"You're evil, wicked, and manipulative!" Ben shouted, his voice echoing through the room, shaking the walls with the force of his anger.
He was so furious that he wanted everything to end. Every betrayal, every manipulation, every moment of being used without anyone considering how he felt, he had reached his limit.
Rita stood there, smirking, her laughter cutting through the tension like a blade. She mocked him mercilessly, enjoying the chaos she had stirred.
"If you had listened and married me, all this wouldn't be happening," Rita added, her confidence piercing, each word designed to wound.
Ben's hands clenched into fists. Without another word, he stormed out of the room, escaping to his secret sanctuary, a place where he could find solace whenever life became unbearable.
There, in the quiet solitude, he let himself cry. His tears fell freely, his chest heaving with the weight of months of frustration, fear, and helplessness. Yet for the first time in a long while, he found a reason to stay strong. That reason was Ella.
Later, he drove back home, his heart lighter, and went straight to Ella's room. She didn't question, she didn't judge. She just wrapped him in her arms, letting him find comfort in her presence. Exhaustion overtook them both, and they fell asleep, the world outside temporarily forgotten.
Ben made several attempts to uncover the orchestrator behind the resignations and the withdrawal of investors. His investigation revealed a shocking truth: his own Managing Director, someone he had long distrusted, had been bribed by McDon to sabotage the company. The betrayal cut deep, leaving Ben surprised and furious, he had suspected that the company might be handed over to this man, considering his years of loyalty to McDon, but never imagined it would come to this.
Meanwhile, Ella was left alone at home, her mind in turmoil. She questioned her own plans: was it worth taking everything from Ben? She realized he wasn't inherently bad; he was shaped, influenced, and manipulated by his family. Yet a second thought crept in, revenge seemed justified too, considering her father's innocence and the injustice he had suffered.
The struggle within her intensified, made worse by the uncontrollable feelings she had started developing for Ben. It had become a whirlwind of drama; mentally draining, physically exhausting. A storm she could neither escape nor ignore.
Later that day, McDon arrived at Ben's house. His eyes lingered on Ella, a flicker of recognition passing through his gaze.
"Why do I feel like I know you?" McDon asked, trying to mask his curiosity.
"No, sir, you don't," Ella replied, her voice calm but assertive, leaving no room for discussion.
They sat down for dinner, the air thick with tension. It felt as though enemies had gathered for their last supper. Politeness layered over danger, smiles hiding resentment.
"Ella, I hate to tell you this, but this marriage has to end," McDon said coldly. "We don't need you anymore."
Ella's eyes flared, her voice steady but sharp. "You don't need me anymore, you say? Do I look like a piece of paper, to be used and torn?"
Ben rose from his chair, his gaze blazing, his presence commanding. "She's going nowhere," he said, his voice low but firm. "I married her because you forced me into it, but now you cannot decide how I live my life."
He walked away, leaving McDon and Rita stunned. Without looking back, he added, "You know the door. Feel free to use it."
The room remained silent, the tension palpable, as the shifting tides of power and emotion set the stage for a storm that no one could ignore.