Angela's POV
Today is my last day at work. Fiona is still at the hospital, and everything has become crystal clear in the following hours.
After today, I’ll be free of Lyle, Fiona, and the endless mess they’ve left me tangled in. The office is quiet, my tasks completed, and a strange sense of peace settles over me as I tidy up my desk for the last time.
Maybe Lyle and I won’t see each other again after this. Part of me hopes it’s true.
I take one last look around the office, the place that had become my prison.
Memories flash through my mind: late nights spent waiting for Lyle to finish his calls, the countless hours I sacrificed for a man who never truly valued me.
Just as I’m ready to walk out, my bag slung over my shoulder, I feel a rough grip on my arm. I turn, only to see Lyle, his face set in determination.
Before I can even react, he pulls me toward his car, his hand firm and unyielding as he drags me outside.
My heart pounds, and I dig my heels into the ground, trying to resist him.
“Lyle, this is ridiculous! Let me go!” I hiss, but he barely acknowledges my protests, his grip tightening. People glance at us as we pass, curious eyes full of judgment, but no one intervenes.
I feel the heat of embarrassment and anger crawl up my neck, a flush that does nothing to mask my helplessness.
“What are you doing?” I manage, trying to free my arm, but his grip doesn’t loosen.
“We’re going to talk,” he says simply, guiding me into the back passenger seat and closing the door before circling around to the other side.
He tells the driver to go, his gaze fixed ahead, and it’s only after a few tense moments of silence that he pulls out a small tube of ointment.
Wordlessly, he reaches for my hand, examining the small burn from earlier when Fiona spilled coffee near me. His touch is surprisingly gentle, dabbing the ointment onto the burn with careful movements.
“You really can’t live without me, can you?” he mutters, the faintest hint of a smile touching his lips. “I swear, you’d be a mess without someone looking out for you.”
I stare at him, caught off guard. After everything, after all the ways he’s put Fiona above me, he still remembers this tiny detail? I’d assumed his attention was solely on her, that there wasn’t any space left for me. For a moment, a spark of warmth flickers in my chest, a small reminder of the man I love.
The feeling is short-lived.
His hand retracts, his expression hardening. “Angela, I need you to stop with these tantrums,” he says, his tone flat. “Especially involving Fiona.”
Just like that, the flicker of hope dies. He’s still putting her first. Of course he is.
“Tantrums?” I whisper, forcing myself to hold back the bitterness. “You think this is on me?”
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he shifts gears, his gaze fixed on the road. “Fiona’s lost too much blood. They’re in need of a transfusion, but they don’t have enough for her blood type.”
I narrow my eyes, sensing where this conversation is going.
“You and Fiona,” he continues, his eyes flicking toward me, “share the same blood type. You could help her by donating some blood. Consider it an apology for everything that’s happened.”
“Are you serious?” My voice is almost a whisper, a mixture of disbelief and anger surging through me. I stare at him, searching his face for any sign of compassion. How could he ask this of me, after everything? That means a whole blood donation, not plasma.
“Yes, I’m serious.” His tone is cold, dismissive, as if what he’s asking is no big deal. “Fiona needs this.”
I press my lips together, struggling to keep my emotions in check. “Lyle, I’m not well. I’m not… fit to donate blood right now.”
He scoffs, as if I’ve just said the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard. “You look perfectly fine to me, Angela. This works out for both you and Fiona.”
A pang of hurt and anger swells in my chest. If he cared at all about me, he’d at least ask why I’m unwell, why I hesitate. He doesn’t. Not even a flicker of concern crosses his face.
As if on cue, his phone rings. He answers, putting the call on speaker. It’s his mother, her voice anxious. “Lyle, are you bringing Angela? Fiona needs her. Please hurry.”
Then, Fiona’s voice chimes in, soft and pleading. “Lyle, don’t push her too hard. It’s not Angela’s fault… don’t make things difficult for her.”
I feel my stomach churn, her words like poison seeping into my mind. She knows exactly what she’s doing. Playing the helpless victim, twisting everything until Lyle feels nothing but pity for her. He falls for it, like clockwork.
Every word from Fiona is a calculated move, each one designed to tighten the chains around me. It’s manipulative, a twisted game she plays so well, and I’m the pawn.
My throat tightens as I try to steady myself, but the air feels too thick, suffocating.
His jaw clenches as he responds, “Don’t worry, Fiona. I’ll bring her. She’ll be there soon.”
He hangs up, and when he looks back at me, there’s no warmth left in his eyes. Only cold determination.
“Angela,” he says, his tone hard, almost threatening. “If you don’t come to the hospital and help Fiona, my family will hold you responsible for hurting her. You know how much my family - especially my mother - cares about Fiona.She can make things difficult for you and your family. You know what that means.”
My hands clench in my lap, every muscle in my body tensing. The implications are clear. He’s threatening me, making it impossible to refuse.
For a moment, a helplessness settles over me. I have no choice, not if I want to protect the people I care about. His family would destroy everything I’ve worked for, everything my family depends on.
I look away, my vision blurring as I fight back the tears. Lyle used to be the person I trusted most, the man I thought would always protect me.
Now, he’s the one holding all the power, using it against me, forcing me to give and give, all for the sake of someone who’s torn my life apart.
With a shuddering breath, I swallow my pride, the hurt, the anger. I know I have no choice. I nod, barely able to meet his gaze, the weight of defeat pressing down on me.
My mind races, a silent scream building inside me that I have no outlet for. I want to shout, to demand how he can do this to me, how he can stand there and act like he’s justified.
Thinking of my family, I know I have to agree.
Angela's POVThe sterile scent of antiseptic is the first thing I notice as I slowly blink awake. My head feels heavy, and my arms ache faintly, a dull reminder of what brought me here. The ceiling tiles blur in and out of focus as I piece together my surroundings.A hospital room.It comes back to me in fragments: Lyle bringing me here, the urgent conversation about a blood donation, the uncomfortable tug in my veins as I lay still, and finally, darkness.I sit up slowly, glancing around. The room is quiet, empty except for the machines humming softly beside me. There’s no sign of Lyle, which isn’t surprising. My stomach twists involuntarily at the thought, my heart sinking as I imagine where he might be.With Fiona, no doubt.A muffled voice outside the door breaks the silence. I tilt my head, the tone vaguely familiar, though I can’t quite place it. The voice grows clearer, punctuated by a polite chuckle, and I frown as the door creaks open.“Angela?”I blink in disbelief as the
Angela's POVLyle strides across the room, his expression darkening as his eyes lock onto Michael’s hand on my back. Without hesitation, he slips his arm around my shoulder, his grip firm and unmistakably possessive.“Lyle Grayson,” he says coolly, extending his hand to Michael, though his other arm stays anchored around me.Michael retracts his hand from my back, straightens slightly, his polite smile unfaltering. “Michael Sterling,” he replies, shaking Lyle’s hand firmly.Their words are civil, but the air between them feels charged, a silent competition brewing.“I’ve heard about you,” Michael says, his tone light but deliberate. “CEO of Grayson Enterprises, right? Impressive work in the real estate sector.”Lyle’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “And you’re the Sinclair who’s made a name for himself in corporate law. Your reputation precedes you.”The words are polite, but the undertone isn’t lost on me. They’re sizing each other up, as if titles and accolades equate to moral superi
Lyle's POVI still remember the day I met Angela. It’s burned into my memory like an imprint I can’t shake. She wasn’t like the women who usually surrounded me—calculating, polished, and self-serving. No, she was different. Or so I thought.That night, I had just finished an exhausting meeting, my mind still buzzing with business. The collaboration with Hartman had drained a lot of my energy, especially dealing with their boss's brother, Jay—an irresponsible, troublemaking playboy who had completely drained my patience.I rubbed my temples and sighed deeply. Maybe I should take a break, catch my breath, and unwind for once.Perhaps Jay wasn’t entirely useless; at least he knew all the places around here where one could have some fun. He had even recommended a bar to me once, a place not far from my university.After leaving the office, I made my way toward the bar. As I passed through a narrow alley near the university, I suddenly saw a woman backed into a corner by a group of thugs.
Angela's POVLyle’s words echo in the cold, sterile room, sharp and biting. “You were pregnant, then you had an abortion. You killed my child, didn’t you? You killed my child to get rid of me, didn’t you? That was the plan all along—leave me, so you could be with another man.”The accusation slams into me, making it hard to breathe. A crushing weight presses against my chest, every word twisting deeper, each one heavier than the last. I step back, my hand flying to my chest as if I can physically hold my heart together. “How… how could you even say that?” My voice cracks, the disbelief cutting through my anger. “Do you really think I’d do something like that on purpose, just to hurt you?”Lyle’s jaw tightens, and he takes a step closer, his eyes narrowing. “Then explain it to me, Angela,” he snaps. “Explain why my child is gone. Make me understand.”I clench my fists, the grief boiling into rage. “You think I wanted this?” My voice rises, and I feel the tension in my muscles, the w
Lyle's POVI sit in my car, flicking ash out the window, the faint glow of my cigarette illuminating the darkened interior. The engine’s off; I haven’t even bothered to start it. My mind keeps circling back to Angela’s face in the consulting room, the mix of anger and sadness in her eyes that I can’t shake. It’s been a while since she looked at me like that, with that quiet accusation, like I’m somehow the one who’s wronged her.I can’t shake the image of her eyes, the way they seemed to search for some answer, some proof that I’m more than the person I’ve become. What does she expect from me? An apology? A confession? I’m doing the best I can, juggling responsibilities she doesn’t even know the half of.I take another long drag, exhaling slowly, trying to let it go. Why is she like this? It used to be different—she used to be different. Three years ago, she was calm, capable, even gentle. There was none of this jealousy, none of the pointless arguments she seems so eager to start
Lyle's POVI rub my temples, feeling the exhaustion settling deep into my bones. I just don’t have it in me to console Fiona right now. Not after everything that happened with Angela. My patience is shot, my mind a tangled mess. Without much thought, I type out a reply: I’m dealing with something urgent. We’ll talk later.I toss my phone onto the passenger seat, let out a tired sigh, and start the car. The engine roars to life, but it doesn’t fill the emptiness pressing against my chest. Angela’s face still haunts me, that look of quiet devastation, the bitterness that came with it. Even now, I can’t shake it.Ever since Angela moved out, our house has become a place I’ve avoided at all costs. The idea of going back there, to the space that now feels cold and abandoned, makes me feel more alone than I care to admit. So, instead of driving home, I steer toward my parents’ house. It’s not a comforting choice, but it’s better than the alternative.The memory of coming home the night
Angela's POVI sit on the cold, hard bench outside the emergency room, my heart pounding in my chest. The minutes stretch into an eternity, each one heavier than the last. My fingers drum against my knees, my foot taps restlessly on the floor, but none of it eases the anxiety twisting inside me.When the doctor finally emerges, I’m on my feet before he even finishes stepping through the doors. “How is he?” I ask, my voice thin and wavering.The doctor gives me a kind, professional nod. “Your father is out of danger,” he says, and I exhale, feeling some of the weight lift from my shoulders. “He hasn’t woken up yet. We’ll continue to monitor him closely.”I feel a slight rush of relief, and I dare to hope that things will be okay. “Thank you,” I manage, my voice soft. “Will he… is there anything else I should be worried about?”The doctor offers a reassuring smile. “He’s responding well to treatment. Once he wakes up, we’ll keep him in for a few days; just in case there are any changes.
Angela's POVI sit beside my father’s hospital bed, my eyes fixed on the slow, steady rise and fall of his chest. The tension in my shoulders refuses to ease, even as I try to tell myself that he’s safe for now. My mind keeps drifting back to Fiona, to the way I slapped her across the face, to the twisted smirk she wore even as she cradled her injury. I’m worried about the fallout. Lyle’s family is powerful and vengeful, and Fiona won’t hesitate to use every resource at her disposal to make my life hell. I don’t regret it. That bitch had it coming, and the look of shock on her face when I finally fought back was worth every ounce of trouble it might bring.Taking a deep breath, I push those thoughts away. Worrying about it now won’t help my father, and I need my focus here. The room feels stifling, the air heavy, so I decide to step outside for some fresh air. I rise from the chair, give my father’s hand a gentle squeeze, and quietly slip out.At the hospital entrance, I nearly co
Angela’s POVThe notification pops up on my phone just as I finish packing the last of my things. I hesitate for a moment before swiping to unlock the screen, my fingers tightening slightly around the device.Grayson Industries Shake-Up: Fiona Grayson Committed to Mental Institution, Margaret Grayson Resigns From Company Affairs.I let out a slow breath, my eyes scanning the article despite knowing I shouldn’t. The news spread faster than I expected. The public is eating up the scandal, debating whether Fiona deserves sympathy or punishment, whether Margaret stepping down means Grayson Industries will shift in a new direction. What catches my attention most is one single line buried at the end of the article.CEO Lyle Grayson refused to comment.I stare at those words longer than I should.A part of me wonders what he’s thinking, what he’s feeling now that he’s severed himself from them—from the family he once prioritized over everything.I exit the app before I can spiral further.A
Lyle POVFiona looks smaller than I remember.She’s curled up in the sterile hospital bed, her arms wrapped around her frail frame, her hair slightly disheveled, her eyes wide and rimmed with red. But as soon as she sees my mother, her entire face crumbles.“Mother,” she whispers, voice hoarse and trembling, then louder, more desperate, “Mother!”My mother rushes forward, gathering Fiona into her arms as if she’s still a child in need of comfort. Fiona clings to her, sobbing against her shoulder, her fingers twisting into the expensive silk of my mother’s blouse like she’s afraid she’ll be torn away.“Shh, sweetheart, I’m here,” my mother soothes, stroking Fiona’s hair as tears slip down her own face. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”“Please,” Fiona chokes out, her voice raw, shaking. “Don’t let them keep me here. Don’t let them treat me like I’m some kind of criminal.”My mother tightens her hold. “You’re not, darling. You’re not. You’re just sick, that’s all. And we’ll get you
Lyle POVThe silence in the car stretches long and heavy, thick with things left unsaid. My mother sits beside me, her posture elegant and composed as always, but I know her too well to be fooled by the calm exterior. She’s waiting. Waiting for me to speak first, waiting for me to say something that makes this entire situation more bearable.I don’t. The only reason I’m here, the only reason I agreed to this visit at all, is because Fiona is my sister. No matter what she’s done, no matter how much she’s broken, no matter how much I want to walk away and never look back—she is still my responsibility.My mother shifts slightly, her fingers tapping lightly against her knee before she finally breaks the silence. “I know you’re still upset.”I let out a sharp, humorless breath. Upset doesn’t even begin to cover it.“She’s still your sister, Lyle,” she says carefully.I keep my eyes on the road, gripping the wheel so tightly my knuckles ache. “I know.”She exhales, turning to fully face
Angela's POVLyle turns and walks toward his car, his shoulders tense, his pace steady. He doesn’t look back, doesn’t say another word. I tell myself I should do the same—step inside, close the door, and leave him behind, just like I’ve been trying to do for months.I don’t.Instead, I watch him.My arms stay crossed, my fingers gripping my sleeves a little too tightly as I track every movement he makes. The way his hand tightens around the bouquet, the way he exhales deeply before finally tossing the flowers onto the passenger seat of his car. He hesitates for a fraction of a second before getting in, and then, with the smooth precision I know so well, he starts the engine and pulls away from the curb.I stand in the doorway, eyes fixed on the taillights as they fade into the night.“You’re still watching,” a voice deadpans behind me.I flinch slightly, tearing my gaze away and turning toward Jodelle, who is leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, looking far too please
Angela's POVSeeing Lyle standing there with flowers in his hands, I feel my breath catch, my mind torn between emotions I don’t have the energy to sort through.I don’t want to deal with him. Not tonight.I tighten my grip on my bag, willing my feet to move, to walk past him, to pretend I don’t see him. But before I can decide what to do, a sharp voice cuts through the air.“Oh, hell no. What do you think you’re doing here?”I snap my head to the side and see Jodelle storming toward us, her eyes blazing with protective fury. She stops in front of Lyle, arms crossed, planting herself like a human barricade between us.“Get lost, Grayson,” she snaps. “You’ve done enough damage.”Lyle doesn’t flinch. He shifts his gaze from her to me, his expression unreadable. “Angela,” he says, his voice quieter, steadier than I expect. “Can we talk?”“There’s nothing to talk about,” Jodelle answers before I can. “Whatever you have to say, she doesn’t need to hear it.”I can feel my pulse in my throat
Angela's POVThe day stretches on, steady and unrelenting. I bury myself in work, pushing aside every stray thought that tries to surface. Although I had Richard's approval, apparently, it wasn't enough.I move from one task to the next, flipping through contracts, revising policies, drafting documents that need my approval. It’s methodical, logical, something I can control. Every keystroke, every note scribbled in the margins, reminds me that I’m here because I earned it, because I fought for it.Even as I work, I can feel the attention. The quiet stares when I walk down the hallway, the way conversations shift the moment I step into a room. Some people don’t bother hiding their curiosity, their confusion. Others are more discreet, exchanging glances behind their monitors, whispering as I pass.It’s not surprising, really. To them, I was Lyle Grayson’s secretary, the woman who sat outside his office, managing his schedule and answering his calls. Now, I walk these halls in an entir
Angela's POVReturning to Grayson Enterprises feels strange.The glass doors slide open with a soft hiss, and I step into the familiar lobby, my heels clicking against the polished marble floor. Everything looks the same—the sleek, modern interior, the meticulously arranged floral centerpiece, the front desk where I used to check Lyle’s schedule a hundred times a day.I’m different now.I’m no longer Lyle Grayson’s secretary. I’m here as a lawyer, an independent professional, not someone who runs after his coffee or clears his calendar. Still, as I walk toward the elevator, I feel the weight of curious gazes on me.People recognize me. I can hear the whispers, feel their eyes tracking my every move."Is that Angela?""Didn’t she used to be the CEO’s secretary?""She’s a lawyer now, seriously?"I keep my face neutral, my back straight. I won’t give them the satisfaction of seeing any hesitation in my steps. I earned this.As I enter the elevator, a voice calls out behind me.“Angela?”
Angela's POVThe air in the restaurant shifts the moment Michael reaches into his pocket.I watch him carefully, my breath catching slightly, my fingers tightening around the base of my wine glass. A part of me already knows what’s coming, but I don’t want to acknowledge it—not yet.He looks up, his expression unreadable for a moment, before his lips part and the words come out, steady and sure.“I love you, Angela.”The sound of it, so simple yet so heavy, knocks the wind out of me.My fingers go slack against the glass, and I nearly forget to breathe. “What?”Michael leans forward slightly, elbows resting on the table as he watches me with unwavering intensity. “I’ve loved you for a long time,” he says again, more certain this time. “Even back in college. Even when you didn’t notice me that way.”I blink, trying to process, but my mind is stuck. College?“I always admired you, Angela,” he continues, his voice softer now, as if confessing something long buried. “Not just for how smar
Angela's POVToday was too much. Too many emotions, too many memories, and too many things I never wanted to think about again forcing their way to the surface. I exhale slowly, rolling my shoulders in an attempt to release the tension.“What’s wrong?” Michael asks immediately, his voice low but firm.I sigh and shake my head, forcing a small, tired smile. “Nothing. Just a long day.”Michael doesn’t look convinced. His eyes flick over me, studying every detail—my slightly slumped shoulders, the tightness in my jaw, the way my fingers are gripping the strap of my bag just a little too hard. He doesn’t say anything for a moment, but I know him well enough to know that he probably has found something.I slide into the passenger seat, the scent of his cologne familiar, grounding. The door closes with a soft click, sealing us inside. He pulls away from the curb, he glances at me again.“Angela.” His tone is gentle but insistent. “Talk to me.”I stare straight ahead, my fingers tightening i