Rebecca’s POV“Rebecca, his wife is outside. She is staring at you now,” Natasha said through the earbud in my ear, prompting me to smile again. Though the smile appeared cute and harmless to Gabriel, it was, in fact, a smirk. It was the perfect moment to inflict pain on the woman who had taken my place, and I wanted her to feel three times the anguish I experienced when Gabriel betrayed me.Just then, I heard Natasha again. “One of his connections is just leaving a short distance away. We’ll talk more about that when you get here.” I waited to respond, ensuring Gabriel wouldn’t suspect anything. I coughed once to signal that I had heard her.Gabriel rushed to grab a bottle of water, believing my cough was genuine and that I needed it to calm myself. How foolish of him! But it was anyway an unplanned move to make his little wife even more jealous. I accepted the glass of water from him, smiling sweetly.As I took the glass, I brushed my fingers lightly against his, ensuring it was at a
Gabriel’s POV As Rebecca left, I couldn't believe my eyes at who entered the restaurant. "How did she know I was here?" I asked myself, my thoughts spinning, but before I could process any answers, she was already in my face, her eyes flashing with betrayal."How could you?" Emmanuella scowled, her voice trembling with anger and hurt."Emmanuella, what are you doing—" I started, trying to make sense of the situation, but she cut me off before I could even finish the sentence.She grabbed the glass of wine Rebecca had left behind and threw it right in my face, the cold liquid stinging my eyes. The shock hit me like a brick wall. But before I could react, Emmanuella picked up the bottle of water I’d given to Rebecca and dumped it over my head, drenching me completely.My breath hitched as the icy water trickled down my face, soaking my suit and turning heads all around the restaurant. Everyone – doormen, waiters, even the kitchen staff peeking out – watched in stunned silence as Emmanue
Emmanuella’s POVMany would call me mad. But I was not mad; I was just a woman ready to keep her man by any means necessary. The moment we left the restaurant and I chased after him home, I felt there was no longer any reason to create a scene. I mean, we were now home, and there was no Rebecca anywhere, right?I began to keep malice with him immediately. I needed him to come to me, to come on his knees, to beg me for forgiveness and promise me he wouldn’t be with her for any reason again.And just at that moment when he would do that, I’d take his phone from him, remove his SIM card—it wouldn’t even matter how many business contacts he had. I would be ready to break his SIM card into two halves and step on it while I personally got him a new line, ensuring he stayed away from that bitch called Rebecca.But he didn’t come to me. He didn’t say a word after I started keeping malice with him instantly.I went to our room, but he went to the visitor’s room instead. Is he mad?Not a trace
Gabriel’s POVI was still on the phone call with my lawyer when I heard Emmanuella tiptoeing quickly toward me. Instinctively, I knew this was going to be ugly, so I had already hung up the call with my lawyer. But I pretended to still be on the line, changing the words coming out of my mouth to something generic, anything to keep her from discovering what I was really talking about and to whom.Suddenly, she snatched the phone from my ear and smashed it to the ground. Her eyes darted dangerously at me, filled with a rage I had never seen before. It was as if she could hold a knife and wouldn’t hesitate to stab it right into my stomach.I had never seen this side of Emmanuella. I never even knew it existed. She was like a rabid dog, aggressive, disoriented, and with a brain tumor that made her no longer recognize her owner. Her fury was palpable, a living thing that filled the space between us.“Try me again, and it won’t be your phone I smash to the ground; it will be your face,” she
Rebecca’s POVPeople who bring unhappiness often don’t realize the depth of hurt they cause. Only the person suffering truly knows. And for me, the grief of my mother’s loss has yet to release its grip on my heart.It should have been a clear, blue-sky morning—a refreshing one, filled with a solemn breeze and all. But it wasn’t. My emotions, my heart, and my soul were drowning in grief.The night before, I dreamt about my mother. She appeared in my dream, smiling with her big heart and loving expression. She was a good mother. Even after all my disobedience and poor choices, she was there for me when I was at my lowest.I wish I had listened to her warnings. If only I hadn’t disobeyed and married that son of a bitch. Perhaps she would still be alive, and we’d be living peacefully and in good health. But he killed her, indirectly yet absolutely. And he thinks I could forgive him so easily?Last night, he sent me a text, and I could almost taste his desperation. For someone who tried to
Gabriel’s POVThe question kept gnawing at me: What was really happening?I couldn’t understand Rebecca anymore, and that unsettled me deeply. Just last night, our conversation had ended on what I thought was a hopeful note. I’d clung to it, believing we were finally making progress. But now, seeing her again, her expression so unreadable, I could feel doubt creeping in, eroding that brief, fragile hope.When she arrived at the restaurant, I felt an involuntary jolt in my chest. There she was, looking ethereal, almost angelic. In that moment, I was acutely aware of every detail—her deep red lips, her dark hair framing her face just so, her skin almost glowing in the dim light. She was elegance and strength wrapped in beauty, a force that felt untouchable and yet was standing right before me. I rose to my feet, nervous but eager, and reached out to hug her, wanting her to feel how much her presence meant to me. But as my arms wrapped around her, she barely reciprocated, stiffening ever
Emmanuella’s POVMany of you would call me desperate, obsessed, and throw all sorts of insults at me. But I don’t care. You’re not in my shoes, and you don’t understand how broken I was. So think whatever you want—it’s your own business.When Gabriel asked me what I was doing here, I smirked at him. If he knew the real reason I came, he wouldn’t be asking questions. He’d be running for his life, trying to escape the mess I was about to create.Or did he think I was a fool? Did he think I didn’t see everything that happened?When he left the house after I begged him to make love to me—didn’t they say that love rekindles a fading relationship? He could have just done that. Maybe it would have saved our marriage, maybe it would have helped us move past this stage. He could have seen that there was nothing Rebecca could give him that I couldn’t.But no, he chose her. I wasn’t enough.I’ve been following him since last night. I knew he stayed at a hotel, I knew he ordered a new phone, and I
Gabriel’s POVEmmanuella’s words hit me harder than anything I had ever imagined. I couldn’t believe it—she knew everything. All along, she had known. But she never let on, not once. I was in shock.This was something I did in secret, something I thought no one would ever find out about. Not even Rebecca knew what had happened. But Emmanuella did? How?“How... how did you find out?” I stammered, but she didn’t answer my question. Instead, she smirked, a look that told me if I made one wrong move, I was in for a world of pain.Her silence was more unsettling than any answer could have been. The weight of what she knew threatened to crush me. If she exposed me—if she told anyone about my involvement in the accident—my life as I knew it would
Rebecca’s POV The first light of morning felt so refreshing when you knew that you had done something to put the one who used to put your heart at peril for something he might never recover from. But there was still a possibility that he recovered and I was about to make it more certain that he never did. I was about to make his life worse than it already was. I’d taken my elegant bath, and my makeup artists had perfectly styled me to look like the noble lady I was. Now, Natasha was with me, and we were about to do something new. “What do you think about this?” Natasha showed me her screen and I pondered staring at a building for a while. This was a fashion store adjacent to Moretti shoes on one of the popular landmarks in our city. The fashion store was said to have filed for bankruptcy because Moretti Shoes sent it out of business over a decade ago. Ever since then, their sales plummeted largely to the extent that they did not have any more sales, not even one unit sale in the
Rebecca’s POVThe moment I stepped out of the Disco Nightlife, I didn’t leave immediately. Instead, I stayed back, hidden in the shadows, eager to see Gabriel’s expression when he realized there was no way to turn things around. The person he’d planned to make his brand ambassador was now mine, and there was no way for him to buy his loyalty.I smirked. About twenty minutes later, Gabriel emerged from the nightlife. His shoulders slumped, his face a mask of defeat. He looked lost, drowning in his thoughts.I watched him walk to his car, his movements heavy with frustration. First, he kicked his tires and screamed, his voice echoing in the quiet night. Then, as if in a fit of rage, he slammed his fists against the car’s bonnet, like it was his opponent in a boxing ring.“F**k!” he yelled, the raw frustration of a man unraveling before my eyes.Money can make or break a man. When he has it and spends it freely, he feels powerful, feeding his ego. But when the money stops flowing and all
Gabriel’s POV Stepping outside the club, I decided to confirm with Emmanuella just to be sure she wasn’t the one who made me lose my partnership with Lorenzo. “Hello,” I said on the phone as soon as the call connected. “What?” she blurted back. “Did you have anything to do with me losing my contract with Lorenzo Fabrizio?” I asked straight to the point. “Listen dear, though you are a f**ker who attempted to leave me in this marriage. I hate you for that but I won’t sabotage the contract you ought to secure so that you can take care of me to the level I want. Now get off my phone.” Emmanuella said that she hung up the call on me at once because of this. Hearing from her, though she sounded harsh and all of that, I know for sure that she couldn’t be the one. It felt odd to even think she was the one, knowing fully well that all she cared about his getting her lifestyle sponsored. Definitely, she wanted me to secure the contract and the only person smiling on the TV was Rebecca.
Gabriel’s POVAt 6:45 p.m., I adjusted my tie in the mirror one last time. My suit was immaculate, tailored to perfection, and ideal for the evening. Tonight’s meeting with Chris would be a turning point for my company. I couldn’t afford to be late, nor could I afford to lose this deal.The drive to Disco Nightlife from my home was only thirteen minutes, which meant I’d arrive two minutes early. Timing was everything in business. Arrive too early, and you look desperate. Arrive late, and you seem unprofessional. Either way, you’d lose respect and, often, the deal itself.To avoid being seen as overeager, I spent the two extra minutes outside, pretending to admire the establishment. Neon lights glowed faintly in the dusk, and the rhythmic pulse of music seeped through the walls. Couples and groups of friends walked past, laughing as they entered the venue. Despite the lively energy around me, the weight of my company’s struggles pressed heavily on my shoulders. This wasn’t just a meeti
Rebecca’s POV Natasha had been glued to her laptop all night. Even now, the early morning sun was peeking through the blinds, casting streaks of light across the room, but her focus hadn’t wavered. Meanwhile, I was just climbing out of bed, the lingering haze of a perfect night still wrapping around me. Last night was a resounding success. The press conference had gone flawlessly, the stage was impeccable, and the partnership with Lorenzo was splashed across every major news outlet. It was all designed for one purpose: to rattle Gabriel. I could almost picture him now—sitting alone in that cold, hollow house, watching the news that painted me as unstoppable. I couldn’t help but scoff at the thought. He deserved every ounce of despair coming his way. Dragging myself to the power room, I was greeted by Natasha’s sharp voice. “You need to see this,” she said, handing me a hot cup of coffee. Curiosity piqued, I settled into the chair across from her, adjusting my silk robe as
Emmanuella’s POVOne thing was clear: a cheating husband who got caught deserved no happiness—not even in his own home. And as much as I intended to keep Gabriel in this marriage, no matter what, he didn’t deserve to enjoy it.When he returned from the business trip where he had gone to close a deal, his expression said it all. He had lost.I already knew. Before his arrival, I’d seen the news about Rebecca’s company partnering with a certain Lorenzo Fabrizio. I didn’t know who Lorenzo was, but I’d bet my life it had something to do with Gabriel.He stumbled through the door, dropping his briefcase carelessly near the entrance. His tie was loosened, his shirt wrinkled, and his steps heavy. He extended a luxurious package toward me—a gift—the one I had asked him to buy for me.“Here,” he muttered, his voice flat.I took the box, my lips curling into a small smile as I opened it. Inside was a delicate designer bag studded with diamonds. I examined it closely, twisting it under the light.
Gabriel’s POVWhile headed home, I tried to steady my thoughts. Frustration gnawed at me, but one thing was clear—I couldn’t risk showing up without the bag her ladyship at home demanded.I turned into a fashion store, the bright lights doing nothing to ease the weight pressing on my chest like a boulder chained to my soul, dragging me deeper into the abyss of my own despair.“Can I help you?” the salesperson asked, their smile overly practiced.“I need a designer bag,” I replied curtly.“This one costs 10 grand, sir,” they said, holding up a sleek, branded piece.My stomach churned. Ten thousand dollars—for a bag. I’d already scoured the entire store, and this was the cheapest option that fit the profile. There was no escaping it.“I’ll take it,” I said, the words tasting bitter in my mouth.“Okay, sir. Please hold on while we pack it for you.”Less than a minute later, the bag was handed to me, encased in luxury wrapping. The guilt didn’t wait—it hit as I stepped out of the store. T
Gabriel’s POVAfter Lorenzo left me at the restaurant, I didn’t get up right away. I just sat there, staring blankly at the table, replaying his words over and over in my mind.“Who could I have offended?”One name rose unbidden from the depths of my thoughts—Emmanuella. She was the only one who made sense. Our recent days together had felt like walking through fire. Her trust in me had burned away, piece by painful piece, and she’d taken drastic steps to counter my motive of leaving her and make me a prisoner in our marriage.Was this her way of getting back at me?Even so, we’re still married. If I don’t secure this investment, it will impact us both. Could she really be that indifferent? Or maybe she had money stashed away somewhere and wasn’t the least bit worried about my struggles?“Would you like anything, sir?” A waiter’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. I looked up at her, jolted back to reality. I knew the unspoken rules—if I wanted to linger here, even just a few m
Gabriel’s POVToday was the day I was meeting with the tycoon businessman Lorenzo Fabrizio, a man whom I have been chasing for years to invest in my business. Luckily for me, just at the delicate time when my business was suddenly going down the slope, my appointment with him was approved, and today was that day.Nevertheless, I was the unhappy soul amidst all of the things going on in my life. Business was not moving well, and Emmanuella was also a thorn in my flesh to the extent that she even knew my darkest secret.I wished she hadn’t known this. I wouldn’t have blocked Rebecca on all socials just to make sure she didn’t expose me.Honestly, I wouldn’t lie that sometimes it crossed my mind to take the bull by the horn, give it a try to hit and run at her, or to tackle this problem head-on in another sort of way. But I knew she’d be extra careful with me now.Each of my steps, she’d be four steps ahead, and there was nothing I could do until I saw her make a mistake. Then, I could s