After a while, she gathered her courage and broke the silence. “I’m… going for an interview tomorrow,” she said softly, glancing up. “At Allure Fashion.” Alexander looked up, his expression unreadable. “That’s good,” he said, his gaze steady. “Do you need my help?” Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. The thought of him, Alexander, using his influence to help her was… tempting. She remembered how he’d handled the Hawthornes. It had taken him mere hours to dismantle an entire corporation. She hesitated, torn between the easy road and her pride. “No,” she finally said, shaking her head. “I want to do it on my own. Only my efforts should help me.” Alexander studied her for a moment, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. He didn’t press her, just nodded slightly, as though respecting her decision. But there was a hint of expectation in his gaze, as if waiting for her to ask him anyway. She faltered under his intense gaze, then added with a shy smile, “But… can you pray for me? Wish me l
When the door closed behind him, the woman muttered under her breath, "What’s there to panic about? Unless you’re not qualified." After 20 minutes, the employee returned, calling out, "Samantha LeClerc?" Samantha stood up with a prideful smile, but there was something in her posture that suggested she already had the job. "Wish me luck," she said to no one in particular, then followed the employee into the interview room. Sophia was left alone for a few more minutes, her nerves returning in full force. She stood up and paced slightly, trying to calm herself. Finally, the door opened 20 minutes later, and the same employee called her name, "Sophia Blackwell?" Her heart jumped in her chest. "Here goes," she whispered under her breath. *** Meanwhile, somewhere in the city, Marcus lay on the bed, his arm loosely around Lila as she nestled against his chest. The weight of his family’s crisis should have sobered him, but old habits die hard. Lila traced circles on his shoulder,
Sophia walked out of Allure Fashion clutching her file folder tightly. Her heels clicked against the pavement, echoing her hurried steps. The meeting with the panel had gone well, but her mind churned with nervous anticipation. She did her best and will leave the rest to God. She had to walk past a few blocks since she had her driver drop her far to avoid drawing much attention. “Well, well, well, Sophia,” Lila’s shrill voice echoed, causing Sophia to pause mid-step. She turned her head, and her heart sank when she saw Lila. She was standing a few feet away with Marcus, who looked equally surprised to seek off her. Her eyes immediately darkened with anger. Memories of that night when he drugged and tried to force himself on her came flooding back, making her clench her fists. This bastard... How could I have ever loved him? I must have been blind to trust him, let alone fall for him. She took a deep breath and turned away, intending to ignore them and move on. “What are yo
“Mom, stop,” Ethan said. “It's not your fault. I’m happy to help.” Sophia chimed in, her tone softer. “Don't worry Mom, once I secure a job, Ethan won’t have to juggle work and school anymore. I promise things will get better.” Ethan gave her a grateful smile. “I appreciate that, but for now, I’ve got this. Besides, you’ve already done so much for us.” Catherine wiped away a tear. “I don’t deserve such wonderful children.” Sophia leaned over and kissed her mother’s forehead. “You deserve the world, Mom. Now let’s eat before the food gets cold.” As they shared their meal, the room was filled with warmth and laughter. For a brief moment, the weight of their struggles seemed to lift. *** In the evening, Sophia entered Valmere, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She glanced at her watch, knowing Alexander would arrive soon. She hurried to the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves to prepare dinner. The warmth of the home wrapped around her like a comforting blanket. D
Sophia chose 5 nice dresses and 2 pairs of shoes for her Mom. She called a nearby attendant. “Excuse me.” The attendant approached with a forced politeness. “Yes?” “Please help me with these dresses and shoes, I'll get them.” The attendant was surprised and looked at Sophia for a while before saying, “Are you sure you want to buy all of them?” It was Sophia's turn to get surprised, “Didn't I make myself clear? Of course, I want to buy them.” She was getting irritated by the services of this store. The attendant, a short woman, sneered at her, looking at her outfits before saying, “It doesn't matter what you say, but can you afford them? You should know we're busy here, Miss, don't ask for things you can't afford.” Sophia gave the other woman a cold glare before asking, raising her voice, “Are you selling to me or not?” The attendant was intimidated by her cold eyes and immediately obliged. She took the items and walked towards the counter. As Sophia followed behind, she
Sophia felt heat rush to her cheeks. She didn’t want to admit it, but the thought had crossed her mind. The price tags were enough to make her heart race.She quickly laughed it off. “Of course, I believe you! Why else would I follow you? I just think it’s better not to buy too many at once. Tomorrow, they might have even nicer dresses since fashion keeps changing.”Elena nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right, my dear. But this old woman rarely goes shopping. I spend most of my time at home.”Sophia smiled, appreciating Elena’s honesty. “Then let’s make sure today is worth it.”The young attendant chimed in. “You have such a good eye, madam. This one will look stunning on you,” she said, holding up a royal blue dress.Elena beamed. “Thank you, dear. You’re very kind.”As they moved from one section to another, their conversation flowed naturally.“So, Madam Elena,” Sophia said, holding up a soft pink dress, “do you have a favorite shopping buddy?”Elena laughed. “Oh, yes. My late husband
“Mrs. Evans did exceptionally well,” Mark said with a nod. “She impressed the panel...but...” He trailed off, looking unsure. Alexander’s sharp gaze fixed on him. “But what?” “There was one-panel member who seemed to be targeting her. I looked into it and found out something. It’s personal. She was Mrs. Evans’ senior in college and seems to have had an issue with her ever since. Most likely jealousy.” Alexander’s jaw tightened. “Make sure she doesn’t interfere with the hiring process,” he said coldly. “If she’s causing trouble, remove her. If necessary, fire her.” “Yes, boss,” Mark replied, though his eyes widened slightly at the directness of the order. “She was just standing in for her superior, so it won’t be a problem.” “That’s all for today,” Alexander said, rising from his chair and grabbing his suit jacket. Mark frowned. “Boss, what about these documents?” He gestured to the pile on the desk. Alexander threw his suit jacket over his shoulder without looking back. “
Sophia stood there for a moment, her mind filled with thoughts she couldn’t quite figure. Finally, she sighed and began wiping down the table, her heart feeling both heavy and strangely light at the same time. *** The next morning, Sophia stirred awake as the first light crept into her room. She blinked, momentarily disoriented, until she remembered what day it was. Today was significant! Her mother was finally getting discharged from the hospital. Relief flooded through her as she stretched, savoring the fleeting tranquility of the early hour. But a glance at the clock reminded her she couldn’t afford to be late. She hurried through her morning routine, tugging on a comfortable blouse and jeans before heading downstairs. Passing the large bay window, she noticed Alexander’s car was gone. A frown tugged at her lips. When does he ever sleep? she wondered. Lately, he seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once. Shaking the thought away, she entered the kitchen to whip up a quick bre
Rachel fumbled with the keys, her hands shaking. The moment she pushed the door open, she froze. “Oh my God!” Her voice was barely audible.The room was scattered, with glasses on the floor and furniture overturned, and in the middle of it all, Jessica sat with her back against her bed, her expression blank.Rachel’s stomach dropped. “Jessica!” She rushed in, nearly slipping on the scattered glasses. “What happened?”“My dear, what have you done?” She cried, as her heart broke, seeing her daughter sitting in the middle of the mess.“Meccy, get someone to clean up quickly,” she ordered the assistant and helped Jessica up.“Honey, what do you think you're doing? You need to listen to dad and grandpa. They mean well. Just go abroad for a few months. Okay?” She persuaded her.“Mom, I don't want to. What's so special about that woman? Alexander is even willing to go against our family just for her. Now she wants me away completely?” Jessica complained. If it wasn't for Sophia, Alexande
Alexander kept quiet, unsure of where to start or, rather, how to start.But Sophia wasn't in a hurry; she just stood there, watching him.“Can we talk somewhere else?” he asked cautiously, glancing at Amelia.“I'll be inside. Call me if you need anything.” Catching on his hesitation, Amelia interjected, tapping Sophia on her shoulder.Sophia nodded appreciatively.As soon as Amelia went inside, the air between them felt heavier. Alexander stepped closer, his shoes barely making a sound.He wanted to reach out and hold her in his arms, to make sure she was still his, but he stopped himself. Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to ignore the pull in his chest.“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone to meet Jessica,” he admitted.“Was it the reason you were unreachable when Mr Egerton needed your signature?” Sophia asked, staring daggers at him.Alexander was shocked! Oh no, what a terrible coincidence.“What do you mean, sweetheart? I had a meeting at Evans Towers at that
Finally, Alexander decided to get some rest and wait for tomorrow to go find Sophia. But his mind wandered to his friend Michael Jordan. The Jordan family was the pioneer in cutting-edge technologies, investing in almost everything from advanced robotics to aerospace engineering. They had built a tech empire under the leadership of old master Jordan and were well respected for their strategic ventures that pushed the boundaries of invention. But for Michael, that wasn’t enough. Born into a family that thrived on technological progress, his ambition still outpaced even their expectations. From a young age, he wanted to create his own projects and not just within the confines of the family business. His projects were always bold and demanding, requiring massive capital for developments. The good thing was that he had a keen eye for projects with the potential to reshape current and future technology.He had developed cutting-edge AI systems, quantum computing, and next-gen encryp
Suddenly, a group of men in black suits emerged from the shadows, their movements swift and deliberate.Their presence was subtle yet commanding, like a storm brewing in the distance.Before Marcus or his bodyguards could react, swift and precise strikes took them down.The air shifted, and in an instant, Marcus’s moment to shine was completely overturned.Groaning in pain, he barely had time to process what had just happened.One of the men turned to Amelia and gave a respectful nod. "Get Madam out of here."Amelia didn’t have time to register what had just happened. She simply nodded and led Sophia to the car.As she sped away, she stole one last glance in the rearview mirror. The mighty Marcus Hawthorne was brought to his knees. About time! She smiled, wishing Sophia was sober to witness the scene. If they weren't in a hurry, she would have stopped to take a picture.By the time Marcus regained his senses, Amelia’s car was long gone.He got up with the help of his bodyguards, who
The woman looked at Sophia, unable to hide the shock in her eyes.Just as she was about to respond, a speeding car screeched next to them.“Be careful,” she warned before vanishing into the darkness.The front door of the car opened and a burly man stepped out, opening the back door.Amelia, who was about to lead Sophia to her car, paused to look at the newcomer.“Could it be your husband?” she asked Sophia who was leaning on her shoulders.“Let's go. I don't wan’ to… see him.” Sophia said, urging Amelia to lead her to the car.Amelia nodded, agreeing with Sophia. Why did it take him so long to show up?Amelia was more disappointed with Alexander and she turned around without sparing the car another glance.But when they took two steps, a voice came from behind startling both women.“Sophia, sorry I'm late. I came as soon as I heard you were in danger.”Sophia froze as her mind cleared slightly, recognizing the voice.“Marcus?” she asked, turning around to confirm.Sure enough, Marcus
Back at The Last Stop Bar, Sophia was still drinking, her eyes glassy and her words slightly slurred. Amelia, sitting beside her, had been trying to coax her into leaving for the past hour. “Bestie, you’ve had enough. We should leave,” she said, gently placing a hand on Sophia’s arm. Sophia blinked lazily, pushing the glass away from her lips. “No... I can take a… few more drinks… Amelia.” Amelia stared in disbelief. Sophia was already slurring, yet she wanted more. With a sigh, she reached for the glass and pushed it further out of her reach. “Come on, let’s go,” she said, her voice firmer this time. Reluctantly, Sophia nodded. “Fine, but I don’t want to see him.” Amelia bit her lip, glancing around the bar. She knew who she was referring to but where else should she drop her?
Meanwhile, in Jessica's private villa, she sat smugly, her manicured fingers resting against her cheeks as she savored the chaos she had caused.Two servants were giving her a massage and she closed her eyes to relish the moment.Her assistant had been pacing outside, waiting for permission to enter.Jessica had specifically given the order that no one should disturb her.Two hours later, she signaled for her assistant to get in.The assistant hurried in nervously.“What's it? Didn't I say I don't need you around until tomorrow?” Jessica snapped.She wanted a peaceful evening, yet this girl had been standing there for hoursIf I weren’t in such a good mood, I’d have her punished for standing outside that long.“Miss Jason, the news was pulled down.” the assistant reported cautiously.“What?” Jessica snapped, sitting up straight, her eyes turning cold.“Didn’t I tell you to use however much money you needed to make it trend until tomorrow?” She asked angrily.“We tried, Miss Jason. But
Amelia reached across the table and held her hand. There was nothing more to say.The alcohol might dull the pain for a while, but it could never truly heal her heart.She knew this had to be a misunderstanding, but where was Alexander? As Sophia's husband, shouldn't he be here to clear things up?***Back at the other end of the city, the man in question was rushing frantically through the city.After failing to locate Sophia at the office, he had driven like a madman to Sophia’s old apartment.Nothing.His chest felt like it was being crushed with every second she remained missing. He could feel the world slipping from beneath his feet.Worse still was the fact that Gerald was in the shadows and Larry might take action if he gets a perfect opportunity.In desperation, he rushed to the villa where Catherine and Ethan lived. He knocked urgently, barely containing his panic.Catherine opened the door, her face lighting up when she saw him."Alex! Come in! How are you?" she greeted war
Meanwhile, in Alexander’s Office… He had returned in a rush, still angry with Jessica.He hadn’t even spent three minutes in the hotel room. The moment he saw Jessica waiting for him, he knew something was off.She had danced around the topic of Gerald, offering no substantial information. It had been a waste of time, and he’d left almost immediately.Now, standing in his office, his assistant, Mark, rushed in, holding a tablet.“Boss, you need to see this,” Mark said, handing it over.Alexander stared at the screen, his heart dropping into his stomach.The headlines were everywhere. Photos of him and Jessica entering the hotel room together were plastered across every major news outlet.The captions were even worse, speculating about their relationship and hinting at an affair.Alexander’s grip tightened on the tablet. His jaw clenched. "Damn it!" he muttered, his pulse racing.He hadn’t done anything wrong, but the media had already made their own narrative.And now, the entire wor