I grabbed my keys, tears blurring my vision, and drove straight to Leandro’s office. Waiting at the front desk was Nadine—once my best friend, the woman I trusted enough to give this job, to let her sit beside my husband every day. I had believed in her, defended her, even treated her like family.
And yet, months ago, I learned the truth—that she and Leandro were cheating behind my back. I never confronted them. Not because I was weak, but because I didn’t want to shatter what little family Gwen still had. For her sake, I swallowed it. Over and over, I told myself: endure it, for Gwen.
She needed a complete family. I couldn’t let her experience what I had endured—growing up in the wreckage of my parents’ divorce, splitting my time between two houses, belonging to neither. I knew too well the loneliness of being an option instead of a priority. I refused to pass that pain on to my daughter.
“Where is my husband?” I demanded.
“He’s on a business trip,” she said smoothly.
I slammed my palms on her desk. “Then why are my accounts frozen?”
Her lips curved. “Because Leandro asked me to. He thinks you’ve been spending too much.”
My blood boiled. “Then unfreeze it. NOW. My daughter has been kidnapped!”
Nadine tilted her head, lips curving into a mocking smile. “I’m sorry, Emerald. But maybe you can pay the ransom in installments… and they can give your daughter to you in installments.”
For a moment, my world stopped. Her words cut sharper than any blade. My knees went weak, my breath caught in my throat. Then she smirked, reached into her purse, and tossed a handful of bills at me. The cash scattered across the polished floor like dirt.
“Here. A down payment for Gwen,” she sneered.
Rage exploded inside me. My vision blurred with tears and fury as I lunged at her, my hand striking her cheek before I could stop myself.
I didn’t think. My hand moved first, slapping her across the face. “You bitch! Sleeping with my husband, taking everything from me, and now you won’t even let me save my child?”
Her eyes widened, but before she could scream, I yanked her hair, fury consuming me. She clawed at me, and we tumbled against the desk.
The door burst open. Leandro.
“What the hell is going on?” His voice thundered.
I pointed at Nadine, my face wet with tears. “WHERE WERE YOU? Gwen is kidnapped, you froze my accounts, and she told me to pay in installments!”