SCANDALOUS: MRS. SALAZAR

Evangeline and Zach stood together under a flowery arch, promising each other love as the sun set. Surrounded by friends and family, their laughter mixed with the gentle breeze.

A simple string quartet played, creating a sweet backdrop to the intimate ceremony. Zach slid a ring onto Evangeline's finger, and the small group of guests clapped and wished them well.

The celebration continued with a hearty feast, and beneath twinkling lights, they danced. As the night went on, love and laughter filled the air, capturing the memory of a lifetime together.~

Evangeline beamed at their wedding photo from three years ago, her husband's youthful charm made her giggle. Lost in her thoughts, strong arms enveloped her waist, snapping her back to reality.

"Good morning, baby," he whispered into her ear. She turned, meeting his gaze, and on tiptoes, kissed her just-awoken husband.

"Morning. Breakfast?" she asked. Zach chuckled, effortlessly lifting her with her legs around his waist.

"I'd love to," he replied, carrying her with a playful ease.

But little does she know that he meant the 'other' breakfast. He slipped his hand under her silk dress that he loved the most and easily slid her underwear off.

With a little tug and push from him, Evangeline moaned in satisfaction as he thrusted inside her wetness.

She clutched a fistful of his hair as Zach squeezed her ass enjoying the way she bounced on him.

"Baby..." He grunted while meeting her movements with a forceful thrust making her whimper.

"Zaaaach..." Evangeline whined at her husband's teasing.

The couple savored their moment until Zach felt content releasing inside her. He sat down on the couch with her still on his lap.

They gazed into each other's eyes, sharing laughter as he remained inside her.

The couple lingered in a comfortable silence, with Evangeline nestled against Zach's chest. His fingers traced lazy circles on her back.

Evangeline broke the quiet with a gentle remark, "You're gonna be late to work."

Zach grinned, meeting her gaze. "Yeah? Well, it's my company who's gonna scold me? Unless my wife would like to start some sexy nagging."

Evangeline rolled her eyes playfully and gently got off Zach's lap. Standing up, she said, "Come on, let's have some real breakfast."

Zach, feeling a bit playful, gave his wife's butt a light spank, and she responded with a playful slap on his arm. Laughter filled the room.

Being the dedicated housewife she was, Evangeline found joy in serving her husband. Despite making a significant sacrifice by entrusting her company to her brother, she believed it was all worthwhile for the happiness of her marriage.

Evangeline set a simple breakfast on the table, and they both sat down, the morning sunlight casting a warm glow in the kitchen.

Zach, stealing a piece of toast with a mischievous grin, remarked, "Your cooking is the best."

Evangeline arched an eyebrow, feigning seriousness. "Oh, is it?"

Zach chuckled and asked, "By the way, any plans for today?"

Evangeline shook her head, "Not really. I'm thinking of just staying at home."

Zach leaned back, pondering. "Well, work is going to keep me busy so I'll be home a little late, but how about a cozy movie night later after dinner? Pick any film you want."

Evangeline's eyes lit up. "That sounds perfect."

As they continued their breakfast, discussing movies and making plans for a relaxed evening, the atmosphere remained filled with warmth. Zach eventually stood up, thanking Evangeline for the delicious breakfast, and began preparing for the day ahead.

As Evangeline washed the dishes and neared the end of her chores, Zach descended the stairs, looking sharp in his suit, the epitome of a handsome CEO.

"What a handsome CEO," Evangeline complimented as Zach approached her.

He placed a gentle kiss on her lips and spoke, "Your handsome CEO. I love you. Gotta go now."

With a smile, she replied, "Love you too. Knock 'em dead at the office." As Zach left, Evangeline couldn't help but appreciate the moments that defined their marriage life.

After finishing up all the chores - cleaning, laundry, and such - Evangeline felt a bit bored and lonely. Looking around at the now tidy house, she thought about visiting Zach at work to shake things up a bit.

Deciding to go for it, she grabbed her coat and keys. The idea of surprising him at his workplace brought a bit of excitement to her otherwise quiet day.

Evangeline decided to pamper herself, opting for a good, long bath. After the relaxing soak, she chose a beautiful, simple dress - a knee-length, navy blue sundress with small white floral patterns. The dress had a relaxed fit, perfectly matching her mood for the day.

Facing the mirror, she added a touch of makeup - a subtle swipe of mascara to enhance her lashes and a hint of rosy lip gloss. It was just enough to accentuate her features without feeling too done up. Content with her appearance, she was ready for the spontaneous visit to Zach's workplace.

Grabbing her car keys and wallet, Evangeline stepped out of the house, locking the door behind her. The fresh air greeted her as she made her way to the car, ready for the spontaneous visit to her husband's company.

Evangeline made her way to Salazar Global Construction Inc., her husband's company. As she approached, a fleeting thought crossed her mind about checking on her own company, but she dismissed it with a smile, confident in her brother's capabilities. She knew he was the smartest between them, and her focus remained on surprising Zach.

As Evangeline arrived at Salazar Global Construction Inc., the people recognized her immediately and greeted her with warm smiles.

The security guard, recognizing Evangeline, greeted her, "Good morning, Mrs. Salazar! Always a pleasure to have you here."

Evangeline returned the greeting with a smile, "Good morning! It's great to be here. How's everyone today?"

The guard nodded, "All good, ma'am. The CEO is in his office."

As she walked through the building, employees approached her, exchanging friendly hellos and expressing delight at her visit.

"Mrs. Salazar, it's nice to see you! How's everything?" asked one of the project managers.

Evangeline replied warmly, "Everything's wonderful. The projects seem to be progressing well?"

Another staff member chimed in, "We appreciate your family's commitment to excellence. It reflects in the work environment here."

Evangeline humbly thanked them, "It's a team effort. Everyone plays a crucial role. Keep up the great work!"

As Evangeline stepped onto the CEO's floor, the atmosphere shifted. The people assigned to that office, catching sight of her, immediately lit up with wide smiles. Her presence alone seemed to brighten the entire space, a testament to the genuine affection everyone held for her.

"Mrs. Salazar! What a pleasant surprise," greeted Zach's executive assistant, Laura, with a warm smile.

Evangeline returned the greeting, "Good morning, Laura! Is Zach in?"

"He's in a meeting right now, but he should be out shortly," Laura replied. "Would you like me to let him know you're here?"

"Oh, no need." Evangeline decided to keep her visit a surprise. Politely excusing herself from the team, she walked toward the conference room.

As soon as she opened the door, what she saw wasn't the expected board members or investors. Instead, she stood there shocked as her husband was kissing her best friend. The air seemed to vanish, and the scene before her was both unexpected and heart-wrenching.

"Zach... Monica..?" Their names were the only words that escaped her lips. The shock and disbelief echoed in her response.

The moment felt never-ending for Evangeline as the two individuals she believed were the most significant in her life became the source of her bewildering thoughts.

"Why...?" she murmured as the reality before her eyes finally registered.

Zach promptly pushed Monica away and approached his wife calmly, despite her appearing on the verge of hysteria. However, Evangeline remained composed. She looked at Monica, who could only cast guilty glances.

"Baby-"

"Explain," Evangeline cut him off instantly, staring directly into his eyes.

Surprised by his wife's direct and stern response, Zach tried to hold her hands, but she skillfully stepped back, avoiding his touch.

Now given a chance to explain, Zach struggled to come up with a plausible excuse.

"So?" Evangeline asked with irritation, standing face to face with Monica.

"My husband? Seriously?" she scoffed in front of her supposed best friend.

Evangeline couldn't fathom how she had spent a pleasant morning with her husband only to witness him kissing her friend now. She might have accepted it if it were someone else, but her best friend of all people?

The thought tempted Evangeline, and she delivered a sharp slap to Monica's cheek, causing her to stumble, her back hitting the table and prompting a reaction from Zach.

"Evangeline!" he called out, rushing to the rescue and unintentionally pushing his own wife away.

"What the hell is wrong with you?! She's pregnant!" he added.

Evangeline was shocked by his words, and everyone outside the conference room heard the unfolding drama.

"Are you seriously asking me that, Zach? I'm your wife, and I see you being intimate with someone other than me! How do you expect me to react?"

"Calm down, Evangeline! We're in the office, for goodness' sake!" he retorted, his voice rising.

Evangeline scoffed at her husband's response, unable to deal with how he was taking his mistress's side.

"How long has this been going on? How long have you been pregnant?" she asked Monica.

Avoiding eye contact, Monica replied, "I'm three months along."

As the reality of the situation dawned on Evangeline, she gasped, a tear escaping her eye.

"You've been doing this for that long? And you had the nerve to..." Evangeline covered her mouth, taking another step back when Zach attempted to reach for her.

"Baby... I'm sorry-"

"Don't touch me!" she yelled hysterically, running out of the conference room with tears streaming down her face.

She couldn't comprehend how the man she loved had been unfaithful while being intimate with her and with her trusted best friend.

As she reached her car, a hand stopped her from getting inside, turning her around.

"Evangeline! Listen to me!" he demanded, cupping her wet cheeks. She was a crying mess, not wanting to see his face or feel his touch.

"Let me go! Go away!" she cried, attempting to push him away, struggling to escape his grasp.

"Baby, please... Just hear me out, okay?" he begged, embracing her tightly to prevent her from struggling.

"I thought... You love me," she mumbled, weakening in his grip.

"I do! I love you still! I just... I'm a man, Evangeline. I want a child. And if you can't give me that... Then please, give me the chance. Just let me be," he calmly stated.

Evangeline's arms dropped at his words.

'So this is all because I couldn't give him a child,' she thought, her sobs subsiding as her eyes focused on the ground. It felt like she was being stabbed repeatedly.

Evangeline let out a feeble laugh as Zach looked at his wife with pity.

'Right... I should have known I will never be enough,' her thoughts overwhelmed her, accepting the inevitable event due to her perceived flaw.

With almost no strength left, she pushed him away, and Zach let her go.

"Okay... I'm sorry for all the trouble," were the words she uttered before absentmindedly entering her car and locking it.

"Evangeline!" he called out from outside, witnessing her uninterrupted flow of tears.

Evangeline appeared numb, her eyes failing to hide the depth of her emotions, causing concern for Zach. He began punching the car window, but it remained unyielding.

Evangeline, on the other hand, swallowed her sorrow and pain as she started the engine, driving off with Zach attempting to run after her car but failing.

Her hands shook, and her mind was unfocused on the road, unafraid of death as her vision blurred with tears.

As Evangeline drove, consumed by her overwhelming emotions, she failed to notice that she had drifted into the wrong lane. Her thoughts clouded her focus, leading to a light collision with another vehicle, causing only a few scratches on her face and arms.

The impact jolted her back to reality, and she instinctively pulled over to the side of the road. Trembling from both the emotional turmoil and the physical shock, she assessed the minor damages on her car. With tears still streaming down her face, she touched the slight scratches on her skin, a tangible manifestation of the pain that now encompassed her.

The passing drivers offered concerned glances, but Evangeline, lost in her own world of heartbreak, didn't pay much attention. The accident, insignificant in comparison to the emotional wreckage she was experiencing, became a parallel manifestation of the chaos within her. As she sat in her car, the weight of her failed marriage and the betrayal by those she trusted most continued to suffocate her.

A kind stranger who witnessed the accident rushed to Evangeline's aid and offered to take her to the hospital. Grateful for the assistance, she accepted the help, still emotionally drained and physically shaken.

At the hospital, Evangeline was attended to by a compassionate doctor and a caring nursing staff. As they checked her injuries, the doctor inquired about contacting someone on her behalf.

"Is there someone we should notify about your situation? Family or a friend, perhaps?" the doctor asked.

Evangeline who was still processing the recent events, hesitated for a moment. She then softly replied, "No, there's no need to contact anyone. I'll be fine."

Concerned but respecting her decision, the medical staff continued their care for her injuries.

After apologizing to the person she accidentally crashed into and covering their hospital bills, Evangeline, lost in her thoughts, didn't really notice the looks or words of the people around her.

In the evening, feeling emotionally drained, she took a slow walk back home, not bothering about making dinner. It was around nine when she got back, and her concerned husband was standing at the gate, clearly worried.

Zach's eyes widened in alarm as he spotted Evangeline walking by the road, all patched up and disheveled.

"Oh my god! What happened to you? Are you hurt?" he exclaimed, genuine worry resonating in his voice. But Evangeline, avoiding eye contact, continued past him and headed straight into the house, leaving Zach dumbfounded at the silent treatment.

"Oh my god! What happened to you? Are you hurt?" he exclaimed, genuine worry resonating in his voice. But Evangeline, avoiding eye contact, continued past him and headed straight into the house, leaving Zach dumbfounded at the silent treatment.

Evangeline headed straight to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. As she moved uncomfortably, Zach observed his wife who was using only one arm, realizing the severity of her injury.

Lost in his thoughts, Zach didn't notice he had been staring for too long until Evangeline glanced at him. He anticipated her to say something, but instead, she walked past him again. This time, rather than letting it slide, he impulsively grabbed her arm, causing her to wince in pain. Even Zach was taken aback by his own actions, releasing her instantly.

"I'm sorry... Please, Evangeline. Talk to me," he begged, holding her hands tightly.

She looked down, staring at their intertwined hands. Her lips trembled at the realization that the hands now holding hers had also held another woman's.

Evangeline struggled to comprehend how, despite her only lacking one thing-giving him a child-it could be enough to shatter their marriage.

Growing up in the aftermath of a broken marriage, she always yearned for a committed lifelong partner, something her own mother never experienced. Zach's infidelity stirred emotions in Evangeline that she had never felt before, casting doubt upon her own worth.

She slowly began to feel undeserving and worthless, her tears escaping her eyes. Evangeline gently pulled her hands away, clenching them to avoid his grasp.

"I'm... Sorry... I could not give you a child when it was what you've been dreaming of. I... I should have known my place and chosen not to overreact," Evangeline stated emotionlessly, tears still flowing.

She continued, "I'm sorry for hurting her and your child. I should have known better. Just as you said, I should just let you do whatever you wanted. I should have-"

"Evangeline. Baby," Zach spoke, cutting her off.

Just as Zach was about to hold her, it was as if disgust washed over her, and she instinctively took a step back.

"Please don't touch me," she pleaded, leaving him behind as she headed upstairs. The distance between them echoed the emotional chasm that had grown, leaving a void that seemed insurmountable.

Zach sighed, placing his hand on his hip as he massaged his temple. He had always assumed Evangeline would be okay with his decision. After all, she had been understanding from the beginning of their marriage. She willingly did whatever he asked, leaving her own company to become a housewife just as he wanted. Zach expected her to adapt to his preferences, from learning to cook his favorite dishes to fulfilling his desires.

While he admits to impregnating another woman, deep in his heart, Zach acknowledges that the only woman he loves is his wife, Evangeline. However, he now finds himself torn between his roles as a husband and a soon-to-be father to his unborn child. The complicated emotions and responsibilities weighed heavily on him.

Zach walked upstairs and headed to their room. Slowly opening the door, he found Evangeline lying on the bed, fast asleep.

Zach walked over to the bed and crawled towards his wife, who was cuddling a pillow, all curled up. Gently hugging her from behind, he placed his face on her nape.

"Baby... Please, forgive me. I swear to you... You're the only one I love. I only wanted a child," Zach tried to explain.

Even though Evangeline's eyes were closed, she could hear and understand everything he said. However, for a wife whose husband had made her feel worthless, the weight of those words was heavy and painful.

Evangeline couldn't gather the courage to look at him, fearing she might end up forgiving him too easily. So, she kept her eyes tightly closed until she fell asleep beside her husband, who clung onto her.

When morning came, Evangeline, accustomed to waking up early to prepare a hearty breakfast for her husband, sat at the dining table sipping her tea.

Today, she woke up without Zach beside her, presuming he might be out on a morning jog. However, a few minutes later, she heard the door open. What shocked her was seeing Monica entering their house.

Evangeline was certain that of all the people she could encounter, her friend, now pregnant with her husband's child, was the last person she wanted to see.

Evangeline's eyes narrowed as she observed Monica entering the house. Tension filled the air as Zach appeared, looking surprised and caught off guard.

"What is she doing here?" Evangeline asked, her tone cutting through the silence.

Zach, sensing the tension, sighed deeply before meeting Evangeline's gaze. "This wasn't planned," he admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "But we need to talk about everything-honestly."

He continued, "I have to take her in to monitor her pregnancy. This is my first child, Evangeline. Please understand."

Evangeline's eyes flashed with a mix of hurt and anger. "Your first child, Zach? What about us? What about our marriage?" Her voice trembled with the emotions she had bottled up.

Zach, realizing the gravity of the situation, struggled to find the right words. "Evangeline, please, let me explain. It's not that simple."

But Evangeline, feeling betrayed and disregarded, shook her head. "No, Zach. It is that simple. You made a choice, and it wasn't us." The air in the room grew heavy as Monica only stood there with her head down.

Evangeline's intense gaze shifted to Monica, who stood uncomfortably in the room. "And you, of all people," she began, her tone laced with disappointment and betrayal. "I trusted you, Monica. How could you betray our friendship like this?"

Monica, feeling the weight of Evangeline's words, stammered, "I... I didn't mean for any of this to happen, Evangeline. It just happened."

Evangeline, now anger taking over, retorted, "Just happened? You knew exactly what you were doing, and you chose to go along with it."

"And you still dare show yourself here," Evangeline seethed, her anger reaching its peak. In a swift motion, she slapped Monica, the sound echoing in the room.

However, Zach, shocked and caught off guard, reacted violently. "Evangeline!" he exclaimed, stepping between them and holding onto his wife's arms, preventing any further confrontation.

The room erupted in chaos as Evangeline, overwhelmed by anger and hurt, slapped Zach in a fit of hysteria. "You did this to us! This is your fault!" she screamed, unleashing her pent-up emotions.

In a shocking turn of events, Zach, unable to bear the intensity of the moment, pushed her away in self-defense. Evangeline stumbled backward, falling to the floor with a thud. The impact left her head bbleeding.

The shocking scene left Monica gagging, and despite Zach's own surprise at his actions, he hurriedly ran after Monica, who was vomiting in the sink, leaving Evangeline dumbfounded.

As Evangeline slowly wiped off the blood from her forehead, she stared at the crimson stain on her hand. The weight of the situation sank in, and a bitter realization echoed in her thoughts.

'If this is love... I'm never loving again,' she pondered, standing up and leaving them behind to tend to herself.