CHAPTER ONE

In a grand style, I arrived in the home of my husband—or should I say, ex husband because our marriage was as good as dead. I ignored the flabbergasted look of his securities and I went straight to the lounge hoping to find him there and I did.

I met Gabriel Damasco, my heartless husband having brunch with a familiar woman—something he never did with me.

Jessica Ford, his secretary.

I knew it! I always knew he had a thing for her, never doubt a woman’s instincts. He was having a secret affair with the pretty brunette in the disguise of office duties. One time, he travelled with her to Tokyo for two weeks and never bothered to call once nor picked my calls. He had always compared me to her, saying I would never be as beautiful or elegant as she was.

He would regret his words—I swear on my mother’s grave.

“Hello husband.”

I said, announcing my arrival.

The confused look on their faces slowly turning into great shock was simply refreshing!

“Imelda?”

Gabriel almost choked.

“In flesh.”

I grinned as his ice blue eyes took a good look at my new wonderful body and gorgeous face.

Jessica’s mouth was hung open and her face beet red with embarrassment.

“How come?”

My husband asked, shock heavily painted on his handsome face. Yes, Gabriel was a handsome one, impressively tall, dark hair, blue eyes with a well built manly structure.

“Why? Never thought I could look this good?”

I smirked, waiting for him to gather his next words.

“Imelda…you..you were abducted.”

He stammered.

“And you took the opportunity to get the lady of your dreams into our matrimonial home.”

I stated, bitterly.

“She..”

He tried to explain but went tongue tied.

“Cat’s got your tongue?”

I asked, teasingly.

“We can talk about this.”

He told me as he got up to approach me.

“No Gabriel, there’s no talking about anything!” I told him, angrily.

“The only thing I’ll ever need from you again is signing the divorce papers I’ll be sending to you!”

“Divorce!?”

Gabriel gaped.

“Oh, don’t tell me the word sounds so strange now.” I laughed.

“You must have thought of divorcing me so many times. Divorce the fat bitch and marry the beautiful and elegant secretary.”

“Melda—

“But of course you couldn’t.” I said, shaking my head at him.

“You couldn’t divorce me even though you hated the sight of me. You could endure anything just to be heir to my father’s empire.”

I waited for his response but none came, knowing Gabriel, he was a confident and sophisticated man one could hardly leave speechless but he was so very speechless now.

“Well, you don’t have to endure anything again. The divorce papers will be sent to you in twenty four hours and you must sign them with immediate effect.”

“Imelda! You can’t do that!”

He blurted out.

“Oh Gabriel Damasco, I can and I will!”

I shouted at him.

“You divorce me you lose everything!”

He shot.

“You will lose everything not me!” I shot back. “I am no longer the naive stupid Imelda you use to know and loathe, I am a new woman in a new body that you will never have.”

“You’re still my wife!” He said, pointing a hard finger at me.

“And I demand to know where you have been for two good years!”

Wow. Did he just use the word ‘demand’ on me? He must be out of his goddamn mind.

“Like you said, Gabriel. I was abducted.”

I shrugged.

“See you in hell, Gabriel Damasco.”

I told him my final words and slunk out of his godforsaken house that held painful memories of my regrettable marriage.

My marriage was a miserable one, my husband hated me just as his mother and sister did. They wanted another wife for him, a presentable woman, I was overweight, naive and clumsy. I never liked my face, it was too round and too fat. Never for once did I feel beautiful and never did I imagine getting married to a handsome wealthy and powerful man like Gabriel Damasco, there had to be something more to it than love and I was right, there was.

In my late father’s will, it was stated that whoever got married to I, his daughter would be sole heir to his Empire and that was all Gabriel needed to know to woe the stupid and naive fat Imelda. I endured so much in my marriage but not anymore, now, I was another woman, a beautiful and confident woman, I have been gone for two years, the news of my fake abduction spread like wide fire but, I was back to take back what was right fully mine—The Del Monte Empire

I, Imelda Del Monte was back.