Phoebe’s POVI sat on the floor, my back pressed against the grand piano, feeling like my world was falling apart. The marble beneath me was cold, which contradicted the storm of emotions raging inside. How did I end up here? Mom was pacing the room, her phone glued to her ear as she tried to fix the mess I’d made. She kept making calls upon calls trying to fix everything, but deep down, I knew there was no fixing this. The video was out there, and no amount of phone calls could change that.“Miss Phoebe, your juice,” Gia, our maid, said quietly, holding out a glass.I looked up, already annoyed, and the sight of the pale juice in the glass made my blood boil. “I asked for orange juice,” I snapped.Gia hesitated, her hand shaking slightly. “But Miss, you asked for apple juice earlier.”“I did not! What's wrong with you? Can't you get things right? Are you deaf? I said I want orange juice!” I yelled angrily at her, slapping the glass out of her hand. It hit the floor, shattering into
Alan's POV Cold water splashed across my face, waking me up with a jolt. I gasped, blinking rapidly as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. My heart pounded, and panic gripped me as I realized I didn’t know where I was. Everything was unfamiliar, dark, and threatening.“Where am I? What am I doing here? Who are you guys?” I asked frantically, my voice shaking. My hands and feet were tied to a chair, the ropes digging into my skin as I struggled against them, trying to break free. The fear inside me grew as I noticed two large men standing in front of me, their faces cold and expressionless.The last thing I recalled was stumbling out of a bar after a few drinks. I had been a little drunk, but not enough to black out. Then, everything went blank. Now, here I was, tied to a chair in some unknown place. It didn’t take long to realize the truth—I had been kidnapped.I needed to stay calm, to think clearly. If I could just talk my way out of this, maybe they’d let me go. I forced mys
Sheila’s POV I walked into the new hospital, a basket of fruit in my hands, feeling a rare sense of happiness. I was going to see Mom. The air was cool, and the bright, clean halls of the hospital looked spotless. Knowing she was in a comfortable room, resting well, made everything seem a little brighter.As I pushed open the door to her room, I saw her sitting up in bed, a small smile playing on her lips. The sight of her without the usual lines of pain etched into her face filled me with relief.“Mom,” I said softly, walking over to her with the basket. “Look what I brought you.”She looked at the basket, her smile widening. “Sheila, my dear, you’re spoiling me.”I placed the basket on the table beside her bed and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “You deserve it, Mom. How are you feeling?”Her eyes shone with a warmth I hadn’t seen in a long time. “Better than I have in years. This place… it’s so peaceful. How were you able to afford this place? it looks quite expensive.”“It wasn’t
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 Sheila
Phoebe'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 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