52: Knoxville's phone rang, shrill in the silence. He picked it up, his deep voice answering, On the other end was Henry, his tone laced with a hint of excitement. "Sir, our private investigator just called. He's found Mr. Jenkins' daughter. She's living in a mud house on the outskirts of the city with her son and the man she's been dating."Knoxville's grip on the phone tightened, his mind racing with the implications. "Get the full details, Henry. We need to be there tonight." The call ended, and Knoxville's thoughts turned to the task at hand.As night began to fall, Knoxville and Henry set out in their car, navigating the darkening streets. The GPS led them deeper into the city, the buildings growing increasingly run-down. Knoxville's eyes narrowed, his distaste for the area evident. "This is the part of town I wish didn't exist," he muttered.As they turned onto a particularly rough street, Knoxville's concern shifted to his car. The potholed road threatened to damage the slee
53: Knoxville walked into the hospital ward, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on the woman sitting on the bed with her son. He couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and comfort at the sight of the two of them together. As he approached the bed, the woman looked up and caught his eye, a bright smile spreading across her face."Hey," Knoxville said, his deep voice rumbling through the quiet hospital room. He smiled back at the woman, feeling a sense of familiarity that he couldn't quite place. He tried to remember where he had met her before, but his mind came up blank. He knew he had seen her somewhere, but he just couldn't put his finger on it.As he stood there, frozen in thought, the woman's smile faltered for a moment, and Knoxville could sense a hint of uncertainty behind her eyes. "Knoxville," she called, her voice firm but laced with a hint of caution. As soon as he heard his name, Knoxville's eyes snapped towards her, and he became certain that he knew her. Th
Alice's face was etched with unbearable grief as she listened to the CD recording of her father's heartfelt apology. Tears streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto her lap as she struggled to comprehend the weight of her father's words. His voice, though weak and frail, conveyed the depth of his regret and longing."I'm so sorry, Alice," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "I'm sorry for not being the father I should have been. I wish I could go back in time and make everything right." He paused, taking a labored breath before continuing. "I promise to watch over you from heaven, to guide and protect you always. I've worked tirelessly to provide for you, to give you everything you deserve. And, oh, Alice, I miss you so much."The CD recording fell silent, leaving an oppressive stillness in its wake. Alice felt as though she'd been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her. She couldn't bear the thought of living without her father, of never being able to hug him or h
Knoxville was sitting in the living room, surrounded by the familiar comforts of the space, when Alice walked in with her son by her side. She looked tired but relieved to be home, and a warm smile spread across her face as she greeted Knoxville."Hey Knoxville," Alice said, her voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and gratitude.Knoxville turned to face her, his expression calm and collected. "I'm fine, thanks," he replied, his deep voice soothing. "I was told your dad's house has been renovated, so you'll be moving out soon."Alice's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of returning to her childhood home. "Thanks so much for the stay," she said, her tone filled with genuine appreciation. "We really appreciate everything you've done for us."Knoxville took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling beneath his worn T-shirt. "It's my pleasure," he said, his voice low and sincere. He smiled softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and Alice felt a pang of gratitude towards t
Maxwell's face was a picture of fury as he made the call, his anger palpable in the air. He paced back and forth, his eyes blazing with intensity, as he waited for the person on the other end to answer.As the person picked up, Maxwell's voice was low and menacing. He banged his fist on the table in front of him, making the objects on it jump. "You will have to listen to what I have to say, understand?" he growled, his words dripping with malice.But the person on the other end was not intimidated. They bashed back at Maxwell, their voice rising in defiance. "I am done listening to you," they spat. "So you're getting married to her? That's never going to be possible, trust me."Maxwell's face darkened even further, his eyes flashing with anger. He took a deep breath, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "You know the repercussions of not listening to me," he warned. "I wouldn't repeat myself, so you better stay put until I ask you to come." With that, he hung up the call, his chest
Mr. Rodriguez's eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at Maxwell, his voice firm but laced with a hint of curiosity. "You're here, Maxwell?" he asked, his eyes flicking to the closed door behind Maxwell.Maxwell walked closer to the pair, his movements confident and deliberate. Knoxville, on the other hand, looked less than pleased to see Maxwell. He smirked, his eyes glinting with a mixture of annoyance and hostility as he glared at Maxwell. Then, with a dismissive flick of his head, he turned away, his face set in a scowl.Knoxville's voice was laced with irritation as he asked, "You asked what's going on here! What did you hear?" His tone implied that Maxwell had no business being there, and that he was somehow eavesdropping on a private conversation.Maxwell chuckled, a low, smooth sound that seemed to grate on Knoxville's nerves. "Is there something I need to know that you both are hiding from me?" Maxwell asked, his eyes locked on Knoxville's face, his gaze piercing and intense.Kn
Knoxville POVAs I stepped into my dad's house, a mix of emotions swirled inside me. I had come here with a singular purpose: to search for clues. Something had been nagging at me, a feeling that there was more to the story of what had happened years ago. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I was determined to uncover the truth.As I looked into my dad's eyes earlier, I had seen something there that gave me pause. It was a flicker of guilt, a hint of trouble that he had been holding back. And yet, despite the anger and resentment I had been harboring towards him, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to the story than I had initially thought.I thought back to the fact that my dad had been visiting my mother's grave twice a year. If he had truly wanted to betray her, would he have been so diligent in paying his respects? It didn't add up, and I found myself wondering if I had misjudged him all along.As I began to search the house, I could
Knoxville POV As I stepped out of my car and onto the sprawling grounds of the KT company, I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity. This was my mother's company, a business empire she had built from scratch, and although I had never worked here, neither have I come here once. I grabbed the folder containing the pictures and CD, and headed towards the company's main building. As I walked through the hallway, I was greeted by my aunt's personal assistant, who was waiting for me with a warm smile. "Welcome, sir," he said, his eyes gleaming with courtesy. "Your aunt is expecting you. Please, follow me."I nodded, falling into step behind him as he led me to my aunt's office. The PA pushed open the door, and I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the spacious room. My aunt was seated behind her massive desk, a look of warmth and concern on her face.. "Hey Knoxville," she called out with a warm smile on her face, her eyes sparkling with affection. The way she said my name, with a ge
The machine beeped softly in the hospital room, and Helena's eyes fluttered open. She was met with a blurry haze, but as her vision cleared, she saw the sterile white walls and the various medical devices surrounding her. Confusion etched her face as she tried to piece together her memories. The last thing she remembered was the searing pain of Maxwell's blade sinking into her flesh. She had thought it was the end for her.But here she was, alive and breathing. Helena's gaze drifted to the machines attached to her body, and she weakly attempted to remove the oxygen tube from her nose. A firm but gentle hand stopped her."You shouldn't risk your health," a cheerful voice said, accompanied by the sound of rustling fabric as the speaker moved closer.Helena's eyes shifted to the speaker, and she was taken aback by the energetic man standing beside her bed. His bright blue eyes sparkled with warmth, and his messy brown hair added to his endearing and lively demeanor.Helena's voice was ba
Electra stood frozen, her gaze locked on her reflection in the mirror. The stunning wedding gown hugged her curves perfectly, the delicate lace and intricate embroidery sparkling in the soft light of the fashion house. But despite the manager's compliment, Electra's face remained somber, her eyes welling up with tears.The memory of her first wedding dress fitting, seven years ago in Knoxville, came flooding back. She had been young, in love, and full of hope. That marriage had been a beautiful chapter in her life, one she cherished deeply. But now, as she prepared to marry again, she felt trapped and uncertain."Ma'am, shouldn't you be happy you're getting married?" the manager asked, her voice tinged with concern.Electra ignored her, reaching for a tissue to wipe away the tears streaming down her face. Her eyes, once bright and full of life, now seemed dull and haunted. She wasn't mourning her past, but rather, she was resigned to a future she didn't want. Circumstances had forced
Knoxville POV The past few days had been a never-ending nightmare since Gladys's kidnapping. I had exhausted every possible lead, every connection, every resource to find her, but it seemed like a futile effort. The desperation was eating away at me, and I could feel the weight of my failure bearing down on me.I had tried to reason with Electra, to convince her that we could find our daughter without giving in to Maxwell's demands. At first, she had seemed willing to listen, but as the hours ticked by, she had become increasingly agitated, eventually giving in to Maxwell's instructions. Her words still haunted me: "I'll kill myself if anything happens to Gladys."I had called Henry into my office, instructing him to gather all the necessary documents for the company and the house. I was willing to give it all up, to sacrifice everything for the sake of my daughter. I had another option, a backup plan. I could always join my other company, the one mother had left for me, which was in
Helena drove straight to Maxwell's house, her anger and desperation simmering just below the surface. She slammed the car door shut and stormed into the living room, her eyes blazing with fury.Maxwell was sitting comfortably on the couch, watching TV with a calm, detached expression. Helena's anger boiled over at the sight of him relaxing while their son fought for his life.She rushed towards him, her voice trembling with rage. "So you have the nerves to watch movies while your son is fighting for his life?" she demanded, her words dripping with venom.Maxwell scoffed, his expression unrepentant, and he turned back to the TV, dismissing her. "What's the point of getting worked up? It's not like it's going to change anything," he said, his voice cold and detached."I am talking about my son here, our son!" Helena shouted, her voice echoing through the room, her eyes blazing with anger and hurt.Maxwell's expression turned calculating, his eyes glinting with a sinister light. "Don't y
Helena burst out of the doctor's office, her face etched with worry, and hastily grabbed her phone to dial Maxwell's number. Her hands trembled as she waited for him to answer.Maxwell picked up immediately, his voice laced with a mix of annoyance and concern. "Why haven't you been picking up my calls? Don't you know our initial plans?" he asked, but Helena cut him off, her voice shrill with panic."I don't have time for that!" she shouted, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "Come to the hospital right away! Your son's been in an accident, and the doctor just said he needs a blood transfusion!" Helena's voice cracked, the fear of losing her son palpable as she struggled to hold back tears."Why now?" Maxwell asked, his tone detached and uncaring.Helena's confusion turned to incredulity. "Why do you mean why now?" she asked, her voice laced with growing anger.Maxwell's response sent Helena's anger boiling over. "Why would you let him get into an accident at a time like this?"
Helena POV As I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my outfit, a sly smile spread across my face. After Maxwell's revelation about kidnapping Gladys, I thought I finally had my chance to seduce Knoxville. With Electra now destined for Maxwell, I was ready to make my move.I slipped on my high heels, feeling confident and determined. My best outfit hugged my curves in all the right places, and I couldn't wait to see the look on Knoxville's face when I arrived at his place.Just as I was about to head out, Gideon's innocent voice stopped me in my tracks. "Mum, where are you going?" he asked, his big brown eyes filled with curiosity.I turned around, flashing him a reassuring smile. "Babe, Mama just wants to go out for a bit. I'll be back soon, okay?" I said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.Gideon nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response. I gave him a quick kiss on the forehead before grabbing my car keys.Gideon's voice was laced with longing. "When are we going back
Knoxville POVI seethed with anger as I read through the outrageous terms and conditions that Maxwell had laid out. How could he be so audacious? I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed Henry's number, my patience wearing thinner by the minute.He picked up immediately, and I demanded, "Did you manage to follow Maxwell? Did you find out where my daughter is?" My voice was laced with a growing sense of urgency.Henry's calm tone was a stark contrast to my own frazzled emotions. "No, Sir. Maxwell hasn't left his house for the past few hours. I think he's giving instructions from home," he replied.I couldn't contain my frustration. "Gosh!" I thundered, slamming my fist on the table. "Don't give up! Make sure you check all the traffic stations and find out where the car that attacked them headed to!" I commanded, my voice firm and resolute.Henry's response was reassuring. "Okay, Sir," he said, before the call came to an abrupt end. Electra's voice trembled with desperation. "It's been ho
Electra's eyes blazed with fury as she walked closer to them. "So, you're the one who kidnapped my daughter?" she asked, her voice low and menacing.Maxwell smiled, his tone dripping with sweetness. "Yes, sweetheart, I did."Electra's face twisted in disgust. "You kidnapped my daughter, and didn't even feel any remorse?"Maxwell scoffed, his expression unrepentant. "Why should I feel remorseful?" He paused, his gaze shifting from Electra to Knoxville, a hint of malice in his eyes. "Did you feel any remorse when you cancelled our wedding to get back with your ex-husband?""How can you be so cruel?" Electra asked, her voice trembling with rage. "She's just a child. How could you involve her in this?"Maxwell's expression turned icy, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Aren't you also cruel when you cancelled our marriage out of the blue?" He sneered, his eyes glinting with malice. "My emotions, my reputation... did you know how many invitations had gone out already? How could you do that t
Knoxville and Electra were sitting comfortably in the living room when Gladys' nanny suddenly rushed in, her frantic expression and disheveled appearance immediately grabbing their attention. The nanny's face was etched with worry, and her eyes were wide with fear. She looked like she had been through a traumatic ordeal, her clothes rumpled and her hair askew.As she entered the room, the nanny stumbled and fell to her knees, her body trembling with sobs. "Ma'am...Gladys..." she stammered, her voice shaking uncontrollably.Electra and Knoxville exchanged a concerned glance before quickly rising to their feet. Electra's eyes narrowed with worry as she rushed to the nanny's side. "Can you tell me what's going on?" she asked, her voice firm but laced with concern. "What's wrong with my daughter?" she pressed, her eyes scanning the nanny's distraught face for any sign of what might have happened.The nanny's face was etched with worry and fear as she rushed into the room, her eyes fixed o