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Audrey blinked in shock as she struggled with the tears that had pooled behind her eyelids and were struggling to spill, her heart pounding in her chest, a rapid, painful rhythm that seemed to echo in her ears. For a moment, she could only stare at Ivy, whose eyes blazed with anger, her eyes wide with disbelief and pain. She could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on her, as she struggled to find her voice, “Why did you slap me, Ivy?” “Utter another word and I will finally ruin your face!” Ivy threatened, glaring at her. “I... I don't understand. What is going on?” her voice trembled as she spoke, feeling utterly exposed, and vulnerable in a way she hadn't felt in years. The humiliation of the slap in the presence of a maid was the one that hurt more. “You vile, deceitful woman!” Ivy spat, her accusatory voice cutting through the air like venom, “What did you do to Mother? What did you put in her drink?! Are you trying to kill her?!” She raged viciously. Audrey's breath cease
Zoe stumbled into her bedroom, her head almost blowing from the devastating truth that she had just been told by Audrey, her legs and body failing her in swift mobility. Her heart pounded in her chest as she tried to process the information, which left her gasping for air and struggling to keep the tears that stung behind her eyelids from falling. She felt a lump form in her throat which made it hard to breathe, as her throat suffered a patch that made it hot and dry the more she thought of how everything she had thought in her head had been confirmed. ‘How could that happen? How could everyone deceive her like that? She understood that she and her grandfather never saw eye to eye about things, but still? How could he?’ Zoe's mind tumbled in so much pain and wretchedness, the more she tried to comprehend and grasp the affirmation of her truth. ‘So the room that was hers in his damn mansion was fake? The pictures and setup too? The schools they claimed she went to? The awards? The
“What?!” Ivy stared in horror, her large eyes growing into wide circles, as her palms clamped over her mouth in bewilderment, upon hearing what her sister had just said.“Lost all of her memories?” The words sounded foreign to her lips. Are you kidding me?” She stared at Isla, who remained so unperturbed despite the fact that she had just dropped a shocking revelation. “I am leaving,” Isla rose to her feet instantly, her face stoic and hard as ever, as she sauntered past Ivy, who was quick to grab her by the arm in an instant. “Isla, wait,” Ivy stopped her from leaving, as she sidled to her front, “Is this true? I thought she lost just the bad ones,” Her desperate eyes filled with questions searched Isla's own, somehow wishing it was a joke. Something Isla said just to make her stop panicking. But, she knew Isla was not the type to make jokes. Isla shot a cold look at Ivy instantly, and she instantly let go of her arm, “Sorry,” she said casually, more interested in what she had j
Like any other work day, Zoe left home as early as possible the next day and arrived at her office two hours before the time for normal working hours would start. She sat at her desk, staring blankly at the computer screen in front of her, entirely disconnected from everything that was around her, her life colored with so much sadness. The truth of her life, which had come to light the previous day, had shattered her world, and left her more heartbroken and more disoriented than she could handle. Her life had been a web of deceit and betrayal, and the truth was too much to figure out even when she already knew that fact. The fragments of her memories now made sense the more she thought of it, and it was so overwhelming to understand that the pain her heart could feel wherever those floating images and words came, were once hers. Zoe had cried bitterly the entire night so miserably and was barely able to stand on her feet the next morning. She didn't know how to comprehend the fac
Audrey sat in front of the dresser in her room with her eyes swollen and red from hours of crying, as she stared blankly at the surfeit skincare products, perfumes, cologne, facial masks, and all kinds of beauty products, her mind far from the direction of her eyes, but the painful memories of her betrayal flashing before her eyes. Hot, incessant tears streamed down her cheeks, as she buried her face in her hands, barely breathing properly, her heart twisting in so much pain as if she had been struck with a dagger. She thought of the pain she had put Zoe in because of her actions, and how it was so sad to see her helpless without her memories. She remembered the look of confusion that lingered in her eyes when she told her half the truth, and the image of her pained expression haunted her mind. It made her realize that she had just been so mean to Zoe just to be on the good side of the Meyers, so that she would not be the one to go through all of that. She was the one that receive
Late into the night after preparing dinner and taking care of her usual work around the house, Audrey walked to the front of her mirror after she had dressed in a red, sequin, backless dress shortly after she took her bath. It had been so long since she had taken the time to dress up to feel beautiful, the same way she usually did when she was not yet tied to her loveless marriage.She smoothed down the sleek fabric of her dress that accentuated her figure, and fastened a pair of earrings to her ears, as well as a bracelet to her wrist, while gazing at herself even more. Carefully, she sat in front of her dresser and began to apply makeup on her face as she perfected the foundation, concealer, blush, and blood-red lipstick that ran across her heart-shaped lips, baking her face into a perfect radiance. With a deep breath, she picked up her brush and hair straightener, as she began to work on her hair, carefully styling it into loose waves until it framed her face perfectly. And as
Marcel insisted on settling both their tabs when they were about to leave, and allowed her to walk before him as they strutted out of the bar together almost at the same pace, looking like stunning couples that had come in together to have the best time of their lives. The city lights twinkled around them as they strolled down the street, their hands brushing occasionally, with Audrey's heart almost exploding out on the spot, as a flutter of excitement that she hadn't experienced in a long time began to build in her heart. She felt a connection with Marcel that she hadn't felt in years, and she was eager to see where it would lead. It had been so long since she felt that way after her high school sweetheart, before she was married to Andre, and everything about her pleasure as a woman ended. They reached a quiet corner where a sleek, black Bentley was packed, and Marcel suddenly turned to her, his orbs boring deep into her like an enchantment, “I had a great time tonight, Audrey. D
Zoe's eyelids suddenly fluttered open and her head, which was dangling slightly, throbbed with a dull ache, as she raised it up to full length, her eyes, which were blurred, suddenly became more sharp and attentive. She tried to move instantly with the aim of scratching the itch she felt on her face, still disoriented a bit, only to find out that her limbs were restrained, and that her wrists and ankles were bound tightly to a cold, metal chair. Panic surged through her veins, and she struggled against the bonds which only tightened with every wiggle and struggle, her memories taking her back to the last thing she remembered from the previous night. ‘Yes! That was it! Someone had covered her mouth and knocked her into unconsciousness,’ she suddenly realized, as she gasped for sure in shock of the reality that just hit her. She looked around instantly to see if there was anyone, but soon figured out that she seemed to be left alone in the vast amount of space that felt like an aban
ZOELVA’s luxurious structure, erected tall, reflected the shining bright lights of the afternoon sun from the east, with its luxurious designs radiating across the core and surroundings far and beyond the huge city. Inside, shoppers went from floor to floor, wandering wide corridors that were lined with top-tier brands, with staff moving around to guide and direct everyone in the most orderly manner. Groups of families made their way to food stands, their laughter and shouts mingling with the savory scents of sizzling burgers, crispy pizza, and sweet, sticky treats. On another side, fashion enthusiasts, elites, and socialites were gathered around numerous designer boutiques, their eyes fixed longingly on the glossy displays of haute couture, while others anticipated getting their hands on the most sophisticated top-notch tech devices. Amid the crowd’s awe and excitement and the hubbub of purchasing endlessly and engaging so many sections in the mall, a moment of stillness fell int
The small studio apartment Ivy sat in was dimly lit, because she left the lights off, with only a small table lamp to illuminate the room. The air of the surroundings was heavy and filled with the staleness of days-old dishes in the sink as well as the faint scent of spilled wine on the threadbare carpet. Every surface of the apartment bore the weight of her gloom with stacks of unopened bills, piles of dirty laundry, and empty bottles left lying on the floor which portrayed too many lonely nights. For weeks, she had lived this way. Isolated, enraged, shrouded in bitterness, and sinking in despair, ever since the incident with Isla that made her get on Malcolm's bad side, and Andre's sudden return which she never expected in her life to see coming. And even if she had been so joyful to see her brother who was back from his supposed death, after they had mourned him for years, she could not believe her mother would quickly replace her with Isla, who she had condemned just a few w
“You are around,” the gloomy and almost fading voice mumbled with a heavy heart, as soon as he heard the phone click on the receiver of his call, just a few minutes after dialing. It was at the most unexpected moment when he had tried the same line he had been trying again and again in futility for the past months, that it went through and the owner of the phone answered. It took him willpower to hide his shock. “Yes,” Zoe's voice came out placidly, devoid of any overt emotion as she answered curtly. Malcolm's eyebrows arched so high in astonishment because he had expected a sarcastic reply from her or a brutal hangup, as his brain ran out of the right words to articulate as a response to the answer she gave him. His voice crackled through the line of sullenness, laced with an uncharacteristic mix of vulnerability and hesitation as he said the most random thing that came to mind, “Your things are still in the room as you left them,” he informed her as if she didn't remember. “You
In just a few days of Zoe having her hands so busy with signing deals and contracts after the launching of ZOELVA, it was already becoming the busiest, most-talked-about destination in town.Shockingly, some of the most iconic foreign brands began to set up their flagship stores with massive storefronts and bold displays, their designs extravagant yet tasteful there, as if they had all been waiting all along. Top-tier local designers and retailers held their own space also, blending a cosmopolitan elegance with a touch of local charm. From the management to the customer service desk that began work in just two days, every employee worked with an intensity that matched the mall’s electric energy, and quickly adapted to the pace, which was astonishingly fast given how new everything was.With their unique uniforms and all of their movements conveying confidence, they smoothly guided people, answered questions, and handled endless transactions with ease. Media houses, and top magazines
Isla bolted out of her room almost at the speed of light as soon as her eyes caught the most shocking news of her life while surfing the internet, and getting prepared to leave the house. Her face instantly flashed with an overwhelming shock and a mix of disbelief after she had checked more than ten media outlets to confirm the news, and scrolled endlessly while watching videos from the launching event from the previous night. Her lungs dropped to her heart and her stomach sank with fury and a profound shock that stole her entire breath away, as she charged down the hallway of her room toward her mother’s room while holding her phone tightly in the grasp of her hand as if she was going to crush it. Her thoughts tumbled over each other, each one more impossible than the last, as she tried to process the news that had shattered her world and left her almost insane with hatred. As soon as Isla abruptly parted the grand doors to her mother's room open and left them swinging with a ter
“I am sorry to inform you, but the blood test results of persons A and B did not match. They are not biologically related.” Zoe stepped into her house after the launching party had ended, and somehow the excitement she had in her all night after her grand launch became the talk of the town, died instantly. As she stepped inside her new home, an unexplainable heaviness washed over her.Her phone vibrated just as she sauntered in and slouched upon her favorite chair in her living room, and as she glanced at the screen and picked up, she heard the most confusing words she couldn't even grasp almost immediately. “What did you say?” she pressed the phone closer to her ear to be sure she heard right, her eyes twitching uncontrollably. For a moment, she didn’t breathe.“I am sorry to announce to you that the two people in the results that have been forwarded to your email are not biologically related. Therefore, the bone marrow transplant cannot proceed.” A few weeks ago, when Zoe finally
The golden air at the moment, which held an air ambiance that opened the world of grand luxury and sophistication, filled the nooks and crannies of the new mall where its launching event was being held, whose name had just been announced a few hours ago. ZOELVATop elites began to saunter into ZOELVA mall, where every inch was polished with fine marble, and was designed with mind-blowing architectural expertise that exuded grandeur, designed to leave them thoroughly marveling and awed by the sight that stole breath from their lips. The glass walls had clear panes that were interspersed with opalescent beams that captured and reflected light in all directions, and giant tiers of diamond chandeliers hung in the main atrium, each crystal strand swaying subtly with a familiar melody, while casting the most artistic light pattern on the marble floor below. The huge ballroom for the event was alive with whispers, laughter, and small talk from the elites that were in attendance, ranging fr
It was impossible to miss. The newest, grandest mall which stood in gleaming glass and steel splendor of great luxury and opulence, with its gigantic structure, stretched so wide, and covered an almost unimaginable number of square meters. The intricate details in its architecture whispered of wealth and exclusivity, and every floor was rumored to be filled with unique boutiques, lavish dining experiences, an indoor oasis lined with lush greenery and trickling water fountains, an entertainment area with a cinema of virtual reality lounges, and a rooftop garden overlooking the city below. The construction of the mall had been shrouded in secrecy for months after the redevelopment of the area was instantly announced, and now its opening and launching event was the talk of the town, flooding every news outlet and social media platform. Everywhere, people wondered what conglomerate owned the huge work of art. #Mall of century #Biggest in the city #Magnificent Mall #Top entrepreneu
The grand front door of the Meyer swung open with force and rattled against the wall as Isla stormed into the grand lobby, and then the stairway, her heels striking the marble floors with a force that echoed through the long hallway, revealing the intensity of her anger. Her face was scrunched up in anger and despair, and her voice was loud and quivering with frustration, as it dissipated into the air before anyone had even noticed her arrival, knowing she would definitely find them there. “She is back!” she cried out in frustration, as her fists clenched her sides, and her body quivered with anger, as she strode into the living room where her mother and brother sat, “Zoe is back, mother!” Ever since Andre returned home and the family ended up dividing, the only person who was not shocked by the announcement or new arrangement was Isla. It was as if she had known what had been going on behind the scenes before the plan finally became public, and couldn't help being bothered like