Hard pill swallowed.

She knew exactly what he meant but remained unfazed by it. Instead, she watched him gobble down the food in his throat like a starved mannequin.

"You haven't said a word after everything I said," Raphel said with eyes focused on the meal before him.

Chuckling silently, Shelly closed her lips tightly as if taming her emotions from ruining her plans.

A few more moments passed, and the plate was left clean like it was washed and ready to be stacked in its rightful place.

Biting her lower lip gently as if to calm her nerves, she closed her eyes briefly as she cussed herself.

"I must have been crazy. How come I never for once saw him this way?" Shelly thought. With her eyes movement pausing for a brief moment, Shelly smiled at Raphel, whose eyes were fixated on her.

"You are acting strange. Are you okay, Shell?" He asked with “an almost” innocent look.

Shelly knew that look. She had always been a fan of it, like a high school girl getting picked by her crush in the midst of many others. But... not this time.

After a few pauses, Shelly spoke, "Strange? I don't understand. I am perfectly normal." she replied.

"So... when should I be expecting it?" He asked with a joker cute smile.

... and Shelly could have fallen for that look again. She would have wrapped her hands around him and assured him of the day he'd get it if she didn't have it with her. And if she does, she would have gone into her room and sprayed it on him like a god that he is,_{rolling her eyes at her stupid self} or ask her secretary to do the job.

"You are oddly quiet. Shell, are you sure you are..." He spoke, standing up to touch her skin, but he was taken aback.

Shelly had been really trying not to get agitated by his constant usage of Shell to imply to her. "What happened?" Her mind mocked. *"You have always giggled at the mention of the name."

"Keep your teeth clamped shut you...you.." biting her lower lip, she held herself from cursing the mockery.

There was some truth to it. Not some but a whole truth to it. She always giggled when he spoke her name that way. He had given her a reason to act that way, all girly and stupid.

Closing her eyes briefly, she let her mind wander to that night. The wretched beautiful night that brought them together.

It was the night of his death anniversary. She had always gone to the beach to speak her heart out to him... her father. Though she despised him, she still loved him a little bit. He made her childhood fun and normal but also made it worse. Her mom hated him. At least, that's the emotion she showed after he died in a ghastly accident with his mistress in the car with him.

Her father had lied, saying he was going on a business trip as usual only to be met with death and the truth to his lies dawned on them, her mother, her little and herself. Since then, her mother detested any relationship with men. She had buried herself in work and taught them to do the same. "Never put your trust in men affectionately," she'd tell them, and they grew up with that. Shelly never dated. Instead, she worked tirelessly to own her fashion industry and numerous others. They were successful, but something was always missing... love? Yes... love. Though, she loves her sister. She was barely three years old when their dad died, so she didn't grow up having that deep connection with him like she did.

Though her mother didn't approve of it, Shelly always paid her respect to her dad just for that connection, and that's when she met him two years ago... Raphel.

She shook her head vigorously as she was reminded of his words.

"I see why the moon didn't shine brightly like it used to. There's a beauty standing next to it." He had said upclose.

She had scoffed at the flattery and rolled her eyes at him, still he introduced himself.

"I am Raphel, and you?" He had asked.

"Shelly." she had responded, taking her leave.

"Shelly? Do you mean like a seashell?" He had said picking up a sea shell and handing it to her, and that had made her heart flutter.

Still, she had left.

Weeks later, she found out Raphel was a top star model, and ladies loved him. He was built like a Greek god with white strong teeth with diastema. With brown curly hair and eyes, he was the man of everyone's dream.

Fate? Accursed fate it was that brought them together. Shelly had needed a male model to promote her newest design, and Raphel magically appeared to her like an angel did to Mary in the bible.

From then onwards, they became friends and from friends, something else. Lovebirds, though they both kept it a secret.

Her mother knew anyway, and so did her sister. But, her mother didn't give them the lovely blessing, and with that, they drifted apart until a week ago. The week that had opened her eyes like a newborn baby in this era.

"Baby...?" Raphel called quietly, bringing Shelly's thoughts back to reality.

"Don't touch me, please." Shelly cringed.

"Did I do anything wrong?" Raphel questioned with a warm tone that would make any lady swim in delight, but not her. At least, not anymore.

Tired of playing the mind game, Shelly asked point blank. "Why did you approach me at the beach that day?" she asked.

"I usually go there to breathe in fresh air. That was when I saw you. You had this look in your eyes and ..."

"Stop there!" Shelly replied, cutting him off. "You just blew off the remaining chance left for you. I know everything. You must have forgotten, but let me refresh your mind. Last week Wednesday at 8. P.m, you met with a lady in a bar. She had been chatting you up and showering money on you for the past few months, and you finally decided to meet her. You requested to meet in a bar before you decided to take her to a hotel to have a fun time with her and she agreed." Shelly added before standing up and moving around.

"She drugged you. She spiked your drink with veritaserum at the hotel where you said everything. I have everything you said on record. I knew you approached me because I was wealthy just like you did with other wealthy women. At first, you shower the women with everything they ask for to gain their trust, then, you bring talks about you needing money to finance your personal business and as usual, we all fell for it. I became a victim, too. I gave you everything you asked for without batting an eyelid. I fought with my Mom because of you. I trusted you with everything I..."

"Shelly, please. I... I have changed, I swear. I am remorseful for all I have done to others, and that's why I need to pay them because you changed me." Raphel replied, cutting her off.

"Well, I know. I mean, people change, especially someone like you, that's why I asked if you had Bitcoin and every other crypto address. I got your seed phrase and password to bank accounts so that I can take my share and send also to every other woman you jilted." Shelly responded.

"No ... haha, you won't dare! I... I will.."

"You'll do nothing. I know you have embarrassing pictures of those innocent women that you use as leverage. I have had everything deleted. Thankfully,you have nothing on me and ... have him arrested." Shelly said.

Before Raphel could blink, policemen surrounded him. "You are under arrest, Mr. Raphel."

"How did you... You!" He spoke, trying to free himself from the officer's grip.

"Well, I have my mom to thank. She had been tailing you and making deep research on you. She planted the lady you met on you, and you fell for it. I mean, that's who you are. I am glad I got to learn the truth, even if it was a hard pill to swallow, knowing my mom was right about you." Shelly replied with disgust as Raphel was taken away.

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