Chapter 8

Nate's POV

Nate sat on the edge of the bed, his mind was swirling with confusion and doubt. The anonymous messages and Rachel's accusations had eaten away at him, and now Allyson was about to reveal the truth.

He felt a mix of anxiety and hope, wanting to believe in his wife but fearing what he might hear.

"Allyson, I need to know everything," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I can't live with these doubts."

Allyson took a deep breath, her eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination. "Nate, I've been keeping something from you, and it's time you knew the truth."

Nate's heart pounded as he listened, bracing himself for whatever was to come.

Allyson's POV

Allyson felt her heart pounding in her chest as she saw the look of suspicion on Nate's face. She took a deep breath, knowing that the moment of truth had arrived. The anonymous messages and Rachel's manipulations had backed her into a corner, but she had to come clean.

"Nate, I need you to listen to me," she began, her voice trembling. "There is something I haven't told you, but it's not what you think."

Nate's eyes bore into hers, a mixture of fear and anger. "Then tell me, Allyson. What happened with your boss?"

Allyson looked down, gathering her thoughts. "Nate, my boss and I were once lovers in college. We dated for a few years, but it ended long before I met you. When I started working at the company, I had no idea he was the boss. It was a shock to both of us."

Nate's expression softened slightly, but he still looked wary. "And Rachel?"

"She saw us in an awkward position once, but it was purely professional. We were discussing work, and she walked in at the wrong moment. She's been spreading rumors ever since, trying to make it seem like there's more going on between us."

Nate's jaw tightened. "Why didn't you tell me any of this before?"

Allyson took another deep breath, knowing the hardest part was yet to come. "Nate, there's more. But for now, you need to understand that what Rachel is saying is exaggerated. My relationship with my boss ended years ago, and our interactions now are strictly professional."

Allyson's Thoughts

As Allyson spoke, she couldn't help but reflect on the deeper secret she was still keeping from Nate. She believed it was not yet time to reveal her identity even to Nate. She was the sole heiress to the Spark Business Empire, a legacy that had shaped much of her life. After her parents' untimely death, she had traveled overseas to cope with the loss and to learn more about managing the vast family business. Her uncle had taken charge of the empire during her absence, but it was time for her to step up as CEO.

However, Allyson had decided to start working in one of the subsidiaries to understand the true nature of the company and its employees. Only her boss knew her real identity, and she had kept it hidden to ensure she was treated like any other employee.

Nate's POV

Nate felt a mix of relief and frustration as he listened to Allyson's story. He wanted to believe her, to trust her. But the doubts lingered. Could he truly move past this?

"Allyson, I want to believe you," he said softly. "I really do. But this whole situation has put so much strain on us. I need time to process everything."

Allyson nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I understand. Just know that I love you, Nate. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this right."

Nate reached out, taking her hand in his. "I love you too. We'll get through this. We just need to be honest with each other."

Kelvin's POV

Kelvin sat in his living room, scrolling through his phone when he received a message from Nate. He read the text, his heart sinking as he absorbed the details of Nate and Allyson's conversation.

"Hey man, Allyson told me everything. It's not as bad as I thought, but it's still tough to process. I need to clear my head. Can we talk?"

Kelvin immediately called Nate. "Hey, I got your message. You want to talk about it?"

Nate's voice was strained. "Yeah. I confronted Allyson about the messages and Rachel's accusations. She told me about her past with her boss. I want to believe her, but it's hard."

Kelvin sighed. "It's a tough situation, Nate. But you've got to trust your gut. If you believe Allyson is telling the truth, then you need to find a way to move past this. Don't let Rachel's manipulations ruin what you have."

"I know," Nate said quietly. "It's just hard. I've never felt this way before. I love Allyson, but these doubts are eating me alive."

"Take it one step at a time," Kelvin advised. "Give yourself some space to think. And remember, I'm here for you. Whatever you need."

Rachel's POV

Rachel sat in her lavish apartment, scrolling through Nate's social media page. Seeing the latest post, a photo of Nate and Allyson together, made her blood boil. She had tried to break them apart, but Allyson had managed to hold on.

"Damn her," Rachel muttered under her breath. She needed a new plan, something more effective to drive a wedge between them.

She picked up her phone and dialed a number. "Hello, Mr. Jenkins? It's Rachel. I need your help with something. It's about Allyson."

Rachel's plan was in motion. She wouldn't rest until she had Nate back and get Allyson out of the picture for good.

As Rachel ended the call, a sinister smile spread across her face. She had just enlisted a powerful ally who could help her take down Allyson once and for all.