Celina parked the car in the mansion’s garage and stayed there for a moment, taking a deep breath. Her hands were still trembling on the steering wheel, her mind a whirlwind. The previous night felt like a blur—a dream, or maybe a nightmare.

She stepped out with unsteady feet and slipped silently into the house. The place was cloaked in darkness, only a few motion-sensor lights casting a faint path toward the bedroom.

Climbing the stairs slowly, her heart pounded in her chest. Her head throbbed—a cruel reminder of the alcohol and the long, chaotic night. When she pushed open the bedroom door, the room was pitch-black.

She exhaled in relief, thinking she could just collapse in bed and try to forget everything.

Then, a soft click broke the silence.

The light from the lamp beside the armchair flicked on, and Celina froze when she saw César’s silhouette sitting there, waiting for her.

His eyes were dark, his face rigid, his expression pure hatred.

“Where were you last night?” His voice sliced through the air like a blade.

Celina froze, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

She lifted her chin, trying to regain control.

“I don’t owe you an explanation.”

She turned toward the bathroom, but before she could take another step, a strong hand seized her arm violently.

The force spun her around, and suddenly she was staring straight into César’s fury.

“I’ll ask you again, Celina. Where. Were. You?”

The pain in her arm was sharp, but she refused to show weakness. Instead, with mocking defiance, she arched a brow and smirked.

“Oh, I get it… only you get to have fun with your mistress, right?”

His jaw tightened, his grip on her arm clamping down harder.

“You see this body?” she went on, taunting him. “Other men want it too.”

That was the breaking point.

His hand shot up—swift, brutal.

The slap cracked through the room.

Celina felt the sting tear across her cheek as she fell to the floor, dazed. Her skin burned, and tears welled in her eyes without permission.

“You filthy whore!” César spat, his voice dripping with contempt.

She pressed her hand to her cheek, feeling the heat radiating from the blow.

Their eyes locked—his full of venom, hers a mix of pain and disbelief.

With cold precision, César slipped a hand into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and unlocked it. Without a word, he brought up a video and held it out to her.

“Recognize this?”

On the screen, she saw herself entering a modest hotel. The image shook slightly but was clear enough. A man walked beside her—his face, his body—it was undeniable. It was her.

The color drained from her face. She felt the ground shift beneath her.

“Where did you get this?” she asked, her voice trembling.

He raised a brow, his tone like ice.

“That’s not the question. The question is what you did, Celina.”

He paused the video at the exact moment she walked through the door with the man. The silence that followed was deafening.

“And then you have the nerve to judge me? I swear, the only reason I don’t kill you right now is because my career is worth more than your life.” His words dripped venom.

Celina held her breath.

“The Brown name carries too much weight to be tarnished by a slut like you.”

Each word cut her like a blade.

Tears streamed freely now.

“I’m going to destroy you,” he said, stepping closer. “You were nothing when I met you—just a secretary with no family, no future, nothing. Everything you have today, you have because of me.”

Her throat tightened, the truth twisting into a cruel weapon in his mouth.

César yanked her to her feet by the arms.

“I want a divorce. You’re leaving this house!” he roared, spitting the words at her.

With a violent shove, he released her, sending her falling onto the bed.

The door slammed so hard the room seemed to shake.

She stayed there, motionless, her cheek burning, her heart shattered.

And for the first time since discovering his affair, she cried until there was nothing left inside her.

Celina spent the entire day in the bedroom.

By late afternoon, her body felt heavy, weighed down by every humiliation she had endured in the past days.

What César had done wasn’t just betrayal. He had destroyed her.

The next day, the hours blurred together—day and night felt the same.

The ache in her cheek was still there, a cruel reminder.

But something inside her had shifted.

Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, she realized César had been right about one thing: she had nothing left.

But that didn’t mean she couldn’t start over.

She took a deep breath, wiped her tears, and stood up.

She showed up at Tatiana’s house unannounced, her eyes tired, her voice unsteady.

“Tati, I… I need a job.”

Tatiana frowned, surprised by the sudden request. But glancing at the clock, she remembered she had to leave for an appointment in minutes.

“Look, I can’t talk right now, but I know a company that’s hiring. Send them your résumé—I’ll give you the email.”

She quickly scribbled it on a piece of paper and handed it to Celina.

“Send it today, okay?”

Celina nodded, clutching the paper like it was a lifeline.

Back home, she grabbed her laptop, sent the résumé, and kept searching for openings.

The first week was frustrating—applications sent, calls made, only to hear the same line: We’ll get back to you.

Then, two weeks in, her phone buzzed with an unexpected email.

Dear Celina Bernardes, we would like to schedule an interview for the position of Executive Secretary at T&R Enterprises. Please wait at reception tomorrow at 9 a.m. to be escorted to the president’s office.

Her heart skipped. Finally, a chance—the company Tatiana had mentioned had called her.

The next morning, Celina dressed carefully in a modest yet elegant outfit. She tied her hair in a low bun and slipped on a pair of understated heels.

She arrived a few minutes before nine and approached the reception desk.

“Please have a seat, Ms. Bernardes. The president will see you shortly.”

She nodded, a flutter of nerves in her stomach.

Minutes later, she was led to a pair of imposing double doors.

When the secretary opened them for her, Celina stepped inside and lifted her gaze.

And then, her heart stopped.