A Rise to the Throne

Chapter 2: Unveiling Betrayal.

Adonis stood frozen in disbelief, his grip on the cake loosening until it slipped from his hands, crashing to the ground in a messy heap. His eyes remained locked on the shocking sight before him, unable to tear away or utter a single word.

They moved past him, locked in their passionate embrace, oblivious to his presence and the shattering of his world. It felt unreal, like a cruel dream taunting his sanity. "This can't be real. It must be a twisted illusion," he whispered through gritted teeth, his voice laced with a mixture of hatred and anger.

With seething fury coursing through his veins, Adonis stormed towards the room, each step resonating with his mounting anger. As he approached the scene before him, his heart sank, and a lump formed in his throat. This was not a nightmare; it was a harsh reality he couldn't deny.

"Harriet?!" His voice spat out the name, dripping with a mix of disbelief and rage. The couple abruptly halted their actions, sensing the intensity in his words and his presence.

Harriet slowly turned to face him, her expression contorted with anger, devoid of any remorse. In that moment, he could almost hear the callous thoughts swirling in her mind.

"Why is he here, ruining my moment of pleasure?" Her unspoken words screamed in his mind, her face a canvas of indifference and selfishness.

"Harriet, how could you do this to me? After everything we've been through?" Adonis managed to choke out the words, his voice trembling with a mix of hurt and betrayal. But before he could even finish his plea, she scoffed, callously turning her attention back to her lover as if he were inconsequential.

Adonis stood there, startled and still unable to tear his gaze away from the heart-wrenching scene unfolding before him. The absence of remorse in her eyes was like a cruel dagger to his wounded heart. It was as if he didn't even exist in her world anymore.

Their passionate embrace continued, their lips locked in a fervent dance, while the stranger's hands shamelessly explored her body. It infuriated Adonis to his core, knowing that he rarely received such intimacy from her, except when she needed money or sex, both of which were scarce occurrences.

"Harriet!" Adonis yelled once more, his voice filled with anguish, snapping them out of their illicit act. She retaliated with a venomous glare, her eyes burning with a dangerous mix of defiance and contempt.

"Oh, my Goddess. Can't you see how to leave and give us some privacy?" Harriet shot back, her words laced with arrogance and disdain. Adonis stood there, his mind swirling with confusion, desperately trying to deny the words that had just left her lips.

"Harriet, did those words truly come from you?" he retorted, his voice trembling with a mixture of hatred and anger, accompanied by a forceful hiss.

A surge of violence surged through him, tempting him to storm towards her and deliver a resounding slap to both her and her lover. Yet, he restrained himself, knowing that such an action would only escalate the turmoil and bring further consequences. He could never fathom himself committing such an act of violence against her.

"Harriet, tell me this is all a sick joke. Tell me it's not true," he pleaded, desperately grasping onto the hope that this nightmare could somehow be dismissed as a twisted prank.

"You're not just poor, uncultured and shameless, are you also dumb?" she fired back, her words laced with venom. Adonis could no longer contain his simmering anger, and all the pent-up frustration burst forth in a torrent of words.

"Do you even comprehend the gravity of your actions? Have you forgotten that I am your husband, Harriet? Have you forgotten everything I've done for you and your family? And yet, this is the gratitude I receive in return?"

"Save me your empty words, Adonis. What have you truly done for me besides subjecting me to the shame and embarrassment caused by your broken and repulsive self every single day?" she retorted, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Grateful? I should be grateful for enduring all the wretched behavior and repugnant actions from you, Harriet?" he shot back, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and hurt.

"If you weren't so dense, maybe you would understand," Harriet sneered, her contempt for him evident in her tone.

Adonis could feel his anger surging uncontrollably, a boiling rage consuming him. He continued to gaze at them intently, his fists clenched tightly as he braced himself for their next move.

The silent stranger suddenly pivoted towards Harriet, drawing her closer to him. His voice oozed with seduction as he whispered into her ear, "Let's go, baby. We don't need to pay any attention to this fool standing in front of us, do we?" Harriet's face blossomed into a wide smile, her fingers gently caressing his lips.

"That's right, darling. I can hardly wait to experience you again," she exclaimed, her words intentionally provoking Adonis. "Your strong embrace, your muscular chest that sends shivers down my spine every time I see it."

Their words pierced through Adonis, fueling his seething anger. He couldn't bear to see them carry on any further, and he swiftly intervened, halting their advances.

"Not another step," Adonis warned, his voice laced with a potent mix of anger and determination. The stranger froze in his tracks, while Harriet's face contorted with visible rage.

She yearned for Adonis to be gone, imagining a life where she had married someone far superior long ago. However, as she continued to stare at Adonis, she noticed that his attention was not even directed towards her.

"Do you want me to spell it out for you? Or are you simply that dense? Or perhaps you want me to take matters into my own hands," Adonis retorted, directing his words at the bewildered stranger.

"What are you talking about?" the stranger asked, genuinely perplexed by the exchange. He couldn't comprehend a single word that was being said. “Or are you losing your sanity?" he inquired further.

"The real question is, has he ever been mentally sound? I don't believe a mentally sound man would lead such a useless and foolish existence when he could have ended it long ago, allowing me to find someone far better," Harriet interjected, but Adonis remained fixated on the foolish stranger before him.

"First and foremost, if you value your life, rise from that bed this instant," Adonis growled, and the recipient of his words appeared visibly shaken by the intensity of his tone and the expression on his face.

"Pay him no mind, darling. He's as feeble as a dead rodent. Just take a good look at his pathetic self," Harriet retorted, while Adonis continued to shoot venomous glances in his direction.

Caught between the gaze of Harriet and Adonis, he struggled to determine his course of action. "Let me approach him, Harriet and find out what he wants to do to me," he responded, slowly descending from the bed.

Step by step, he advanced toward Adonis, locking eyes with him unflinchingly, devoid of any trace of fear. "Here I am, Mr. man, I have complied with your request to leave the bed. So, what is it you want to do?" he inquired, maintaining his unwavering gaze into Adonis's eyes.

Adonis's face contorted with intense disgust at the sound, his gaze fixed on the arrogant fool standing defiantly before him. "Do you possess any semblance of shame? Do you even comprehend the significance of the woman lying on that bed?" Adonis questioned, his tone laced with incredulity.

"Of course, I do. I am well acquainted with nearly every aspect of her life. So, why do you feel the need to inquire?" the stranger replied, his tone dripping with arrogance.

"And do you know that she is married?" Adonis pressed on, seeking further clarification.

"Yes, I am fully aware that she is married. So, pray tell, where exactly is this conversation heading, Mister?" The stranger's response was laden with sarcasm, a fact not lost on Adonis.

"Is there no shame within you? Engaging in an affair with a married woman, and not only that, but doing so right in front of her husband? Are you truly devoid of any sense of decency?" Adonis questioned, his voice brimming with righteous indignation.

"Are you serious? Shouldn't it be the other way around? I should be the one saying all those things to you, not the other way around," the stranger retorted, his anger now fully unleashed. "Have you ever taken a good look at yourself in the mirror? You're a disgrace to manhood, and to top it off, you're a penniless fool. What a joke! You'd be better off dead," he spat back at Adonis, his rage unrestrained.

"One more word from you, and I'll make sure you pay dearly for every insult that has spilled from your mouth," Adonis warned, his fury reaching its peak.

But with Harriet backing him, the stranger showed no signs of fear. "And what can you possibly do, huh? Transfer some of your stupidity to me?" he jeered, bursting into even louder laughter, joined by Harriet.

Suddenly, a heavy blow landed on his face, causing him to stumble backward onto the bed. Adonis swiftly closed the distance between them, gripping the stranger tightly by his shirt, while Harriet's screams filled the room. "When I'm through with you, you'll think twice before ever crossing my path again," Adonis growled menacingly.