The house was quiet after the children had gone to school. Yvonne stood by the window, absentmindedly tracing circles on the glass with her fingertips. Her mind wandered, not only to the children or their day at school, but to her father's unexpected summons and impending vist. It had been nearly five years since she had last set foot at the family estate, and even longer since she had heard from him.She sighed deeply, her thoughts once again clouded with a mix of anger, confusion, and a faint, lingering sadness. What could he possibly want after all these years of silence? And why now, when she was just starting to rebuild her life?This had been Yvonne’s inner turmoil whenever she was left alone after her father's message had come.Micheal entered the room quietly, his eyes immediately catching the distant look on her face. He watched her for a moment, hesitant to interrupt the storm of thoughts swirling in her mind. But as her silence stretched, he finally spoke up.He just decide
With a sigh, he sat at his desk and opened the file, scanning the pages with increasing irritation. Her father, Andrew Lawrence, was still the same cold and calculating man he had always been—a man who valued appearances and control above all else. Micheal couldn’t understand why Yvonne had been summoned back, especially after her family had exiled her so cruelly.According to the file, their life had been running smoothly. They had a few hiccups with allies recently but that had been immediately resolved. Businesses had their ups and down, so Micheal didn't think too far into that. If he could have his way, he would let them go bankrupt, come crawling to Yvonne for forgiveness and let them rebuild from scratch.He tapped his fingers restlessly on the desk, his mind racing. Something wasn’t right. The timing of this sudden summons, the fact that Yvonne had been kept at arm’s length for so long—it felt suspicious. And then there was his own family to worry about, his mother in particu
The classroom buzzed with excitement as Jack and Lily stepped inside, their small hands still clutching each other's for reassurance. Their teacher, Mrs. Bloom, greeted them with a warm smile, sensing their nerves but also the curiosity behind their eyes.“Class, we have two new students today,” Mrs. Bloom announced, her voice gentle yet commanding enough to gain the attention of the room. “This is Jack and Lily, and they’ll be joining us from now on. Let’s all give them a warm welcome!”The class clapped enthusiastically, far more welcoming than the students at their previous school. Jack and Lily exchanged relieved glances before moving to their assigned desks, their anxiety slowly dissolving in the friendly atmosphere.Mrs. Bloom continued, “Now, we’re going to do something we always do once we have a new student. Let’s each share something about ourselves! Who wants to go first?”Hands shot up around the room, and soon the children were sharing their names, favorite hobbies, and i
Yvonne stood at the entrance of the VIP meeting room, her hands gripping the strap of her purse tightly as she took a deep breath. The room before her was extravagant—polished marble floors glistened under the soft glow of chandeliers, walls adorned with intricate gold trimmings, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked a lush garden. The room radiated wealth, sophistication, and beauty, but to Yvonne, it felt as cold and stifling as ever.She had grown up in a similar luxurious setting, surrounded by the same sort of opulence, but she had never felt at home in it. The grandeur, the endless need for perfection—it had suffocated her, and now, standing here again, those old feelings crept up her spine, making her feel out of place despite the familiarity.She straightened her shoulders, pushing away the tension. No matter what, she would face this moment without letting it show how much her nerves rattled. She was no longer the fragile girl they had banished years ago. She had a new
“I wouldn't lie, baby. Although the circumstances made your father compromise, I am glad this opportunity arose. I want us to come together as a family.” Maria said but Yvonne’s mind had drifted from her mother.Yvonne’s mind was spinning.She was still processing what she had just heard—Micheal, the man who had comforted her through some of her darkest days, who had seemed so genuine and down-to-earth, was the CEO of Langston Corporation. A billionaire. How had she not seen it?Her thoughts scrambled, jumping from one memory to another, piecing together every odd detail she had brushed aside. She recalled the countless times she had offered to pay for something—groceries, meals—only for Micheal to gently refuse with a smile, saying that it was no trouble. At the time, she had thought he was just being generous, a kind man trying to help her out. But now... it felt like a lie.Had she been a fool all along? Her heart twisted with the realization.There was that day she had poured her
Yvonne found herself silent, unable to tell him she wanted to leave.Satisfied at the fear in her eyes, he said authoritatively. “Your mother claimed you wish to meet here first before we head home, now let's go.”Maria glanced at her daughter, ready for an argument between the two but it never happened. As soon as Andrew turned around to exit the building, Yvonne followed behind like a robot.In less than 20 minutes, they had driven into the family estate Yvonne had strictly claimed she wouldn't visit. Yvonne’s heart pounded in her chest, her palms clammy as she followed her father into the grand dining room, the familiar, suffocating silence settling in as soon as they sat. Her eyes darted across the room, taking in the opulence of the space she once knew so well. Every inch was pristine, cold, and calculated—just like him.She had come across her picture still hung at the family momento spots in the living room and other medals she had won growing up and impressing her father.And
Yvonne’s heart pounded in her chest as she quietly slipped through the hallway, the suffocating air of the house pressing down on her with each step. She needed to get out—now. The walls seemed to close in, a flood of old emotions threatening to drown her. But as she stepped into the living room, her blood ran cold.Her parents were already seated, waiting for her.Her father, Andrew Lawrence, leaned back in his chair, his steely gaze locked onto her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He had known she would try to leave. Yvonne’s mother, Maria, sat beside him, her hands folded neatly on her lap, a tight smile stretching across her face as if she was forcing herself to act composed. But Yvonne could see the tension in her mother's stiff posture, the flicker of something unreadable in her eyes.A cold sweat broke across Yvonne’s back. Her throat tightened as panic surged within her. She had tried to escape the torrent of emotions that this house—the people in this house—brough
Yvonne’s pulse quickened as her eyes locked onto the elegantly dressed woman who had just been escorted into the room. The clacking of heels against the polished floor seemed to echo with every step. The woman stood tall, poised, with an air of confidence that immediately commanded attention. Yvonne's heart sank when she realized who she was staring at. She shared a resemblance to Micheal and Jack. Aurora Langston. She could almost hear Micheal's voice in her mind, warning her about the manipulative tendencies of the woman now standing just a few feet away. Despite the carefully constructed facade of elegance and grace, there was something off about her presence. The sharp glint in Aurora's eyes betrayed the softness in her smile—a predator assessing her prey. For a moment, the room was silent. Even the air felt stifling, as if the presence of Aurora had stolen all the oxygen. Yvonne’s gaze flicked briefly toward her parents. Her father’s posture was still rigid, his eyes fixed on t
A Father's RedemptionThe embrace lingered for a few precious moments, a silent exchange of love and reassurance before Micheal kissed the twins' foreheads. He pulled back gently, his hands cupping their small faces as he gazed into their wide, trusting eyes. Before speaking, he subtly wiped away the remnants of his tears, determined to steady himself."What I want you two to know is that your mother loves you so much," Micheal said firmly, his voice carrying the weight of his emotions. "She was super sad and sick when she thought she lost you two. So, have it in mind that she would never, under any circumstances, leave you again."Jack and Lily nodded, their tiny faces etched with a seriousness that melted Micheal’s heart. He would have smiled at their cuteness if not for the crushing despair that lingered in his chest. What he was about to say next mattered more than anything.He took a deep breath. "So, what I want to say is… if you two want to go to her now, she won’t say no. But
The Weight of Truth The morning light filtering through the curtains should have felt warm, comforting even, but it did nothing to ease the cold tension hanging in the room. Rebecca’s finger hovered over the call button, her pulse quickening as she struggled to think of another way to handle the children’s sudden withdrawal. The silence from the twins was suffocating, their usual bright energy drained into something distant and unreadable. Just as she was about to press the dial, a deep, weary voice stopped her. "Don’t call her." Rebecca jolted, her grip on the phone tightening. She turned swiftly, her gaze landing on Micheal, who stood at the doorway, his face shadowed with exhaustion. His usually sharp eyes were dim, weighed down by sleeplessness and something much deeper—regret. Without another word, Rebecca ended the call, slipping the phone into her pocket as she stepped aside. She recognized the authority in Micheal’s voice; this was a conversation meant only for him and his
The night stretched on, thick with unease, shadows pressing against the walls of Micheal’s home. He sat in his dimly lit study, the amber glow of his whiskey swirling in the glass he hadn’t taken a sip from. His hands clenched the armrests of his chair, knuckles white from the pressure.He was drowning in emotions too intense, too suffocating.Anger, at the sheer audacity of David and Sammy—the realization that Yvonne’s misery had been orchestrated for a business deal.Confusion, at how he had been placed at the centre of it all without his knowledge.And above all else—fear.Fear of what this truth meant. Fear of the possibility that he had unknowingly been the reason Yvonne’s life had unravelled. The woman he loved. The woman he had vowed to protect.Was he her nightmare?He wanted to reject it, to push the thoughts away, but they wrapped around his mind like chains, dragging him deeper into torment.He needed answers.If his mother had orchestrated this, then she was not above lyin
The room was thick with silence—so heavy it felt suffocating. The air itself seemed to pause, unwilling to carry the weight of Yvonne’s confession any further.Yvonne had just summarised everything she had been through, leaving out the fact that Micheal happened to be the man who had been the catalyst of her horror. The man had unknowingly become a tool to ruin her life.Across from her, her parents sat frozen, their expressions carved from pure shock. Her mother’s lips trembled, her eyes wide and unblinking, while her father’s face had lost all its color, drained of warmth, of disbelief, of every ounce of composure he once held.Two minutes passed. Not a single word was spoken.Then, like a fragile thread snapping under unbearable tension, her mother let out a heart-wrenching sob. She clutched her chest, shaking her head as if she could somehow will away the truth. Tears streamed down her face, and with a broken cry, she lurched toward Yvonne, wrapping her in the fiercest, most despe
The moment Yvonne stepped through the grand gates of her family’s estate, a heavy weight settled onto her chest, pressing down like an invisible force threatening to suffocate her. The sight of the familiar stone pathways, the towering oak trees lining the driveway, and the grand house standing against the twilight sky—all of it should have been comforting. But instead, it shattered her. This was home. The place where she had once felt safe, loved, untouchable. And yet, it had also been the place where she had been cast aside, left to fend for herself in a world that had swallowed her whole. Her legs barely carried her as she stepped into the house, the familiar scent of lavender and aged wood filling her lungs. The warmth of the golden lights did nothing to chase away the chill in her bones. She was trembling, her hands clutching her coat as if it could shield her from the memories clawing at the edges of her mind. Her mother was the first to see her. “Yvonne?” The voice was s
A lot had happened in one day.Micheal paced his study, his hands trembling as he replayed the events of the evening in his mind. The image of David’s smug face, the sound of his own fist connecting with David’s jaw, and the suffocating fury that had consumed him—it all played on a loop. He paused, his fists clenching at his sides as his chest heaved.What had come over him? Why had he let his anger drive him to such an impulsive act when he had the resources to destroy David in a hundred calculated ways?He sank onto the edge of the couch, his head in his hands, disbelief washing over him. He was Micheal Langston, a man who prided himself on control and strategy. Yet tonight, he had thrown that all away."Yvonne..." he whispered her name, his voice breaking as his mind wandered to her. She had suffered enough, and now, David’s cruel revelations had reopened old wounds. Micheal felt his blood boil.The past had haunted him long enough. If Yvonne truly was the woman he had slept with f
The silence after Micheal’s departure was suffocating. The sound of the door slamming shut echoed in the grand foyer of David’s villa, leaving Sammy and David alone in a thick tension that hung in the air like a storm cloud.Sammy’s chest heaved as she stood frozen, staring at David, who leaned against the wall, clutching his bruised side and dabbing at the blood on his split lip. The sight of him—disheveled, angry, and utterly unbothered by the disaster he had just ignited—sent a surge of fury coursing through her veins.“What the hell is wrong with you?” she shrieked, her voice trembling with fear and rage as she stormed toward him. Her fists came down hard on his chest, again and again, with a strength born of desperation. “Are you trying to ruin us? Is that it? Do you want us to lose everything we’ve worked for?”David winced but made no move to stop her, his eyes blazing with defiance. “I’m not the one ruining anything! That bastard Micheal—”“Don’t you dare blame him for your id
The silence in the car was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the tires against the asphalt. Yvonne gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white from the pressure. She didn’t know where she was heading initially, but as the skyline of the city blurred past, one destination solidified in her mind: her parents' house. She hadn’t willingly stepped foot there in years, but something about tonight—about everything—pulled her back. She just wants warmth and her mind couldn’t help but drift back to when she was still little and doted on by her parents.They had expressed regret for what they had done and although Yvonne still couldn't bring herself to forgive them, she needed that warmth.Amy is miles away and not in the condition to shoulder her burden with her. She has no one else to reach out to. Her phone buzzed on the passenger seat, jolting her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen. It was Micheal. Her first instinct was to ignore it, but then she thought ab
Yvonne ended the call with Amy, her heart pounding as the words replayed in her mind. She glanced at the dashboard clock—barely an hour had passed since her confrontation with David, but it felt like an eternity. The silence in the car was oppressive, the faint hum of the engine doing little to soothe her nerves.Her grip on the steering wheel tightened as she pulled onto the main road, the familiar route to “Micheal’s” house filling her with dread. It wasn’t home anymore—or was it? Her thoughts spiraled as her breathing grew shallow.The children. Jack and Lily.She could picture them now, curled up in their beds, innocent and blissfully unaware of the chaos that had consumed her life. They were hers. The realization still felt unreal, like an out-of-body experience. Her chest ached at the thought of them waking up to find her gone.“I can’t leave them,” she whispered, her voice trembling. However she didn't want her children to see the pathetic side of her either.Additionally the t