After I Left, He Fell Apart

Gabriella's POV

I didn’t react. I simply turned back to my book, turning the page with a bored look on my face.

Thomas glanced at me, then he sighed. “Let’s go to the study.”

As they walked away, I waited for a minute, before I closed the book in my lap and quietly got up to follow them.

Thomas shut the study door behind them, but I pressed my ear against the door.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Claire hissed. “Why have you been ignoring me?”

He groaned. “Claire, calm down—”

“Don’t tell me to calm down! Do you have any idea how humiliating it was to have to come here because you refused to answer my calls? What is going on?” She snapped.

There was silence, then Thomas released a sigh. “Ella is still recovering. She has been acting strange, and I don’t want her getting suspicious.”

Claire scoffed. “Suspicious? Suspicious of what? You were supposed to poison her, Thomas, not nurse her back to health like some caring husband!”

I clenched my jaw.

“I did what I had to do,” he snapped back. “If I hadn’t taken care of her, she would’ve known something was wrong. I can’t rush this, Claire. We need her to trust me.”

She groaned. “Trust you? Ugh, it’s pathetic watching you play the perfect fiancé. You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? All the attention she’s giving you, all the love. Tell me Thomas, have you fallen in love with her?”

“What kind of question is that?” He retorted. “I am trying to make this work. She has to think I’m her everything, that I would never hurt her. That way, when the time comes, she won’t even see it coming.”

My stomach clenched, and I ignored the pain that shot to my heart. I knew all these already.

She huffed. “But—”

Thomas cut her off in annoyance. “No buts, Claire,” He snapped, “You’re ruining everything with your clingy attitude.”

She gasped, clearly shocked. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” He growled. “I’ve been handling this perfectly, but you keep pushing. You couldn’t even wait for me to call you back? You had to show up here like some jealous girlfriend?”

She snorted. “Jealous? Of her? Don’t be ridiculous.”

Thomas scoffed. “Then stop acting like it. You’re making things complicated. I need her to trust me completely. If you keep behaving like this, she’ll start asking questions.”

Claire groaned. “You act like she’s smart enough to suspect anything.”

They thought I was so stupid, and I guess I had been. Not anymore.

He sighed, his voice was quieter, “You don’t understand, Claire. If I push too hard, if I make the wrong move, she’ll back out. And if she backs out, we get nothing.”

She groaned in frustration. “Then hurry up, Thomas! The wedding was already postponed once because of her last miscarriage. We can’t afford to wait again.”

So, that was why Thomas had been trying to coddle me after this miscarriage. He didn't want the wedding to be postponed like it had been before.

She continued, “It’s very annoying. Just like the last time we were close to ending everything, then she got pregnant, and we had to get rid of it. It’s like bad luck follows her womb or something.” She snorted cruelly.

My fists clenched at the reminder of the pregnancies that I had lost because of them.

Thomas didn’t respond, after a moment, he muttered, “It’s not bad luck.”

She huffed. “Obviously. It’s just her stupidity. She actually thought you wanted to have kids with her.”

Thomas's voice was quiet as he replied. “She wanted a family.”

She snorted. “And? That’s not our problem, Thomas. And it’s starting to look like you don’t actually want this to end.”

He scoffed. “Shut up, Claire. I just don’t want to rush this. What nonsense are you saying?”

“Bullshit,” She spat. “You’re starting to feel guilty, aren’t you? Tell me, are you starting to like her?.”

“I never said that,” He snapped, his voice was sounding really angry. “What is your problem?! If you want to keep acting like an insecure girlfriend and ruin everything, then go ahead!”

Claire stammered, “I'm sorry, I—”

Thomas cut her off. “You're acting so impatient because of jealousy. Do you know how far we've come? And now because of your stupid insecurity and impatience, you want to destroy everything!”

“We've been planning this for years, Claire! You're the one who even brought up this plan, do you remember?!”

Claire’s voice was quiet as she repIied. “Of course, I remember.”

She paused for a moment before continuing. “I saw her first. I was the one who realized how rich she was. And then I came to you with the plan.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. They had been together… before I even met them?

I swallowed hard, holding the wall for support. It had all been planned. From the moment I met Thomas, everything had been a lie.

Some minutes later, Thomas returned, with a blank expression. Claire followed behind him with irritation on her face.

I picked up my book again, flipping the page casually. “Everything alright?” I asked, keeping my voice steady, as if I wasn't breaking inside.

He forced a smile. “Yeah, just some last-minute wedding details.”

She released a fake giggle. “You know how I am, Ella. I just want everything to be perfect for you.”

I smiled back at her, making sure it looked very genuine. “I appreciate it, Claire. Thank you.”

She blinked at me in surprise, then she quickly hid it with another fake smile.

“You're welcome,” She replied.