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
Today was my wedding anniversary to my husband. I should be happy right? I should be dressed in the most beautiful outfit and looking all glammed up for my husband. Ridiculous!I was here, pacing to and fro, waiting for him to be back so that I could share the good news with him. A good news that was likely to change the course of our lives. A smile curled at the end of my lips at the thought alone.I licked my lips, afraid that if I bit them too much, they would bleed from my nervousness and the excitement bubbling in my stomach. At the thought alone, I gripped my stomach as I let out a deep breath.I was - I looked up as I heard the door creaked open. I tapped my feet impatiently as Brian appeared before me. Brian Knox, the love of my life and my husband. We have been married for two years and I would not lie, it has not always been roses. There were days we never spoke to each other. Days when he would ignore me like I did not exist and there was probably no day he had acknowledged
I shamefully signed the papers and within two days, I left his house. I did not set my eyes on Brian and I would not lie, I was hurt. Pain had been my pillow since the day he walked out on me with Angela. Angela... The bitch who had returned to snatch my husband.I gripped my bag as I stood before the cab and stared back at the building I had lived in for two years. Brian never showed me love. Never told me how much I meant to him. All he ever did was come to meet me for sex and more sex.I instinctively reached out for my belly and exhaled deeply. I was going to take care of them by myself and I will never let Brian come close to any of them. I will make sure he regrets what he did to me. And Angela… she will pay in hundredfold for taking away the father of my kids.My phone beeped with a message and I clicked it open, hoping it was a message from the company I had applied for a job in but it was from an unknown number. My brows creased as I opened the text and shock coated my face.
Wait, who is the boss? Me?I flinched as I watched the elderly man make his way toward me with concern etched on his face.“Boss, you are finally awake. We were scared that we would lose you.” He said, taking me by even more surprise.“What do you mean by that?” I drawled, hoping I did not sound like a novice.“Oh! Oh! Oh! My bad! How could I have forgotten?” He hit his head as he rose to his feet, bowing slightly. “Sorry for that. Anyway, I am Bishop and I am your personal assistant. The man your father put in charge to bring you back to the Holly Empire.” He said with a proud and bright smile.I narrowed my eyes on him. Did he get the wrong person? I was an orphan. I was made to believe my parents had died in a fatal car accident that happened years ago and I had to get on with living. Even though there were times I felt like I would give up and would even feel jealous of other people for having loving parents. I swallowed hard, shaking my head as the information was too much to ta
**FIVE YEARS LATER**“So what is my next on my schedule for today?” I asked Bishop, not looking away from the file I was working on.He shifted on his feet as he scrolled through the iPad in his hands. “The charity event.” He replied, casting me a look and I nodded.“What time?” I asked, still not looking up. I needed to finish this correction of this file before I leave the office today. It was a business deal with a company I was not familiar with. Bishop had been the one handling the deal but when he could loaded with other work, he dropped this for me to finish up.“In twenty minutes’ time. And Felicia and Israel will be having their presentation.” His curt reply came, pointedly in his tone. He knew where to catch me and he used it.He knew I could close the most important meeting to be present to watch my kids do their presentation. I could not even miss it.I let out a deep sigh and dropped my pen. “Can't you just let me finish this up?” I groaned.He clicked his tongue. “Your ch
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
**Chapter: Nelson’s Fake Proof** Jessica sat at the head of the conference table, addressing the shareholders with calm confidence. Her words were measured, her gaze steady. Every eye in the room was fixed on her, a blend of respect and cautious curiosity. She was building momentum, solidifying their trust in her leadership, when her phone vibrated on the table. She glanced at the screen: her lawyer, Mr. Hendricks. “Excuse me for a moment,” she said, giving the shareholders a polite smile before stepping out of the room. “Mr. Hendricks?” she said, pressing the phone to her ear. “Ms. Holly, I need you to come to my office immediately,” his voice was tight, laced with urgency. Jessica frowned. “What’s wrong?” “It’s about Nelson. He claims to have evidence that may affect your position. I think it’s best we address this in person.” Jessica’s stomach sank. Nelson was like a thorn that refused to be removed, always scheming, always waiting for an opportunity to strik