Chapter Fifty-Eight: A Jealous Man in Denial
Chapter Fifty-Eight: A Jealous Man in Denial
ABEL DONOVAN
I stormed out of Anna’s office, anger boiling hot under my skin. My thoughts were loud, messy, and every step I took only fueled them more.
Anna was unbelievable.
She pretended she didn’t like those flowers. As if they were offensive. As if they were contaminated. As if accepting anything from me was beneath her.
How dare she?
What was she trying to prove? What did she gain from acting like roses were poison? I remembered our marriage, five years ago, back when she used to tug on my sleeve and ask for flowers with that soft voice she never uses anymore.
I used to get them for her.
Not always, but enough.
She always smiled. Always thanked me.
And yes, it was strange that I never saw any of the bouquets displayed around the house. But I assumed she kept them somewhere private… for memories. Sentimental things women do.
But now?
Now she acted like flowers were a curse.
Or… was she allergic?
I stopped mid-hallway and clicked my tongue.
“No. Impossible.” I muttered. “She was fine back then.”
I kept walking until my pace slowed again. Because ahead of me, blocking the hallway like he owned it, stood Christopher Vale.
Of course.
He smiled when he saw me. A smile that wasn’t real, wasn’t warm. A smile meant to provoke.
I disliked him immediately.
“Hey, Abel,” he said casually, stopping in front of me. “Didn’t expect to see you here. What brings you around?”
“What are you doing here?” I countered, my voice sharp.
He raised a brow. “What do you mean? I’m here to see Anna Serrano.”
“For what?”
He looked at me as if I were slow. “For business, Abel. Business. What’s with the interrogation?”
He moved to walk past me.
I grabbed his arm and pulled him back, hard.
“What are you playing at, Christopher? I’m warning you.”
He jerked his arm free and glared. “If anyone should have a problem with my presence, it’s Anna. Not you. You don’t get to question me.” He paused, eyes narrowing. “What right do you think you have?”
“I have every right,” I said through clenched teeth.
“What right?” he shot back. “You’re her ex-husband. She divorced you. She dropped your name. You have no right over her anymore. Get over it.”
The words hit harder than I expected.
I stiffened.
He saw it.
And smirked.
“We both know you’re not here because of business,” I said coldly. “You have ulterior motives.”
“Of course,” he shrugged. “And the fact that it bothers you this much means it’s working.”
“It’s not affecting me,” I snapped.
“I doubt that,” he said smoothly. “If you don’t care about Anna, then act like it. Stop behaving like a jealous lover.”
“What?”
He leaned closer, voice low but sharp. “Unless… you’re still in love with Anna. Is that it?”
My breath hitched.
He clicked his tongue. “If you are, good. Because I’ll make sure she becomes mine. And I’ll hurt you in every way possible in the process.”
His eyes flicked over my shoulder, toward someone behind me.
His expression softened instantly. His smile widened.
I heard the heels before I turned.
Anna.
When our eyes met, something in my chest shifted, tightened. She quickly looked away and approached us.
“Mr. Vale,” she greeted, extending her hand without sparing me a glance. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”
He took her hand too eagerly.
“Ms. Serrano. Not at all. I just arrived.”
I watched their hands touch, watched her ignore me like I was invisible.
It burned.
Anna’s gaze flicked between us, professional and unreadable. “I hope everything’s alright? I saw you two talking.”
“Everything’s perfectly fine,” Christopher said smoothly. “Mr. Donovan and I were just… clearing up a small misunderstanding. But he was actually just about to leave. Weren't you, Donovan?”
My jaw locked so tight my teeth ached.
I said nothing.
Because anything I said would reveal too much.
I stood there, silent and seething.
Christopher knew exactly what he was doing.
He always knew how to pick the women I loved and use them as weapons.
But I didn’t love Anna. Not anymore.
I refused to.
I was done with her.
And if I truly didn’t care…
Then it was time to prove it.
Without a single word, to either of them, I turned and walked away. My steps echoed, heavy and deliberate.
I took the elevator down to the parking lot, my hands opening and closing, trying to loosen the tension in my fists.
I didn’t care about her.
Christopher was wrong.
He picked the wrong woman this time.
When I reached my car and opened the door, someone cleared his throat behind me.
I turned.
My photographer.
“Got the pictures,” I said, my voice cold. “All of them?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied quickly.
“Good. Edit and upload them. Make sure the media sees them. That should shut down the rumors about the Donovans and the Whitmores.” I leaned on the car. “Make it appear the Donovans and Serranos are on good terms.”
He nodded and left.
Great, that should help wave the rumors. The headlines have been filled with the Donovan-Serrano issues and my board members aren't taking the issue easy with me.
I got into the car, started the engine…
My phone rang.
I answered. “What did you find?”
“Sir, I checked the CCTV footage from the Vale residence. And… I found something interesting. Mrs. Serrano was innocent all along.”
I froze.
Innocent?
My grip tightened around the steering wheel. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll bring the footage to you this evening.”
“Good. I’ll be expecting you.”
When the call ended, I leaned back in my seat, exhaling slowly.
I had hired someone to look into the matter because I wasn't sure who was really guilty. Anna or Selena.
And now, hearing the probability is high that she is innocent...
Relief hit me.
Sharp.
Unexpected.
Real.
So the flowers… my apology… none of it was in vain.
She was innocent.
Completely innocent.
And for the first time in a long while, the anger in my chest flickered, faltered, leaving something else behind.
Something I didn’t want to name.