Chapter 154

Chapter 154
Rafael sat still in his chair, staring out the window into the blinking city lights. His confrontation with Alexander replayed itself in his mind, the words burrowing deeper into his chest with each passing moment-a fight he was prepared for, but not the venom in Alexander's tone, not the audacity of his threats.

Rafael's jaw contracted at the memory. He had bitten his tongue and held back then. Now, in the cold silence of his office, he sat with just his thoughts for company, and he wished he hadn't.

Alexander knew nothing about the weight Rafael carried or the sacrifices he had made for Bernice and the kids' sake, but Rafael wasn't ready to explain himself to someone who didn't have anything at stake in his life.

His musings were cut short as he heard a knock on the door. Sharp. Purposeful.

"Come in," he growled out much sharper than he had meant to.

Gabriel stepped inside with a brown package tucked under his arm. "This just came. From the investigator. He said it was urgent."

Rafael's heart was racing. He hadn't expected such a quick report. Rafael's eyes had grown large as he stared at the box, a sudden chill clinging to his insides. "Leave it," he said shortly.

Gabriel hesitated. "You sure, boss? You look like-"

"I said leave it," exclaimed Rafael, the irritation now thinner on his patience.

Gabriel nodded and set the package on his desk before he disappeared out the door. It clicked, and Rafael was left in the room alone with the ominous package.

He stared at it for a moment. The words of the investigator from their last conversation kept ringing in his head: "I'm getting a lead, I'll get something to you soon.” 

He took a deep breath and reached for the package. His fingers were shaking slightly as he tore off the brown wrapping to disclose a sheaf of photographs and a typed report. The first photo on top jumped into his eyes.

His breath hinged. Olivia.

She was photographed at a café, leaning in close with a man Rafael recognized. A knot began to form in his stomach as he flipped through photographs of Olivia and the man in various settings: hotel lobbies, private bars, even dark alleys-each more damning than the last.

The man was none other. He was from their past. The same man over whom Bernice had been accused of having an affair three years ago. 

The man to whom Rafael had seen buttoning his shirt in the bedroom while Bernice, starkly pale, was pleading at him.
Rafael smashed photos on the desk as the huffing and puff of his chest synchronized with a racing mind.

Three Years Ago

"You have to believe me, Rafael!" Bernice's voice had broken, her words lost amidst a deluge of tears. "It's not what it seems!"

The anger surging in Rafael drowned out her protestations. "You cheated on. You betrayed me. I witnessed this with my own eyes!"

"Olivia set this up! I don't even know him!" she had wailed. But Rafael hadn't listened then. He had simply walked away, shutting the door behind him, slamming it on their marriage.

Present Day

Now, with the pictures staring him in the face, it hit him with all the force of a realization of truth. It was all fiction of anger and mistrust created by Olivia. It was elaborately manipulated to a high level.

"Shit," he swore in frustration as he ran his hand over his head. "How could I have been so stupid?

He snatched up the report, skimming through it. Dates, times, and locations-it were all there, meticulously documented. Rafael's grip on the paper tightened, his knuckles white. He felt like a fool.

A knock on the door broke his thoughts again.

"Not now," he growled.

The door creaked open, and Gabriel stepped in cautiously. "Alexander left a message.”

Rafael's eyes narrowed. "Leave it, I don't have time for it right now.”

Gabriel shifted uncomfortably. "Anything else you need?"

Rafael just shook his head. "No. Just go."

Left to his own devices, Rafael leaned back in his chair, his gaze returning to the photos. Alexander's threats were nothing now compared to the betrayal staring him in the face. This wasn't about business or personal rivalry anymore. It was about Bernice. About clearing her name.

He snatched his car keys. He needed to see her. Now.

The drive home was such a blur; every street light and every crossing went unnoticed. His mind raged with the image of hers-pleading, crying, his aloofness. He had betrayed her.

"You betrayed me," he had accused.
And she hadn't. All this while, she'd been innocent.

By the time he pulled into the driveway, his heart was racing. He stepped out of the car, and the cool night air did little to cool the storm brewing in him. He entered the house, the weight of the photos heavy in his jacket pocket.

Inside, the house was silent. Too silent. He paused in the foyer, listening. His pulse thudded in his ears.

"Mr Fernandez.”

He turned to see Madam Alice walking towards him, her face etched with concern.

"Where's Bernice?" he asked, his voice tight.

"In her room," she replied.

He nodded and brushed past her, his heavy footsteps continuing up the stairs as resolve solidified with each step.

He hesitated at Bernice's door. For one brief moment, he closed his eyes and let calmness seep into him.

Then he knocked 

"Come in," Bernice called softly.

Rafael came in, his eyes locking to hers right away. She sat on the bed staring at a framed picture of the twins, his heart sank at the sight of it.

Rafael?" Bernice's voice was cautious, catching the tension that radiated off him.

"We need to talk," he said hoarsely.

Bernice's eyes flicked to the picture and then back at him. She nodded, rising slowly to her feet and following him from the room. They walked along the hall in silence with the weight of unspoken words thick between them.

Inside, his bedroom he closed the door behind them. He took a deep breath and pulled out the photos from his pocket.

"What is it?" Bernice asked, crossing her arms. Her arms crossed was a defensive gesture of long-standing habit.

Rafael handed them to her silently. She took them gingerly, her brow furrowed in question, flipping through.

Her breath caught. "Olivia…".

"And him," Rafael said grimly.

Bernice's hands shook. Then a smirk crept up on her face. “Wow, this looks interesting, doesn't  it, Rafael?”  Her voice came out, sharper than she intended.

Rafael nodded, his throat tight. "I was wrong. I didn't listen. I should have."

Tears brimmed in her eyes, but she blinked them away. "But you didn't believe me up to this day, now you are regretting it.”

"Because I finally have proof," he admitted. "Proof that Olivia set you up. Proof that you were telling the truth.”

Bernice stared at him, emotions churning wildly. "Do you have any idea what you put me through?"

"I do now," Rafael said quietly. "And I'm sorry."

Bernice shook her head, a low, bitter laugh bursting free. "Sorry doesn't erase years of pain."

"I know that," he replied-the words low, husky-as he stepped closer. "But I want to make it right."

Anger, maybe a little bit of hope alive within them searched his. Unsteadily, she released her breath, the tight grip of the photographs crushed against her chest.

"You can't fix everything, Rafael," she whispered.

"No," he said. "I can start with this."

They stood in silence before Bernice walked out and made way to her bedroom. “Bernice please wait,” Rafael called after her, but she didn't stop.