Chapter 15 A Cheater
There she was, seated near the window, serene and composed, a faint smile playing at her lips. Gabriel shifted from foot to foot, straining for a clear view of the man with her. But the man’s back was turned, and his face remained impossible to see.
Gabriel’s mind raced, anger coiling in his chest. “So she finally came out of the hole she was hiding in to make James chase her? Who the hell is that man with her?”
He reached for the door to step inside, but a waiter materialized almost instantly, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, sir. You can’t enter. Please settle your bill outside and leave this way,” the waiter instructed, his stance blocking Gabriel’s path.
Gabriel ground his teeth, fury flaring, but before he could argue, Mia rose from her seat. Leaning forward, she placed a soft kiss on the man’s cheek.
Gabriel’s face fell, disbelief rooting him to the spot.
Immediately, he pulled out his phone and began snapping photos, capturing the moment as Mia kissed the man, pulled back and settled elegantly into her seat. His chest burned as he stared at her, jaw tight.
“I’m sorry, sir. You need to leave,” the waiter repeated, gently guiding Gabriel toward the exit.
Gabriel stormed out, the girl still clinging to his arm. Once outside, he couldn’t resist glancing back again. The one-way glass concealed them from view.
He quickly sent the photographs he had snapped to James, fingers trembling slightly as he typed furiously:
‘Weren’t you searching for this woman all over the city?
Look—she’s cheating on you with some roadside bastard.
I always told you she has character issues.
She probably already cheated on you before your divorce.
Look at her now, kissing a man right after the divorce, spending her nights with someone else. ’
With that, he hit send.
The girl on his arm whined, tugging at him. “Gabriel, what are you doing? Aren’t we going to a hotel?”
Gabriel barely heard her. His eyes were locked on the large glass wall of the steakhouse, heart hammering, chest tight.
His lips pressed into a thin line, teeth grinding as a flash of sharp, burning jealousy surged through him.
‘What did she even see in that man that she is clinging onto him like that? If she’s divorced… she could have come to me.’
Mia’s image appeared vividly in his mind.
He had always been envious of James. Seeing Mia hang on his every word, doing everything he asked, had sparked a feeling in Gabriel he hadn’t expected. And because she had been the wife of his best friend, there had been nothing he could do about it.
Now, after her divorce, she was finally free. And seeing her with another man ignited Gabriel’s jealousy even more.
“Did I have a chance…?” Gabriel muttered under his breath, fingers tightening around his phone. The flash of jealousy burned hotter in his chest, making it hard to breathe. His pulse raced, mind spinning with a mixture of frustration and longing.
The girl on his arm nudged him lightly. “Gabriel? What are you thinking about? Let’s go, I’m getting tired.”
Gabriel’s temper flared instantly. His grip on her arm tightened as he roughly steered her toward the car.
“Let’s go,” he barked, voice harsh, laced with possessiveness.
“You’re calming me down tonight.” He shoved her into the car, slammed the door, and roared the engine to life, leaving the restaurant behind.
***
James sat in his car, phone in hand, eyes locked on the screen. He sent another message to William:
“Did you find Mia’s address yet? Where is she living now?”
William’s answer came back tense. “No, Mr. Sinclair. We haven’t found anything. Whoever she married has deliberately hidden her location. Even the government files are locked. No one can access them.”
James ground his teeth, fury boiling. “What the fuck is going on?!
Just then, his phone buzzed again.
Unlocking it, he froze.
A message from Gabriel appeared, along with photographs. The first showed Mia’s side profile; her face wasn’t fully visible, but he recognized her instantly. He straightened in his seat, disbelief and anger twisting together. The next image made him clench his fists: Mia, kissing another man.
Gabriel’s accompanying message confirmed it, filled with mockery.
‘Weren’t you searching for this woman all over the city?
Look—she’s cheating on you with some roadside bastard.
I always told you she has character issues.
She probably already cheated on you before your divorce.
Look at her now, kissing a man right after the divorce, spending her nights with someone else. ’
Rage exploded through James. He muttered under his breath, disbelief cracking his voice, “I invited you to dinner… and you’re eating with another man? Kissing him?”
A harsh, humorless laugh escaped him, mingled with fury.
His hands shook, slamming onto the steering wheel.
His vision narrowed on the photos, chest heaving with uncontrollable anger.
“Who knew you could smile like this with someone else?” he whispered through gritted teeth.
His fingers clenched the phone until it creaked.
Without a second thought, James opened Mia’s new contact number and typed:
‘Mia, where are you? I want to see you right now.’
***
Mia sat across from Alexander, the remnants of dinner before her, wiping her hands. She glanced down at her phone just as it buzzed with a message. Opening it, she saw James’s words glaring back at her:
‘Mia, where are you? I want to see you right now.’
Her heart sank, a flicker of frustration crossing her face. ‘Why is he still haunting me like a ghost?’
She ignored the message, silenced her phone, and set it aside.
But then the screen lit up again—a call this time, James’s name flashing insistently.
Mia immediately glanced at Alexander, who was sitting across from her, gazing out the window at the city. Silently, she cut the call and blocked James’s number, setting her phone aside again. Alexander’s eyes shifted toward her.
“Is something wrong?” he asked softly, reading the tension on her face.
“Everything’s fine,” Mia replied, smiling. “Are we having dessert?”
“Do you want ice cream?” Alexander asked, tilting his head.
Mia nodded, and he smiled warmly. He signaled a waiter to bring their dessert.
Meanwhile, James sat in his car, waiting impatiently for a reply. When Mia didn’t respond, he tried texting again, but the message failed to send. Frowning, he stared at the screen in disbelief—and then shock hit him: she had blocked him.
“You blocked me?” he muttered under his breath, a growl of disbelief and rage escaping his throat. “Are you worried I’ll ruin your perfect little date with that… man?!”
His hands trembled, gripping the phone so tightly it shook. With a harsh twist, he hurled it out the car window. It shattered into pieces, glass scattering like shards of his fury.
James’s chest heaved, eyes burning with uncontrollable anger.
Within moments, he slammed the car into gear, gripping the steering wheel as if it were the only thing keeping him tethered to reality.
His foot pressed hard on the accelerator, and the car roared into the streets, a storm of rage behind the wheel.
***
Mia and Alexander stepped out of the restaurant hand in hand. The crisp night air brushed against her face as they descended the stairs together. She paused when she noticed Alexander suddenly pulling something out from behind his back.
A large bouquet of roses, vibrant and fresh, mixed with delicate baby’s breath, and a gift bag nestled carefully in the middle of it. Her eyes widened.
“When did you get this?” Mia asked, eyes wide with shock.
Alexander met her gaze, his lips curving into a tender smile. “It’s my first dinner date with my wife. How could I come empty-handed?”
He handed her the bouquet, the petals brushing gently against her fingers. Mia grinned, closing her eyes for a moment as she inhaled its sweet, heady fragrance.
Curiosity sparked, she carefully lifted the small gift bag nestled within the bouquet, her fingers trembling slightly with excitement. She peeked inside, and several little velvet boxes revealed themselves, glinting in the soft streetlight.
Her eyes widened. “Rings? So many…?”
Alexander’s lips curved into a slow, amused smile. “So you can wear them on all your fingers,” he said, his gaze lingering on her flushed face.
Mia’s cheeks warmed instantly. She let out a chuckle. “Mr. Graves, these are… so many. I could wear maybe three on each finger!”
Alexander’s frown was almost imperceptible, but it tugged at her attention. “I’ll bring more next time,” he said, his tone low, as if disappointed.
Mia pressed her lips together to stifle a giggle and hugged the bouquet and gift bag tightly to her chest, her fingers clutching them like precious treasures.
“This is my first time receiving flowers and gifts from a man,” she admitted, her voice soft, almost shy, yet shining with happiness.
She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. “Thank you so much.”
Alexander’s eyes brightened at once, a rare softness spreading across his face. He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her cheek, his fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
Mia’s smile deepened, playful and teasing. “Alright… keep this for me,” she murmured, handing the bag over to him, “so I can take it from you when we get home.”
Alexander took the gift from her hand, bent slightly, and looked at her with that familiar, expectant gaze. “Mrs. Graves, my gift?” he asked, pressing a finger to his lips.
Mia rose on her tiptoes and placed a brief, soft kiss on his mouth. Pulling back slightly, she smiled up at him.
Alexander cupped her face in both of his hands. “Your kisses are the most precious gift I’ve ever received from anyone,” he murmured, voice low and earnest.
Mia laughed softly, tilting her head. “Mr. Graves, that’s an exaggeration.”