Mirabelle's POV:I swallowed hard, walking toward the table. My heart was beating louder in my ears with every step. As I reached the table, I hesitated, then she moved her scarf just enough for me to see her face.It was Natasha!I moved back slightly, my instincts screaming at me to walk away, to turn around and leave before I got any deeper into whatever game she was playing. But Natasha’s eyes held me in place.She tilted her head, as if she was amused by my shock. "Mirabelle.” She said softly, her voice almost too sweet. "Aren’t you curious about what happened between Noah and I?"For a moment, I just stared at her, too stunned to say anything. But my shock quickly morphed into anger. How dare she? How dare she sit there and act like nothing had happened between them? Like she wasn’t the reason I was questioning everything I knew about Noah?I fought to keep my voice calm. "Why should I care? Why should I even be here, listening to this?"Natasha smiled, a smile that didn’t quite
Mirabelle's POV:I didn’t even know how I ended up parked in front of Ken’s house. One minute, I was driving through the city, lost in my thoughts, and the next, I was in front of his house. I hadn’t intended to come here. I really hadn’t. But my hands, as if on their own, had turned the wheel, driven down familiar streets, and pulled into the parking lot. It was almost like I had been here a hundred times before, even though it was a first. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the building. I hadn’t planned on seeing him. But here I was, unable to stop myself from climbing the stairs of the building, my legs moving with a mind of their own, and before I could even process what I was doing, I found myself standing in front of his door.I didn’t even have to look at the address; I knew it by heart. I’d made sure of that when Noah and I returned from abroad. I’d done my research on Ken, just in case. Just in case there was something I needed to know.That's how I knew his addre
Mirabelle’s POV:I turned toward the door. I wasn’t going to let him have the last word, I needed to leave before I did something I’d regret.As I grabbed the handle to pull the door open, the door swung open. And there, in the doorway, stood Mitchelle.Her expression was that of fury, and in that moment, I wished I could vanish. I could feel the heat of her glare from across the room.“Leaving so soon?” She sneered, stepping inside. “I thought you were having a happy little chat with my man, Mirabelle.”My stomach twisted. The last person I needed to see right now was her. Mitchelle always knew how to push my buttons, and she wasn’t about to let me walk away without doing so.I took a deep breath. “I’m leaving, Mitchelle. Our conversation is over, I only came to discuss business.”But she didn’t back off. Instead, her lips curled into a smirk. “Oh no, it’s not over yet. Not when I’ve got something to say.” She took a few more steps into the apartment, her heels clicking against the f
Mirabelle's POV:Dinner was supposed to be a refuge after a long day at work. But tonight, the usual comfort felt like a thin layer of ice stretched over deep water. I could barely taste the food in front of me. Across the table, Noah sat with his eyes downcast, refusing to look at me. It was all he could do to maintain the facade of peace for the kids.We were halfway through the main course when Skyler began. “Did you and Daddy have a fight?” He asked, his face scrunched up.I froze, my fork hovering mid-air. I glanced at Noah, hoping he’d handle this, but he was staring at his plate, his jaw clenched. I swallowed hard and forced a smile. “No, sweetie. Why would you think that?”“Because you and Daddy aren’t acting like you used to,” Skyler insisted, refusing to let it go. “You’re always doing things separately now. You don’t even tuck us in together anymore.”I opened my mouth to respond, but Tyler cut in. “Yeah.” he said, nodding along with his brother. “You always come at diffe
Noah's POV: I leaned back in my chair, my fingers frozen over the keyboard, unable to type another word. Mirabelle’s words still echoed in my mind. “Maybe this marriage was never real to you in the first place.” The accusation hit me harder than I wanted to admit, and the more I thought about it, the tighter my chest felt. I tried to focus, staring blankly at the spreadsheet on my laptop. But the numbers blurred. My mind slowly drifted to the past. It was two years ago, just after we had taken the kids to the park. Tyler had fallen off his bike, scraping his knee, and he was crying so hard that his face was bright red. I had rushed over, panicking, but before I could reach him, Mirabelle was already there, pulling him into her arms, wiping his tears with soft whispers. She kissed his forehead, and his cries turned into hiccups, his small arms wrapping around her neck. I remembered the way Mirabelle looked up at me with a gentle smile, saying. “You worry too much. He’s toughe
Noah's POV:I blinked, taken aback by the familiarity in her tone. “I... I think you have me confused with someone else,” I said gently, but she just smiled up at me.“Oh, don’t be silly,” she said, clutching my hand. “You’ve always been there for me, every step of the way.” Her frail fingers tightened around mine, and my heart twisted at the softness in her voice. Before I could say anything else, an older man approached us. “I’m so sorry,” He said, forcing out a smile. “My wife... she has dementia. She thinks every kind young man is me, from when we were younger.” He took her hand from mine with a patient smile. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s sit down.”He led his wife to a bench, and they sat together, her head resting on his shoulder as he held her close.I hesitated before asking. “How long have you both been married?”The man looked at me surprised, before smiling softly. “We’ve been married for over fifty years. Met when we were just kids, and we’ve been through... well, more th
Mirabelle's POV:“Mirabelle?” Ken’s voice was gentle but insistent. “What is it?”I sighed and pushed my chair back abruptly. “I have to go.” I said, smiling. “I’m sorry, Ken, I can’t do this right now.”“Mirabelle, wait—” he started, but I was already walking out of the restaurant, the door slamming shut behind me.I got home earlier than usual and found Jamie tidying up the living room. She looked up as I came in, her eyes widening when she saw my face.“Is everything alright, Mrs. Sylvester?” she asked, setting down the duster. I opened my mouth to say yes, to tell her not to worry, but instead, something inside me broke. “No,” I said, and my voice cracked. “No, Jamie, nothing is alright.” She was by my side in an instant, guiding me to the kitchen table and pushing a steaming cup of tea into my hands. I didn’t even realize I was crying until I tasted the salt of my tears on my lips. “Take your time, dear,” Jamie said softly, sitting down across from me. I told her everything—t
Mirabelle's POV: I swallowed, my throat dry. "But what if you do?" I asked quietly. "What if you keep working with her? And then you end up getting close to her in a way that I can’t handle? What happens to us then?" I finally voiced my insecurity and didn't act as strong as I did before. Noah shifted, sitting up fully now, and his expression softened. "Mirabelle, you have to trust me. I've never given you a reason to doubt me, have I?" I stared at him for a long moment. I didn’t want to admit it, but I felt like everything had changed. "I want to trust you," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "But how can I? I know it’s silly, but seeing you with Natasha—it just feels like you’re slipping away from me."Noah’s jaw tightened, and he reached out, placing a hand on my knee. "Mirabelle, you need to trust me. Especially after everything we’ve been through." I felt my chest tighten."I know," I said, forcing out a smile. "I know you’ve always had my back, and I’m grateful
CHAPTER HUNDRED. Mirabelle's POV. I sat at the edge of my bed, gripping my knees tightly, the sound of my children giggling with their father over the laptop carried through the walls. But it only intensified the ache in my chest; why was this so hard? Why couldn't I make sense of what I wanted anymore? I didn't want whatever was going on between Noah and me to affect the relationship with our children, but it seemed I was heading in that direction, and I wanted to stop it. God knows I want Noah so fucking much; he was there for me when Ken and my sister did me dirty, and Noah gave me no space to be miserable, but what was I supposed to do now that I realised that he was the same as his stepbrother, my ex-husband?After all, they were blood brothers. I wish to control my emotions and not feel anything, but unfortunately, that can't be done. The door creaked open, and Mika’s head popped in, her curls bouncing. “Mummy, daddy said he loves you.”She said with the kind of certainty
CHAPTER NINETY NINE. Mirabelle’s pov. The tension in the air was suffocating. I stood in the hallway, heart pounding as the muffled voices of the children from the living room filtered through my thoughts. Why would Ken suddenly show up in my house? What was all this about? I thought as I walked towards him. It didn't feel right, my ex-husband in the house of my present husband. It felt so wrong. Before I could get to Ken, my children got to him first, and I froze. Oh my goodness, I was still thinking about what I would introduce him as, but now. I might not even get an opportunity to introduce them. “Who are you?” Tyler asked Ken, folding his arms together as if Ken was a threat. Ken cleared his throat. I was sure he felt awkward at the encounter with the kids, and I was supposed to move and stop whatever was about to happen, but unfortunately, my foot stayed rooted to the ground. “I'm a friend of your mum’s.” He said calmly. The frown on Tyler's face only worsened. “My mum
Natasha's POV:Suddenly, my phone rang.I glanced at the side table, straining my neck to catch a glimpse of the Caller ID."ALLY 1?" I muttered aloud, my voice filled with anger and irritation.Why the hell is he calling me now?I pulled open the side table drawer, grabbed my business card, and tossed it at Zhao Feng. "Thanks for your services. Send me your account details, and I'll make sure you're well compensated.""But—""The job at The Peninsula, right?" I interrupted. And he nodded."We’ll discuss that when you text me.” I said curtly."Um... I..." He stammered, then rose from the bed and shuffled to where his clothes were scattered on the floor. He began dressing—slowly.What the hell?"Why the fuck are you still here? Get out already." I snapped, my patience wearing thin.He hurriedly pulled on his clothes, slipped my card into his pocket, and quietly made his way to the door. Just as I thought I was rid of him, his head popped back through the doorway."I really enjoyed—"Be
Natasha's POV:Zhao Feng behaved like the weak little man he is. He inserted his tongue deep inside my pussy and swiftly moved it up and down while holding my feet. His tongue had cleaned the sticky liquid that oozed from my pussy. We both caught sight of each other while looking at my tight nipples. I had to kick his testicles to remind him to keep begging.“Madam, please cure my erection. I’m desperate for sex and don’t have the balls to lure in a woman. The sticky liquid from your warm pussy has increased my lust. Please take command over my cock.” He pleaded dramatically.“Alright, you pathetic weak little man. Get on the bed and spread out your arms and legs.” I ordered him.I stood on the bed and stepped on his testicles. At first, he felt a sharp pain but then began to enjoy it, as his balls got between the mattress and my toe.I spat on his face and said. “Your cowardly cock is getting a taste of my pussy because I’m allowing it. You are not fucking me! I am fucking you! And
Natasha's POV:His eyes widened in confusion. “Excuse me?”I tilted my head, reading his name tag aloud. “Zhao Feng.” I purred. “Why don’t you come in?”He hesitated, glancing nervously down the hallway. “Ma’am, I’m on duty. I can’t…”“Oh, come now.” I urged, stepping closer, my hand brushing against his chest. “I’ll make it worth your while.”“I could get fired.” He said, his voice barely over a whisper.I smirked, letting my fingers trail down his uniform. “This is the Four Seasons Hotel, the fourth most expensive hotel in Shanghai. If you get fired, I can secure you a higher position at The Peninsula, the most expensive hotel in the city.”His hesitation was obvious, his gaze flickered between my face and the hallway behind him. “Ma’am, I don’t…”“Shhh.” I pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. “Don’t be scared, darling. I have connections all over Asia, especially in China. You’ll be safe with me.”He exhaled deeply. After a brief pause, he stepped inside and shut the door b
Noah's POV:“Mr. Noah,” Simon greeted. “How can I help you?”“Simon,” I began, pacing again. “I need you to go to Samuel’s house. Now.”“Samuel’s house?” Simon asked, confused. “Is something wrong?”“He hasn’t been answering my calls for some days now.” I replied. “I want you to check on him and let me know if he’s alright.”“I don't understand, Sir.” He countered. “A few days ago, Samuel said that he was going on a leave for a few days to take care of his wife and he had already discussed everything with you. How is it now that you are unaware of his whereabouts?” Simon inquired.“I suspected that to be his reason for being unavailable. But now that you've just confirmed that he lied, I am starting to think that things aren't the way it seems.” I replied. “Just do as I said, go to Samuel's house and check up on him. Then I will know what to do next.”“Understood, sir. I’ll head there immediately.”“Good. And Simon.” I added. “Be discreet. If something’s wrong, I don’t want word getti
Noah's POV:My jaw tightened. “I have nothing to do with this. I haven’t even met the man.”“They found his body this morning,” she continued, her voice low. “I was going to tell you, but... the authorities got here first.”“This doesn’t make any sense,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “I never even saw him.”“That may be true.” Natasha said. “But the authorities have evidence that places us near him. This isn’t going away, Noah. We have to cooperate.”“Cooperate?” I repeated. “I don’t have time for this. I need to get back to my wife.”“And I’m telling you that if you resist, things will only get worse.” Natasha said firmly. “We need to handle this carefully.” She added, crossing her armsMy eyes narrowed. “You said that Mr. Ali bailed out yesterday. You said that he was still in Hong Kong, so how exactly did you know about his passing?” I asked, genuinely confused.What kind of game is this, Natasha? What kind of game are you playing?“Stop.” She interrupted sharply, her
Noah's POV:Mirabelle's words from earlier echoed in my mind relentlessly: “Don't come back, Noah. Please."I leaned back in the plush leather seat, gripping my phone tightly. She begged me not to come back, but how could I Stay away? I can't ignore the fact that she was in trouble, and no matter what she thought, I wasn’t about to sit back and let her handle it alone. I need to be there for her, to help her through the mess at her company, and to make things right.My fingers tightened around the phone. Despite her resistance, I have already decided. I am going home. The engines of the jet roared to life, but I was too restless to focus on the luxury of my surroundings. My jaw tightened as the memory of the news flashed before my eyes. Mirabelle’s company is on the brink of collapse. Fraud accusations. A shipment disaster. A fire. It was a chain reaction, one calamity after another. Was any of this connected to me? My secrets, my choices? The choices I made—might have indirect
Mirabelle's POV: The bathroom mirror was fogged up, beads of water clinging to the surface as I stepped out, wrapping myself in a soft towel. I sat at the dressing table, absently smoothing lotion onto my arms. My reflection stared back at me—tired eyes, pale skin, and lips pressed into a thin line. Who is this woman? A soft chime interrupted my thoughts. My phone lit up on the table, and I froze. A notification. Reaching for it, I hesitated. The screen displayed Noah’s name and his message: “I’m on my way to the airport. I just saw the news.” What the hell? My hand tightened around the phone. Of all times, why now? I wasn’t ready to face him. He can't find out yet—not until I gathered enough evidence to expose him. Not until I am able to make him pay for all the lies, all the deceit. But can I truly do it? Can I really put the father of my children behind bars? My chest tightened at the thought. How would I explain it to the kids? Mika would be devastated. Tyler—he idoli