Vendetta: Mafia's Deadly Game

Betrayal (ll)

[Linda Pov]

As soon as she laid eyes on me, a triumphant smile spread across her face, as if she was relishing in her own triumph. Unbeknownst to me, she was secretly scheming against me. As she approached me, I noticed the teeth marks on her neck, the marks that were rightfully mine but were left by Gabriel to declare her as his wife, his chosen partner. I had been foolish to wait all those years for him to acknowledge me as his mate.

"Well, it's a good thing you figured it out on your own. Otherwise, you wouldn't have liked hearing it from me," she remarked casually, while retrieving her clothes from the floor. Hearing her words, a surge of anger compelled me to forcefully grasp her hair. However, my husband intervened and forcefully pushed me to the ground.

I felt a powerful kick within my womb, resulting in intense pain. However, the pain from the fall was insignificant compared to the anguish in my heart.

"Why?" was the sole word that escaped my lips.

I sensed something crawling on my legs, yet I chose to disregard it.

"Why did you marry me if you loved this slut woman?" My face flushed with anger as I screamed.

His expression changed, and he knelt down beside me, reaching out to touch my cheek. I flinched away from his touch, unable to bear his proximity at that moment.

Because I need your womb," he grinned, a sentiment that currently fills me with utmost disdain. His words struck me like a powerful surge, colliding against the barriers I had erected around my heart.

"You could have taken this from the woman too," I seethed, my eyes filled with venomous intensity, mirroring the pain and anger that consumed me.

"Yeah, but she's a Beta, isn't she? I wanted an Alpha, an Alpha mother and an Alpha father," he exclaimed, clapping his hands in front of my face, causing me to recoil slightly, "so I can sacrifice them."

The weight of his words struck me like a boulder, instantly erasing all my anguish. Anger surged through me, causing my eyes to narrow. "You sick bastard," I spat. "How dare you entertain the thought of sacrificing my innocent pups? You're nothing more than a twisted monster."

His eyes glimmered with a disconcerting mix of amusement and malice as he let out a sinister chuckle. "How admirable of you to defend them," he sneered. "However, you fail to grasp the situation. These young ones possess the blood of alphas, a key for our survival. For the greater good, sacrifices must be made."

I clenched my fists, my nails piercing into my palms. "They are our children, how could you even consider it? I will never allow you to proceed with such a plan."

His eyes narrowed, a momentary hint of doubt appearing on his face. "Do you honestly believe you can prevent me? You have no comprehension of what real power entails," he jeered, moving step closer. "I will ascend to become the ultimate Alpha, and you will bear witness to the might that arises from shedding feeble blood."

"What's going on?" Sarah asked, catching Gabriel's attention. He glanced at her before shifting his gaze towards my legs.

"f**k, why didn't you inform me earlier about your fluid leakage?" he exclaimed.

"She's already eight months pregnant, and having a fluid leak at this stage can be risky," Sarah said, gripping Gabriel's arm and shaking him. "This could lead to a premature birth."

Gabriel swiftly lifted me up in bridal style and expressed, "If we manage to transport these children to the hospital promptly, there is still a chance to save them. However, if they perish, they will be of no benefit to us."

Sarah rushed out, her head shaking in disbelief, and I was left to bear the anguish of my husband's betrayal. How could he inflict such pain upon our family? How could he discard all that we had painstakingly constructed? Meanwhile, I was also on the verge of losing my children, witnessing my entire world crumble before my eyes. In that moment, for the first time, I found myself wishing for my children's demise. How would I ever find the words to explain this to them? How could I shield them from the harsh truth of our deteriorating marriage?

I experienced a blur in my vision. I have no recollection of what occurred afterwards. Eventually, I regained awareness in the hospital.

Once again, the same scene began to spin before my eyes. I glanced around, but the room was devoid of any other individuals besides myself. Adjacent to my bed, there was a small bed occupied solely by a child, swathed in a sheet. I began attempting to rise and immediately began searching for my other son, but he was nowhere in sight. Panic began to take hold as I desperately scoured every corner of the room.

"Now, what should we do regarding Linda?" I overheard Sarah speaking to Gabriel in a muted voice from behind the closed door.

Gabriel let out a deep sigh, his voice filled with animosity. "What should we do? Increase the medication dosage," I strained to listen attentively to their discussion.

"And what about the second child?" Sarah asked, unknowingly causing me to instinctively reach out towards my son's bed.

Gabriel's words pierced my ears: "How much more harm can a deceased child inflict?" A shiver ran down my spine as his revelation settled in. The atmosphere in the room became stifling, making it difficult for me to breathe. The weight of his disclosure bore down on my chest, almost suffocating me. However, the thunderous applause forced me to bury my painful memories in the depths of the past.

As Daniel stood on stage, addressing the press, he gazed at his mother, Ms. Chairman Linda Hernandez, with a smile. "She is not only my mother but also a remarkable woman who had single-handedly established Delish Delights. Throughout her life, she has been a source of strength and independence, and she holds great admiration for me. Now, the time has come for me to assume the responsibility of being the successor to our family business."

Immediately after the speech concluded, I confidently retrieved my bag and made my way towards my son's office, guided by the bright flashes emitted by the cameras. Today marked the beginning of his work there. As I navigated through the lively throng of journalists and photographers, I couldn't help but sense the significance of the occasion.

Upon entering, I swiftly discarded the facade of a fake smile and directed a serious gaze towards Ava. She immediately caught on to my silent message and subtly nodded in acknowledgement. With a swift motion of her fingers, she swiftly changed the images on the multimedia.

"Sir, our net profit from 2005 to 2022 amounts to 247 million. However, as of the start of this year, our shares have experienced a 15% decrease compared to the previous year," the employee reported.

CEO Daniel paid close attention, his face displaying concern. "What could have caused this abrupt decline?" he inquired.

Ava responded, "there are several factors affecting our industry. Firstly, we are facing heightened competition, which is impacting our market share. Furthermore, unfavorable economic conditions, including rising inflation and increased production costs, are also affecting our profitability. Additionally, there are concerns about our company's ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences and technological advancements."

Daniel sighed, realizing the gravity of the situation. "We need to take immediate action to reverse this trend. What strategies do you suggest we implement?"

"It's quite challenging to take action right now," Ava responded.

"Why is it so tough?" Ava glanced at me in response to Daniel's question.

"Because," I replied, initiating the discussion. "We have been receiving anonymous messages from an unknown sender who seems to be targeting the companies associated with us. Furthermore, this individual is actively taking steps to conceal their identity."

"Anonymous messages?" Daniel asked.

"Our company's expired food products were being sold by someone under our label. As a result, people who consumed them experienced food poisoning. This information was reported to the food inspection authorities, who then sent the food items to the lab for testing. Yesterday, we received the test results."

"Why didn't you inform me about everything that occurred? It appears to be a significant instance of defamation and harassment," Daniel interjected, interrupting me.

"Since you were in America, I refrained from informing you."

Daniel inquired, "Have the reports arrived from the lab?"

"After conducting laboratory tests, a significant presence of Salmonella, which is causing food poisoning among individuals, was discovered," I responded.

"Have you conducted a thorough investigation, mo…. I mean Ms. Chairman?" Daniel inquired.

"Yes, we have already informed the appropriate authorities promptly," I assured him. "However, investigations take time, and in the meantime, it is essential for us to reassure our stakeholders that we are actively working to resolve the issue."

"Sir, I have already prepared a statement that we can issue once we have a better grasp of the situation," Ava responded.

"Ms. Chairman, tonight you have a scheduled meeting with a delegate from Singapore at the Grand Oasis hotel," Ava informed me about the evening's agenda.

"Yes, but moving forward, the CEO of Delish Delights will handle all business matters," I stated, directing my attention towards my son.

"Understood, but please organize the meeting at the Skyview Height Hotel instead of the Grand Oasis," Daniel instructed.

"And what time, sir?" Ava inquired.

"11:30 p.m.," Daniel responded.

At precisely 11:30 pm, a young woman tragically plummeted from the highest floor of Skyview Height Hotel. The atmosphere was enveloped in stillness, interrupted only by the faint hum of passing vehicles and sporadic wails of sirens. Oblivious to the unfolding calamity above, the hotel guests remained blissfully unaware. However, as the girl's lifeless form violently collided with the unforgiving pavement below, a collective gasp reverberated throughout the premises. The sheer force of impact shattered the tranquility of the night, compelling heads to swivel and hearts to quicken their pace. There was a state of panic as individuals hurried to the location, desperately trying to comprehend the recent events.

"Whose penthouse is that?"

"It belongs to Daniel Hernandez, the new CEO of Delish Delights"