My heart throbbed painfully within my chest, its rhythmic beats echoing my escalating emotions, as Dante's piercing gaze bore into me. The revelation he had just unleashed left me gasping for breath, a chaos of disbelief and fear swirling within my mind.
How could I have let him discover my true identity? The weight of his knowledge settled upon me, leaving me trembling with a mixture of astonishment and fear. I stood up.
The room seemed to spin, and my thoughts raced to the implications of Dante's revelation. If he knew who I truly was, did he also know of our babies together?
I hadn't told him when I was drunk as I remember everything but why had he planned this day? Why had he planned a day for parents to bring their kids to work and then call me a liar when I told him they were sick?
The mere mention of them in the past had now become a haunting specter, and I wondered if Dante had pieced together the fragments of truth. The realization struck me like a lightening, threatening to shatter the fragile illusion I had carefully maintained.
Desperately grasping for control, I fought to anchor myself in reality. I summoned every ounce of strength to mask my inner turmoil, attempting to dismiss his words as preposterous while simultaneously raising a shield of defense.
Deep down, however, an unsettling intuition gnawed at my core, whispering that it might already be too late to salvage the situation.
"I-I have no..." My words were abruptly halted as Dante's glare cut through me like a blade.
He silenced my feeble attempt at denial, his eyes still fixed upon me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine as he delivered a warning that echo through the room.
"Before you try to deceive me any further, know that I possess undeniable proof that unequivocally links you to the name Avelyn Harrison. If I were in your shoes, I would exercise caution with any further lies you plan to weave in that mouth of yours, Avelyn. I will not tolerate being deceived by you any longer." Dante's voice, though composed, carried an undertone of determination, intensifying the gravity of the moment.
He held my gaze decisively.
The room thickened with unspoken tension, emotions swirling. My heart, now burdened not only with the weight of my secret but also with the impending consequences, pulsed with an undeniable mix of anguish, fear, and regret.
His words struck me with such force that I found myself at a loss for words, desperately fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over.
I felt a sense of weakness and vulnerability envelop me, as if all my defenses had been stripped away, leaving me exposed and defenseless. In that moment, I yearned to escape this agonizing situation, willing to do anything to be free of its suffocating grip.
Now it all became clear. The reason behind why he made me his personal assistant, the constant questioning, the sudden change in demeanor towards me after putting me in the hospital, why he brought me on that trip, why he kissed me... even why he had put Mark on probation. He was jealous. Everything fell into place, making sense of his actions and behavior.
He knew all along.
How could I have been so blind?
"You left me. You left me for nearly four years, Avelyn," Dante's voice cut through the silence, seething with a venomous mix of anger and hurt. "The woman I would have moved mountains for, the one I trusted above all else, betrayed me. Your heart turned to stone, and I would have fallen to my knees and done anything for you. What did I get in return?"
Dante's calm tone carried a fiery rage that simmered beneath the surface. His eyes burned with a mix of frustration and resentment, each word he uttered piercing through me like a dagger.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, sir," I managed to utter, my voice strained but attempting to maintain an air of composure and professionalism. However, my attempt to deflect his accusations only seemed to stoke the fire within him, fueling his anger even further.
"Don't you fucking play games with me, Avelyn!" Dante's voice rose, laced with raw frustration. "Even after being caught, you continue to play innocent. You're not leaving this room until you tell me why you ran away. Was it because you cheated on me? Did you get pregnant by someone else?"
Dante's shocking statements echoed through my being, shaking the foundation of trust that had once existed between us. The ground beneath me seemed to give way as his words cast a shadow of doubt upon my character.
How could he even entertain the thought that I would be capable of such betrayal? The sheer audacity of his accusations sent waves of anger crashing against my soul.
Closing my eyes tightly, I clenched my fists in a futile attempt to contain the raging emotions within me. How could he stoop so low? How dare he cheat on me and then attempt to pin his transgressions on me?
It was as if he were tarnishing my integrity, reducing me to a mere label, a derogatory term. The depth of my rage intensified with every passing second, fueling my resolve to confront him head-on, consequences be damned!
"How dare you pin this on me as if I would ever betray you!" I lashed out, the venom in my voice slicing through the air. Tears streamed down my face, a proof to the profound hurt his words had inflicted. "While you were the one engaging in sleeping around with others, even going as far as impregnating someone else, you have the audacity to accuse me? You sicken me! And to think that I once loved you with all my heart." The words spilled out of me, fueled by a mixture of pain and anger, revealing the raw truth of my emotions, even as my words seemingly reject any lingering love or care for him.
In that deafening moment, the air became heavy with the weight of shattered trust, irreparable wounds, and an unresolved longing that lingered beneath the surface.
As I gazed into his eyes, a fleeting glimpse of hurt and sadness flickered before being engulfed by a resurgence of anger. The transformation was swift, his features contorting with a venomous intensity that sent shivers down my spine.
"How utterly simple-minded of you to believe I would ever betray you," Dante spat out, his voice dripping with disdain. "You were once my entire world, Avelyn. You left me when you were pregnant, and then claim you hadn't cheated? Whose children are they, then? Certainly not mine, for why would my wife run away with my own flesh and blood. It defies all reason."
Dante's glare bore into me, each word striking with the force of a verbal blow. Despite the pain, a humorless chuckle escaped my lips, tears mix with my bitter laughter as I struggled to comprehend the depths of his accusations.
"Mr. Harrison, you have no right to question me," I retorted, my voice laced with a mixture of defiance and anguish. "I provided you with the life you desired, you even started a family. The privilege to question me is no longer yours. If you'll excuse me, I resign and will no longer be a part of this company. Enjoy your fucking life, Mr. Harrison."
I turned to leave, fueled by a desperate desire to escape this toxic environment. But before I could reach the door, Dante's laughter filled the room, catching me off guard.
"Without my passcode, that door will remain locked, trapping you here with me, Avelyn," he sneered, his eyes fixed on my every move as he positioned himself on his desk, like a predator observing its prey. "Whether you like it or not, you won't be leaving without providing the answers I seek, baby girl."
I was caught off guard by the endearing nickname he gave me, "baby girl." Despite the storm of emotions raging within me, his words sent a tremor through my being, awakening a flutter of butterflies in the depths of my stomach.
It was an absurd reaction, given the derogatory labels he had just used to describe me. How could I still find a glimmer of warmth in his words? Damn you heart for betraying me!
"You accused me of infidelity and starting a family," Dante stated, seemingly composed, as his scrutiny intensified. "Enlighten me."
I scoffed at his audacity, folding my arms tightly across my chest. Was he truly serious?
"I have no desire to spend another moment in your presence, Dante," I declared, my voice tinged with resignation and anguish. "Keeping me captive here is a pitiful display of your character. If I am the whore and the slut you paint me to be, then release me. Let me go."
Tears threatened to spill once more as I faced him, my vulnerability laid bare. Dante's piercing gaze remained fixed upon me, silently weighing my words and actions, as the room seemed to tighten its grip around us, leaving me trapped in a tangled web of emotions and unanswered questions.
With a determined push, Dante moved away from his desk, drawing closer to me. My eyes widened in alarm, and I instinctively took a step back. However, my retreat was cut short as my back collided with the door. I tried to sidestep, seeking an escape route, but he swiftly blocked my path, using his hands to cage me in.
"W-what are you doing?" I managed to stutter, feeling a rush of heat rise to my cheeks, my heart pounding within my chest.
"Stop pretending, Avelyn," Dante murmured, his voice laced with a mixture of tenderness and accusation. His nose brushed against mine as his hand found its way to my back, his fingers gently stroking, eliciting a swoon-like response within me.
"You're pretending that you don't love me, Avelyn," Dante asserted, his words laced with a fervent plea. "Your kiss has revealed everything to me. You still love me, deep down inside. Admit it. Tell me, Avelyn, and I might just find it in me to forgive you for everything you've done."
My heart, once wounded and shattered, seemed to momentarily forget the pain as it danced within my chest. The conflicting emotions surged, clouding my better judgment and making me momentarily forget the hurtful words he had hurled at me.
Dante's tender touch stirred a familiar longing within me, threatening to break down the walls I had erected to protect myself.
Confusion dimmed my judgment as I found myself yearning to succumb to his touch, to admit the lingering love I still harbored deep within for him.
A sudden bang on the door though echoed through the room, jolting me out of my despair. Dante, looking annoyed and frustrated stepped aside to open the door, granting entry to a woman whose voice instantly sent shivers down my spine. A voice I knew all too well.
"Dante!" She giggled with an air of seduction.
It was her!
It was the woman who had stolen Dante's heart. She approached him with familiarity, embracing him tightly and planting a kiss on his cheek. My heart sank further, realizing that they were now a couple. The pain of betrayal and loss weighed heavily on my chest, threatening to suffocate me.
With an unsettling cheerfulness, the woman turned her attention towards me, her eyes fixated on my trembling form.
"Dante, who is this?" she inquired, her voice laced with false innocence.
Dante, his face contorted with confusion, took a step back, studying me intently. His gaze searched for answers, his scrutiny unearthing the fear etched upon my face. It seemed he recognized my changed appearance.
"I should be asking what you're doing here, Catherine," Dante responded, his voice tinged with suspicion. He was cautious, sensing that something was amiss with me.
Catherine's smile widened, her words dripping with a calculated malice. She turned her head towards me, her eyes gleaming with a sinister intent.
Her words echoed in my ears, a chilling confirmation that she knew who I really was despite my change in appearance and that her presence here meant a grave threat to my beloved babies.
"Oh, I simply wanted to pay you a visit and take care of some unfinished business. Killing two birds with one stone seemed like a fitting idea," she uttered, her words landing like a dagger in my heart.
The implication was clear-she intended to harm my innocent babies.
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