The moment her lawyer called her to the witness stand, Freya stole a brief glance at Diego as if seeking reassurance before standing up, her hands still entwined with his. Diego gave her a warm smile, his eyes softening. He squeezed her hand gently before reluctantly letting go.All eyes were on Freya as she smoothed out her dress and made her way to the witness stand. She took the oath, and then Attorney Kim began her questioning."Freya, can you please tell the court about your marriage to Desmond July?" Attorney Kim asked.Freya took a deep breath before beginning, stealing a furtive glance at Desmond. "We were married for ten years, and for most of that time, I was miserable. Desmond was controlling and abusive, and he made me feel like I was worthless”, Freya said, her icy gaze never leaving Desmond."I'm so sorry, Freya. Can you tell the court about the phone calls you received from Desmond after you left him?" Attorney Kim asked further, her tone sympathetic."Yes...he called m
The sun was setting over Freya's house, casting a warm orange glow. Just then, a sleek black car pulled up to the curb in front of Freya's house, the engine purring softly as the driver put it in park. Turning the car engine off, the driver sat still for a moment, his eyes fixed steadily on the house, his jaw clenched in anger. He shook his head in indignation, his eyes burning with intense hatred.With an angry snort, he finally pushed open the door and stepped out onto the sidewalk, his eyes never leaving the house.Shutting the car door with a soft click, he strode up the walkway, his footsteps echoing off the quiet evening air. As he reached the porch, he paused for a moment, his hand hovering over the doorbell as if indecisive on whether to push it or not. Then, with a sudden burst of anger, he rapped sharply on the door, the sound echoing through the stillness.Just then, he heard Freya's curious voice from within, “Who is it?”He said nothing in response, glaring intensely at
The courtroom was filled with an air of anticipation as the litigants, lawyers, and spectators waited for Judge Jeffrey Jordan to take his seat. Another day of the trial arrived, with Freya wearing a mask of confidence as she sat quietly in her chair, her eyes fixed on some point in front of her. Attorney Kim, her lawyer, sat beside her, flipping through a stack of papers.Unlike previous court proceedings, Diego didn't show up. He had a lot of work to do and a case to sort out with his company's board of directors.After a few minutes, Desmond arrived and took his seat beside his lawyer, Attorney Simon, across from Freya and her lawyer.Just right before he sat down, his eyes met Freya's in a silent confrontation, Desmond's eyes blazing with malice. At that instant, he recalled the heated exchange of words between the two of them the day before, with Freya being unusually confident.Desmond sat smugly, his lawyer whispering something in his ear. Desmond's eyes flicked towards Freya
7:45 AMFreya hurried around the kitchen, preparing breakfast for Noah and herself before they headed out— her to work, Noah to school. The morning sunlight streaming through the kitchen window illuminated her busy movements as she prepared breakfast, though her thoughts were very far from the kitchen. She reflected on the most recent court's proceedings as she expertly cracked eggs into a bowl, whisked them together with a fork, and then poured the mixture into a hot skillet. Memories of the humiliation she had faced at the witness stand in the last court hearing resurfaced in her mind, sending a ripple of self reproach through her. Why had she allowed Desmond and his lawyer to belittle her?As she worked and pondered on the court case, Freya called out to Noah, who was still in his room. "Noah, sweetie, time to get up! We don't want to be late for school!" Then she paused, listening carefully for Noah's response. She expected to hear the sound of his footsteps or the rustle of h
Desmond sat behind his massive, mahogany office desk, his eyes fixed blankly on a distant point. His mind raced with strategies, counter-strategies, possibilities, questions, plans, thoughts…he seemed utterly troubled.His stiff and unsmiling expression, and his clenched jaw proved his inner turmoil. It was a battle between himself and his thoughts. His anxiety heightened and he couldn't help but imagine worse-case scenarios.Lost in a deep realm of thoughts, Desmond leaned back in his swivel chair, swirling from side to side, staring blankly at the ceiling.He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, a hint of desperation in his eyes. After a while of pondering on something, he sat up, shaking his head vigorously.Then he averted his gaze to a photo on his desk. Slowly, he picked up the photograph, his eyes fixed intently on it. It was a photo of Diego and Freya, with Diego's arms wrapped lovingly around Freya. A polished silver vase holding a bouquet of fresh flowers was on the desk and as he
After another successful day at work — the restaurant bustling with lots of supportive customers, her food truck business experiencing massive sales — Freya pulled up to Noah's school, her heart filled with a mix of excitement and routine. Although Noah had asked her several times to finally give him the freedom to go home by himself as he was a “big boy” now, Freya's motherly instincts moved her to continue picking him from school. She felt like she had to protect him even though Desmond, their only threat, wasn't in that city. He could take them by surprise as he had always done.As she stepped out of her flashy crimson-red car, she looked forward to seeing Noah's bright smile and hearing about his day. Stepping onto the sidewalk, she felt a sense of excitement wash over her as she also couldn't wait to tell Noah all about her splendid day.But as she approached the school entrance, a sense of unease slowly began to creep in. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something f
Freya arrived home, her heart racing with several disturbing thoughts. Her driver pulled into the driveway, and Freya's eyes scanned the front of the house for any sign of Noah or Diego.But there was nothing. No sign of life, no indication that anyone was home.Then, her driver killed the engine and the car screeched to a halt. Without thinking twice, Freya leapt out of the car and sprinted towards the front door, her anxiety spiked. She ransacked her purse for her keys, her hands trembling as she unlocked the door and burst inside.Then she stopped abruptly, realizing no one was home, which explained why the house was locked. Her eyes scanned the empty living room, her face etched with uncertainty. The silence in the house was deafening and scary as well.Freya let out a deep sigh, pulling herself together. Slowly, she took her seat on the couch, reminding herself that Diego was with Noah. But why weren't they home yet?Her heart raced as she pulled out her phone and dialed Diego's
As soon as Diego got to his car, he pressed the buttons of his car key and yanked the door open with a sense of desperation. He slid into the driver's seat, and his hands trembled slightly as he jammed the key into the ignition. Right before he started the engine, his driver, seeing he was about to leave urgently, sprinted towards the car and halted by the driver's side window.Diego wound the glass window down and glanced at his driver, ready to listen to him. Although his patience was hanging on a thin thread.“Boss, let me drive you home. I'm so sorry for leaving the car”, the driver said quickly, a hint of worry in his voice.Diego immediately averted his gaze from his driver, giving him a dismissive wave. “I can drive myself. I'm going somewhere important. Just go home”, he said curtly and wound up the car window.Without waiting to hear his driver's response, he started the engine and was about to put the car in gear when his phone buzzed again.Frantically, he glanced down at
A dull persistent throb pulsed behind Desmond's eyes as he stirred from unconsciousness. His body felt heavy, weighted down by something tight and unyielding. There was a pressure against his wrists, his shoulders aching from an unnatural position.The first thing he noticed was the cold. It seeped into his skin, a sharp contrast to the warmth of unconsciousness. He inhaled sharply, only to be met with the pungent smell of damp concrete, rusted metal, and oil lingering thick in the air.A faint dripping sound echoed somewhere in the distance, rhythmic and taunting. His senses sharpened, but his mind was sluggish, still clawing its way out of the haze.With effort, Desmond's eyelids fluttered open, his gaze unfocused at first. The dim light hanging overhead burned his retina, making him squint.The world was blurred at first, shifting between shadow and light. After a few seconds, he began to get a clearer picture of his surroundings.The space around him stretched wide and empty, the
Desmond looked away, inwardly battling with indecision—whether to believe her or not. He took a deep breath, his mind racing.On the other hand, Freya watched him closely, her gaze unwavering. His tired eyes spoke volumes about his intoxicated state. He was getting tipsier than before. And it was time to act.Freya tilted her head, her lips curving into a soft, understanding smile. “I know you're overwhelmed and can't seem to believe me. And that's understandable. I've practically ruined your life,” Freya said softly, her eyes locked onto his. She paused briefly, allowing her words to sink in. Then she let out a deep sigh and went on. “But people change, Desmond. You claimed you were a changed man, right? So why can't I claim I'm a changed woman as well?” Her voice was low and soft, but a hint of sarcasm was hidden in it.Desmond stared hard at her, reflecting on her words. His expression was a softer version of the skeptical mask he wore. And Freya smiled inwardly, realizing he was
9:32 PMThe hum of the engine was the only sound breaking the silence inside Freya’s car. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white as she stared through the windshield. Outside, the city lights shimmered, coupled with the lights coming from the inside of Desmond's office building, casting a pale glow over the darkened streets. The building loomed tall and ominous in Freya's rearview mirror, its shadow stretching across the pavement like a veil.Freya’s heart hammered against her chest as she adjusted her rearview mirror to get a better view of Desmond's movements. She had been waiting patiently for him to retire home, watching him closely in order to decide her next course of action.Just then, she saw him exit the building, his silhouette sharp under the yellow glow of the streetlights. He walked with the same arrogance she despised so much, his leather shoes clicking against the pavement. He was on the phone, his voice muffled but animated, likely barking or
“Evening, husband.”Freya's voice was thick with sarcasm, and her lips curved into a smirk. Without giving Desmond a chance to speak, she stepped into the room, her gaze sweeping over the mess he had made.The acrid stench of whiskey flooded her senses, making her grimace in disgust. She turned away, scrunching up her nose to fight the nausea it triggered. “What's that smell?” she mumbled, her face contorted with displeasure.Desmond fixed her with a deadly stare, his eyes blazing with unrestrained rage. “Why are you here?” he spat, leaning forward.Freya stared hard at the shattered pieces of glass, infused into the nasty pool of golden liquid on the floor. Her brows furrowed in a frown, and she shook her head in pity."Really, Desmond?" she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "Breaking bottles and shouting at doors? How…predictable."Desmond’s eyes darkened, his rage momentarily stunned into silence by the audacity of her presence. He watched as she walked further into the
Desmond sat alone in his dimly lit study, the amber glow of the desk lamp casting long shadows across the mahogany furniture. The air reeked of whiskey and regret. His hand trembled as he brought the glass to his lips, but the drink did little to dull the bitter thoughts swirling in his mind. He leaned back in the leather armchair, his eyes drifting shut. Freya. Her name alone sent a wave of anger coursing through his veins. His jaw tightened as he replayed the events of the past months in his mind. It was certain that Freya’s schemes had been meticulously calculated and set into motion long before she returned to his house. She couldn't have possibly just woken up one day and chosen violence. Who knew what had been going through her head for months now?She had walked back into his life as someone hardened, vengeful, and utterly fearless, not as the meek woman he had once controlled. He swirled the whiskey in his glass, watching the golden liquid catch the light. The burn of alcoh
Diego sat back in his executive swivel chair, a small cup of coffee in his hand. His professional attire was a perfect contrast to the warmth of his triumphant grin. The sun poured in through the window walls, casting golden light over the rich wood and steel accents of the room. The television in his sleek office played the breaking news on every major channel. The headlines blared across the screen: "Corporate Scandal: Freya July Sells Major Stake in Dexus Innovations to Rival Competitor!" The accompanying footage showed reporters scrambling outside Desmond's towering headquarters, desperate for a comment, while stock market analysts discussed the fallout of Freya's calculated move.Diego took a tiny sip of the warm liquid in his mug, his eyes glued to the TV, as if savoring every word the reporters said."...a shocking betrayal by Freya July, Desmond's wife, who has sold a substantial portion of her shares to RavenTech Industries, one of Dexus Innovations’ fiercest competitors," t
The morning air in the city was crisp, carrying the faint hum of activity that grew louder with each passing hour. The glass façade of Dexus Innovations shone in the sunlight, casting a long shadow over the busy streets below. And inside, the tension was palpable. The grand ballroom on the twenty-fifth floor had been transformed into a stage for a high-stakes event. Rows of chairs lined the room, facing an imposing podium framed by floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the city skyline. A team of technicians moved swiftly, adjusting microphones and ensuring the lighting was perfect. Journalists were already streaming in, setting up their equipment and chatting in low tones as they speculated about the announcement that had drawn such a crowd. Desmond had spent the morning pacing his office, his mood growing darker with each passing minute. Freya’s announcement had come with little warning, just a cryptic notification sent to his inbox the night before. He hated s
Desmond’s day started like any other, but by noon, his world was on fire. His name was being dragged through the mud, entwined in a brutal scandal and was splashed across every major financial news outlet and social media platform. The headlines were ruthless: "Corporate Kingpin Exposed: Internal Documents Reveal Mismanagement at Dexus Innovations.” The evidence was damning—leaked documents showing years of financial mismanagement, unethical practices, and reckless decisions that had placed the company on the brink of collapse. That wasn't all—Desmond was also accused of ruling his empire with an iron fist, suppressing his employees and making them feel insignificant.Desmond was left in a state of confusion as he didn't understand how such stories about him could be circulated. To the best of his knowledge, they were all lies. But unknown to him, Freya had leaked those internal documents to damage his reputation.Now, another board meeting was scheduled. The boardroom was chaotic.
6:12 PMFreya’s car purred to a halt in front of Desmond’s mansion, and as she looked out the window, her eyes rolled heavenward in disgust.The sleek lines of the building glinted under the harsh glow of the driveway lights, an unwelcoming beacon that altered Freya’s relaxed mood.She and Noah had been gone for weeks, settling down in an apartment she had bought for silent getaways.She needed to get away from Desmond for a while—almost as if she was deliberately avoiding him after all the devious things she had done to ruin him.And she got the break she needed. However, facing Desmond was going to be scary. Though he had no proof of her hand in his business being on the verge of collapse, she was afraid of what he might do to her. Desmond hadn't changed one bit. He was still as despicable as ever.She turned to Noah, a faint smile crossing her face. “Noah honey, let's go,” she said softly, patting him gently on his head.Noah only gave a slight nod and got out of the car. Freya wat