Chapter 3 The Mrs. Strays
509 Words
"Stella, I've made up my mind."
Hearing Alicia's determined tone, Stella knew arguing was pointless.
With a shrug—that limited-edition necklace wasn't worth the trouble—she sighed. "Fine. Meet me at my apartment at nine sharp tomorrow."
After previous failed attempts, Alicia had planned carefully this time. Carlos would be visiting Grandpa Radiance tomorrow, giving her a perfect half-day window of opportunity.
This was it—no room for failure. Success was the only option.
Seething all night, Carlos had chain-smoked in his study until dawn. When he finally stalked back to bed, the sun was blazing high. His hand groped across cold sheets—Alicia was gone.
The memory of her tearful defiance last night twisted his lips—equal parts fury and amusement. After all this time as his wife, the woman still refused to behave.
Grabbing his phone, he lazily dialed his driver. "Track her."
"Don't worry, Mr. Radiance," Old Han reassured. "The Mrs. said she's watching movies with a female friend."
Carlos relaxed slightly, eyelids drooping—until the driver added, "Someone from Verve Square... Stella, I think?"
"Stella?!"
Sleep vanished. He bolted upright, roaring, "You let her go to that troublemaker without informing me?!"
Clamping the phone between his ear and shoulder, he wrestled into his clothes with violent jerks. Last time, that little schemer had helped Alicia plot an affair—nearly got him divorced! If he hadn't intervened, he'd have been the laughing stock of the town.
And now? Alicia dared return to that viper's nest? This meant war.
No hesitation. A convoy of black SUVs screeched toward Verve Square, each packed with stone-faced bodyguards. Carlos's grip turned his phone into a creaking timebomb, his bloodshot eyes flashing dangerously.
So she'd fake an affair to force a divorce? Drag his name through the mud?
Fine. He'd break her defiance once and for all.
The image of Alicia stripping naked before another man made Carlos's chest burn like a furnace, ready to explode.
"Everyone, listen up!" He hit the intercom, his voice dripping with menace through the vehicle. "If you see any man getting too cozy with Mrs. Radiance, break his legs first—we'll deal with the rest later!"
Make an example of one, and see who'd dare try!
Back at the apartment, tension hung thick in the air—everyone thought Carlos was overseas by now.
Alicia's eyes darted away, flustered, from the beanpole of a guy standing before her with just a towel barely covering his hips...
No.
She wanted to scream into her hands. This wasn't a man—just a nervous kid fresh out of high school.
"S-sister... what should I... do?" The boy's pale face turned bright red as his fingers nervously played with the towel's edge. "Should I... take this off?"
"God no!" Alicia quickly grabbed his wrist, mortified by the whole situation.
The boy stood frozen, confused—but Stella smirked beside them, bragging, "See? Told you he's perfect! Just turned eighteen, a model from the Arts High School—young and inexperienced!"
- Writer
