Done With My Ex, Moving To The Next

Chapter 15: The Mastermind Exposed

Chapter 15: The Mastermind Exposed

Valerie moved back to town, weeks after I was discharged from the hospital. Even though it cost her and I begged her not to, she vowed not to listen to me.

We were all on a round table—Valerie, Mr. Desmond, Rebekah, and I.

We gathered everything we could—screenshots, evidence of Dylan's abuse, and even pictures. The court hearing was in three days.

It'd been a whole month since I got discharged. Also, a whole month and two weeks since I last set foot into Dylan's house.

All my luxurious belongings were there—I was ready to leave it all to him. I wanted something more suitable and satisfying.

I declined my Father's call for the second time. I'd informed him I was leaving the marriage and since then, my phone had been buzzing at an explosive rate.

I said nothing aside from my primary intent: Leaving the marriage. I didn't add or take out of it.

My phone buzzed again, ringing while its vibration shook the papers on the table.

Mr. Desmond, Valerie, and Rebekah all threw their gazes on me. My chest heaved a sigh as I received the call.

A word didn't leave my lips, calmness settled inside of me as I raised my phone to kiss cheek.

I waited for the usual backlash and my father didn't take long to impress me with his cruelty.

While he ranted on about how covetous I was by not appreciating the “husband" I had, I said nothing.

I’d swear to the moon a million times and one, I didn't know where my willpower appeared from.

“Stella, I command you as your Father," My eyes sparked, as a smile formed on only half of my lips, waiting for him to say. “Drop all charges against your husband, or you will face the consequences of pushing me to the wall,” He said, but the only mistake he had made was adding the word ‘command’.

I meant it….I was fine being a puppet. I smirked, mischief glinting in my eyes.

“Hello…hello…Stella, are you…. Stella?”

"And what will the consequences of pushing you to the wall be, Dear Father” I asked, wrapping my daggery tone in silk.

“It seems you have another father elsewhere"

My instincts were right. Just right enough to predict what he was going to say.

My sister whispered to me, telling me to put the phone on loudspeaker, but I was far buried in the fury and anger that came with everything my Father pushed into my ears.

“Then, I am not sorry, but I'll push you to the wall this time, Father" I said again. I meant it.

I meant. Every. Single. One. Of. It.

“You wouldn't dare it, Stella. I know you” I could hear his grin over the phone. He spoke with such audacity that it would have broken me into pieces three months ago.

"Father, I dare you. Don't get in my way this time, I won't let it slide.” My courage was only fueled by the annoyance that filled my bloodstream at every word he said.

I didn't want to be a f*****g puppet. I loathed that life.

“And is it Valerie who has been giving you this liver to dare me, huh?" He scoffed. “I'll see to that"

I smiled, “I'm expecting. But Father, don't forget my warning. Do not underestimate me" I pressed the power button, automatically hanging up without sparing my screen a glance.

“How did it go?" The three of them seemed excited as they called but all I needed was fresh air at that moment.

I'd boldly faced my greatest fear and at that moment, I could feel my body coming out of itself. It felt like I'd just broken a chain that had bound my heart and soul for a long time.

“Someone recently contacted me concerning Mr. Dylan" Mr Desmond cleared his throat.

Every eye fell on him—including mine.

“Who is that person and what did they say?" The urge to find out pumped through me like adrenaline.

“The name wasn't stated. It was on an anonymous Lawyers’ Forum," He responded briefly, like that was all.

"The person promised to send his clips of indulging in explicit actions.”He pressed his lips into a thin line as though he realized he'd said something he wasn't supposed to.

He faked his sexuality for the whole society and made them fall for the “perfect" man he was, while he hid his real identity under a mask that slipped right before our very eyes.

“But, how did you know about Dylan, Mr Desmond?" Valerie asked him after a long moment of searching through my old phone, her eyes narrowing as she waited impatiently for answers.

I knew if she had a chance, she’d have made him talk twice as fast as usual.

“We used to be schoolmates" He smiled, nodding slightly.

Funny enough, we never talked about it. Aside from the story he told me about Felicia, we never got to talk about personal stories until this moment.

“He used to be with one boy. Taylor Marcel."

My eyes shone. Our eyes shone. “Ten years ago, we were high school mates who never saw anything wrong in the usual bromance between guys" He raised his eyebrows at every stress.

"Until we found out there were boys in our class who loved each other,” I dropped my jaw in disappointment. “And Taylor was the mastermind behind this act."

“Was anything done about it? Isn't he supposed to be locked up by now since the country laws don't support such?" My innocent sister asked. God. She embodied cuteness way too much for her to have ever asked in such a gullible manner.

Valerie shook her blonde-haired head in dismay but it soon led to giggles, filling the air—including her. We weren't laughing at her. We only laughed at her innocence.

“This country has always been led by those with power and according to what I heard, Taylor is from the most powerful family in London. He's always been dangerous and evil.”

Every feeling crawled down my spine.

"That's who he has always been. He gets what he wants, no matter what it takes. And the funniest part?” He smirked like an evil drug lord who was plotting a sure escape.

Rebekah, Valerie, and I leaned towards him.

“He always gets away with it. That's how much power he has"

My phone cracked a sound. A notification appeared on my screen.

I opened my messages and I saw a strange number. One that had never texted or called.

“Drop all charges, dear wifey. Or else, it won't be smiling for you and your blonde bitchy. Or the next one will be a hit to maim you for life”

My chest pumped under pressure. That was Taylor's way of addressing me. And by " blonde bitchy”, that was Valerie!

Could…could it be??