55

55
Rachel went through the motions of washing the dishes, cleaning the counters, and tidying up the living room, but her mind was elsewhere. She kept replaying the news clip in her head, trying to make sense of it all. She couldn’t believe that her husband, the man she had fallen in love with, had kept such a big part of himself hidden from her. The thought of it all was too much for her to bear.
She wandered aimlessly through the Chatteau, her thoughts a jumbled mess. She was brought back to reality when her mother called again. “Rachel, are you okay? I’ve been trying to reach you for hours.”
Rachel took a deep breath and tried to steady her voice. “I’m fine, Mom. Just a bit… overwhelmed.”
Her mother’s voice was filled with concern. “What’s wrong, honey? You can talk to me.”
Rachel let out a sigh and leaned against the wall. “Leo… he’s my boss. He’s the CEO of Dante Company.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before her mother spoke again. “What?” She sounded equally shocked. “But how could you not have known.”
Rachel shrugged, even though her mother couldn’t see her. “I don’t know. He just kept it from me. Besides I thought he was a different person yeah? Mom, I honestly don’t know what to do right now.”
Her mother’s voice was gentle, trying to be reassuring. “Maybe he had a good reason, sweetheart. Why don’t you try talking to him about it?”
Rachel sighed again. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet.”
Her mother’s voice was firm. “You need to, Rachel. Communication is key in any relationship. You need to work this out together.”
Rachel hung up the phone, her mother’s words ringing in her ears. She knew her mother was right, but the thought of confronting Leo about his deception was daunting. She didn’t know if she was ready to face the truth.
She spent the rest of the day lost in thought, unable to shake the feeling of betrayal. As night fell and the Chatteau grew quiet, she couldn’t help but wonder if she had married a stranger.
Rachel found it hard to concentrate on anything as her mind raced with the news she had just received. The constant buzzing of her phone only added to her distress. She was bombarded with texts and calls from her colleagues and close friends who were eager to hear the news that had spread like wildfire.
Trying to calm her nerves, Rachel switched off her phone and busied herself with household chores, but her mind wouldn’t let her have a moment of peace. She tried to wash the dishes, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Leo and the secret he had kept from her. She tried to clean the living room, but the memories of their conversations about work and the future made her question everything.
Leo drove through the busy city streets, the cool wind blowing through the open windows of his car. His heart was pounding in his chest and a mixture of emotions flooded through him – relief, excitement and a hint of nervousness. He had just come from the media house, where he had revealed the truth about who he really was – the CEO of Dante Company.
The weight of keeping his secret for so long was finally lifted, and he felt like he could breathe properly for the first time in years. He had feared how Rachel would react to the truth, but deep down he knew that he had made the right decision. It was time for him to live his life openly, without the constant fear of being found out.
As he got to his car, he was immediately surrounded by paparazzi, shouting and throwing questions at him. He remained calm, his security team blocking them off, as he got into the car and drove off.
“No comments,” he said curtly to the throngs of journalists. They followed him in their cars, trying to get a glimpse of his reaction, but he was unfazed. His thoughts were already focused on the Chatteau and getting back to Rachel. He couldn’t wait to see her and start the new chapter of their lives together.
As he drove, he let out a deep sigh and allowed himself a moment of reflection. He had always lived life on his own terms, but now that he had Rachel by his side, he felt like he could tackle anything. And with the truth finally out in the open, he felt like he could finally be himself, without the constant fear of being found out.
He couldn’t wait to get back to the Chatteau and do life properly with Rachel. He had a lot of making up to do, but he was determined to make it right. As he drove through the winding roads of the countryside, he let himself get lost in his thoughts, imagining how Rachel would react now that the truth was finally out.
He jolted back to reality when his phone began to whirr.
Leo answered the call from his mother with a mix of dread and excitement. On one hand, he was eager to hear what she had to say after his big reveal at the media house, but on the other, he was worried about her reaction.
“Leo, my dear boy,” his mother’s voice came through the speaker, sounding warm and comforting. “I just saw your interview on TV, and I want you to know that I am proud of you.”
Leo breathed a sigh of relief, and his tense shoulders relaxed. “Thank you, mother. I was worried about how you would take the news.”
“Why would I not be proud of my son, the CEO of one of the largest companies in the world?” She chuckled, and Leo could imagine her smiling on the other end of the line. “Your father would be so proud of you, if he were here.”
“I know, mother,” Leo said, feeling a pang of sadness at the mention of his father. “But what about Rachel? How do you think she will take it?”
“Don’t worry about Rachel, my boy,” his mother said, her voice firm. “She loves you, and she will understand. You just need to explain it to her, and everything will be alright.”
Leo sighed, feeling the weight of uncertainty lift slightly from his chest. “Thank you, mother. That means a lot to me.”
“Of course, my dear,” his mother said. “Now, go home and make everything right with your wife. I’ll see you soon.”
Leo hung up the phone, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. His mother’s words of support had been just what he needed to hear after the chaos that had surrounded him all day. As he drove back to the Chatteau, his mind was filled with thoughts of Rachel and how he would explain his truth to her.
When he finally arrived, he practically ran up to the main door, eager to hold Rachel in his arms and reassure her of his love. But as he walked into the living room, he found her standing at the other end of the room, looking distant and unapproachable.
“Rachel, my love,” he called out, taking a step towards her.
But she stepped back, putting even more distance between them. Leo felt his heart sink as he realized that she was upset about his truth.
“Rachel, it doesn’t matter that we work together,” he said, trying to reason with her. “I love you, that’s all that matters.”
But she ignored him, turning on her heels and walking away. Leo stood there, feeling helpless and frustrated as he watched her disappear up the stairs and lock herself in her room.
The rest of the day was spent in silence, with Leo pacing the living room and trying to find a way to reach out to Rachel. He couldn’t understand why she was so upset about his truth, and he felt his rage growing with each passing hour.