As Emily made her leave, almost hitting me with her car, I gently picked myself up from the ground while everyone in the eatery was still filming and having that buoyant laughter on their faces.
I knew it was a failed mission to abruptly go into the eatery again and cause a scene. Aside from the fact that the new employees did not know who I was, they were all looking at me like a crazy clown and were ready to get me arrested.
Hence, at this moment, I sadly walked to my car and got inside with tears in my eyes. It was not enough that I was treated like a hated slave back at home; now, my own cheating husband had equally changed all staff, and I had no access to my own eatery anymore.
"I should call Nancy; she always knows what to say and what to do in hard times like this," I exclaimed with my teary voice. Immediately, without waiting a bit, I retrieved my phone from my handbag and placed a call through to Nancy.
"Hey, how are you?" Nancy voiced through the phone as soon as she picked up my call.
"Hey," I said with a truckload of tears obvious in my voice.
"Are you okay?" Nancy asked immediately, concerned about my situation.
"He’s cheating, Nancy, and... and..."
"Okay, calm down. He is cheating on you, and what?" Nancy asked gently.
"He is f**king cheating on me, Nancy, and... I don’t even know what to do. He is... gosh, the eatery... he has..."
"Hey, hey," Nancy interrupted suddenly. "Calm down, okay?"
"I’ve been your friend since high school, and you know that I have your back no matter what. Now, I need you to breathe, relax, and tell me what the hell is going on."
"Okay, okay, Nancy. Everything just happened all of a sudden, you know?"
"What just happened all of a sudden?"
"He is cheating on me, Nancy. Despite the fact that his family always treats me like a slave at home and I never complained, he also has the gut to change all staff. I have no access to my own eatery any longer."
"What? That bastard! I knew he couldn’t be trusted."
"I don’t know what to do, Nancy. My life is over!" I said, still in tears.
"Do you know who he is cheating with, at least?" Nancy asked immediately.
"No! I couldn’t find out."
"Okay, where are you?"
"I am at the front of the eatery, and he is not there."
"Okay, go home, Alda. I will come by the house later. Go home, you hear me?"
"Yes!" I responded.
"And stop crying; you ain't no damn baby," Nancy cautioned.
Though Nancy asked me to go home, within me, I knew it was not something I could do at a moment like this. I understood that that little b*tch girl would have likely told them what happened in the eatery, and they couldn’t wait to mock me for it, making me tend to their needs even in this sad state of mine.
For this reason, I waited longer in the car, contemplating my next move. It was not long after when I saw Tyler’s car arrive and park in his regular space.
As much as I would have loved to breeze out of the car and confront him, perhaps landing some dirty slaps for all he had done to me, I could not. I noticed someone seated in his front seat—a lady with curly hair who looked just like someone I knew. In response, I immediately wore my patient garment, keeping my eyes locked on the car's front seat to confirm if it was indeed the person I thought it would be.
At this moment, I could only hope that Tyler wouldn't turn back and glance at my car, as it wouldn't take him a second to realize that I was around the eatery, and my chance to find out whom he was cheating with would fail.
"Don’t look back; don’t you f**king look back!" I continued to exclaim as I watched him walk around the car from the driver's seat door to the front seat. I observed how he smiled and opened the front door for this lady to step out of the car.
This was a gesture I thought Tyler only did for me, making me feel the worth of a woman—the proud worth of his woman. However, with my own eyes, I could see that it was something he did for any woman, as long as he had their skirt to log into.
Laying my eyes on the front door like a hawk focusing her eyes on its prey, I let no distraction lure me from seeing who the curly head was. Hence, immediately, the lady put her leg on the ground and stepped out of the car.
"What?" I exclaimed.
"Nancy?" I could not believe my eyes, like finding out a secret you never expected.
"But I just called her, and she spoke to me. Is she... is she...?" I wondered as different questions boiled into my thoughts like hot water boiling on fire, and I did not know whether to believe what my instinct was telling me or not.
"Better you not be that b*tch cheating with my husband, Nancy. because becasue..." I exclaimed, my emotions boiling all over me, and I did not know the right step to take anymore.
Quickly, as I watched both of them make their entrance into the eatery with smiles on their faces like happy children who were gifted their favorite sweets. I moved my car in reverse and parked where it would not be easily seen.
Immediately, I retrieved my phone again and called Nancy.
“Tring, tring, tring.” I watched how my phone rang through the window of Tyler’s office upstairs, but there was no response. Instead, I saw how Nancy checked who the caller was but only placed the phone back on the desk and allowed it to ring away.
“What?" I could not express my shock more than the exclamation of my shock.
"She is the lady cheating with my husband." I said to myself again in greater confusion, as she was the last person on earth I thought to have betrayed me like this.
Calling her for the second time, I observed Tyler checking her phone to see who the caller was. Upon seeing my name, he smiled at Nancy, and his lips moved in a gesture that seemed to say, "Pick up her call and let’s hear what she has to say."To this effect, I saw how they both laughed out loud immediately, like they derived joy from my broken heart, and they wished it to continue until they could.Hence, suddenly, I saw how Nancy flickered her hair to the back and placed the phone in her ear.“I told you I was coming to meet you at home, Alda,” Nancy said immediately as she answered the call, and I couldn't be more shocked to hear that.If my thoughts were louder than my voice, she would have heard me cursing her out for this betrayal. “My very own husband? You husband snatcher.”However, my thoughts remained internal, as the other part of me wanted to stay calm and play along. As I have seen in several movies and read in different books, it was always better to catch them red-hande
I did not respond to Diana's question; instead, I headed towards the stairs. However, this didn't imply that Emily hadn't revealed the information in my presence."Oh, mother, she ran to the restaurant, asking for Tyler like he was some lost child. Seeing how she looked, Miss Emma treated her like dirt on the ground, and they did not let her into the eatery. She yelled and caused so much trouble. But she still could not find her way in." Emily mocked immediately; hence, Olivia joined in the same fashion."Moron!" Olivia called her in the midst of her derisive grin. "How would they even let her in? Doesn't she know she's a maid, and maids don't go seeking someone at the eatery? Pfft," Diana scoffed, resembling a scornful aristocrat dismissing a beggar at her palace gates.Nevertheless, whatever they said at this moment didn't bother me. It wasn't my first time witnessing such ill behavior from them, so I ignored it and began ascending the stairs."And I ask you again, where do you thi
If I was allowed to remain in my sobbing state for a whole ten minutes, that was a lie. In a fast moment, like a blink of an eye, Emily and Olivia were already standing in front of me, pulling my hair to raise my head.Once my head was up and they saw that it was full of tears, “the witch is crying, hahaha,” Emily mocked.“Are we supposed to feel sad for you?” Olivia mocked likewise, as they both stuck out their tongues like little kids teasing each other on the playground. Hence, they dropped the toothbrush on the floor and a bucket of water and soap near it.“Better start scrubbing because I want lunch ready in thirty minutes,” Olivia hissed as Emily and she walked away.Knowing fully well that if they said they wanted lunch in thirty minutes and it wasn't ready by thirty-one minutes, it was going to be a problem. I immediately sprang to my feet, wiped my tears with my wrist, and headed to the library.On my way to the library, I suddenly heard my phone ringing. Once I checked the s
Before she remembered that she left her phone closer to me, I quickly sprang into action like a coiled spring. I delved my hands into her bag and brought out the phone.First things first, knowing that my vigilant searching of her phone could be interrupted by any sudden call, I pulled down her phone screen and tapped on the airplane icon. Now that I saw that her network was off and her phone was in airplane mode, I knew that the darkness in the library could easily give me away; hence, I reduced her phone brightness to ten percent.With this done, I brought up her home screen and realized that her phone was not passworded or locked with any kind of different lock.“This husband snatcher is not that smart after all,” I thought as I lifted a brow and swiped the screen to the right in search of her WhatsApp.Scrolling past three screens of her phone and with my eyes searching through all apps at a faster pace, I realized her WhatsApp was missing from her app shelves.“Where the heck is
“We will talk about you later, Nancy. Just keep arranging; I have to be out cooking before fifteen minutes run out,” I said aloud for her to hear, and I waited a bit more to hear the sound of books she was arranging on the shelves so I could carry on with investigating her phone like a spy who is ready to infiltrate anywhere to get the information she needs. When I saw that she was now arranging the books, even though the sound of her tears never stopped, I gently picked up her phone again from the shelf and walked slowly to the left-edge corner, where it was darker in the library.As I reached the left-edge corner of the library, I pressed her home button gently and quickly shot my eyes at the right-edge corner on the other side. I saw her, not minding where I was in the library. Everything she kept doing was what I asked her to help me do. Thus, I suddenly wondered.“How can you sleep with my husband and still look at me in the face without remorse?”Wondering about that, I also wo
“What the f**k are you doing with my phone, Alda?” Nancy yelled at me again. However, if I had any words to say, it was a lie. I remained as stunned as a deer caught in headlights. “I… I… ahem… I…” I continued to stammer, immediately resembling a stuttering record caught in a loop. “Oh sh**t up, Alda, and f**king tell me why you have my phone in your hand,” Nancy yelled again. Her voice was louder than before, and her face showed anger. “F**k it, Nancy, who were you sending nude images to?” I blurted. I couldn't handle the confrontation anymore, and I preferred initiating the confrontation to get the truth out of her. “What? What nude?” She acted dumb about it. “Oh, do not play this stupid game with me, Nancy. Who were you sending those nudes to?” “What business do you have with whoever I sent my nudes to? How are you even sure that they were mine? I could have downloaded them from the internet or something.” “That doesn’t look like any pictures downloaded from the internet, Nan
I didn't even know that my loud tears had already traveled out of the library and knocked on Diana’s door like a desperate plea for solace. In the same way, they had already reported to Emily and Olivia like swift messengers, bearing the weight of my emotions on their tear-stained journey.Suddenly, Diana barged into the library like a gust of wind, her face as rigid as a rock and her eyes as cold as the unforgiving stare of a winter’s night.“I asked you to f**king make the library as neat as the king’s palace, but you fool only made your eyes as teary as a cloud-laden sky on a stormy day." Diana's brows furrowed, and her voice rose even more.“You disturb my peace like a relentless echo, persistently reverberating through the tranquility I sought, and all for what? Because you suddenly found out that your best friend has been sleeping with your husband?"As soon as Diana mentioned this, I couldn't believe my ears, like I had heard something wrong, as I continued to stare at Diana in
As I prepared lunch and began to set the table, Tyler arrived home in his suit, looking at me like he had just seen a monster. With this, he said nothing but made his way upstairs.The way his eyes were reddish, like he had been drinking, and how his suit was loose on his body as if he were involved in a street fight spoke volumes.For whatever reason he came home like that, I did not know. But what I do know is that I should be the one who was vexed at him and not the other way around.However, following him up to the room without completely setting the table and serving the food would be a way for me to summon trouble from its palace. I already knew this, so I kept myself on my ten toes and completely set the dining table.As soon as I was done setting the dining table, I walked up the stairs towards Diana’s room, which was adjacent to the room Tyler’s and I shared. Hence, I saw that Tyler did not or forgot to close the door behind him.Seeing this, I decided to use it to my advanta
Robert’s POVMy job is simple: protect Alessandra at all costs. But as I stand here, watching everything unfold, one thought keeps repeating in my head—I’ve failed her.I should never have stayed behind at the hospital, no matter how much she insisted. Alessandra may be strong, but I should’ve known better. I should’ve been there, more alert, more prepared. That woman who pretended to be hit? I should’ve seen right through her. Everything is finally falling into place, and the truth hits me like a punch to the gut.I know who Diana is. I’ve figured out who Emily and Olivia really are. And those three idiots hiding behind their ridiculous code names? Yeah, I know them, too.It was them—we passed them on the road earlier. The bodies scattered across the pavement... the blood... It all makes sense now. Alessandra—Matriarch Alessandra—is in serious danger.That’s why I don’t waste any time. My foot slams down on the gas pedal, racing us past the chaos on the road. Stopping isn’t an option
Sandra’s POVWe pull up to the warehouse, and the moment I spot the front door slightly ajar, I know it’s time. I drive inside, parking with purpose as the tension in my chest tightens. Locking the door behind me, I take a deep breath, bracing myself for what’s next.I watch Alessandra step out of the vehicle, her face calm—too calm. She doesn’t look scared, like I thought she would. Instead, she’s asking, “Where are we now? Are they gone?”I pause. What? Does she seriously think I’m here to save her?A twisted laugh threatens to escape my lips, but I swallow it down. Instead, I turn toward the backseat and yank open the door. My fingers grip the cold steel of the sniper rifle. The weight of it feels satisfying in my hands, a reminder of the power I hold.Without missing a beat, I swing the rifle around and aim it straight at her. “On your knees, now!” I command, my voice as sharp as the edge of a knife.For a second, her eyes widen, but then realization sinks in. She knows now. She’s
Brandon’s POVI never thought I'd find myself here. In custody. The cold metal of the handcuffs still lingers on my wrists even though they’ve been removed. My mind is racing, struggling to keep up with everything that’s happened. How did I get here?I’ve already contacted my family lawyer. He promised he’d help—at first. But then he learned that bigger forces are involved, and he left me to fend for myself. I don’t blame him, though. When powerful people decide you’re guilty, it doesn’t matter what the facts are. According to them, I committed a crime too big to ignore, and they want me to pay for it, no matter who I am.But how do I make them see I’m innocent? How do I prove I’ve been framed? The evidence stacked against me is so clear, so detailed, that even I would think I did it if I were on the outside looking in.It feels hopeless.I sit in the interrogation room, staring at the dull gray walls. The weight of everything crashes down on me. But the thought of Alessandra pushes t
Diana’s POVOut of nowhere, Olivia, Emily, and I suddenly see Viper, Red, Jinx, and Blade fall to the ground, each with a bullet wound to the head. Blood pools around them, dark and terrifying, staining the ground beneath them. The sight makes my heart race, and for a moment, I can’t believe what I’m seeing. My breath catches in my throat, and time seems to stand still. I’m in shock, completely blindsided by the sudden violence. How could this have happened? One moment, we’re in control, and the next, everything’s gone to hell. But as I watch them fall, one after another, the horrifying reality hits me: we’re under attack. We’re not safe. We never were.This can’t be anyone but the police. Who else would come at us like this, so precise, so deadly? And it’s my fault. My fault we didn’t get out sooner. My fault this mission is hanging by a thread. I should have listened to Viper when he told us to leave. We should have been long gone, but I hesitated. And now they’re dead—Viper, Red, J
Sandra’s POVI steady myself in the cramped toilet, heart pounding as I carefully position the sniper rifle out the narrow window. The cold metal of the trigger grounds me, and I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts.Through the scope, I zoom in to 8X. Alessandra finally comes into focus as she steps out of the law firm. She looks composed, but there’s a tension in her movements that makes my gut clench. Something’s wrong.In the distance, off to the right, a group of people is watching her with an intensity that makes my skin crawl. Their eyes are locked on Alessandra, and the cruel twist of their lips sends a chill down my spine. They’re like predators circling wounded prey, relishing the kill before it even happens.I should take the shot now, end this. It’s the perfect moment. Then Brandon would finally be free, and he’d be mine. But something holds me back. These people, whoever they are, might be more dangerous and I need to know why they’re after Alessandra.As
Diana’s POVAs Viper deftly tosses a small canister of smoke into Alessandra’s car. We don't waste a second, swiftly moving to take control of the other vehicles in her entourage.Alessandra is being escorted by three cars: one at the front, one in the middle where she sits, and one at the rear. The plan is precise, and we execute it with the efficiency of seasoned professionals.Olivia and Emily take on the first car. They expertly deploy another smoke canister, filling the vehicle with a thick, suffocating fog. Meanwhile, I focus on the rear car, tossing a canister of my own into it. Smoke quickly engulfs all three vehicles, forcing their occupants to open their doors, desperately gasping for fresh air. Even Alessandra, who had been hysterically screaming moments earlier, is silenced by the choking haz
Diana’s POVWhen Jezebel’s message arrives, confirming what we've been anxiously anticipating—Alessandra is alone. My heart beats faster, not out of fear but from the anticipation of what's to come. It’s time to set our plan in motion.With a cold, calculated calm, I gather Viper, Red, Jinx, and Blade. “She's alone,” I say, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. “Jezebel’s done her part. Now it’s our turn.”They nod in unison, a silent agreement passing between us. There’s no need for words; we all know what needs to be done. The stakes are high, and failure is not an option.We regroup at my rundown, hidden in the shadows of the city. Viper, the most experienced among us, checks his blade, its edge gleaming under the dim light. “Remember,” he says, his voice low but firm, “guns are for boys in the game. Blades are for men.”His words echo in my mind as I glance around at the others. Red is sharpening his weapon, his eyes filled with a cold, ruthless determinati
Sandra’s POVStepping out of the warehouse, I don’t know where I am, and it’s terrifying. I’m stranded, disoriented, and powerless.I stand by the road, feeling utterly lost, watching taxis whiz by as if the world is oblivious to the chaos inside me. My hands shake as I lift them to flag down a taxi. But just as I do, my phone rings.The sound sends a jolt through me, and I glance at the screen. My heart pounds as I see the caller—Private Number. Dread tightens around me like a noose, and I hesitate before answering, my breath shallow.“Hello?” My voice barely escapes, trembling with anxiety.A cold, deep voice responds, as sharp as ice.
Jezebel’s POVI’ve been treated at the nearest hospital, but if I let this personal assistant slip away now, then I’m not the Jezebel everyone thinks I am.The doctor finishes up, wiping his hands as he says, “There you go, ma’am. You’re free to leave now.”I flash him a polite smile, but my mind is already elsewhere. My fingers tighten around the personal assistant’s arm, my nails digging into his sleeve as I anchor him beside me.The room is cold and sterile, yet I feel the heat of the moment. Matriarch Alessandra sits across from us, her silence dominating the room. When I grip her assistant’s arm, I catch the flash of surprise in her eyes, the slight parting of her lips. She wasn’t expecting this.“I still feel pain in my leg,” I say, my voice tinged with just enough distress to sound convincing. “It’s much worse than I thought. I don’t think I can walk.”Alessandra’s eyes narrow ever so slightly as she watches me closely, trying to figure me out. Let her think I’m putting on an ac