Chapter One: Ep01
Afternoon — Swissvile hotel
“Mr. Adriel, you can’t possibly ask me to do this. It’s not right at all,” Pula said, her voice shaking. “How would your wife feel about this?”
She tried to push his hands off her legs, her heart racing.
“You don’t have to be afraid, Pula,” Adriel said calmly. “I promise I’ll make it up to you. You know how much I love you.”
“Yes, I know,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “But this is wrong. I don’t want to create a rift between you and Mrs. Susanne. Please stop this and let me go.”
She struggled to free herself from him.
“Come on, Pula,” he said impatiently. “I’ve told you—Susanne is not my legal wife.”
Pula froze.
“But you exchanged rings with her during your engagement party,” she said. “You were dancing with her that night. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, I did—but it’s complicated, Pula,” Mr. Adriel stammered, his voice unsteady.
“You wouldn’t understand. Please… just let me in.”
Pula shook her head slowly, her hand still gripping the doorframe.
“No, Mr. Adriel. I can’t.”
For a moment, he hesitated. Then his expression hardened—decision replacing doubt.
“Yes, you have to,” Adriel said quietly.
Before she could react, he pushed her back, forcing the door shut behind them. She stumbled, the room spinning as he pressed forward, ignoring her protests. In seconds, she was on the bed, trapped beneath the weight of a choice she had never agreed to—one moment rewriting everything that came after.
Some lines, once crossed, could never be erased.
. ***************
That same day, unaware of what had already unfolded, the Cúlsiagos’ household moved on as usual.
At the Cúlsiagos’ Residence
Sunlight filtered softly through the open windows as Susan stood in the sitting room, a cup of coffee warming her hands. Morissa lingered nearby, balancing a small tray, her posture composed but alert.
Susan glanced up, frowning slightly.
“Morissa, have you seen my husband today?” she asked.
Morissa paused for just a fraction of a second—so brief it could easily be missed.
“No, ma’am,” she replied evenly. “I haven’t seen Mr. Adriel today. He’s probably at the office.”
Susan nodded, though something in her expression suggested unease.
“He didn’t say he’d be out this long,” she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.
Morissa lowered her gaze, tightening her grip on the tray. Some truths were safer left unspoken—at least for now.
A few minutes later—
“Where have you been, Adriel?” Sussan asked calmly.
“You haven’t been returning my calls.”
“I was at the office,” he said, straightening his jacket.
“Handling some unfinished business. Was there something you needed?”
“Yes. I called the office earlier, but your secretary said you had stepped out.”
Adriel paused.
“Is there a problem with that?”
“No,” Sussan replied after a moment.
“Of course not.”
“What, Sussan?” Adriel cut her short.
He exhaled sharply, his patience thinning.
“It might surprise you that your father owns the company I run,” he continued, “but I’ve built a life of my own. I live it on my terms. So if you have a problem with that—”
“Fine,” Sussan interrupted. “Do whatever you want.”
Her tone hardened.
“But I don’t want to hear that any business deals have suffered setbacks. Because that’s where we’ll have a problem.”
Adriel let out a short, humorless laugh.
“You shouldn’t bother, Sussan. You’ve always had issues with me.”
He stepped closer, his voice rising.
“Now can you please tell me why I was called here in the first place?”
Sussan drew a breath, about to respond—
Then she saw her.
Pulami, hurrying toward the second stairway.
“Pula… Pula… come down here!” Sussan commanded sharply.
“Yes, ma’am. I’m here,” Pula answered fearfully, her head bowed.
“Where have you been?” Sussan demanded.
“I was told you were not in your quarters.”
“Well, ma’am… I was—I was actually—”
Pula hesitated, her words stumbling.
“I went… to… to—”
“Sussan,” Adriel interrupted, “she went to see the florist for some items. I sent her there. Do you have a problem with that?”
Sussan’s gaze lingered on Pula for a moment.
“No, I don’t,” she replied coolly.
“I’ve just never known Pula to be a stammerer.”
She straightened.
“But just so you know, Pula, incompetence will not be tolerated in my house.”
She turned toward Adriel.
“We’re late for the meeting.”
