Simon's Villa
Fiona stood motionless in the middle of the room, her arms wrapped around herself like armor against the growing ache in her chest. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and her voice cracked under the weight of betrayal.
"Simon..." she whispered.
Simon turned, the ice in his gaze as cruel as his words. "You're lucky you're carrying my child. I told you I'd take care of you, and this is how you repay me? You destroyed what I had with Ariel. You're nothing but an ungrateful bitch."
Fiona's hands curled into tight fists. Her breath caught, trembling with suppressed rage. "You slept with me, Simon. You took my virginity, put a baby inside me, and now you act like I'm the reason she left? You broke her heart, not me. You did that with your choices."
"Shut your mouth!" he snapped, stepping forward. His voice thundered through the room. "Don't push me, Fiona. I swear to God-"
But the threat went unfinished. His rage choked him as he turned and stormed out, the door slamming behind him like a punctuation mark on his cowardice.
Fiona let out a bitter laugh, tears finally spilling down her cheeks. "Coward," she muttered. "You're just a weak little man in an expensive suit."
---
Alex's Estate
Meanwhile, back at the estate, Ariel stood in front of a full-length mirror, adjusting the collar of her blouse. Her face was calm, composed but her heart wasn't. A storm brewed inside her, silent and steady.
"You're heading out again, ma'am?" the maid asked gently.
Ariel offered a faint smile. "Yes. Just something I need to take care of."
"Will you be gone long?"
"Not really. I'm just dropping something off."
As she stepped out, the resignation letter in her bag weighed heavier than it should. It wasn't just paper, it was closure. Or maybe the start of war.
Within minutes, the maid rushed to inform Alex.
Alex's phone vibrated in the middle of a tense board meeting. Normally, he ignored calls during business,but not this one.
"She left the house?" His tone was calm, but everyone around the table could feel the shift in his energy. "Assign a guard. I want her followed. Discreetly."
No one dared to ask questions. They didn't need to. One look at Alex's stony face and the message was clear: Ariel mattered more than all of them combined.
---
Later...
Ariel stepped out of the car with purpose. Her heels clicked like gunshots against the polished lobby floor. Every head turned. But she didn't falter.
She made her way to the office-Simon's office-her resignation letter clenched in her hand like a weapon.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
Simon looked up and froze. "A-Ariel...?"
She walked in slowly, placed the envelope on his desk, and took a step back. "I'm resigning."
He stood, disbelief all over his face. "What? Ariel, don't be ridiculous. If you resign, how will you survive? I know you're upset, but I love you. If you behave, maybe I'll-"
"I said I'm resigning," she cut in, her voice steel. "This conversation is over."
Simon slammed his hands against the desk. "Will you shut up for once?! Be a good girl, and maybe I'll let today slide."
"Shut up, Simon."
She turned to leave. But before she could take two steps, his hand shot out. He grabbed her wrist and yanked her back. Ariel gasped, just as he crashed his mouth onto hers.
She froze-shock and revulsion locking her in place.
Then-
BANG.
The office door burst open.
"SIMON!" Fiona's scream echoed through the room.
Simon pulled back, and Ariel immediately shoved him away with all her strength. She wiped her lips with the back of her trembling hand, eyes burning with disgust.
"I've resigned," she said through gritted teeth. "And from now on, you mean nothing to me."
Simon laughed, low, cruel. "Tastes like regret," he muttered, licking his lips.
Ariel shot him a glare of pure hatred. She didn't spare Fiona a glance. She simply walked out, every step stiff with fury.
---
Outside, her mask cracked.
She broke into a run, gulping in shaky breaths, her hands furiously scrubbing at her mouth as though she could erase what happened.
The guard in the car, watching from afar immediately took out his phone.
"She's shaken," he reported, voice clipped. "He touched her."
---
Alex
Those words,b"He touched her", were enough.
Alex's fingers curled into a fist as he stood up from the table. The air around him dropped several degrees.
"Bring her home. Now. Make sure she doesn't see you."
He hung up, buttoned his jacket, and looked around the boardroom like death itself had taken human form.
"Meeting's over."
No one objected.
---
Back at the Mansion
Ariel slammed her door shut. The world spun around her, hot tears stinging her eyes. She fled into the bathroom, turning on the tap and scrubbing her lips until they were raw.
"I hate him... I hate myself for ever loving him..." she whispered, barely holding herself up.
Then-a knock.
"Ariel?"
Alex's voice. Low. Calm. Dangerous.
She opened the door.
One look at her face, and something inside him broke. His eyes darkened, not with desire-but vengeance.
"A-Alex... You're back."
He stepped in, silent. Then, he gently took her chin and tilted her face toward his.
"Tell me what he did."
She hesitated.
"Ariel," he warned, his voice a whisper laced with threat, "if you lie, you won't like the consequences."
Her throat tightened. "He... he kissed me."
Silence.
Alex's entire body went still.
Then he turned, grabbed his jacket, and walked out.
No words. No threats.
Just war.
---
Warehouse Orders
In his car, Alex made the call.
"Get him to the warehouse. Bring the set."
"Yes, boss."
Alex stared out the window, rage boiling just beneath the surface.
"Since you like kissing things that don't belong to you, Simon..." he whispered, "I'll make sure your lips enjoy what I've prepared."
---
Simon
Simon left his office, humming with smug satisfaction.
"She still wants me," he grinned.
Then-
THUD.
Pain exploded at the back of his skull. The world blackened.
Two masked men caught him before he hit the floor, dragging him into a black SUV. They moved with silent efficiency,nno one noticed. No one dared.
Inside the car, his unconscious form slumped against the seat, wrists tightly bound.
One of the men tapped his phone.
"Target secured."
On the other end, Alex's voice was venomous.
"Good. Make sure he's awake when I get there."
A long pause.
"I want him to feel every second."
---