Chapter 22 Julian's POV What the hell had been wrong with me lately? I couldn’t shake this unsettling feeling that had taken root in my mind. Why was I suddenly so possessive of Sophie? It was as if a switch had flipped, and now, she occupied every corner of my thoughts. I tried to focus on the work in front of me—reports, deadlines, the endless stream of emails—but my concentration shattered like glass. Every time I glanced up from my screen, I found myself thinking of her. The way she laughed, the way her eyes sparkled when she was excited. It was maddening. "She loves someone!" I kept reminding myself. But who could this person be? The driver had only said she either went to Isabella's or the hospital. And only once in a while did she go salon and other fashion places. Or did she tell the driver to keep it from me? Just as I was about to lose myself in another spiral of thoughts, my phone buzzed, jolting me from my reverie. I glanced at the screen; it was Caleb.
Chapter 23 Victoria's POV We pulled up to the address Jaxon had given me, and my stomach twisted at the sight before me. The house stood in stark contrast to the life I was used to—its peeling paint, overgrown weeds, and the general air of neglect made it look like a relic from a different era. This wasn’t just an ordinary house; it was a symbol of everything I was trying to escape, a reminder of the kind of life I had no interest in leading. Jaxon parked the car, and we sat in silence, waiting for Alex to emerge. Minutes felt like hours as the tension in the car thickened. I could feel Jaxon’s gaze darting between the house and me, his concern palpable. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I saw a figure step out of the house. Jaxon honked the horn, the sound piercing the stillness like a gunshot. The young man who had been inside hesitated, his brow furrowed with confusion as he ambled over, taking his time as if weighing the risks. “Alex?” I greeted him with a sm
Chapter 24 Sophie's POV I opened my eyes to the gentle morning rays streaming through the window, their warmth caressing my skin. Beside me, Julian was sleeping peacefully, his features relaxed and serene. The sight of him brought a smile to my face, a feeling of safety enveloping me. I had wanted him to touch me last night to bridge the distance that sometimes felt insurmountable between us, but he had gently insisted we get some rest instead. I couldn’t help but stare at his handsome face, tracing the contours with my eyes, and a warmth spread through me as I tried to recall where I might have seen him before because his face looks so familiar. Perhaps I had seen him on TV, or maybe he was just a figment of my dreams. After a moment of quietly admiring him, I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and padded softly into my room. The cool tiles felt refreshing under my feet, grounding me in the reality of my life. I turned on the shower, letting the warm water cascade over
Chapter 25 Alex's POV I ran into the expressway, almost colliding with an oncoming car. “Watch your way, fool!” the driver yelled, his voice a mixture of anger and surprise. I barely registered his words; my mind was racing, consumed by everything that had just happened. I slumped down on a bench beside the bus terminal, the cold metal pressing uncomfortably against my back. The city was alive with the sounds of honking cars and chattering pedestrians, but all I could think about was Sophie. Just days ago, I had received those shocking pictures of her with her new so-called husband, and I had felt the ground shift beneath my feet. I had been utterly blindsided. What was I supposed to do? Confront her? I had chosen silence instead, hoping it would somehow protect me from the whirlwind of emotions threatening to swallow me whole. My thoughts drifted back to Stella, the woman I had chosen over Sophie. She had told me she suffered a miscarriage, a statement that had come with sor
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 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,