Kiera stood at the car park corner, her gaze fixed on the sleek black limousine. Nicholas loomed beside it, a brooding figure that sent a shiver down her spine.
Her heart felt heavy, burdened by the weight of her decision.
She had made up her mind—tomorrow, she would meet Nicholas to finalize their divorce and put an end to their tumultuous marriage.
She wanted to avoid him now, to gather her thoughts and find the strength to face him one last time.
The second she got close enough, he stepped forward, his face a mask of anger and confusion.
"Kiera! Where do you think you're going? We need to talk!" he demanded, his voice sharp and commanding.
Kiera recoiled, her eyes narrowing. She did not intend on evading him but the menacing glare in those eyes of his sent a shiver down her spine.
The past memories of his abuse flashed through her mind, igniting a fierce determination within her.
She had never dared to resist him before, always yielding to his wishes, but not anymore.
She had learned her lessons from the past, the life she had lived before this one.
She knew the darkness that lurked within him, the domestic abuse that had plagued their previous relationship. She was determined not to let history repeat itself.
"What are you up to, Nicholas?" Kiera questioned, her voice laced with a mix of defiance and caution.
She swiftly sidestepped as he lunged towards her, his hand aimed at her face. Her heart pounded, adrenaline coursing through her veins, heightening her senses.
In an unexpected turn of events, Kiera's swung her hand, directing it at Nicholas's cheek, sending a resounding slap.
POW!
The sound echoed through the air, a symbol of her newfound strength and determination.
Nicholas stood there, blindsided and stunned as the echoes reverberated in his ears. He had never expected Kiera to fight back, to stand up against his abuse.
But then she did.
Snapping his head back to face her, he snarled.
"What's gotten into you, Kiera?" Nicholas seethed, his voice filled with a mix of anger and disbelief.
“Me?” Kiera let out a scoff, her smile sinister and calculated. "I should be asking you that. How dare you attempt to hit me? Are you nuts?" Her words cut through the tense atmosphere, challenging his actions.
Rather than answering, Nicholas stood rooted to the ground with his mind wondering about the perfect answer to counter her statement.
"No. It was useless to ask that in the first place. Of course you are nuts. Nicholas, stop coming to see me unless it is related to the divorce," she warned.
"It is about the divorce." He picked on her words quickly.
Tsk. Always the manipulator and twister of words.
"Not like this. Besides, I have you a date and time frame."
"But I…"
Kiera lifted her hands to stop him from speaking.
"I don't want to hear it."
"Please Kiera delete those pictures and videos, I beg you. We can sort this all out. No need for a divorce."
Just watching him sprout such nonsense from his mouth made her insides churn.
"And why should I do that?" She questioned, placing her left hand on her waist as she glared at him.
"Because… B–Because you love me. We can still…"
His words got cut when he saw how deadpan serious her face turned. There was no changing her mind.
And just thinking about it along with her change of attitude, Nicholas suspicious instincts kicked in.
His mind raced, searching for a reason why she would want to leave him.
He couldn't fathom the possibility of his own wrongdoing. In the past all she talked about was pleasing him but now, her behaviour took a big turn.
"You…you must have cheated on me. I knew it," he stated, his eyes burning with a new light.
"That's why you are so eager to push me away and divorce me. You do not want me to find out and then cut you out of your money from our divorce. Haha!"
Kiera's eyes blazed with a cold fire as she met his gaze, her voice dripping with contempt.
"I haven't cheated on you, Nicholas. Unlike you, I have moral integrity. My decision to divorce you has nothing to do with love—it's about protecting myself and refusing to be subjected to your abuse any longer," she declared, her words struck with precision, leaving no room for doubt.
Nicholas fell silent, his face contorted with confusion and self-doubt.
He struggled to find a logical reason for Kiera's sudden desire for a divorce, but deep down, he knew he had brought it upon himself.
Just like she said, his actions, his mistreatment, had driven her away.
Kiera stared at him coldly, her resolve unyielding.
"What? Oh, now you refuse to accept any form of backlash, don't you? Well, I won't be your emotionless toy any longer. I deserve better, and I will find it," she proclaimed, her voice filled with unwavering determination.
Without giving him a second thought, she turned on her heels and walked away, heading to her car, leaving Nicholas standing there, speechless and reeling from the revelation.
As she walked, she felt her heart beat very fast in her chest.
Everything that happened there… All of her words…she was reminded she needed someone to share it all with.
She needed to confide in someone, to find solace and support in her darkest hour. At once her mind turned to her best friend, Iris.
Kiera's eyes lit up as she came to a conclusion. She decided to seek Iris out and inform her about her situation—although she never planned on divulging the details of her rebirth, merely keeping it strict to her divorcing Nicholas.
Iris had not always been keen on her being with Nicholas but being a good friend, she supported Kiera's happiness.
Kiera got into her car, determination radiating from her every pore, her eyes sparkling at her new found strength.
And when she clenched her hand, she could recall the hotness of her slap.
She would no longer be a victim of abuse, and she would fight for her own happiness, no matter the obstacles that lay ahead.
After leaving the company, Kiera placed a call to Iris and the two of them met up in front of a club.Stepping into the executive club Styling Royals, a sanctuary for celebrities and the elite, Kiera swept her gaze around, taking in the magnificent designs of the place.“You like it?” Iris’ voice cut through the music to reach her friend’s ears.Stunned, Kiera could only nod her head in response.“Hehhe, how does it feel to finally break from the shackles of your past and experience the thrill of a club for the first time?”“I don’t know but it sure feels great. You come here all the time?”“Seldomly but yeah.”Styling Royals was a club with an invitation-only membership. It ensured that only the most prestigious figures in society could enter its doors, some of which were high-end celebrities.“Come let’s find a seat.”As they navigated through the vibrant atmosphere, Kiera couldn't help but feel a sense of liberation. She had finally found herself, breaking free from the suffocating
The tension in the room crackled like electricity as Nicholas’ face contorted with anger, staring at the stranger in his path. His eyes burned with a mixture of fury and fear.Behind him, Kiera’s heart raced, unable to tear her gaze away from the man, Jace, who had been her defender.At the same time, Jace turned his head to the side, his gaze holding her as though asking a silent question.What she had seen wasn’t what she had expected. To her surprise, he looked more striking than Nicholas.The thought alone made her heart skip a beat as she stared at Jace.She had never seen anyone so captivating before. And despite her fear of Nicholas, her eyes remained drawn to Jace like a moth to a flame.He stood tall, his broad shoulders adorned with a fiery-maroon suit that hugged his muscular frame perfectly.His jet-black hair was styled impeccably, framing his chiselled jawline and prominent cheekbones.Amidst all of that, it was his mesmerizing blue eyes, shining with a mixture of intens
Jace turned to Kiera, his hand still on her waist as they left. "What was that all about?" he asked in a whisper as concern etched on his features.Kiera shook her head, not wanting to think about it. Instead, she focused on Jace, taking in every inch of him."You should come with me," he said suddenly. "I can make sure you're safe."Kiera hesitated, uncertain whether it was a good idea to follow a stranger. But there was something about Jace that made her feel as though she could trust him."Okay," she said softly as she nodded.He gave her a reassuring smile and Kiera couldn’t help but feel grateful for his timing.She felt safe with him like she had finally found someone who could protect her from the dangers that lurked in the shadows.By the time they arrived at his private bar and made their way to the shelf where they sat on their respective stools, Jace let her have her way and drown her sorrows with a few drinks while her lips fed him with her problems.Thanks to the fact tha
I opened my eyes, the room spinning around me, as the throbbing ache in my head intensified."Arrgh… Bloody hell! What did I do…?" I groaned out.Confusion washed over me as I tried to piece together the events of the previous night.My memory was a hazy canvas, fragmented and scattered.The last thing I remembered was drinking with Jace, a man whose presence brought both comfort and mystery and my very saviour.As the memories slowly trickled back, I was struck by a wave of shock and embarrassment.Hell, I was a mess yesterday.I recalled my frenzied behavior, my desperate plea for him to sleep with me, and even attempting to undress him.The way I kissed him, the need, how I stroked his hard on through his trousers.Gosh! Shame and regret coursed through my veins. I feel my cheeks become hot and flushed crimson from embarrassment as I realized the extent of my actions.I cover my face with both palms as the memory replayed in my head all over again.With every second, the more I fel
As soon as her clothes were delivered, she placed them on the bed and went to freshen up. Once done, she picked up her phone attempting to call Jace about her car when her eyes landed on something.The world seemed to spin as the onslaught of notifications came rolling in.Her heart sank as she scrolled through the trending news—articles, photos, and rumours all swirling around Nicholas and her, their broken relationship, and the games they played.Images of Nicholas and Cristal, blurred and elusive, along with pictures of Jace and her flooded the screen.Her mind raced, trying to make sense of the chaos unfolding before her eyes."Tsk, these bastards," she cussed out loud.With a sense of urgency, she hastily changed into the beautiful light purple gown that Jace had gotten for her and rushed to the hospital where her grandfather lay.As she entered his ward, she was met with the unsettling sight of her uncle, Ray, wearing a devious grin."Hello, Kiera. Welcome," Ray announced, his s
Kiera’s eyes glimmered with joy as she stared at Van. She was touched by her grandfather’s support. The conversation with her grandfather had both comforted and unnerved her.She originally expected him to oppose her divorce from Nicholas in order to save face and consider the power the Relish Group held over their lives. But instead, he had prioritized her happiness over their business ties.“I am sorry, Van. I never meant to be rash with my words, Diana apologized.Van looked at Kiera, still wearing a smile on his face, he nodded. “Give me a second, I have something to discuss with you.”Shifting his gaze to them, he dismissed them at once. “Ray, Diana, I would like to be alone with my granddaughter. Thanks for coming.”With how angry he almost got just now, Diana did not need a second telling as to when to leave. Quickly she lowered her head respectfully and walked away, but not before stealing another glance at Diana.This time she hoped she would not push through with her plans.
Soon, Friday arrived, and Kiera anxiously stood in front of the city council, waiting for Nicholas to appear. However, as the minutes ticked by, he was nowhere to be seen.She lifted her hand and gazed at her watch. It was already 45 minutes since ehr arrival yet that mongrel was nowhere to be found.With frustration mounting, Kiera dialled his number and waited for him to answer his call.“Hello?”“The nerve, Nicholas,” she commented sharply.“I…”“Save it,” she cut in, her voice tinged with impatience. “You better come to the city council as soon as possible. Come and let’s finalize our divorce.”Nicholas's voice crackled through the phone, filled with defiance. "I've told you before, Kiera. I'm not getting a divorce. So suck it up and accept it.”A mischievous smile appeared on her lips as she took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure."Nicholas Relish, let me remind you this, even if you don't come, according to the regulations, a two-year separation will automatically
As Kiera stepped out of the city hall, a sense of relief washed over her. She had achieved her goal, finally obtaining the divorce she had been seeking.It felt like a dream come through, as though the shackles that weighed down on her neck were broken.Without thinking too much she walked away from Nicholas with thoughts of how she wished to celebrate her new found independence.On the other hand, Nicholas couldn't help but feel a bitter taste in his mouth, a sour reminder of what he had lost. Watching Kiera from a distance, he silently stewed in his own emotions.Kiera stood at the roadside, patiently waiting for a taxi to whisk her away. In the midst of her anticipation, Nicholas's assistant approached in a sleek black car.Reluctantly, Nicholas cast a glance her way but seeing as she did not pay him any attention, he climbed into the vehicle."Good day sir," his P.A, Dan greeted the second the door closef."Hmm. How is Cristal doing?""She is fine sir. We got to the hospital on ti