Zoe sat in her opulent but suffocatingly quiet villa, with her world sinking around her, while trapped in nothingness and pain, even if she was surrounded with beauty and luxury. She laid limply on the couch in the living room as she stared blankly at the ceilings, the memories of the last conversation she had with Francis Sinclair before she left his house, playing on a loop in her mind, each word a hammer blow to her already fragile spirit. She had stood across from him when he caught her standing in his room, with her heart pounding in her chest, as he stepped closer, his face now visible from a short distance, and she could see the hardness in his expression. “So you came to ask me that? I thought you knew I wasn't home,” his cold voice outrightly snapped in a low and dangerous tone, willing to offer no compromises. “How would I have known?” Zoe remembered the head of the maids telling her, but she feigned ignorance at that moment as she swallowed, “I thought you were not goin
“Zoe, is this truly you? Is this your voice?” Martin could not believe the person that was speaking on the other side of the phone, his eyebrows furrowed so high. “Yes, it is me,” Zoe's voice came out as soft as possible. “Goodness! Goodness! How have you been so distant?” Martin, who sounded like he would cry in relief, asked her, his mind still reeling that Zoe suddenly called him, after he had been trying to contact her for weeks. Zoe's left hand rested on her temples, as she rubbed them softly, feeling so apologetic that she had been a terrible friend, “I am truly sorry, Martin. A lot has been going on lately,” her voice was low and shildy. “I thought you cut me off. I thought you……” his words got caught so heavily in his throat as he struggled to breathe, unable to process his emotions all at once, “I was sad, to be honest. I thought I did something wrong.” “I am truly sorry for everything I might have made you think or assume. It is just that…it is just that I have been goi
Huddled in a corner of her room was Audrey, whose knees clung tightly to her chest, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps, each one caught in her throat as if she were drowning in the thick air of her fear, while struggling to hold her tears. She had read the message that was sent to her phone over and over, the words blurring together every single time, as fresh tears welled up in her eyes, a terrible ache plaguing her head. Every time she tried to blink them away and put herself together, the terrifying message occurred to her again, with the choking realization that someone knew what she had done. The sender’s identity was unknown, but the intent was clear; they had her in their grip, and they weren’t going to let go.She pressed her hand to her mouth while trying to stifle the sobs that shook her body, her heart wrenching with an asphyxiating dread that threatened to choke her. ‘Who in her husband’s family knew? Who had discovered her secret? Was it Irina? Ivy? Isla?’ The
Malcolm returned home two days after he dropped Zoe off at her grandfather's house, and ordered those that were in charge of the tracking devices connected to the bracelet to put it off as he had promised her that he would, till she would be able to get rid of it herself. The maids all had shocked expressions on their faces when he appeared in the mansion, and were more surprised because he came in without Zoe, leaving them perplexed in the wonder of their wrong speculations that both of them had been together throughout their absence. As usual, he went up to his room without speaking to anyone or giving an avenue to be asked where he had been, and why he had been so distant without communicating to any of them. That was how they had always been as a family. Before pushing the door to his room open, he stood outside his room for a few seconds, his eyes lingering on the door of Zoe's room which was just opposite his. And even if he knew that there was no way she was inside the room
Stepping out of the sleek, white car that pulled up to the front of ANCLAIR, a towering able-bodied bodyguard with a stern expression and an imposing stature walked to open the car to the backseat. The door opened smoothly, and out stepped Zoe dressed in a matching tailored, white suit that hugged her figure with a commanding elegance, as she sauntered into the building so elegantly alongside the bodyguard walking behind her. With each step she took, her heels clicked against the polished floors, and she didn’t bother to acknowledge the curious stares or the hushed murmurs that followed her, with every worker scurrying to carry the news of her sudden arrival. She entered the elevator with the young man behind her with purpose, her mind was focused on her way to the conference room where her fate was being decided without her. The double doors of the conference room swung open as Dylan, her bodyguard pushed them, and she strutted inside, her presence commanding immediate attentio
The preparations for Irina's birthday party, which was less than a week ago, were already going so smoothly, and yet Audrey was still in a constant state of quiet terror that seeped into every corner of her life and left her feeling like she was always on the verge of a breakdown. Every day was a struggle to maintain the façade of normalcy, and to pretend that everything was fine within her as she continued to live in the Meyers mansion because of her son, when, in reality, she was barely holding it together.The fear was growing insidious day by day, creeping into her thoughts incessantly, and she knew that she had to send him away, far from their reach using Zoe's help, because it was the only way to protect him.And while the arrangements were made in secret, she quietly changed every legal document, listing Zoe as Aaron's guardian and next of kin, with a heavy heart, because she needed to ensure that if anything happened to her, her son would be taken care of, without question or
Zoe’s eyes widened in shock, her heart sinking at the revelation Audrey had made her know, unable to believe what she was hearing, “Is it true? Are you sure? How did you even figure that out?” She almost muttered gibberish.“Yes, it is indeed true. I found out three years ago before his accident, and found out that he was planning to marry another wealthy lady after divorcing me, taking my child, and was not going to give me a single penny for alimony. I dug into his room, and found a DNA test that was sent to him as a package,” Audrey narrated more boldly this time, as if she had been waiting to let it out for so long. “What?” Zoe couldn't believe her ears, as her eyebrows furrowed in confusion and bewilderment. “Yes. And I think someone else knows too, because it was delivered probably to put him on the edge of something. He traveled two days later, and news came to us that he was dead!” Audrey narrated further. “That is crazy. What if it was just to scare him or something? What
Standing quietly while lost in thoughts, Zoe stood for a few seconds, watching Audrey, who had slept off on one of the couches in the living room with an ache in her heart. Even in the poor lady's sleep, her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and the pain was etched into her face even in unconsciousness, while wincing painfully in her sleep. Her eyes traced the contours of Audrey's face, which she had never really observed properly, and a soft sigh escaped her lips, when she winced painfully again and again, her body curling slightly as if to protect herself from the invisible wounds that haunted her even in sleep.Slowly, Zoe reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against her hair, as she whispered, “Sleep well,” before she pulled away. With a final glance, she turned and left the room and shut the door behind her, as she made her way to where the car was parked, with her bodyguard, Dylan, already waiting by the car. He opened the door for her as she approached, and zoomed off aft
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