Evelyn's POVSimeon and I both turned toward the voice that had just spoken from the doorway, and to my surprise, it was my father, standing tall with my mother beside him. I smiled, my heart swelling with happiness that they had come to see me, and was about to greet them when everything shifted in an instant. Before I could process what was happening, my father angrily walked to Simeon and slapped him across the cheek. My breath caught in my throat as I gasped in shock, unable to believe what I had just witnessed. "Father!" I exclaimed, horrified by the sudden slap. My mother immediately came to sit beside me, and placed a calming hand on my arm, her voice low and firm. "Don't get involved, Evelyn," she whispered, her gaze not leaving my father. "Let your father handle this."I watched as my father began to scold Simeon, his tone harsh. "Why do you insist on disturbing my daughter's peace? She's married to Andrew now, Simeon. You have no place in her life. Why don't you let her b
Sheila's POVA few days later... “Maybe you should carry the blue purse,” Mom suggested, inspecting my choices. “It’s elegant but not too much for a family dinner.” I nodded. “You think? I was leaning toward the black one, but I don’t want to look too... serious.” She chuckled. “No, sweetie. The blue one is perfect for tonight.” The sound of a car horn interrupted us, signaling that Simeon had arrived to pick us up. I exchanged a quick smile with Mom before we made our way to the car. “Good evening, ladies,” Simeon greeted us warmly as we climbed in, offering a charming smile. He immediately turned to Mom. “You look absolutely stunning, as always, Mia.” Mom smiled at the compliment, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Thank you, Simeon,” she replied warmly. “You also look handsome.” Simeon flashed a grin, his usual playful self, then turned to me. “And Sheila, you’re looking lovely as well. I must say, you’re both a sight to behold.” I laughed lightly. “Drop the act, Sime
Sheila's POVDinner was served, and though the table was filled with smiles and laughter, the atmosphere was far from perfect. We all sat around, pretending we belonged in this picture-perfect family, but deep down, we all knew the cracks were visible to anyone paying attention.Grandma, always the one to keep the peace, cleared her throat. "Mia, are you enjoying the meal?" she asked with a smile, her eyes filled with gentle curiosity.Mom smiled back warmly. "Yes, it’s delicious. Everything tastes great."But from across the table, Gwen muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear, her words dripping with sarcasm. "Well, of course, she would like the food. She probably never eats anything like this anywhere else."The room fell silent for a moment. Everyone heard it, and I could feel the tension rising as Gwen’s brother, sitting next to her, unsuccessfully tried to stifle a laugh.Grandpa shot Gwen a stern look, his voice low but firm. "Gwen, be very careful with your words."Simeo
Simeon's POVDinner continued, but the uneasy feeling in the air was hard to miss. Andrew's father kept glancing at Grandpa, clearly curious and waiting for him to say something. It was obvious he was eager to find out about the big announcement Grandpa had been hinting at for a while. Andrew’s father leaned in slightly, his voice low but insistent. “What is it you wanted to announce, Father?” he asked, his tone betraying his impatience. Grandpa didn’t flinch. He simply leaned back in his chair, his hands folding in front of him, as if savoring the moment. “I’ll tell you after dinner, and when Andrew gets here,” Grandpa replied firmly, leaving no room for argument. Andrew’s father, clearly not satisfied with the answer, still attempted to probe further. “But—” Molly, sensing the displeased look on Grandpa's face, shot her husband a warning look. She leaned toward him and whispered something in his ear. His jaw tightened, but after a moment, he leaned back in his chair, his p
Simeon's POVMia nodded. "Yes, I still have it. The nuns always said it was valuable, that it could fetch a lot of money. They thought it meant my family was wealthy. I held on to it, hoping that one day, I could find my family and with their assistance, help all the children at the orphanage. Unfortunately, I didn't get my wish as I never found them."The room seemed to hold its breath. Mrs. Lannister looked at her husband, her hands trembling as she whispered,"Could we see it? The pendant?" Her voice sounded urgent, almost pleading.I couldn't help but wonder why she was so interested in Mia's pendant. Before Mia could respond, Molly scoffed from across the table.“Are you really going to believe her cock-and-bull story?” she asked sharply. “It sounds like something straight out of a children's storybook. It's obvious she’s just fishing for sympathy.”Gwen chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain. “Aunty is right. She’s probably just trying to get something out of you, Mrs. Lanni
Sheila's POV I stood frozen in disbelief as Mrs. Lannister collapsed to the ground, clutching the jade pendant in her hands. The room erupted into chaos as everyone immediately rushed to help. Grandma was the first to act, her voice cutting through the chaos. “John, call the doctor immediately! Now!” she ordered the butler, who rushed out without hesitation. Andrew crouched down beside Mrs. Lannister, his face tense with worry. “Simeon, help me. We need to get her to the sofa.” Simeon nodded, and together they carefully lifted Mrs. Lannister, ensuring they didn’t jostle her too much. “Easy now,” Simeon muttered as they moved her. Molly, meanwhile, darted around the room. “Where’s something to fan her? She needs air!” Gwen’s mother joined her, grabbing a nearby magazine. “Here, this will do for now. Move aside, Molly, let me help!” she said, her voice shaky as she began fanning Mrs. Lannister’s pale face. I stood frozen, my hands tightly clasped, silently praying that Mr
Mia's POVI could barely process the flood of emotions racing through me. My heart was pounding, my hands trembling as I struggled to grasp what had just been revealed. I had always wondered about my origins, why I was abandoned, why I had been left to grow up without the family I so desperately longed for. But this? This was too much.Grandpa muttered something, his voice distant, but I could hear the words clearly. "I knew that St. Mary's orphanage home sounded quite familiar the first time I heard it from Mia..." My chest tightened at the mention of that place. It was the place that held so many memories for me, the one place that had been a key to my past, and now... it was all becoming too real. I sat down heavily, my mind spinning in a whirlwind of thoughts. All those years, all that time spent wondering, hoping to reunite with my real family... I never expected it to happen like this. I stared at Mr. and Mrs. Lannister, the reality of them being my grandparents crashing dow
Simeon's POVI wasn’t paying much attention when Grandpa said he had something to say. The excitement from Sheila and Mia finally connecting with their long-lost family still had me on a high. I couldn’t help but smile, feeling genuinely happy for them. But when Grandpa dropped the bombshell, the smile on my face immediately vanished.Publicly recognizing me as their grandson? What were these two old people planning?The rest of the family didn't take it lightly at all. Andrew's father slammed his hand on the table, his face flushed with anger. "What on earth are you trying to do, Father? Have you completely lost your senses?”Grandpa didn’t flinch, his voice unwavering as he replied, “Your mother and I have realized that we’ve never really treated Simeon well. We have two grandsons, but we’ve only recognized one. It’s time to recognize the other.”Molly couldn’t contain herself. “Why now, Grandpa? What lies has Simeon fed you for you to change your mind and give him shares in the co
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