Chapter 5
The next day.
I got a message from work, asking me to come pick up the things I’d left behind.
By 3 p.m., I was standing at the entrance of the office building, with Dubel by my side.
She looked as stunning as ever, wearing a figure–hugging red dress that accentuated her curves, the air around her still carrying a delicate fragrance.
Her figure was graceful–like a princess carefully displayed in a Barbie store window.
So breathtakingly beautiful… but even though she seemed more stunning today, the fear she instilled in me didn’t fade.
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She scanned me up and down. “Don’t think that just because you’ve managed to climb high enough to be a phoenix, you’ve caught Alpha Dulcea’s attention. It’s only because you somewhat resemble me, isn’t it? This should’ve been your blessing, but now that I’m back, there’s no place for you anymore.”
I reached into my bag and discreetly turned on my recorder.
Her eyes flickered briefly to the scar on my leg.
“Oh, what’s this? Scars on your arm and leg? I wonder how many men you’ve been with to get these…”
“Lies!” I shot back. “Did Alpha Dulcea know about your miscarriage?”
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I wasn’t sure where the courage came from, but the words spilled out, exposing her disgraceful secret.
A few people passing by noticed and started pulling out their phones to record.
Dubel’s face turned a deep shade of green with rage. “You… you want to die, don’t you?”
Her look was cold, her gaze dripping with contempt.
Just then, Alpha Dulcea appeared behind me. “Beth, stop it!”
Seeing his precious image exposed like that, it was obvious that he was furious.
But I didn’t back down. I pressed on, “After the miscarriage, you bled once and had us cover it up, saying it was just your period.”
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Slap!
The sharp sting of a slap across my face made my head spin. I staggered, dizzy from the force of it.
Alpha Dulcea had struck me.
It took a moment for the burn to register on my cheek.
I had only been trying to stand my ground, but once again, it was me who was
punished.
I thought I’d become numb to this by now.
But the truth was, it felt like I was sinking into a bottomless abyss, with invisible hands pulling and tearing at me.
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“Beth! I warned you! Show some respect for my fiancée!” he barked.
A crowd had gathered, whispering and gossiping, their voices scraping against my
nerves.
In front of all these people, I was humiliated once again.
I didn’t say another word. I turned and walked away from the company.
That night, I wandered aimlessly.
The wind howled in my ears, sharp and stinging my face.
I touched my swollen cheek, still raw from the slap.
Alpha Dulcea’s hand was large and powerful.
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The slap had knocked me off balance, both physically and emotionally.
As the sky darkened, my mood followed suit, sinking deeper with each passing minute.
- There was a strange tension in the air, like the calm before a storm. Nearby restaurants had already closed for the night, leaving only the hotdog stand on the corner packing up for the evening.
I leaned on the railing by the river, drinking away my frustration. The cool breeze from the water felt refreshing, carrying the city’s essence straight to my face.
Suddenly, I felt a gentle tap on my back, pulling me out of my thoughts.
It was Kfir, a good friend from high school.
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a
“Well, well, look who it is!” he said, his voice light and teasing. “I saw you from a distance and almost thought I was seeing things.”
His tone was carefree, like the boy I’d known back in high school–always easygoing ⚫ and full of energy. He had gone on to study
clinical medicine and was now a surgeon at a local hospital.
Despite dealing with all kinds of patients every day, he’d managed to hold onto that cheerful attitude, although it was clear he had become more composed over the years.
“Hey, didn’t you just post on Facebook about being in a relationship? What happened with your boyfriend?” he asked, genuinely curious.
“Broke up,” I replied flatly.
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“Huh? What? You broke up?”
He was taken aback, especially considering that just a week ago, I’d posted all those lovey–dovey pictures with Alpha Dulcea on Facebook.
