Chapter 1

ARIANA

The moment I stepped into the house, I met Zayde and his mother in the living room. They looked livid spotting me at the door. Before I got a chance to speak, the woman lunged at me.

“How dare you? How dare you betray my son like that after all he's done for you?” She spat angrily.

I stood there confused and looking to my husband for help. Not once did he raise his face to look at me. “Where is this coming from?”

“Don't play innocent with me, you dumb whore!” She took another step into my space and I stepped back. “You said you were going into town to run a few errands. Did that also involve riding another man's cock? Your husband's rival of all people?”

Now I was pissed. “I understand that we don't get along at all but lying to my face like this is so low of you.”

“Don't you dare…” came Zayde's voice as he rose from his seat and approached me. “Don't you dare try to gaslight us here. Now, look at this…”

He put his phone in my face and on the screen was a photo of Gabriel and I, his hand around my waist and his lips on my cheek.

Gabriel was my husband's business rival. That photo wasn't depicting all that had happened.

“This is a misunderstanding. Gabriel sent me a text saying he had something to discuss concerning the company that could cause a dent in our reputation.” I shrieked, disgusted that they would even accuse me like that.

Selene barked out in laughter, branding me with a whole new look of scorn. “You expect us to believe that nonsense. What do you take us for, fools? I didn't know you could stoop so low to be such a cheat and a liar.”

I let out a dry, humorless laugh. “So, I step out for a few hours for the sake of the company only to return and find this lie piled up against me.”

“That's no lie. I know what I'm seeing here. If you're not meeting up with Gabriel and letting him fuck you while you moan out the secrets of Zayde's company, why didn't you tell your husband know where you were headed?”

“Because I thought I could handle it alone without creating a scene. It wasn't that big of a deal in the end. I was just about to leave when that stupid photo was taken. This is a setup obviously.” I scoff with an eyeroll.

But his mother wasn't letting up on me. “That lame excuse won't work.” She rivets to Zayde, already fuming. “I warned you about ending up with this leech. Now she's whoring away company's secrets.”

I shake my head in amusement, my hold on my handbag tightening as I begin my way into my room. Their rage bait wouldn't work on me this time. “This has to be some joke that I'm not interested in. Excuse me.”

“Not only are you such a prostitute, your mother didn't raise you not to walk away when elders are talking to you.”

‘It's rage bait, Ariana. Rage bait’, I tried to talk myself out of it but I found myself swiveling around to fire back.

“Keep my mother out of your lying mouth!” My words came out as a vehement hiss.

I'd barely taken a step when she grabbed me violently by the wrist, whirled me around and delivered a slap so loud that it resounded in my ears.

SMACK!

I wasted no second in raising my hand to deliver mine in defense when Zayde intercepted the hit with his hand and stepped in between us, his nostrils flaring open in anger. He glared down at me.

“Let this be the last time you raise a hand against my mother.”

Hurt multiplied with anger within me, drowning me in so much pain. “But you stood there and did nothing when she hit me.”

“Because you deserved it!” She barked from behind him, huffing and stomping her way to a couch to sit.

The anger in his eyes faded off and there was only disgust in there. Still, his voice was gentle when he said, “You pushed her, Ari. It was your fault she hit you. If you'd said nothing in retaliation, I'm sure she wouldn't have. After all, there's no beating the allegations of what you've done with Gabriel.”

I stared at this man I called my husband and wondered what was going through his head in that moment. As always, he would support his mother even if evidences proved she was in the wrong.

Tears brimmed in my eyes. “Cheat? I've done nothing but stay faithful even when all your mother does is intrude in our marital affairs and nag about the things I did and didn't.”

“Don’t try to turn this around, Ariana. I'm highly disappointed that you would go behind my back to go and have an affair with Gabriel.” Sadness and anger reflected in his eyes.

What was left to say when they had already made their conclusions?

I turned to his mother who was on the chair looked so smug as she watched the scene unfold. “I hope you're happy now.” With that, I spun on my heels to walk back to my car.

But as I did, I caught her harsh words. “Of course, go back to your lover like the cheap whore you've always been.”

Then I closed the door behind me with a loud thud.