As soon as the elevator doors slid shut, the adrenaline drained from Yvonne’s body, leaving her shaky and overwhelmed. She pressed her back against the cold metal wall, her chest tightening with every breath. Her heart pounded relentlessly, and she clenched her fists to stop them from trembling.The encounter with Sammy had shaken her more than she cared to admit. The sudden violence, the sharp tug of her hair, the onlookers whose stares she could still feel—it was too much."Did I embarrass Micheal?" The thought gnawed at her, dragging her further into the spiral of worry. "What if word spreads? What if the employees saw everything and judged me? What if Sammy twists the story and make her a nuisance in front of the employees of the man she was supposed to lead beside?The familiar weight of overthinking settled heavily on her shoulders. She couldn’t bear the idea of being the cause of gossip in Micheal’s company lobby. He must have worked so hard to create a space of respect and pro
Yvonne sat on the plush leather chair near his desk, clutching her handbag tightly in her lap. The encounter with Sammy had unsettled her far more than she cared to admit, and now, with Micheal pacing the room, radiating fury, she felt a knot of guilt twist tighter in her stomach.She had insisted that nothing had happened and Micheal wasn't pleased at the guarded expression on Yvonne’s face.Micheal stopped in front of her once again, crouching to meet her gaze. His dark eyes softened for a moment, one large hand reaching up to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “Tell me everything please or I will launch an investigation and make sure whoever makes you work up will pay dearly. So last chance love, if you want them having it easier, tell me now. He urged gently, through a storm simmered beneath his calm exterior.Yvonne inhaled slowly, still hesitant to burden him with the confrontation. “It was nothing, Micheal. Just Sammy being… being an idiot, you know Sammy …. the g
The moment Sammy stepped out of Micheal’s office, her heart pounded with a storm of rage and humiliation. Her polished heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she strode toward the elevator. She couldn’t believe how quickly things had spiraled out of her control, nor could she forget the protective anger in Micheal’s eyes when he called Yvonne his woman. The word echoed in her mind, each repetition stoking her fury.By the time the elevator doors slid open on her department floor, Sammy was fuming, her anger threatening to boil over. As she stepped out, she nearly collided with David, who was anxiously pacing back and forth in front of the elevator."Sammy!" David’s face, usually so composed, was drawn with worry. He reached out, gripping her shoulders tightly. "What happened? Are you okay?"For a moment, Sammy basked in his concern. His fingers were warm, his tone soft and almost tender—the kind of attention she’d longed for. But the reminder of what had just happened soure
The moment Yvonne returned to Micheal’s office, the atmosphere was light and warm, filled with the gentle scent of the food she'd brought. They settled around a small round table in the corner of Micheal’s spacious and sophisticated office. The large window allowed sunlight to flood in, reflecting off the glass, highlighting the carefully chosen decor—dark mahogany shelves lined with sleek books and tasteful art pieces. The room's modern elegance exuded authority and a hint of intimacy, softened by the presence of Yvonne.As they settled down to eat, Micheal couldn’t contain his happiness. “You have no idea how much it means to me to have you here, in my space,” he said warmly, his voice almost vulnerable as he watched her unwrap the food she’d carefully prepared. Yvonne’s cheeks turned a light shade of pink, and she ducked her head.“I just… wanted it to be a surprise,” she admitted shyly, smiling as she served him a generous portion. Her fingers brushed against his hand, lingering a
David stormed into the house, slamming the door behind him with a force that made the walls tremble. The living room was dim, shadows stretching across the floor, and Sammy barely looked up from her place on the sofa. Her eyes followed him as he tossed his jacket onto a chair and loosened his tie, his face tight with frustration.“Rough day?” she asked casually, though she already knew the answer. It was a question she often posed, hoping he would share something—anything—but not her. Not Yvonne. David’s only response was a grunt as he headed to the kitchen to pour himself a drink. Sammy’s gaze returned to the magazine she’d been pretending to read, but the tension in her jaw betrayed her own frustration. She knew why he was upset; she’d seen the change in him over the past weeks, the way his mood darkened after every encounter or mention of Yvonne. It was always Yvonne—whether spoken or unspoken, she was the ghost that haunted their marriage.Although he speaks about her with resent
The weekend morning at the villa was quiet, the kind of calm that had settled over Yvonne, Micheal, and the twins as they finally embraced a semblance of family life. The children’s laughter echoed faintly from the garden, mingling with the sound of distant birdsong. Yvonne and Micheal had spent the previous evening reading stories to Jack and Lily, drifting off together in a contented haze.That peace shattered when a knock came at the door of the master bedroom, urgent enough to jolt them from sleep. Micheal's eyes flickered open, and Yvonne stirred beside him, rubbing her eyes in confusion.“Mr. Langston, sir,” a deep voice called from the hallway. Micheal sat up, already feeling a thread of unease unraveling the morning. He knew his staff rarely disturbed him without good reason.A guard, one of the villa’s longtime employees, stood just outside the door, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. “There’s... a woman at the gate,” he said carefully, hesitating. “She claims to be... the m
The hallway leading back to the master bedroom felt longer than Yvonne remembered. The villa’s elegant decor, usually so warm and comforting, seemed cold and distant. Her legs wobbled, her knees buckling beneath her as they moved. She felt the walls closing in on her, the weight of what had just happened crashing down like a wave she couldn’t outrun.Suddenly, the ground tilted, and Yvonne’s vision blurred. Before she could hit the floor, strong arms encircled her waist, pulling her back from the brink of collapse. Micheal’s grip was firm and steady, holding her close as she struggled to catch her breath."Yvonne," he said urgently, his voice a low, worried murmur. "Are you okay?"She couldn’t speak. Her throat felt tight, and the world spun as she clung to him. Her eyes were wide, unseeing, her mind trapped in a whirlpool of fear and doubt. Micheal’s heartbeat thundered against her chest as he held her, refusing to let go.Without waiting for an answer, Micheal swept her off her feet
Yvonne steadied herself, determination flashing in her eyes. She pulled back from Micheal’s embrace, her hands lingering on his shoulders as she looked deeply into his worried gaze. She could read his vulnerability, the silent fear that perhaps she would decide to blame him, to distance herself. But she knew better — they didn’t need to fear each other. The real threat was out there.She took a steadying breath and reached for his hand, her voice calm yet resolute. “Micheal, before we make any drastic decisions, we need to verify her claim.”He hesitated, his fingers tightening in her grip. “Are you sure we need to do that?” he asked, almost in a whisper. “I already sent someone to follow her. It’d be easier to make her… disappear. I don’t want her interfering in our lives.”Yvonne’s gaze hardened, her tone unyielding. “No one is disappearing, Micheal. We can’t just brush her off without knowing the truth.”Micheal sighed, his shoulders tense as he tried to argue, but Yvonne shook her