Chapter 51: The Secret Wife Has Arrived.

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: The Secret Wife Has Arrived.

The phone lay on the floor, shattered.

Flora did not pick it.

Her chest rose and fell. Her eyes never left Gabrielle.

"What did you just say?"

Gabrielle trembled. "Laura... she is—"

"Say it again," Flora whispered. "Slowly."

"Your late husband’s secret wife."

Flora’s fingers went cold.

"How long have you known her?"

"I have known her for a long time, Madam," Gabrielle said, her voice shaking.

"She raised me and my brother. She has been part of our lives since we were children."

Simon shook his head in surprise where he stood. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The girl Flora had trusted enough to employ was connected to someone who wanted to destroy her.

Flora stared at Gabrielle for a moment.

"Does she live in London?" she asked calmly.

"Yes, Ma," Gabrielle answered.

Flora folded her arms.

"How were you able to identify me at the shopping mall?"

"Through the Mastercard, Ma," Gabrielle replied.

Flora raised an eyebrow.

"The Mastercard?"

"Yes, Ma. Laura showed me your picture before I started working in the mall.

She told me you were the woman who destroyed her life. When I saw the card at the mall, I immediately remembered everything she told me. That was how I recognised you."

Flora eyes widened.

"So what happened after you recognised me?"

Gabrielle swallowed hard. Her eyes moved briefly towards Simon before returning to Flora.

"I called her immediately and told her I had found the woman she had been talking about. She instructed me to follow you up immediately."

"Follow me up?" Flora repeated.

"Yes, Ma."

"Go on."

"I was actually supposed to stop working that week. But after I called her, she sent me money. She told me to create that drama so you would feel sorry for me and eventually accept me into your household. She knew you were a kind woman who wouldn’t ignore someone in trouble."

Gabrielle lowered her head.

"That was how everything started, Madam. I never intended to do it,I swear"

Flora stared at her in disbelief.

"Wonders shall never cease!"

She slowly turned towards Simon. He was equally shocked, still trying to process everything.

"People are evil," Flora said, shaking her head. "Some people can go to any length just to get what they want. Imagine someone planning all this simply to gain access to my house."

She paused, allowing Gabrielle’s confession to sink in.

"Now tell me. What exactly did she ask you to get from my study? And what was the agreement between you two?"

Gabrielle’s breathing became heavier.

"Madam, she promised to support my brother’s surgery if I could get the documents of the six houses in Paris from your study."

Flora’s eyes widened.

"The six houses?"

Flora leaned back slightly, trying to control her anger.

Flora let out a deep breath.

"This is unbelievable. You were willing to put your job, your freedom and your future at risk because someone promised to pay for your brother’s surgery."

Gabrielle’s eyes became wet.

"Madam, I know I made a terrible mistake. I was desperate. My brother needs that surgery and I didn’t know where else to turn".

Flora looked at her without saying anything for a moment.

"Things are happening in this world," Flora muttered.

Gabrielle was breathing hard now. She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, clearly overwhelmed.

Just then, they heard footsteps coming down the staircase.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Flora turned.

It was Maya.

She looked beautiful in a short dress, with a matching bag hanging from her shoulder.

She walked towards them, adjusting the strap.

"Mum, I’m going out with Chloe," she announced.

Flora briefly studied her daughter.

"Are you driving yourself?"

"Yes," Maya answered.

"Let Simon drive you," Flora suggested.

Maya immediately shook her head.

"No. I’m fine. I can drive myself."

Flora looked at her for a moment but didn’t argue.

"Alright. Be careful."

Maya walked towards the entrance without paying further attention to anyone in the room.

When she disappeared, she turned back towards Gabrielle.

"Grace told me you came here with a Ferrari," Flora said, her eyes fixed on Gabrielle.

"Is that true?"

Gabrielle nodded.

Flora tilted her head slightly.

"Does the car belong to you?"

"No, Ma. The car belongs to Laura."

Flora stared at her for a few seconds.

"I see."

She slowly nodded, but her mind was already working. Laura had sent her money, provided a Ferrari and arranged for Gabrielle to enter her household. This was clearly more than an ordinary plan between two women.

Flora looked towards Simon. He remained silent, his face serious.

Flora picked her other phone from the floor. The screen was still cracked, but it was the one with Barrister Charles’s direct number.

She dialed. It rang twice.

"Flora?"

"Good day, Charles."

"Good day. How is everything? You sound..."

"I need to ask you something, Charles. And I need you to be honest with me, not as my lawyer. As someone who has known this family for years."

A brief pause.

"Of course, Flora. What is it? Talk to me."

"Did my husband have another wife? Her name is Laura."

Silence. The kind of silence that answers the question.

"Charles?"

"Flora... where did you hear that name?"

"So you know her."

"Flora, please—"

"Charles, did you know?"

"Yes."

Her fingers went numb. The phone slipped slightly in her hand.

"You knew? Charles, you knew all this time? You were at his burial. You sat in my house. You said nothing?"

"Flora, please calm down. It was not that simple."

"Not simple? You knew my husband had a secret wife!"

"He made me swear, Flora. He made me swear on my oath. He said I must not tell you until she came forward herself. He said he was trying to protect you."

"Protect me? Charles, protect me from what?"

"I am bound, Flora. Even now. There are sealed documents he left with me for this exact situation. I cannot explain on the phone."

"What documents?"

"Come to my office tomorrow. Nine a.m. Come alone. You need to see them yourself."

The line went dead.

Flora remained silent, her head slowly turning from side to side. Gabrielle was still standing before her, looking exhausted.

Flora suddenly stood up and walked towards the large photograph of herself and her late husband. She stopped in front of it, staring at their smiling faces.

Simon watched her carefully. He could see the frustration in her movements. He knew she was struggling to control her emotions.

He shook his head slightly and whispered to himself, "I can’t wait to leave for Paris.

Meanwhile, Flora continued staring at the photograph.

"Flora, relax," he whispered to himself. "They can bark all they want, but they won’t bite. No one, I repeat, no one will reap the fruits of your labour as long as I’m alive."

Flora paused, her eyes becoming moist.

"Will I ever be able to trust people again?" she asked quietly.

Her eyes remained fixed on Darwin’s face.

"Darwin, I built everything with you through rain and sunshine. I stood beside you and gave you everything I had. But what did you repay me with? Betrayal!"

Her voice trembled.

"I hate you, Darwin. I hate you so much!"

She looked away, struggling to contain the pain she had carried for so long.

A few minutes later, Grace walked into the room and looked at Flora, who was still standing close to the large photograph of herself and her late husband.

"Ma, your food is ready," she announced gently.

Flora didn’t turn around. "I’m not hungry, Grace."

Grace felt bad looking at her. She could tell something was troubling her madam, but she didn’t know how to make her feel better.

"Ma, you haven’t eaten properly today. Please, at least have something small," Grace pleaded.

"Grace, I appreciate your concern, but I don’t feel like eating."

"I’m sorry, ma," Grace replied.

As she turned towards the door, she secretly signalled Simon, hoping he would encourage Flora to eat. But Simon simply shook his head, silently declining to interfere.

Grace understood and was about to leave when Flora called her.

"Grace, wait."

Grace stopped and turned around.

"Yes, ma?"

Before Flora could speak, there was a knock on the door.

Everyone turned towards the entrance.

Flora quickly wiped her face with her fingers and straightened her expression. She didn’t want anyone seeing how deeply the situation had affected her.

"Who is that?" she asked.

"It’s me, ma. Security," a male voice answered.

"Come in," Flora said.

The door opened and a security officer walked inside. He greeted everyone before looking directly at Flora.

"Good afternoon, Madam Flora. Sorry to disturb you, ma."

Flora nodded. "Good afternoon. What is it?"

"Madam, the estate security called, they said a woman is at the gate asking to see you."

Flora raised an eyebrow.

"A woman? Who?"

"She introduced herself as Laura, ma."

Flora’s expression froze. Her lips parted slightly.

"Laura?" she repeated,

"Yes, ma.