Chapter 57 Julian's POV I walked into my restaurant, which was bustling with people, and was immediately enveloped by the warm, inviting atmosphere. The laughter and chatter of patrons filled the air, blending with the rich aroma of freshly prepared dishes. It felt surreal to own this place—my dream realized after years of hard work and dedication. I scanned the room, looking for Isabella, but I couldn’t spot her among the crowd. I took a seat at a table in a corner as I gestured for a waitress. She approached, bowing slightly. "Where is Isabella?" I asked, trying to keep my tone steady. "She's in the kitchen," she replied. "Get her for me," I commanded, my voice sharper than intended. The waitress bowed again and hurried off. I waved over another waitress to order wine for two. The minutes felt like hours as I waited. When Isabella finally appeared, she was wearing her apron, her hair pulled back tightly. She looked around, her gaze searching, and when it landed on me,
Chapter 58 Marcus POV FLASHBACK BEGINS The living room was empty. Julian, my boss, was away on a business trip with his best friend, Ethan. Victoria, Julian's wife, had summoned me. Should I wait downstairs or go up to her? After much contemplation, I opted to wait, settling onto the plush sofa. Moments later, I heard footsteps descending the stairs. I turned, my gaze locking onto Victoria as she appeared at the top of the stairs. My breath hitched. What. In. The. Hell. Was she wearing? My eyes, despite my better judgment, devoured her from head to toe. A ridiculously short pair of denim shorts barely concealed her flawless thighs, and a tiny crop top, more revealing than concealing, showcased her perfectly pierced navel. The sight stole my breath. I desperately wanted to look away, to regain control, but my eyes were magnetized, unwilling to break their gaze. “You’re here,” she said, her voice a soft, and melodious, as she paused at the last staircase. I scrambled to
Chapter 59Victoria's POVIt had been two weeks since Sophie was sent packing from Julian's house, and for the first time in a long while, things felt promising. Julian and I had grown closer during this time. His laughter came more easily now, and the tension that once filled the space between us had faded. No longer did he ignore my calls or flinch away from my touch. Instead, he welcomed my presence with a warmth that made my heart race.I entered his house and found him in his living room, hunched over his laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard. The soft glow of the screen illuminated his features, casting a shadow that emphasized the determined set of his jaw. I leaned against the doorframe, watching him for a moment, a smile creeping onto my face."Hey," I called softly, not wanting to startle him.He looked up, his expression transforming from concentration to delight. "Hey, Victoria! You're here!" He closed the laptop and stood, stretching slightly, revealing the muscles b
Chapter 60Julian's POV"I will take care of it, ma'am," Jaxon said, and the phone went dead.He dropped the phone on the table and turned to me. "So?" he asked.I had asked Marcus to set up a meeting with Jaxon; to look for a moment when Jaxon was alone, but he hadn't been able to find a suitable time because Jaxon was always with Victoria. Today, however, he called me while I was with her—just in time to save me from the unwanted kiss she had leaned in for. Marcus had finally managed to found when Jaxon was alone, and I had rushed over."I want you to work with me," I stated firmly."Why should I work with you? Victoria is the one paying me. Are you planning to pay me more?" he replied, a smirk dancing on his lips."Why would I pay you more? I will be doing you a favor if you work with me," I shot back.The smirk vanished from his face. "What do you mean, doing me a favor? Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?""I don't really have much time here. You have two choices: one,
Chapter 61Julian's POV "I don't know what to do. I can send Jenkins away, but do I have to kill Alex? I know he's a murderer who killed an innocent woman, but it's hard to..." Jaxon said, his voice trailing off. "Do you drink?" I asked, trying to distract him from the heavy burden he was carrying. "Yes, I do," he replied. "Should we go and have some drinks?" I suggested, hoping a little alcohol courage might help him get away from his guilts even if it's just for a while. "No, i can't drink tonight. The deadline is tonight. I need to kill Alex and Jenkins, or better yet, find a way to do it that will make Victoria believe I have killed them," he said, urgency creeping into his voice. I fell silent, my mind racing as I considered the implications of his words. The weight of the situation settled heavily on my shoulders, and then an idea crept into my mind. "You know what?" I said, and Jaxon looked up, his eyes locking onto mine. "First, let's get a hold of Jenkins. I hav
Chapter 62 Julian's POV "I will only forgive you on one condition: whenever I need your help in exposing Victoria, you will surely help," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil in my mind; everything felt so unreal. "I will surely do, sir. I've learned my lesson; after everything I did for Victoria, I can't believe she wanted to kill me," Jenkins replied, his voice shaking, the weight of fear palpable in his tone. He looked as if he might burst into tears at any moment. "Well... now to the plan. We'll send you far away for now, and then your wife and children will join you after we've succeeded in exposing Victoria. We can't send your family away with him; it would look suspicious. Right, Jaxon?" I turned to Jaxon, who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed. "You’re right, but we need to inform his wife about this. Victoria is cunning; she might decide to pay his family a visit to gauge their reactions to the supposed death of their breadwinner," Jaxon said, his brow f
Chapter 63 Victoria's POV I ended the call with Jaxon, and the weight of our conversation lingered in the air like a thick fog. Sighing, I picked up my purse and headed outside, feeling a mix of anticipation and dread. The cool evening breeze brushed against my skin as I stepped into the parking lot, my heart racing with every step toward my car. I slid into the driver’s seat and turned the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life with a satisfying growl, its sound a brief comfort, a reminder that I was in control—even if only for a moment. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white as adrenaline coursed through me. I glanced at the location Jaxon had sent me, the address flashing ominously on my phone's screen. I was headed there with a singular purpose: to see Alex one last time. Just one last glimpse of his face before he disappeared from my life for good. The thought made my stomach churn, a tumultuous mix of anger and a twisted sense of closure. Al
Chapter 64 Julian's POV FLASHBACK TO AN HOUR AGO “What are we going to do?” I asked, resting my chin on my hand, my mind racing. “I don’t know. We have to get something done before she gets here in less than thirty minutes, or if we want her to burn him instead,” Jaxon replied. “Thirty minutes is too short! Is there no way to keep her occupied for at least an hour from coming here? Or better yet, to prevent her from coming at all?” I pressed, frustration bubbling inside me. “You know Victoria. If I call her back now and start giving her flimsy excuses for why she shouldn’t come, she’ll see right through it. Even if my reasons are valid, she'd be suspicious,” he said, his gaze unwavering. He was right, and it only added to my anxiety. “Fuck! Why can’t I think of anything? Why is my mind so blank?” I muttered, running my hands through my hair in desperation. “Is nothing coming to your head?” Jaxon asked, fear laced on his face. “Let me think,” I replied, my voice betraying my p
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,
Chapter 75Sophie's POV"Why did you not want to stay here again?" I asked Evelyn as we stepped out of the car, and they also got out from the car they had entered. Julian, my love, had been busy planting kisses all over my body during the drive, showering me with affection that made even the driver chuckle at our antics. At one point, Julian had playfully barked at him to mind his business, which only made us laugh harder. Evelyn just said she wouldn't be coming in with us."I want to give the new couples some happy moments together," Evelyn explained, her cute eyes sparkling."No, Evy! I want us to catch up," I pouted, crossing my arms in a mock display of annoyance."I'll still be around for two to three days, and I promise to visit each day," she reassured me. "But for now, I promised Grandpa I would spend a few days with him. You can also visit us; I'm sure Grandpa would be eager and happy to see you.""That's a promise, oo," I said, a smile breaking through my pout. Evelyn nodde
Chapter 74 Sophie’s POV My ass hit the chair as I struggled to steady myself, gripping the edge with trembling hands. Victoria truly was a devil. How could someone be so heartless? I touched my stomach, feeling a wave of panic wash over me. She would have killed my baby—my innocent baby. Tears streamed down my face as I felt the weight of my grief. Suddenly, a hand wiped my tears, and I looked up to see Julian. I yanked his hand away. “Don’t touch me!” I screamed, my voice laced with betrayal. “So you know everything, and you kept making me suffer? You stayed away from me when you knew I couldn’t live without you.” “I am so sorry, Sophie. I had to. For you, for us,” he said, his face etched with guilt. “No, Julian,” I shook my head violently. “You should have explained everything to me when you knew.” “No, Soph.” Isabella’s voice pierced the heaviness of the moment as she approached us. “He couldn’t. Your life and your baby’s were in danger.” “You knew?” I asked, my voice barely