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
Malcolm sat in his luxurious study, surrounded by walls of dark mahogany bookshelves filled with an array of leather-bound volumes, his eyes skimming over the contents of a report displayed on his tablet, his fingers lightly tapping the screen as he made some annotation. In one hand, he held his phone, effortlessly multitasking as he engaged in a conversation with Edward, through the small earpods tucked into his ears. “The financial statements for next quarter are ready for review, sir. I will forward them to you now,” Edward said from the other side of the phone, while sitting in the comfort of his home, for the first time in a long while. Ever since Malcolm had returned from his long disappearance, he had been working from home rather than at the office, and it had made things easier for him because he would not have to see his capricious moods switch violently all day. “Make sure the board sees these first things tomorrow, and prepare a draft response for the investors' inquir
Sitting at the extended terrace of her room in her villa was Zoe, who had just ended a video call with an acquaintance, her mind pondering back on what Audrey had told her before she left hours ago, right after she returned from her short meeting with Martin. She had promised to help her fly Aaron out of the country without anyone finding out, which would not require the legal stamp of her husband or the Meyers, which had always been a prerequisite in case the child had to ever travel by public plane. It was how they had kept her in check for years so that they would not lose sight of the child if she tried to sneak him. However, Zoe was staring with confusion and disbelief, her eyes fixed on the picture that she had before her, which she had been curious about after her brief talk with Audrey. The man she was looking at in the picture stared back at her with a striking resemblance which she was certain that she had seen recently, even though she couldn’t place where. The problem w
Sitting at a cozy fine restaurant that same evening on the outskirts of the city was Ivy, whose eyes nervously darted to the entrance of the fine dining countless number of times, as she anticipated the arrival of the man she had given every reason to come earlier that day. Lost in her random thoughts and worries while she sat impatiently, she wondered how she would act if he appeared, what she would say to him at first, and how she would explain what she wanted to tell him. Every minute felt like forever as she waited for him, hoping that he would not ditch her for some last-minute prior engagement if he changed his mind about coming, because there was no way she would be able to summon the courage to meet him anymore. Momentarily, every nerve in her became stiff with the whiff of his familiar cologne that wafted through her senses, her breath sucking into her throat as soon as she raised her eyes instinctively to see him approaching where she was sitting. Nothing about him had c
Zoe's sleek car cruised down the quiet road before her, as her hand gripped the steering wheel of her car tightly, her mind swirling with anxiety as she approached the agreed-upon spot. The rate of her heartbeat quickened for a few seconds, as she sighted a black SUV with tinted windows that came into view right before her while droving slowly. She pulled up just right by the car and rolled down her window just enough to receive the parcel that was being passed through, and the exchange that occurred momentarily was swift and silent, with no exchange of words As soon as she received the package, she drove away instantly, her chest tightening with unease as she tossed the box to the backseat, resisting the urge to open it right there, and instead, drove straight to her villa. Finally, as Zoe reached the gates of the secluded villa, she pulled into the garage and halted the car, as she sat in silence for a moment, and turned to stare at the parcel that had been resting on the ba
A scream threatened to tear through Zoe's throat at the moment, but only a strangled sob escaped her, unable to process the excruciating pain that she had been plunged into, as she gasped for breath, her body convulsing with the overwhelming surge of pain and despair. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she crumpled unceremoniously to the cold floor as the marriage certificate slipped from her trembling fingers, fluttering carefully to the floor in the way her dreams had been shattered. Instinctively, her hands gripped the floor and her clothes for support, the more the reality of the memories came flooding while she fought for air, the world spinning around her and the betrayal of her mind suffocating her.The first memory that she had partially seen as soon as she woke up from her near-death experience at the hospital, was herself in a wedding dress and with a man, whose face she didn't see properly. It scared her so much because it was the first time she had seen it that clearly.
Ivy stared blankly out of her window, a champagne flute perfectly arched between her fingers, her mind lost in disturbing thoughts that refused to stop badgering her head. Her encounter with Marcel played over and over in her head like a broken record stuck on repeat, as she tried to understand why his demeanor changed instantly upon seeing a glance at Audrey’s picture who had called her at the moment. He remained unfazed when she told him of Isla's plans. He had seemed so calm, so collected up until that point, and it was as if the name and the contact photo on her screen had flipped a switch on him, releasing emotions that had been buried in him. He left shortly after without saying much after she told him she was a wife to her brother, and did not even give her a reasonable answer when she asked if he knew her, causing her more confusion than ever. And even if she didn't want to bother about it, her chest couldn't help but tighten with the speculations that occurred to her, h
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