Chapter 70Melissa’s fingers tightened around the handles of her shopping bags as she watched the scene unfold before her eyes. Hidden behind one of the mall’s sleek columns, she had a perfect view of Michael and Kaitlyn. She couldn’t believe it. Michael, her husband, the man she had fought tooth and nail to steal from Kaitlyn, was standing there, practically begging for his ex-fiancée’s forgiveness. The look of desperation on his face was unmistakable, and every word they exchanged was like a slap to her face.Vanessa, who had just come out of one of the shops, joined Melissa standing beside her, oblivious to the turmoil building within Melissa. “Hey, you good? You’ve been staring at them for a while,” Vanessa whispered, nudging her friend’s arm. Vanessa had only witnessed part of their interactions.Melissa didn’t respond. She felt her pulse quicken as she watched Kaitlyn walk away, her bodyguards closing in around her as if she were some queen. Michael stood there, alone, defeated,
Chapter 71Vanessa stood awkwardly at the door, holding a few of Melissa’s shopping bags that she had mistakenly taken with her. The air in the room was thick with tension, and she knew instantly she had walked in on something she wasn’t supposed to witness. Michael was pacing, his face flushed with anger, while Melissa stood a few feet away, arms crossed and her eyes blazing with fire.“I, uh… I think I grabbed some of your stuff by accident,” Vanessa mumbled, holding up the bags. Her voice felt out of place in the charged atmosphere.Melissa barely acknowledged her, her attention fixed on Michael, who looked like he was ready to explode. The silence that followed was deafening, and Vanessa shifted uncomfortably, regretting her decision to come back.Michael’s eyes darkened as he took a deep breath. “We’re not done here,” he muttered, glancing at Melissa one last time before grabbing his jacket from the back of a chair and storming out of the house, the door slamming behind him with
Chapter 72Estefan studied Kaitlyn, her hesitation still in the air. He could feel the tightness in his chest as the silence stretched between them. Part of him wanted to press her further, to demand she tell him the truth about her interaction with Michael. But as he gazed at her, a softer side took over. The tension in the dining room was becoming unbearable, and he didn’t want to make things worse.With a slight smile, he waved his hand, brushing off the question as if it were unimportant. “Forget it,” he said lightly, his tone changing. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Let’s just enjoy dinner.”Kaitlyn blinked, surprised by his sudden shift in mood. She could sense a weight lifting off her shoulders, relief flooding her chest. She offered a tentative smile, thankful that he wasn’t pushing the issue. The tension in the air seemed to ease, even if only slightly.“Yeah, you’re right,” she said, taking a small bite of her food. “No need to dwell on it.”Estefan nodded, though his mind was far
Chapter 73Estefan’s phone buzzed loudly again as the tension between him and Kaitlyn reached its peak. He glanced at the screen again and saw it was a call coming in, which he knew was urgent with the message he had just received. For a brief moment, he hesitated.“I’m sorry, I have to take this,” Estefan muttered, excusing himself from the dining table.Kaitlyn felt a wave of relief wash over her. As Estefan left the room, she let out a quiet breath, thankful for the distraction. The tension from earlier had been almost unbearable; she hadn’t been prepared for his probing questions just as he had done the previous night, or the intensity of his gaze.The brief escape gave her the time she needed to regain her composure and gather her thoughts together as she finished her meal alone.For the rest of the evening, Estefan was busy, dealing with one business issue after another. Kaitlyn didn’t mind. In fact, she welcomed it. The last thing she wanted was for him to press further about h
Chapter 74Michael tried to mask his concern, but it was clear that the news had troubled him. He rubbed his temples, trying to steady his thoughts. The inspection could spell trouble, especially given his current state of disarray.“What are we going to do?” Michael asked in a low voice.Jessica looked at him sympathetically. “We need to be prepared. Mr. Salvatore’s visit could be significant, and we need to ensure everything is in order before he arrives.”Michael nodded; his stress was beginning to show on his face. “Okay, provide a report of all the pending correspondence.” His assistant acknowledged the request before she left.Michael sat at his desk, staring blankly at the email announcing Estefan’s upcoming visit. The surprise inspection in three days had rattled him more than he cared to admit. He was used to running things at his own pace—efficiently enough, but he hadn’t been as sharp lately, and now he was paying for it.“Why now?” he muttered, running his hands through hi
Chapter 75While the team wrapped up for the day, the director returned to his cabin to review some paperwork. He barely had time to breathe before his assistant walked in, apologized profusely.“I’m sorry about today,” the assistant said. “Melissa’s usually much more professional. I’ll talk to her and make sure everything’s sorted out before the next shoot.”“I hope she sorts herself out before then.” The director muttered under his breath. He stretched his hands to collect the file report he had requested earlier.“I will ensure that.” The assistant replied.The director waved him off. “Forget it. We’ve got bigger fish to fry.” He leaned back in his chair, flipping through the file his assistant had brought him. It was the special edition magazine for the season, a crucial release that required every detail to be perfect and their most anticipated edition for the year.As the director scanned through the designs and concepts, his mood lifted. The new identity they had chosen as the
Chapter 76A wicked smile formed on Melissa's lips as a thought of how she could destroy Kaitlyn's marriage with Estefan crossed her mind.“Why can’t I have Estefan all for myself?” They can’t replace me, she thought bitterly. Not like this. Not after everything.She picked up her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed a number she hadn’t called in years. It rang twice before a familiar voice answered on the other end."Well, well. Long time no hear, Melissa. What can I do for you?""I need a favor," Melissa said in a cold voice. "You owe me. And I’m calling in that favor now."The person on the other end chuckled darkly. "I thought you’d never ask. What’s the job?"Melissa leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing. "I need you to help me get some information, and I need it done fast. Will forward the details to you now.”There was a pause, then a slow, satisfied laugh. "Consider it done."Michael OfficeMichael sat in his office long after everyone had left. He glance
Chapter 77Estefan Penthouse The sun had barely risen when Kaitlyn walked down the stairs in an attempt to avoid meeting with Estefan after the awkward moment and unsolved encounter they had shared the previous night. She wasn’t ready for another awkward silence with Estefan.But as she turned the corner into the dining room, her jaw dropped as she saw him already seated at the head of the dinning table, engrossed in the morning newspaper over a cup of coffee co while waiting for his breakfast to be served.Estefan glanced up, his eyes meeting hers also a little surprise. Instantly they both understood what was happening, a warm, sheepish smile instantly spread across Estefan face. Kaitlyn hesitated for a moment, considering turning back, but it was too late."Good morning," he greeted, folding the newspaper and placing it on the table."Good morning," Kaitlyn replied, trying to maintain a normal tone.She sat down across from him, unconsciously keeping her hands busy with the empty