Elijah's POV
I was too surprised when Claudine entered the dining hall and ruined our celebration. How come I didn't know about her arrival?!
Those bastards that I hired to keep an eye on her should've realized that she left that mansion! Bullshit!
What matters the most is the fact that she had changed. I feel like the Claudine that was standing in front of me isn't the woman that I married two years ago. She was braver and scarier.
"You better not bring my parents here! You have no right to!" I paused after she stood up. I stood in front of Samantha.
"Send that bitch off this mansion, or else I'll ask one of my men to drag her away and throw her in the sea. You better listen to me, Elijah. You're my husband, and you're just MINE! Did you understand?!" she grunted.
She even brushes off my face who she is in my life and in this house. "No! Samantha will stay with me!" I roared.
She scoffs and crosses her arms. "Listen to me! It's either she leaves this house or I'll call the cops and sue her! You know that I can do that. I'll make sure she's the only one who will rot in jail and let those sexually depraved prisoners taste her every…"
She paused. "… single," Claudine added.
"… day," she asserts.
The fire of hatred and wrath was written on her eyes. My jaw clenched. I know she wasn't lying.
I dragged Samantha out of the room and went downstairs. If I have to use my money and buy us a house or condo to live in, I will do that!
"You better not do something silly, Elijah. You won't live in her house, buy a house for the two of you, or else… I'll make her more miserable than you ever did to me! You can't use your cards or even your money and assets," she says. I raise my head and look at her. "What are you talking about?!" I exclaimed.
"Your life and hers will never be as beautiful as you planned, cheater. You are my husband, and you'll live miserably with me for the rest of your life," Claudine threatened.
She walks away and goes back in the master's bedroom. "Let's go! Don't listen to her!" Samantha roars.
We continued walking down the stairs when my cousin and secretary was waiting for us in the living room.
"I have no time for you, Jin-ah. But I won't forget how you betrayed me!" I exclaimed.
"Raymond, hail a cab outside for Samantha," she commands. I glared at my maternal cousin.
"If you insist on leaving, that woman needs to feed you. As soon as you keep on hurting and betraying Claudine, you'll see how monstrous she has become because of you!" Jin-ah roars. We are about to leave when my cousin speaks again.
"All your assets, money, and everything you have, you'll lose them. Your accounts were already frozen. You will leave this house only with those clothes you are wearing."
I was stunned because of what she said. I let go of Samantha's palm and look at Jin-ah. "What the hell are you talking about, Jin-ah?!" I roared.
"Your mom, before she died. She is already aware of your plans and your affair with Samantha. Therefore…" She paused and took a seat.
"She gives all the rights to Claudine. She is the head of the Riego family. You have no choice but to follow her orders. You are the one who turned her into a monster, Elijah."
She looks at Samantha. "You really think you've got a wealthy man, huh? Sorry, sweetheart. My aunt isn't as stupid as you think she could be," she added.
Jin-ah's gaze shifted on me. "You have no choice now, cousin. Even if you still choose to leave and apply to other companies, you're already blocked. Claudine was crazier than ever. You have no choice but to follow her or else… you'll die because of hunger," she says, leaving us in the living room.
I look at Raymond. He handed me his tablet and showed me the proof of my cousin's words. "NO! This isn't happening!"
"What are we going to do now, Elijah?!" Samantha yells, panicking. Damn it! I look at Raymond.
"I have to speak with that woman. Hail a cab for her. Samantha, you have to go home first," I stated. She grabbed my hands and stopped me from leaving.
"Please, Samantha! Don't make things much worse!" I roared. I'm too mad to entertain any tantrums from her.
"Miss, this way," Raymond says, dragging her away from me.
I head back upstairs. The butlers that she hired had taken off the things that Samantha bought and connected to her. The room was empty. She is standing near the window. "Take those things and leave us," she stated.
"Understood, madam," they replied.
They grab the furniture that Samantha picked herself. I heard the door close. I went to her and grabbed her shoulder.
The death stare was something I never expected she could give. I kicked her out after my mother's burial. She was cast out to one of our villas in England.
I made sure that she couldn't leave that country, but she managed after two years. She's back and threw a bomb right in front of me!
She grabbed my neck and showed me a wrath that I had never seen before. Not even from my parents.
"I was locked up for two years just because you wished to play fire with that woman, Elijah. Do you really think I'll rot there for decades, huh?! You have no right to ruin my life and live happily!" she roars.
Tears are streaming down her cheeks. She pushed me away. I want to say something, but for some reason, I can't. Why?! I should be controlling this marriage, but why can't I dominate this situation?!
"I'll make her suffer. I'll double the pain she receives from the pain you are giving to me! I will never forgive you!"
She faced the wall and punched it several times until the bandage on her palm fell on the floor. Her wound was bleeding again.
"You want to be happy? I won't give you that, Elijah. You have no right to be happy when you are the reason why I'm like this," she growls.
Claudine turned her head and met my eyes. "She will never be Mrs. Riego, Elijah. I'll make sure of that!" she continued.
I take a step forward and grab her shoulder. "You better not touch her! I am ready to kill you if you touch Samantha!" I threatened.
She scoffs madly. "Why would I ever listen to you, huh? Didn't I tell you already? We will all suffer together," she replied, grabbing my collar with her bloody hand.