chapter 15

Jorge stood there for a moment, staring in the direction Angela had disappeared. The divorced Angela was like a derailed train—completely unpredictable. He simply could not figure out which direction she was heading!In the past, Angela had always been cautious around him. She would lower her gaze, hesitate before speaking, and never challenge him directly. But now? She dared to say such words fearlessly, without the slightest hesitation!Samira, standing beside him, was not ready to let Angela go so easily. Her anger flared up, and she took a step forward as if she wanted to stop Angela’s car from leaving. But before she could act, Jorge yanked her back by the arm."That’s enough!" he said in a cold voice.Samira turned to him with disbelief. "Brother, how can you side with an outsider? Angela humiliating me is the same as disrespecting our family! That ungrateful woman forgot who fed her, clothed her, and accommodated her for the past three years. She needs to be taught a lesson!"Jorge narrowed his eyes at her. His voice was deep and serious as he said, "Samira Trumph, the jewelry in the safe at Big Locker was meant for Angela. Why did you take it without permission?"Samira froze for a moment before quickly recovering. She scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. "Brother, I’m your sister. It’s just a piece of jewelry! So why are you being so calculative? Besides, Angela doesn’t have any occasion to wear such expensive jewelry, so why can’t I take it?"Jorge's expression darkened further. Samira’s words made it clear that she never considered Angela as part of the family.Angela had lived with them for three years, and yet Samira still treated her as an outsider—someone unworthy of even wearing a family heirloom.Jorge wanted to say more, to reprimand his sister for her arrogance, but before he could, Samira suddenly burst into tears."Brother, you’re being unfair to me," she sobbed dramatically. "You’re acting like I did something unforgivable just for taking a necklace!"Jorge sighed, rubbing his temple. He had known Samira long enough to realize that her tears were mostly for show."I will watch the surveillance footage first," he said, his tone firm.Samira stiffened. For a brief moment, her face paled, and she seemed genuinely nervous."Brother… do you not believe me?" she asked hesitantly."We’ll know the truth once we see it," Jorge responded, his voice cold. He didn’t want to argue any further without confirming the facts.Samira bit her lip. A trace of panic crossed her face, but she forced herself to remain calm.As Jorge started walking toward the restaurant, Samira hurriedly followed him. But she wasn’t done slandering Angela."Brother," she hissed, "I told you she’s not a good woman. Look at the man she was with! He was so protective and fond of her. Maybe she cheated on you long ago and took your money to support that pretty boy!"She was hoping Jorge would become angry, that he would believe Angela had been unfaithful.However, her words only made Jorge’s face turn glum. His eyes darkened, and his patience snapped."Just shut up!" he barked.Samira flinched. Jorge had never spoken to her like that before.Jorge quickened his pace, not sparing her another glance.Inside the restaurant, the manager was already waiting for him."Mr. Trumph," the manager greeted respectfully. "We have prepared a copy of the surveillance footage as per Mr. Michael Reed’s instructions."Jorge’s face sank. So Michael had anticipated this?The manager handed over the footage, and Jorge’s fingers tightened around the USB drive. He wasted no time inserting it into his phone and playing the video.Samira stood anxiously beside him, shifting on her feet.As the video played, Jorge saw it all.Samira and Quinn were hurling insults, their words sharp and cruel. Even he found it unpleasant to listen to. But what surprised him the most was Angela’s reaction.She remained calm.She looked completely indifferent, almost as if she was used to it.Jorge’s fingers tightened around his phone.Had this happened before?Was this the way his family had treated Angela all throughout their marriage?His heart surged with complicated emotions.Angela’s calmness was not natural. It was the reaction of someone who had been bullied for a long time.And then, in the video, Angela finally retaliated. She poured the wine on Samira’s head with perfect precision, her expression unreadable.Jorge felt like he had been punched in the chest.This was the first time Angela had fought back, wasn’t it?All these years, she had silently endured humiliation.And now, she had finally decided enough was enough.Blood rushed to his head, and his expression kept changing.Without a word, he turned on his heel and strode toward the exit."Brother, wait for me!" Samira called, running after him.Jorge didn’t slow down. His mind was spinning.Once outside, he turned to Samira with a piercing glare."Samira Trumph, this isn’t the first time you attacked Angela, is it?"Samira’s face paled."What? I was just angry that she found another man so soon after the divorce! Why would I insult her otherwise?"Jorge sneered.He no longer believed her.His arrogant little stepsister had finally exposed herself."Go and apologize to Angela," he ordered.Samira recoiled as if he had slapped her."I don’t want to! I would rather die than apologize to that woman!"Jorge let out a cold chuckle. "Angela is not a woman you can mess with anymore."Samira glared at him. "Why are you defending the bastard lady?! She was nothing before she met you! And now she dares to humiliate me?!"Jorge’s patience snapped."Stop calling Angela a bastard!" he roared. "You have proved that you’re really my stepsister!"Samira gasped. "Brother… how can you say that?! I’m your little sister!"Jorge shook her off in disgust."You should know who you’re dealing with before making accusations," he said coldly. "That man Angela was with? That ‘pretty boy’ you mocked? That was Michael Reed—from West City."Samira froze.Her face drained of all color.Michael Reed?!The Michael Reed?!She had thought Angela’s new companion was just some random man, but Michael Reed was a powerful figure.Jorge’s face remained cold.For the first time, he began to wonder…Was the divorce really just his problem?Or was it his entire family’s fault? Continue....✍ Atrayee  Sarkar