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Novel Catalog
Chapter_23
Recruiting Allies
Ivanna shook her head. “The surveillance footage I got was too blurry. I couldn’t make out the woman’s face because Matthew’s arms blocked it.”
“Do you have the footage now?” I asked, a mix of desperation and frustration in my voice.
Without saying much, she quickly sent it to me. As I watched the video, I saw a crowded street, the hustle of the city at night. In the blur of faces and figures, Matthew stood out—his tall frame easily identifiable in the crowd. He wore the same overcoat I had ironed for him, making him seem even more imposing.
His left arm was around a woman in a pink top. However, his large body obscured her figure, and despite zooming in on the footage, her face remained a mystery. I stared at the screen, my eyes blurred by tears.
“He’s quite the schemer,” I muttered, feeling an aching emptiness spread through me.
Ivanna sat next to me, placing her arm around my shoulder. I held the phone, tears streaming down my face as I tried to choke back the sobs. “That night… I saw his figure in a live stream on TikTok,” I said, my voice shaky. “I sent him the link immediately. He found a restaurant, took off his jacket, and stood in the hallway while he video-called me… Hahaha. I can’t believe how sly he is. He lied to me so effortlessly!”
I let out a bitter laugh, one that sounded far more manic than I intended, as I poured myself another glass of wine and downed it in one go. Ivanna didn’t stop me.
“You shouldn’t have lied to me, Ivanna,” I said, voice breaking.
Ivanna remained calm, sipping her wine. “When you saw Matthew and me at the cafe, I wasn’t trying to hide anything. I was just giving him a piece of my mind, warning him not to break your heart. That’s why I didn’t want you to know we met alone.”
Her words hit me harder than I expected, and I broke down. All my pent-up emotions—anxiety, fear, helplessness—came rushing to the surface. I told Ivanna everything I had been holding back: the lies, the manipulation, and what happened after Matthew let Ava fall last night.
Ivanna listened in silence, her face unreadable, until she finally spoke. “What do you plan to do?”
“I can’t just let Matthew bully me like this,” I said, my voice steady despite the tears. “He hurt me, and he has to pay for what he did. Not just for me, but for my daughter too. I want to reclaim everything that’s mine!”
Ivanna stared at me for a moment, as if weighing my words. “Are you serious?” she asked, her tone firm but concerned.
I nodded, feeling more determined than ever. Ivanna’s gaze softened as she took in my resolve. She began to analyze all the possibilities with me. With each word, I could feel the weight of the choices I had to make. But could I return to how things were if I didn’t act? The answer was clear.
“I’ve made up my mind, Ivanna,” I said, my voice strong.
Ivanna stared at me intensely, then nodded. “I’ll help you.”
Her words were a lifeline, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I wasn’t alone in this fight.
Later that evening, when I returned home, Matthew was playing with Ava in the living room. She babbled happily about how lovely Ivanna’s big house was, and I feigned ignorance. I pretended to be busy in the kitchen, pretending that nothing was wrong. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that Matthew was uneasy. He kept trying to appear engaged, but I could see through the facade.
At dinner, Matthew casually asked why I had suddenly visited Ivanna. I downplayed it, but I knew something was off. His discomfort was evident, and it only made me more certain that I was on the right track.
The next day, I got up early, dressed meticulously, and dropped Ava off at daycare before heading straight to my company’s building. I arrived at Matthew’s office, but he wasn’t there yet. Johnson, his sycophantic assistant, saw me and hurried over.
“Madam, why are you here?” he asked with a fake smile.
I gave him a cold look, recalling the revolting image of him in my phone. He was just another part of Matthew’s disgusting world. “I’ll be working here starting today,” I replied firmly.
Johnson seemed taken aback. “Uh… working?” His expression stiffened.
“What? Is that surprising?” I asked deliberately, raising an eyebrow.
“N–Not at all, Madam! You should’ve returned to work long ago! I haven’t forgotten how powerful you were back then!” he stammered, though his words lacked sincerity.
“Prepare an office for me,” I demanded, cutting him off.
He hurried away, and I knew he would soon inform Matthew of my arrival. I couldn’t wait for him to know I was no longer the passive woman he thought he could control. This was just the beginning.