Noah's POV."Stop the car Racheal, stop being tough and stubborn!" "What! Stubborn and tough!...... What the fuck are you saying, Noah, you went ahead to seduce one of my employees, and you went ahead to drown yourself in the solace of alcohol reeking of it, and you just tell me I am acting STUBBORN!!!" "What!, is that what that bitch told her!" I screamed Internally as Rachael stepped on it in anger causing us to jerk forward.I could see her chest rising up and down; she looked so scary and beautiful when she was angry.I knew the only way to get ahead of this was to solve it before getting home; I wouldn't be taking this in front of Ariella."Ask your questions, Racheal, and you should calm down..... uh. I am not drunk; I had some cup of whiskey, but not enough to make me drunk."Her rage hasn't calmed down yet, and I could see that; I know I have to tell her about Rayla, but not now, and denying that I did not go back there to seduce that girl means I would have to give her the
Mike's POVI laid her down on my bed before removing her long coat. Her cleavage came into view, and I found myself gulping as a lump formed in my throat. It had been so long since I was with someone, especially since Noah and Racheal got together. Just seeing her like this almost made me lose control.I removed her sandals and covered her up with a duvet, feeling a rush of emotions. We had spent a long time together, and I appreciated every second. She was full of energy, and for once, I forgot all about my nightmares. Now, I was afraid to sleep.I decided to take a quick shower, changing into something comfortable: a pair of shorts and a casual top. After checking on Rayla one last time, I marched out of the room toward the wine cellar next to the television set. I reached for my favorite wine, which also happened to be Noah's."Can't sleep?" Rayla's voice startled me. She had been here before, in a bathrobe, yet I had never felt this attracted to her until now. She looked so innoc
Noah's POVWe got home late, almost morning, and found Ariella asleep on the couch, probably waiting for us to return. I felt a pang of guilt for keeping her up, but I was too exhausted to dwell on it. Despite sleeping late, I woke up early, my stomach growling like a feral beast. Drinking on an empty stomach had its consequences, and the hangover hit me like a freight train, leaving me wincing in pain.Rachael stirred at the sound, noticing my discomfort. Before I could say a word, she picked up her phone and called Mike, asking what she could cook for me. How did she know I loved porridge for my hangover? The last time she made me soup, it barely touched the pain, but it was a nice gesture nonetheless.I heard her hang up, and moments later, Rayla’s voice came through the speaker. Rachael climbed down from the bed, disappearing through the door. A few minutes later, she returned with a steaming bowl of rice porridge, the aroma wafting toward me, making my mouth water.“Seems a lot
Kim's POVTime flew so fast; it had been three days since I was discharged. I couldn't bring myself to meet Kelvin, and I knew that was wrong. "I’ve decided to act on what Noah said. I will accept his proposal, and I’ll do it for his mom," I thought, gathering my resolve.I dressed in a flowing dress that hugged my growing belly, took my long coat from the hanger, and checked my reflection in the mirror one last time. The pregnancy had changed so much; that I could barely fit my feet into my slippers anymore.As I walked into the living room, I saw my dad sitting on the couch, chatting and laughing with my mom. Our relationship had shifted from happiness to something sour but not completely bitter. He talked to me when necessary and didn’t refuse when I sought his attention. He asked about my health and the baby, but I knew it was out of obligation rather than genuine concern.When my mom told him about Kelvin and me, he asked if that was really what I wanted, analyzing the pros and
Rayla's POV.I had to go home as early as possible to tend to Mike's needs, I knew he was okay when he said so but I still find it hard to believe that especially since that was the first time I would be seeing him in such a vulnerable state.I never had any idea that he could be like that behind closed doors until yesterday.It would be a huge lie if I said I wasn't, I was scared to my bone and that made me blurt THAT he would be staying calling sick and now I couldn't focus at work because I kept drifting into space and drawing then back on the meeting, making them repeat the same questions over and over again.I dropped my long coat over the chair and headed upstairs to meet it empty; I slapped my forehead knowing fully well he was back at work, I barely could bear my rage.I decided to call Racheal and tried to explain things to her because I felt it disrespectful if Mike could just walk away from my order like this when we were just in a relationship when he knew better that I me
Mike's POV.I couldn't help to smile, Rayla's were some of the few I knew that could only feel better when unleashed the beast, their anger.I was forced to leave my Villa, I got a call from one of our dealers who has long worked with us based on stupid explanations like that, and probably now that he saw how fast-growing THE GORDON is moving especially the sales estimation, he had to call me about knocking back a deal with is and I could barely point out where I kept his previous file then that entails his previous deal.I intended to go to the office pick up the files and drop them off for Noah at the office before heading back home.I had no intention of staying back in the office and that is why I went far away from the office period. I looked for the file in the dossier before heading to Noah's to drop it off on my way back to my office I met Kim who was looking and I could barely control myself not to stare and I knew she shuddered under my stare.I was pacing my office floor wa
Rachael's POV.I got Kelvin's message and it was far from what I was expecting, the moment Kim rejected him in the presence of all, I don't know but I felt an increase in my insecurities, don't blame me; I don't know how to live on with the knowledge of my half-sister still having feelings with my husband and seeing the message erase all my insecurities.I was with Kelvin when Rayla informed me that Mike just walked away from her order even though he knew it was all for him.I knew Rayla might be feisty sometimes but was the one who would walk a mile for their loved ones.I glanced across Mrs. Patterson before finding my way to Noah's office.I couldn't believe the calmness in me when I spotted Kim with Noah, I knew I was supposed to be angry but I wasn't, I smiled widely realizing this lady before me would be getting anytime soon.I had no intention of ignoring Noah but I was overwhelmed seeing Kim and she looked chubby than before even though she was still looking sick.I noticed Mi
Noah's POVI don’t know what she was thinking when she proposed that suggestion, knowing fully well how much I despised her. I couldn’t understand why she kept complicating things for me when all I was doing was trying to protect us.Mike sent me a bunch of pictures, and there her sister's face was, looking more mature than ever. They appeared happy with an older woman I could only assume was their mother. Each image Michael sent only fueled my curiosity, and it was infuriating that every turn led to a dead end.I couldn’t keep up with Rachael’s arguments; she had been on edge, and I’d rather leave her to it. I needed a drive, nothing more. I couldn’t call Mike, knowing he might just be dealing with his crap, so I decided to take a drive and then return to the apartment.It was getting dark when I returned. Ariella was on her phone, as usual, and Rachael wasn’t in her seat—definitely in our bedroom. I felt the urge to go after her, but I knew she needed that moment to herself.I went
Noah's POVOne week later...I stood beside Racheal, who was propped up on the hospital bed, still struggling to fully recover. The sterile scent of antiseptic hung in the air, but it was the sight of her fragile form that gripped my heart. Kelvin and Bella had flown back to New Coastal two days ago, insisting on leaving after Racheal woke up. Their departure felt like a hollow echo of the chaos that had consumed us.Juliet was locked away, and sentenced to life imprisonment. I made sure of that. She deserved every bit of it. A maniac like her wasn’t meant to walk among the living.As I watched Racheal adjust herself, attempting to sit upright, I instinctively reached out to help her. But she slapped my hand away with a surprising force. The sting of her rejection hit me like a cold wave. She had done the same thing when she first woke up, and it scared the hell out of me. I rushed to the doctor, fearing she was suffering from amnesia, but my worries eased when he assured me she had b
Kelvin's POV"You left us, remember? You gave us hope, Ana! You let us all believe you would come back! We waited for you, Ana. I waited. Mom waited... You broke your promise! You broke your fucking promise because of your selfish interest, your lust for revenge!"I pulled Bella into an embrace, which she calmly accepted. Juliet, whom I now realized was Anabella, had recently been caught at the same tournament Bella had described. She had a lot on her mind and plenty of tools at hand. If not for Bella, we would still be in the dark; no one would have thought that this old tournament, long neglected, would be used to commit such a devious act.Just two days ago, Bella had been crying in my arms. So much was uncovered—so much I hadn’t expected at all.After coming to terms with the fact that Bella was Juliet's younger sister, it occurred to me that Juliet wasn't who we thought she was. Her initial aim in entering R.A. was to cause harm to the Houston family. As she had said moments ago,
Kelvin's POVI was on the brink of tears the moment I set my eyes on Kim. The fact that she was breathing with the aid of oxygen wasn't enough; she was hooked up to a life-support machine. I felt a flicker of irritation that Noah had signed the forced labor consent form, but perhaps I was wrong—maybe that was the best decision.Bella had a tough time going back to sleep after mentioning a random name that only gave me a hint amidst the shattered debris of my thoughts. I tried not to force any conversation on her, at least keeping my promise to Noah until she opened up. Until then, I remained silent.We couldn't go into the ward, so we decided to stay back, looking through the transparent glass that separated us from the lobby lawn. Bella couldn't control her tears anymore; I had been hearing her trying to stifle the sobs since we arrived. Her soft gasps said it all. It made me reflect on my decision to stay outside; I didn’t think I could keep my emotions in check once we entered.Lin
Kelvin's POVI couldn't believe I had given in to my lust once more. The last time something like this happened, I apologized and vowed it would never repeat itself. Now, as I sifted through the files Noah sent me, I still struggled to admit that Juliet and Bella might be sisters. Our alliance was built on a shared goal, and the last time we had met like this was to reveal the truth behind RA. Now, we were here because of Racheal, but my purpose was to uncover Juliet's identity.*I didn’t start this relationship on a clean slate just to end it because of a culprit sharing her blood.*“You seem early!” Noah remarked, his voice laced with sarcasm.“And you seem late,” I shot back, eyeing him. He looked lean and disheveled, a total mess compared to the Noah I knew.“Is she with you?” he asked.“Why would I bring her with me?” I replied, my irritation rising.“You have no reason to call me here, then—”“What makes you think they’re related? Even if they are, I doubt she knows about her ex
Bella's POVEvery part of my body ached from the journey, and I could barely feel my legs. But it was worth it. It had been a long time coming—discussing the idea of flying down here to visit Kelvin's parents. He had been overly protective, worrying I wasn’t ready for this. Yet, here we were, on our way to meet both my idol and his parents. The former excited me; the latter filled me with dread.Kelvin noticed my uneasiness and pulled me into an embrace, planting a soft kiss on my forehead—a gesture I had grown so accustomed to. We had just landed, and as we headed to the lobby, I spotted Kelvin shaking hands with someone I didn’t recognize. Others bowed slightly to him, showing their respect.*What should I expect?* I thought. *He is one of the youngest renowned businessmen, linking a channel between New York and the USA is no small feat.* I mustered a smile for those who acknowledged me.We would head home before leaving early to visit Racheal in the hospital. My gaze was caught in
Kelvin's POVI had barely settled back into my office when the news hit me like a freight train. Rachael had been in an accident? My heart sank as I slumped into my chair, the weight of the world crashing down around me. I had just returned, hoping to find some semblance of normalcy, when everything spiraled out of control again.“Kelvin, are you okay?” Bella asked, moving toward my chair, her eyes scanning my face for any sign of reassurance.“No, not really,” I replied, rubbing my temples to ease the pounding in my head. She could see how close I was to Racheal, and I knew she understood my worries. “Rachael is in critical condition. I need to get down to New York,” I added, my voice strained.“Do you want me to come with you?” she offered, concern lacing her tone. I hesitated for a moment, the urgency of the situation clashing with my instincts to protect her. “No, I’ll travel alone,” I said, pushing myself to my feet. I grabbed my phone and shot a quick message to my secretary,
Kim's POVI could remember feeling utterly drained when I returned home, free from Kelvin's silence, the weight of everything pressing heavily on my shoulders. My parents welcomed me with open arms, their warmth almost overwhelming. My dad, who had been distant for so long, embraced me tightly. The love in that moment nearly brought me to tears.“Kim, we’ve missed you so much,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve missed you too, Dad,” I replied, feeling the tears well up in my eyes. It was a bittersweet reunion, knowing what lay ahead. I wasn't expecting such a reaction from my dad and hearing how he missed me made me feel like I was close to my endThe last time I went to the clinic for a check-up, I had received the results I had dreaded. I had known, deep down, that choosing to keep the baby while battling cancer was a gamble. The odds were stacked against me, and I felt the looming shadow of my mortality.My mom had sensed something was wrong, even when I tried to keep
Racheal's POVI couldn't take Noah's silence anymore. It was suffocating me, and it was terrible for Ariella to witness all of this. My heart raced as I stormed into Noah's study, furious and desperate for answers. My hands trembled with anger and confusion as I stumbled upon a collection of files and documents, all centered around Juliet.I picked up every picture I could find. My breath caught in my throat as I looked at the images of Juliet and her family. There was one of a man smiling lovingly at a woman—Juliet's parents, I realized. The man’s coat struck a chord in my memory, though I couldn't pinpoint why it seemed so familiar. As I traced the photos, my eyes fell on a little girl who looked strikingly like Juliet. It had to be her sister. A shiver ran down my spine as I pieced together the fragments of my discovery. But then, my gaze landed on a guillotine with a body labeled "XAVIER'S." My heart dropped. I was about to open it when Noah’s voice shattered the silence.“You're
Kelvin's POVThe air between us hung heavy with unspoken words. I could see Bella processing everything I had just said, her brow furrowed in thought. I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to bridge the gap that had grown between us.“Kelvin, I don’t understand why you didn’t tell me sooner. I could have helped you,” she said, her voice steady but filled with a hint of disappointment. “I thought I was protecting you,” I replied, my frustration mixing with regret. “I didn’t want you to be dragged into the chaos of my life. But now, I realize that keeping you in the dark only hurt us both.”She fell silent, staring at the ground as if searching for answers in the cracks of the pavement. I wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but I hesitated, unsure if she would welcome my touch again.“Do you think this is something I could just forget?” she finally asked, her voice breaking slightly. “You made me feel like I was special, and then you pulled the rug out from under me.”