Antonio's POV
I 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 anPhoebe'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,
Alan's POVI knelt on the cold marble floor, my knees digging into the hard surface, and beads of sweat trickled down my forehead. The dim light overhead made the room feel even more suffocating, and the air was thick with tension. I dared not raise my eyes to look at the man standing in front of me—Mr. Romero.Romero’s presence loomed over me, his calm voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "I told you to handle the situation, Alan," he said slowly, his voice filled with disappointment. "And yet, you let things spiral out of control."“I…I…can explain. I-”Before I could get a word out, one of Romero’s men stepped forward and punched me hard in the stomach. Pain exploded through my body as I doubled over, gasping for breath. My vision blurred as I clutched my abdomen, the sharp pain making it nearly impossible to think.Romero stepped closer, his shoes clicking softly on the floor. “Pathetic,” he said, his vo
Alan's POV "Hey, Fido," one of the men mocked, calling me one of Romero's dog names. "Why don’t you fetch this since you willingly declared yourself a dog?" I didn’t move. I kept my head down, fists tight at my sides. The man threw something across the room—a ball or maybe a coin. It hit the wall and bounced back near me. "Come on, boy," he teased, kicking it toward me. "Fetch." The others laughed loudly, their voices filling the room. My face burned with shame, but I stayed silent. I wanted to fight back, but I couldn’t. Not now. "You’re not even worth being called a man," another man said, kicking the object again, so it rolled to my feet. They kept laughing and insulting me, but I wouldn’t give them the reaction they wanted. I wouldn’t break. After what felt like hours, they finally stopped. "Enjoy your night, Fido," one said before they all left the room, leaving me alone. I
Sheila's POVI opened the door wide, my heart racing as I stared at the woman before me. I couldn’t believe it—this was Andrew’s mother, Molly Walker, the woman I had heard about but never met. She was as elegant as I had imagined, every inch of her exuding wealth and superiority. "Come in," I said, stepping aside to let her in. She walked in slowly, her sharp eyes scanning every corner of the house. Her presence alone filled the space with tension.“Where’s my son?” she asked, not bothering with any pleasantries. Her voice was cool, almost impatient.“He’s away on a business trip,” I replied, trying to sound polite. “He’s not around at the moment.”I forced a smile, even though her attitude made me uneasy. “Would you like something to drink?” I asked, hoping to ease the tension.Molly didn’t answer, her eyes continuing to roam over the furniture and the walls, as though she was assessing everything.
Phoebe’s POVI paced back and forth in my room, glancing at the clock on the wall, wondering why Vivian hadn’t called me yet.I knew she wouldn’t just leave me hanging without a reason. With every tick of the clock, my mind raced through possible scenarios.Had something gone wrong? Was she caught up in a problem she couldn't get out of? The thought of Antonio crossed my mind, and a chill ran down my spine.A gentle knock on my door interrupted my frantic thoughts. I straightened up and opened it to find a servant standing there, her head slightly bowed."Ma’am, breakfast is ready," she said politely.I forced a small smile. "Thank you. I’ll be down soon," I replied, waving her off.As she left, I tried calling Vivian again, but this time the automated voice told me her phone was switched off. My heart clenched with worry. Vivian was rarely unreachable; she always kept her phone close, especially when things were tense.“What’s happening?” I murmured, feeling a wave of anxiety wash ov
Andrew's POVI sat alone in my hotel room, gently rubbing my temples, hoping the pounding in my head would ease. The back-to-back meetings were exhausting, yet somehow, they weren’t the source of my headache. Sheila was.Since leaving, I’d tried my best to stay focused, but every hour that passed, she drifted into my thoughts. I was worried.I wondered if she was alright, if she was managing without me there with her. I knew lying to her about Evelyn was wrong… and to top it off, that bastard, Simeon, must have told her that I had chosen Evelyn over her. No woman would be pleased to be a second option.There was something definitely wrong with me. This should have been the perfect time to let her go, to ease her of the pain and hurt she was feeling, but I just couldn't. The thought of getting home and not finding her there made me feel… strange.Probably I was just being selfish. I kept telling myself I was keeping her in the house for her safety and that of her mother, but deep down,
Phoebe’s POV"Drive faster!" I urged, leaning forward, hoping it would somehow speed up the car. The driver glanced at me in the mirror, then picked up the pace without a word. I felt a knot in my stomach, my thoughts circling back to the possibility that something was about to go wrong. I had a bad feeling. What could Antonio possibly be planning now? He hadn’t sent any divorce papers yet, but it was clear he was making moves that might threaten my position.I stared out the window, my thoughts racing. I had worked so hard to become the CEO, but Antonio’s sudden interest in the company, no, MY company, now had me on edge. When we finally pulled up to the company, I barely waited for the car to stop before jumping out and rushed toward the company.As I stepped through the doors, I immediately dialed Vivian. The call had barely rung once before I spotted her car pulling up. She stepped out, and I hurried over to meet her.“What’s going on?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.V
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