Chapter 9
I stared at him silently, my carefully constructed composure cracking despite my best efforts.
So he’d known everything.
Known his mother had cornered me with divorce threats behind his back. Known the staff mockingly called me “jailbird” when they thought I couldn’t hear. He’d been aware of all of it.
But since I wasn’t the precious Laria, he’d chosen to look the other way.
I took a deep breath. “Sure, Hektor. I’ll forgive you,” I said, my voice glacier–cold.
“Right after you clear my name and resurrect my mother from the dead.”
“Since we both know that’s impossible, do us both a favor and stay the fuck away from me. Just the
sight of you makes me physically ill.”
Hektor’s lips trembled as he stumbled backward like I’d struck him.
Raw anguish filled his dark eyes as he stared at me wordlessly.
After an eternity of silence, he finally whispered, “I love you, Yunifer. I swear I’ll find a way to make this right.”
Then he turned and walked away, his once–proud silhouette now hunched and defeated as he disappeared down the street.
Kira pulled every connection she had, but we still couldn’t find concrete proof of exactly how he’d
orchestrated my downfall.
We were mindlessly browsing shops to clear our heads when something unbelievable happened–the mall’s massive central screen suddenly cut to footage of Hektor and Laria having sex
in his office.
Kira and I exchanged stunned glances, both immediately suspecting Hektor’s involvement.
The footage was explicit, and given that Hektor was the Reed CEO while Laria was married to Julian Davidson–not to mention they were supposedly siblings–the scandal exploded instantly.
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What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
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Chapter 9
Within hours, it dominated every social media platform, news outlet, and conversation in the
country.
Kira gleefully consumed every development, providing me with real–time updates on the unfolding
disaster.
Julian Davidson had immediately filed for divorce. Laria had begged to stay, but Julian’s mother had her physically removed from the estate despite the pouring rain.
Someone captured footage of Laria sobbing on her knees outside the Davidson mansion gates,
which promptly went viral.
The next day, Laria dragged herself to the Reed estate, seeking shelter.
But Hektor’s mother–who had raised Laria since childhood–had collapsed upon learning about her
betrayal with her son, and refused to let her inside.
With nowhere to go, Laria was abducted by two masked men that evening, hustled into an
unmarked van in full view of security cameras.
The footage spread across social media within minutes. While people expressed shock at the brazen
kidnapping, most commented that she’d gotten what she deserved.
Just as the scandal was beginning to fade, another video appeared online–showing Laria taunting my mother and me, then smashing the vase over my mother’s head.
I couldn’t make sense of Hektor’s strategy. He’d worshipped Laria for years. He’d forced me to terminate my pregnancy to protect her fragile feelings.
How could he suddenly turn on her so completely?
‘Looks like your ex is going full scorched–earth to prove himself to you,” Kira observed, eyebrows raised.
“The question is–if he crawls back begging for forgiveness again, would you actually take him back?”
Chapter 10
