~ANASTASIA~I couldn't believe that I was kissing back William; I mean, it could be understandable if he was still my husband, but now? I was married for God's sake.Thinking of that brought back my senses as I pushed William off me and quickly spat on the floor—I could taste the alcohol from his tongue.“So you do want me?” He said, running his tongue over his teeth, he tried to reach for me, but I moved away this time.“What the hell is your problem?” I was so upset, not with him but with myself; why was I so stupid like this? How could I allow him to kiss me? How could I kiss him back?“There's no need to hide it; you're still my wife, so it's not a crime,” he said in a drunken tone, I was already on my feet as I had earlier sat on the bar stool.“You're delusional,” I said and was going to turn to leave when he held me back by my arm, but before he could speak, another voice made us both turn in a certain direction.“Oh my god, can you believe it? We are engaged, and she just got
~ANASTASIA~No, it couldn't be. Trey would never do that to me. I was going to call his name when someone called mine, which made me turn back.“I was told you came here; is everything okay?” It was Hudson.“Yes, I…” I turned back to where Trey and Nicole were but saw that they had disappeared like they were just there a few minutes ago, so how did they?… I rubbed my eyes just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating, and it shocked me to see that they weren't there.“Is everything okay?” Hudson sounded concerned; I didn't respond but instead turned and then walked past him back to our room.When I reached inside, I headed straight to the bathroom; locking the door, I stripped out of my clothes and went into the bathtub.Maybe I was losing my mind. I mean, would you blame me? So much was going on that I didn't even know where to focus.I closed my eyes and rested my head on the tub as I just needed to relax, not thinking of anything.I stayed there for an hour if I'm being accurate; unfort
~ANASTASIA~I calmed myself as they got nearer.“We can still go back.” I heard Hudson suggest it; I hated that he noticed, but still, there was nothing I could do. Before I could respond, Mrs. Frost got to us.She took Hudson in her arms and kissed both his cheeks before she turned to me and did the same, although I was still halfway in the car as my legs were now on the ground.“Come on, there’s something I want to show you.” She said and helped me out; I didn’t get a chance to stand as she dragged me into the house, leaving Hudson and Maddison behind. “This, your husband, was very naughty; I know you know that, but wait until you see the pictures.” She sounded so excited.Inside it’s like she had everything ready as we found the album in the living room; she helped me sit before she started paging through the album, showing me pictures of Hudson. I wasn’t interested but pretended to be, not that I’d seen them already or that I didn’t love Hudson, but because my focus was on Hudson
~ANASTASIA~Somehow seeing her eyes red made me feel a little bad, as I didn't really get her side of the story; what if Hudson was just painting her as the villain when he was actually the villain? I mean, him taking more than ten minutes just to speak to her was proof on its own.I watched as she took steps coming closer to me; she then pointed a finger at me.“Gabby told me about you; actually…” she laughed, “I looked you up.”“Okay, what's your point?”“My point is I know about your failed marriage with William, how you almost stole him from Jimena, but thank God you found her looking, and trust me, I won't let you spend even a month with my man.” Okay, I still couldn't judge, but she was coming off as guilty: “I'm not Jimena; I won't pity you.”“You don't have to. I don't know if you were told, but Hudson and I have been engaged since we were kids.”“Yes, and it was a joke until you became obsessed with it.”“Excuse me?”“He told me, Ana, how you almost ended your life just becau
~ANASTASIA~I don't know why her cry didn't surprise me; I mean, Jimena always did the same, although for her it was different, as I never touched her, but this one I did, and I would do it again and again if she repeated the nonsense she just called my daughter.She called my daughter fatherless, saying I wanted to steal Hudson from her so he could father my abandoned daughter, like she didn't know a thing about that, and William, even though he never treated Ivy like a daughter, never once questioned if Ivy was his, as he knew she was, so who was she to?It didn't take long for the door to open and for Hudson to barge in with Mrs. Frost and Vivi. I was shocked that Hudson came to me, leaving Maddison, who was on the floor.“Are... are you okay?” He checked me for injuries while Mrs. Frost helped Maddison up, who pretended to be in pain—I say pretended as I slapped her cheeks why the hell was she holding her neck?I didn't respond to Hudson as I massaged my hand, which was in a littl
~ANASTASIA~“Listen…” Jimena said after clearing her throat, “I followed you from the hotel because I want to speak to you.”“Oh, is that the reason you were eavesdropping?”“I wasn't eavesdropping; I just wanted to get some information, at least something I can use against you.” It was crazy how she didn't even try to deny it.“Mhmm, I wish you were always this honest,” I said and then walked past her.“Hey, hold up. I came all the way here to speak to you.”“I have nothing to say to you, Jimena.”“Well, I have something to say.”“Then set an appointment, speak to my assistant, and see if she can squeeze you into my busy schedule.” I said, reaching the car Hudson and I came in, but I realized it was locked and he had the key, “How the fuck did you pass through guards even?” I questioned running my hand through my hair.“You know that's easy; you only need a hundred-dollar note in Seattle to bribe anyone. Now back to why I'm here—”“As I said, schedule an appointment and see when she
~ANASTASIA~Hudson opened the car door for me, but I didn't move. I was looking at Jimena, who was now threatening them.“William will not spare any of you.” I felt bad as Vivi asked one of them to give her their phone so she could call the police. “No, I wasn't trespassing; I... I came to speak to Anastasia.” Jimena continued.“Anastasia and you are not friends; why would you follow her here?” Vivi wasn't giving in as she was now waiting for the guard to unlock the phone. “The same way Ana sat in that cell is the same way you'll sit there tonight.” Vivi didn't seem like she was going to give in, and I don't know why I was now feeling bad, but the way they tied her up touched my heart.She was on her knees, her wrists and legs tied together.“If you move, I'll kick you, and you'll lose that stupid pregnancy if you're even pregnant.” Vivi threatened.“Let's go; Vivi will deal with her,” Hudson said, but I couldn't just leave a pregnant woman in such a situation. Yes, this was Jimena, b
~JIMENA~Dr. Luke confirmed to Mom that Anastasia was not pregnant, but she didn’t believe him. After ending the call, she told me to keep an eye on Anastasia: “Spy on her if you must; you know what it will mean if she’s really pregnant.”“Mom, she’s not; if she was, he would have told you.” I insisted I really didn’t want to entangle myself with Anastasia anymore. “I just want to get married to William and maybe, just maybe, beat Anastasia in the fashion world,” I said, referring to the new jewelry company William just opened up.He didn’t tell me about it, but I lied to Ana that he opened it for me. I had to convince William to let me manage it so I could prove a point to Ana, and while at it I wanted to beat Anastasia’s jewelry company.There are jewelry competitions, and it has been Ana’s company always wins the competitions I wanted to win and take her position. That way she will know I didn’t just take her home but her career too.“You’re a star; of course, you're going to beat
~ANASTASIA~Last time I saw William was two years ago, yes, two years at a family dinner when Trey proposed to Nicole. From there we've only spoken through phone calls.Life has been chill and peaceful for a while now, and there has been no single drama; it almost felt like a dream — like I was dead and had gone to heaven.Okay, who do I start with, Vivi? Yes, Vivi and Harriot worked it out, and as we speak they are in Africa on a tour. Hudson and I were there last year after the tragedy, and let's just say it filled my cup as I managed to forget and found myself again.Carmen was back in Seattle, doing just fine; we speak at least once a day. Santiago, well, I don't know how it happened, but he was now with Julliete, yes, Julliete. I didn't know he had a thing for her, but well, they were together, and I must be honest, she was much better than Gianna.The day I was in the hospital, I told him about Alexander being his father. I mean, Gianna mentioned he chose me over her, so I felt
…It's been a few months since the whole drama; Hudson was the hero; he saved my babies, and I was grateful but not happy if I'm being truthful.Everything fell back into place, well for everyone, as they were all trying to move on; Mom and the priest got together.It turned out he never wanted to be a priest in the first place, that he was forced.Well, Nicole was with Trey, he still hasn't forgiven me. He always said that, and I didn't honestly want his forgiveness; I was just happy he was making my sister happy, even when I failed his sister.Life was – well, I had air in my lungs; that's all I can say now.I focused on my company and my children, of course.I got up very early and got to work. I didn't even have breaks; I always returned home late, sometimes even slept there. I would just take an hour to go and spend time with my children before heading back to either my lonely home or to the company – I've been resting in my penthouse lately.I was driving from Ana's home; it was
The beeping sound of machines forced me out of unconsciousness. Now the pain wasn't much, and I knew I was treated.I didn't really lose consciousness earlier; I was still very much aware of everything. I just didn't have the energy to respond, but after what I've heard, I was in a good mood. Ana was worried for me; she even almost went into the operating room with me. She still cared about me. She still loved me. I knew it!I don't even know why I doubted myself for a second. Man, she loved me; she can't just wake up and unlove me after all the sacrifices. I didn't even want to talk about Jimena at this point; even hearing her name irritated me. She broke my marriage. She broke my family.I felt someone caress my hand, and I knew those soft hands well. It was Ana. I will never forget how soft her hands felt. Yes, years back I pretended like I didn't care, but deep down I loved it.I felt my lips stretch into a smile as I opened my eyes. Of course, I was going to pretend to be in pain
~WILLIAM~Hudson had succeeded in keeping Ana from me, but I didn't give up. While I was searching for our babies, I also took lessons. I had to be better for her.If I wanted her back, then I had to make sure I was worthy of her. The past months have been a regret — I realized my mistakes.She was an amazing woman, the mother of my children; she deserved the world. I was a fool for chasing Jimena while she was giving me her whole. Fuck! The mistakes we make.It pained my heart to see that I was losing her. The way Hudson treated her – god, I was tired, slowly dying inside.Today was the Opulence, and I came here to support her.I was sitting in the crowd, next to celebrities, she tried to make conversation but my mind was on Ana.I was not sure if this was her revenge, but I was done. I couldn't do it anymore. She won; she won. I… fell for her.I told her I would never love her, but I was wrong because right now she was all I could think of, and they say love is like a drug, and I c
“I'm going to end this once and for all; you'll die, we’ll cry about you, and I'll replace you,” she said before forcefully dragging the woman who was earlier lying on the couch, whom I've now learned was Karen.She then forcefully removed the sack from her head and then sat her up. I saw she also had tape on her mouth but was conscious as she was shaking her head, eyes full of tears.Gianna, just like her anger, was aroused by looking at her, started slapping her, so hard, and the ‘twark’ slap sounds echoed in the room. I think she gave her like twenty slaps before she landed about two kicks and then massaged her hand.“You said I would not achieve anything; look at you now, bitch, at my mercy!” She snarled, now making me scared, as the Gia I knew wasn't like this.No wonder Vivi never liked her; it's like she knew she was this evil. Well, Vivi always asked me to stay away from her, but I never listened.“You know I was going to kill the both of you with my bare hands, but time…” She
I silently listened as Gianna narrated everything, from how she killed Susanna to seducing my brother and then drugging me and William. Yep, that was my weakness: hot men. I was young back then; I was an heiress with zero problems, so I thought I could be with only the hottest. Well, she took that as my weakness, and you know the result.“You were my ticket to wealth, and the fact that you are that woman's daughter made me want you to suffer even more. Oh, I almost forgot, Trey.” She outlined her chin and smirked before she told me Trey was like that because of her.“I'm the one who made him addicted to drugs and gambling. I started small, offering him comfort. Of course, I had to use your situation. Each time William made you look like a fool, he would beat himself about it, saying he was failing his mother…” She laughed before she told me how she first gave it to him in his coffee and then later took him to a casino in pretense to relieve stress.Now I don't remember clearly, but th
I've been asking Gianna what her motive was, but she didn't respond; she asked me to shut up, so I did as she threatened to give me more slaps.I silently watched, still not able to feel my heart; I don't know how I was alive at this point.Then after a moment, the man came back with a tray and two glasses, one of juice and another of water.“Give it to her!” Okay, I don't know why she had to scream everything; the Gianna I knew was soft. Was this perhaps her clone?The man forced the glass into my mouth, but I refused to take it. What if it was poisoned?“Take it, Ana, or I'll ask my partner to kill one of your babies; we only need one anyway.” I quickly opened my mouth and took the water. “You should have juice; we are celebrating your funeral. I'll have alcohol, of course.” She walked to the dresser, and I watched as she poured herself a drink.After pouring it into a short glass, she took it and then let out a moan before describing the taste and then saying the brand's name and a
Just like Gianna had ordered, they started kicking me in my stomach so hard that I now fell on the floor with the chair since they used a rope to trap me on it.I couldn't take the pain anymore and I started whimpering.“Good, now give her the scar.” I heard her say, and I don't know what scar she was talking about, but when I felt them push the rope on my stomach, I realized what they were trying to do.“N-no, please, no.” I hated scars!“Yes, yes, please.” Gianna mocked, “You thought you could just leave a scar on me and go free? No, bitch, you messed with the wrong girl.”I felt someone tear the dress using the knife, and I felt the blade on my skin. Okay, the way they hesitated showed me they really didn't want to do it, so I started pleading with them, but they were not listening. The blade went into my flesh with every move sending electricity through my veins, and just as I thought it was going into my stomach, Gianna raised her voice, stopping them.“Sit her up; I think she's
I would lie if I said my heart was beating faster than normal because I wasn't feeling it. It's like it had just stopped. The fact that I was still breathing and standing alive was what made me know it was still there.I could hear Gianna's voice from a distance. I didn't realize my assistant was now holding the phone for me. Of course, she asked others to give us the room.“You have three seconds to respond, or I'm dumping them in the sea. Do you know they are still alive? The doctor even said they are very healthy and that they have strong genes. I guess a Roger does that, right?” She chuckled, sounding so evil that if I didn't know her voice well, I would believe she wasn't Gianna.“Please don't… Don't hurt my babies.”“I won't if you bring yourself here. I know you know how this works. I will send you the address. No police, guards, or those maniac demons fighting for you, deal?”“Yes, yes, deal.” I quickly said, before the call cut; it only took a second for a notification to com