35

35
Mirela
Nothing infuriated me more than watching a perfectly laid plan unravel before my eyes. That little brat Arlene had managed to worm her way out of the trap I’d set with such precision.
I watched her walk past me, her anger practically radiating off her, enough to burn the air.
The announcement of her pregnancy was meant to ruin everything. I clenched my fists as I walked into my private lounge, the distant hum of the party barely audible in the background.
Liam.
Something was off. There was more to his sudden announcement than met the eye. Why would he choose to make such a statement about their relationship tonight? Why had I not seen them together at all since Arlene’s return?
I reached for my phone and dialed Fiona, my assistant. Her sharp efficiency was the only thing keeping me grounded in moments like this.
“Fiona, I want you to dig deeper into Liam Walker,” I ordered, my voice icy. “Get every detail about him and any connections he has, especially about his recent trip to Hawaii. And while you’re at it, see if there’s any link between Arlene and Hawaii as well.”
“Understood, ma’am,” she replied without hesitation. “I’ll report back as soon as I have something.”
I ended the call, tapping my phone absentmindedly as I pondered the next step. The child growing inside Arlene might very well be her downfall, but I needed to make sure it wasn’t Liam’s. If it wasn’t, there was still a chance to unravel her little fairytale.
Something about this union between Liam and Arlene didn’t sit right with me.
I stood up, inhaling deeply. It was time to pay my dear husband a visit. Something about Arlene’s announcement had clearly rattled him, and if I played my cards right, I could use his frustration to my advantage.
As I neared his study, I heard the unmistakable sound of pacing. Mr. Gomez, unlike his usual self, rarely showed signs of stress. But tonight was different. His heavy footsteps echoed through the quiet room, and I knew he was brooding over everything that had transpired.
The way Arlene had stormed out told me everything - I was right. They had fought. Finally, the dad-and-daughter drama was coming to an end.
I knocked gently, then opened the door slightly. “Darling, is everything alright?” I asked, concern lacing my voice.
“Don’t come in, Arlene!” he snapped, his voice sharp.
Perfect.
I pushed the door open wider and stepped inside, my face an image of worry. “It’s me,” I said softly, closing the door behind me. “What’s wrong?”
He turned toward me, his expression hardened. “Did you know about this?” he demanded, his voice low but tinged with anger. “About Arlene and Liam Walker?”
“No,” I responded, shaking my head firmly. “I had no idea. But I’ll admit, I’ve always felt something was… off about her relationship with him. From the moment he claimed they were an item, they seemed far too cozy for my liking.”
His jaw tightened, and he rubbed his face in frustration. “I should’ve seen this coming,” he muttered. “But what does this mean now? A marriage? A child?”
He sighed heavily. “I never expected her to come back home with this disgrace. What will the board members think?”
I moved closer to him, my voice soft and soothing. “Darling, if I may,” I began carefully. “I think it would be wise to delay any marriage plans between them. At least until the child is born. That way, we can be absolutely certain about who the father is. It’s the only way to protect the family name.”
He looked at me, his eyes narrowing slightly in confusion. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that the Walkers can’t be trusted,” I said firmly. “They’ve always had one goal: the Gomez name. You’ve seen how their company has been struggling. Attaching themselves to us is their way of salvaging what they’ve lost.” I paused, allowing him to absorb my words before adding, “I think Liam might not be the father. Arlene could be playing along to save face.”
He frowned, considering my words. “That may be true, but Liam doesn’t seem like the type to rely on his father’s legacy. He looks… independent.”
I stifled a scoff. Independent? Liam Walker? Well, that was true. “Even so, can we really afford to take that chance?” I pressed. “Arlene’s pregnancy complicates things, but that doesn’t mean we have to rush into a marriage. Delaying it would give us time to… gather more information.”
He exhaled heavily, clearly torn. I could see the gears turning in his mind, and I knew I had to distract him before he came to any conclusions that might work against me. I subtly reached for my phone and typed a quick message to Louis:
‘Be ready. I’ll meet you at the penthouse soon after I put this old hag to bed.’
I hit send and slid the phone onto the desk, refocusing all my attention on my husband. He was still pacing, muttering under his breath about Arlene’s recklessness.
“Darling,” I whispered softly, stepping closer to him. I placed a hand on his shoulder, halting his pacing. “You’ve been so stressed tonight. Let’s not make any rash decisions. Just take some time to think.”
He looked at me, his expression softening. “You’re right,” he admitted. “But this whole situation… it’s a mess.”
“Then let’s not add to it,” I muttered, my voice low and comforting. I reached up and touched his face, turning him to face me. “You’ve always been the one to keep this family together. Don’t let Arlene’s actions derail everything you’ve worked so hard to build.”
Before he could respond, I leaned in and kissed him, my lips pressing against his. He hesitated for a moment before kissing me back, his tension beginning to melt away.
As I deepened the kiss, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of triumph. Arlene might have escaped my first trap, but this wasn’t over.
Not by a long shot. If delaying her marriage to Liam was the key to her downfall, then I would make sure it happened. And if my dear husband’s frustration could be used to my advantage, then so be it.
“You needed to be relieved of your stress, darling,” I murmured, sliding my lips to his neck.