**Jessica’s POV** The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room as Bishop leaned back in his chair, the faint creak of leather breaking the silence. I was perched on the edge of the sleek black sofa in my office, going over the last few details of the company shares we had recently reacquired. It was one of those rare moments where I felt a sliver of relief—progress was being made. “So, with these shares back in our control,” I said, scanning the documents in my hand, “we’ve regained majority control. This should put an end to the underhanded moves by Nelson, at least for now.” Bishop nodded, but his expression was distant, his eyes clouded with something that wasn’t related to business. “Is there something on your mind, Bishop?” I asked, setting the papers aside. He hesitated, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Jessica, there’s something I’ve been meaning to bring up with you.” I tilted my head, curiosity piqued. He took a deep breath, his gaze serious as it locke
JESSICA’S POV “The shareholders are requesting for an emergency meeting with you, Jessica,” Bishop informed me like I hadn't been receiving numerous emails over the night. It seemed like someone had gone to rouse them. The person was using Brian as an excuse for bad business and had put them in worry. The fact that I knew who that person could be only me boil in anger even more. Nelson was trying his best to make sure that I was ruined. What he didn't know was that I was just starting with him. I looked forward, my gaze hardening in the process. “Grant them their request. In fact, schedule the meeting for an hour time.” I said, returning my focus to the monitor before me. “Are you sure you want to do this?” He asked me. “You can always choose to send them individual messages to put them at rest.” “And will that really put them at rest?” I questioned sharply, regretting immediately. I opened my mouth to apologize but he shook his head. “Don’t. You are right. It would only po
JESSICA’S POV “Mommy, where are we going?” Sabrina asked me as we stepped out of the house. I looked down at her as I grinned. “Guess?” I wiggled my brows. She pretended to be thinking like she didn't overhear me telling their caretaker. “The beach?” She deliberately guessed wrong. I shook my head, turning to Felicia to guess also. “Is it the amusement park?” She asked, sounding unsure of her answer. I faced Israel who just shrugged, not caring where we were headed at all. “The only person with the correct answer here is… Felicia!” I announced. She grinned wide as she clapped her hands in joy.JESSICA’S POV “Mommy, where are we going?” Sabrina asked me as we stepped out of the house. I looked down at her as I grinned. “Guess?” I wiggled my brows. She pretended to be thinking like she didn't overhear me telling their caretaker. “The beach?” She deliberately guessed wrong. I shook my head, turning to Felicia to guess also. “Is it the amusement park?” She asked, s
BRIAN’S POVHi, Brian. This is from Freddy, Jessica’s husband. I am using this medium to personally invite you to her upcoming birthday. I am planning a surprise party for her and I don’t want her to know about it. Thank you.I hissed at the card, dumping it in the nearest bin. He wanted me to attend her birthday party. Wasn't it enough that I had to watch them together? I knew what he was getting at and I would not allow him to succeed. Whatever the reason I was, I would not attend. Why this torment? The torture? The pain?I already decided to stay out of her business and kept everything else professional. If only Jessica knew what he was doing and stopped him. It was their marriage and it was none of my business. Maybe I should have heed David’s advice months back and told Jessica about my ordeal. She would have had pity on me and taken me back, probably. I shook my head, tugging at my tie and staring at my reflection in the mirror. I have not even visited Angela since the last
BRIAN’S POV Hi, Brian. This is from Freddy, Jessica’s husband. I am using this medium to personally invite you to her upcoming birthday. I am planning a surprise party for her and I don’t want her to know about it. Thank you. I hissed at the card, dumping it in the nearest bin. He wanted me to attend her birthday party. Wasn't it enough that I had to watch them together? I knew what he was getting at and I would not allow him to succeed. Whatever the reason I was, I would not attend. Why this torment? The torture? The pain? I already decided to stay out of her business and kept everything else professional. If only Jessica knew what he was doing and stopped him. It was their marriage and it was none of my business. Maybe I should have heed David’s advice months back and told Jessica about my ordeal. She would have had pity on me and taken me back, probably. I shook my head, tugging at my tie and staring at my reflection in the mirror. I have not even visited Angela since
JESSICA’S POV “Mommy, where are we going?” Sabrina asked me as we stepped out of the house. I looked down at her as I grinned. “Guess?” I wiggled my brows. She pretended to be thinking like she didn't overhear me telling their caretaker. “The beach?” She deliberately guessed wrong. I shook my head, turning to Felicia to guess also. “Is it the amusement park?” She asked, sounding unsure of her answer. I faced Israel who just shrugged, not caring where we were headed at all. “The only person with the correct answer here is… Felicia!” I announced. She grinned wide as she clapped her hands in joy. JESSICA’S POV “Mommy, where are we going?” Sabrina asked me as we stepped out of the house. I looked down at her as I grinned. “Guess?” I wiggled my brows. She pretended to be thinking like she didn't overhear me telling their caretaker. “The beach?” She deliberately guessed wrong. I shook my head, turning to Felicia to guess also. “Is it the amusement park?
JESSICA’S POV “Mommy, where are we going?” Sabrina asked me as we stepped out of the house. I looked down at her as I grinned. “Guess?” I wiggled my brows. She pretended to be thinking like she didn't overhear me telling their caretaker. “The beach?” She deliberately guessed wrong. I shook my head, turning to Felicia to guess also. “Is it the amusement park?” She asked, sounding unsure of her answer. I faced Israel who just shrugged, not caring where we were headed at all. “The only person with the correct answer here is… Felicia!” I announced. She grinned wide as she clapped her hands in joy. JESSICA’S POV “Mommy, where are we going?” Sabrina asked me as we stepped out of the house. I looked down at her as I grinned. “Guess?” I wiggled my brows. She pretended to be thinking like she didn't overhear me telling their caretaker. “The beach?” She deliberately guessed wrong. I shook my head, turning to Felicia to guess also. “Is it the amusement park
Chapter Eighty-Four: Sudden Heat SHERRY’S POV I rolled on my stomach, feeling my entire body soaked in sweat. I popped one eye open and I stretched out to turn on the lamp. I stared at the ceiling, rolled on my back, and let out a deep sigh. What was happening? I sat myself up, breathing out through my mouth. I scrambled down the bed. Maybe it was the fact that I had closed tne windows and there was no room for air. Just as I stood before the window, the moonlight shone brightly into the room as I pulled the curtains apart. I let out an instant groan, shifting back as my skin etched, becoming even more sensitive. My entire dress was wet and here I was, staying away from the moon. What exactly was happening? I was not feeling sick yet my body reacted sharply. It was not the full moon night either. I went to the bathroom to have a cool bath but seeing my reflection in the mirror, I knew something was wrong somewhere. I pulled my hair behind my ears and stared at my nec
The quiet hum of the office enveloped Jessica as she worked diligently at her desk. The papers strewn before her detailed the intricacies of her latest case, but her focus faltered as her mind wandered. The events of the last few days had been overwhelming, to say the least. The precinct was still reeling from the chaos surrounding Angela's arrest, and tension hung in the air like an oppressive fog. Jessica leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as a faint headache began to pulse. She was no stranger to pressure, but something about this situation felt more complex than usual, as though there were pieces to the puzzle she hadn’t yet discovered. A sharp knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She straightened her posture, masking her fatigue with a professional demeanor. "Come in," she called, her voice steady. The door creaked open, and Bishop stepped inside. He moved with the calculated confidence of someone who always knew more than he let on. His expres
The quiet hum of the office enveloped Jessica as she worked diligently at her desk. The papers strewn before her detailed the intricacies of her latest case, but her focus faltered as her mind wandered. The events of the last few days had been overwhelming, to say the least. The precinct was still reeling from the chaos surrounding Angela's arrest, and tension hung in the air like an oppressive fog. Jessica leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as a faint headache began to pulse. She was no stranger to pressure, but something about this situation felt more complex than usual, as though there were pieces to the puzzle she hadn’t yet discovered. A sharp knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She straightened her posture, masking her fatigue with a professional demeanor. "Come in," she called, her voice steady. The door creaked open, and Bishop stepped inside. He moved with the calculated confidence of someone who always knew more than he let on. His expres
The quiet hum of the office enveloped Jessica as she worked diligently at her desk. The papers strewn before her detailed the intricacies of her latest case, but her focus faltered as her mind wandered. The events of the last few days had been overwhelming, to say the least. The precinct was still reeling from the chaos surrounding Angela's arrest, and tension hung in the air like an oppressive fog. Jessica leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as a faint headache began to pulse. She was no stranger to pressure, but something about this situation felt more complex than usual, as though there were pieces to the puzzle she hadn’t yet discovered. A sharp knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She straightened her posture, masking her fatigue with a professional demeanor. "Come in," she called, her voice steady. The door creaked open, and Bishop stepped inside. He moved with the calculated confidence of someone who always knew more than he let on. His expres
The quiet hum of the office enveloped Jessica as she worked diligently at her desk. The papers strewn before her detailed the intricacies of her latest case, but her focus faltered as her mind wandered. The events of the last few days had been overwhelming, to say the least. The precinct was still reeling from the chaos surrounding Angela's arrest, and tension hung in the air like an oppressive fog. Jessica leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as a faint headache began to pulse. She was no stranger to pressure, but something about this situation felt more complex than usual, as though there were pieces to the puzzle she hadn’t yet discovered. A sharp knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She straightened her posture, masking her fatigue with a professional demeanor. "Come in," she called, her voice steady. The door creaked open, and Bishop stepped inside. He moved with the calculated confidence of someone who always knew more than he let on. His expres
The quiet hum of the office enveloped Jessica as she worked diligently at her desk. The papers strewn before her detailed the intricacies of her latest case, but her focus faltered as her mind wandered. The events of the last few days had been overwhelming, to say the least. The precinct was still reeling from the chaos surrounding Angela's arrest, and tension hung in the air like an oppressive fog. Jessica leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as a faint headache began to pulse. She was no stranger to pressure, but something about this situation felt more complex than usual, as though there were pieces to the puzzle she hadn’t yet discovered. A sharp knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She straightened her posture, masking her fatigue with a professional demeanor. "Come in," she called, her voice steady. The door creaked open, and Bishop stepped inside. He moved with the calculated confidence of someone who always knew more than he let on. His expres
The quiet hum of the office enveloped Jessica as she worked diligently at her desk. The papers strewn before her detailed the intricacies of her latest case, but her focus faltered as her mind wandered. The events of the last few days had been overwhelming, to say the least. The precinct was still reeling from the chaos surrounding Angela's arrest, and tension hung in the air like an oppressive fog. Jessica leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as a faint headache began to pulse. She was no stranger to pressure, but something about this situation felt more complex than usual, as though there were pieces to the puzzle she hadn’t yet discovered. A sharp knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She straightened her posture, masking her fatigue with a professional demeanor. "Come in," she called, her voice steady. The door creaked open, and Bishop stepped inside. He moved with the calculated confidence of someone who always knew more than he let on. His expression
The quiet hum of the office enveloped Jessica as she worked diligently at her desk. The papers strewn before her detailed the intricacies of her latest case, but her focus faltered as her mind wandered. The events of the last few days had been overwhelming, to say the least. The precinct was still reeling from the chaos surrounding Angela's arrest, and tension hung in the air like an oppressive fog. Jessica leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as a faint headache began to pulse. She was no stranger to pressure, but something about this situation felt more complex than usual, as though there were pieces to the puzzle she hadn’t yet discovered. A sharp knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She straightened her posture, masking her fatigue with a professional demeanor. "Come in," she called, her voice steady. The door creaked open, and Bishop stepped inside. He moved with the calculated confidence of someone who always knew more than he let on. His expression w
BRIAN’S POV I stared at my phone, tapping my fingers against the desk as the ringtone droned on for the third time. No answer. Grey wasn’t exactly the most reliable guy when it came to picking up calls, but this felt different. The longer the silence stretched, the tighter the knot in my stomach became. He should’ve answered by now. Something wasn’t right. I hung up and dialed again, muttering under my breath. “Come on, Grey. Pick up.” Still nothing. Before I could decide whether to leave another message, my phone buzzed in my hand. An unknown number lit up the screen. For a second, I debated ignoring it, but instinct told me to answer. “This is Brian,” I said sharply. “Brian, this is Officer Carter from the precinct.” The name took a second to register. Carter. I’d spoken to him before—back when Angela first got arrested. His tone wasn’t urgent, but it wasn’t casual, either. “What’s going on?” I asked, already bracing myself for bad news. There was a pause
**Angela’s POV** The metallic clang of the prison gate echoed behind me, a sound I thought I’d never hear again. For three long months, those gates had been my reality—cold, unyielding, and suffocating. Now, they were shutting behind me, leaving a hollow sense of disbelief in their wake. I took a hesitant step forward, my heart pounding in my chest as I squinted into the sunlight. Freedom felt foreign, as though I’d stepped into someone else’s life. A black car idled by the curb, sleek and polished, standing out against the drab prison exterior. I had no idea who was responsible for my release. The last time I’d heard from anyone, it was Brian's failed attempt to see me, blocked by the guards. I thought about him for a brief moment, then quickly shoved the thought away. The driver exited the car and opened the back door, gesturing for me to enter. I hesitated until I saw her. Sophia White. My mother. She stepped out of the car with the grace of someone who always command