Antonio's POV
The drive back home from Fiona’s place was silent, and I liked it that way. I sat in the back seat with Phoebe, staring out of the window, but my mind was somewhere else.I was fuming, replaying Fiona’s words in my head over and over again. The nerve of her, talking to me like that. If I hadn't shown up when I did to save her family from bankruptcy, would she have had the guts to talk to me carelessly?My jaw tightened as I glanced sideways at Phoebe. She was huddled in her seat, avoiding my gaze like a scared little mouse. She knew. Of course, she knew.Her impulsive, foolish, childish attitude was the reason Fiona thought she had a say in how I was going to run my home. The fact that Stevenson was at her mercy didn't mean I would let her daughter treat me the same way. Over my dead body.I wanted to say something, to lash out, but I just decided to play it cool. Phoebe shrank further into her seat, as if she wished the groPhoebe’s POVI knelt there, trying to keep my breathing steady, but fear surged through me as I stared at the cold expression on Antonio’s face.His anger felt different this time. It was colder and more intense, and I could tell that a few spankings wouldn't be enough to please him. What was he planning to do?I lowered my head, bracing myself for whatever was coming. I had learned to endure Antonio’s punishments before. I could do it again. It was what I had to do for now.He moved toward the drawer—the one that was always locked. My heart skipped a beat. He pulled it open, and when I saw what he took out, my blood ran cold.A thick gold chain. But not just any chain. It looked like a collar, something you’d put on a dog. My stomach twisted in knots as he walked toward me, holding it up like it was something precious. He didn’t say a word at first, just stared at me as he dangled it in front of my eyes.“Firstly, you’ll start w
Andrew's POVIt was another long day, and I found myself in yet another Zoom meeting, this time with Mr. Charles, the CEO of Xeron Enterprise, who presently wasn't in the country. He was quite efficient, and despite the distance, we quickly wrapped up the business video call about the contract.As I ended the call, I leaned back in my chair and shut my eyes, trying to rest a little. It didn’t last long, though. A soft knock on my office door pulled me out of my thoughts."Come in," I called, already knowing it would be Zane.He stepped in, looking sharp as always, but there was something more serious in his expression today. "Master, I found some information on Alan Blackwood that I think you'll find interesting."That piqued my curiosity instantly. I straightened up in my seat, gesturing for him to continue. "What did you find?"Zane wasted no time. He took out a folder, laying it on my desk as he began explaining in detail. "Yo
Sheila's POV I could say today was one of the happiest days of my life. After so much time, my mother was finally being discharged today. I could hardly hold back my excitement. Three years of hospital stays, the smell of medicine, and constant checkups were finally coming to an end. I had been planning for this day for weeks, getting everything ready for her. Her room at home was ready. I had chosen the softest sheets, stocked her wardrobe with new clothes, and mapped out activities we could enjoy together. There was so much I wanted her to experience now that she would no longer be confined to the hospital. We would visit parks, sip tea in our favorite café, and finally have a taste of life again—something that had been taken from her for far too long. As we sat in the hospital room, waiting for Dr. Augustine, my mother’s eyes sparkled with the same excitement I felt. She looked so happy and couldn't wait to leave. “Can you believe it, Sheila? I’m finally leaving here,” s
I stood frozen in place, unable to believe who I was staring at.“Simeon,” I muttered, the name slipping from my lips almost involuntarily.He smirked, a lazy, cocky grin that I remembered all too well. “I'm surprised you remember me, Sheila. I thought you must have forgotten by now; pleased to know that you still remember.”How could I ever forget? The chaos, the tension he brought with him the very first time I met him—who would forget that so easily?I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “What are you doing here?”Simeon leaned back casually against the wall, crossing his arms with a bored look on his face. “I was bored. Thought I’d come by and see if we could finish our interesting, unfinished conversation from the other night.”“Bored? You’re here just because you’re bored?”He shrugged. “Of course. And as I mentioned earlier, you and I didn’t exactly finish our last conversation. I thought we could, yo
Fiona’s POVLiving under the same roof with Stevenson had become something else, almost unbearable, as we hardly spoke anymore. Every day, we went about our business, treating each other as housemates, and most of the time, pretending the other didn’t exist. I had no intention of doing anything for him after the way he humiliated me the day he returned. I was sure the servants overheard us yelling; it was pretty hard to miss. Since then, the house had become a battleground of silence.What bothered me more lately was Phoebe. I had been trying to reach her since the day before yesterday, after she and Antonio left. I needed to make sure she was alright, but she hadn’t been picking up. Today, I decided to try again. When I dialed her number, I was glad when she finally picked up.“Phoebe, darling! How are you doing? Why haven't you been answering your calls?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.“I'm sorry, Mom. I'v
Stevenson's POVI heard Fiona’s loud shriek, and I quickly rushed to the front door to find out what was going on.My heart raced as I reached her side, instinctively stepping in front of her, shielding her from whatever—or whoever—was standing on the other side.A tall, broad-shouldered man was in the doorway with a confused maid, a black duffel bag slung over his shoulder. His face stretched into a smile, but there was something off about it.“Who are you?” I asked coldly as I scanned him from head to toe. Why did the security guards allow a stranger into my house?The man chuckled lightly and stretched out his hand toward me. “Hi, I'm Caspian,” he said smoothly. “I’m Fiona’s cousin. I just came into town.”I didn’t take his hand. Instead, I glanced at Fiona, who still stood frozen behind me. Her eyes widened slightly as if she had just seen a ghost. The maid that answered the door took this opportunity to leave while I questio
Fiona’s POVI heaved a sigh of relief the second Stevenson walked out of the door and slammed the door. It took everything in me to act so tough and hard with him.If I had fidgeted or faltered for even a second, he would’ve noticed immediately. His eyes missed nothing. But now, back to the matter at hand. Caspian... Caspian was here. In my house! How was that even possible?I took a deep breath, trying to maintain my cool, though inside, my heart was beating faster with anxiety and fear.What exactly was he doing here? And more importantly, why now?First thing first, I took a deep breath and called for Gia. When she came to the room, I began instructing her on what to do.“Gia, I need you to prepare the guest room down the hallway for Caspian. And tell one of the maids to keep him entertained with whatever he asks for.”Gia hesitated for a second, then answered, “Ma’am, Mr. Caspian has already reque
Stevenson’s POVLater that day…….“She’s got the audacity, Shepherd. The audacity to bring that... that cousin of hers into my house. After I clearly told her I didn't want him around!”I took a shot of my drink and gulped it all at once, feeling so angry and frustrated. Shepherd raised an eyebrow, taking a long sip from his beer. “You’re sure this Caspian guy is her cousin? I mean…women these days that are out for revenge can't be fully trusted.”I knew what Shepherd was hinting at and initially, I had the same thought as well.“I called one of Fiona’s sisters, the one she's very close to, and she confirmed knowing Caspian. But I still don't want him in my house. He's staying under my roof like he owns the place. I’m worried that soon, he and Fiona will start ganging up against me in my own house and someday, I might just lose full control of my home.”Shepherd chuckled dryly, shaking his head. “Control, huh? You’ve b
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