Chapter seventy six(Scorpio as a leverage)Sapphire's Point Of View:The firefighters and ambulance arrived and the fire was extinguished immediately.Luckily, the cops arrived early enough and followed the directions I gave, catching the man successfully before he got away.Scorpio was being taken to the hospital and I went with them.As I squeezed his bloody, peeled hand in mine as we were in the ambulance bus, it reminded me of Tyler.It brought back the memories and I remembered how I felt that day. I remembered how I yelled at Landon. I remembered how he almost died from protecting me. I remembered how crazy in love I was with him those times.My heart still fluttered for him but in a painful way rather than ecstatic. I still loved Tyler but I guess he didn't belong to me in the first place anyway.To prove how much I loved him, I even went as far as volunteering to give him my heart just for him to live.That same heart, he had broken now.But I need not be told that I broke him
Chapter seventy seven(deal? Deal!!)Landon's Point Of View:How did my life turn out this way? From skyrocketing to hitting the bottom. Starting from scratch wasn't possible. Not on darkness's watch.He would make sure I never got successful anymore. He would watch me crumble and beg for mercy but he wouldn't spare me.I couldn't even step out of the mansion. I was only managing to hold up when I knew the worse was coming sooner.I had no money and I would end up selling my car and even my mansion just to survive.Survival was my top priority and nothing else.I brought this upon myself. I knew the consequences but I went on and did what I wanted anyway.I was sent to get Sapphire herself to get the code but I was more focused on the asset.I just wanted to get it for myself and it wasn't greed that caused it.It was because I knew that the trillions I had wasn't mine in the first place and darkness could take it anytime if he wanted to, so I wanted to get some money for myself and be
Chapter seventy eight(2-4-2-5)Sapphire's Point Of View:“No buts, gorgeous,”.Shocked, I said nothing, trying to keep my mind collected.“Which path are you taking? Will you sacrifice your dear brother? Or will you give in.”.“What do you want?" Defeated, I said.“Come to darkness and surrender,”."Send the location, I'll be there in a few minutes.”.The call went dead.This was a tough decision but if this was the only way I could protect this Scorpio then I would gladly do it. After all, he has protected me a lot, both indirectly and directly. He told me to run even though he knew the consequences, though I didn't understand what that meant but I think I do now.“Are you leaving?" Scorpio asked as I turned to him.The red pointer on his head disappeared.I flashed him a smile. Little did he know it was a bitter smile rather than a sweet smile.“Yeah, I'm sorry but it's really urgent. My friend is throwing a party and I wasn't aware. My other friend reached out to me now, informing
Chapter seventy nine(Please, don't kill me)Landon's Point Of View:After two days of trying to plot a perfect plan to save Tyler from Darkness, he was released without even having us to do anything.He joined us in the plot and from the Intel I have been gathering, it says that Darkness has gotten the code and has started distributing the bitcoins to crypto currency companies, though he told some of them that the bitcoins are fake but they signed a contract with him to sell them out, only considering the gains and not the fact that it was illegal.And since no one can differentiate the real ones from the forged ones, it was safe for them.I had every information I needed and I had them stored in a flash drive, including the names of the involved crypto currency companies and it would be used against them, including Darkness himself.And it was said that an increase in bitcoins is noticed out of the blue all over America which is unusual as they are not recorded but after a few hours,
Chapter eighty(the three trillion dollars offer)Attorney General's Point Of View:“Dad! You have a package." Sonia shouted from the living room, her voice high-pitched.I closed the book on my lap, throwing my head back to rest on the headboard.“All right. Bring it in!" I shouted back.“I can't even move it from the doorstep, Dad. It's so big." I scoffed.Drama Queen. She was probably overreacting because she didn't want to carry it.“Then get some men to open it into the living room. I'll be there soon to unbox it.”.I returned to reading the book in my hand, flipping the pages open again.After a while, I left my room and went down the stairs. The living room was completely empty, except for the huge box right in the middle of the living room.I thought Sonia was joking when she emphasized on the size but the package was even larger than how she explained.It had wooden pallets under it to move it around easily.I touched the box, using my nails to hitch off the tape that was used
Chapter eighty one(one way out)Landon's Point Of View:“General!" I yelled, teeth grinding as I burst into the living room.Just as I expected, Darkness was there, standing in front of the Attorney General.Both their necks cocked to my direction. The Attorney General looked a bit relieved while Darkness only stared, not giving off an emotion.I stood there, staring at their faces and waiting for something unexpected to happen.Despite the fact that there were two dead bodies near them in a ripped open box, I managed to focus and not get distracted. I knew if I got distracted, Darkness could do a lot within just two seconds of me looking away.I didn't need to be just attentive and focus on him, I needed to be sensitive to every single detail or move and getting distracted was a terrible idea when dealing with Darkness. He would use the opportunity to get a step ahead.Silence took over in such a way that if a little niddle, or in fact a little feather was dropped, it wouldn't be hea
Chapter eighty two(Be mine forever)Sapphire's Point Of View:“Are you okay? Do you feel better now?" Dad asked, looking down at me.I nodded, wincing a bit. My head still hurt slightly from all the torture I received from the man and his men four days ago.“Yes, I'm getting better. You went to see Scorpio right? How's he doing?”.He sighed. “He's starting to recover and he's really worried about you.”.He had dark circles, indicating that he was really stressed. His two children are not doing really well so it was really heartbreaking, especially at his age.“Evelyn!" I shouted, calling for the lady that was hired to look after me when Dad wasn't home.She came out from her room, making her way to where I was seated. “Yes, miss?".“I need you to get me some fruits. Some apples would do.” I ordered, pointing at my purse on the table.She grabbed it and took a twenty dollar note out of it.She then left without saying a word.“I need to leave. I only came to make sure Evelyn is doing h
Chapter eighty three(happiness is being with the right people)Sapphire's Point Of View:“Be mine, forever. Please, will you marry me?”.I shook my head, taking slow steps back as I cupped my mouth, unable to believe this.Why was he doing this now? Why was he doing this here? Something he was supposed to do months ago before things became wild! Something he was supposed to do under the rain or at the beach.Why?! It's never too late but it's still late to do this.He knelt there for about two minutes and not a sound emerged from my lips, tears only slipped down my face and my words were stuck right in the middle of my throat.Defeated, he rose up, stepping forward to hold my hand.I slipped my hands out of his, shaking my head and managing to tear my gaze away from him, only to be met with another version of him standing by his side.My brain processed nothing at the moment. Was I high or was I truly seeing two Tylers.My brain still refused to process anything as the world spun arou
Chapter ninety seven(the footage)Sapphire's Point Of View:It's been one and half week since I got that footage and I have been watching it closely for days, zooming in for details. I drew closer and closer to when box G/0/1/0- - 6/H would be delivered into the store room. I could have just fast forwarded the video to that part, but I wanted to monitor some other things to get clues.I managed to speak with the government agencies about demolishing the company and they agreed to give us about three weeks more to prove ourselves innocent or give it up for them.I have been traveling back and forth between New York City and New Jersey and the stress was a heavy burden to carry. The stress was weighing me down, but I couldn't neglect my responsibilities. I had to monitor Tyler and see if he was doing any better from the neurologist's treatments or not.At the same time, I had to return home to investigate my kid's kidnap and organize the company properly and also watch the footage.Wi
Chapter ninety six(60/40 chance)Sapphire's Point Of View:I remained still, trying to not process what he said but I had already processed it, I was only finding it challenging to digest it and comprehend properly.What did he just say? My Tyler has lost his memory? So he doesn't remember me anymore? He doesn't remember who the culprit was anymore? He doesn't remember anything? Or what?!No, there's no way this is possible.I still remained immobile, not blinking as tears clouded my vision, stinging my eyes as they threatened to spill.There was this silent prayer I said in my mind for him to just laugh out loud and smack me on my shoulder gently then tell me it's a prank or a silly joke, but his face didn't seem like it was fake.His face was heavy with pity and regret.I still didn't blink my eyes and finally, the tears spilled.The only part of my body that moved was my heart and I didn't know why. I didn't know why it didn't just stop beating and let me get buried at this moment.
Chapter ninety five(adoration turned uncertainty)Sapphire's Point Of View:“Who?" I asked, waiting patiently for his words.As his lips parted for him to speak, he jerked instead as he began to cough profusely. I placed my hand on his chest, trying to calm him down but he didn't stop.“Calm down. Easy there, sweetie,” I said, rubbing his chest gently as he coughed.His arm began to shake since he was using them to brace his body.“Lay down." I suggested but he seemed as if he was battling with the cough instead so he didn't hear me.I let out a sigh, not knowing what to do to calm him down.His shaking arm collapsed, leaving him to slam his head against the metal design below him.He stopped coughing immediately, lying there immobile.“Are you okay now?" I asked, only to realize his eyes were closed. A gasp escaped my lips as my eyes widened. “Tyler!!" I shouted, gently tapping him but he didn't budge.My hand cupped my mouth. “Oh shit!" I whispered, turning away and running out of
Chapter ninety four(golden opportunity)Sapphire's Point Of View:My eyes narrowed, my gaze focusing on the kids for a while.They were my kids. Jackson and Jason.Without second thoughts, I dropped the apples in my hand, shoving the passersby aside as I made it through them, making sure I didn't take my eyes off my kids who walked sheepishly with the man who was holding their wrists tightly. From the way he held them, I could tell he was forcefully taking them and he had probably threatened them beforehand.Oh, my poor kids. They were threatened.I would make sure he pays for this! I should have known he had something to hide when he was glancing at me like a mother fucking freak in the plane.“Sorry!" I shouted, separating a couple and running by without looking back.I still had my gaze planted on my kids. I drew closer and closer as the man approached the exit of the airport which wasn't really flooded with people.Suddenly, I felt my left knee bend and I fell to the floor like a
Chapter ninety three(The First Lady)Sergio's Point Of View:I groaned, holding tight onto my thigh as I watched sapphire walk away. I wanted to stop her but I couldn't as she was already far away. I squeezed my eyes shut, pain banging through me.The next thing I heard was the door slamming.Then silence followed. I have been left alone to cry and groan in pain. Left alone to sort myself. I could tell sapphire was feeling betrayed but I was the one who was supposed to feel betrayed instead.I lied to her about doing it for the Empire. Even if I was it for the Empire, she wasn't supposed to react this way as she knew our top rule that we don't sell each other out and we will do anything to protect each other at all cost.I understood that she loved that family but she knew the rules. Also, I only lied to her about saving the Empire. I was saving her instead. I was saving her from emotional distress and getting her reputation ruined.~FLASHBACK~“I'm risking five million dollars." Luca
Chapter ninety two(airport encounter)Sapphire's Point of View:I couldn't believe it. The words that emerged from his lips. It felt as though I didn't hear him so well.I thought something else happened but I was right, I didn't hear him so well as gunshots floated through the air, overshadowing his whispering voice.I stumbled backwards, my eyes scanning the backdoor as that was where the gunshots came from.I waited patiently, silence prolonging the anticipation as my heart hammered against my ribcage.It took every little fiber of self-control in me to stand there and not tell in frustration.I could hear nothing. Everywhere was dead silent except for my pounding heart and my shallow breath.Just as I expected, the door cracked open, the metal creaks piercing the silence.The door finally swung open, revealing a muscular man with piercing onyx eyes.I took two steps back in fear as I gasped. My blood ran cold whilst the hair at the back of my neck stood to the end, the man's eyes
Chapter ninety one(book a flight)Sapphire's Point Of View:“Are you okay?" Dad asked, stretching his hand to touch me.“Don't. Touch. Me!" I gritted my teeth before bending and picking my phone immediately, then turning and walking out as fast as I could.I wasn't ready to continue my confrontation with Dad. When he was ready to make things right with me, he would tell me the truth and tell me everything I needed to know.I slammed the door, entering into the car.All that ran through my mind was TYLER. Was he okay? How did he get himself into an accident? Will he be fine?From the name of the hospital, I knew it was a famous hospital in Jersey so I probably wouldn't be able to go there tonight despite the fact that I wanted to see my husband and spend time with him so badly.How was he doing? Did he sustain serious injuries?Why's all these happening now! Just why?! First, my kids got kidnapped and now my husband was involved in an accident. What was going on? Why did the pressure h
Chapter ninety(treasures, not sacrifices)Sapphire's Point Of View:'Here is where the game begins, Ekaterina!’.My hand trembled as my face became tensed, dread etched on my expression whilst my hand quivered uncontrollably.I screamed in fear, running out of the room and dashing down the stairs with my heart pounding heavily in my chest.With my chest heaving up and down, heavy breaths escaping my shivering lips, I grabbed my handbag from my couch, pulling the zipper immediately.My hand went into the bag and came out with my phone in it. I scrolled through my contact list, clicking on Tyler's number and waiting for him to answer the call.“Answer the god-damned call!" I shouted, beads of sweat trickling down my forehead.The call didn't even go through. As I paced back and forth the room, biting my nails for comfort, I tried calling him again but it still didn't go through.“Fuck you!” I yelled, tossing the phone on the couch harshly as I fell to the floor, digging my nails into my
Chapter eighty nine(two sides of a coin)Tyler's Point Of View:“Two bottles of whiskey, please!!" Kevin shouted, gesturing for the bartender to bring in more alcohol.He grabbed the bottle of almost finished champagne and poured some more champagne into our glasses.We all raised our glasses, clashing them before downing the glass, sighing.“We did it!" Alvin cheered, joy evident in his voice.Oh yes, we sure did it! We bagged the new contract! I thought it would take longer but it didn't so I would be returning home to my wife, Sapphire, tomorrow.“I can finally return home to my family tomorrow!" I sighed.Seth shook his head. “No! Family aside, we need to celebrate first. Don't forget we are all married with kids and we got married before you, so don't act as if your family is special. We also need some time, you know, away from family to enjoy! We are dudes and we should be free!”.Kevin pat Seth on his back, commending him for his words."Since you don't know then I'll have to t