Ethan’s demeanor shifted, and the air around him thickened as unwelcome memories came back, memories he had fought hard to forget. His gaze, blurred and distant, rested on Melinda as he contemplated whether to answer her question or not. After a brief moment, he stood up and sat next to her, his movements slow and intentional. He let out a deep sigh as he stared into the open space. His voice low and rough, broke the silence. “I was once married…” Melinda’s eyes widened in surprise but she remained quiet, sensing the weight of his voice. “She died ten years ago in a freak accident. When I lost her… I lost myself as well. She was the love of my life and when she left me, I couldn't handle it. I started drinking, smoking, and chasing women. Anything to numb the pain I was feeling.” He paused, his fingers tightening into fists as if trying to hold back a flood of emotions. “One night, I came back drunk. As I sat down in my parlor, I tried to light a cigarette but it didn't b
As the atmosphere thickened with tension, Melinda silently handed her phone to Ethan. Ethan took the phone, his eyes scanning the screen. At first, he was calm, then within seconds, his mouth opened in disbelief, his expression shifting from shock to disbelief. “What in the world is this?!” he shouted, his tone sharp and filled with rage. “Is this…my bank?!” he continued as his grip on the phone tightened.“Let me see that,” Lila snapped, as she took the phone from Ethan’s hands. Robert and Amelia hurried over, crowding around her to see what had triggered such a reaction.The video started to play, Lila increasing the volume as the sound of a man’s voice dripping in disgust was narrating the unfolding scene.“Oh my gosh! Why would she do that?! Guys, this woman just pooped in a black bag, right in front of Blackwood.Co bank! And now she's cleaning up after herself.” The camera shifted to show a lady squatting on the pavement. A small crowd had gathered, recording the horror, some f
A heavy silence hung in the air, the tension thick enough to slice through. Ethan’s stare shifted to Robert, his face a blend of curiosity and disbelief as he tried to comprehend the audacity Robert had to talk to him in that manner. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Ethan asked as his jaws clenched, his tone as cold as ice. His gaze remained fixed on Robert, challenging him to explain better. Robert scoffed, his disposition relaxed and edged with tension. “I'm just saying…I see the way you look at Melinda; it's quite obvious, Ethan. You're not exactly hiding it. I just want to ensure you don't forget there are consequences if you don't marry my sister, that's all.” Ethan’s face twisted, caught between the urge to flare up or ignore him. His hands tightened at his sides, but he managed to remain calm. “Consequences, is it? Please enlighten me, Robert. What are the consequences? I'm dying to hear it.” His voice was low and dangerous, each word heavy with defiance. Robert let out
Melinda sensed Ethan’s body tense up, his focus abruptly shifting away from her. She quickly halted as her gaze followed Ethan’s to the door entrance. On seeing Amelia, her eyes widened in disbelief as she quickly stood up, her cheeks blushing in shame.Amelia regained herself, her chest heavy with the weight of what she had just seen. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she took a step back. Without saying a word, she turned and ran away, her high-pitched cries echoing through the hotel corridors.——The soft, tingling sound of a spoon striking a glass broke through the low murmur of conversations, drawing everyone’s attention to the head of the table. Mr. Silas Blackwood cleared his throat, his presence commanding the room. “Thank you all for coming, I’m honored,” He started, his tone smooth and composed, carrying an aura of quiet authority.“Today’s my sixty-fifth birthday, and I couldn’t be more grateful to celebrate this milestone with every one of you… my family.”He paused, his
The atmosphere became heavy with unease, the silence suffocating. Everyone in the hall stared at Ethan, their gaze sharp and crammed with rage beneath, waiting to erupt depending on what he said next.Ethan’s eyes fiercely locked on Amelia’s mother as he broke the silence, his voice cold and firm. “Mrs Deborah,” he growled…“I am not marrying your daughter and you need to get that into your head!”The calm in the room immediately erupted into chaos with Amelia’s brother, Robert, and her father, Dash, jumping on their feet almost at once, their faces distorted in severe rage. Their voices echoed loudly, engulfing the hall with their outrage. “How dare you speak to my mother like that?! Are you mad?!” Robert yelled, his fists tightening at his sides.“Do you even know whose wife you're disrespecting?!” Mr Dash roared, his voice soaked in venom as he trembled with rage.Ethan stood tall, unfazed, and unbothered. He didn't flinch or move, he just stood there, his eyes blazing red with a
Melinda sat motionless, her hands pressed against her blistering skin, eyes wide with disbelief. “You… You slapped me?” she whispered, her voice trembling as she spoke.“And I’ll slap you again if you push me!” Amelia sneered, her face twisted in rage. With her hands clenched by her sides, she stepped closer, dominating over Melinda.“You truly believe he loves you?! Girl… he feels sorry for you. You really think someone like…you, would be taken seriously by him? A billionaire and CEO of the biggest bank in this country?!”Every single word Amelia spat out pierced Melinda’s soul as tears kept flowing down her cheeks, her gaze locked on Amelia.Amelia wasn't finished, she drew closer to Melinda, and with her voice leaking with contempt, she spat,“Ask him for the picture of his late wife, Jessica. Sis…you don't come close! He has a type and you're at the very bottom! Once he’s done with you, he’ll spit you out like the trash you are!”Amelia adjusted herself, her eyes scanning Melinda
“I-I needed the money!” Karen blurted out, breaking the heavy silence that descended the hall. Everybody's gaze was fixated on her, all filled with cold, accusatory glares.“W-who wouldn't! I was in dire need of money so I took a little…That doesn't automatically mean I have anything to do with it!” She stuttered as her tone increased with every word. “It felt like a miracle, and I was desperate so I took it.” She continued, her words spilling out in a rush, filled with defensiveness.The atmosphere in the room felt tense as everyone’s haze remained locked on her, judging her. To them, her statements sounded like someone who was mentally deranged.Ethan was the first to break the silence. “Mr. Collins, you heard her right? This woman knows about the child trafficking and money laundering cartel. Nobody in their right senses takes money that doesn't belong to them!” Ethan uttered as he leaned in, tapping the table with intention, his gaze firmly fixed on Collins.“We are only just a
Melinda paused, her gaze still on Ryan as she tried to understand what he meant. “What do you mean by he is dangerous?” She muttered, her tone careful.Ryan let out a dark laugh. “Melinda, you have no idea who you're dealing with and honestly I feel sorry for you.” He said as he leaned back a bit, his voice heavy with scorn.“Your husband has been in prison for days and it is now you come to see him,” he continued.“You’re the one to talk! When I was in the hospital due to your constant humiliation, did you come to see me?” Melinda fired back, her time sharp and unexpected.Ryan was taken aback, staring at her momentarily before smirking. “Wow… you're talking back at me now? He must be fucking you good… giving you the audacity to talk back at your husband.” He spoke, his words soaked in sarcasm.Melinda readjusted herself, her grip on the phone tightening. “I’m not sleeping with my boss, Ryan. I Don't know where this is coming from but just stop,” she mumbled.Ryan’s eyes didn't leave
Melinda gasped as Ethan’s intense eyes locked on her, the undeniable chemistry between them electric. Their lips met again, filled with longing and speed. Ethan’s hands explored her thighs, then moved to her back, unzipping her dress when suddenly, the door swung open.Lila stormed in, her voice sharp and demanding, “Ethan, why aren't you picking up your calls?! The entire board members and shareholders are waiting for you in the conference hall.”Her gaze was all over the place, and then it landed on the two of them, her expression hardening as she saw them. “So this is what you're doing? In the office, really Ethan?! And your investors are waiting for you downstairs!”Ethan simply rolled his eyes, unbothered, while Melinda hopped down from the office desk, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Lila gave Melinda a venomous stare, her words soaked in cruelty,“This is the work you came here to do right? Being a whore!”“That’s enough Lila,” Ethan cut in immediately, his voice low and
“Hi, Ryan,” Melinda replied, her voice was flat and filled with scorn. She walked into the office, her eyes focused on the woman sitting at the office desk. “Hello, please I’m here to see Ryan. Can I borrow him for a minute?”“And you are?” The woman asked as she raised her eyebrow, curiosity written all over her face. A brief silence filled the air and then Ryan and Melinda blurted out almost at the same time,“He lives with me,”“She’s my ex-wife,”They both gave themselves a hard, cold stare before returning to the woman who was looking at them with so much confusion. Finally, the woman waved her hand dismissively, “Whatever… I’m done with him anyway.”Without saying a word, Ryan and Melinda walked out of the office, the tension between them thick. They walked down the staircase in silence, only the soft thug of their footsteps making a sound.Melinda paused at the bottom of the staircase and looked at the chair in the waiting room, contemplating whether they sat there or not but
Silence fell on the room, dense and stifling. Deborah stared at the open space as her thoughts raced, and Amelia’s gaze stayed fixed on her, waiting and trying to figure out what her mother would say.Deborah’s fingers unconsciously traced the shape of her jawline, her face hardening with uncertainty. “You're right,” she said calmly with conviction. “Let's just see how this goes…. If Ethan keeps being a stubborn goat, we will have no choice. She needs to be taken out of the picture.”Amelia’s lips widened with a sinister grin, her eyes sparkling with malice. “Yes!” she spat, her tone filled with spite. “I can't wait to take that bitch out… permanently!”Her voice was cold, devoid of any regret. She gradually shifted her gaze to the mirror in front of her, her thoughts already scheming. The two women sat in silence, their shared grudge choking the room as they stared ahead, united in their evil plans.——The door creaked as it opened and Melinda entered her parlor. On entering, a fou
Irene paused, her eyes fixed on Melinda as she struggled to find the right words. Her voice trembled, stumbling over words until she finally found the right words to say. “I r-returned back b-because…” She paused and adjusted herself, holding Melinda’s hands tightly. Her grip was warm yet unsteady, betraying the calm she desperately tried to show.“I came back because I needed to be close to you. Yes, I assumed you were probably dead but this city… It’s where I last saw you. I had to come back… to feel close to you.”She took a deep breath, her eyes dropping briefly before returning to Melinda again. “Then Sarah… the bitch is bedridden. God has helped me to punish her for all her sins, she’s now too weak to even pursue me. When I found out about her condition, I knew it was time… I had to come back.”Melinda studied her mum’s face, her expression reading skepticism. There was something about Irene’s story that felt off. The words seemed rehearsed, and her emotions felt overly calcula
“Melinda… There’s nothing I’d say to you now that will make you feel better. Sometimes, I wish I could turn back the hands of time and make better decisions…” She paused, her eyes on Melinda, while Melinda’s gaze was still distant, her expression unreadable.“I and your father didn't just decide to leave you and run away… We did that because we were scared. His ex wanted to kill us all,” Irene continued.Melinda’s eyes shifted to Irene as she stared at her in disbelief. It felt like a bad joke.Irene continued, “His ex was my best friend, Sarah, who came from a powerful, wealthy family. She was obsessed with your father, but her family didn't approve of him… He wasn't “worthy,” they said, so she married another man. Unfortunately, her heart was still with him.” “Eventually we fell in love with each other and kept it a secret from Sarah for many years, hiding it like thieves. When you eventually came into the picture, your father got tired of hiding. He believed Sarah had moved on, so
“Yes Boss!” Liam’s voice echoed from the kitchen as he rushed out, his steps hurried and anxious.“Where were you when she was cooking this… this abomination?!” Ethan roared, his voice vibrating across the dining room into the parlor as his eyes were fiercely on Liam.“S-sir… I was preparing smoked salmon with poached eggs when she walked into the kitchen, demanding to make your meal for you. I tried to explain to her that it was my duty to make your meals but she insisted, Sir.” Liam stuttered, his hands twisted behind his back, as his head slightly bowed.“I'm very sorry for the inconvenience Sir.” He continued, his hand gripping the other tightly, and his head still lowered slightly in compliance.Etjan’s eyes shifted to Amelia as he stared down at her. She stood beside him, trembling as she sobbed.“B-baby… I’m so sorry, let me make something else for you please, don't be upset…” she stammered.“Make what?!...” Ethan snapped. “Do you even know how to prepare anything meal at all?
Ethan turned off the shower with a quick twist, water dripping down from his hair as he faced Amelia. “Amelia, what is it?” he growled, his voice echoing off the bathroom tiles, low and controlled as he tried to suppress his rising anger. Amelia stood there unbothered, her face broadened by a wide smile, stretching the bandage on her forehead. “Baby, which would you prefer? Pancakes, shrimp, or bacon? I'm thinking of making pancakes with scrambled eggs but I don't know… would you prefer pancakes with bacon or shrimp and grits with Andouille sausage?” She replied, her tone bright and cheerful as if she didn't barge in on him taking a shower. Her legs and hands moved dramatically as she spoke, her eagerness engulfing the entire space.Silence fell, only the sound of drops of water from the shower was disrupting the silence. Ethan stared at her, his jaw tightening as he processed the drama unfolding before him. Then, with a quiet sigh, he responded, “Go to the room, I'm coming…”Ame
Melinda turned, her heart almost racing out of her chest. She gasped as her eyes landed on the figure calling her. It was a woman… similar in height and physique, with the same dark black hair as hers, though shorter. The resemblance was striking, almost like staring at her reflection.“Mother…” The words escaped her lips like a shaky whisper. Her legs trembled under her. This was a woman she had mourned, a woman she thought was dead! The mother she hadn't seen since she was five years old. There she was, standing right in front of her. It felt like she had seen a ghost.For a brief moment, it felt like time had come to a halt. They just stared at each other, lips slightly opened but no words to describe the moment or say anything at all. Tears gathered in Irene’s eyes, glowing like delicate jewels as they dropped. She stared at her little girl, now a woman, alive and healthy. A wave of relief and guilt washed over her. This was a child she had to leave in the care of child protecti
Then Ethan broke the silence., his tone harsh and sharp, seeking clarification.“Excuse me?… Coming to stay with me because?…” His face twisted, revealing a blend of confusion and growing rage.“Because your carelessness put her in that condition! You owe her that much Ethan!… My daughter, my only daughter!… What if she didn't survive huh?!” Deborah replied instantly, her voice rising like thunder, her eyes burning with anger as she pointed an accusing finger on Ethan.Ethan’s eyebrows twisted as his patience began to run out. “Hold on… your daughter came to my place… on her own accord. I didn't invite her nor did I cause her to slip and fall. So how's this a result of my carelessness?”“Besides, I thought she left at the time I told her to leave. How was I supposed to know she'll go hide in my kitchen to attack my guest after I left!” Ethan snapped, his voice escalating with each statement as his irritation boiled over.“That’s not the issue here! My daughter can't go back to that bi