Chapter 16

Nate's POV

"Let's file for a divorce," he said without any hint of remorse.

Allyson's face paled, and her eyes widened in shock. "Nate, please, you can't be serious. Just hear me out."

He shook his head, his expression hard. "I've heard enough. There's nothing left to say."

With that, he stormed out of the house, leaving Allyson crumbling behind him.

Rachel's POV

Rachel's heart leapt with joy when Nate returned to her. She welcomed him with open arms, her mind already plotting her next move. She knew Allyson was still a threat, but she felt more secure with Nate's decision.

The next morning, Rachel strutted into the office with an air of triumph. She spotted Allyson near the elevator and couldn't resist the chance to mock her.

"Looks like someone can't keep a man," Rachel taunted, loud enough for the nearby coworkers to hear.

Instead of her usual quiet demeanor, Allyson's eyes blazed with anger. Without a word, she slapped Rachel hard across the face, the sound echoing through the office. Rachel gasped, her hand flying to her cheek, but before she could react, Allyson walked away with her head held high.

"You bitch!! Wait till I tell Nate about this" Rachel said still holding her already red cheeks.

Furious, she picked up her phone and called Nate. "You won't believe what just happened," she hissed. "Allyson slapped me in front of everyone. You need to deal with her."

Nate's POV

Nate's anger flared again as he drove back home with Rachel. How dare Allyson lay a hand on Rachel? He couldn't believe the woman he once loved had turned into someone so unrecognizable.

As he stepped into the house, Rachel by his side, he saw Allyson sitting calmly on the couch.

"Stay away from Rachel," he warned, his voice shaking with rage. "And when are you going to sign the divorce papers?"

To his surprise, Allyson smiled. "Bring your lawyer tomorrow. I'll be ready."

Her attitude shocked Nate. He had expected her to be broken, to plead with him to reconsider. But instead, she seemed more confident and unbothered, as if the divorce was merely a formality. It made him question everything he thought he knew about her.

"How could you be so heartless?" he muttered under his breath as he walked away. "Maybe Rachel was right about you all along."

Allyson's POV

As Nate and Rachel left, Allyson felt a wave of emotions crash over her. She had loved Nate with all her heart, but his coldness and refusal to listen had pushed her to the edge. She knew she had to play her cards right, to show him that she wasn't the weak, broken woman he thought she was.

That night, she lay in bed, her mind racing with plans. She was done playing the meek girl for Nate, she was determined to handle it with grace and strength. Besides her uncle was within himself when she cried her eyes out in his office. He too was glad, the marriage has hit the rocks.

Rachel's POV

Rachel reveled in her small victory as she lay beside Nate. She felt invincible, but there was a nagging doubt at the back of her mind. Allyson's unexpected strength had thrown her off, and she wondered what the woman was planning. She couldn't let her guard down. Not now, when she was so close to getting everything she wanted.

Nate's POV

Nate lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Allyson's reaction had been so unexpected, so different from what he had anticipated. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had missed something, that there was more to the story than Rachel had told him. But his pride and anger kept him from seeking the truth.

Tomorrow, he thought. Tomorrow, we'll see what happens. But as he drifted off to sleep, doubts gnawed at the edges of his mind, leaving him restless and uneasy.

Allyson's POV

Allyson spent the night preparing herself for the next day's confrontation. She would face Nate and his lawyer with confidence, and she would reveal the truth on her terms. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she vowed not to let Rachel or anyone else destroy her life.

"I will show them," she whispered to her reflection. "I will show them all."