My face was swollen and red from all the crying I had been doing the whole morning. My phone rang continuously in my bag but I ignored it.
Today was the worst day of my life. The absolute worst. Just one finding had managed to scatter all my happiness of the last two years. Everything.
Everything was going well until the strange feelings of doubt started. The feeling that something was wrong with Blaed. The late night conversations, the constant disappearance and no reasonable explanation, I just knew something was wrong.
I ignored it in the first few months and maybe I should have continued ignoring it because I wouldn't have to deal with this right now.
I entered the restaurant and looked around while trying to hide my face still. Imogen was nowhere to be seen. I took a table away from the eyes of everyone and out of earshot.
My phone rang again and I reached into my bag for it. Imogen's name flashed across the screen and I picked it.
"Hello" my voice came out scratchy.
"What the fuck Celia? I've been trying to fucking call you all morning. Where the hell did you keep your phone"
"I-I..." I couldn't complete my sentence as more tears poured from my eyes. How could I explain it all to her without crying again.
"Are you okay honey" her voice softened and I nodded while sniffling. I remembered she couldn't see me nod.
"Yes"
"That's a fucking lie? What did you find out? I'm sorry I'm not at the restaurant. I got caught up with something and I've been trying to reach you all morning but you wouldn't pick your phone. I'll be there soon and try to stop crying"
"Okay" I said into the phone and hung up. The waitress was coming in my direction and I quickly wiped at my eyes.
"Would you like to make your order now?"
"I'm waiting for a friend. I'll just get water" I smiled stiffly at her. She didn't turn away.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. I'm fine" I sad quickly and forced a smile. Sometimes I shared a little too much and if she prodded, it was likely that I would tell her everything she didn't need to know.
She nodded unconvinced and returned to her station. A few minutes later, she returned with a bottle of water.
"Thank you" I smiled at her and she returned to her station.
My phone made a noise and I saw I had a message from Blaed. I opened it like I did to the others and read through the message. It was still the same thing like the others he had been sending. He needed to see me. I had a feeling he knew that I had found out the truth.
I put my phone off and threw it into my bag. Since Imogen will be here soon then there was absolutely no need to keep it on.
I took a small sip from the water and waited patiently for her to show up. The tears had dried up from my face but I knew it'll resume the moment I started speaking to her. I checked my watch for the time. We were in the afternoon already.
I heard her voice and I looked up. She walked towards me with concern on her face.
"What the hell happened Celia? You look fucking terrible" I chuckled despite how sad I was feeling.
"I was right all along" I told her and she understood immediately.
"That fucking bastard. I knew there was something about him. How did you catch his lying ass"
"That tracking device you asked me to install?" She nodded.
"I did that. Installed the app and I had been following him for some days. Nothing serious was happening, he always went to work and then back home" she nodded urging me to continue. I wiped the tears that were threatening to fall from my eyes.
"I had already given up because I thought he was doing nothing and I was absolutely paranoid. I wanted to apologize for not trusting him"
"Don't tell me you did that" she said with wide eyes and I shook my head.
"I didn't. That evening, we finished having dinner and sex. He fell asleep quickly and I was trying to when I heard the sound of an incoming call on his phone. It was an unregistered number. I picked the phone but there was no response from the other end. The call ended and I tried to call the number but it wasn't connecting. I copied the number in my phone and called. It went through and a woman answered but I ended the call quickly"
"Why the fuck didn't you tell me all this?"
"I wanted to be sure of anything before telling you so we don't do anything rash"
"What was there to make you unsure. The signs were clearly written. They were bold enough"
"I know. I was just stupid and I didn't want it to be true" I cried again and she comforted me. When I was calm enough to continue talking, I continued my story.
"A week later, I saw an opened message on his phone. It was from a gynecologist"
"Wait. What the fuck? He was trying to have a child with another woman" I nodded unable to speak.
"Tell me you confronted him and hit his bastard ass"
"I didn't. I was totally foolish and I didn't want to believe that he could do that. I was so fucking stupid"
"No. You do not blame his mistakes on yourself. It's not your fault that he is a self absorbed cheating prick" I chuckled dryly.
"I still didn't say a word to him. Two days ago, I got a call from that strange number. She asked me to meet her up. I considered it but it sounded too risky to me. She could try to harm me for all I knew"
"You should have called me. I would have gone with you. You know i would do anything for you"
"Yes. I know that. I finally made a decision and called her yesterday. I chose an open place for us to meet up and I met with her this morning"
My eyes filled with tears thinking about everything that happened this morning.
"She showed me countless pictures of them together. Confirming my suspicions and even more Imogen. She wasn't the side chick. She wasn't the second option. I was. I was the other girl" I cried loudly. My whole world crumbled when I saw those pictures today and realized I was the one who had wronged her albeit unknowingly.
"Shit. He already had a girlfriend? I really want to find that bastard and fuck him up. How could he do that to you. Any of you"
I shook my head. I don't know.
"How long has he been dating the girl"
"Dating?" She nodded.
"He wasn't dating her Imogen. He has been married to her for five years"
"Married?"the shock was clearly written in her face. I bit my lips to stop any sound from escaping. Fury quickly replaced her shocked expression."I'm going to fuck that bastard up" I stopped her before she could stand up."Don't""Don't fucking ask me to remain silent and act like nothing happened" she pulled her hand roughly from my grip."Why are you still protecting him Arcelia? After everything that he did to you. He fucking lied to you for two years. He has a wife and is trying for a child. He made you the other girl" she shouted and a few people turned out way."I know that already. You don't have to rub it in""I'm not rubbing it in. That man needs an ass whooping""Maybe. But I'm telling you not to bother. He doesn't even know that I know the truth""You didn't tell him that you know he's a lying ass" I shook my head."I'm too embarrassed Imogen. Too ashamed to even show my face anywhere. It feels like the whole world knows and they are judging me for being involved in a marr
My screams attracted the neighbors and soon a lot of them were standing in my yard. The emergency squad also arrived a few minutes later. Their flashlights everywhere as they checked the surrounding areas for the end of the trail.Turns out it wasn't just a puddle of blood. There was a long trail leading to an unknown destination. My elderly neighbor Luana has wrapped me in a thick blanket while the men searched the area."I'll need to speak to you madam" he said to me and I nodded trying to stand up but Luana held me back."She's shaken up. Can't you see that""It won't take any of your time. I just need to ask a few questions concerning the incident""You...""It's okay Luana. I'll talk to him. Maybe I can be of help"He smiled at me and I followed him to a corner, tightening the blanket around my body."This must have been a lot for you tonight but we have to know what happened""I understand" he was ready with a jotter and a pen."I've been at home since the early afternoon but I
"Arcelia?" Someone called my name from behind and I quickly turned around and saw Geno behind me."Are you okay? You've been standing at the door""I... Nothing. I'll be going to be my desk" I quickly walked past him and went to my desk. I focused on my work and managed to do quite a lot before my lunch break.My phone rang and I picked."I'm going there now""I'll see you soon" I hung up and grabbed my bag. I was about leaving the building when the receptionist stopped me."This was delivered to you" it was a small parcel that could fit into my bag."Is there a senders name?" I looked around the parcel."No. A little boy just dropped it off" I examined it."Okay. Thank you" I wanted to open it and see the content but my phone rang again. I dropped the parcel in my bag and hurried out. It must be Imogen who was calling. I arrived at the restaurant and found her. I smiled and walked over to her."You look so much better today" she kissed my cheeks."Do I?" I didn't get any sleep and I
It was way past eight and my phone was in my hand. Blaed's name was on the front screen but I kept debating if I should call or not.The best option would be to move on and just leave town. Cut of all ties with him. But I needed to make it clear that we were done so he would know to never come after me again. I took a deep breath. I was going to call him. Then just do it and get over it.I unblocked him and I dialed his number and he picked on the first ring."Babe. I've been trying to call you. What's wrong? Did I do anything?"I scoffed. He was a perfect actor pretending like he didn't do anything."My love talk to me""I am breaking up with you""What? Babe no. What did I do? Whatever it is, we can get over it. Communication always works. Tell me, what did I do?""Don't fucking ask me that. You lied to me for two years and you were married all along"He didn't say anything."Babe... it's not like that. I can explain. I..." "I don't care for your explanation" I hung up the phone.
I groaned and tried to get comfortable in my bed. My elbows scraped something rough. I winced and I opened my eyes. I wasn't in my bedroom, I was in a cage. A smelly one. I jerked awake and looked around. Silver bars surrounded me while I heard the sound of water dripping. The memories started coming in and I cussed under my breath. I remembered the light going out in the club and a prick at the back of my neck. I had been drugged. The man that caught me before I passed out. Have I been kidnapped? Did the men get to me or perhaps it was Blaed's wife? What was going to happen to me? I knew I shouldn't have gone to the club. I should have listened to Imogen."Let me out" I tried to shake the bars but they were sturdy. "Don't bother. They won't hear you"I turned and saw a girl huddled in the corner, her entire focus on her nails."And even if they do, they won't be releasing you. This is for the damned" she said in an eerie voice. "The damned? I didn't do anything to be a damned" S
"You... what... How?" I couldn't form any questions. He jerked me up roughly by my arms, locked my wrists with cuffs, and dragged me away.This definitely has something to do with that night. He was there. A part of the investigations. Were the other men part of this? My feet scraped the rough floor as he pulled me through the dark paths. The only thing visible to me was the silver bars. They were also holding people captive.We climbed up a rickety stairs and he pushed the small gate above us open and carried me outside. We came out into a beautiful ultra-modern house. The interior is a sight to behold. Golden curtains and fixtures. He pulled me up another flight of stairs and pushed a door open.I heard voices inside and I became scared. He pushed me forward and I fell on my hands and knees. The room became silent suddenly. I could feel their presence here and their piercing gazes but I didn't dare look up."Look at me" a hard voice commanded. I felt the weight of his command and
I dashed for the door but he caught me before I could get out. He bunched my clothes in his fists and drags me to the center of the room. "You made her suffer" There was a loud noise and a long chain fell from the roof. I struggled against him but he slapped me on my cheeks knocking me to the floor. A bruise should be forming from the impact.He jerked me up again and attached the chains to my wrist cuffs. I was elevated until I was hanging fat above the floor."I'm giving you a chance to speak. Tell me where her body is and we don't have to do this""I don't know" I cried. Tears spilled freely from my eyes. I didn't kill anyone. I knew nothing about a murder. I didn't know him. Why was this happening to me?"You won't enjoy this. But I will" I felt the first sting of a whip on my back. The excruciating pain traveled through my body. I screamed bloody murder.The whip came down for the second time. The pain was as intense as the first strike of the whip. The whipping continued until
TEIGEN's POVI brushed the stray hair away from her face. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever set my eyes on. Her scent. Fuck her scent was driving me crazy. It rattled my wolf to the point where I was fighting not to shift. She was making me lose control and I never lost control.The door opened and I pulled away from her. Alfio didn't say a word as he crossed the room and examined her. I was thankful for that. I didn't want him whining or asking me stupid questions I had no intention of answering. "Her pulse is weak and she looks pale"I growled at him. "Then do something about it""There isn't much that I can do. The injuries are too much. She may not survive the night"I snarled at him. How dare he say that. But when I looked beyond my anger, I could see his stoic face and I relaxed slightly. He was only trying to push my buttons. "Do something Alfio""There isn't much I can do. She's injured. Has lost a lot of blood. Slipping in and out of consciousness. It should tell