Chapter Twenty- Three

Emilia

What the hell? What the actual hell? 

It was her. It was Katherine who drugged me that night. Now that I actually think about it, it all makes a lot of sense

The realization of this truth hit me like a train, my body stiffening as the pieces came together. I actually thought I was crazy, I kept on questioning myself over and over again about what exactly had happened that night at the club. But now, it all made sense.

I remembered vividly, she had approached me that night, all smiles and she came to mock me. My drink had been right in front of her, and I recalled that I had turned my back at her at some point. That must have been when she did it. That crazy bitch.

I clenched my fists as my breathing became fast. I could not believe it. After everything, she was the one who had drugged me that night, setting everything in motion.

I swallowed hard. Richard.

Had she done it to him too?

He had even accused me once, believing I was the one who spiked his drink. But what if Katherine was the person behind it all? It wouldn’t be surprising. She had always been this manipulative snake, always looking for ways to destroy those she saw as beneath her. She had to pay for this. She must pay for it.

I would make sure of it.

A commotion broke out as two cops dragged Katherine toward the building’s exit. Her screams echoed through the main floor, sharp and filled with lots of desperation.

"You can’t do this to me! Do you have any idea who I am? Let me go!" she shrieked, thrashing wildly in their grip.

But the officers didn’t care. They kept their hold firm, ignoring her tantrum.

I stood still, my eyes following the scene, my heart pounding inside my chest with rage. The noise, the total chaos—it all became too much. My stomach twisted painfully, and I instinctively placed a protective hand over it.

"It's going to be alright, baby," I whispered, my voice soft but firm. "It’s all going to be just alright."

My child. The innocent life growing inside me.

For so long, I had lived in fear, confused and unsure of what really happened that night. But now I knew, and there was no turning back.

And what about Jayden? That ass.

A fresh wave of anger surged through me at the thought of him. Was he involved in this too? It would also make sense. He had always been a conniving, heartless man, willing to do whatever it took to get ahead. If Katherine could go this far, what about him? I'm sure he wouldn't mind getting his hand in the mud as well. I wondered where he was as things escalated. Wherever he was hiding his face, he wouldn't stay there for long

I would get to the bottom of this. I had to.

The ground floor of the company’s building was packed with a whole lot of people, employees kept on stepping out from their offices and gathering around to watch the scene unfold before them. Whispers and murmurs kept spreading through the crowd, like a wildfire consuming dry grass.

"Katherine Smith being arrested? That is not surprising at all," someone said. 

I continued to listen in silence.

"I actually never really liked her, she thought she was above us all, now look at who's getting dragged out like absolute T-R-A-S-H" another voice muttered spelling out the word trash out loud. I turned my head over to them and observed.

"She definitely deserves it."

"I said it before, her family has always been up to no good. First it was her father, he embezzled the company’s money for years, and now she’s getting arrested. What did she do? Embezzle even more money?"

A group of four employees burst into hearty laughter at that remark.

I turned sharply and glared at them. My eyes burned with fury, and as soon as they noticed my glare, their laughter died in their throats. The smirks vanished, replaced by stiff, uneasy expressions. Without another word, they quickly dispersed, shuffling away in an instant.

Good.

I wasn’t exactly in the mood to deal with their nonsense. I had bigger things to worry about.

Katherine let out another furious scream as the officers pulled her through the glass entrance. She twisted her body, trying to break free, her face red with rage.

"Richard! Richard, you better tell them to let me go! You know I didn’t do anything!" she cried with desperation, her voice cracking.

Richard stepped forward, his gaze cold and unmoved. His jaw tightened, and when he finally spoke, his tone was like ice.

"Katherine, you confessed with your own mouth. You did this to yourself. Face it."

Her eyes widened in shock. For the first time, she looked truly scared. "N-no, that was just a mistake! I didn’t mean it, I was just angry!"

Richard didn't respond. He only shook his head slightly and looked away, dismissing her completely.

That was it. She had already lost.

As the officers finally shoved her outside, the building’s glass doors closing behind them, silence fell over the crowd. People exchanged glances, some whispering, others shaking their heads in disbelief.

I let out a slow breath, trying to keep myself able and steady.

It was over.

At least for now it is.

I had won this round, but I'm sure that there were still more truths to uncover. I also needed to find out if Jayden had been involved in any way. I needed to know what really happened that night—every single detail, no matter how little.

Because if there was one thing I knew for sure, it was that I wasn’t going to let this go.

Not now. And certainly not ever.

Richard stood in front of the crowd, his towering stance demanding immediate attention. The once and ever buzzing office space, filled with murmurs and whispers, fell into an intense silence the moment he spoke.

"Would everyone kindly go back to their workstations?" His voice was calm but firm, leaving no room for any sort of argument.

There was no hesitation. Employees scrambled back to their desks, their conversations cut short as they hurried away. The power in his words, the sheer authority he held—it was something remarkable to witness. Even I felt an urge to turn and leave, despite knowing I had no reason to.

But then I reminded myself. I wasn’t just another employee.

I was his wife.

Richard stood tall and composed, one hand tucked casually into his pocket. His strong jawline, the way he carried himself with confidence, and the subtle glint of his wristwatch reflecting the office lights—all of it made him look even more intimidating. Yet, despite the cold exterior he often displayed to others, there was a warmth in his eyes as he turned directly to me.

He stepped closer, gently taking my hands in his own. His touch was warm, steadying.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice softer now as his fingers brushed against my right cheek.

The tenderness in his touch sent a strange feeling through me, something unfamiliar yet comforting. For a brief moment, I forgot about everything—Katherine’s arrest, the whispers of the employees, the chaos that had just unfolded.

"Y-yes," I stammered, the feeling of an unexpected shyness crept up on me. "I’m okay now."

I tried so hard to compose myself, but the weight of several eyes still lingered around me. Employees passing by stole glances, and side eyes at me, whispering among themselves, their curiosity evident.

Richard, always observant as ever, noticed my discomfort immediately. His sharp gaze swept across the room before he leaned in slightly.

"Let’s go to my office," he said, his tone leaving no room for protest.

Without waiting for my response, he escorted me through the hallways, his hand holding mine firm and tight. Each step we took together made my heart beat faster, but not out of nervousness—out of something else. Something I couldn’t quite put into words yet.

Inside his office, the noise from outside faded into the background. The large windows allowed sunlight to filter in, casting a soft glow over the sleek furniture. Richard didn’t let go of my hand until we were safely inside, away from prying eyes.

For the first time in a long while, I felt safe.

I felt… cared for.

Important.

And above all, I felt loved.

It was a new feeling for me, something I had never truly experienced before. Not from Jayden, not from anyone in my life.

And it was all thanks to Richard Kane.

Jayden was nowhere to be found, not even with all the chaos that had unfolded. And that was good. I don't know how I would've reacted to seeing his face in the middle of all of this mess for all I know, he was in on this conspiracy. 

He was actually the last person I needed to see at the moment.