Sheila's POV "Where did you go? Were you planning on running away?" My father angrily yelled at me.I held my stinging cheek and explained, "No, Father, I went to see Mother.""Enough! Go upstairs and change already. I don't want to hear anything about that woman," he shouted.I went to my room and found a plain white dress laid out on my bed. It completely lacked any elegance or resemblance to a wedding gown, but I didn't care. If this was what they wanted me to wear, then so be it."Do you like your wedding dress, dear sister?" Phoebe sneered as she appeared at the door, bursting into laughter at the sight of me in the dress."Oh my goodness, you look so hideous! If I were the groom, I'd abandon you at the altar and never look back," Phoebe mocked, her laughter ringing through the room."I hope you're satisfied now. Alan is all yours, and I'm marrying the man you were supposed to marry. I hope you are happy?""Absolutely! You know I did you a favor. You couldn't even keep Alan happ
Andrew's POVI got to my room and slammed the door shut. Sheila really knew how to push one's buttons. How dare she speak to me like that in front of my staff?She needed to learn that no one had the audacity to address me in such a condescending manner."It's only temporary, Andrew. Once you uncover who's targeting Evelyn, you can dissolve this farce of a marriage," I reassured myself, trying to calm down.Grabbing my phone, I dialed Killian's number. He answered after the first ring, "Hello Andrew, what's going on?""Killian, I need you to make arrangements to bring Evelyn down to this city. I'll be staying here for a while, and I want her close to me.""Whoa, I thought you were just visiting your parents. How did they manage to convince you to stay?""It's a long story. Just do as I've asked, and remember... discreetly. I'll explain everything to you later.”I hung up and sank onto my bed. It felt like an eternity since I last visited Evelyn in the hospital. I knew Killian, her pe
Sheila's POV"Okay, I'm all done now. Please try to rest well, Mrs. Walker. You'll feel much better in the morning," the doctor assured me before standing up to leave."Thank you, Doctor," I replied weakly."Thank you for your time, Doctor. I'll walk you to the door," Anna, the housekeeper, offered.My head was throbbing badly, and I hoped the medication the doctor gave me would kick in soon and stop the pounding.Just as I was about to close my eyes and rest, the door suddenly burst open, and Andrew rushed in."What happened?" he asked, walking toward me in hurried strides. As he approached, I noticed his usually immaculate suit was wrinkled, and his tie was missing. The top buttons of his typically buttoned-up shirt were undone, showing a glimpse of his firm chest muscles. A few strands of hair fell across his forehead, and tiny beads of sweat dotted his nose, making it seem like he had hurried to see me.My eyes wandered back to his firm chest muscles, wondering why I didn't reali
Andrew's POV“Damn!” I felt so upset and angry that someone could actually bypass my entire security team and attack my house right under my nose!If they could infiltrate my own house, then nowhere was safe! With anger surging through me, I threw a glass against the wall in rage.I heard a knock and had to take a deep breath to calm my raging emotions before granting the person permission to enter.Alfred walked in, and I didn't waste time asking, "Tell me everything in detail.""Master, I was in my room when I heard the security emergency alarm. I stepped outside only to be told by the security team that Mistress was attacked by a masked man. I called you immediately after I got the information.""How did the masked man get into the mansion? Shouldn't there be a guard in charge of the east wing of the mansion where Sheila's room is located? Why was there no security guard on sight when the masked man attacked her?" I asked impatiently, trying to get to the root of the matter."Dant
Sheila's POV The sound of my phone ringing loudly by the bedside woke me up. I yawned and reached out for it, wondering who could be calling at this time.I looked at the wall clock and gasped. Oh no! It's already 9 a.m.; I must have overslept because of the medicine Dr. Augustine gave me.I grabbed my phone, which had been ringing non-stop, and checked who was calling. My heart nearly skipped a beat; it was the hospital.I shuddered and quickly answered the call. “Hello.”“Hello, good morning. Is this Miss Sheila Grayson?” a soft, gentle voice asked in a professional tone.“Yes, this is Sheila Grayson. Did something happen to my mother?” I asked anxiously, sitting up immediately.“Your mother is fine, but she wants to see you. I'm Nurse Tabitha, your mother's assistant nurse. She's been refusing her medications, insisting she wants to see you. We tried calling the Graysons' home, but no one answered. I got your number from your mother.”“Okay, I'll get ready and be there in thirty m
Andrew's POVAfter ending the call with Alfred, I loosened my tie and tried to relax. If Sheila knew what I went through last night while she was sleeping, she wouldn't argue or try to annoy me.Just as I was about to close my eyes for a few seconds break, my office phone rang. I groaned and picked it up reluctantly."Sir, Mr. James is here to see you," my secretary, Ivy, said."Okay, send him in."I adjusted my tie again and waited for my private investigator. We had a lot to discuss.Shortly after, James walked into my office. "James, welcome. Have a seat. How was your trip?""It was good. I came as soon as I could. What's going on, Andrew?"I sighed and began explaining everything to him. He listened carefully as I told him everything Dante had told Alfred and me, up to the point where he started convulsing and we took him to the hospital."How is he now? Did the doctor find out what's wrong with him?" James asked."The doctor said he ingested a slow-acting poison and it will take
Andrew's POV I ignored the call, unwilling to pick up. Why was he calling me? What did he want? He kept calling, making me scowl. If it weren't for wanting to continue watching the video, I would have turned off my phone. I wanted nothing to do with Stevenson. I had heard reports about how badly he treated Sheila and her mother. Even though I didn’t want to intervene in their family matters, his attitude towards Sheila disgusted me. When he heard I was supposedly going broke, he didn't hesitate to hand Sheila over as a substitute bride. It was as if I was doing him a favor by taking Sheila away. Wanting to get it over with, I picked up the call. "Hello, what is it?" I asked in an unfriendly tone, forgetting about pleasantries. “Good evening, Mr. Andrew. Did I call at a bad time?” he asked, immediately noticing my tone. “What do you want?” I asked again, ignoring his question. He cleared his throat and began. “Mr. Andrew, I was surprised to hear you weren’t actually disinherite
Sheila’s POV"I will happily choose Sheila over and over again instead of your precious daughter, Stevenson. SHEILA IS MY WIFE; deal with it!"Hearing these words made my heart race. Was it from disbelief? Excitement? Happiness? I couldn't tell for sure.Did Andrew really mean what he said? I had never been told that I was better than Phoebe. Growing up, I always put myself second to Phoebe because she was often praised as the golden child, while I was often reminded that I was just a mistake, born from an affair.Other than my mother, someone actually prefer me over Phoebe?"Come in, Anna. I really need that cup of coffee right now."Andrew's words brought me back to reality when I realized he had mistaken me for Anna. I thought about running away, but my feet wouldn't move.Just as I was about to flee, I turned and saw Anna behind me with a cup of coffee, looking confused about why I was just standing at the door of An
Simeon's POVAs we packed up the food, I couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging that I hadn't experienced in years. My heart raced with excitement. A family picnic? I’d never had one in my life. The thought of spending an entire day with Sheila and her mom—laughing, eating, and simply being together—felt surreal. It was a feeling I didn’t want to let go of, and I’d decided to take things one step further. “All right, ladies,” I announced as I helped them into the car. “I’ve got the perfect place in mind for this picnic, a little getaway.” Sheila frowned, her brow furrowing as she buckled her seatbelt. “Getaway? Simeon, this is just supposed to be a picnic. What are you talking about?” Mia and I exchanged a knowing glance. This was the part where Sheila would start protesting, but we were already prepared. “It’s Saturday,” I said casually, pulling onto the road. “I figured we could make this a mini vacation—stay ove
Sheila's POV The smell of something sweet wafted through the air, pulling me out of my room and straight toward the kitchen. I leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, and smiled. “Mom, are the cookies ready yet?” I asked, hoping she’d let me sneak a taste. She glanced over her shoulder, an apron tied snugly around her waist. “Almost,” she replied, her hands busy rolling out dough. I stepped closer and tied on an apron of my own. “Let me help then. You’re always saying teamwork makes the dream work.” She chuckled as I joined her at the counter, and we worked side by side, kneading and shaping the dough. Halfway through, while the scent of freshly baked cookies filled the air, Mom turned to me with a sly smile. “Should I make an extra batch?” she asked casually, but I could see her eyes glinting mischievously. “You know, since these are Simeon’s favorites.” I rolled my eyes playfully. “Mom, is Simeon a buffalo you’re p
Andrew's POV Evelyn headed to her room before I could even mention Simeon's name, and slammed the door really hard, leaving no room for further confrontations.I stood motionless, my fists clenched at my sides. I couldn’t bring myself to call her back or say another word. Not after what she had revealed. She had heard me mutter Sheila’s name in my sleep.When did this happen? And why hadn’t Evelyn confronted me sooner? The thought gnawed at my mind, making me feel guilty.Was it something I had dreamt unconsciously, or was it the part of me I’d tried so desperately to suppress surfacing in the worst possible way?I turned and headed to the study. The air inside the room was stifling, but it matched the suffocating weight on my chest. I grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the shelf, poured myself a glass, and downed it in one go. The burn of the alcohol was sharp, but it did little to dull the chaos in my head.Opening the balcony door, I let the cool night air wash over me. I sank into
Evelyn’s POVI bent down slowly, my fingers trembling as I picked up one of the pictures Andrew had thrown at me. My heart raced as the image in my hand sent a chill down my spine. It was a photo of me holding Simeon’s hand. How… how did Andrew get this? When I had sarcastically asked if he was stalking me earlier, I hadn’t expected him to actually do it. But here it was—evidence that he’d hired someone to follow me. I clenched the photo in my hand, my shock instantly turning into anger. Without thinking, I threw it back at him, and asked in a sharp voice,“What is this, Andrew? Am I a prisoner in your house now? A prisoner who can’t step outside without the warden’s permission?” Andrew remained unmoved, his expression cold and stern. “This isn’t about being a prisoner, Evelyn. What exactly were you doing with Simeon?” His question stung, not because I didn’t have an answer, but because of the sheer audacity of it. What did he think I was doing with Simeon? I took a deep bre
Andrew’s POV I stood in the shadows, my arms crossed tightly over my chest, watching as Evelyn quietly slipped into the house. She moved carefully, shutting the door gently, as if trying not to wake anyone. The faint click echoed in the silence, and I waited, my patience thinning with every passing second. She didn’t see me. Her focus was on the stairs, her steps light but quick. It was clear she wanted to get to her room without encountering anyone. But she wouldn’t get that luxury tonight. “Where have you been, Evelyn?” My low, sharp voice immediately broke the stillness. She froze mid-step, clutching her bag tightly. A startled shriek escaped her lips as she turned abruptly, her wide eyes searching the shadows until they landed on me. “Andrew!” she exclaimed. “Why would you do that? You scared me!” I didn’t answer, didn’t move. I just stood there, letting the silence stretch between us. Her brows furrowed as she stepped down from the stairs she was about to climb,
Evelyn's POV I stood there, frozen, my hands clenched into fists as I watched Simeon leave with Sheila. My chest heaved with every breath, the anger bubbling inside me. My eyes burned with the rage coursing through me. How could he? How dare he? When I learned about Sheila, I felt this desperate need to meet her. I had to see for myself what made her so special—why she seemed to be at the center of everything. But every time I tried, something came up, and I was kept away. It felt like the universe was conspiring to keep us apart. Today, I’d had enough. I snuck out of the house, driving for hours, determined to meet this woman who had somehow managed to get involved with everything—or rather, everyone—that used to matter to me. What I didn’t expect was to run into Simeon. Seeing him after all this time—it should have felt like a reunion, a moment of happiness. Instead, his coldness pierced through me like a dagger. Why her? Why Sheila? A woman he barely knew compared to
Sheila's POVAs I stepped out of the building with Simeon, I felt the cool breeze hit my skin. Simeon was quiet beside me, his expression unreadable as we walked to the car. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I stayed silent, giving him the space he seemed to need. When we got into the car, Simeon gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. He didn’t turn the ignition or say a word, just stared straight ahead. I could tell the confrontation with Evelyn had drained him. It wasn’t just about meeting her unexpectedly—it was about the love, betrayal, and unresolved feelings she represented. I didn’t blame him for being lost in thought. After what felt like an eternity, I glanced at him, hesitating before softly asking, “Are you alright?” He blinked, as if coming out of a trance, and managed a faint smile. “Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied, but I could hear the strain in his voice. Feeling a pang of guilt, I began to apologize. “I’m sorry, Simeon. I had no idea she was Mrs. Asher. I sh
Simeon's POVThe moment I walked into the grand lobby, my eyes scanned the surroundings in search of Sheila. I didn’t expect the scene that greeted me. Just across the room, I spotted them: Sheila and Evelyn... together. How was this possible? What was Evelyn doing in this part of town? I stared at Evelyn, and saw how beautifully well she had recovered ever since I last saw her at the hospital. My heart seemed to have skipped a beat, watching her so full of life and vigor.Seeing her seated across from Sheila, looking at Sheila as if she was a piece of garbage, set off alarm bells in my head. I'd always known Evelyn to be sharp and outspoken....what was she saying to Sheila?I buried my emotions deep within my heart and walked closer, unnoticed for now, catching the tail end of Evelyn’s words, her tone dripping with disdain. “...what happens when Simeon gets tired of you, too? Who will you latch on to? Let me guess… their grandfather?” Sheila stood frozen, her face pale and sp
Sheila's POV As I walked into the grand lobby of the building, my heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor, I felt a wave of nervousness was through me.The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of fresh flowers and expensive perfume. Everything about this place screamed wealth and splendor.Clutching my bag tightly, I approached the reception desk. The woman seated behind it gave me a polite smile. “I’m here for a meeting with Mrs. Asher,” I said to the woman.She nodded and gestured toward the lounge area. “Welcome, Ma’am. You’ll find her at the table near the window.” “Oh, okay, thank you very much,” and made my way toward the spot she indicated. My eyes scanned the tables until they landed on a woman seated in the corner. She was quite hard to miss.She wore a long scarf tied elegantly around her neck, its silk edges catching the light. Her oversized black sunglasses concealed much of her face, but her posture and demeanor were undeniably poised. Something about