---- Chapter 8 Eliza Todd POV: Dante must have been waiting in the lobby again. | pictured him loitering by the elevators, a bouquet of unwanted flowers in hand, only to see Kamala storm past him on her warpath. "Dante!" Kamala cried, her face lighting up as if her hero had arrived. "Thank God you're here. Eliza is trying to destroy me! She's jealous of me, of the baby, and she's using her new boyfriend's company to do it!" Dante's eyes flicked from me to Jace, then back again, his expression darkening with a familiar, possessive anger. For a moment, | saw the old Dante, the one who would have instantly taken Kamala's side, who would have publicly humiliated me to protect his own interests. But something had shifted. "That's enough, Kamala," he said, his voice firm. "Eliza wouldn't do that. You're being too sensitive." He had used the exact same words on me a hundred times. You're being too sensitive, Eliza. You're being paranoid. Hearing them directed at Kamala was a strange, hollow victory. ---- Kamala stared at him, her jaw slack with disbelief. "What did you say?" "Just stop," | said, my voice cutting through their drama. "If you feel you've been wronged, Kamala, you should call the police." Jace stepped forward, his presence radiating a calm, formidable authority | was just beginning to appreciate. "That won't be necessary." Kamala's eyes narrowed. "And who are you? Her sugar daddy?" she sneered. "| suppose a woman like Eliza has to get on her knees to get ahead." A collective gasp rippled through the office. The whispers started, my colleagues looking from me to Jace with newfound suspicion and disdain. The rumor mill was already churning. Kamala, sensing she had the upper hand, went for the kill. "| bet the baby she conveniently 'lost' wasn't even Dante's," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "It was probably yours." The world tilted. The air was sucked from my lungs. Before | could even process the vile accusation, Dante moved. He slapped Kamala across the face, the sound cracking like a whip in the stunned silence of the room. ---- She staggered back, her hand flying to her cheek, her eyes wide with shock. A red handprint was already blooming on her skin. "How dare you?" she shrieked, her voice trembling with rage. "I'm carrying your child!" The office erupted in a fresh wave of shocked gasps. "It is NOT my child!" Dante roared, his face purple with fury. "I helped you with the donor process, that's it! You have been using that baby to try and destroy my marriage since the day you found out you were pregnant!" It was a train wreck. A spectacular, horrifying, public implosion. And | was standing in the middle of it, feeling nothing but a profound sense of detachment. These two clowns had consumed years of my life with their petty dramas and toxic games, and | was finally, blessedly, done. "Dante," | said, my voice cutting through the chaos. "Sign the divorce papers." He turned to me, his face a mess of desperation and regret. "Eliza, please..." "Sign them," | repeated. "I will not have my name dragged through the mud with the likes of you two. | refuse to be accused of infidelity by my husband's pregnant mistress in my place of work." Jace stepped to my side, placing a protective hand on my ---- back. He addressed the room, his voice calm but steely. "The situation with Ms. Wong's collection is a legal matter being handled by our counsel," he announced. "And let me be clear. Anyone in this office who spreads malicious gossip about any employee will be terminated immediately. Are we understood?" His cold, authoritative gaze swept over the crowd, and my colleagues shrank back, their faces pale. He then looked at Dante and Kamala, his expression filled with utter contempt. "Security will see you out." 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.