Fiona's POVI couldn’t breathe. Everything was slipping through my fingers—everything I had worked for, sacrificed for. Gone. Just like that.I stared blankly at the lawyer as he spoke. He was speaking plainly as if he was discussing the weather, but this was about my life. My house. My security."The bank will be coming soon to claim the property," he said calmly. "I warned Stevenson about taking the loan. I told him this was a bad move, especially using the house as collateral to back it up, but he wouldn’t listen."My heart pounded in my chest. The fear and disbelief I felt quickly turned into anger and bitterness. How could Stevenson be so reckless?He’d gambled everything away, and for what? I thought I had control, that I could trust him to keep things intact. But now, it seemed I had trusted a fool. A dead fool, at that.I started pacing the room, my mind racing. No, this isn’t happening. I clenched my fists, unable to accept the reality crashing down around me."Well, if that'
Andrew's POVI pushed open the front door and walked into the living room, expecting to hear Sheila call out or at least acknowledge my presence.Instead, there she was, sitting on the couch, her legs tucked under her, staring blankly at the TV. It was her favorite show, and she seemed utterly absorbed in it, not sparing me a glance as I stood in the doorway.I deliberately stomped my foot as I set my briefcase down, hoping to get her attention. Nothing. She didn’t even flinch. Just a quick glance my way, then she returned her focus to the screen.I sighed, frustrated. Why was she acting this way again? How long would she continue treating me like air?Enough of this. I walked over to her and stood directly in front of the TV, blocking her view. Sheila’s eyes flicked up to meet mine, a cold, distant expression clouding her face. Without a word, she shifted slightly to the side, continuing to watch her show as if I wasn’t even there. This silent treatment had gone on long enough.I sn
Sheila’s POV I promised myself I wouldn’t cry. I promised I wouldn’t feel this hurt again. But here I was, sitting on the cold floor of the study, fighting back the tears that were trying to escape. How did I end up like this? How did Andrew manage to break me so completely, even after I convinced myself over and over that we were just strangers living under the same roof?I clenched my fists, feeling my heart race with frustration. How dare he call me selfish and self-centered after everything? After lying to me, after keeping secrets, after... abandoning me. My chest tightened as unwanted memories rushed in—the day he ran to Evelyn, leaving me behind like I didn’t matter. Like I was just an afterthought.I had told myself so many times that Andrew didn’t love me. He made it clear. But that didn’t stop the sting, the ache that twisted inside me every time I thought about it. No matter how much I told myself I shouldn’t care, it still hurts.I pulled my knees to my chest, burying m
Fiona’s POVThe air felt thick and suffocating. Phoebe stood in front of me, her eyes blazing with disbelief and anger. I had never seen her like this before. This was not my sweet, obedient daughter. She was someone else entirely—someone filled with rage, and I didn’t know how to control it.“I can’t believe you’re telling me this,” Phoebe spat, her voice shaking. “Caspian isn’t my father. You’re lying. This is some sick joke, isn’t it?”I took a deep breath, my chest tightening. I had hoped she would take it better than this. I hadn’t wanted to tell her like this at all, but she forced my hand. She needed to know the truth. “No, Phoebe,” I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady. “I wish I were lying, but I’m not. Caspian is your biological father. Stevenson… Stevenson wasn’t.”Her eyes widened in horror, and she slowly took a step back as if the truth physically pushed her. “You’re disgusting,” she hissed. “How could you do that to him? How could you do that to me?”“Phoebe,
Phoebe’s POVMom's voice shook as she turned to me, "Phoebe, did you call the police?"I paused, then answered, “No.” But inside, I was relieved they were here. Someone had to stop this madness.Nothing would ever make me accept a man like Caspian as my father, not when he was a man who leeched off my mother, hiding under my father’s roof like a coward. He couldn’t even take care of himself.Caspian's eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape as the announcement from outside echoed through the house.One of the officers outside shouted, "I repeat, this is the police! The house is surrounded. Open the door immediately, or we will force entry!”“Fiona, I can’t go down! Remember our agreement!” Caspian hissed, desperation clouding his face. He then grabbed Mom, kissing her passionately, and I felt bile rise in my throat. It was disgusting. How could she let a man like him touch her?Without waiting for her reaction, Caspian bolted through the servant’s quarters, disappearing f
Antonio's POVI stared at Phoebe as she asked again, her voice confused and trembling. "What do you mean, which home?"Her eyes searched mine for some clarity, but I just finished my drink and looked at her disinterestedly. I almost felt sorry for her. Almost.She really had no idea.“To be honest,” I started slowly, swirling the wine in my glass, “this wasn’t how I planned it.” I gave her a look that I knew would unsettle her. “I was going to handle your father. Break him. Ruin him. And when I was done, I would let him know that I was behind it all, and then watch him suffer.”I paused, watching her absorb my words. She looked so confused, so naïve."But," I added with a sigh, "his death ruined everything. My plans, my satisfaction... everything. He died just too suddenly."Phoebe blinked, clearly still trying to piece together what I was saying. "I don’t understand what you're trying to say. Who do you want to break an
Phoebe's POVI was on the ground, my body shaking with anger and frustration when one of the servants rushed over to me. Her face was filled with concern as she bent down to help me up.“Miss Phoebe, are you alright? What happened?” she asked, her voice soft and worried.I didn’t even think. My emotions were in control, and before I knew it, my hand flew across her face, a sharp slap echoing in the air.“Did I ask for your help?” I snarled, glaring at her. “Get out!”The servant stumbled back, her hand flying to her cheek as she stared at me, wide-eyed and clearly hurt.“I’m so sorry, Miss Phoebe,” she mumbled, her voice trembling as she started to turn away.But before she could leave, I called after her in a sharp tone, “Wait. Come back.”She hesitated, fear and confusion written all over her face, but she obediently returned. I didn’t even feel guilty. I was too wrapped up in my own storm of emotions.
Sheila's POVThe evening air was filled with the smell of soil and flowers while I worked in my garden.I took a break, wiped the sweat from my forehead, and stood under the shade of a big oak tree at the edge of the garden.I leaned against the tree and sat down, letting the quiet settle over me. I had always found comfort in the garden, a place where I could clear my mind. But today, as I sat there surrounded by the growing darkness, my thoughts were anything but calm. I missed my mom so much. It’d been a few days since she left and I had been trying to keep myself busy.Just as I was resting, two of the servants walked by. They didn’t seem to notice me leaning by the side of the oak tree as they began to talk in a low voice.“Sheila’s been so cold toward Master,” one of them said. “It’s like she doesn’t even care about him.”The other servant nodded. “Can you imagine? Every woman dreams of being Mrs. Andrew, and yet,
Phoebe’s POVThe men’s taunts and shoves suddenly stopped, replaced by an angry shout. "Turn off those damn bright lights!" one of them yelled.The harsh, blinding beam of a car’s headlights cut through the alley like a spotlight, and I had to squint against the glare. The three men cursed, stumbling back, clearly irritated."Hey, you! Get out of here with that light!" one of them yelled. I didn’t waste a second. With all the desperation I felt in my chest, I screamed, "Help! Please, help me!"The car’s headlights were so bright, I couldn’t see the driver at all—just the silhouette of someone sitting behind the wheel. The men looked at each other, muttering curses before taking a few steps back, clearly annoyed but not ready to give up.I could barely breathe in the tense silence, but I was just so relieved that they were backing off. It was a small victory, but it was enough to make me feel a flicker of hope. I had to get away—get to safety before they changed their minds.Then the c
Phoebe’s POV Carla’s face burned with rage as she stormed toward Rachel, grabbing her by the hair and yanking hard. “You think I wouldn’t find out? You’ve been sneaking around with my husband!” Rachel yelped, struggling to free herself. “You’re crazy! Let go of me, Carla! What the hell is wrong with you?!” The chaos erupted as other staff members tried to intervene. One of them, Lily, Rachael's best friend, stepped forward and slapped Carla hard across the face. “Enough, Carla! Stop acting like this is Rachel’s fault! Your husband doesn’t even love you—he’s only sticking around for the kids!” Carla froze for a moment, her face contorting with fury. “How dare you say that to me? He told you that crap? So, you've also been sleeping with my husband?!” she hissed before lunging at Lily. The room descended into utter chaos as Carla clawed at Rachel and then turned on Lily, who shoved her back. “Get off me, you fat pig!” Rachel shouted, pushing Carla away. The staff scrambled t
Phoebe’s POVI had barely taken a few steps when I slipped on the spilled water on the floor, losing my balance and crashing to the ground. The crash of the glass milkshake I was holding hitting the floor echoed like thunder. I stood frozen, staring at the mess. The thick, sticky liquid spread across the floor, and I could feel my heart sink.Who the hell had spilled water here?!“Phoebe!” My boss’s sharp voice cut through the air like a knife. He was fuming, his face red with frustration. “What the hell is wrong with you? How many times do I have to tell you to be careful?”I opened my mouth to apologize, but he was already shaking his head in disgust.“Get the mop and clean this up, now! I don't want to hear any of your silly excuses,” He ordered. His tone was harsher than usual, and I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks.These past weeks had been nothing short of a nightmare. It felt like trouble followed me wherever I went. Just last week, I was blamed for serving a customer t
Sheila's POVI was in my room with Mom, carefully organizing the clothes Granny had recently bought for me. There were so many that I wondered when I would have the chance to wear them all. I kept telling her I had enough, but my sweet Granny wouldn't hear of it. "Sheila," Mom began, her voice gentle yet curious, "I've noticed Andrew dropping you off quite often lately. Are you two back together?" A warm blush immediately crept up my cheeks. I paused, folding a shirt, and then replied, "We're just taking things slowly, Mom. One step at a time." She looked at me with a knowing smile, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I see," she said, her tone teasing. "Well, if you're really sure about giving Andrew another chance, then I give you my blessings." I felt a surge of happiness and gratitude. I walked over to her, enveloping her in a tight hug. "Thank you, Mom. You've always stood by me, and I can't express how much that means to me." She pulled back slightly, holding my hands i
Andrew's POVA few weeks had passed since the chaos surrounding Therese and everything else had settled. Alfred was back to work after being suspended for weeks without pay, and things with Sheila had been going progressively smoothly. I had been buried in work, the weight of the business constantly hanging over my head. As I sat in my office, typing away on my laptop, a sharp knock on the door interrupted my concentration. Before I could respond, the door swung open, and my parents entered. My secretary rushed in after them, looking flustered. It was obvious she had tried to stop them, but they were having none of it. "Andrew," my father called out, his tone already tinged with annoyance. My mother followed behind him, her expression unreadable but no less intense. My secretary stepped into my office and began to explain. "I... I apologize, Mr. Walker. They insisted on seeing you immediately," she said nervously. "They refused to wait for me to inform you before they barged i
Sheila's POVAs the plane touched down in the city, I felt a sense of relief mixed with anxiety. We were finally back, but the weight of everything that had happened still loomed over me. As soon as the plane’s door opened, the cold rush of air hit us, and I could see the flashing lights of police cars waiting on the tarmac. They were already here, prepared for whatever would unfold next. As we began to step off the plane, the sound of raised voices reached us. Turning around, I saw Andrew's guards holding Anna back, their grip firm as she struggled against them. "Please, I just need to talk to her!" Anna cried out desperately, her voice trembling. "I promise I don't mean any harm!"Andrew’s expression darkened as he stepped forward. “Take her away,” he ordered, his tone cold and unyielding. “I don’t want to see her again.” “No! Please, Mistress, just a moment! I need to say something to you,” Anna pleaded, her voice growing louder. Her tear-filled eyes met mine, and the despe
Sheila's POVI didn’t know where Andrew was taking me, but I could see how furious and upset he was. His mood was dark, and I could feel the weight of his emotions without him saying a word to me. I didn’t even ask. There was something about him that made me want to follow quietly, unsure how I was going to calm him down, and not wanting to make his mood worse. He led me to a secluded part of the plane, a small, well-decorated room that looked almost like a personal cabin. Before I could ask any questions, Andrew shut the door behind us. His eyes, filled with a storm of emotions, met mine for a brief moment before he suddenly pulled me into his arms. I froze, caught off guard by the suddenness of his embrace. He pressed his head against my shoulder, holding me tightly as though trying to find some comfort. We stood there for a few seconds, both unsure of what to do. Hesitantly, I began to pat his back, uncertain of how to respond. “They turned against me! I trusted them so muc
Andrew’s POV I was trying so hard to understand what I had just heard. Anna, the woman who had served me so faithfully all these years, had been hiding something this massive from me. How could Therese be Anna's daughter? I stared at her, disbelief flooding my veins. I hadn’t known Anna had a child, let alone one who was working in my mansion under false pretenses. “What’s going on, Anna?” I asked, my voice thick with anger and confusion. “How is it possible that your daughter has been working here without my knowledge?” Anna’s face twisted with a mix of guilt and fear, tears welling up in her eyes. She had never been one to break down easily, but this time, it was different. “She’s not really my daughter, Master,” Anna explained shakily, her voice quivering. “She’s my late twin sister’s child… I raised her as my own after my sister passed away. I’ve done everything I could to give her a good life, everything. I sent money whenever I could, supported her when she needed it. I
Andrew's POV“Double-check everything,” I instructed the housekeeper over the phone. “The villa needs to be ready when we arrive, and I want the staff there briefed. No room for error.” “Yes, Sir. Everything is confirmed,” the voice on the other end said. “Good,” I replied with a nod before hanging up. It had taken a lot of effort to organize this, but I knew it would definitely be worth it. I turned to Alfred. “Are the movement schedules finalized? And the cars we'll be using once we land?” He nodded. “Yes, Master. Everything has been arranged as per your instructions. Everything has been confirmed.” “Excellent,” I replied, leaning slightly against the window frame. I allowed myself a small smile, one of satisfaction. The truth was, I knew Sheila wouldn’t have come willingly if I had asked her outright. She would’ve found an excuse, some way to evade me. That’s why I had to take matters into my own hands. It wasn’t ideal, but it was necessary. Alfred tilted his head, ob