One. Seeing Ex Husband
"You three, come back here!"
Cleopatra’s voice was loud enough that everyone in the lobby turned to look. She forced a tired smile for the strangers watching, but inside, she was drained. Her triplets were making this day even more exhausting than it already was.
To make matters worse, she had a high-stakes business dinner to attend with her boss that evening. All she wanted was to go home and catch a bit of sleep before it was time to head out, but the girls had other plans.
She watched as the girls ran ahead, giggling and darting through the crowd. They wanted her to chase them, and though she just wanted a hot shower, she finally gave in. She started to run, but then she came to a sudden, heart-stopping halt.
Her youngest, Tori, was on the ground.
Tia, the second triplet, was already hovering over her, trying to comfort her sister. But it was Tara who caught Cleopatra’s eye. The small girl stood tall, her tiny frame tense as she glared up at the man standing over them.
Cleopatra’s gaze traveled up to the man’s face, and she froze. Her eyes widened, her blood turning to ice at the sight of the man whose face had haunted her for years.
Gideon Moretti. Her ex-husband.
Immediately, she dove behind a large decorative pillar, her heart beating faster than a trapped bird. As she pressed herself against the cold stone, the image of his face triggered a flood of darkness. The lobby faded, and the nightmare from six years ago resurfaced with brutal force.
.....
"Let me go, Gideon! I beg you!"
Cleopatra’s pleas had rung out in the suffocating silence of the master bedroom. She struggled wildly, the metal chains on her wrists pinning her to each side of the bed. Her eyes were fixed on Gideon, searching for a single spark of mercy.
"I admit I was wrong!" she sobbed. "I shouldn't have let Grandma force you to marry me and ruin your relationship with Maya. I admit it! If it’s a divorce you want, I’m ready to give it to you—please, just stop punishing me like this! I beg you!"
But Gideon’s heart was a rock. He reached out, his thumb slowly trailing over her cheek to wipe away a stray tear.
"Let you go?" his voice was a low, dangerous crawl. "Isn't it a little too late for that, Cleopatra?"
Cleopatra shook her head, her face pale with fear and regret. If she had known this man was a devil, she never would have agreed to the marriage.
"Cleo-pa-tra... do you remember what I told you before?" He trailed his fingers down from her face to her chest. She could feel her heart hammering against her ribs, ready to burst. "You drugged me, took advantage of me, and had it recorded just to marry me. Because of you, Maya suffered depression and almost took her life. Do you think I will let you off that easy?"
Tears streamed down Cleopatra’s face as she squeezed her eyes shut.
"This is just the beginning, honey..." Gideon whispered against her skin. "I am going to make you pay for every ounce of pain Maya went through."
Cleopatra shook her head, her body trembling against the silk sheets as the metal of the chains rattled. "No... please, no! Ahhh!"
