Chapter 70 New Evidence
Rafael’s POV
I pushed her into the car and slammed the door. I was on the verge of exploding from rage.
Without uttering a word, I started the engine and sped away. I was driving over the speed limit. She whispered in a low voice, “Raf, please. Slow down!”
I slammed the steering wheel with my fists and roared, “What the hell were you thinking, Natalie, huh?”
She touched my arm and whispered, “Raf, please. Believe me, it wasn’t me, it’s Debbie’s….”
I pushed her hand away furiously and shouted, “No! It was you!”
It was she who made me almost lose my mind. It was she who made me feel betrayed. I don’t give a shit about Debbie. She was the one I cared for, the one I waited for to be honest with me.
She didn’t argue after that. When I glanced at her, her face was very pale, with one hand on her stomach and the other on her mouth. Realizing she was about to vomit, I reduced my speed, and we didn’t speak again until I parked in front of the villa.
The high-pitched squeal of the brakes made the security guard at the gate come out to check.
I ordered in an icy tone, “Get out of the car!”
She looked at me and pleaded, “Raf, please. I need to explain!”
My eyes flashed with anger as I scoffed, “After what, Natalie? I asked before, and you lied!”
She lowered her gaze and was about to say something when I added in a cold tone, “Get out of the car, Natalie. We’ll talk when I get back.”
She got out of the car without another word, and I drove away without looking back at her.
I was so mad at her; I was about to cancel the engagement and announce our marriage. Why did she do that? Why didn’t she turn to me and tell me everything? Did she really think she could stand up to people like those? She was a victim of her own ignorance.
I parked in front of our factory’s supply store. Hearing a man’s screams, I smirked. The guy from the apartment was tied to a chair, and Jack was hitting him.
Once Jack saw me, he stepped back and said, “I was just warming him up for you.” I had known Jack for almost all my life; he had an evil tendency. His childhood wasn’t better than mine.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
Without a word, I took off my jacket, which one of my men immediately held for me. Then I rolled up my sleeves and grabbed the guy’s collar. “What’s your name?” I asked in a flat voice.
“Lio, sir,” he answered between heavy breaths.
“Okay, Lio. Will you tell me the truth and everything, or…” I said, my voice still flat.
“What truth? I…” he started to stammer, but I cut him off with a punch.
“Don’t spit out anything but the truth,” I growled as I lifted him by his collar after he fell to the ground from my punch.
“I swear, sir. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he pleaded.
“Aaaaw, wrong answer!” I slammed his face.
This young man was indeed stubborn! But to his misfortune, I was even more stubborn when it came to anything concerning my wife.
___
I was seated on my chair when Alfredo, the man responsible for difficult tasks in my security staff, began his interrogation session with Lio.
I relished every punch and blow that landed on his body as I watched from within the smoke cloud of my cigarette. This man was part of the gang that had tried to set up my wife and send her behind bars for the rest of her life.
From my sources, I knew that the real estate company, which I first encountered at that restaurant where I kissed Natalie for the first time, when I saw her with Daniel, was involved in aiding the mastermind of this conspiracy to discredit me in the market.
The mastermind behind it all became very obvious to me, even before Lio confessed. However, the reason behind her intentions wasn’t clear. Why did she scheme to push Natalie to the brink of jail? But I know how to protect my wife from her.
First of all, I shouldn’t reveal my intentions. I have to make her believe that I hated Natalie and fell for the bait. I have to go to the extent of treating Natalie poorly in front of her, until I got my hands on the proof that would vindicate my wife’s innocence.
The proof should be in my hands very soon, before the shipment arrives and before the responsible authorities intervene.
I got up from my seat, stamped out the cigarette with my shoe, and ordered, “Keep him out of sight for several days!” Without another word, I left.
–
For almost an hour, a computer hardware expert and I sat in my office trying to find any evidence on Lio’s laptop. I started to feel hopeless; that damn Lio was very careful. Even though Jack called me and informed me that he confessed and they recorded his statement, I needed to find concrete evidence.
A loud commotion made me snap out of my focus on the computer before me.
I pressed the button on the internal speaker between me and my secretary to ask her what was going on, but before I could speak, my office door swung open and Daniel barged in.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I roared. I don’t have time for his bullshit.
He walked towards me and attempted to punch me, but one of my security guards grabbed his arm from behind.
He struggled to free himself as he said, “I have proof of Natalie’s innocence.”
I stared into his eyes, then motioned to the security guard to release him.
“Speak!” I demanded.
He looked around and said, “alone.” I took a deep breath and then ordered everyone to leave.
“So, here we are alone. What proof do you have?” I said in an icy tone.
He unlocked his phone screen, then looked back at me and said, “Check your WhatsApp!”
A sound indicating a message on the app rang. I glanced at my phone, but before I could unlock it, he added, “Before you see the evidence, I want you to know one thing! A scumbag like you doesn’t deserve her. I wish she could be brave enough to leave you!”
Then, without further argument, he stormed out just as abruptly as he had barged in.
I’m going to deal with that fucker and show him his limits, but not now. I needed to focus on the issue at hand first.
I stared at the audio file that he sent me. With a deep breath, I played the audio file. The recorded voice was unclear, but I could understand it. My eyes darkened when I heard Debbie’s voice and what she was saying to Natalie.
So, my suspicions were confirmed.
She was trying to convince her to meet at the apartment.
But why that apartment? Why did she use one of her father’s apartments? She’s clever enough not to use her father’s apartment and pretend that Natalie just rented it. They were hiding something, and I need to find out what it is. The only solution to make her trust and believe that I fell for her trap is to officially announce that our marriage is soon.
It seemed that the announcement on the Merrin official website didn’t make her lower her guard, so I had to take a bolder step.
How was I so blind not to see her true colors? She harmed the dearest person in my life and crossed the line, and my revenge wouldn’t come easily!