Allyson's POV
The air was thick with tension as Allyson sat in her uncle's study, her eyes fixed on the floor. She could feel his gaze burning into her, a mix of concern and anger simmering just beneath the surface. The news of her injury had hit him hard, but it was the discovery of her marriage's unraveling that had truly set him off.
"Allyson," her uncle's voice broke the silence, firm but laced with worry. "What on earth happened? I warned you about Nate. I warned you that he wasn't the right man for you."
Allyson sighed, finally lifting her gaze to meet his. "I know, Uncle. But I thought… I thought I could make it work. I thought he loved me."
"Love?" Her uncle scoffed, his expression hardening. "If he loved you, he wouldn't be doing this. He wouldn't be entertaining that vile woman, Rachel."
She winced at the mention of Rachel, the woman who had seemingly taken everything from her. The pain was still fresh, the betrayal deep. But she couldn't show weakness, not now.
"I'm done with him, Uncle. He's made his choice, and so have I." Allyson's voice was steady, though her heart ached with every word. "But there's something you need to know. Rachel… she's up to something. I don't know what, but I need to find out."
Her uncle's eyes narrowed, his protective instincts flaring up. "What do you mean?"
"I've been doing some digging," Allyson began, her voice growing more confident as she spoke. "Rachel's been working with a private investigator. I think she's been feeding him information, trying to manipulate Nate and destroy me. But there's more to it than that. I think she's using Nate to get to you—to get to Spark Empire."
Her uncle's expression darkened, his mind already racing with possibilities. "Are you saying she's a corporate spy?"
"Possibly," Allyson nodded. "I'm not sure yet, but I have a plan to find out. I just need you to trust me."
There was a long pause as her uncle studied her, the weight of the situation pressing down on both of them. Finally, he sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I trust you, Allyson. But you need to be careful."
Allyson nodded, grateful for his support. "I know. But I won't let her win. I've come too far to let her destroy everything I've built."
Her uncle reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Whatever you need, I'm here for you. Just promise me you won't do anything reckless."
"I promise," Allyson replied, her voice soft but determined.
As she left her uncle's study, Allyson's mind was already racing with plans. She couldn't let Rachel get away with this. But first, she needed to gather more evidence.
Nate's POV
Nate sat in his car outside Rachel's house, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and regret. The pregnancy test Rachel had shown him haunted his thoughts, but something about it didn't sit right with him. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being played, that Rachel was hiding something.
He pulled out his phone and hesitated, his thumb hovering over Kevin's contact. He knew what Kevin would say—that he was being an idiot for trusting Rachel, that he needed to cut ties with her before it was too late. But Nate needed answers, and he wasn't going to get them from Kevin.
Instead, he dialed Rachel's number, his heart pounding in his chest. She answered on the first ring, her voice sweet and seductive. "Nate, darling, I was just thinking about you."
"We need to talk," Nate said, his voice cold and detached. "Meet me at the café on Maple Street in an hour."
Rachel's tone faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "Of course. I'll be there."
Nate hung up without another word, his mind already working on how to approach the situation. He needed to confront her, to find out the truth once and for all. But he had to be careful—Rachel was smart, and she wouldn't go down without a fight.
An hour later, Nate sat in the back corner of the café, his eyes fixed on the door. When Rachel walked in, she immediately spotted him and made her way over, a smile plastered on her face. But Nate could see the tension in her eyes, the nervous energy that betrayed her calm exterior.
"Nate," she greeted him, leaning in for a kiss, but he pulled back, his expression stern.
"Sit down," he ordered, gesturing to the seat across from him.
Rachel's smile wavered, but she complied, her eyes searching his for any sign of weakness. "What's wrong, Nate? You're acting so… distant."
Nate didn't bother with pleasantries. "Tell me the truth, Rachel. Are you really pregnant?"
Rachel's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly masked it with a hurt expression. "Of course I am, Nate. Why would I lie about something like that?"
Nate leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Because I think you're trying to trap me. I don't remember anything from that night, Rachel. For all I know, you're lying to get what you want."
Rachel's facade cracked for just a moment, a flicker of panic crossing her face, but she quickly regained her composure. "Nate, I love you. I would never do something like that. You have to believe me."
But Nate didn't believe her. Not anymore. The pieces were finally starting to fall into place, and he realized just how deep Rachel's manipulation went.
"Save it, Rachel," Nate snapped, his anger boiling over. "I'm done with your games. If you really are pregnant, we'll deal with it. But if you're lying… God help you."
Rachel's eyes hardened, and for a moment, Nate thought she might lash out. But instead, she smiled—a cold, calculating smile that sent chills down his spine.
"Careful, Nate," she warned, her voice dripping with venom. "You're in way over your head."
Nate stood up, throwing some cash on the table. "We'll see about that."
As he walked out of the café, Nate felt a strange sense of clarity. He knew what he had to do now, and it wouldn't be easy. But he was determined to find the truth, no matter the cost.