Andrew was sitting at his desk, dressed in formal trousers, his jaw clenched as he stared at the papers scattered in front of him. The room was heavy with tension, almost suffocating. He looked up as Claire walked in, her footsteps hesitant but determined. Her face was pale, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and sadness. She stood a few feet away, not daring to get any closer.
"What are you doing here?" Andrew's voice was low and rough, like a growl. His gaze was sharp, piercing through her.
Claire's hands trembled as she tried to steady herself, but the tears in her eyes betrayed her emotions. She took a deep breath, her voice shaking as she spoke. "Why did you do this to me?" she asked, the hurt in her tone unmistakable. "You cheated on me with your secretary. Why, Andrew? Why would you do something like that?"
Andrew's expression remained cold, almost indifferent. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "Why should I feel sorry for you, Claire?" he replied, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "You're barren. Chantel did in one night what you couldn't do in years. She gave me children, and now she's gone with them. What did you expect me to do? You haven't been adding any value to my life for a long time."
The words hit Claire like a punch to the gut. She staggered back, her breath catching in her throat. Her heart felt like it was breaking into a million pieces. Without thinking, she stepped forward and slapped him across the face. The sharp sound echoed through the room, startling them both.
"I came here to tell you some good news," she said, her voice rising. "I know where Chantel and the kids are. I saw them today."
Andrew's eyes widened, a flicker of surprise flashing across his features. He hadn't expected that. "What? You saw them? Where is she?" His tone softened just a little, betraying a hint of hope.
But Claire shook her head, the anger still burning in her chest. "You said you didn't want to talk to a barren woman like me. So, why are you asking me about her now? I won't tell you where they are." Her voice was firm, and before he could say anything else, she spun around and stormed out of the office, leaving Andrew staring after her in shock.
"Claire!" he shouted after her, frustration and desperation mixing in his voice. "You have to tell me where they are! I need to see my kids!" But the door had already closed behind her, and her footsteps faded away down the hall.
Alone in the silence of his office, Andrew sank back into his chair. He rubbed his face where she had slapped him, the sting still lingering. "What am I going to do now?" he muttered to himself. "How do I explain everything to Chantel? How do I get my kids back?"
His mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. He knew there was a risk in going after Chantel. She was in a vulnerable state, and he thought he could use that to his advantage. But he needed to act quickly. He couldn't let this opportunity slip away.
Just then, his secretary, Sharon, knocked on the door before stepping in. Her face was filled with concern, her eyebrows knitted together. "Sir, I'm so sorry. I didn't know your wife was coming. If I had, I would've tried to stop her."
Andrew waved off her apology. "It's fine, Sharon. There's nothing to worry about. She's not useful to me anymore anyway," he said, his tone dismissive.
Sharon hesitated, taken aback by his words. "Not useful to you anymore?" she repeated, confused. "What do you mean, sir?"
Andrew gave a small, cryptic smile, but his eyes were still clouded with thoughts of Claire and Chantel. "You'll understand soon enough," he replied. "Now, get back to your desk. I need to think."
Sharon left the office, but she couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling. There was something different about Andrew lately, something darker. She had worked with him for years and had never seen him so cold. As she sat back at her desk, she wondered what was really going on behind those office doors.
Meanwhile, Claire was driving home, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. Her mind replayed the scene with Andrew over and over again. She kept seeing his face, so calm and unfeeling, as he told her she was worthless. Her eyes filled with tears once more, and she struggled to keep them from falling. She wasn't just hurt; she was furious. How could he treat her like she was nothing?
Across town, Chantel was arriving at her own home. She was with her twins, Vivian and Vincent, and their nanny. As she walked in, she saw Henry coming down the stairs. He looked dashing in his crisp white shirt and dark trousers. His smile widened when he saw her, and he gave her a warm kiss on the cheek.
"You're back early!" Chantel said, surprised. "I thought you had work."
Henry shrugged, pulling her closer. "I decided to come home and spend time with you and the kids," he said, giving her a quick kiss. "And besides, I have a little surprise planned for tonight."
Chantel felt a thrill of excitement. Her life had changed so much since meeting Henry. He had accepted her and her children, even though they weren't his. "You always find ways to make me happy, Henry. I don't know what I would've done without you, especially after everything with Andrew," she admitted, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Henry smiled and kissed her again. "You don't have to thank me. We're in this together. Always."
Their moment was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. The maid answered it, and a delivery man handed her a package for Chantel. She brought it to Chantel, who looked at the beautifully wrapped box in surprise. She opened it to find a lovely red dress decorated with roses, along with an elegant watch.
"Who sent this?" Chantel wondered aloud, turning the items over in her hands. "I haven't been in touch with anyone recently."
Henry smirked, teasingly. "Maybe it's from the guy who got you pregnant," he said, winking at her.
Chantel's face fell, and she glared at him. "You know I hate it when you say that, Henry. It's not funny."
Henry held up his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. Why don't you read the letter inside the box?"
Chantel reached into the package and pulled out a small note. She unfolded it and read the words: "I love you." It was written in Henry's handwriting. She looked up at him, and a smile spread across her face.
"You did this?" she said, playfully punching his arm.
Henry chuckled. "Well, I wanted it to be a surprise," he said. "And it's not even the main one. This is just a little preview of what's coming tonight."
Chantel's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Are you going to tell me what it is, or do I have to wait?"
"If I tell you now, it won't be a surprise, will it?" Henry said, pulling her close again. "Just be patient until tonight."
Chantel laughed, resting her head against his chest. "Fine, but it better be worth the wait," she said, looking up at him with a grin.
Henry leaned in and kissed her gently. "Oh, it will be," he whispered. "I promise."