Chapter 10%
Nicholas’s face went ghostly pale. His voice shook as he stammered, “H–how do you know about this?“%
Looking at the pathetic excuse of a man in front of me, I couldn’t believe I had wasted five years of my life on him.
I mentally slapped myself–twice–for ever thinking he was worth it.)
I let out a slow, deliberate sigh. “Nicholas, did you really think you could hide this from me? You must’ve forgotten something important- I’m Rose. The one and only Rose Godfried, the Queen Bee of The Elite Circles
His brow furrowed instinctively, suspicion flashing across his face. He didn’t believe me. He was convinced I had simply dug up dirt on him and was using it to blackmail him.
In a desperate move, he lunged forward and grabbed my shoulders, his grip tight, his voice frantic
“Rose, tell the Securities and Markets Authority that the evidence is fake! Tell them you made it up because you were trying to win me back! If you do that, I’ll give you anything you want!”
I shoved him off me, disgust curling in my stomach. “Nicholas, it’s too late. Your chances ran out a long time ago.”
I marry you
His bloodshot eyes locked onto mine and he gritted out, “If you clear my name, I’ll r
A stunned silence fell over the room.
Then, suddenly, Gwendoline shrieked. She stormed toward me, eyes wild with rage. “You bitch!” she screeched. “You’d go this far just to steal my husband? You’re sick! I don’t care if we lose everything–I will never let you win!“!!
She raised her hand to slap me, but I caught her wrist midair, gripping it tightly
“Give it a rest, Gwendoline,” I said, my voice steady. “Right now, the only person you should be worried about is yourself.”
She froze for a second before snapping, “What the hell is that supposed to mean?!”
Honestly, these two deserved each other–both too wrapped up in their own egos to realize the ground was crumbling beneath them.
I decided to do her a favor and spell it out.
“Do you really think Nicholas is going to go down for you? He’s drowning, Gwendoline. And when people like him are commened, they don’t play hero. They save themselves.”
Her face drained of color. Panic flickered in her eyes as she whipped around to Nicholas. “Nico, tell me she’s wrong. You wouldn’t just leave me to take the fall, right?“X
yet, Nicholas just stared at her, his expression cold, detached. “Gwendoline,” he said flatly, “you made your own choices. You deal with the consequences.”
She inhaled sharply, her whole body trembling. Then, in an instant, her fear turned to rage!
“You son of a bitch!” Gwendoline shrieked. “I’m pregnant with your child and you’re throwing me under the bus?1”
The words hit him like a truck. His entire demeanor shifted–shock, then disbelief, then sheer panic. “What did you just say?“!
Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her stomach. “I’m pregnant, Nicholas!”
His jaw clenched, his eyes darting around like a trapped animal. Then, suddenly, he grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her slightly. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me sooner?!”
Gwendoline could no longer hold back her sobs. I was going to tell you today! But now… now it’s all over!“!
The crowd had already picked up on the inconsistencies in their story. Whispers turned into murmurs and murmurs into full–blown chatter.
Nicholas staggered back, his face drained of all color. He knew–just as everyone else did that there was no saving this.8
I watched the scene unfold, cold and detached. No satisfaction, no sympathy. Just the inevitable playing out.
Then, the heavy doors of the stock exchange swung open. A group of officials in dark suits stepped inside.
“Mr. Brakefield, Ms. Gwendoline,” one of them announced, flashing his badge. “We’re from the Securities and Markets Authority and the Department of Justice. We need you both to come with us for questioning.”
Nicholas collapsed onto the floor, his body trembling.
“It’s over… everything’s over..” he muttered, his voice hollow.
Gwendoline, already overwhelmed, clutched her stomach and doubled over in pain. Maybe it was the stress. Maybe it was exhaustion from whatever games they’d played the night before. Either way, she was crumbling right alongside him.
The crowd, once eager to humiliate me, had now turned on them with twice the venom. Insults flew fast and furious, each more vicious than the last.
I had no reason to stay and watch. This performance had reached its final act. Without looking back, I turned and walked out of the building.
Just as I stepped outside, a sleek black sedan rolled up beside me.
9:18 AM
The car door swung open and a tall man stepped out, his voice urgent
“Are you okay, sis? Did that bastard hurt you?”
