Sadistic Obsession

Chapter 3

An intruder?

Our gazes met yet he showed no regret with the words he just said.

So… I was no longer his wife in his eyes? I bit my lower lip as my chest constricted at his cold words. But no… I needed to go through him. All I needed was a little push and I was sure he would believe me.

“Hun… Please, look into it more. I really did not do anything. My signature in that document is surely forged–”

My words were cut short when the door opened. Two security guards filed into the room and immediately rushed to my side, grabbing my arms.

“Hun… I’d never betray you! You know that… Please… Investigate more! You know me better than anyone…”

They dragged me out and their strength was far stronger than I was so I could only plead to my husband. I kept my eyes on him, but he looked away with indifference. It felt like he never knew me at all.

“I swear on my name, I'd never turn my back on you!" I claimed.

I did not care if the other employees looked at me like some lunatic. I just wished my words would go through my husband. That was all that mattered to me.

However, my efforts were all in vain. It did nothing at all.

I watched him turn his back on me and never once spared me a glance.

“Never come back!” one of the security guards yelled after pushing me out of the building together with my luggage.

Tears ran down my cheeks as I got up with skinned knees. I wiped away my tears, but the more I did it, the more tears simply came out.

I had no idea how long I stood outside the company while still waiting for Kade to come out, but when darkness had fully embraced the city and I saw no sign of him, my shoulders slumped. With a heavy heart, I turned on my heels and walked away. Looking at my current bank account, there was no way for me to survive long if I rented even a small studio apartment.

How I wished I worked more even after getting married. I... I should have not relied too much on my husband, thinking that nothing would go wrong. I shut my eyes and tried to gather my remaining strength despite feeling discarded and helpless.

A thought crossed my mind instead of trying to use my money to look for a cheap apartment.

To return home, back to the countryside where I grew up.

Never did I consider leaving the city again when I married Kade since he was too busy at work that it was not ideal to go to the countryside even for a quick vacation.

But now... It felt like the city was no longer for me. Hence, I grabbed my luggage and walked towards the train station. It would take me a day and two different rides to reach my hometown. Maybe if I wait there, Kade would reach out to me again after finding out the truth.

I walked into the train and my gaze never left the view of the city. It seemed to pass by in a blur just like how my life was when I first came here. In a snap, I was returning to the place where I thought I’d never go back to.

***

Before I knew it, three years had passed since I left my life as Kade's wife in the City of Valtemort. It had been a rough journey going through each day with the occasional nightmares of being shunned by the public as a gold digger and a thief, running away with a billion dollar stash after fooling Kade Storm.

That news headline became a hot topic when I left Valtemort. My face was everywhere. Comments attacked me, wishing me to get a hundred folds of bad karma, that I should just die, that I should rot in jail. Some even said that a country bumpkin like me was obviously a gold digger. They claimed that I was talentless and even physically unattractive so how dare I make a complete fool out of the country’s most successful man.

It was for that reason that I had to stay away from social media up until now. I knew more than anyone that I was innocent, yet who would believe the words of a nobody?

"Reyna!"

I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to look behind me. A smile tugged at my lips as I waved at Faustina, my childhood friend.

She rushed to my side and handed me a stack of canvases in different sizes.

"Here. My boss said his daughter got tired of painting so he gave them away," she said before pushing me inside my small shop.

To show my gratitude, I made some tea and finger sandwiches for her.

"Okay... Here's some news I just heard." Her voice lowered in a whisper. "A big company plans to build their warehouse here."

"Well... Our town is surrounded by major cities so they probably considered that as an advantage if they built it here."

Faustina nodded with a grin, telling me that she has more to tell. She stood and clasped at my hands.

"And guess what? They hired my father's company for manpower!"

I paused while staring at her with wide eyes. Then, we both squealed at the good news. My arms wrapped around her as I congratulated her, knowing that this meant her father's company wouldn't close.

"Faustina, this is big news. Congratulations!"

"That's why I also came to invite you for dinner. It's just a little celebration for two answered prayers. What do you think?"

I immediately nodded.

"Then, I will be closing early today to bake a cake. But what's the other answered prayer?"

Our conversation came to an abrupt stop when an unfamiliar man and woman wearing formal suits entered the shop. The two of us turned to them.

I was more than certain they were not from here.

"We are looking for Ms. Reyna Clave," the woman stated.

For some reason, I felt uneasy. Yet I brushed it off since I may just be overthinking things.

"That's me... What can I do for you?" I asked.

Sensing that this matter seemed serious, Faustina excused herself and gestured that if the two strangers gave me a hard time, I would just call her.

"I am Gabrielle Anwar. This is Attorney Jackson Hagues," the woman introduced, stretching her hand for a handshake.

I shook their hands before offering them a seat as I prepared some tea. The silence in the small room weighed on me. Why would an attorney suddenly come here? As far as I knew, I registered my business legally so it would be impossible that they were here to charge me for selling my paintings and some painting tools.

A thought crossed my mind. My hand froze for a second.

Does this have something to do with my marriage with Kade? I mean... He did mention about the divorce before, but since I left in a rush, I did not sign any divorce agreement.

So technically, I am still Mrs. Storm.

I served them the tea before sitting across from them, trying my best to mask the fear in me.

"Ms. Cleva, have you heard of the new warehouse that is about to be built here?" Gabrielle asked.

I simply nodded.

"What does that have to do with me?" I questioned even though it scared me to know the answer.

"The company decided to extend the parameters of the land they want to buy. And your house is within that area." Gabrielle turned to the attorney, who then opened his briefcase. "We are offering you compensation for it. It's enough to build you a new house."

The attorney handed the documents to me and the very first thing that caught my attention was the name of the company.

"Levanti Motors."