Andrew's POV
"Mr. Walker, the projections for the next quarter look promising, but we need your input on the final adjustments," one of my foreign investors said during the zoom meeting.I nodded, glancing at the charts on the screen. "I agree, but let's consider diversifying the portfolio a bit more. We don't want to put all our eggs in one basket, especially with the current market volatility."Another investor chimed in, "Good point, Mr. Walker. But what about the new tech investments? Should we scale back or push forward?""We push forward," I replied without hesitation. "Technology is the future. If we want to stay ahead, we need to invest now, while the opportunities are ripe."There was a brief pause on the other end as they considered my suggestion. "Alright, we'll adjust the plan accordingly. Mr Grey, anything else we should consider?"As the both of them discussed, my thoughts unintentionally drifted to the night SheilaPhoebe's POV"I’m so angry with my dad right now!" I vented to my friends who had come over for a visit. "I told him I wasn't interested in the arranged marriage with his foreign business partner and that I wouldn’t agree to it, but he even went as far as freezing all my debit cards!”My friends exchanged worried looks, trying to comfort me. “You really need to calm down, Phoebe. Maybe there could be another way of explaining to your dad about this?”“There's nothing I haven't done to change his mind! I've begged and begged, threatened to end my life, done everything I could think of, but he just wouldn't bulge!” I yelled angrily.Muna then asked, "Who’s this foreign investor your dad wants you to marry? Isn’t he worried that the investor might take you away to another country, and we might never see you again?”“Antonio Ricardo,” I replied, rolling my eyes. “He’s apparently a billionaire Spanish tycoon my dad wants me to marry.”
Sheila's POVAndrew was already at the breakfast table when I walked into the dining room. The morning light streamed through the windows, making everything look so peaceful. He was dressed for work, casually flipping through some papers while a servant poured him a fresh cup of coffee.“Good morning,” I said, taking a seat across from him.“Morning,” Andrew replied, looking up with a smile. “Are you ready for your day with Grandma? She's quite excited about it.”I shifted in my chair, feeling a bit nervous. “I guess so. Are you sure you can’t come with me?”He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “I’d love to, but I’ve got a lot to do at work today. Besides, it’s you she invited, not me. You’ll be fine.”I sighed, eyeing the breakfast that had just been set before me. “I don’t know. Your grandfather will be there, right? And you know he’s not exactly fond of me. It’ll be awkward without you. What if they ask about us, or the scandal with Alan? What if—”Before I could continue, Andrew
Sheila's POV Soon I arrived at the family house. The mansion stood tall and grand, just like I remembered. As I walked up to the door, I spotted Grandma in the garden to the side of the house.“Sheila!” she called out, waving me over. She was wearing a wide-brimmed hat and had dirt on her hands from working in the garden. “Welcome, my dear. Do you mind helping me with these flowers?”I smiled and walked over. “Goodday, Grandma, I didn’t expect to find you here.”“Where else would I be on a beautiful day like this?” she replied. “Come, grab a trowel and dig in. Would you like to change first or-”She hadn't even finished asking when I knew down beside her, and we started planting flowers together. The rich, dark soil felt cool under my fingers. “Grandma, why don't you have the servants do this?”“Oh, I could,” she replied, her eyes twinkling. “But I enjoy doing this myself. There’s something special about working with your hands. Moreover, I consider this garden and the flowers, my b
Phoebe’s POV I gazed at my reflection in the full-length mirror, unable to suppress the smug smile that curled my lips. The gown—my gown—was everything I had dreamed it would be and more. It shimmered with the lightest movement, the pearls and crystals catching every glint of light in the room. A one-million-dollar masterpiece, paid for by none other than my soon to be husband, Antonio Ricardo. As I admired myself, the door to my dressing room opened, and Mom stepped inside. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of me. “Phoebe,” she breathed, her voice tinged with awe, “you look breathtaking. That dress… Antonio certainly knows how to treat you well.”I turned from the mirror, allowing the full skirt to fan out around me, and faced her. “I know, right?” I couldn’t keep the pride out of my voice. “Antonio spoils me rotten, Mom. Anything I want, it’s mine. He doesn’t even hesitate.”Mom moved closer, adjusting the veil that flowed down my shoulders with a gentle touch. “That’s
Phoebe’s POV"We need to talk."I turned to face Antonio, the man I was supposed to call my husband. He stood there, his eyes dark and emotionless, as if I hadn't just caught him cheating on me. There wasn’t a hint of guilt or regret—just an icy stare that made me feel like the intruder in my own marriage.Instantly, I felt so angry within me, and before I could stop myself, I stormed towards him. My hand moved faster than my thoughts, connecting with his cheek in a loud, resounding slap. The force of it stung my palm, but the satisfaction of seeing his head whip to the side was worth it. For a brief moment, I expected a reaction—anger, shock, anything—but when he slowly turned his head back to face me, his expression was even colder, if that were possible. He nodded slightly, almost as if acknowledging the slap as nothing more than an annoying inconvenience."Of course, we need to talk!" I began, my voice shaking with anger. "You—""Hush!" Antonio cut in with a sharp, commanding to
Phoebe's POVHis words sent a shiver down my spine, and my heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst. His dominance, his control—it was suffocating, and I felt the weight of it pressing down on me. But I couldn’t let him win, couldn’t let him think he had broken me."I’m not just a commodity," I said, my voice slightly shaking. "I’m not a toy you can play with. I’m leaving this place, and I’m done with this charade of a marriage."He stared at me for a long moment without uttering a word. Then, to my surprise, the coldness in his expression melted away, replaced by that same amused smirk. He stepped back and gestured toward the door. "Then leave."I was taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor. One moment he said he owned me, and the next, he said I could go.I hesitated, wondering if this was one of his games, but I didn’t wait to find out. I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door, wanting to get as far away from him as possible.But as I reached the front door, I saw
Andrew's POV I was deep into the paperwork scattered across my study when a soft knock interrupted my thoughts. Sheila walked in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Before I could ask what was up, she beat me to it. "Your grandparents just invited me to spend the weekend with them," she announced with a hint of a smile. I groaned, leaning back in my chair. "This will be the third time they’ve done that. What’s going on? Why are they always inviting you over every weekend? If care is not taken, they would extend it to everyday. Did you slip them a love potion or something? " Sheila giggled, shrugging playfully. "Maybe I did." Then she proceeded to mutter some gibberish words, her hands waving in the air as if she was casting a spell. “I think it's time to cast that same spell on you, Andrew Walker,” she said with a deep, fake voice and then blew an imaginary potion at me. I laughed, shaking my head. "I find it difficult to believe that a love potion would work on me, Sheila Walk
Stevenson's POV I leaned back in my leather chair, listening to Mr Anselm, one of the shareholders in my company, talk with excitement and enthusiasm on the other end of the line. And why shouldn’t he be? Antonio Ricardo’s investment had sent our stock price soaring, attracting attention from investors we hadn’t even dreamed of getting. It was everything I had planned for, and more."Stevenson, this is unbelievable," Mr. Anslem said, barely able to contain his excitement. "Our stock price has skyrocketed, and the investors are pouring in. We’ve hit numbers I didn’t think were possible."I felt a swell of pride as I glanced at the financial reports spread across my desk, confirming every word he said. "This is just the start," I replied with a tinge of pride in my voice. "With Antonio Ricardo, My son in-law, on board, we’re not just riding a wave. We’re creating one. We’ve expanded into markets that were previously closed off to us. The growth potential is limitless.""And to think,
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