The substitute husband who has been insulted

Episode 11

A devilish grin spread across Richard's lips, his eagle-like eyes sharp as spear tips, ready to stab at Sonia.

Every inch of her body tingled under Richard's gaze; she slowly moved to sit and huddled in the corner of the sofa, looking up with a dazed stare as her breath quickened.

"Sonia! Tell Velyn the truth, and I'll let you go!" Richard demanded, bracing his hands on either side of her body, intending only to intimidate.

"W-what do you mean? I don't understand. Tell what?" Sonia stammered, fear trembling in her voice, on the verge of tears.

Richard straightened up, one hand sliding into his pocket as his eyes lazily roved. Yet, this didn't diminish the aura of firmness emanating from his stance and the look in his eyes.

"You're the one who framed us because you love Gerald, Velyn's ex-lover, right?" Richard emphasized.

Shock flashed across Sonia's face. She floundered, trying to deny it, "No... That's not true!" she protested.

Richard sighed deeply, picking up his phone and playing the video from the bar earlier. Their voices were loud and clear, due to Richard sitting close by. "Look at this with your eyes! Listen with your ears!" Richard snapped, glaring sharply.

Sonia's eyes widened in complete shock. Her mouth fell open, and she was overtaken by shock, realizing Richard had uncovered her big secret. Her breath hitched, repeatedly swallowing in a failed attempt to moisten her throat.

=-=-=000=-=-=

After a short time, Velyn arrived at Sonia's residence, unable to match Richard's driving speed, well above average. Her eyes caught Richard's car parked behind Sonia's.

"He really is here! What's the relationship between you two?" Velyn exhaled heavily.

Dashing from the car, she stood at the gate and shouted, "Sir! Please open the gate!"

The guard, recognizing her, approached and opened the gate, greeting her with small talk.

"When did those two cars arrive?" Velyn pointedly asked, indicating with her chin.

"About 15 minutes ago, miss," the guard replied after checking his watch.

Velyn raced inside, her heart pounding fiercely, taking deep breaths as she harshly exhaled and grasped the doorknob.

=-=-=ooo=-=-=

Sonia's fear escalated when she saw the video was evident. She grabbed Richard's phone and smashed it forcefully to the ground, destroying it.

"You bastard!" Richard snarled, choking Sonia with one hand, pushing her back onto the sofa. He now knelt on the sofa, pinning Sonia beneath him.

As Velyn opened the door, her eyes widened at the sight of Sonia's legs kicking out from the end of the sofa. Her view blocked by the backrest, she only saw Richard on top of Sonia.

"Richard!!! What are you doing?!" Velyn shrieked in a high pitch. Her legs gave way, unable to proceed. Her chest tightened with speculation about what they had done.

Tears welled in Velyn's eyes, unable to believe the man who had been so sweet to her of late would betray her. "Scoundrel!" Velyn yelled emotionally.

Unable to linger, Velyn turned and ran back to her car, tears streaming from her beautiful face. "Damn it! The person I've been defending and protecting all along has been secretly with my own friend!" she cried, pounding the steering wheel. Her heart ached as if thousands of needles were pricking her.

"Velyn!" Richard relented, gathering scattered pieces of the phone before chasing after his wife. "You're warned!" he threatened Sonia before leaving her residence.

"Velyn, wait!" Richard called, running after Velyn's parked car. "Vel, listen to me first!" he pleaded, pounding on the car window.

Velyn refused to glance back. She started the engine and reversed out. Richard continued to chase, pounding on Velyn's window.

"Hear me out, Vel!" Richard cried out, kicking at the air, as the car took a sharp turn and sped away.

"Damn!" Richard scowled, hurrying after his car in a panic.

=-=-=ooo=-=-=

"Where have you been wandering in the middle of the night, Vel?" Sabrina asked, woken up and heading to the kitchen.

Velyn shot her mother a sharp look, then sped up the stairs. Soon after, she slammed her bedroom door with great force.

"My goodness, Velyn!" Sabrina exclaimed, clutching her chest from the shock.

Richard burst through the front door and raced upstairs, ignoring his mother-in-law's earsplitting calls.

Alas, his bedroom door was locked from the inside. Richard knocked repeatedly. "Vel! It's not what you think! Please listen to me first!" Richard called out.

"What more is there to explain? I've seen it with my own eyes. You're scum, Richard! From the start, I was wrong to have married a scumbag like you! It would've been better to endure the shame of a called-off marriage than to have a scumbag husband! She's my friend, Cad! My friend!" Velyn raged from within.

Richard exhaled heavily. There was no use; the evidence he had was now shattered. "Fine! Have it your way. I'll prove my words at your friend's wedding to Gerald—your ex-lover, three days from now."