Ella sat in stunned silence at the cafe, Derek’s revelation replaying in her mind. The man she had trusted, the one who had saved her life, was the same person Tania had hired to kill her. How could she have been so blind?
Tears welled up in her eyes as the weight of the truth settled in. She had relied on Fabian, let him into her life, her home, her heart. And all along, he had been hiding this dark secret.
“I can’t believe this,” Ella whispered, her voice trembling.
Derek reached out, placing a comforting hand on hers. “I know it’s hard to process, but you need to be careful. If Fabian was willing to go along with Tania’s plan once, there’s no telling what he might do now.”
Ella wiped away her tears, her expression hardening. “I need to confront him. I need to know why he did it.”
“Not alone,” Derek cautioned. “We don’t know how dangerous he might be.”
Ella nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “You’re right. But I can’t let him continue to deceive me. I’ll confront him, but I’ll make sure I’m prepared.”
As they spoke, Ella’s mind raced with the implications. She couldn’t allow Fabian to stay close to her children, but she also needed to ensure their safety. This wasn’t just about her anymore; Leo and Liam were at risk too.
Ella stood up, determination replacing her earlier shock. “Thank you, Derek. I’ll handle this. But I need to make sure my boys are safe first.”
Derek nodded, concern evident in his eyes. “I’ll be here if you need anything.”
Ella left the cafe, her mind already working on the next steps. She had to protect her children, uncover the full truth, and ensure that Tania’s hold on her life was completely shattered.
When she arrived home, Fabian was still there, playing with Leo and Liam. Her heart ached at the sight. How could someone who seemed so genuine, so caring, be capable of such betrayal?
“Ella, you’re back,” Fabian said with a smile, standing up to greet her.
She forced a smile, masking the turmoil inside. “Yes, thanks for watching them. I have something I need to talk to you about.”
Fabian’s expression shifted slightly, sensing something was off. “Of course. Let’s talk.”
As they moved to the living room, Ella glanced at her sons. “Boys, why don’t you go play in your room for a bit?”
Leo and Liam nodded, running off with their usual energy. Once they were out of earshot, Ella turned to Fabian, her expression turning serious.
“Fabian, how did you say you saved me again? She questioned. ” uhmm why did you ask Fabian asked staring at Ella with a confused look”. ” I know what you were supposed to do to me six years ago.”
Fabian’s face paled, but he quickly tried to cover it up. “Ella, let me explain i….”
“No,” Ella interrupted, her voice firm. “No more lies. I need the truth, all of it. Why did you take the job? And why did you save me?”
Fabian took a deep breath, knowing there was no point in denying it any longer. “Ella, I needed the money back then and Tania offered me the money, more than I had ever seen. But when I met you, everything changed. I couldn’t go through with it. I knew I had to protect you instead.”
Ella’s heart clenched. “So, you chose to save me, but you still kept the money, and you stayed close to me all these years, knowing the truth?”
“I didn’t know how to tell you,” Fabian admitted, his voice filled with regret. “I thought if I stayed close, I could keep you safe from Tania. But I realize now that I was only deceiving myself.”
Ella’s eyes hardened. “You put my life and my children’s lives at risk by not telling me the truth. I trusted you, Fabian.”
“I’m sorry, Ella. I truly am. But please believe me, everything I’ve done since then has been to protect you.” I…I love you Ella please he said holding her hands
Ella shook her head, the weight of his betrayal too much to bear. “I can’t trust you anymore. You need to leave. And don’t come near me or my children again.”
Fabian looked devastated, but he nodded, understanding the finality in her tone. “I’ll go. But if you ever need anything, I’ll be there.”
As Fabian walked out of her life, Ella felt a mix of relief and sorrow. She had lost another person she once considered a friend. But she knew she had to be strong. The fight wasn’t over, and she needed to protect her children from the shadows of her past. How many web of betrayal will I comb through to be free she thought.
Back at Ethan and Tania’s home
Tania faced Ethan anger
“You lied to me about Grace. You manipulated everything, my life, my decisions, and my relationship with Ella,” Ethan accused, his frustration boiling over.
Tania’s eyes flashed with defiance. “I did what I had to do. You wouldn’t understand. I needed to keep you close, to protect what we have.”
“Protect what Tania? The Lies? The Deceit? The manipulations? You’ve destroyed everything, Tania,” Ethan shouted, his voice trembling. “Why did you do it?”
Tania’s composure cracked, revealing a glimpse of the desperation beneath. “Because I love you, Ethan. I couldn’t just sit and let Ella take you away from me even after you both have been married for years. I knew she was the one you wanted, even after all these years.”
Ethan was taken aback by her admission. “This isn’t love, Tania. It’s control. You’ve twisted everything to fit your narrative, and now, I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
As Tania watched Ethan walk away, her fear of losing control intensified. She knew Ella was closing in on her, and the walls she had built were starting to crumble.