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CHAPTER FOUR
Last Updated:
2025-02-07 09:02:03004
JOANA’S POV I caught sight of the bone of contention and pushed her aside, stomping towards him. “Clinton! You asked me to keep our divorce a secret while you already…” I didn't finish my words before I heard Louisa's soft yelp. My hand which was holding his arm, as I tried to turn Clinton around, slipped off, and wine splashed all over my body, same time I lost my footing and crashed to the floor. I blinked in shock; my surprise overshadowed the pain I felt at colliding with the hard floor. Clinton had caught Louisa and was fervently wiping off the little smudge of wine from her gown, totally ignoring me. “Clinton,” I whispered, my voice filled with pain and disbelief. “You bitch! You can't wait a day without causing trouble, is that it? Apologize to Louisa immediately!” Clinton growled, giving me a deadly stare. I caught sight of Louisa's smug smile and immediately realized what happened. She noticed that I wanted to confront Clinton about the things she told me and rushed to turn the table on me. Once again, she managed to prove that she was the one in Clinton's heart while I was nothing. I forced myself to my feet, ignoring the sharp pain in my waist. The wine had discolored my beautiful silver gown, but that was the least of my worries at the moment. “Apologize to your mistress? Why don't you make me? What? Are you going to beat me because of her?” I screamed in my loudest voice, making everyone's attention turn to us. Since they wanted to humiliate me, I will rub off that same shit on them, let's be embarrassed together. “Joanna, have you lost it?” Clinton whispered, clutching my arm in a painful grasp. His nails dug into my skin, his eyes full of threat. I pushed him away with all my strength and took a few steps back, pointing at them. “She's the reason I signed those divorce papers, isn't it? And now, you want to humiliate me to please your lover? Did a dog eat your conscience? You couldn't even wait for the divorce to be processed officially before you shamelessly flaunt her before me.” “Joanna!” I ignored the warning in his voice and continued. “Is it fun? I have to listen to her tell me about the things you do together in bed. I could ignore her telling me about how you couldn't stop sucking her pu*sy, I could ignore her showing me the hickeys you left on her body, I could ignore her telling me she will throw me out of your house naked when she comes to take her place as Mrs. Gates, I could even ignore her splashing wine on me and pushing me to the floor. But now, you want me to grovel before her and make her happy?” “Mrs Gates, you misunderstood,” Louisa whispered, mortified. She didn't expect someone of my status to act shamelessly and expose all she did. But she was in for a rude awakening. Since she wanted to mock me, I will let everyone hear it and revel in their mockery. I shifted her hair away without warning, exposing her hickeys. “When you showed me the hickeys he left on your body, I also thought it was a misunderstanding. Until he proved your words right with his actions. In your words Clinton, I was only a tool to help your company. Now, I finally understand everything. And no, I won't wait for your mistress to come throw me out, I will leave on my own.” I shouted and removed the wedding ring. Clinton looked at her in anger, and I saw her cower for a while, giving me a strange sense of satisfaction. I threw the ring at him and ran out of the banquet hall, leaving the stunned audience behind me. A car stopped before me the moment I got to the entrance. “Joanna, hop in, I will drop you off at your parent's house.” The soft baritone whispered. It was Caleb, Clinton’s cousin, and my childhood best friend. The doors of the Lamborghini Aventador slid open, and I got in. Soon the paparazzi will be here because of the drama I created, and I don't want to be entangled in them. Clinton and Louisa are better suited to enjoy their camera flashes. “Annie, are you alright?” He whispered, wiping my tears off with his free hand while he drove with the other. “I'm so sorry if I knew that he was treating you badly, I would have taken you away from him.” He whispered as he watched me. However, I didn't give much thought to his words and nodded, looking out the window. In a few hours, some piece of dirty news will hit the internet. Clinton and I would be the topic. Or rather, the Gates and Henshaws. ***** The moment Caleb parked the car before the portico at Henshaw mansion and opened the door, tears rushed to my eyes. I felt like the prodigal daughter returning home as I wondered if all the strings I pulled to marry Clinton were worth it. I ran inside and met two of my brothers pacing in the sitting room, the last one was abroad. Otherwise, he would also be there with them. They must have seen the tabloids and rushed home. “Big brother!” I wailed, making them turn around. “Anna.” My first brother Justin, the CEO of Henshaw Group shouted and opened his arms. “Jo baby,” Michael whispered, watching as I approached them with tears streaming down my face. The moment Justin pulled me into his arms, I broke down, bawling loudly. “Don't cry baby, I will deal with him. I will make him kneel before you and apologize.” Michael the CEO of M-tech whispered, caressing my back. “Just leave him, it's useless. He… he… waaaah!” I found myself bawling again before I could finish my sentence. “Don't cry baby, don't cry. We are here now.” They whispered together. I could feel their barely restrained anger as they comforted me. As the last child of the Henshaw family with three older brothers, I have never felt so wrong. Only Clinton has ever bullied me to such a point. After fifteen minutes of crying, with my two brothers, Caleb, and my parents around, I began to recount my tale of woes. “He never came home, he's always outside, making me think it's work. Who knew he was cheating on me? He even divorced me and told me to keep it a secret to avoid upsetting Grandma, but he still told his mistress about it.” “That bastard!” Michael growled, punching the sofa in anger. “I'm going to kill him,” Justin muttered. “There will be no need for that. The elders in his family have given him a good scolding before everyone at the party, in addition to slaps from your father. The negative news will also have some effects on the Gates group, killing him is not required. Just let it go, alright? It's good that our baby girl is back home.” My mom said, with a deep sigh. “Mom! You don't understand! I'm pregnant! What am I going to do with a baby? Becoming a single mother at my age…” “You're what?” Caleb whispered wide-eyed, making more tears roll down my cheeks.
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007 Clinton's POV I got home and met Louisa at my house. " Hey, I got something for you," She said. There was this anger I suddenly felt towards her, I brushed her aside and went into my room. I was surprised to see Joana that way. She changed so much after the divorce. She had to leave this city after the news of her being with Caleb. I could not believe that they were still very much together, and she was back like she never left. I fell on the bed; there was something about her; she looked different; she looked more beautiful than I ever knew she was. I got into the shower and then made my way to the dining room. The food that was brought to me did not look like the usual food I was used to. "What's this?" I asked. " I made it," Louisa jumped and answered. I felt upset. " You did what?" " I made it for you; you should taste it; you will love it," she said, smiling at me. I was in no mood to smile at her. " I never asked you to cook for me."
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108JOANA'S POVThe mansion stood as an unspoken silent question without any reaction. As soon as Jason parked the car, he sped the tyres toward the garage, and before the engine idled, I bolted from my side to rush through the mansion's main entrance.I directed the security staff posted at the gate to inspect the area thoroughly. “Check the east and west wings—every single room. I want the kids found. Now.”The main door flew open under my hand as I stormed inside. “Where are they? Where are my children?”The maids inside froze at the sound of my voice, but one of them stepped forward immediately, wide-eyed. “We—We don’t know, ma’am. We thought they were in the greenhouse—”“Check the gardens, the poolside, the library, everywhere!” I snapped. My voice was cracking under the weight of my panic. “Clinton? Caleb?”One of the male workers appeared at the top of the staircase. “Mr. Clinton left early this morning. He said he had to meet a supplier downtown. And Mr. Caleb hasn’t returned
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105JOANA'S POVA few moments passed.“Do the kids know?” he asked, finally looking up.I nodded. “We’ll explain more later. But for now, they know something bad happened, and they’re safe. That’s enough.”He leaned back slowly, exhaustion clinging to every movement. “What happens now?”“Now?” I repeated. “Now we wait for the storm she started to finally pass.”He gazed at me from across the room, showing emotions that fell between regret and remorse. “What will you do?”I looked toward the closed door where Anita had been taken, then toward the grand staircase leading up to where the children were playing.“I’ll protect what matters,” I said. “Always.”Caleb gave a small nod beside me. Clinton glanced at me with something warm in his eyes.And for the first time in weeks, maybe months, I didn’t feel like I was drowning in all of this. I felt grounded. Steady. In control.The silence returned, but it wasn’t heavy now. It was thoughtful. Reflective. A room breathing after holding its b
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103JOANA'S POVThe next morning unfolded like any other. We returned to the mansion, and you’d think nothing had happened the night before—the tension, the confrontation, the near brush with tragedy. The mansion seemed too serene for its usual lively atmosphere. Bright sunshine filtered through the glass to enhance the floor's golden shine, and the children's cheerful voices made architectural echoes. They ran to their various rooms to have their own fun.But there was nothing normal about today.Clinton and I walked side by side into the living room, Caleb trailing closely behind with his usual wary eye. The children followed their regular habits by having Mirabel draw at the window seat as Jake and Japheth competed loudly at their game.During this brief moment, I halted all my activities to breathe. To hope that things might start settling.Then, like the devil knew, just when to knock, a deep voice rang out from the hallway."Joana. A word," Mr. Gates said, arms folded as he sto
