Chapter 26 Victoria's POV "Alex is here, ma'am," Jaxon said, his tone neutral. "Send him in," I instructed, knowing that Alex doesn't have a choice than to come back to me. Alex entered shortly after, glancing around the sitting room before taking a seat opposite me. "Erhm..." he began, but I cut him off. "What were you thinking when you decided to go to Sophie's house? Do you honestly believe she would take you back? You are such a fool!" My words were sharp, a reflection of the frustration boiling inside me. Jenkins had informed me earlier that Alex had gone to Sophie, begging for her forgiveness, only to be sent away. "What!...how did you know?" His shock was palpable, eyes wide as if I had just revealed a deep secret. "You don't..." Before I could continue, Jaxon walked in again. "Julian is here, ma'am," he stated, a hint of urgency in his voice. "What! He's here? Why? What does he want?" Panic surged through me. "I don't know, ma'am. He will barge in if I stay longer
Chapter 27 Julian's POV I stepped out of Victoria's house and ripped the envelope into shreds. She had told a big lie to my grandfather spun so expertly that my grandfather had believed them without question. But I had managed to reveal the truth to him, and for that, I felt a flicker of satisfaction amidst the turmoil. Victoria was cunning, capable of doing anything to get what she wanted, but I swore I wouldn’t let her succeed this time. I wouldn’t allow her to hurt Sophie. I pulled my phone from the inner pocket of my suit and dialed Marcus's number. “Put a tail on Victoria. I want to know her every move,” I instructed, my voice steady, betraying none of the anger boiling beneath the surface. “Okay, sir,” Marcus replied, and I hung up, my mind racing with thoughts of what Victoria might do next. As I climbed into my car and drove home, I noticed a black sedan parked in my compound. “Who owns that car?” I asked the gatekeeper. “He said he’s your friend,” he replied
Chapter 28 Isabella's POV I stretched my arms to silence the relentless alarm that had invaded my dreams. Groggy and still half-asleep, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, the cool floor jolting me into reality. Just as I pulled on my dress, my phone rang, slicing through the morning haze. The caller ID flashed Sophie’s name. "Wassup, girl?" I answered, a smile creeping onto my face despite the morning rush. "Can you believe Alex dared to come to my house yesterday?" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and anger. "What! How did he know where you stayed?" I asked, my heart racing at the mention of his name. I still couldn’t grasp the audacity of Alex; he had crossed so many lines already. "I honestly don’t know. He was begging me to take him back, but Julian sent him away," she replied, frustration palpable in her tone. "That jerk is the result of a bursted condom. I can’t believe he would show his face again! I hope your husband wasn’t angry?" I probed,
Chapter 29 Sophie’s POV "Get dressed; we are going out," Julian said as he stepped into my room. His gaze lingered on my exposed body, which was only covered by a thin, oversized shirt that barely reached mid-thigh and had buttons undone. A rush of warmth flooded my cheeks, mixing embarrassment with excitement. "Out? Where?" I managed to ask, trying to keep my voice steady despite the thrill bubbling inside me. "Just get dressed. That's the instruction!" His tone was expressionless as he turned and left the room. He had a knack for ruining the mood. I had planned to confess that he was the one I loved, but with his unpredictable mood swings, I hesitated. Would he even care? I wondered where we were headed; he should at least give me a hint so I could know what to wear. Opening my closet, I scanned the array of clothes hanging there. After much contemplation, I decided on a red long gown. It was sleeveless and hugged my curves in all the right places—a bold choice that made me fe
Chapter 30Sophie's POV His lips kept moving against mine in a gentle, lingering pressure, each kiss slow and filled with warmth. The softness of his mouth was intoxicating, as if time itself had melted away, leaving only the two of us in this intimate moment. I felt my heart race, every brush of his lips sending a thrill through me, igniting a warmth that spread from my chest to my fingertips.With each kiss, he deepened the connection, his hands cradling my face as if I were something precious. I leaned into him, craving more, my breath hitching as our mouths danced together. The world around us faded, and all that mattered was the way he kissed me—tender, yet full of unspoken desire.I didn’t want him to stop; I wanted to lose myself in this bliss, to melt into the sweetness of our shared breath. He finally broke the kiss, but I didn't want him to stop. The lingering warmth of his lips on mine sent shivers down my spine. He stood, his broad shoulders filling my vision, and scoope
Chapter 31Julian's POVI looked at Sophie, her cheeks flushed as she covered her face in shyness. A playful smile tugged at my lips, but I quickly masked it with a serious expression as I reached for my phone on the bedside table. It was Marcus."Marcus, it better be important if you don't want to regret it," I said, answering the call."It's like Victoria is planning something," he replied, his voice low and urgent."Why?" I asked, my curiosity piqued."She met up with Isabella, Sophie’s friend," he said, the weight of his words settling in.I glanced back at Sophie, who was still trying to hide her face. "Let me call you back," I said, ending the call."I'm sorry, baby. I will be back shortly," I told her softly, leaning down to kiss her forehead. My lips lingered for a moment, savoring the warmth of her skin before I moved to kiss her soft, ample breast. She nodded, a mixture of confusion and understanding in her eyes, as I pulled away. I could see her pulling the bedspread up to
Chapter 32Victoria’s POV"Why are they together?" I shouted, frustration boiling over as I hurled the photographs against the wall. The sound of paper slapping against the surface echoed ominously in the otherwise quiet room. "I thought Jenkins said they weren't close, so why the hell are they together in those pictures? And they were even kissing!" I turned to Jaxon, who stood there, arms by his sides and expression unreadable. His stony silence only fueled my anger. "This is the second time I’m seeing them kiss!" I bent down to pick up the scattered photos from the floor, my heart racing as I glanced at the images of Julian and Sophie at the beach. The sun glinted off their skin, and they looked so damn happy—smiling, laughing, their bodies close. It should have been me beside him, not her. I should have been the one experiencing that joy, the one creating memories with him.The anger surged within me, a potent mix of jealousy and betrayal. I could feel the heat creeping up my nec
Chapter 33 Victoria's POV I arrived at Werther's Hotel just before noon, carefully parking my car a short distance from the entrance to avoid drawing attention. As the clock struck twelve, I watched Julian pull up in his sleek car, flanked by his two imposing bodyguards. They stood watch, scanning the area while he entered the hotel. Jaxon opened my car door, and I stepped out, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. “Make sure you beep me immediately the meeting is over,” I instructed, keeping my voice steady. “Yes, ma,” Jaxon replied, bowing slightly, his eyes full of loyalty. Once inside the hotel, I felt a rush of adrenaline. Jaxon had already scouted the meeting room and reserved the one opposite Julian's. I couldn’t help but smile at his efficiency. After entering my room, I took a quick, steamy shower, letting the hot water wash away any lingering doubts. Today was the day — the D-day! Today, Julian would be mine. Once dressed, I settled onto the plush sofa,
Chapter 84A Few Days LaterVictoria's POV"Hi Jakley," I said as I entered the unfinished building, my voice echoing slightly in the empty space. There weren't many people around today—just five in total, including Jerry, the guy I had slapped the other day.Jakley had called me to come over today. He handed me an envelope he had received from Jerry, and I quickly opened it, revealing my passport and travel tickets. A satisfied smile spread across my face, relief washing over me. "It was hard because you’re on the wanted list, but I guess they haven't banned you from travelling. So, you should pay me for my effort," he said, a hint of pride in his voice."Yeah, sure. Once the second job is done, I’ll pay you the balance and add more," I replied, trying to sound confident, even though I was lying through my teeth. I scanned the documents and noticed I would be leaving tomorrow evening. I looked up at him questioningly."Well... the work will be done tomorrow afternoon. We learned she
Chapter 83Victoria's POVI have a new plan now formed after I killed Alex; I will kill Sophie, go back to California, have plastic surgery, change my name, and come back to claim Julian. Perfect.The next thing on my agenda is killing Sophie. I have everything planned out, but I know it won't be easy. I can't kill her the way I killed Alex because Julian will surely be protecting her, and it would be hard to get to Julian's house without someone seeing me and linking it to the media; now that I'm even on the 'wanted' list, with a good reward for anyone who sights me.Julian really took it far, putting a reward on me. How could he do that? I could have just bribed anyone, but I don't even have up to fifty million dollars right now. Damn it! I'm starting to get frustrated just thinking about it.But how did they know I killed Alex? I didn't leave any hint. I even threw the knife I used away into the bush. Heck. I threw the knife in the same street. Fuck me. Anyone could have seen it. I
Chapter 82 Julian's POV "I checked Victoria's house, and I noticed her car is missing," Jaxon informed me. "Do you know the plate number?" I asked. "No, I don’t. I've searched all of her usual hideouts; she's not there. Could it be that she left the country?" Jaxon speculated. "No, she can't. If she had tried to leave, someone would have seen her. She's likely hiding somewhere close by," I replied, trying to stay calm despite the urgency of the situation. Where are you, Victoria? Just then, my office door swung open, and Marcus rushed in, panting as if he had just run a marathon. "What's wrong?" I asked, instinctively rising to my feet. "Alex was found dead this morning," Marcus managed to say between breaths. "What?!" The word escaped my lips in a shocked whisper. "It's Victoria," Jaxon said, his expression grim. I stood there, speechless, my mind racing with dread. "Where is Sophie?" I asked, suddenly worried about her safety. "She's at home;the guards are at alert," Ma
Chapter 81Victoria's POVIt's been two days since I escaped, and I've been lying low, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I've been watching the news, and they're still clueless about my whereabouts. Ha! They'll never catch me.I turned on the TV, and the first news that came on was: "It's been two days that Victoria Langley escaped, and no one knows her whereabouts for now, the police are..." I switched it off, laughing to myself. You can never catch me. Never!I got dressed in a sundress, applied a great amount of makeup to disguise myself, and put on a hat and sunglasses. I checked myself in the mirror, and I hardly looked like Victoria Langley. Perfect.I picked up a handbag and my car key, then went into the kitchen and brought a knife, which I put in the handbag. I added a syringe and injection, just in case. Then I got out of the house and went to the garage to pick up my car. I ignited the engine and drove out of the garage.I got to Alex's street and parked my car car
Chapter 80Sophie’s POV"So you mean Victoria escaped?" Isabella asked, her voice low and filled with concern. We were huddled together at a small table in the corner of the restaurant. "Yes," I replied, glancing around to ensure no one else was listening. "I overheard that one of the warders came to serve them this morning and noticed she's missing and now...no one knows where she is." My heart raced as I recalled the moment I had tiptoed behind Julian earlier, straining to catch snippets of his conversation with Marcus.Isabella's brow furrowed. "That means someone definitely helped her out, is it her dad? He could have sent someone to help her escape.""Yeah, i am not sure about that. But someone definitely helped her." i said. "So, what is Julian doing about it?" Isabella asked. "He's tightening the security measures," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I heard him telling Marcus to arrange for a personal guard for me, too.""That's good," Isabella said, her tone shifting
Chapter 79Victoria's POVA DAY AGO"Is it true you'll really release me?" I asked Owen, the warder I had been forced to interact with. We were at the corner of the yard where I had been assigned to cut the grass—a task I absolutely detested."Yes, that's if you will let me have a taste of you," he replied, his voice low and dripping with an unsettling desire. Ugh... the smell of him was repulsive. Smelly brute. I couldn't bring myself to stoop so low as to entertain the thought of fucking mere warder. Nah."Okay, but we can just meet after I am released," I suggested, trying to keep my composure as I stepped back slightly, putting distance between us.He nodded eagerly, his eyes glinting with something I found both pathetic and revolting. I had noticed his wandering gaze since he was transferred here a month ago. It had been a desperate gamble to flirt with him, but now it seemed to be my only chance for escape. "Yeah, but how would we meet?" he asked, leaning closer, his breath mak
Chapter 78 Julian's POV "What?!" I exclaimed, my voice barely containing my shock as my eyes locked onto Sophie, who stood frozen in disbelief. "Yes, boss," Marcus replied, his tone steady but urgent. I quickly removed the phone from speaker mode and pressed it to my ear, unable to look away from Sophie, whose gaze was fixed on the bed where my phone had just been. I noticed her hand instinctively move to her stomach. "How come?" I asked, my heart pounding. "Let me call you back, Marcus," I said, abruptly ending the call as I moved closer to Sophie. "Victoria is back. What if she really succeeded in killing me and my baby this time? What if she hurts you? What if, Julian? What if she—" Sophie's voice trembled, trailing off as tears began to flow down her cheeks. Damn it. Her tears were my Achilles' heel. I gently cupped her chin with my hand, tilting her head up to meet my gaze. "Nothing will happen to you or our baby. I promise I will protect you this time. Victoria can't hurt
Chapter 77TWO MONTHS LATER Sophie’s POVEverything has been going smoothly for the past two months. Julian and I have grown closer than I ever thought possible. He treats me like I’m delicate, like an egg, always careful and attentive, and honestly, I feel pampered in a way that makes my heart swell.Alex has come by countless times, begging for forgiveness, but I’ve turned him away each time. It wasn’t until recently that I finally found it in me to forgive him. As for Victoria, she’s been sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempted murder as a first time offender. It’s a harsh reality, but it feels like the right outcome for everything that happened.Evelyn has returned to school, and I’ve been visiting Julian’s grandfather more often. He’s a charming old man with so many stories to tell. I love listening to him reminisce about his younger days; it brings a warmth to my heart. On top of that, Isabella has been stopping by at least once a week, which has been a bright spot in my
Chapter 76 Sophie's POV I woke up with a start, my heart racing as I looked beside me on the bed and didn't see Julian. Was it all a dream? Was it all a dream that I'm back with Julian? My heart sanked as tears welled up in my eyes. Just then, the door opened, and Julian walked in carrying a tray. "Good morning, milady," he said with a smile, and my heart skipped a beat. He was real, and he was here with me. I rushed to hug him as he dropped the food on the bedside table, tears of relief streaming down my face. "What's wrong?" he asked, concern visible on his voice. "I thought it was all a dream," I said, my voice shaking. "Us being together, I thought it was all a dream." He pulled away from the hug to look at me, his eyes filled with warmth and love. He placed a soft, gentle kiss on my forehead, and I felt my heart melt. Then, he wiped the tears off my cheeks with his thumbs, his touch sending shivers down my spine. "You really should stop being a crybaby," he teased,