Simeon’s POVI sat on the porch, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I lit a cigarette. The flame flickered briefly before settling, and I brought the stick to my lips. I took a slow drag, letting the smoke fill my lungs before releasing it. The cloud of gray drifted upward, vanishing into the darkness like the thoughts I wished to escape. I reached for the glass of whiskey beside me and took a sip, the liquid burning as it slid down my throat, grounding me for a fleeting moment. Everywhere was quiet, except for the faint rustle of leaves and the occasional creak of the wooden steps beneath me. I had tried to sleep earlier, but it was useless. My mind was a battlefield, overrun with worries about the rescue operation. Time felt agonizingly slow, and waiting for the sun to rise was a torment I could barely endure. This mission wasn’t just about saving Sheila; it was about so much more. It was also about Evelyn, about uncovering the truths I’d chased for years. Evelyn.
Andrew's POV I watched as James and the rest of the men prepared for the raid. Simeon stood nearby, his expression as unreadable as ever, while James began giving detailed instructions on how we would execute the plan. The strategy was straightforward but high-risk: divide, infiltrate, and neutralize.I couldn’t help but ask, “Shouldn’t we involve the police in this?”Simeon was quick to shut me down. “No police. I trust my men more than anyone else. We don’t need interference.” His tone left no room for argument. I clenched my jaw, my unease growing, but I didn’t push further. This wasn’t the time to debate.We geared up in silence, the weight of the weapons and the reality of what we were about to do settling heavily on my shoulders. James signaled for everyone to move out, and we departed in separate convoys, heading toward the outskirts of the city. The number we traced had led us here, to what seemed like an abandoned location.When we arrived, we parked a few meters away and co
Simeon's POVI moved swiftly toward the back entrance of the building, my senses heightened, every step cautious. The air felt heavy with anticipation, and I could feel the tension in the pit of my stomach.We’d been preparing for this moment for too long, but nothing could have prepared me for the chaos that awaited. The moment we neared the building’s side entrance, gunfire erupted from behind a series of crates near the alley."Get down!" I shouted, instinctively ducking behind the nearest pillar, pulling my gun from its holster. The crack of bullets bounced off the walls around us as my men sprang into action."Watch the right!" one of my men yelled, taking a knee and firing blindly into the darkness. Another burst of gunfire sounded, and I saw a man in the distance fall, his body crumpling in an instant."Suppressing fire!" I ordered, steadying my breath as I rose up momentarily to take a shot. A bullet whizzed past my ear, and I ducked down, firing a burst back toward the shoote
Andrew's POVI should have known it was a trap. Every nerve in my body screamed at me to stop, to think, to pause, but the sight of Sheila tied to that chair drowned out all reason. The way she struggled against those ropes made my heart clench. Was she hurt? In pain? I didn’t think. I couldn’t think. “Sheila!” I called out, rushing toward her. Her movements grew more desperate as I closed the distance, her eyes wide with a terror that didn’t make sense—until I heard it. “No!” The shout came from behind, and I heard both Simeon and Zane’s loud voices. Time slowed to a crawl. I turned, the motion agonizingly sluggish, like wading through molasses. Zane was charging toward me, his outstretched hand a blur, his face twisted in panic. That was when it hit me. A sharp, searing pain shot through my arm as the bullet grazed past, its trajectory only inches from my chest. The force of it spun me, and I hit the floor hard, the world tilting and throbbing around me. “Andrew!” Za
Simeon’s POVThe room seemed to close in around me as the figure stepped forward, her silhouette becoming clearer with every step. My mind refused to believe it until she fully emerged into the dim light, her presence suffocating and inescapable. Her. My breath hitched, the air in my lungs turning cold. Never, not in my worst nightmares, had I imagined this moment. But there she stood, her face twisted into the same wicked smile that had haunted me for years. “Mother,” I spat, the word dripping with all the anger and bitterness I’d carried for as long as I could remember. “Hello, son,” she replied smoothly in her usual mocking voice. That smile—cold and calculating—never wavered. My fists clenched as I stared at her, my emotions threatening to just spill out. “Why?” I demanded in a hard voice. “Why are you doing this? Why Sheila?” She chuckled, a low, bitter sound that grated on my nerves. “You should be grateful, Simeon,” she said, her tone mocking as though she were scol
Andrew’s POVI thought the greatest shock of today had been discovering that Gina Giovanni, Simeon’s mother, was behind Sheila’s kidnapping. The sheer malice and audacity of her actions had been enough to fill me with rage. But I was wrong. That wasn’t even the beginning of the nightmare. As the voice from earlier faded into silence, a figure stepped into view. The dim light revealed her face, and my heart stopped. “Evelyn,” I breathed, her name escaping my lips like a prayer, though the scene before me felt nothing like salvation. She stood beside Gina, her head lowered, not saying a word. My mind refused to make sense of it. Why was she here? Why with Gina? “Evelyn!” I called again, louder this time, my tone anxious and laced with worry. She flinched slightly but said nothing, her gaze fixed on the ground. My heart pounded, confusion and dread swirling inside me like a storm. I had made sure to move Evelyn to a safe house after we learned Sheila had been kidnapped. How t
Evelyn's POVThe anger simmered in my chest as I stared at Sheila tied up to the chair with a gun pointed at her head. Things weren’t supposed to go this way. Simeon and Andrew weren’t supposed to show up together, let alone to save her. How could this happen? They despised each other—always had. So why were they suddenly allies, working together to save Sheila? Why must it always be Sheila! Sheila! Sheila?!Andrew’s hard voice immediately cut through my thoughts. “What documents are you talking about, Evelyn?!” he demanded again, his tone sharper this time.I glanced at him, and the guilt that I’d tried to suppress clawed its way to the surface. Andrew. Sweet, innocent Andrew. He was the one person who truly didn’t deserve any of this. Both brothers were victims in this twisted game, but Andrew… he was the one I’d hurt the most. I took a deep breath, steadying myself. It was time to tell the truth. I couldn’t keep hiding anymore, not when everything was already unraveling before
Evelyn's POVAndrew’s expression froze, and I saw the flicker of disbelief in his eyes. “What are you trying to say, Evelyn?” he asked quietly, though there was a sharp edge to his tone.I took a deep breath, forcing myself to continue. “It was all planned. Gina gave me all the details about you—everything I needed to know. I knew where you would be, what you liked, and what you didn’t. I studied you, Andrew. I had to. I needed to know how to act, what to say, and how to get your attention that day.”Andrew stared at me, his jaw tightening as he processed my words.“I knew you loved the aquarium,” I said softly, feeling the weight of my confession crush me. “I knew you enjoyed spending time at orphanages. I forced myself to like those things, too. Everything I said, every moment we shared—it was all designed to draw you in. To make you trust me.”I watched as the realization dawned on him, his shoulders slumping under the weight of betrayal. He ran a hand through his hair, his breathi
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