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
Gabriel’s POVShocked by the news, I couldn’t hold myself together any longer. It felt like a massive blow to the face.“The Authentic Authentics and Rebecca pulled that off?” I muttered in disbelief. It was surreal, like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.This revelation pushed me into a deeper pit of despair. The entire day was a haze—I didn’t leave the couch where I had slept. I couldn’t even muster the energy to brush my teeth or take a bath.My business felt like a sinking boat. Water had seeped in, and no matter how desperately I paddled, I knew it was only a matter of time before it capsized.I sighed. “What am I supposed to do now?”My mind wandered through an endless desert of thoughts, parched for a solution. None came. I had tried everything—to partner with Lorenzo, then with Chris—and failed each time.Another partnership with a prominent figure crossed my mind, someone who could turn things around. But the idea was as fragile as the others.“What if it fails again?” I t
Gabriel's POV“Aunt Racheal?” I exclaimed, rising abruptly from the couch as she strode into my living room unannounced, dragging a battered suitcase behind her.“Why have you been ignoring my calls, Gabriel?” She snapped, her sharp tone cutting through the air. She didn’t bother with greetings. “You know if you ignored me, I’d show up myself! You think you can avoid me forever?”I sighed, running a hand through my disheveled hair. “I’ve been busy, Aunt Racheal. Life’s been... complicated.”Her frown deepened as she dropped the suitcase by the wall, crossing her arms. “Complicated? What’s so complicated that you can’t answer your phone? Your uncle is sick, Gabriel! So sick he might die. Do you want him to die? Is that what you want?”Her voice trembled with faux urgency, but I wasn’t buying it.“Sick again, huh?” I said with a bitter chuckle. “Or is this another one of your scripts?”Her face twisted in indignation. “How dare you, child! Your uncle needs $10,000—at least—to get proper
Gabriel's POVI couldn’t say it enough—I regretted divorcing Rebecca. She was everything a good woman should be, and I was a fool for not realizing it sooner.If I could turn back time, I’d do whatever it took to have her back. Right now, though, this very second, I was trapped—ensnared by the witch who held my darkest secret over me. The secret I couldn’t afford to let slip.I stumbled out of the house, needing air to clear my thoughts. The night was cool, but it did little to calm the storm raging inside me. Aunt Racheal—my rock since childhood, the woman who raised me after my parents died—was in that house. And she’d just been humiliated by the woman I married.It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Emmanuella was supposed to be my partner, my equal—not my tormentor. I paced back and forth on the sidewalk, my mind racing. Aunt Racheal must be seething in the guest room, hurt and furious. And she had every right to be.I couldn’t let this slide. I had to do something—anything—to fix t
Emmanuella’s POVI walked down the stairs, my smirk wide and my laughter echoing through the empty hall. That useless woman Gabriel called his "aunt" had finally left.Did he really think I’d fall for that? Gabriel was lying. I’d seen this game before in my previous marriage, and I wasn’t about to play the fool again. I knew how to handle deceitful men and their "secret visitors."Now, with a second-chance husband, was history going to repeat itself? Over my dead body.I collapsed onto the couch, flipping on the TV. The news wasn’t showing—just some wildlife documentary about predators hunting their prey. How fitting. I couldn’t help but let my mind drift to Roy.Earlier today, while I was at his place, he had gotten bolder with me. The food I’d brought? He barely glanced at it.“I want to eat you first,” he’d said, his voice low and full of promise, before sweeping me off my knees and carrying me to his bedroom.I smiled to myself, my fingers absentmindedly brushing my lips as I remem
Luke’s POV“A cheating woman is a dangerous woman who could kill you if you do not chase her away quickly.”I smirked at the woman Emmanuella exclaimed while I was stroking her faster and faster. And I just knew that Gabriel was lucky to be hunting her life first. If not, he would certainly be the one to go six feet under, because this woman he called his wife was ready to take him down with no remorse if given the chance.I came the second time into her. But alas, I have been long diagnosed as infertile, so there was no way she could get pregnant.Just as I pulled out my dick from her, I saw how she smiled back to me. Even the blind could see that she really enjoyed this.“I am so tired,” she breathed out tirelessly indeed. And with me, rising up from the bed, I watched how she covered herself with the blanket, and under one second, she was fast asleep.“Bitch!” I cursed at her instantly now.My expression had changed like I was not the one who just finished having sex with her. One
Emmanuella’s POVAttorney John released his creamy cum into my mouth, and I just swallowed it down my throat.One thing I loved most about him was that when he pulled down his pants and brought out his dick for me to suck, it didn’t have a foul smell. Others do. Roy does, but he, on the other hand was perfect like Gabriel always was too.When I swallowed it inside of me, I smiled smugly to him. I knew he understood that type of smile so well. And he knew what I meant by that smile.Right at this moment, he began to stroke his already shrunken penis again. Caressing it gently like the nipple of a woman. And yes, I saw how the little Mr. began to rise again like it loved the gentle stroke he was giving it.Just then, I watched as he smirked back at me.He wanted the BDSM, and I’d given it to him. Now, it was time to fuck me the proper way that I am so pleased with.“Can I take this off now?” I asked him, then nodded at my hand he already tied to the bed frame handle.He said nothing. But
Luke’s POVShe smiled slyly, her lips curling in a way that screamed mischief. It wasn’t just a smile—it was a promise. Then, slowly, she began to undo her buttons, her fingers deliberate as if she wanted me to watch and savor every second.This dress—whatever it was—was one of those women’s designs I couldn’t name, but it didn’t matter. As she freed each button, the fabric parted in a smooth cascade, like Moses splitting the Red Sea into two perfect halves.She stood there, unflinching under my gaze. Speaking of perfection, Emmanuella was its living embodiment.Her matching lingerie caught my attention first—a bold, fiery red that contrasted beautifully against her skin. The bra cupped her breasts just enough to tempt, while the panties clung to her hips like they were custom-made to flaunt her every curve.“You’re staring,” she teased, her voice a melodic hum, snapping me back from my trance.“Who wouldn’t?” I replied with a smirk.Her laugh was soft, almost mocking, as she took a sl
Luke’s POVI gave her an evil smile at this moment. Trust me when I say evil smile, it didn’t mean evil. It meant a smile with intent.Just like a cat smirked at you when you asked if it wanted a bowl of milk. But who doesn’t know that cats love milk?When she asked if I didn’t mind that she was married, I am a guy. A guy wants to fuck anything in a skirt that comes his way.“Of course, I know you are a married woman even before I came to help you. And don’t forget that I have met your husband one or two times, so, I don’t mind.”I saw the way she smiled as my words landed in her ears. This was what she wanted. And she was going to get it like Christ getting his last supper before his death.ScoffI pulled out my phone from my pocket and went on Google.The best thing about being in a city was there were places you could access just with the use of your phone.Without needing her permission, I began to search on the Google map for hotels closest to the restaurant we were in and their
Luke’s POVI arrived at Gabriel’s house at exactly 7:57 PM. I was supposed to pick her up at 8 PM, but I wanted to be that gentleman who arrived earlier than agreed. I walked up to the door and knocked immediately, just as I checked my watch.“Oh! My love, I’m coming!” she called out, her voice almost too eager, as though she knew exactly who it was at the door. There was something about the way she said it that made me smirk—she sounded like she was trying to spite Gabriel with our date tonight.Scoff.Women. Always so dramatic—so shallow-minded. If only she knew this was all Gabriel’s doing. She’d run ten miles away from me if she understood the danger she was really in. But no, she was walking straight into her death, completely unaware.The door creaked open, and before I could say another word, she pulled me in for a tight hug. Right in front of Gabriel. It was almost too perfect. She wanted to make a point, but she didn’t realize how much she was playing into my hands.Gabr
Emmanuella POVI lay on the bed in the bedroom, trying to stay as far away from Gabriel as possible. He had been acting strange ever since I came back home.No signs of jealousy, no signs of discomfort. He was just so relaxed, as if he couldn’t care less about anything I did.I mean, I knew this about him before. It wasn’t exactly a surprise. But come on, if a man were to drop me off the porch of our home, I should at least see some kind of reaction—just like I did when he brought home a fake aunt.I was scrolling through my phone, flicking through every blog that had posted the article from the anonymous blog accusing me of murdering Roy and the others.Suddenly, I saw another update from the same anonymous blog.I didn’t know how the handler of the blog was doing it. Even though I wasn’t following them, the blog kept showing up in our faces like it was hunting us.But this time, instead of a caption that made me feel vindicated and at ease, the headline read:"The killer of the thre
Luke’s POVI smirked inwardly as I watched Emmanuella. She had just called her husband a useless bastard and confirmed that if I was serious, she’d leave him for me in a heartbeat.“Excuse me,” I said to her, rising from my seat. Without another word, I walked out of the coffee shop.Standing near the corner of the shop’s exterior, I positioned myself strategically. The tall glass wall of the coffee shop would make it easy for her to see me without hearing anything from the outside. I wanted to make sure she knew I hadn’t left just yet.I covered my mouth with my palm and dialed Gabriel’s number. The thick glass wall between us ensured she couldn’t hear me, but I wasn’t taking any chances.“Hey, Gabriel!” I said as soon as he picked up.“I swear to God, Luke, if you—” he began, immediately threatening me. He didn’t like how I’d handled the situation with the bodies. I did kill people whom he had not sent me to kill. But he should’ve known by now: I was clearing the path for us.“Don’t
Luke’s POVI smirked inwardly as I watched Emmanuella sit at the table at the coffee shop. Her eyes were swollen. I could easily see that she did not sleep all night long.“Do you know him?” she asked me all of a sudden, leaning her head forward like she was trying to keep a secret.“Know who?” I asked, pretending to be confused. I didn’t know whom she was referring to.Of course, when she stepped down their stairs earlier, she looked like someone who was surprised to see me and Gabriel whispering. But if only she knew. Scoff!“I saw you two talking. Is there something I should know that I don’t?” she asked me again.I smiled at her boldly now. Aside from the fact that I know how to take people out of the way—if you know what I mean—lying was also another area of my specialty.“Well, he was asking me if I was the attorney and was trying to get you out of this mess,” I said to her.“And what did you say?” she asked me with a brisk voice like she was desperate to hear what I was going t
Rebecca’s POVI smiled back at him. I knew I hadn’t committed the crime. No matter how many blue documents he placed on his table, even if they had a picture of me holding a knife and slicing a throat, I’d know the evidence had been altered, and I was ready to sue.“You’re smiling?” the detective asked, clearly shocked to see that even in this situation, I was smiling at him.“I’ll give you one last chance to confess,” he said, his voice firm and threatening. “Or else, I promise you, you’ll rot in jail for the rest of your life.”“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I replied confidently.The detective scoffed, shaking his head. “You don’t understand the gravity of the situation you’re in, do you? We have a case built against you. A very strong one.”I leaned back in my chair, my arms crossed. “You can keep trying to spin your web of lies, but it’s not going to work. I’m innocent.”Just then, he opened one of the documents on the desk and turned it toward me, pushing it closer.Inside the fo