,” she said, her voice low.Megan set down her glass of wine, her eyes narrowing with concern. “Are you sure? You have built so much here. You’re safe, successful—”“It’s not enough,” she interrupted. “They took everything from me. My son. My mother. My dignity. I have waited long enough. It is time they pay for what they ha
Alison stopped in her tracks, looking back at Oscar.Her gaze on him was as though the answers lay written on his face."What’s in it for me?" she asked, "how do you plan to help me?""I can help you get your son back," Oscar had replied, his tone low, and desperate. "You just need to help me win this case. There is a lot more at stake than just the law. You could be the key, Ms. Harper. It's why you are the queen of justice."She had to get him back, no matter the cost. For all she knew, The Franciscos were not ready to hand over custody of her son to her, and now that she was fully established, she would use all means to get her son back."I understand your conflict. Here is my card, just in case you change your mind," he said, handing her a white card with his phone number and email address written on it.***After her encounter with Oscar, she had forgotten about his ordeal. Her focus was to get her son back; nothing else mattered.Just as she was thinking, her phone buzzed, and t
The moment she found out that Travis was the main client, she shook her head vigorously, already terminating the contract.She was not sure she could do this; having to see the same man that broke her heart...Out of anger and pain, she turned to leave, her heart thumping faster than usual, as the memories of their past together flowed in like a river.Just as she reached the door, he rushed forward and grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving.“Alison, please,” he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation and frustration.“You can’t just walk away like this.”Alison pulled her arm away. She felt pain and anger towards him. He was someone she never wished to see, at least, not now. The pain of what he did in the past filled her heart and she felt disgusted by his sight. She just wanted to leave.“And why not? Do you think I’m just going to stay here and pretend like we are cool? You broke my heart, Travis. So, don't expect that I will help you."Travis ran a hand through his hair,
There was silence in the room as Travis furrowed his brows in confusion, wondering just what she was talking about."What letter are you talking about?" He asked, curious to know what she meant.She remained silent, shaking her head. "Of course, you don't know what I am talking about." He knew it was better not to probe further about the past. It would only worsen the situation now.All he needed to do was get her on his side and make her accept his offer.He needed her help so badly that he was ready to do anything to make her accept it.He sighed, "Can we just forget about that, please?" He said, even though he didn't know what 'that' was."Alison," he called out, "I know things have been... complicated between us. But I need your help on this one. You are the most competent lawyer I know."Alison didn't seem to be done with the conversation. Even though she wanted to forget it, somehow, a part of her wanted to have a conversation about it. "Travis, we have been down this road bef
Bruno stormed into the sitting room, throwing his suitcase to the other side. It fell on the tiled floor, causing a sound that shocked both his mother and his wife.He looked angry, as though something had happened. He began to pace the room, taking off his jacket, and loosening his tie.“Bruno! What is wrong? What has gotten into you?” His mother asked, her tone filled with annoyance from the sudden shock.“Alison,” he spat, heaving heavily. “She rejected my offer! She is working for Rodrigo Internationals now. Can you believe that?”“Alison?” Mrs. Francisco scoffed, rolling her eyes. “That girl? I have always said she was not good enough for you. Let her go. Why do you need her?"Bruno turned to his mother, who did not understand what he meant. “This is not about her! This is about the project, Mom. I needed her expertise, and she rejected it blatantly without even thinking about it. She is now working for my competitor; that scumbag!"Rachel cleared her throat, trying to fit into t
It was a beautiful morning. A good one, actually, after putting Bruno in his place last night.Of course, he needed her expertise for his project, but she was long gone, and she would never go back to her vomit.It was time to be the Chief Legal Officer of Rodrigo International.Although it belonged to her Ex-lover, whom she did not want to have anything to do with him, she would rather help him than help the Franciscos.They were not worth her attention at all.It was her first day at work, officially an employee in the company, even though she owned her brand.She wore a pair of black pants, a white long-sleeved shirt, and a black tie, coupled with black stiletto heels and a black handbag.It was giving off the badass lawyer vibe; Queen of Justice!She applied light makeup on her face and packed her up in a ponytail.As she arrived at the company, Oscar was around to welcome her.She could not blame the young man, he was only following orders from his boss."Welcome, Ms. Harper," he
Monday morning dawned bright and early, but Alison's mood was far from sunny. The events of the weekend still lingered in her mind, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. She knew she couldn't face Travis at the office, not after their steamy weekend together and what had transpired between them. So, she picked up her phone and dialed Karen's number. "Hey, girl, what's up?" Karen's response was bubbly as she answered on the first ring. “It's Monday again..” "Not much, Karen. I'm just not feeling too well today," Alison said, trying to sound as convincing as possible, although her voice was already betraying her. Karen's tone immediately turned concerned. "Oh no, what's wrong? Do you need me to come over? Have you gone to the hospital?” Alison quickly waved off the offer. "No, no, I'll be fine. Just need to rest a bit, that's all." Karen wasn't buying it, but she promised not to pry. "Okay, if you're sure you're okay... But if you need anything, don't hesitate to ca
Theo looked up at Alison, his innocent eyes filled with a mix of sadness and curiosity. "Mommy, I asked Daddy yesterday why you weren't living with us anymore," he said, his voice trembling."And what did Daddy say?" Alison aske, expecting the worst since she was so sure Bruno hated her."He said it was adult stuff, and that you and him couldn't live together under the same roof again," Theo whispered, knotting the hem of his mother's shirt.Alison took his small hands in hers, and led him to sit down. "Theo, sweetie, Mommy and Daddy love you very much, but sometimes grown-ups can't live together anymore and at that point, the worst thing that can be done is to force things..""Why can't you come back, Mommy?" Theo asked, his voice cracking. “All of my friends have their both parents living in the same room, while I have just dad and granny and Aunt.”"Because, baby, sometimes things don't work out between grown-ups," Alison explained again. “But we all love you and there's no doubt
Alison's eyes scanned the crowded park, her heart racing with fear. She had been searching for what felt like hours, but she couldn't find who she was looking for anywhere."Theo!" she screamed, her voice hoarse from shouting. "Theo, where are you?"But there was no response. Instead, she heard the sound of laughter and chatter from the other people in the park, and the rustling of leaves in the trees.Alison's eyes scanned the playground, her gaze lingering on the swings and the slide. She saw a little boy with curly brown hair climbing up the ladder, but it wasn't Theo.She saw a woman with a stroller walking towards her, but as she got closer, Alison realized it wasn't Theo's stroller.Panic set in, and Alison started to run. She dashed across the playground, her eyes scanning the crowds, but she couldn't see Theo anywhere."Theo!" she screamed again, her voice echoing across the park. "Theo, please answer me! Don't do this to momma, I love you with my life.”Just as she was starti
Bruno walked through the front door, excitement radiating from his very being. He had just had an incredible day, getting back his club on the same day and still getting more people to invest in his empire just when he thought he would go bankrupt was enough to make him go crazy with excitement.But as he entered the living room, he was met with a surprise. His wife Sarah was sitting on the couch, her arms crossed and a scowl on her face, as she tapped her feet against the floor impatiently."Where have you been?" she demanded, her voice dripping with venom. “You step out in the morning and see the time you're just getting back. Is it fair?”Bruno hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He didn't want to get into a fight with Rachel, not when he was feeling so happy, but she was pushing him and he knew that sooner than later he might have to react."I was just out," he said vaguely, trying to brush past her.But Rachel was not having it. She had had enough of just being that wife whose
Travis sat on his couch, staring blankly at the wall as he tried to process the events of the past hour. Alison had left his house in tears, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had made a terrible mistake…his mum had done what she loved to do best once again.He couldn't think straight, his mind racing with thoughts of Alison and what he could have done differently. He needed someone to talk to, someone who could help him make sense of everything, or at least help him to check on Alison.He pulled out his phone and dialed Karen's number. Karen was the only person who came to his mind, she was one close friend of Alison. He hoped that she could provide some insight into what was going on with Alison."Hey, Karen," Travis said, trying to sound calm. "I need your help. Alison just left my house in tears, and I have no idea what's going on. Can you go check on her?"Karen's voice was sympathetic on the other end of the line. "Of course, boss. I'll go check on her right away. But c
Alison pulled over at the driveway and after getting her stuff, she dragged herself out of her car, heading towards her apartment, her feet heavy with the weight of her emotions. She had just left the most intense and confusing encounter with Travis, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of vulnerability that lingered within her. Was asking him for space too much?And why did it seem like the entire universe was against her union with Travis.As soon as she closed the door behind her, Alison let out a sob, allowing the tears she had been holding back to flow freely. She collapsed onto the couch, burying her face in the pillow as she cried uncontrollably.“You'll scale through, Alison, just like always, and this time you'd be better,” she muttered to herself and wiped the tears that were already slipping out of her eyes. “You've got this..”Just as she thought she was alone in her misery, Alison heard a gentle knock on the door. At first she ignored it, but the knock persisted, and
“Your wife, Rachel, has been seeing someone from the enemy's camp. Be careful, else you'd be a victim sooner than you expect.” The strange woman's voice echoed in Bruno's head. He focused on his target, his fingers steady as he released the arrow. It soared through the air, hitting the bullseye with precision. He smiled to himself, feeling a sense of satisfaction.Since his argument with Rachel, he went into his private lounge to play archery…and as expected, it has done a whole lot in improving his mood.Just as he was about to take another shot, his phone rang, breaking the silence. He hesitated for a moment before answering it."This is Bruno," he said, his voice deep and commanding. “Who is on the line?”"Bruno, it's Enzo. I need to see you at the lounge. It's urgent," the voice on the other end said, sounding excited. “At least in the next one hour, try to be here.”Bruno raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's going on?" he asked. “You sound quite excited.”"Just get here, Bruno
What other way should a married woman, fighting for her marriage wake up, other than in her husband’s arms, safe and sound…Rachel laid curled in Bruno's arms as they conversed, notwithstanding the fact that it was barely 7 am in the morning.“When we finally start having kids, I want daughters as gorgeous and caring as you are.” Bruno said patting her hair fondly as they lay in bed, her soft breathing, a soothing soundtrack to his morning.“And if they would be sons, I want boys, who would be as handsome as you.” Rachel whispered, and stared in his eyes, he was also staring into her eyes with so much affection.Rachel looked away from his eyes shyly, using her hands to knot the hemp of his shirt as she said. “I want three kids," she paused, her breath filling the quiet room only disturbed by the soft sounds of their breaths and the air conditioner. "Two boys and a girl."Bruno chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I think we should have four," he said, his voice teasing. "Tw
Alison's nerves were on edge as she stood in the kitchen, holding onto Travis's hands.She did not, in her wildest imagination, think that Mrs. Rodrigo would walk into such scene, now what?“Good Morning, ma'am.” She greeted and while waiting for Travis's mother to acknowledge her, her nervousness heightened. Travis, oblivious to the tension, smiled and greeted his mother warmly."Hey, Mom! What brings you here today?"Mrs. Rodrigo's gaze darted between Travis and Alison, her expression unreadable. Without responding to Alison’s greeting, she turned and walked away, leaving Alison feeling uneasy and Travis looking concerned."Mom, wait up!" Travis called out, following after her.Alison hesitated for a moment, then decided to eavesdrop on the conversation between mother and son. She crept closer to the passage, trying not to be seen."Mother, what's going on?" Travis asked, his voice firm but respectful. "Why are you being so rude to Alison, and what's the disgusted look you have on