Chapter 3 the absence of noise felt like a void

The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the vast estate. The fading light flickered through the grand windows of the mansion as Mariana stepped inside. The silence that enveloped her was both comforting and suffocating. She had never appreciated the stillness of the house before, always surrounded by laughter, meetings, and bustling activity. Now, the absence of noise felt like a void, an echo of the life that once filled these rooms.

She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she removed her jacket. Her mind replayed the conversation with Victor earlier. It had felt good to hear his voice, to know that someone cared-someone who understood. But deep down, she knew this was her battle to fight. She had always carried her burdens alone, never allowing anyone to truly see the cracks beneath her composed exterior. Now, though, things were different. The walls she had built for so long were beginning to crumble, and with them came a rush of emotions she had long suppressed.

Her heels clicked sharply on the marble floor as she walked towards the grand staircase. She was momentarily distracted by a family portrait on the wall, a reminder of the image she had once projected-perfect, poised, the picture of a happy family. But even as she gazed at the photograph, she knew it was nothing more than a lie. The smiles, the elegance, all of it had been meticulously crafted. The truth, however, was far darker than any of them could ever imagine.

Her thoughts drifted back to the confrontation earlier. Felix's face had been a mixture of shock, disbelief, and guilt when she confronted him about the affair. For years, she had turned a blind eye to his growing distance, his late nights, his secretive behavior. She had convinced herself that it was just the pressures of business, that it was normal for him to be consumed by work. But the truth had been staring her in the face the whole time.

She had found the letters first. Simple, seemingly harmless notes, tucked away in the back of one of his drawers. The handwriting was unmistakable, elegant yet hurried, and the words carried an intimacy that made her blood run cold. She had ignored it at first, unsure of how to react, but the nagging feeling in her gut wouldn't let it go. The letters were just the beginning.

Soon after, she discovered the hidden phone, the one he had kept locked away, constantly on silent. And then the photos-images of him with another woman, taken during the very weekends he had claimed to be on business trips. The evidence was undeniable. She had been living a lie, and it was a lie that Felix had carefully constructed over the years.

The betrayal cut deeper than anything she had ever felt before. It wasn't just the affair-it was the deception, the manipulation, the way he had taken advantage of her trust. She had loved him, had built her life around him, and yet he had discarded her so easily, as if she were nothing more than a passing inconvenience.

Mariana's hand gripped the banister as she ascended the staircase, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her chest. She had always been strong, always in control, but this-this was different. Her marriage, her foundation, had been shattered. And she knew that once the pieces were picked up, they could never fit back together the same way again.

At the top of the stairs, she paused outside the door to her private study. It was a room she rarely used, preferring instead to spend her time in the more social areas of the house. But tonight, it felt right. It was here that she would plan her next move, where she would take back control of her life.

Opening the door, she stepped inside and immediately went to the desk by the window. She sat down in the plush leather chair and ran her fingers over the smooth surface, her eyes scanning the room as if it were unfamiliar to her. The walls were lined with bookshelves, filled with books on history, art, and business, the legacy of her family's long-standing prominence. But as she looked around, it all seemed hollow, a reminder of the world she had been a part of-a world she no longer wished to be a part of.

She pulled out a drawer and retrieved a thick manila envelope, the contents carefully sealed inside. It was her next step-her plan for the future. There were documents inside, contracts, legal papers, and a list of names. These were the people who had played a part in her life with Felix, people who had enabled the lies, who had helped him keep up the charade. And it was these very people who would be her target now.

The first name on the list was Anton Mikhailov, Felix's closest business partner. Anton had been with Felix from the beginning, helping him grow his empire. But Mariana knew that Anton was just as guilty as Felix. The affairs, the scheming-it had all been a part of their game. And now, it was time for him to pay.

Mariana reached for her phone and dialed a number from memory. It only took one ring before a familiar voice answered.

"It's done?" the voice asked, low and steady.

"It's done," Mariana replied, her tone unwavering. "Now, we move forward."

The voice on the other end paused, then spoke again, a hint of approval in the words. "Understood. I'll make sure everything is in place."

She hung up without another word, feeling a sense of power surge through her. It was time to make Felix and his allies pay for everything they had done. The world he had built, the lies he had woven, were about to unravel. And Mariana would be the one to tear it all down.

As she stood up from the desk, her gaze shifted to the window. Outside, the sky had darkened, the stars beginning to appear one by one. The night was calm, but for Mariana, it was the calm before the storm. She was no longer the woman who had walked into this house, the woman who had been betrayed and broken. Now, she was something else-a force to be reckoned with.

The power she once thought she had lost had returned, stronger than ever. She wasn't going to be a victim any longer. Felix, Anton, and everyone else who had betrayed her-they would all learn the price of underestimating her. Mariana had just begun her revenge, and she would make sure that no one stood in her way.

With that thought in her mind, she turned away from the window and headed for the door. The battle was just beginning, and this time, she wasn't going to let anyone dictate the outcome.