Chapter 25
1007 Words
Mara's POV
The air in the company felt suffocating today.
Every hallway carried whispers. Eyes sliced into me with invisible knives. It clung to my skin like smoke I couldn’t shake.
I kept my chin lifted anyway. My steps steady. My breathing controlled. Strength wasn’t optional, it was survival.
Still… one thought kept clawing at the back of my mind:
Has Elias seen it?
Would he believe it?
How would he see me now?
I shoved the questions aside, though the anxiety only grew sharper.
I had just stacked a pile of files on my desk when the door burst open, slamming against the wall with a violent crash.
Andrea.
Before I could rise from my chair, her hand struck my cheek, the sting blooming instantly.
I steadied myself, jaw tight. “Andrea.”
“How dare you?!” she screeched. “How dare you humiliate me like this?!”
I didn’t flinch. “What’s your problem?” I shot back.
Her eyes burned red, fingers trembling with rage. “My Problem? My Problem is your… your affair with my fiancé is going viral! Since when has this been going on?!”
I met her glare evenly. “I’m not having any affair with David. Yes, we dated years ago and trust me, that’s the past.”
She took a step closer, voice slicing the air. “Then why hide it? Why keep quiet? Why pretend none of it happened?!”
“It was years ago,” I snapped. “It doesn’t matter. It never did.”
“It matters to me!” she shouted, voice breaking. “Everyone is talking, laughing, judging me and you…” She jabbed a finger at me. “you’re acting innocent?”
“I am innocent,” I said, calm but firm. “Honestly, Andrea, I’m happy for what you have going on with David. I want nothing from your fiancé. I don’t love him.”
Her laugh was bitter, venomous. “You think you’re above everyone. You think men revolve around you. Let me warn you, stay away from David. I will destroy you if you don’t.”
I picked up my bag, deliberately slow, refusing to feed her fire.
“You don’t have to worry about me,” I said, voice steady, eyes locked on hers. “I want nothing from him.”
And then I walked out.
Her shouting followed me into the hall, but I didn’t turn back, not once.
Outside, the driver hurried toward me.
“Maam, should I—”
“I’ll drive myself,” I cut in. I needed space. Air. Distance. I slid into the driver’s seat, hands gripping the wheel as I started the engine and drove straight to Clara. To my safe space.
Clara’s eyes widened the moment I stepped into her office.
“Mara, what—WAIT.” She grabbed her phone mid-scroll. “I just saw your text. I haven’t even read the post yet. Gosh… this is bad.”
“I’m confused,” I admitted, sinking into the chair. “Clara, it’s everywhere.”
Her eyes darted toward the screen. “Your face is trending. His too. Mara… this is a mess.”
I rubbed my forehead. “I know.”
“No, you don’t. This is BAD…” she said sharply.
“I know. That's why I got slapped in the face by Andrea.” I said, touching my cheek.
She froze, then her eyes widened in disbelief. “You let that brat slap you? Girl, are you serious?”
“I didn’t even notice when it happened,” I muttered. “Trust me.”
She leaned forward, lowering her voice. “You want to know who posted it?”
I hesitated. Should I? Would it help or only make things worse?
Clara didn’t wait for me to answer. “I know someone who can find out very fast. We can find this person and see how much they know, maybe… bribe them if we have to.”
“Clara—” I started.
“This isn’t optional,” she cut me off, grabbing my coat. “Come on.”
The man she brought me to worked silently, fingers flying across a keyboard. Lines of code flashed across the monitors. Clara stood impatiently, arms crossed. I sat stiffly, hands twisting in my lap.
Minutes dragged, each second heavier than the last.
Then—
“I got it,” the man said.
My heart skipped a beat. Clara motioned for me to lean closer.
“Mara…” Her voice softened, almost cautious.
I stepped beside her and scanned the screen. The email address.
David’s emails address.
My chest tightened.
“He posted it,” I whispered, shocked from what I'm seeing “He actually did this?” The memory of his words about cancelling his wedding flickered through my mind. Was that why he risked everything?
Clara’s expression hardened. “We need to confront him. I can't believe he did this to you.”
“No,” I said immediately, shaking my head. “If I go near him now, it’ll only make things worse. People are already talking. I need to stay away from him for now.”
Clara’s hand brushed my arm. “I’m sorry, Mara. I’m so sorry you have to deal with this.”
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe.
The mansion was quiet when I returned home. Silence pressed against me like a weight.
I was halfway up the staircase when a cold voice cut through the stillness.
“Mara.”
I froze.
Camille stood on the balcony overlooking the living room, rigid, her posture sharp.
“I need to speak with you,” she said. “Come.”
My pulse jumped.
I stepped onto the terrace.
And froze.
Elias was already seated.
His posture relaxed, but his expression…
Cold.
Emotionless.
Unreadable.
A tight knot formed in my stomach.
When did he come back?
Had he seen the post already?
I inhaled slowly, bracing myself for whatever confrontation was about to come.
- Writer
