His Beautiful Addiction

''Ma'am, what happened? Are you okay?'' The driver, who felt they had walked through hell and out unscathed, turned to Tiana and asked, looking shocked.

Contrary to what he had expected, she did not look perturbed; her eyes stared straight at the road.

''I'm fine, I hope they didn't hurt you?'' The driver shook his head, and turned to the road, driving speedily out of the street. Something was definitely wrong with his Boss's wife but he could not even put his head around it.

When Tiana got home, she locked her room and took out the tiny video recorder and placed it in a chest, then got out of her clothes and soaked in a bath, closing her eyes. She wasn't sure if what she told Michelle would work but if she wanted to tear Douglas down she would do it in a grand style. He wanted the company right? She would let him have it, but she would make sure she tormented him like burning coals, so much that he would want to run but he would have nowhere to run to. Since he wanted Howells Corporation she would let him know that he would not shed innocent blood and expect to go free, he should just wait.

Just when she was about to sleep, her phone rang. It was an unknown number, so she stared at it for a minute before picking up.

''hello? ''

''Tiana, I heard you forced your way out of my house? ''

Tiana chuckled when she heard Douglas's voice; ''Douglas, do you even believe those words you said? Like, how can I, an unarmed and petite woman, force my way out of your house, with the zillion guards you have? Is that even possible? '' Tiana asked, with a mocking chuckle;

''Just so you know, your wife threw me out of your house, and do you expect me to wait at the gates for you? I had to leave, ask her, she knows the truth. But don't worry, I'm going to choose you no matter where I am, you don't have to trouble yourself about that, um, sorry I have to go, I need to sleep, today had been quite stressful. '' she said and cut the call, throwing her phone across the bed, a chuckle leaving her lips.

What a family of clowns, she thought.

She wondered how he got her number, but she did not think much about it, if he could hire people to hack into the latest Maserati there was nothing he could not do.

Douglas ended the call and before Michelle could say a word, a slap landed on her chin. She stumbled backward to steady herself, her eyes seeing stars.

''How dare you? '' He didn't bother asking her if it was true or not, because he knew what she was capable of.

Michelle bit her lower lip but she could not even defend herself. When he came back, she told him that Tiana had threatened to go against the deal if she wasn't let go, she told him that because she knew how he would react if he knew that she was the one that let her go; she had told Tiana earlier to cooperate with her, and she had agreed, but it seemed she just made a fool out of her.

''Get out! '' Douglas blared and Michelle sauntered out of the room before he would descend on her. She stood outside the door and she tried to touch her cheeks but it stung badly so she retracted her hands, it fell weakly to her side, as her head bowed. At that moment, she didn't know who she hated more_ the witch of a woman, Tiana, or her demon of a husband.

Tears stung in her eyes as she realized they were in trouble. Tiana didn't mean good for them, not now and not in the next lifetime. Who on earth would forgive a man who killed their husband?

Tiana was just playing them like chess and she was very surprised that her husband was falling for it. She didn't believe that she wanted to give the company to them without a fight, but at that moment, she couldn't even think of anything she could be planning.

Maybe she was just trying to sow discord between them to ruin them since she could not have the company?

Michelle's thoughts were hazy because the slap was already giving her a headache.

''Mom? '' Richard's voice kicked her out of her thoughts and she looked up in shock;

''Richard… you are back? '' she was not expecting to see him home; her eyes lit up but when she saw the horrid look on his face, she remembered she probably had five fingerprints on her face, so she instantly raised her hand to cover her cheeks, but it was too late because he had already seen it.

Richard's face paled drastically as he approached his mother;

''Dad hit you again? '' His eyes flashed with rage and he turned to the door to barge in but his mother stopped him before he could reach the door.

''Mom…'' He called, pain in his voice, but she put her hand over her lips, signaling him to keep quiet, and took him to where she was sure no-one could hear.

''Just be patient okay? It's just a little while and we'll be able to smile again, I promise you.''

She tried to smile but her cheeks hurt, so she kept it in place.

''Mom, you let him hit you again.'' Richard was broken, he had watched his father beat up his mother while growing up and he waited for a day he would be able to take revenge on him, but every single time, she had stopped him.

He hated this feeling, watching his mother in pain but not able to do anything.

''This is the last time, I promise. '' Michelle thinned her lips and she hugged her son, cooling him down. They were almost there now; she didn't want any rash decision to destroy what they had waited for, for years.

She closed her eyes when she felt his arms go around her, and after a few seconds, her mind went back to the words Tiana said earlier that day. s