Gabriel is really in hot soup
Gabriel’s POV“What the hell?” I exclaimed, my voice trembling as I stared at the screen.“Is this a sign?” My chest tightened, my heart pounding.“Am I being punished by the universe? Why? Why is my life crumbling, unravelling, and spiralling into chaos—all in a single moment?”"Maybe... maybe I need to confess to a priest.” The thought clawed its way into my mind—a desperate plea for redemption. “Maybe his faith might persuade God to forgive me?” I whispered, clinging to the idea as if it were my last lifeline.No one knew this, but I worked so hard—too hard—to make sure Diana’s Fashion Store went bankrupt over the past two decades. It was me. I was the one who planted false rumours, tarnishing their name in the media under an anonymous guise. That’s why customers abandoned her and came to me instead.It worked flawlessly. For years, I thrived. And now, after all this time, she managed to reopen her store and compete with me when I was going through a bad phase in my business and ge
Emmanuella's POV I saw him with my side eyes as he peeped into my phone. Scoff!I got it, he was trying to know if I already had a police officer's phone number and if I was planning to report him.“Alas, baby boy!” I thought to myself as I smirked. “Today is not that day I shall let your rat off to the cat.” I thought again. Just then, when I saw that his eyes were not on my phone screen again. I went into my archived messages and started texting. “Hey Roy” I texted, “Hey Emma” he replied. Roy was someone I met just a few weeks ago in one of the parties I was invited to and since then, we have been getting close. “What are you doing tonight?” I texted. “Nothing, just gonna N*****x and chill I guess?” he replied. Then I smiled into my screen as if he could see my face right through his phone. “Can I come?” I replied. And as though he expected this message, “sure. I mean, if you want to?” he sent with a smiling and love emoji at the same time. And that was it, that was all I
Gabriel’s POVWhen she got out of bed and went to the bathroom, I caught a faint smirk on her face. It was subtle but unmistakable. She was up to something—something involving me. I clenched my jaw as the bathroom door clicked shut. That look wasn’t innocent. It was calculated, a silent taunt. And I could not help but wonder what her game was.She spent an eternity in there, the sound of water running grating on my nerves. When she finally emerged, she wore that pink gown—the one that clung to her curves and made me think of the times we’d fucked in the office. Back then, she was irresistible. Now, she was just a haunting shadow of my mistake.Her voice cut through my thoughts. “Enjoying the view, Gabriel?”I snapped out of it and folded my arms. “Are you going out?”She paused by the dresser, giving me a sideways glance. “Well, doesn’t it look like it?”Her smirk returned, daring me to respond. But I didn’t. Instead, I watched her grab her purse and head toward the door.When the do
Gabriel's POV If life had been different, if I were the happy husband with a happy wife, I would be home right now, sleeping soundly in our bed. But life wasn’t different, and here I was. As confusion swirled in my head, I answered Lawyer David’s suggestion with urgency. “Can we meet now?” I asked, not minding what it was by the time. David hesitated. “Uh… now? Well, okay… ” In the background, I heard a woman’s voice, Lola, David’s wife. “You’re not going anywhere, David. It’s midnight!” Of course. Which happy wife would let her husband leave their bed for someone else at this hour? Her resistance was understandable, but I couldn’t wait. “I have to go, love. I’ll be back soon,” David reassured her before returning to me. “St. Louis Café. Now.” The call ended, and I didn’t waste a second. Grabbing my keys, I headed to my car. Waiting any longer wasn’t an option, not when my life felt like it was crumbling by the second. ***When David arrived at the café, his eyebrows lifted sl
Rebecca’s POVA new gossip had surfaced on the internet, spreading quickly across a blog site and then picked up by others.I was still awake, sitting on the couch with Natasha as we binge-watched a K-drama on Netflix when my phone buzzed with a notification.“Gabriel Moretti now a laughingstock?” the headline read. Instantly, I was curious.I showed my phone to Natasha, and she immediately got the same notification on her own device.Both of us were intrigued, so we clicked the link and opened the article.“Gabriel Moretti, one of Madena's millionaires, humiliated himself at St. Luis Café earlier today. Sources say he was stumbling drunk after downing several bottles of beer alone. Could this be a sign of depression, or is he just a reckless man who no longer cares about his reputation? Let’s dive into the details.”Under the post, there was a division line, and another post began.“Recently, we saw the fashion store, The Authentic Authentics, next to Moretti Shoes, reopening with a
Gabriel’s POV“Authentic Authentics got a partnership with Valentines Conglomerate?” My eyes widened as I watched the vice president of the Valentines Conglomerate shake hands with Diana.“Is Rebecca getting back at me?” I muttered, recalling the moment I saw her leaving Chris Bruno’s VIP room that night, her smirk lingering in my memory.“This can’t be a coincidence,” I said, pacing around the room.Problems piled up around me like a landslide, and I didn’t know which to tackle first. As I thought about Rebecca, another thought about Emmanuella stabbed through my mind. I sank into the chair. My head felt as if it were filled with lead. If I claimed to have control over my life, I’d be lying. I was lost, desperate for someone to lead me to clarity. But who could be that guide?This was Madena, a place where nobody had time for anyone else’s problems. There was no sense of community. If you were lucky enough to marry a decent partner, you might have companionship. But if you were fooli
Gabriel's POVBack in college, I got into trouble—I beat up a girl for bullying me relentlessly. I thought it was justified—a moment of righteous anger. But then she turned out to be the mayor’s daughter, and my world crumbled. Luke was the one I called when I felt the walls closing in. He didn’t hesitate. He silenced her permanently. That one act became the first domino in the series of events that landed him in prison.We used to have a spot near the college where we’d meet whenever trouble brewed—a place hidden from prying eyes. Tonight, I was headed there again. Mandena hadn’t changed much, but I had. I was no longer the scared, reckless boy I once was—or so I told myself.When I arrived, Luke was already waiting, leaning against the cement bench, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. The glowing ember burned like a warning in the dark.“You’re late,” he barked, his voice slicing through the silence of the empty street.“Sorry,” I muttered, taking a seat beside him. The bench
Rebecca’s POVPatience wasn’t my strong suit, but I found it occasionally rewarding. As the partnership of Authentic Authentics with the Valentines Coglomerate aired across multiple news outlets, I leaned into my network to amplify its visibility and maximize sales.As a businesswoman, selling came naturally to me. Leveraging connections? That was second nature. My first step had been simple yet effective: ensuring the store made headlines. Now, nearly everyone in Mandena knew about Authentic Authentics. If not all, then certainly the majority.The second step was to ensure the event’s success by drawing in influential personalities. People are naturally drawn to success, and when they see prominent figures frequent a place, it cements an unshakable trust in its authenticity.I composed a message, deliberate and precise:“I will be hosting an exclusive event showcasing luxurious goods at Authentic Authentics. Your presence would be an honor.”I sent it to an elite group of contacts—the
Judge Hilar’s POVI sighed as I listened to Attorney David’s arguments. He had hit the nail on the head, leaving no room for a contrary opinion. Mr. Micah, without a doubt, should be sentenced to life in prison with every fiber of strength the law permits.However, as a judge, I could not allow emotions to dictate my judgment. The law was not based on sentiment but on logic and fairness. Even when all fingers pointed at Mr. Micah, my duty was to ensure that those fingers were justified before delivering a verdict. A mistake in judgment could cost an innocent person their future, and I could not allow that to happen under my watch.With this thought in mind, I looked up at the courtroom. "Thank you, Attorney David," I said first, acknowledging his argument.Then, I shifted my attention to the documents spread before me. These were files submitted to my desk by Attorney David and Attorney Deborah at the beginning of this argument via the bailiff. Each document contained crucial informat
Micah’s POVAfter Evelyn had been asked a series of questions, she nailed the hammer on the nail, putting me in even more misery—misery I knew I could never escape from. Each word she spoke tightened the noose around my neck, making my fate feel inevitable.“Your Honor, if it pleases the court, I would like to invite Chef Mirabel herself to the stand,” Attorney David announced, his voice firm and unwavering. My heart pounded in my chest, my anxiety reaching its peak.This was the moment of truth—one that would drown me in the most pitiful state of my life.At this instance, I wished I could turn back the hands of time, erase every trace of my meeting with Rebecca. She was the root of all my misfortunes. If only I had never met her, maybe—just maybe—I would still be living my life the way I wanted, preying on victims too weak to stand up for themselves.As my thoughts spiraled, I barely registered Mirabel stepping forward.“Do you swear to tell nothing but the truth?” Attorney David as
Micah’s POVThe moment the video stopped playing, my mind went blank.I couldn’t think. I couldn’t speak.I was already bracing myself for the inevitable—for the judge to pronounce my judgment.The video was gory, violent, and disturbingly dark. It was so graphic that I struggled to believe Annabella had managed to capture everything that happened that night. But there was no mistaking it.My face was there. Clear as day.Her face was there too.There was no way around it. No excuse that could erase what was already being broadcasted to every single person in this courtroom.I felt suffocated."Mr. Micah."Attorney David’s voice sliced through the heavy silence.My pulse quickened.I kept my gaze lowered, refusing to meet his eyes. I didn’t need to look to know what expression he wore. I could hear the smugness in his voice before I even saw it on his face.He stepped closer. “I want to believe that video was AI-EDITED, right?” he teased, leaning against my stand, his words dripping w
Micah’s POV“Shut your fucking mouth up!” my voice boomed from the audio.“You fucker! I am so going to have this sex with you, and there is nothing—nothing—no fucking body will fucking do about it!!!” my voice continued, filled with rage and dominance.“Ahhhhhh!” a lady’s voice rang in the audio, high-pitched and trembling.“Shut your hell mouth! You wanna tell me you’re not fucking enjoying this?!!!” my voice cut through the recording like a blade, silencing the lady.***I opened my eyes widely in horror.A cold shiver ran down my spine, making my fingers tremble slightly as I gripped the edge of the table before me. The courtroom was suffocatingly silent, yet the weight of the countless stares boring into me felt heavier than any noise could have been.I needed no one to tell me I was doomed.When did this lady make the voice recording?I struggled to recollect the exact moment. My mind raced, flipping through my memories like pages in a book, but the answer was already known to m
Micah’s POV“Objection Overruled!” Judge Hilar voiced immediately. And with this,“Mr. Micah, please approach the stand,” Attorney David gestured, his voice carrying the weight of authority.My heart pounded against my chest, an anxious rhythm that echoed through my entire body. I forced my feet forward, each step feeling heavier than the last. What question was Attorney David going to ask me? What angle was he going to take? Was this about defining sadomasochism, or was he going to twist the narrative, making it seem like my sexuality had driven me to attempt rape?Before I could steady my breath, one of the court officials—a woman dressed in a well-tailored brown suit with neatly pressed pants—stepped forward from the corner of the courtroom. She moved with calculated precision, her every motion exuding professionalism. In her hands, she carried two hardcover books that looked like legal documents at first glance. But deep down, I knew what they were.“Which belief do you adhere to,
Micah’s POVI couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw David Cooper enter the courtroom. His footsteps as he walked down the aisle were full of tension.Everyone was shocked. Who wouldn’t know David Cooper? The best lawyer in the whole country?My heart raced as he continued to approach. And when he approached the bench, said his name to the judge, it was as if my heart dropped into the deepest pit.My hands trembled as if I was infected by a shaking disease. I was sweaty all over. Before I met Rebecca, I had watched cases David Cooper argued on TV.He was a popular attorney that they used his life-courting arguing cases to teach young and upcoming attorneys how to do it right. And as such, his cases were always shown on TV for free.The cases he argued were brutal. The defendant, if he were prosecuting, always landed in a life sentence or was sentenced to be killed by fire.I opened my eyes widely as I remembered the final judgment a court pronounced on a case.Would I be judged to be kil
Rebecca’s POVWe arrived at the Supreme Court of the Country of Manderin. We had been duly informed that Micah’s hearing at the court was today, and hence, his fate would be sealed before the day was over.The weight of the moment settled heavily upon my shoulders, but I embraced it with unwavering determination. This was the day justice would be served.In light of this, we had hired a prosecutor who would prosecute Micah for his crime—David Cooper.One of the best attorneys in the whole of Manderin, talk less of Mandena. His reputation preceded him, a man feared by many in the legal profession, admired by even more.I had personally paid to hire him. A whopping sum of 400 grand. Just to put Micah in his place and make him understand that there are consequences for every action and inaction.To attempt a r*pe was a crime against humanity, and definitely, he must learn to put his dick in his trousers from now on.The moment we arrived at the court, I saw him darting a fearful look at
Micah’s POVMorning came as if it were never going to. The night was so long, and I was hell frozen to almost death. Every second that passed felt like an eternity, and the darkness of the cell only made it worse. My body ached from the cold, my muscles stiff, and my mind foggy from the lack of sleep.I never knew that Mandena was a city with so much coldness. Each time, I had always been in the room with the heater turned on, sheltered from the biting night air. But tonight, no heater was turned on. No thick blankets to wrap myself in. Just the unrelenting chill that seeped into my bones, making it feel as though I was locked inside a freezer, struggling to keep warm with nothing but my own body heat.The station was eerily quiet. Most of the police had retired home for the night to be with their families, leaving only a few behind. The ones who stayed behind weren’t the same officers from the daytime. These men were different—fully dressed in black, wearing masks that obscured their
Micah’s POVThe instant the officer returned to my cell, I didn't wait for him to speak. "I want my lawyer!" I immediately voiced before he could say anything else.“So, you think you can afford a lawyer, huh?” he chuckled darkly, his eyes narrowing as he sized me up. Then, with a casual wave of his hand, he turned to the others. “Give him his phone for ten minutes,” he ordered, his voice carrying an authoritative edge.“Let him get himself a lawyer. But monitor him. We don’t want any funny business,” the officer warned.Funny business? Like what? Did they think I was going to miraculously break out of the cell? Escape from the police station when I knew full well that I’d be caught again? That any attempt at running would only worsen my already dire situation?I stayed silent, my thoughts swirling in my head as I remained seated on the cold concrete bench. A few seconds later, another officer approached the cell, his gaze unreadable. Through the metal bars, he stretched out his hand,