Freya sat face to face with Desmond in a fancy restaurant, chewing her food reluctantly as she stared hard at him for an unnerving amount of seconds, scrutinizing him as if placing a laboratory specimen under observation.Desmond, who was “engrossed” in his meal, gave a slight smile as he devoured his chicken, chewing in a way which anyone would term as “adorable” or “endearing”. His expression and demeanor would never give someone, who had never had an encounter with him, the impression that he was indeed a terrible person. He looked entirely innocent and friendly with Freya.“What's wrong, Freya? You don't like the food?” He asked with a concerned expression on his face.“I do. I just love to chew my food slowly”, she said slowly, a feigned smile on her face.“Sure. That's very ladylike. So typical of you to observe good table manners”, he said in a gentle calm voice and a warm smile.Freya's brows furrowed in a slight frown as she regarded him, refraining herself from cringing in s
Freya averted her gaze quickly in discomfort, squeezing her fork tight, suppressing the difficult emotions welling up within her. She swallowed hard as her heart thumped roughly through her chest.“Are you okay, Freya?” Desmond asked, sensing her unusual behavior, his tone laced with concern.“I'm fine”, she replied curtly, stealing a furtive glance at Diego.“Do you need to use the restroom?” He pressed on, leaning forward to take a closer look at her face in concern.“I just want to go. I've lost my appetite”, she said sharply, lowering her gaze.Desmond hesitated for a few seconds, watching her closely before letting out a deep sigh and a slight nod of understanding. He knew fully well that Freya's sudden strange behavior was as a result of Diego's unexpected appearance at the restaurant. What he didn't understand was why she was so tense just by looking at Diego. Diego on the other hand seemed to be mad at her. The usual Diego he was accustomed to would have darted towards them
Freya remained silent, trying to figure out the best method to pour out her heart to Diego, her eyes fixed directly at him in an intense manner.Diego couldn't bear the prolonged uncomfortable silence. He let out a deep sigh, shutting his eyes and rubbing his temples.“Talk to me, Freya”, Diego said with a soft voice as he opened his eyes slowly. “I'm ready to listen”.“The nerve of you to act like you know nothing about what you did to me”, Freya said icily as she fixed him with a glacial stare.Diego stared at her in disbelief. He couldn't fathom where the conversation was heading and what she was going on about.“Fine. I don't know what I did. Which is why I want you to say it”, he said in a low tone and looked away.Just as Freya was about to say something, Diego scoffed, running his fingers through his hair and pushing it backwards.“You know what? I can't believe this, Freya. I did something wrong to you and instead of talking things out with me, you resorted to going out on a d
Diego stared blankly into space for a long while, deeply absorbed in his thoughts.The swivel chair, which he sank into, faced towards the window wall in his office, making him stare blankly at the buildings and city beyond.Nothing made sense to him anymore. He forced himself to believe that Freya was simply playing a prank on him.He wondered why everything seemed to work against him at the same time. He already had to deal with the fake rumors being circulated about him, contemplating whether to address the public on his innocence in the false allegations and clear his name, or remain silent and let anyone believe whatever they wanted to.On a second thought, he wondered if the rumors being circulated was a deliberate act to daint his image. Why would anyone accuse him of things which he had never done and could never do? Plus, why would someone bring up the business conflict he had with Marcus many years ago, twisting the misunderstanding to look like he was fraudulent. After all,
It was Sunday. Freya and Noah were home, Noah playing around with his toys.Two weeks had passed without Freya hearing from Diego. The silence was long and excruciatingly painful, absolutely unbearable for her.Freya stared blankly at her phone beside her in intense anticipation of Diego's name appearing on the screen.That was the first time she had stayed for some days without a phone call or a text from him. She was certain he was probably mad at her.But what did she do wrong? Was she wrong to voice out her thoughts and conclusions? Diego was clearly the one at fault and the reason for their misunderstanding. He betrayed her.Freya sat still on the couch, deeply absorbed in her reverie, thoughts of Diego running through her mind. She recalled seeing him on the news a few days ago, clearing his name and disproving the allegations against him. He explained everything that happened in the past between him and Marcus and made it clear that there was no beef between them. He even went
"Have a seat”, Freya said in a low tone and took a seat on the couch. Diego gazed at her for a few seconds before taking a seat as well, at a considerable distance away from where she sat. Freya stole a furtive glance at the unusual gap between them, something she had never experienced since she met Diego. Hurriedly, he cleared his throat deliberately, a precursor to his speech. “I made a promise to you that I would come back with evidence to clear my name and prove my innocence to you. And I always keep promises, Freya”, Diego said firmly as he opened his suitcase and pulled out a file containing a few documents. Freya's brows knitted in suspense as she stared hard at the file, wondering what they could be about. “Take a look at these. With the help of my men and the private detective I hired, I got to find out what really happened the day you lost the contest and how it is linked to the rumors being circulated about me. Look at them”, Diego handed a few documents over to he
Freya attended to the customers at her food truck absentmindedly, her mind racing with several disturbing thoughts.It had been a few days since she last spoke to Diego. He was unusually distant and cold towards her. She sent him a few texts which he didn't reply to; he simply viewed the message and left it on “seen”.She didn't ever believe that Diego, who was madly in love with her, could become so detached. It hurt her in ways she couldn't explain and she felt worse knowing that she couldn't possibly do anything to save their bond. She watched Diego slip through her fingers.Just like he had advised, she went ahead to conduct a further investigation into what happened at the contest and the rumors about Diego. She saw for herself that he was indeed telling the truth and that Desmond had been pulling the strings right from time. He was the devious mastermind behind the chaos and now, his actions cost her Diego.Freya was deeply absorbed in her thoughts when she accidentally touched
Freya stood nervously outside the 25-story Hunter's Global Enterprises building which towered above her, its sleek design and shimmering glass façade intimidating and triggering her anxiety.She knew what she had to do and had thought about it well enough. There was no time to waste. She had to rectify her mistakes.Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her dress and composed herself before pushing open the revolving glass doors into a lobby with gleaming marble floors and a sleek reception desk. Her heart pounded as she approached, her mind racing with the impending confrontation with Diego.As she approached the reception desk, Freya's eyes scanned the area, searching for a glimpse of Diego. The receptionist looked up and smiled at Freya.“How may I assist you?” She asked, polite but detached.Freya began with a nervous stutter, “Uhm… I…” The receptionist raised a brow slightly, urging Freya to go on.Freya couldn't hide her nervousness. She blamed it on the fact that she had never b
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