The days continued to pass with a slow, agonizing tension. Ella, Derek, and Rick worked late into the nights, reviewing every piece of information they could gather. It wasn’t enough to simply expose Tania; they had to ensure there were no loose ends, no way for her, Fabian, or Crystal to retaliate.
Ella’s thoughts often wandered to Ethan. She couldn’t deny the ache she felt when she thought of him with Tania, even though she knew that Ethan wasn’t aware of the depth of Tania’s deception. But the sting of his betrayal still lingered, and forgiveness was not something she was ready to offer.
“I miss him,” Ella admitted quietly one evening as Derek sat beside her. “Even after everything, I miss him. But that doesn’t change what I need to do.”
Derek glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “You don’t have to rush to make any decisions. Right now, you need to stay focused. Tania is dangerous, and she’s becoming more desperate.”
Ella nodded, her heart heavy. She knew Derek was right. There would be time to sort through her feelings later, but for now, her focus had to be on bringing Tania down.
Back at home, Tania’s frustrations continued to mount. Ethan was becoming more distant, spending his evenings reading to Grace or taking her to the park. Tania had tried everything dressing provocatively, cooking his favorite meals, even leaving subtle reminders of their past together but nothing worked. Ethan barely noticed her, and it infuriated her to no end.
One evening, after another failed attempt to seduce Ethan, Tania snapped. “You’re spending all your time with that brat!” she yelled, her voice echoing through the halls.
Ethan turned to face her, his expression hard. “Grace is my daughter, Tania. She deserves my attention.”
“And what about me?” Tania hissed. “I’m your wife! You should be focusing on us, not her!”
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what you expect from me, Tania. Things haven’t been right between us for a long time. And honestly? I don’t think they ever will be.”
Tania’s eyes blazed with fury. “This is because of Ella, isn’t it? You can’t stop thinking about her! Even after all these years, you still want her!”
Ethan didn’t deny it. He couldn’t. Because the truth was, he did still want Ella. And no matter how hard he tried to push those feelings down, they always came back, stronger than ever.
Tania’s frustration boiled over, but there was little she could do. Ethan was slipping away, and she knew it.
As the tension between them grew, so did the danger. Victor’s continued investigation only deepened the mystery surrounding Fabian and Tania. Every path he pursued led to a dead end, and the more he uncovered, the more he realized how far Tania’s control extended. There were secrets buried deep in her past secrets that, if revealed, could destroy everything.
But time was running out for everyone. The chess pieces were moving into place, and soon, the final confrontation would begin.