Page 78 of A Million Shades Of Love and Betrayal

I scoffed, unable to hide the bitterness in my tone. "Work this out? After what you did? You think I'd ever forgive you, let alone take you back?"

His expression faltered for a moment, but then he recovered quickly. "Come on, Yasmin. You know I can make things difficult for you. I have those photos..."

I cut him off. "Oh, you mean those pathetic photo-shopped pictures you tried to use to blackmail me?"

He blinked, clearly caught off guard. "What are you talking about?"

"You sent the original photos in with the edited ones. For someone trying so hard to be a villain in my story, you're doing a terrible job."

"Oh, just shut up!" he started the facade he was trying to sell me finally cracking under all the pressure.

With each passing second, I could feel Ethan's gaze boring into me, his frustration palpable even as his words grew angrier. He didn't expect this, not from me. But then again, he never truly understood who I am.

I took a deliberate sip of my coffee, the warmth spreading throughout my body. It wasn't just the caffeine that fueled me now; it was the resolve burning in my chest. Ethan had thought he could still control me, pull me back into his web of manipulation. Little did he know, I was already steps ahead of him.

As I sat there, tuning out his increasingly desperate attempts to regain control, I reflected on how different things were now compared to when I was with him. Back then, I lived in the shadows, my true identity concealed to protect myself and to keep his fragile ego intact. There was no room for a public presence, no space to be myself openly.

But now, everything was different. The truth was out there, and it was liberating. With a single act of defiance, I had shed the last vestiges of secrecy that bound me. There was no longer any reason for me to be anyone but myself and that's exactly what I did.

A simple photo, a few taps on social media, and suddenly I was no longer Yasmin Rashid hiding behind a veil of anonymity. I was Yasmin Rashid-Amato, wife of Rafael Amato, daughter of Ivan Rashid- a name with history, with roots, with a story that resonated with millions.

The notifications on my phone buzzed incessantly, each a confirmation of solidarity and support. My family, friends, and even acquaintances from distant corners of my past—all rallying behind me. My family's follow came first, a silent testament to our unspoken bond that transcended words. Then others followed and within hours I had over five million followers on Instagram and countless more on other platforms.

Ethan's voice pierced my thoughts, a harsh reminder of the present. "You think this changes anything?" he sneered, leaning forward across the table, his eyes narrowing into slits of malice. "You can't escape what I have on you. You're still mine, Yasmin. You're still my wife. I never sent in the divorce papers which means you still belong to me."

I met his gaze squarely, the fire in me burning brighter. "No, Ethan," I said calmly, my voice carrying the weight of certainty. "I was never yours to begin with and now, everyone will know just how much of a bastard you truly are."

With a quick nod to my bodyguards, the video I recorded a day prior was released simultaneously on every social media platform. As Ethan launched into his rant, unaware of the storm about to hit him, I watched with satisfaction and pride. I was proud of myself for keeping it together and getting my revenge.

The video spread like wildfire, especially since everyone was on standby just waiting for the video to drop so they could repost it. Disgusted looks turned Ethan's way as people around us watched in disbelief. A smirk played on my lips as I slipped on my sunglasses, my engagement ring and wedding band catching the light for the first time. Ethan's eyes widened as he caught sight of them.

With deliberate calmness, I pulled out a wedding invitation from my bag. I held it up, displaying it to Ethan with a steady hand. "You won't be receiving one of these," I said coolly, my voice cutting through his tirade. "You're not invited to my second wedding with Rafael, but I can assure you, it will be beautiful."

The words hung in the air, heavy with finality. Ethan's face contorted with rage and disbelief. His carefully constructed facade crumbled before me, revealing the pettiness and desperation beneath. I felt a rush of empowerment knowing I had taken back whatever lingering sympathy I had for him.

Without another word, I rose from my seat and turned away from him. I could feel his eyes boring into my back as I walked out of the cafe, my bodyguards falling into step behind me. Just before I opened the door, I turned back to face him. "You should tune in to the press conference I'm having tomorrow, it's going to be riveting."

-52-

Rafael

I hit play, my heart beating erratically as Yasmin's gorgeous face came onto the screen.I sat in my office chair, staring at the screen before me, a mixture of emotions coursing through my veins. Yasmin's video was playing on her Instagram page, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. There she was, my wife, fearlessly exposing Ethan for the manipulative bastard he was.

"Hi everyone," she said, her eyes laser-focused ahead of her, making me feel like she was talking to only me. "My name is Yasmin Rashid-Amato, and I was once in a relationship with Ethan Williams. Before you comment something along the lines of knowing he was right or wishing you were the one with him let me give you a brief overview of what life was like dating him. First, Ethan was a narcissistic asshole who cared about no one but himself.

I'm genuinely shocked that I was ever in a relationship with him. Second, he dumped me because he thought I was cheating on him when I wasn't and refused to give me a chance to defend myself."

She paused taking a deep breath. "But the third thing he did which is unforgivable, was to edit photos of me to make me look naked and then threaten me with them so that I would take him back or so that my family would pay him off. I refuse to let him push me into a corner so I'm here to show you the photos that he was so generous to provide me with and of course the note I received from him. I'll have to blur the tits and vajayjay for obvious reasons, but you get the picture."

She proceeded to show the photos Ethan sent and the note as well. Then she was on screen yet again. "That's all for today folks but don't worry I have plenty more details for you in my upcoming press conference. Until then."

I couldn't help but smile. Yasmin had always been strong, but seeing her like this, taking a stand, was something else entirely. I knew she could handle herself, but I didn't understand why she needed to confront Ethan head-on. Maybe it was closure or a way to reclaim her power, but whatever the reason, I was incredibly proud of her.

I glanced at my laptop, confirming that Yasmin was about five minutes away from home. The tracker application on my phone showed her car moving steadily toward our house. Shutting down the laptop, I opened the tracking app on my phone to keep an eye on her. It was her idea so I wouldn't lose my mind while she dealt with Ethan.

As I waited for her to arrive, I replayed the events of the past few weeks in my mind. Ethan had always been a thorn in our side, but this time, he had crossed a line. Blackmailing Yasmin with those photo-shopped images was a desperate and pathetic move, and it had backfired spectacularly. She had turned the tables on him, exposing his lies and manipulations for the world to see.

With another glance at my phone, I saw she was less than a minute away. I rushed downstairs just in time to hear the front door click shut behind Yasmin. I sprinted to the kitchen before she could spot me. Today had been intense for both of us, and I knew exactly what she needed to unwind. I yanked open the fridge door and grabbed the tub of her favorite ice cream, chocolate- which I restocked just for this reason. I found a spoon in the drawer and hurried back to the living room just as Yasmin walked in, looking like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

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