## Chapter 2: Whispers of Conspiracy and Drunken Confessions
The opulent silence of Great and Tessa's penthouse apartment shattered that night. The lingering scent of expensive perfume and polite conversation from the conference was replaced by the raw tang of resentment. Tessa, her composure finally cracking, confronted him the moment the heavy oak door slammed shut. Her voice, usually a melodic command, was sharp with accusation. The elegant façade she meticulously maintained had fractured, revealing the simmering fury beneath.
"How dare you?" she hissed, her eyes narrowed, reflecting the city lights like shards of ice. "All those years, Great! My unwavering commitment, and you couldn't even keep your eyes off that… that Sonia!"
The argument escalated quickly, a tempest of recriminations and wounded pride echoing through the spacious rooms. Tessa's carefully constructed composure crumbled further with each of Great's evasive answers. Finally, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and dread, she posed the question that had haunted her since the conference: "Are you still in love with her, Great?"
He met her gaze, his own clouded with a conflict she couldn't fully decipher. Then, with a nonchalant shrug that felt like a physical blow, he uttered a single, devastating word: "Yes." He turned and walked away, leaving Tessa standing alone in the echoing silence, the weight of his admission crushing her.
Sleep offered no solace. The image of Great's unwavering gaze on Sonia replayed endlessly in her mind, each repetition fueling a bitter resolve. By morning, the raw hurt had calcified into a cold, calculating anger. She needed to talk, to strategize. Her fingers flew across her phone, summoning her trusted confidantes, Tessy and Catherine.
The meeting took place in the chic, minimalist setting of Tessy's apartment. Tessa paced like a caged animal, her voice tight with fury as she recounted the previous night's brutal honesty.
"He just… admitted it," she spat, her perfectly applied lipstick seeming to tremble. "Years. Years I've dedicated to him, and he's ready to discard it all for that… *slut*, Sonia." The venom in the last word hung heavy in the air.
Catherine, ever the pragmatist, leaned forward, her expression sharp. "You can't let her waltz back into his life and steal everything you've built, Tessa."
Tessy, her usual laid-back demeanor replaced by a steely glint, offered a suggestion, her voice low and conspiratorial. "You need to tie him down, Tessa. Permanently. The most effective way to do that… is a baby. Get pregnant for Great. Force his hand."
A flicker of something akin to triumph ignited in Tessa's eyes. "That's… insidious. But brilliant."
Catherine nodded, her gaze unwavering. "We don't know what Sonia's game is, why she's suddenly back in the picture. You need leverage, Tessa. A pregnancy will bind him to you, regardless of his lingering feelings." She added a crucial piece of advice, her voice laced with caution: "And keep a close watch on him. Study his every move. Know what he's doing, who he's seeing."
Meanwhile, across town, Chila's vibrant energy filled Sonia's elegant apartment. The years had deepened their bond, and Chila was eager to reconnect with her friend. Laughter echoed through the rooms as they reminisced and caught up on each other's lives. As evening approached, the mood shifted to one of celebratory indulgence. "You're back in the city, Sonny! We have to paint the town red," Chila declared, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Sonia, feeling a restless energy and a subconscious desire to be seen, agreed. She selected a dress that showcased her newfound confidence, a sleek and subtly revealing number that hinted at the woman she had become. With Chila by her side, they headed to one of the city's most exclusive nightclubs, the air thick with music and pulsating energy.
Unbeknownst to Sonia, her every move was being tracked. The admission to Tessa had gnawed at Great, a raw wound refusing to heal. Driven by a desperate need to understand Sonia's life, he had discreetly hired a private investigator. That night, the investigator's report placed Sonia at the very club where he now found himself, a shadowy figure observing her from a distance. He watched as she laughed, her eyes sparkling under the strobe lights, a pang of longing twisting in his gut. She was radiant, captivating, and seemingly oblivious to his presence.
Sonia, perhaps seeking to drown out the persistent echoes of the past, embraced the vibrant atmosphere with abandon. She danced with an unrestrained joy, the music coursing through her veins. Chila, ever the responsible friend, tried to gently劝诫 her, but Sonia, caught in the intoxicating rhythm and the flow of champagne, continued to lose herself in the moment.
As the night deepened, Sonia's exuberance tipped into inebriation. By past ten, Chila knew it was time to leave, but Sonia was in no condition to drive. With a sigh, Chila excused herself. "You stay right here, Sonny," she said, her voice firm but laced with concern. "Don't wander off. I'm going to call Prince to come get you."
Great, witnessing Chila's departure, saw an opportunity. A reckless impulse surged through him. He moved swiftly, weaving through the crowd until he stood before Sonia, his hand gently taking her arm. "Sonia," he said, his voice a low murmur that barely cut through the music.
Confused and unsteady, Sonia looked up, her eyes unfocused. He gently guided her towards the relative quiet of the club's balcony, the cool night air a stark contrast to the humid interior. As he steered her, she mumbled incoherently, a string of slurred words.
Once on the balcony, the city lights spread before them like a glittering tapestry. Great turned to her, his gaze intense. "Sonia," he repeated, his voice softer now. "Do you still love me?"
The question seemed to strike a bizarre chord within her. Sonia erupted in a fit of giggles that bordered on hysteria, the sound echoing in the night air. It took a long moment for her laughter to subside before she finally answered, her voice thick with alcohol. "Always, Great. I always have and always will. But you left. You chose her." Then, a sudden shift, a playful yet possessive glint in her eyes. "But don't worry, now you're not married… I'm coming to get you. All for myself." She leaned heavily against him, her head resting on his shoulder, the scent of perfume and alcohol clinging to her.
"Sonia, you've had too much to drink. Come sit down," he said gently, guiding her to a nearby wicker chair. He knelt before her, resting her head on his lap, his fingers tracing the soft curve of her cheek.
Inside, Chila returned with Prince, his brow furrowed with concern. They scanned the crowded dance floor, their eyes searching for Sonia. Relief washed over Chila as she spotted them on the balcony, Sonia's dark hair a stark contrast against Great's light trousers. Prince's expression tightened as he took in the scene: Sonia asleep, her head resting on another man's lap. He moved swiftly, gently lifting Sonia into his arms.
"Thank you, Great," Chila said, her tone neutral, as Prince began to carry Sonia away. She turned to follow, but Great's voice stopped her.
"Chila, please wait."
"Yes?" she asked, her eyes guarded.
"Could I… could I get her number? Just to check on her when she wakes up?" he asked, his voice surprisingly polite.
Chila hesitated. "I don't know if she'd want me to…" She relented, pulling out her phone. "But don't tell her I gave it to you." She quickly typed the number and handed it to him.
"Thanks," he murmured, his gaze still fixed on Prince's retreating figure.
"Don't thank me," Chila said sharply, a hint of warning in her voice. "Fix your mistake." And with that, she hurried after Prince.
Chila rode with Prince to Sonia's apartment, a knot of unease tightening in her stomach as she watched him carefully lay Sonia in her bed. Throughout the process, Sonia mumbled Great's name in her sleep, a soft, insistent murmur that Prince couldn't fail to notice. His initial concern morphed into a quiet suspicion. "Who is Great?" he finally asked Chila, his voice low.
Chila offered a clipped explanation. "He's… an old friend. An ex." She left it at that, but the unanswered questions hung heavy in the air between them. Prince's worry was palpable. Was Sonia's heart still tethered to her past?
As Chila left Sonia's apartment, a chilling premonition settled upon her. She feared that the carefully buried secrets of the past were beginning to claw their way back to the surface, threatening to unravel the present.