Chapter Forty Four Sophia doesn't know what to do, she knows it will be hard for Noah to take her back. Who would ever accept such a thing? Not after his friend had access to her, sexually? If you are the one, will you accept such? “Who just called you?” Her husband asked minutes after hanging up the call. “It's your side chick that called” “Who? Who are you referring to?” “Now that you are telling me that you have more than one then I would love to tell you” she continued, “Rachel, she's the one I am talking about” His expression hardened as he processed her words, but there was no immediate denial, no attempt to dissuade her from her accusation. Instead, he stepped closer, his presence looming over her like a shadow. "And I thought we are over that, I don't want us to keep talking about the past anymore, Sophia. I have apologies and I thought you have forgiven me” “It's fine. I am sorry for discussing about that again” “So why did she call you?” “She called m
Chapter Forty Five Sophia had already arranged a meeting the next morning. She had informed Rachel to come early that she would be inviting Noah over. So they could beg him and probably he might consider her. Sophia’s heart pounded in her chest as she rehearsed what she would say. Noah had always been a complicated man, difficult to read and even harder to convince. She knew she had hurt him, and she couldn’t erase the past, but maybe, just maybe, she could salvage the future. The morning arrived faster than Sophia anticipated. The first rays of sunlight crept through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Sophia had hardly slept, her mind racing with what-ifs and maybes. She was nervous, but she was also resolute.By the time Rachel arrived, the house was already filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the quiet hum of morning. Rachel looked tense but determined, her eyes searching Sophia’s face for any sign of reassurance.“Are you sure about th
Chapter Forty Six Noah left the house when he felt like he's no longer comfortable, they kept on pressuring him to do what he didn't want. “He left… he left” Rachel cried. “Rachel, I do not think he would consider having that kind of relationship again. I am sorry, I know you love him but just move on,” James said, leaving Sophia and Rachel in the living room. Sophia breathed in and out deeply, “I know what it is. To be in love with someone who doesn't love you. I just want you to mice on like my husband has said. You know men don't like it when a woman moves on without them. Slowly he would come back to you and you would be the one to choose because by then you would have be in love with someone else” Rachel wiped off her tears, “So what you are trying to tell me in a sentence to move on, right?” Sophia was short of words, she doesn't even know how to convince her again. Rachel said again, “I should move on right?,” she asked again “Move on” Sophia said. She rea
Chapter Forty Seven Rachel couldn't help but shift uneasily in her seat as Vanessa leaned in closer, an almost dangerous intensity gleaming in her eyes. The plan Vanessa had laid out was bold—no, ruthless—and Rachel wasn't sure if she had the nerve to go through with it. But the alternative? Let Noah move on with some other woman while she was left alone and broken? That wasn't something she could stomach. Rachel," Vanessa said, her voice soft but firm, "you have to understand something. Love and war? They're not all that different. You don't win by playing nice. You win by being smart, calculated, and relentless." Rachel frowned, clutching her teacup tighter. "But what if I'm not that kind of person? What if I'm just not… capable of something like this? Vanessa smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Oh, you're capable. You've just never been pushed far enough to realize it. Think about everything you've been through. The heartbreak. The betrayal. Noah tossing you aside like you
Chapter Forty Eight: The Hunt BeginsRachel's TransformationRachel sat in front of the vanity in her room, looking at her reflection. Her once so vibrant features had dulled up, as if the vitality had been sucked out of her over the years. The reflection staring back felt foreign to her. The bags under her eyes told the story of sleepless nights, her hair lacked its usual shine, and the oversized sweater she wore did little to mask how much she had let herself go.Vanessa's words still lingered in her mind:"You have to be smart, Rachel. He needs to see what he's lost and what he can never replace.Rachel clenched her jaw, her fingers curling into fists. If Noah thought he could move on without her, he was mistaken. She was determined to make him regret ever leaving her.The next morning, Rachel made her first move.She called Vanessa.“Meet me in an hour,” Rachel said. “We’re going to do this your way.”An hour later, Rachel was standing outside a high-end boutique in the heart of d
Chapter Forty NineRachel sat in her apartment, her mind racing with Vanessa's words: Be smart. Look for the cracks. Ruin her first. If there was one thing Rachel had learned in her chaotic, love-ridden life, it was that people rarely showed their true colors. Everybody had secrets, and she was determined to find Stephanie's.She stared at her laptop, scrolling through Stephanie's perfectly curated Instagram feed. It was infuriating; every post painted her as some kind of angelic figure. There were photos of her volunteering at charity events, sipping wine on glamorous vacations, and of course, smiling adoringly at Noah. It was nauseating.Vanessa’s voice broke through her thoughts over the phone. “Stop torturing yourself by looking at her life through a filter. We’re going to peel back the layers. What’s her weakness?”“I don’t know,” Rachel admitted, her voice shaky. “She seems… flawless.”Vanessa snorted. "No one's perfect. You're just looking in the wrong places. Social media is a
Chapter: Pieces of a PuzzleMuffled through the glass walls of Noah's office, the hum of the city was in vast contrast to the oppressive silence within. He sat behind his desk, his sharp eyes fixed on the document before him, but he wasn't focusing on the words. His mind kept going back to the email he'd received earlier that day, those damning photos, the implications, and the undeniable intention for chaos.Noah tapped his pen against the edge of his desk, his jaw clenched absently. He was no stranger to professional sabotage, but this felt different. The photos of Stephanie, his secretary, and Michael Carter, a senior associate in his company, leaving a hotel together had been meticulously staged to create scandal. The sender's goal was clear: to damage reputations and sow distrust. What they never knew, however, was that it was Noah himself who had sent Stephanie and Michael to that hotel to have a confidential meeting with a very important client.He leaned back into his chair, r
Chapter Fifty One : Fuel To The FireRachel leaned back in her chair, letting out a satisfied sigh as she forked a piece of pasta from her plate. The small, candlelit restaurant they were sitting in was one of Vanessa's favorite spots, tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. The low hum of conversation, the soft clinking of glasses, and the comforting aroma of Italian dishes filled the air."This is perfect," Vanessa said, twirling her wine glass by the stem as a sly grin spread across her face. "You did great, Rachel. I told you, once Noah sees the truth about Stephanie, he'll start realizing how much of a mistake it was to let you go."Rachel allowed herself a small smile, though her nerves still fluttered. "You really think it's working? He hasn't said anything directly to me yet."Vanessa scoffed, setting her glass down. "Oh, it's working. Trust me. Men like Noah-once they start doubting someone, it's almost impossible to come back from it. Stephanie's squeaky-clean image is sh
Chapter Ninety Six: PeaceThe room was quiet, the hum of the evening outside barely heard through the windows. Rachel sat on the bed, pulled her knees up close to her chest, and looked down at her hands. It had been an emotional day in surges which would leave one drained and still feel lighter than it had in weeks. She had heard Noah's words, taken the weight of his forgiveness, and finally-finally-allowed herself to believe that moving on was possible.But it was not only the past that weighed upon her with Noah. It was something deeper, far deeper, which she carried with her for much longer: the weight of decisions taken and actions she had led herself into in this position she is in presently. And none of these would have been possible without Vanessa.That made Rachel stop and think. Her friend, her confidante-her best friend-had always been there for her. In the maelstrom of their pain together, however, there was a part inside Rachel that wondered whether those choices had been
Chapter Ninety Five: The Unannounced VisitThe air was cool that evening, with that certain sting that made one clinch the jacket tighter and quicken the steps. Noah and Stephanie just stepped out of the restaurant, with the silence between them thick with dinner. Noah's mind had raced since their conversation, but his resolve had only been strengthened. He had to do this. He needed to see Rachel, to tell her he had forgiven her and wanted nothing other than for the two of them to be free to move on in life and find peace.Stephanie walked beside him, her hand clasped in his. She knew what he was doing, and as much as the wiser part of her still harbored her own reservations about the situation, she did understand that Noah needed this for his healing. She couldn't deny that a part of her was nervous, too-this wasn't going to be an easy conversation. But they couldn't ignore the past forever. Sometimes, closure was the only way forward.They turned to the building that housed Rachel's
Chapter Ninety Four: A Dinner Between HeartsEvening had worn into the comfortable silence; Noah sat opposite Stephanie, watching as she carefully placed the settings of the dishes she prepared for the better part of the afternoon. The hum of the kitchen at the restaurant behind him was accompanied by clinking of fine china and silverware, with wafting smells of fresh vegetables and herbs that reminded him of how much he had missed homely comforts.With a quiet contentedness that only can come from cooking for somebody dear, Stephanie smiled brightly at him across the table. She had always been a fantastic cook, and tonight wasn't going to be an exception. There was such delicacy in the balance of tastes and flavors on his plate to confirm her genius, but more important than anything was the fire that lit with her presence there, and her laughter that danced around the room in its voice.You know, she said, sipping her wine, I think this might be the best meal I've made in weeks. Mayb
Chapter Ninety Three: Rachel's Inner StruggleRachel sat alone in the darkened room of her apartment, hands clasped tightly around a mug of tea that she hadn't sipped. The warmth from the cup seeped into her palms but did nothing to quell the chill gnawing at her chest. She hadn't been able to get out of bed for the past few days, but today, her mind couldn't afford the luxury of lingering in self-pity any longer.She knew no longer what to do with herself as the world kept blurring into one big confusion of pain. The weight of her actions weighed heavily upon her, at times insurmountable. She quit her job, the one thing that anchored her into some kind of routine, just to get away from the tension slowly choking her. The thought of facing Noah after everything that had happened-after having betrayed him and watched him move on with Stephanie-was just too much to bear. Her guilt was eating her from the inside out, spiraling further down each passing day.The betrayal nipped at her con
Chapter Ninety Two: The fight of Rachel and Vanessa's Growing PressureShe sat on the edge of her bed and stared into the quiet night out her window. The city glowed alive, but every one of its lights, so it seemed, was farther away from the storm brewing in her heart. An ache inside her chest made her feel the air thicken enough to suffocate her with every desperate attempt to get more air in. It wasn't the night that was heavy, but the torment inside of her, her guilt, the betrayal, and all her wrong choices.Each time her mind drifted to Noah and the days with him, she remembered how he loved her, took care of her, and was there for her during the days when she needed it most. It now felt like the memories had been poisoned. Every touch he had given her, every word of love, every gesture was clouded in the knowledge that she had betrayed him. Not just once but twice-first by dating James, then by her part in Stephanie's kidnapping. She had crossed lines she could never uncross.Tea
Chapter Ninety One: GuiltThe soft, rhythmic sound of the rain tapping against the windowpane provided almost a melancholic soundtrack to Rachel's thoughts. She sat alone in her small apartment, the dim light from the lamp casting long shadows on the walls. She stood stiff, her hands curled into fists where her nails had dug deep into her palms to steady some unevenly escaping breaths from her chest. The whirlwind of turmoil, guilt, and regret all swirled within her mind.Rachel had sat here for hours without the slightest idea how much time had actually elapsed since she last checked her watch. Outside, the world had dulled to a gray haze, rain diffusing reality and fantasy. Her head was filled with visions of what had taken place during the last days. The look on Stephanie's terrified face when they took her away-when she and Vanessa dragged her away-stayed in her mind, awake or asleep. It was a memory that she could not shake, no matter how hard she tried.She thought of Noah and h
Chapter Ninety : A Flash of JoyThe day was dying, and the golden softness of the setting sun cast its warm light upon the city. In the house, a mixture of excitement and anticipation filled the atmosphere. Noah had spent hours preparing for this moment-this day he had been planning for weeks. The room was set up, candles lit, flowers put out, and soft music was playing-perfect to set the tone of the evening just right. Everything was so intricately planned, and finally Noah was ready.He stood at the center of the room, feeling his heart beating much faster than normal. Inside him, there was some nervous energy-a mixture of anxiety and excitement-but besides that, deep and calm, one realization: This was going to be the biggest move of his life with somebody he truly cared about.The door creaked softly open, and Stephanie walked in; her eyes lit immediately with the romance of the atmosphere. Her expression softened further at the sight of Noah, who stood awaiting her. The air seeme
Chapter Eighty Nine: The Unexpected She went to the window and adjusted the sheers to let in the soft light of the afternoon sun. The room was intricately set: candles on elegant holders, casting a warm glow in the room; rose petals scattered all over the bed and floor; a table at the corner had all kinds of delicate desserts and champagne glasses. The mood in the room was romantic, to say the least-perfect for Noah's proposal to Stephanie.He readjusted a small, velvet box stuck into his jacket pocket and scanned the surroundings critically over it. There was an almost palpable sense of contentment in the air: Things were going according to schedule, and he could already not wait to see Noah pop the question."Is it ready?" Sophia asked him, turning from the window toward him.Almost. Just putting the finishing touches on everything," he replied, readjusting the position of flowers that had been put in a vase on the table.Sophia beamed and moved over beside him, looking at all that
Chapter Eighty Eught : Betrayal and LoyaltyThe words stuck in her head while she felt her heart hit her stomach. Stephanie was the one Noah was going to ask to marry him. The woman who once had been her secretary , a woman who had been the catalyst of so many changes between her and Noah. And now, to hear that Noah was seriously considering a future with her-to hear that he loved her-left Rachel so exposed. As if every mistake she had ever made, the choices she had ever regretted, were coming back to haunt her in the worst possible way.Her mind swam with thoughts of her past with Noah: how she had betrayed him by cheating on him with James, his best friend. Guilt weighed in, and she had lain awake on many nights trying to account for her actions. She'd thought she could bury it, that time would cure the wounds, but that moment it threw itself at her-that Stephanie could have a future with Noah-everything was right back there in her face. Un-forgetful-the manner in which Noah looked