Bride Behind The Mask

As Yuna’s laughter filled the air, Ablett’s fury surged like a wildfire unchecked. Powerless to lash out at Hackett, the man who truly deserved his wrath, Ablett clung to the last vestiges of hope in his heart.

Without a word, he grabbed Zoe’ by the arm, dragging her out with a mixture of force and urgency. They sped off, the car racing towards the casino like a bullet from a gun.

The casino, still closed to the public, was eerily quiet, its poker tables standing in orderly rows beneath dim lighting. Ablett pushed Zoe inside with a callous shove.

Zoe stumbled and fell hard onto the floor.

Pain shot through her, and she had never seen Ablett this enraged. Burning with anger herself, she shouted, “Coward! If you're sick, go pop some pills! Why take it out on me? What, you gonna hit a woman now?”

Ablett’s voice rose to a shout. “Hit you? I’m gonna do more than that, | might as well kill you! Oh, Zoe, you think you're so clever, betraying me and act as if nothing happened?”

Zoe's heart skipped a beat, and a nervous tremor took her. Since the moment the test results came back at the hospital, she had anticipated this confrontation, but she hadn't expected it to come so swiftly. She had thought Ablett too meek to ever lay a hand on her. But as they say, even a cornered dog will leap over a wall in desperation, let alone a man who learns he’s been wearing the cuckold’s horns-for a staggering twenty-five years!

Quaking, Ablett strode forward, crouched before Zoe, and gripped her throat, exerting a silent pressure, “Talk! What the hell happened?”

Gasping and coughing, Zoe managed, “How can | talk when you’re choking me? Let go!” Ablett, eyes blazing, released his hold.

Zoe sucked in desperate breaths, then cautiously eyed Ablett’s face.

“Listen to me, it was an accident...”

“Cut the crap! | want the truth! The truth!” Ablett exploded.

Another shiver ran through Zoe. She swallowed hard, mustering the courage to reveal the secret she had harbored for twenty- five years.

“On the night of Hackett and Penelope's fifth wedding anniversary, he came home drunk. | was following orders, making him a honey-lemon tea to sober him up. But you know, | bear some resemblance to Penélope. The room was dark, and when | brought him the tea, he mistook me for her. Then... it happened... | resisted, | told him he was mistaken, but Hackett was too drunk, too strong, | couldn’t stop him!”

“Just that one time?” Ablett pressed. Zoe hesitated, biting her lip, her eyes darting before she shook her head frantically.

“Yes! Just that once! And | didn’t even know Yuna was his child! It only occurred to me today when they mentioned the paternity test. | didn’t mean to deceive you, truly!”

Zoe painted herself as the victim, but the reality was different. After that night, having tasted the forbidden, she pretended Penelope several times to seduce Hackett. Unsure whose child she was carrying, Zoe had kept silent about the affair from Ablett.

Hearing her confession, Ablett felt like his lungs were about to burst from rage. The daughter he had raised was not his own flesh and blood. His anger reached a fever pitch, and he stormed toward the door.

Zoe sprang up, blocking his path. “Where do you think you’re going?” “To settle the score with Hackett!” “No! You can’t confront him! He doesn’t know the truth. What about Yuna? We'd all be ruined!”

Ablett’s face turned crimson with rage. Thinking of how this woman and her daughter had treated him over the years fueled his hatred. Visit noveldrama.org to read the latest Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Before him stood the woman who had betrayed him for twenty-five years, repeatedly calling him a coward, dragging him into this abyss. And he had never fought back, instead loyally cleaning up her messes Visit noveldrama.org to read the latest

He finally saw how vicious she was. All the pent-up humiliation erupted. Unable to contain himself, he slapped her hard across the face. Visit noveldrama.org to read the latest

Zoe’s cheek burned with the sting, and before she could react, Ablett’s fists and feet descended upon her like a merciless storm.