---- Chapter 5 The wedding erupted into chaos. Guests screamed and scrambled to get away from the horrifying scene on the stage. They surged toward the gates, but their escape was blocked. Gloria' s security team, dressed in black suits, formed a human wall, their faces impassive. "Nobody is leaving," Gloria' s voice boomed from the speakers, silencing the panic. She descended the grand staircase, her heels clicking on the marble. She lit a thin cigarette, the flame of the lighter illuminating her cold, beautiful face. "Welcome, everyone," she said, her voice dropping to a conversational tone. "l am Gloria Franco. For those of you who have been profiting from my husband's... side business, I'm the one you should have been afraid of all along." The guests froze, a new kind of fear dawning in their eyes. These were Isiah' s partners, the investors and criminals who. thought they were untouchable. ---- "My husband," she repeated, letting the words hang in the air. Isiah, who had been staring in catatonic horror at the dead dog, finally snapped back to reality. He saw the trapped faces of his co-conspirators. He saw Gloria, in complete control. He understood. This was not just a personal attack. It was a coup. "You won' t get away with this," he raged, his voice cracking. "This is insane!" "Insanity is a matter of perspective, darling," Gloria said coolly. "Where is she?" he demanded, his voice raw with fear. "Where is Kiley?" "Oh, she' s here," Gloria said with a theatrical sigh. "We' re going to play a little game. A treasure hunt. You have five minutes to find her." She gestured to a large digital clock that had been set up on the stage. It began counting down from 5:00 "If you find her, you can both walk away. If you don't..." she trailed off, taking a long drag from her cigarette. "Well. Let's just say the finale will be spectacular." Isiah' s face was a mess of fury and terror. ---- "My men!" he roared, calling for his own security detail. About twenty men in ill-fitting suits tried to push through the crowd, but they were met by Gloria' s team. The two sides stood face to face, a silent, tense standoff. Gloria laughed, a sound with no warmth in it. "Did you really think your hired thugs could compete with my army?" she said, looking at Isiah with pity. "l taught you everything, Isiah. How to fight, how to win, how to build an empire. But | never taught you how to beat me." She walked toward him, circling him like a predator. "You' re just a dog | trained. A smart one, I' Il admit. But you 're still just an animal. Impulsive. Greedy. Easily distracted by anew toy." "Don' t talk about her like that," he growled. "l made you," she continued, ignoring him. "And | can unmake you." He tried to regain some composure, to appeal to a past that no longer existed. "Gloria, please," he said, his voice softening. "l know | hurt you. But what we had... it was real. We can fix this." She stopped in front of him, her eyes searching his. "Your love," she said, her voice laced with contempt, "is a ---- commodity. You offer it to the highest bidder. When you were worthless, you sold it to me for a chance at a new life. Now that you have a taste of power, you think you can trade up for a younger model." The crowd of guests shifted uncomfortably, whispering amongst themselves. They had all known Isiah as a self-made bachelor. The revelation that he was married to the formidable Gloria Franco, and had been cheating on her, was a shocking twist. Isiah' s face burned with humiliation. "You will pay for this!" he screamed, lunging at her. Her guards intercepted him before he could take two steps. The clock on the stage beeped. 00:00. "Time's up," Gloria announced. Marcus walked onto the stage. "He couldn' t find her, Ms. Franco. His men searched the entire estate." Gloria smiled. "Of course he couldn't." She snapped her fingers. A massive screen descended behind the stage, flickering to life. ---- It showed a live feed. Kiley. She was in a small, dark space, a glass box. Water was pouring in from the ceiling, rising quickly. It was already up to her waist. She was screaming, pounding on the glass, her face a mask of terror. "Kiley!" Isiah screamed, his voice breaking. He fought against the guards holding him, his eyes fixed on the screen. "No!" Gloria walked up to him, her face just inches from his. "I Il make you a deal, Isiah," she whispered. "| will trade you her life for yours." In "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" by CrushReel, the storyline unfolds as renowned photographer Jane finds herself drawn to the charismatic rookie model, Hector. Little does she know that Hector harbors a secret—he is actually the heir to a powerful business empire. As their romance blossoms, Hector grapples with concealing his true identity to capture Jane's heart. However, their love story takes a tumultuous turn when jealousy rears its ugly head, threatening to unravel the delicate balance they've built. This modern romance novel delves into themes of hidden identities, unexpected love, and the complexities of maintaining a relationship shrouded in secrecy. With its blend of sweet romance and suspenseful twists, "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" stands out for its exploration of hidden feelings and the consequences of revealing long-held secrets. For readers seeking a captivating tale that combines elements of romance, intrigue, and emotional depth, this ongoing story is available to read at CrushReel. Immerse yourself in the world of Jane and Hector as their journey unfolds against the backdrop of hidden truths and heartfelt revelations.