CLAIMING HER BACK

Bill's Point of view

"Are you serious about doing this?"

Deborah's piercing, stubborn voice cut through the throng like a razor. Bill stopped tightened around his champagne flute as he felt his breath catch. Slowly, his eyes met hers as he turned.

"Deborah..." He tried to calm his voice when it wavered for a second. "You have no right to be here."

Her comments were like a weight pressing down on him. She had a fire of anger in her eyes that would not go out. Deborah had always been strong, but he had misjudged her to the fullest extent when he saw her in this state. He had cheated on her. Just the harsh truth of what he had done, with no justifications or explanations.

For him, she was everything. And now...

She moved closer, shaking her head. "Do you really think I'll just stand by and let you get away with this?" Her comments had more venom than a slap could have.

Bill swallowed forcefully, attempting to calm his pounding heart. The last few months had been filled with deception, deceit, and sorrow. Even if he had committed horrible crimes, this? The tipping moment was this. And now he felt the full weight of his own damnation as he saw Deborah looking back at him-the woman he had once loved more than anything else.

Bill started to say, "You don't understand," but his words were cut off in his throat. Now she was too close. She had too much pain in her eyes. He had carefully erected walls around himself, yet it pierced them.

"I completely understand, Bill. You have always been self-centered, haven't you? It never had anything to do with me or us. She stepped back, her gaze fixed on his. "I ought to have been more aware. I should have left as soon as I spotted you speaking to her.

It was like a slap from her words. In his chest, his breath stalled. "You're not thinking straight."

"Bill, I think more clearly than ever before," Deborah shot back. "You've been having an affair with her behind my back. I saw you, Bill. I witnessed it all.

He felt a sudden shock. His eyes got bigger. He believed she had missed it. He believed that he could conceal this falsehood. No, however. She was aware. In her face, he saw it. Sharp, accusatory lines of pain were etched over her features.

"Deborah." He was now hardly able to speak. He wanted to apologize, to reach out, to ask for forgiveness. However, he was aware of this. The woman who had once loved him was no longer the same. She had gained strength. Strong enough to recognize his deception.

Bill, you don't get to do this. You can no longer enter here and waltz as though you were the man I once loved. You aren't. His chest echoed with the finality of her words as she spun away, her back to him.

She turned to go. Bill briefly entertained the idea of letting her.

But suddenly something exploded inside of him. This was not how he could let her go. But not without a struggle.

She turned back to face him after he seized her arm. Under the anger that burned in her eyes, he could see the pain. He had created deep, burning pain.

"You believe I'm indifferent?" Bill tightened his hold on her arm and snarled. There was something urgent and menacing relaxing beneath the surface of his voice, now a threatening whisper. "You think that after everything we've been through, I can just let you go?"

For a moment, her eyes softened, then hardened once more. "Yes, Bill. Because your falsehoods are getting to me. Of your treachery. I'm done; it's too much.

"No." You aren't. His voice sounded gruff and harsh. He would not let her go. Not yet. "You are not abandoning me."

Deborah lifts her arm out of his hold, her fingers trembling with ordinary controlled anger. With each breath, her chest rose and fell as she fixed him with her sight.

"You believe you have me under control?" Shaking her head, she laughed cruelly. "Bill, all you are is a coward. I believed that I was the one being manipulated all along. You have been deceiving me, though. I've been taken advantage of. For what purpose?

In an emotionally charged voice, Bill said, "For you." She retreated, putting up a hand to halt him as he moved closer, his hand extending for her once more.

"Refrain," she cautioned.

"I, Deborah..." Bill's voice was broken. He didn't intend to harm her. He had been an idiot. An absolute idiot. Suddenly, everything was collapsing. His kingdom, his standing in society, and above everything, the lady he had once loved.

He didn't stop her this time as she turned to go. With each stride, his heart sank further as he watched her leave. The harm was already done. He felt as though he was being choked by the weight of his betrayal that hung thick between them.

His thoughts were racing as he stood motionless for a time. He didn't know what he could do to correct this. The confidence had been broken. Their love's carefully constructed foundation was now reduced to rubble.

"Bill."

A chilly voice cut through his thoughts. Carla, the lady he had been caught with, was the last person he ever wanted to see at this moment, and he turned abruptly to face her.

She had a cunning, calculated smile. "Aren't you really going to let her go?"

Bill tightened his jaw in an attempt to conceal the tumult of feelings he was experiencing. With his tolerance running low, he shouted, "What do you want?"

Raising an eyebrow, Carla bent slightly closer. She's starting to go away from you. You can't stop it either.

Bill's hands tightened at his sides. He said in a low, menacing voice, "Don't you dare."

However, Carla seems unfazed. She simply grinned. Bill, everything is about to be lost for you. All of it. Furthermore, I am the one who can save you. You only need to play your cards correctly.

He narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

Carla moved in closer, her eyes twinkling with something threatening, her perfume heavy in the air. "Bill, the stakes just went up. It is no longer solely about Deborah. You have no idea how much more is involved in this situation.

Bill's mind raced, and his heartbeat accelerated. "What are you saying?"

She took a step back, smiling broadly. "You'll learn the truth soon enough. But keep in mind that you can't act like the good person all the time.

Carla vanished into the crowd without saying anything more, leaving Bill alone himself with his heart thumping in his chest.

When he turned around, Deborah was gone. That's what it is. She had gotten away.

He felt a knot in his stomach. She had left him.

Even worse was the extent of the treachery, which he was unaware of.

Bill felt a chill go through him as his phone buzzed in his pocket. The message read, "You're not just losing her, Bill," and he paused before taking it out, his fingers shaking. Something far larger is involved. Look in your inbox.

He felt his blood chill. He had gotten himself into what?