Reina The last thing that I would believe without a visible evidence was Ethan cheating on me. I stared at my phone screen, the photo staring back at me like a ghost haunting my marriage. But this time, it was not just in a private message. It was plastered all over social media, accompanied by salacious headlines.“Billionaire Ethan Spotted with a fling.”My fingers trembled as I scrolled through the comments. Some people mocked the situation, while others speculated about the woman in the photo. There were even fake stories weaving tales of Ethan’s supposed sexual stories with her.My stomach rumbled and I was dumbfounded. I had gone from deceiving myself that this was not true to believing it in an instant. My husband’s name, our family, dragged through the mud like this, it was unbearable.I don't know why Ethan did something like this to hurt me. It was difficult for me to believe all of these up till now. But guess what? I was yet to approach him up till now. “Mommy, can
ReinaI sat on the edge of the couch, staring blankly at the rejection email on my laptop screen. My chest felt tight, as if someone had tied a band around it and kept pulling.“We regret to inform you…” the words blurred before my eyes. This was supposed to be my moment. My designs, my heart and soul, were rejected not because they were not good enough, but because I was not safe to associate with anymore.All because of the scandal on the internet. Ethan walked into the room, his tie loosened and his face weary. He carried a raging anger with him as he walked and his energy was practically crackled.“Reina,” he began, but I cut him off, holding up my hand.“Not now,” I snapped. “I just got rejected from the showcase. They said they can’t afford the bad press. Thanks to you, cheater.”His face hardened. “What?”“You heard me,” I said, shoving my laptop toward him. “This scandal of yours is ruining everything.”“Mine?” he barked, his voice rising. “You think I wanted this? Reina, som
ReinaI stared at the headline plastered across the screen of my phone: “Designer Reina Traps Billionaire Husband: Isn't she such a Gold Digger?” My chest tightened as I scrolled through the venomous comments flooding the article.“She is clearly after his money.”“Poor Ethan. He deserves better.”“I knew she was too good to be true.”“Okay, I like this. I have never liked that woman for any thing.”The words felt like daggers. Each one sliced deeper into me, leaving me raw and exposed. My hands trembled as I tried to lock my phone, but I couldn’t look away. O was shaking and deep down, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. Why was all these happening to me? This was because of the stupid man I fell in love with. Because of him, I have suffered a lot of things. I have been treated like a filthy rag and I was no longer respected. I was thinking of filing for a divorce and the thought of my son came to me again. I didn't want to drag him into this mess. “Reina!” Ethan’s
Reina I was scared of making a terrible decision. The air was heavy as I sat at the small café table, my hands cradling a lukewarm cup of tea. My eyes darted nervously around the room, scanning every face for any hint of familiarity. This meeting felt risky, but I had no choice. I needed answers. I had already made a decision a long time ago on how to deal with my relationship with Ethan. The door chimed, and in walked Sarah, her sharp heels clicking against the tiled floor. Her tailored navy suit and confident posture reminded me of the ambitious PR strategist I used to know. She spotted me and waved at me and her expression softened as she approached me.“Reina,” she greeted warmly, pulling me into a brief hug. “It has been a while.”“Too long,” I admitted, gesturing for her to sit.Sarah settled into the chair opposite me and leaned forward. “So, you said you needed help. I read about the scandal. It’s brutal. I wonder why someone would pull off something as terrible as that
ReinaThe hotel room was quiet, apart from the soft hum of the air conditioning. I sat cross-legged on the plush armchair, staring at the untouched glass of juice on the table.My luggage sat in the corner, still zipped shut. I had not bothered to unpack. This was not home. It wasn’t even close.I leaned back, rubbing my stomach slowly. My phone buzzed on the table, but I ignored it. No doubt it was Ethan again, calling to apologize, to promise that things would get better, to swear he was not hiding anything else. But how many times could someone make those promises before they started behaving like a sane human?The fight we had replayed in my mind for the hundredth time.“You don’t get it, Ethan!” I shouted at him, my voice cracking. “Every time you keep something from me, it feels like you are building a wall between us. How am I supposed to fight for us when you keep shutting me out?”Ethan had run a hand through his hair, feeling frustrated and confused. “I’m not shutting you
Heart-wrenching Betrayal. REINA I raised my head to find my husband, Ethan walked into the living room, arms tucked together with my step sister as I clutched tightly on the wiper I had in my hand as my heart wrenched in pain at the sight. “You’re back….” I tried to ignore the sight of my husband being so close with another woman and tried to welcome him warmly but he slammed a file on the table, Interrupting me coldly. “Sign it.” He commanded as I saw the smirk on my step sister’s face. My gaze diverted to how she held onto Ethan. This wasn’t the first time I have seen them been so close. I have had to endure the sight of them always together for the past two years even when he was married to me. I bent down to pick the file and opened the driest page. It read Divorce agreement! The file slipped off my hands due to choke. “What the hell are you doing?! Sign the fucking papers and get out of my house, you filthy whore!” My husband breathed in rage, impatience tinged his voice a
REINA SIX YEARS LATER As I catwalked with confidence, my suitcase beside me in the airport lobby, I scanned for any sign of Bruce, and there he was with a cardboard over his head that read “Welcome Back, Reina.” I smiled and walked up to him amidst the crowd of people waiting for their loved ones. “Welcome back, Reina,” Bruce greeted, hugging me. “You look….” “Hot?” I winked, finishing his words as he nodded with a chuckle. I smiled, flipped my hair backwards, and removed my sunglasses. “Of course, I can’t still remain the same old Reina they knew before.” I chuckled, and Bruce understood exactly whom I was referring to. “I am just happy you are living well, Reina.” “Living well?” I asked as he took my suitcase, and we headed out of the airport. “I am not living well, Bruce. Not until I have my revenge on those who killed my child,” I said with a chilly smile as Bruce opened the car door to the sleek limousine he had arranged for me upon my arrival. As he settled in beside me
REINA I pushed him away when it seemed I had had enough and shot him a glare. “Even if you are a fan of mine, you should restrict yourself from acting so irrational in public, Mr. Steele,” I said through gritted teeth to show how I was pissed at his behavior. “What are you saying, Reina? You’re my wife,” Ethan immediately replied like a little boy who was trying to defend himself when he was already caught in the act. Director Steve's eyes widened at the revelation while my body stiffened in rage. “Ex-wife,” I corrected with a cold tone and smiled when I saw the overall shock on his face. “You know each other before?” Director Steve chimed in. “Yeah, she is…” “Don’t make that mistake again, Mr. Steele. My girlfriend doesn’t appreciate her ex trying to claim a certain ownership over her,” Bruce slipped his hand around Reina’s waist as Ethan chuckled in disbelief and his eyes diverted to the hand Bruce placed protectively over me. Nice one Bruce, I thought within me as I snuggle
ReinaThe hotel room was quiet, apart from the soft hum of the air conditioning. I sat cross-legged on the plush armchair, staring at the untouched glass of juice on the table.My luggage sat in the corner, still zipped shut. I had not bothered to unpack. This was not home. It wasn’t even close.I leaned back, rubbing my stomach slowly. My phone buzzed on the table, but I ignored it. No doubt it was Ethan again, calling to apologize, to promise that things would get better, to swear he was not hiding anything else. But how many times could someone make those promises before they started behaving like a sane human?The fight we had replayed in my mind for the hundredth time.“You don’t get it, Ethan!” I shouted at him, my voice cracking. “Every time you keep something from me, it feels like you are building a wall between us. How am I supposed to fight for us when you keep shutting me out?”Ethan had run a hand through his hair, feeling frustrated and confused. “I’m not shutting you
Reina I was scared of making a terrible decision. The air was heavy as I sat at the small café table, my hands cradling a lukewarm cup of tea. My eyes darted nervously around the room, scanning every face for any hint of familiarity. This meeting felt risky, but I had no choice. I needed answers. I had already made a decision a long time ago on how to deal with my relationship with Ethan. The door chimed, and in walked Sarah, her sharp heels clicking against the tiled floor. Her tailored navy suit and confident posture reminded me of the ambitious PR strategist I used to know. She spotted me and waved at me and her expression softened as she approached me.“Reina,” she greeted warmly, pulling me into a brief hug. “It has been a while.”“Too long,” I admitted, gesturing for her to sit.Sarah settled into the chair opposite me and leaned forward. “So, you said you needed help. I read about the scandal. It’s brutal. I wonder why someone would pull off something as terrible as that
ReinaI stared at the headline plastered across the screen of my phone: “Designer Reina Traps Billionaire Husband: Isn't she such a Gold Digger?” My chest tightened as I scrolled through the venomous comments flooding the article.“She is clearly after his money.”“Poor Ethan. He deserves better.”“I knew she was too good to be true.”“Okay, I like this. I have never liked that woman for any thing.”The words felt like daggers. Each one sliced deeper into me, leaving me raw and exposed. My hands trembled as I tried to lock my phone, but I couldn’t look away. O was shaking and deep down, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. Why was all these happening to me? This was because of the stupid man I fell in love with. Because of him, I have suffered a lot of things. I have been treated like a filthy rag and I was no longer respected. I was thinking of filing for a divorce and the thought of my son came to me again. I didn't want to drag him into this mess. “Reina!” Ethan’s
ReinaI sat on the edge of the couch, staring blankly at the rejection email on my laptop screen. My chest felt tight, as if someone had tied a band around it and kept pulling.“We regret to inform you…” the words blurred before my eyes. This was supposed to be my moment. My designs, my heart and soul, were rejected not because they were not good enough, but because I was not safe to associate with anymore.All because of the scandal on the internet. Ethan walked into the room, his tie loosened and his face weary. He carried a raging anger with him as he walked and his energy was practically crackled.“Reina,” he began, but I cut him off, holding up my hand.“Not now,” I snapped. “I just got rejected from the showcase. They said they can’t afford the bad press. Thanks to you, cheater.”His face hardened. “What?”“You heard me,” I said, shoving my laptop toward him. “This scandal of yours is ruining everything.”“Mine?” he barked, his voice rising. “You think I wanted this? Reina, som
Reina The last thing that I would believe without a visible evidence was Ethan cheating on me. I stared at my phone screen, the photo staring back at me like a ghost haunting my marriage. But this time, it was not just in a private message. It was plastered all over social media, accompanied by salacious headlines.“Billionaire Ethan Spotted with a fling.”My fingers trembled as I scrolled through the comments. Some people mocked the situation, while others speculated about the woman in the photo. There were even fake stories weaving tales of Ethan’s supposed sexual stories with her.My stomach rumbled and I was dumbfounded. I had gone from deceiving myself that this was not true to believing it in an instant. My husband’s name, our family, dragged through the mud like this, it was unbearable.I don't know why Ethan did something like this to hurt me. It was difficult for me to believe all of these up till now. But guess what? I was yet to approach him up till now. “Mommy, can
Reina“I was done for and my joy had been short-lived. I don't think I would be able to recover from this shock,” I muttered to myself. The house was still quiet except for the ticking of the clock in the kitchen. I sat at the table, staring at the blurry photo on my phone, the message below was still burning into my mind: “Is this your husband?”My chest felt heavy and like a heavy weight pressing me down, it made it hard for me to breathe. The image was a little blurry but I could not deny it.Ethan’s face was unmistakable, the curve of his jaw, the way his shoulders hunched slightly when he leaned in to talk. And the woman? She was a shadowy figure, even though her face was half-hidden, I could still notice her hair and the way they held themselves. The closeness between them made my stomach rumble. My fingers tightened around the phone as a thousand thoughts raced through my mind. Who sent this? Why now? We had just started putting the pieces of our life back together. Why
ReinaArriving there, the house I saw was everything we had dreamed of. It was gigantic with a lot of massive windows that enabled light to go through it. I had a liking for it already and didn't mind if we were going to live here for the rest of our lives. “It looks good. Why don't we pay for it? Relocating doesn't seem that bad. Besides, it's in another city.”“Sure. I will pay for it. I don't mind either. It's just sad that we keep running away from a lot of things. Both the unknown and the known.”“It's tiring, sweetheart. But what can we do? We are humans and we will always have a lot of problems.”Ethan shook his head while I kept admiring the building. The living room had very high ceilings and the furniture looked new and neat. The walls on the other hand were painted white and the floors were sparkling white that it gleamed as if they had never been walked on. The other me would have pushed against going to another city but when our lives were at stake, I could not say an
EthanI sat on the edge of the bed with my head in my hands. I have made a lot of terrible decisions and now the consequences have come crashing down on me. The room was dark, but even in the shadows, I could see the mess I had made of my life.How did it come to this? How did I become this man? The man who let his family slip through his fingers, who made promises he could not keep. I thought I was doing the right thing when I took that job. Becoming more rich and putting my name on the top richest chart was what I wanted. But now… now I have lost everything that matters.I betrayed Reina. Not just with that night I can’t erase, but with every lie I told to cover it up. I thought I could protect her, shield her from the storm I had created. But she saw through me, she always does. And Andrew… God, what kind of example have I set for my son?Tears burned my eyes, and I didn’t fight them. I deserved this. The shame, the guilt, the fear. I deserved to feel every ounce of it.“I’m so
EthanI kept to my words and I contacted Louis who told me where to meet him. Although, Louis made it clear to me that he had long retired from anything detective but he would help me. I arrived at the address a few minutes early and my nerves were already unraveling as I scanned the quiet parking lot.Where he told me to meet him was a small, rundown place on the outskirts of town, the kind of spot where no one asked questions. It was Perfect for this kind of meeting.The fluorescent lights inside flickered slowly as I stepped through the door, and some weird aroma hit my nostrils. I hated the smell. If I knew that this was what I would meet with, I would have worn a mask. A couple of people sat in a booth near the back and they were having loud conversations. My eyes moved around until they landed on Louis who was seated at a corner table with his back to the wall.He had not changed much since the last time I had seen him. He still had the same gray hair, same sharp eyes that