Chapter 15"Hello, Marcus. What do you want to talk about? Come to think of it, where's Abigail, your new fleet?" Jane questioned, staring straight into his eyes while resting her weight on one foot."Oh, you wish. Abigail and I are married," Marcus retorted, as a little grin tugged on his lips."I don't actually, I've moved on already," Jane replied."Great, because I had moved on while we were still in the marriage, and right now I think that's the best thing I've ever done." Marcus folded his arms across his chest, happy he had struck a chord, as Jane took a step backward, placing her hands on her stomach."Best thing you've done? You were cheating on me for years and you say it's your best decision. I sacrificed three years of my life, being your dutiful wife. I even placed you on the seat you're enjoying today, Marcus. You are such—""Spare me the pretense, Jane. It's only someone as cheap as you that could decide to stay with you," Marcus spat, referring to Caleb."Don't you dar
Chapter 16"I heard you all have been waiting for me," Caleb strolled in, his head held high, while Jane walked in behind him."Are you kidding us right now, Mr. Lockwood?" One of the board members by name, Jake, spoke.But Caleb shot him a deadly glare that made him not continue his sentence. He's among those who feel Caleb was too young to handle the company and felt he wouldn't want to lose his dough. And he almost in all cases never forget to remind Caleb that he didn't really like him."What Mr. Jake is trying to say is that the company's finances are going down. We can't even embark on a new project because we can't control the cost, and worse, one of our investors just left," an older man responded.Xavier sat down, saying nothing and was just listening. He wanted to see the magic Caleb was going to perform about the situation."We've been losing investors since Xa--" he stopped talking and cleared his throat, then turned to look at Xavier before he continued speaking."We've be
CHAPTER 17 He met Jane conversing with Lilian and her friends and interrupted them. "Are they bothering you, Jane?" He asked immediately he got there. "Oh no, of course not" Jane giggled. "Alright now, Off you go with your friends Lilian" Caleb dismissed them and they left, still chattering. "How's the party going?" He asked her. "Nice" she responded."Are you sure? It seems to me you want the walls to swallow you" he chuckled and she sighed. She took a big gulp from the class again, emptying the glass and placing it on a tray when a waiter passedby.Lilian came out from nowhere, interrupting them as she grabbed Jane's arm. "I'm sorry brother, I have to steal her for a while." Without allowing her to protest, Lilian held her arm and left with her while Caleb only grinned and slowly took a sip from his glass. "So guys, this is my brother's wife, Jane. The one I told you about" Lilian introduced her to her friends and they exchanged pleasantries. The girls complimented Jane as
CHAPTER 18Marcus entered his house, his face twisted in frustration and anger. He slammed the door shut behind him, the noise echoing through the hall, and threw his jacket carelessly onto a chair. His muttered curses filled the room, but Abigail, seated calmly at the dining table, barely glanced up from her manicure."You don't have to slam the door so loud," she said nonchalantly, examining her freshly painted nails. "One day the building might just come crashing down on us.”"Do you have any idea how terrible my life has been?" Marcus ranted, pacing back and forth. "I lost a major deal because Jane and Caleb showed up!”Instead of the sympathy he craved, Abigail’s next words were light, almost dismissive. "Did you block my credit card? I was trying to purchase a product online and they told me it was frozen.”Marcus's face turned red with anger. He slammed his hand down the table. "Are you even listening to me?" he yelled. "Yes, I blocked it. Your excessive spending is part of the
CHAPTER 19*THE NIGHT BEFORE*AFTER THE NIGHT PARTYCaleb led a stumbling, drunk Jane into the house, carefully supporting her weight. "Easy," he whispered, his voice gentle. "You shouldn't have drank so much.”He had only taken his eyes off her for a moment before discovering she had overindulged. He guided her up the stairs to her bedroom, her soft murmurs barely audible. As soon as they entered, Jane lurched forward and vomited. Caleb groaned, holding back her hair as the liquid splashed onto his shoes and her dress.Disgust crossed his face, but he held her tightly. "If only Lilian had listened and kept an eye on you," he muttered under his breath. He called out for the maids to clean up the mess, his gaze fixed on Jane, wondering how to deal with the mess on her.After a moment of contemplation, he reached for the zipper on the back of her dress with unsteady hands. Jane clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and wiggling against him.Caleb reached out to free himself fr
CHAPTER 20Caleb looked up, his expression guarded. "Jane, it's nothing you need to worry about.”Her eyes narrowed. "Nothing to worry about? The entire office is buzzing, Caleb. I deserve to know.”He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Marcus went on the news. He... said some things about you, about us.”Jane's heart pounded. "What did he say?”“Listen Jane, it's nothing serious. It's nothing you should know,” he said and raked his fingers through his hair.Jane reached for the TV remote but Caleb pulled it away just in time. She stared at him with cold eyes. “If it's nothing serious as you claim, then why won't you let me see for myself?”Caleb hesitated. "He implied that you were having an affair with me while you were married to him. That you... used your body to get ahead.”Jane's face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "That's a lie! You know that's a lie!”"I do," Caleb said, his voice calm but firm. "But Marcus is trying to tarnish our reputation. He's bitter
CHAPTER 21Marcus and Abigail stepped out of the car, their arrival marked by the soft rustle of silk and the gleam of polished shoes. The grand ballroom opened before them, alive with the symphony of violins and the gentle hum of conversations.People moved gracefully, greeting each other with warm smiles and clinking glasses. The atmosphere was both calm and lively, a perfect balance of elegance and excitement. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the room, reflecting off the polished marble floors.Marcus walked in, his arm around Abigail's waist, both of them dressed to impress. Marcus wore a sharp, dark suit, while Abigail dazzled in a shimmering gold gown. They handed their invitation to the doorman, who scanned the unique QR code and welcomed them with a nod.Abigail's eyes widened, her grip tightening on Marcus's arm. "Wow, this place is incredible," she whispered, her voice full of awe.“Keep it together," Marcus murmured back, his gaze sharp as it swept over the crowd.
CHAPTER 22“Ladies and gentlemen,” he started, his voice strong yet warm. “Thank you all for coming tonight. As we all know, the gathering is for charity and I never expected many people to show up. Thank you so much for considering the invitation.”“The charity ball is something I have always wanted to do, but it was only recently that the passion truly ignited within me.”He paused, scanning the room. “Tonight, we are here to support thousands of children who can not go to school and families who struggle to put food on the table. The world is becoming unbearable for people who can't afford things they want. Therefore your contributions tonight will make a significant difference. It’s not just about the money; it’s about putting smiles on faces and giving hope where there was none.”A round of applause filled the room, including from Jane, whose smile caught Caleb's eye and made his lips curl slightly in response. He continued, “This dream wasn’t mine alone. Someone very special to