ALEXANDER'S POV I wasn't thinking, ever since the meeting with Hazel, I couldn't think straight. Since the day I saw Katherine again at my office, I had always assumed that she was back to get revenge on me for leaving her back then but after what Hazel said, it got me thinking twice.Maybe Katherine really didn't know that I was the CEO of RodaTech, maybe she actually met me by chance.While I can't get over the fact that Hazel threatened me to stay away from Katherine, I still feel like she was right in doing that.After all I broke Katherine's heart and left her all alone for six years.But it was all based on a misunderstanding, the least Katherine could do for me was to grant me access to our son and that was something she swore to never do.But she'll change her mind, she has to. The DNA results were out already, it was already confirmed no matter how long she denies it, Franklin is my son.I stared at the report again for the twentieth time since I got it and smiled.My son.I
KATHERINE'S POV Alexander stood up, his once proud shoulder bent as he walked towards the door. I stared at him feeling everything and nothing at the same time.It could all be a pretense. He was fond of that—trying to play me until he got what he wanted, which was none other than my son, Franklin.If he thinks he could just waltz into our life like he didn't ruin mine some years ago, then he has no idea who he was messing with."Katherine," he called, his hands still on the door. I stared at him, my breath paused for some reason."What is it?""Can you just think about what I said? I seriously just want what's best for Franklin."I laughed, a short snort that was meant to provoke him and as I saw his jaw clenched, I knew immediately that he was pissed."Alex, you seriously shouldn't say something like that. One would think that you're actually his father," I said, mocking him.He stared at me, a shadow falling on his already unreadable expression and he frowned."You saw the DNA tes
KATHERINE'S POV "What??" Hazel asked and I could tell that the news stunned the daylights out of her.I nodded."Yes. Astra was the one who made me go out of the industry six years ago, she was the one who caused that scandal."Her brows furrowed and she frowned."But how? She doesn't have any connection to the media or anything. She also couldn't have been able to edit a photo of yours without your actual picture, right?"That got me thinking and I stared at her, the wheels in my head spinning as I realized what she was trying to point out.She was right—it was strange how she got access to my photos. But then again, she was with Alexander. Maybe she took his phone… or something.Still, how would my pictures even be on Alex’s phone? Of course, he could have them, but… I don’t know.“I don’t think so,” I said, “but according to Alexander, Astra was in contact with a gossip monger—a paparazzo known for spreading rumors. She gave him my photos to leak online.”Hazel's brow raised."Ac
ALEXANDER'S POV I don't know what hurt the most, having evidence that Franklin was my son but still not being able to hold him or the fact that Katherine didn't believe that Astra was the one behind the Scandal that nearly destroyed her life.It was weird and while I understand her point, I could not also believe that she would think that low of me.What did I do to make her think that way?The DNA results stared back at me, mocking me for the failed attempt to get my son back even with concrete evidence and I turned my face away back to the door.It's been almost 48 hours and there was still no trace of Astra yet, Henry came back with nothing, Not even a link to where she might have gone.A part of me was worried because her disappearance might mean further mischief on her part but at the same time, it felt relieving to finally have an apartment free from tantrums, giggling over new bags, and the usual social media chatter she does every night at dinner.I smiled as my gaze fell on
ALEXANDER'S POV"She signed a contract with your company??" Mom asked, her voice raised with surprise.I had to force my face from Susan's ever-knowing glance and turned to stare at Mom."Yes, she did," for some weird reason, my tone was laced with pride and I felt my heart swell with pride as they both looked surprised that she was capable of signing a contract with a company as huge as mine."A contract? For what?""Mom, seriously?" Sue interrupted and rolled her eyes."What?""You're acting like you didn't know that she had that much potential in her. She's an artist mom. You just heard us talk about her exhibition.""And? What does an artist have to do with a tech company? Are you sure she's not just reaching out to you, Alexander? She's showing you that she's still interested."As much as I wanted to believe Mom's optimistic Statement, I knew more than anyone that it was impossible.If anything she was definitely showing off what she could do to me, that's if she was actually awa
KATHERINE'S POV The hushed sounds around the room as I walked in were exactly what I expected. Of course, they wouldn't be all too happy to see me, not after they know what I'm about to do.Hazel walked in behind me and grabbed a chair for me at the center of the table before sitting next to me.The men cleared their throats and I watched as their representative stood up and looked around the room.It was time to start."Welcome, ladies and gentlemen of the board. I'm sure some of you are aware why we are gathered together today especially with a stranger in our midst. Well, for those of you who aren't aware, especially the ones who have no idea who's in our midst, I'll repeat myself."He kept silent for two seconds and took one glance at me before he continued. "This is Miss Katherine Bethany Luthers. Daughter of Mrs Agatha Katherine Luthers, the founder of this company. And we're here to discuss the ownership of this company."I watched as some of the men and women took in the new
KATHERINE'S POV I turned to look at who had the guts to land their hands on my face and all blood drained from my face as I stared at the one woman I hate.Elizabeth Shane.. my stepmother.I stared at her, unable to bring myself to say anything. Shock held my tongue captive as I stood transfixed in a spot, my hands still on my face."Mom! Thank goodness you are here. This bitch dared to step her foot inside the Shane company and I was just putting her in her place."I scoffed and shook my head, the shock finally leaving me."Shane company?" I repeated."How dare you come back here? I heard you were back in town, I heard everything you were doing, showing up at your ex-husband's company and causing chaos. I knew you would show up here next. Why can't you live a life free from chaos? I understand that you're obsessed with being on the camera but it shouldn't make you try to ruin our good reputation."I laughed, slowly at first, then more, then more again, my hands clutching my stomach
ALEXANDER'S POV "Astra..." I managed to say as I stared at her in surprise. It wasn't what I expected. She didn't look disheveled but she looked like she had been crying for days and it was surprising.Why would she cry? Wasn't she the one behind everything?Mom didn't say a word..she didn't have to though, her face already said a thousand words as she glared at the sad face Astra was pulling and then Susan. She was looking weirdly disappointed to see her."What's going on?" I asked finally, taking another step toward her."Alex.. I'm so sorry. I couldn't. I couldn't do it."I frowned, confused."What? Do what?" She sniffed, tears falling off her face."I tried to, Alex, I promise you. I tried to kill myself because I deserve to die. I wanted to punish myself for you. To do what you would want to do to me but I couldn't. I can't. Alexander, please forgive me."I blinked, utterly confused at what was going on.So Astra really did try to commit suicide? Why?"You tried to kill yourse
KATHERINE'S POV"No... Hazel, definitely not!"I was staring at the dress Hazel showcased in front of me and shook my head. There's no way she expected me to wear something like that to the club, no, anywhere.It was a sheer seductive black gown that looked short as hell.Definitely not something a CEO should be caught wearing."Oh come on, Katherine, be open-minded. This is really good, especially for our mission for tonight and what's that mission?"I rolled my eyes at her and shook my head refusing to give in."Come on, say it."I shrugged."Katherine...?""Fine.. to get fucked.""Louder, I can't hear you. What's the mission for tonight?""To get fucked.""To what??!""Get fucked!!" I yelled, finally bursting into laughter."That's the spirit. You need to get fucked and this dress screams everything about your availability to get fucked, not that...," she pointed at the clothes I was wearing with a frown on her face."But this is okay, I mean, it's uhmm, modest?""Right and who fuc
KATHERINE'S POV"What's this call I just got, Katherine?" Hazel asked as she walked into my office.It's been hours of arranging and rearranging my mother's former office and trying to make it look exactly as I remembered it looked like.It wasn't easy ..no, everything since this morning hasn't been easy.Ever since I found out about Alex's involvement in the company, and then that visit of his..? Something just didn't stick to me, it just didn't seem right. I sighed and dropped the pile of files I was carrying and turned to stare at Hazel.The look on her face told me that she was angry and I could already tell that this was going to add to my already piled-up list of worries."What call?" I asked as I stared expectantly at her."What else??"The rolling of her eyes And the frown was enough for me to know who it was about.I sighed again and slumped on the seat.Great...just great."What did he do this time, Hazel?""He went to Franklin's school, Katherine, that's what he did."I sa
ALEXANDER'S POV The room felt heavy with tension after Astra’s tearful confession and my mother and Susan’s abrupt departure. I sat in silence, my mind racing as I tried to process everything that had just happened. Astra’s sobs had quieted, but her presence still lingered, a reminder of the chaos she had brought into my life. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to her sudden remorse than she was letting on. But for now, I had bigger things to worry about.My son. Franklin. The boy I hadn’t even known existed until a few days ago. The boy who had called me “Daddy” without even knowing who I was. The thought of him sent a pang of guilt and longing through me. Katherine had kept him from me for six years, and now that I knew the truth, I couldn’t just sit back and let her dictate how this would play out. I needed to see him, to talk to him, to be a part of his life. But how?I glanced at Astra, who was still standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, her eyes red and pu
KATHERINE'S POVThe sight of Henry standing outside the building sent a jolt of unease through me. His presence here, of all places, couldn’t be a coincidence. My mind raced, trying to piece together why Alexander’s assistant would be here, especially after everything that had just transpired inside. Was Alexander keeping tabs on me? Or was this something else entirely?Hazel’s grip on my hand tightened, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Henry through the car window. “What the hell is he doing here?” she muttered, her voice low but laced with suspicion.I didn’t have an answer. My thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind, torn between the confrontation I’d just had with Elizabeth and Clara and the sudden appearance of Henry. My heart was still pounding from the adrenaline of standing up to my stepmother, and now this? It felt like the universe was testing me, pushing me to my limits.“Let’s go,” I said quietly, my voice steadier than I felt. “We’ll deal with this later.”Hazel nodded, but
ALEXANDER'S POV "Astra..." I managed to say as I stared at her in surprise. It wasn't what I expected. She didn't look disheveled but she looked like she had been crying for days and it was surprising.Why would she cry? Wasn't she the one behind everything?Mom didn't say a word..she didn't have to though, her face already said a thousand words as she glared at the sad face Astra was pulling and then Susan. She was looking weirdly disappointed to see her."What's going on?" I asked finally, taking another step toward her."Alex.. I'm so sorry. I couldn't. I couldn't do it."I frowned, confused."What? Do what?" She sniffed, tears falling off her face."I tried to, Alex, I promise you. I tried to kill myself because I deserve to die. I wanted to punish myself for you. To do what you would want to do to me but I couldn't. I can't. Alexander, please forgive me."I blinked, utterly confused at what was going on.So Astra really did try to commit suicide? Why?"You tried to kill yourse
KATHERINE'S POV I turned to look at who had the guts to land their hands on my face and all blood drained from my face as I stared at the one woman I hate.Elizabeth Shane.. my stepmother.I stared at her, unable to bring myself to say anything. Shock held my tongue captive as I stood transfixed in a spot, my hands still on my face."Mom! Thank goodness you are here. This bitch dared to step her foot inside the Shane company and I was just putting her in her place."I scoffed and shook my head, the shock finally leaving me."Shane company?" I repeated."How dare you come back here? I heard you were back in town, I heard everything you were doing, showing up at your ex-husband's company and causing chaos. I knew you would show up here next. Why can't you live a life free from chaos? I understand that you're obsessed with being on the camera but it shouldn't make you try to ruin our good reputation."I laughed, slowly at first, then more, then more again, my hands clutching my stomach
KATHERINE'S POV The hushed sounds around the room as I walked in were exactly what I expected. Of course, they wouldn't be all too happy to see me, not after they know what I'm about to do.Hazel walked in behind me and grabbed a chair for me at the center of the table before sitting next to me.The men cleared their throats and I watched as their representative stood up and looked around the room.It was time to start."Welcome, ladies and gentlemen of the board. I'm sure some of you are aware why we are gathered together today especially with a stranger in our midst. Well, for those of you who aren't aware, especially the ones who have no idea who's in our midst, I'll repeat myself."He kept silent for two seconds and took one glance at me before he continued. "This is Miss Katherine Bethany Luthers. Daughter of Mrs Agatha Katherine Luthers, the founder of this company. And we're here to discuss the ownership of this company."I watched as some of the men and women took in the new
ALEXANDER'S POV"She signed a contract with your company??" Mom asked, her voice raised with surprise.I had to force my face from Susan's ever-knowing glance and turned to stare at Mom."Yes, she did," for some weird reason, my tone was laced with pride and I felt my heart swell with pride as they both looked surprised that she was capable of signing a contract with a company as huge as mine."A contract? For what?""Mom, seriously?" Sue interrupted and rolled her eyes."What?""You're acting like you didn't know that she had that much potential in her. She's an artist mom. You just heard us talk about her exhibition.""And? What does an artist have to do with a tech company? Are you sure she's not just reaching out to you, Alexander? She's showing you that she's still interested."As much as I wanted to believe Mom's optimistic Statement, I knew more than anyone that it was impossible.If anything she was definitely showing off what she could do to me, that's if she was actually awa
ALEXANDER'S POV I don't know what hurt the most, having evidence that Franklin was my son but still not being able to hold him or the fact that Katherine didn't believe that Astra was the one behind the Scandal that nearly destroyed her life.It was weird and while I understand her point, I could not also believe that she would think that low of me.What did I do to make her think that way?The DNA results stared back at me, mocking me for the failed attempt to get my son back even with concrete evidence and I turned my face away back to the door.It's been almost 48 hours and there was still no trace of Astra yet, Henry came back with nothing, Not even a link to where she might have gone.A part of me was worried because her disappearance might mean further mischief on her part but at the same time, it felt relieving to finally have an apartment free from tantrums, giggling over new bags, and the usual social media chatter she does every night at dinner.I smiled as my gaze fell on