In love with my billionaire boss

Chapter eleven

The Breaking Point

The air in the study was thick with tension. Gloria stood, unwavering, her eyes locked on Emmanuella—no, Eva—her heart pounding with betrayal and anger. Alfred was silent beside her, too shocked to speak, too conflicted to make a move.

“Alfred…” Gloria said, her voice trembling with a controlled rage. “Did you know?”

Alfred’s mouth opened, but no words came out. His gaze flickered to Emmanuella—Eva—then back to Gloria, the weight of his guilt crushing him.

“I didn’t know who she really was, Gloria. I didn’t—” he started, but Gloria’s sharp glare silenced him.

“No. Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare try to explain this to me now.” She turned toward Emmanuella, her voice laced with venom. “And you. I don’t know how you managed to worm your way into this family, but you’ve caused enough damage.”

Emmanuella took a step back, but her expression was unreadable. She had no fear in her eyes—only a cold resolve.

“You don’t understand, Gloria,” she said softly, her voice smooth as silk. “You never did. Alfred isn’t yours anymore. He never was. I just… showed him what he was really missing.”

Gloria’s breath hitched, a mix of anger and betrayal washing over her. “You think you can take him from me? You think he’ll just forget everything we’ve built?”

“It’s already happening,” Emmanuella replied, her eyes glinting with something darker than desire. “It’s too late.”

Before Gloria could respond, Alfred finally stepped forward. “Emmanuella, that’s enough. Leave. Now.”

For the first time, Emmanuella’s calm demeanor cracked. She shot one last, lingering look at Alfred, a mix of longing and malice in her gaze. “I hope you find what you’re looking for, Alfred,” she said coldly before turning on her heel and walking out of the room.

Gloria didn’t wait for her to leave entirely before she spoke, her voice dangerously low.

“Don’t even think about going after her. Don’t you dare.”

Alfred flinched, the weight of his wife’s words heavier than the storm that raged outside. “Gloria, I never—”

“Shut up,” she hissed, her face pale with fury. “You don’t get to talk to me right now. You don’t get to explain anything. I’ve seen the truth. I know what’s been going on. You’ve been under her spell from the start, haven’t you?”

Alfred opened his mouth to argue, but the words wouldn’t come. It was true. It had started innocently enough—helping out with house chores, small conversations—but somehow, over time, Emmanuella had wormed her way into his thoughts, into his life.

“I don’t want to hear it,” Gloria continued, her voice cracking now with pain. “You’ve let her in. You’ve let everything fall apart. And for what? For her?”

“Gloria, please,” Alfred begged, taking a step forward, his hand outstretched. “I never meant for this to happen.”

“You didn’t mean it?!” Gloria’s voice rose in disbelief. “You didn’t mean to fall for her charms? You didn’t mean to push me aside? You didn’t mean to destroy everything we’ve built?”

Her words hit him like a slap, each one cutting deeper than the last.

“I—” Alfred’s voice faltered. “I don’t know what I was thinking. But it’s not too late, Gloria. I want to fix this. I love you.”

Gloria shook her head, her tears now mixing with the storm outside. “Love? You think this is about love? You’re a fool, Alfred.”

She stepped back, wiping her tears away. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t live in a house where I don’t know who’s on my side anymore. You’ve chosen her, Alfred. And now, I have to choose myself.”

Before Alfred could speak, Gloria turned and walked out of the room, leaving him standing alone in the study, a broken man.

Later that night, Alfred sat at the dining table, staring at the untouched meal before him. He couldn’t even taste it, the guilt suffocating every breath. He had ruined everything. He had ruined her. And no matter how many times he told himself that he hadn’t meant for it to happen, the truth still lingered.

He had allowed Emmanuella into his life, into his heart, and now there was no going back.

The sound of footsteps broke his reverie. Alfred looked up, expecting Gloria, but instead, it was Williams, his ever-loyal butler, standing at the doorway with a hesitant look.

“Sir,” Williams said quietly, his voice laced with concern, “there’s someone here to see you.”

Alfred frowned, confused. “Who?”

“It’s Mr. Gabriel Peter, sir.”

The name hit Alfred like a cold wave.

Gabriel.

The one who had set this all in motion. The one who had manipulated both him and Emmanuella for his own sick game. And now, Gabriel was here.

Alfred stood up slowly, rage bubbling beneath the surface. “Let him in.”

The door creaked open, and there he stood—Gabriel Peter, the man who had always been a friend, but had now become something far darker.

“You,” Alfred said through gritted teeth.

Gabriel smiled, his expression calm and mocking. “You knew this would happen eventually, didn’t you, Alfred?”

Alfred took a step toward him, fury burning in his chest. “What did you do? What the hell have you done?”

Gabriel’s smile widened. “I didn’t do anything. You did, my friend. You let me pull the strings. And now, it’s all falling apart. It was always meant to fall apart.”

Alfred’s eyes narrowed. “You were never my friend.”

Gabriel shrugged. “I was never meant to be. But

I’m the one who’s always been in control.”