After She Left

Chapter 3: You Posed For A Romantic Photo

ELEANOR’S POV

I toss and turn on the bed as various thoughts consume me. Clueless about why Luke hasn’t returned home or answered his calls, I have no choice but to wait for him.

Slowly, I rise from the bed and walk to the dining area. Upon arrival, I grab a glass and begin to fill it with water from the dispenser, when something catches my attention.

Quickly, I pour the water, take a sip, and hold the glass before moving to the table where the documents lie. I glance at the picture in my hand, utterly stunned to see my husband holding hands with a woman who looks oddly familiar.

“Damn!” I exclaim, slamming the glass onto the floor as tears stream down my face.

Ruby rushes in. “Mum? What’s wrong? Did you hurt yourself?”

I remain silent, quietly sobbing, prompting her to step closer. “Oh no,” she gasps, covering her mouth after seeing the picture in my hands.

I glance at her, struggling to find the right words. She gently holds me and tries to console me. “Mum, please. Just sit down, and we’ll figure out how to handle this.”

I comply, sitting while staring intently at the photo. The fact that the woman seems familiar unsettles me deeply.

Suddenly, the devil himself appears. “Eleanor, can I have a glass of warm water, please?”

Feigning a smile, I reply to my so-called husband, “Of course. Come closer; the water here is warm.”

As he approaches, I grab the jug on the dining table and pour cold water over him.

“What is this, Eleanor?” he shouts. “Isn’t it too early for your mood swings?”

Scoffing, I retort, “Mood swings?!” With my brows furrowed, I fling the pictures at him. “Are these caused by my mood swings too?”

He picks up the photos, visibly shaken. “Answer me, you despicable man!”

He stares at me before muttering, “Whoever sent this picture has malicious intentions.”

Rubbing my temples in frustration, I struggle to control my emotions. “You posed for a romantic photo with Rosa, the Minister of Corporate Affairs! And this is all you have to say? Are you kidding me?”

He defends himself, “Eleanor, you weren’t supposed to see this picture. How did it even get here? Have you been spying on me?”

Unable to contain my fury, I shout, “Is that what you’re focusing on?!” Turning to Ruby, I ask, “Did you hear what he just said?”

Scoffing loudly, I grab a glass cup from the dining table. Ruby pleads from behind, “Mum, please. We can resolve this calmly. Don’t do something you’ll regret.”

Mr. Smith taunts me further. “Eleanor, have you lost your mind? You’re better than this. Drop the glass, and I’ll pretend nothing happened.”

Consumed by rage, I hurl the glass at him, exhaling deeply as though a weight has been lifted.

Just then, Luke walks in, only to see the glass cup flying toward him. My breath catches, and I pray he isn’t hurt.

Mr. Smith emerges from where he hid, yelling with fear in his eyes. “Eleanor, you had the nerve to do that?!”

I rush to the door. “Shut up! You deserve worse! Pray nothing happens to my son.”

Tears stream down my face as I see Luke lying on the floor, blood trickling from his leg.

I kneel beside him, shaking him vigorously. “Luke? My dear? Are you okay?”

Ruby kneels next to him and glares at me, seething with anger. “Look at what you’ve done! I told you to calm down, but you wouldn’t listen.”

“I—” I stammer, searching for words, but Ruby cuts me off.

“You need to control your anger and direct it at your husband!”

Fuming, I grab her hair. “Don’t you dare speak to me like that! Don’t you dare!”

Luke intervenes, shoving Ruby away from me. When I see it’s just a minor cut on his leg, I rise and grab Mr. Smith by the collar.

Enraged, I glare at him. “How dare you cheat on me with that woman? And then act like you’ve done nothing wrong? How could you?!”

Luke limps over and pulls me away from his father. “Mum, please.”

I turn to him, tears brimming in my eyes. “Do you realize the gravity of what he’s done? He doesn’t deserve forgiveness!”

Luke agrees, “Yes, he deserves punishment!” His eyes shift between me, his dad, Ruby, and back to me.

“We have bigger problems, Mum.”

I push him aside. “What could be more serious than this betrayal? Tell me!”

Frustrated, he rubs his head and shouts, “Hazel! Mum, Hazel!”

I blink, confused. “Her matter is closed and forgotten.”

“Yes, it is. Or are you still hung up on her?” Ruby mocks.

Luke sighs, rubbing his fingers together as he slumps onto the couch. “Mum, Dad, Ruby—Hazel is back. I didn’t come home last night because I was still processing what happened during my takeover meeting.”

Intrigued, I sit beside him. “She reclaimed the company and humiliated me publicly. I tried accessing my accounts, but she already locked them.”

Ruby probes, “What do you mean she locked them?”

“She froze my accounts!” Luke exclaims in frustration. “I came here to strategize with you all, but look at this chaos!”

At that moment, there’s a knock at the door.

I open it, shocked to see the barrister from Orion’s Den. I usher him in, but he declines a seat.

“I’m not here for pleasantries,” he states, pulling out a spiral-bound document.

Handing it to Luke, he says, “My client, Hazel Orion, has filed a lawsuit against you for bribery and attempting to illegally take over her company.”

Luke rises in fury and marches toward the lawyer.