The bar became silent, and the only things Heira could hear were her own thoughts. She snapped out of it when she noticed a shadow looming over her. A man dressed in funny attire came into view as she raised her head.

"Sorry I'm late," he added, with an eager smile.

Bethy's eyes met Heira's. They both stared at each other with confusion on their faces. "I think you've got the wrong person, cause I'm not familiar with this face".

"No darling, I'm at the right place. It's me, your date, we matched online remember? ... and I told you I'd meet you here tonight."

He paused mid-conversation, expecting a sense of confirmation from her.

"Wait! You're Dan?" Bethy let out a shocking gasp.

"Certainly, Dan in different aspects though. Some know me as DanBytes cause tech is where the money is. DanBuzz, I be turning up and showing out. DanDoodle based on some part of my personality, I don't quite like being called that but I just play it off for the people you know."

His words tumbled out with misplaced confidence while he flailed his arms in random directions as though he was trying to paint his sentences into the air.

He pulled out a chair to sit as he continued his comic speech. "But for you, I'll be DanLove because the love I have for you completes me," he said as he made a failed attempt to wink at her.

"Haha... you're a funny guy, and apparently you look completely different from your profile," Bethy chuckled awkwardly as she couldn't contain the embarrassment she was feeling.

"Yeah, but that shouldn't be a problem. What we need from this relationship is the connection we already have."

Heira, on the other hand, was enjoying the scene before her. She leaned back, observing Bethy suffer from within as she managed to keep it cool. The amusement on her face was the kind only a best friend was allowed to have.

"Actually, I have waited for so long, I have some business to take care of, so I'll be leaving now," she beckoned to Heira, who looked like she was having much fun.

Dan tried to persuade her to stay, but she wouldn't budge. The girls walked out on him as they made their way outside the restaurant.

Heira could not stop laughing at what she just witnessed. Every one of her laughs was intentionally made to torture her friend.

Bethy, on the other hand, wasn't pleased with herself. It looked like she had just been played. This was the guy she thought was her perfect match.

Things kicked off smoothly between them, and she could have spent every penny vouching for it. She felt so disappointed, she deleted the dating app on the spot.

Heira noticed Bethy's change of mood, so she tried to make her see the fun side of it by mentioning the grammar he spoke and how apologetically funny he looks until she finally made her crack.

She told her friend she isn't ready to leave and would like to take a walk to clear her head as Bethy left to her house. She had no reason to leave early, Dante wouldn't even care about her presence in the house, let alone be happy to see her.

The night air felt cooler than usual. Thanks to Bethy's date, her heart felt lighter as she strolled down to her favorite cafe on the next block, hoping to grab some tea before heading home.

The bell above the door jingled as she stepped inside. Most of the tables were empty, with very few people found inside. She made her way to the counter and met a familiar person there.

"Sebastian?" she said, surprised.

He looked up, his face lighting with a smile. "Heira! So good to see you here."

"I could say the same. Long day at work?"

"More like an escaping one," he chuckled.

Just like old times, they both occasionally come to the cafe after work to grab tea while discussing office matters. A part of her had hoped she would meet him there so they could discuss some issues.

"Crazy how you got married on short notice without informing anyone. You could have at least told me, I wouldn't be mad about it."

Sebastian has had the longest crush on Heira. He had expressed his feelings to her, but was turned down because she was in a relationship with Ethan. He thought he would finally have a chance with her when Ethan ended things, but was sadly confronted with the news of her marriage.

"Trust me, it was unexpected for me also," Heira mentioned, trying to clear the allegation.

"No worries, you don't need to give an excuse. Anyone in your shoes would do the same. No one would consider me an office man over a man like Dante, who is a business mogul."

Heira knew Sebastian was clearly hurt, even though he tried not to show it. "It's really not about that. You are a kind man, Sebastian, and any lady would be lucky to have you."

"Any lady but you, right?"

Heira shot him a don't say that stare and was interrupted by him as she tried to speak.

"Speaking of work, what will you do about your situation?" he asked, changing the topic to avoid further discussion on it.

"I haven't been able to wrap my head around it. I'll be lying if I told you I know what to do," she muttered, sipping on the tea.

"That's a really mean move from your Dad. What did you do to make him this pissed at you?"

"I wish I knew," Heira mumbled.

A brief silence was formed between them while she pondered over the situation, or if she had really done something wrong.

She finally broke the silence when she got an intuition. "Do you know who will replace me at my post?"

"I have no idea, you know the memo hasn't been sent out officially," Sebastian answered.

The busser came in to pack the empty cups in front of them as he was seen resetting tables and cleaning up the cafe.

"But I can find out."

"Okay, please do that and get back to me." She said.

Sebastian had always been a good friend to her as he always provided her assistance both in her personal and work life. Although it's unclear whether he does that because of the feelings he has for her, but he has been supportive and his affections were known.

The hour had slipped past unnoticed, and they both stood up to leave as the cafe was about to close.

Sebastian offered to drop her off at her house when he noticed she didn't come with a driver. Before she got married, he knew she had a personal driver who consistently brought her to work and took her around the city.

The ride home was fun as usual. Sebastian had always been easy to be around; he had his way of turning the most ordinary topics into something hilarious.

They laughed over silly office stories and teased about their coworkers' quirks.

Every so often, his jokes made her laugh so hard she had to cover her face, and he only grinned wider, clearly enjoying her reactions.

By the time they pulled up to her street, Heira realized she hadn't thought once about her worries. With Sebastian, it was impossible to stay heavy for long.

"Tell me you were seriously not planning to take a cab home. Why didn't you call your driver to pick you up? I'm sure Mr Moretti must have gotten one for you.

"Taking Cabs every now and then might be risky; most of the cab drivers aren't trustworthy," he said with concern in his tone.

"Ha.. don't mind me, I just didn't want to bother him. It's late already, and I figured I should just take a cab to lift the weight off him, and besides, the journey home isn't far."

Heira struggled as she managed to get the words out. The truth is, Dante hasn't assigned a driver to her, so now she has to take cabs to support her transport.

Sebastian gave her a long, skeptical look, his expression flat like he didn't believe a word she just said.

"Alright, looks like we are in front of your majestic villa," he said as he moved his hands in the direction.

Heira smiled with heartfelt appreciation. "Thanks for the ride."

"It's always a pleasure," he said, waving her goodbye.

She made her way inside the quiet villa, its tall windows glowing softly while garden lights traced the paths, making it stand out at night.

Inside, everything was in order and put in place. There were no staff in sight as they were done for the night and they had all gone to their respective lounge.

Her eyes caught something she walked past. Draped carelessly over the back of a chair was a silk scarf, delicate and clearly feminine.

The edges were hand-stitched with an elegance that spoke of a designer brand. One glance was enough for Heira to know it was expensive, far beyond anything the house staff would own or casually leave behind.

Suspicions raced through her mind. She climbed up into the hallways, pushed open her bedroom door to settle in after a long day.

As she set her bag on the chair, her gaze drifted across the hall. The soft light beneath Dante's door told her he was still awake.

What a busy man! He must have brought some work home to continue, she thought.

She slipped out of her shoes, changed into a soft satin chemise, and sank onto the bed, ready to enjoy the silence of the night as sleep beckoned.

Just when her eyes were about to be shut, she started to hear light giggles flow through the stillness.

Her head snapped up as another followed; softer, feminine, paired with the low rumble of Dante's voice. It was clearly coming from Dante's room, and it seemed like he had company.

Her chest tightened, unsure of what was happening or who it might be.

What access does another woman have to his bedroom?

She slipped out of bed, her bare feet hitting the floor as she padded toward Dante's room. The corridor stretched endlessly, with her heartbeat rising with each step.

She hesitated a bit when her hand clutched the doorframe. Scared of what she thinks it might be.

The moment she nudged it open, the sight struck her like a blow. She was right, Dante was cheating on her.

His arm was carefully wrapped around a woman whose laugh she'd just heard. The same woman that was with him at the restaurant.

Heira froze, her breath catching in her throat, her chest heavy with the shocking truth.

The woman seemed to notice her presence, she rolled her eyes as she gestured to Dante.

Dante rose slowly from where he lay, his tall frame casting a shadow across the room, standing squarely before her.

For a second, she searched his face for even a flicker of guilt, but there was none except annoyance, as though she had interrupted whatever they had going on.

"What are you doing here? Don't you have manners?" he growled.

Heira's chest burned, a silent ache spread through her veins, and a tear managed to slip out. The man she married is having an affair with another woman in their home and he's not being remorseful.

Her lips parted, desperate to ask why, but the words didn't come out, turning her speechless.

The next minute, she felt a tight grab on her arms, followed by a push and the door slammed in her face.

Dante had just shoved her out of his room.

The intense pain she felt as she hit the ground hard was nothing compared to the heartache from Dante's betrayal.

She had twisted her ankle from the way Dante threw her out. Her hands clutched the wall as she managed to stand. She staggered forward, her breath coming out in broken sobs.

Each step she took felt like torture. Her ankle screamed with pain, and yet her heart bled louder. Tears blurred her vision, dripping down her cheeks as she dragged herself away.

With shaky steps, she hurried to her room, her slippers scuffing against the polished floor.

It was the middle of the night, but she no longer wanted to stay. The home meant to be a safe haven started to suffocate her.

She packed very few of her things into a bag and made her way out of the villa. Although she wasn't sure where she was going, she knew she couldn't stay.

One wrong step, she stumbled hard and fell against the bannister. Pain shot through her ankle as she let out a loud gasp.

The sound echoed through the quiet night, sharp enough to draw the attention of the security stationed by the entrance.

"Mrs Moretti!" the head security called out, boots pounding as he rushed toward her. His eyes widened with alarm while he bent to help her upright.

Her vision blurred as he tried to steady her. She waved him off weakly, her pride fighting against the shame of collapsing under their watchful gaze.

"I'm fine," she whispered quietly, though her ankle throbbed and her breath came unevenly.

But the look in his eyes said otherwise. He knew she wasn't fine. He saw the way she stumbled, the way her strength seemed to drain from her with each step.

"Let's get you to the hospital ma'am," he said, almost running off to get one of the cars parked at the garage.

"No, I said I'm fine!" Heira snapped.

She continued limping towards the entrance and was accompanied by the security's gaze. "Ma'am, may I know where you are going at this time of the night?" He questioned curiously.

"Where I'm going is none of your business. Open the gate and let me out," she snarled.

"Alright ma'am, but it isn't safe for you to be out at this late hour. Please go in and you can leave in the morning."

"Will you open it, or I will have to do that myself?"

The security was stunned by her sudden outburst. He knew Heira to be a calm and cheerful woman on regular days. She always smiled and talked to the staff in polite tones.

However, the woman in front of him was no longer the same person she used to be. He could feel the sharpness in her words and the unyielding glare in her eyes that carried all the force of command, but he still wasn't convinced to allow a woman out by herself in that hour of the night, let alone his boss's wife.

She made every attempt to leave but he wouldn't let her. When he saw that she wasn't going to give in, he called Dante to make him aware of the situation at hand.

"I don't care what she does, she's grown and can make her own choices. Just don't call me about it again," he said dismissively.

The security's face grew in disbelief. How can a man be so heartless to his own wife? For a second, he stood there, shocked by what he just heard.

Heira's heart shattered even more. This only made her realize he never liked nor cared about her, making her suspect he had been with the other woman before he married her.

If he had someone he loved, why did he decide to marry her then?

Perhaps he only did so to punish her because to him, she's just a possession or he and her Dad had both connived to make her life a living nightmare.

Heira felt her life mirrored the old tale of Beauty and the Beast. Even though Beauty had given herself up to protect her father, just as Heira had been handed over to Dante to protect her father's company. Beauty had uncovered gentleness beneath the harshness and cruelty of the beast, and their love had bloomed.

Unlike the fairytale, Dante is making it harder for her to see anything good in him. With him, it looks like there's no compassion. His flawless public facade completely masking his true identity.

"Can you let me out now? You've gotten the confirmation you so desperately needed," she said coldly as she wiped the tears that profusely ran down her cheeks.

The security opened the gate without much hesitation, and he watched her limp out into the night. He felt really sorry for her but there was nothing else he could do as he is bound by his duties.

Heira stood outside the gate, oblivious to where she was going. All she knew was that the last place she would go in the world was her father's house.

The night was pitch dark, and she wouldn't want to disturb Bethy by calling her to come get her, seeing that she's a woman herself and might experience difficulties driving out alone.

Also, Bethy is prone to worrying and the last thing Heira needed right now was to be flooded with questions she didn't have the strength to answer, so the only person she could call was Sebastian.

She rang a few times but he wouldn't pick up. Disappointed, she began making her way out of the dimly lit streets so she could get a cab.

Her legs felt weaker by the second with the throbbing pain in her ankle. Her vision started to blur, her steps faltered, and just when her strength started to fail her, her phone vibrated.

She snatched it up, her voice barely steady. "Please... come pick me up. I'm on my street," she whispered, the desperation clear in her tone.

"Alright, stay right where you are. I'm coming."

Minutes later, his headlights shone across the lonely road, and a sense of relief came upon her.

Sebastian jumped out as soon as he saw her, rushing to her side. He was shocked to see her lying weakly by the roadside.

His eyes dropped to her swollen ankle, his expression showing concern. "You need to go to the hospital."

Heira shook her head weakly. "It's fine, I'll be..."

"No, Heira," he cut her off.

"Look at your foot. You can barely stand."

She didn't fight or argue with him, instead she let herself lean against him, the weight of her exhaustion pressing into his steady frame, and then a total darkness followed.

***

Heira's eyes lifted heavily, white walls in sight and muted beeping. Her throat felt dry, her body weak. She shifted slightly, only to realize there was a sting in her hand.

Blinking harder, her gaze settled on the clear drip line taped to her skin, a slow stream of fluid flowing into her veins.

Beside her bed, James Arthur was checking the IV bag hanging from a pole. "Glad to see you've regained consciousness, that shows you're getting better."

Heira slightly lifted her head to look at her foot which was already dressed and covered in bandages.

"That has been taken care of, you do not need to worry. What you have to worry about is this," he said grimly while handing a test result to her.

"We've run some tests and we found out that your arrhythmia has gotten worse. The irregular heartbeat you've had for a while is more unstable now."

He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing.

"You've been advised to avoid being stressed. Stress and exhaustion put more strain on your heart. That's likely why you collapsed, and if you keep pushing yourself the way you have been, the risks will grow."

Heira gripped the sheets of the bed tightly with her slender fingers. Her petite face, pale and solemn. "I'm sorry Doc.... I've just been under a lot of emotional stress lately. What must I do now?"

"From now on, you'll need close monitoring, medication, and the most important thing which is rest. You have been placed on admission, so you could get them all."

Heira bit her lips while forcing out, "Thank you."

"I heard you're married. Your husband should have..."

"Please Doc, I just want to get that rest you talked about," she said, unwilling to talk about her marriage.

"So, where do you know that she has gone to?"

Dante was seen pacing the length of his office, one arm folded tightly across his chest whilst the other held his chin.

"You shouldn't have let her leave the house at that time of the night, what if something had happened to her?" Rowan continued, refusing to let him off the hook.

"I know" Dante shouted as if trying to catch a break from the blames Rowan had been throwing at him.

"I just... I didn't know she was serious about leaving. I expected that she would have returned home by now."

"Can you hear yourself? How could you not know she was seriously going to leave? Your security informed you about her leaving but you still gave no word. Now you are here pacing forth and back, why even bother like you care?"

Dante held a stern gaze at Rowan. His words came out in anger. He became aggravated, almost throwing a punch at him.

"What! Are you implying that I shouldn't care about my wife's whereabouts?"

Rowan saw the way his face burned with rage. He became frightened and confused because he had never seen him this worried before.

"No, all I'm saying is I don't get the reason why you are so worked up when you initially married this woman just to cause her pain." He held both his hands up in a way that gestures don't come for me as he tried to justify himself.

Dante sighed heavily. His mind in total chaos. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He had sworn to break her, to make her pay. Yet now, nothing felt certain anymore.

Also, he is obliged to keep her safe as his legal wife. Him not having an idea about where she might be poses a shame to him.

"I should be worried. It's been 48 hours since she left. What am I going to say when people start raising questions? Mrs. Collins hasn't stopped asking of her and all I could say to her was that she traveled for work and would be back soon because I didn't know she would be gone for this long."

"She left so abruptly, the staff are beginning to make side-talks about what happened that night. If this gets out of hand and the media gets hold of it, you know the effect it would have on the companies."

"I see why you are worried now," Rowan said, a smile tugging the corner of his lips. "For a moment I thought you had fallen head over heels for her. Only a man in love would react the way you did."

"Love? No! I want that woman to suffer. I will make her pay for all that her despicable father has caused my family. What's the fun in that if I don't get her to stay close to me? That's why I married her, and now I have no idea where she is." Dante ran his hands through his hair, brushing it back in utmost frustration.

"That man stole ten years of my life. He took away my joy and happiness. When I finally decided I won't be a slave to it anymore, I made the choice to marry his daughter on exactly the tenth year the incident happened." His words came out in complete rage.

Dante's phone vibrated softly on the desk. He reached for it, but the screen lit up before he could flip it over.

[Hey love, I'll be at yours tonight]

Rowan caught a glimpse of the notification. His brows shot up. "Isn't that Sylvia? Why is she coming over to your place again?"

Dante hesitated, his thumb hovering over the screen. "She's been... staying over since she got back from her trip."

Rowan leaned forward, his tone calm but firm. "You can't keep doing this, man. Not in your matrimonial home. If you must see her, get her an apartment somewhere else. This..." he gestured toward Dante's phone, "...this isn't right."

Dante's gaze met the man who looked rather annoyed. Rowan had always been the one to speak sense when everyone else kept quiet. Asides handling his contracts as his legal advisor, he has also been the most reliable friend he ever had.

Dante exhaled, pressing a hand to the bridge of his nose. "You know how Sylvia is," he muttered. "Stubborn as hell. She's never accepted my marriage to Heira. I tried to make her understand, but she wouldn't listen."

Rowan sighed while leaning back in his chair. "Then you need to set boundaries before she crosses them again."

Before Dante could respond, his phone buzzed again with another message from Sylvia. He didn't open it. Instead, his thoughts drifted to his grandmother's words from the call earlier that morning, her gentle excitement as she mentioned she'd be coming over for a visit.

That has been the main reason putting him on edge. Granny Mae adores Heira. Even though she hasn't gotten to meet her, she speaks of her every time. "She's going to be a lovely girl, I know that for sure."

He knew the main purpose of her visit was to finally meet the woman he married. After all, she had been on his case for years, reminding him he wasn't getting any younger.

He could already picture her face if she opened the front door and found Sylvia in his house instead of the wife she'd been waiting to meet. He knew how much it would shatter her heart.

He cherishes his granny so much and wouldn't let that happen. Granny Mae had been the only family left for him, which explains why she has a special spot in his heart.

Without thinking, he grabbed his keys from the desk. "I need to find her," he mumbled, more to himself than to anyone in the room.

He hurried towards the door, his foot faltering halfway there. A new panic rose in him. If he didn't know where Heira was, how could he ask her father without revealing that he had lost track of his own wife?

He then realised that he didn't know anyone else related to her. Finding her was definitely not going to be easy. "What do I do now?" he thought to himself.

Dante turned to his friend who had been quietly watching him mumble from across the office, "I need you to help me find out where she is or who she's with."

"Okay, I'll get to it," Rowan replied without hesitation. He's best at digging out information, and he never seems bothered by the weight of the task.

Dante watched as Rowan left the office, knowing he could always count on him. Deep inside, he hoped Heira was safe. He hated to admit that he cared but he could feel it. Most importantly, he was scared of the trouble it would cause him when things spiralled out of control.