Hugh's POVThe incident had been named the "701 Terror Attack," starting at 9 PM on July 1st and lasting until the early hours of the next day. Six attackers were subdued, either killed on the spot or severely injured and unconscious. However, a female assassin reportedly escaped, and the police were in hot pursuit. Targeting such an event was already a bizarre move. The security was tight, and even without weapons, the military personnel present were highly skilled and vastly outnumbered the attackers. It was a doomed attack from the start.I watched as five peacekeeping soldiers were loaded onto an ambulance separately. Esther said they were dead.Instead of heading home, Esther and I went with the counterterrorism investigation team to their designated office for questioning. All the awarded peacekeeping soldiers had to go.Upon arrival, I was called into a private room. Opening the door, I found Travis sitting across from me."Do you know any of these seven people?" He tossed som
Shelia's POV That evening, Travis insisted on changing the bandage on my knee."I can do it myself," I protested."You're my sister. Let me pamper you."Unable to dissuade him, I sat on the sofa as he carefully removed the gauze. Just then, I received a message from an unknown number."Bring the divorce papers tomorrow. I'll sign them."Obviously Hugh, but I didn't bother replying. Unexpectedly, he called moments later. As I hesitated, Travis answered for me. But after a few words, I heard Esther's voice and angrily hung up."When I'm done tomorrow, I'll go with you," Travis patted my head comfortingly."No need. Aren't you investigating the '701 Terror Attack'? Your work is more important."I went to my room, angry and sleepless. The thought of them together so late, possibly in the bed Hugh and I once shared, sickened me.Early the next morning, I printed the divorce papers and took a taxi to the Thornton estate.The old butler greeted me awkwardly, "You're here so early. Hugh isn't
Hugh's POV "Did you sleep with Esther last night?" Travis asked bluntly. Esther had been in the adjacent interrogation room for over half an hour and hadn't come out yet."How is that your business? Did you bring us here to inquire about my sex life?" I angrily retorted."No offense intended, but this is important. Shelia told me that during the attack, she and Esther were fleeing together, but a terrorist kept chasing them. In the end, Esther used her as a shield, locking her out and escaping alone. Before I subdued him, the terrorist said something crucial to the investigation. But this morning, the nurse told me he suddenly died - an unnatural death.""You suspect Esther?""It's a reasonable deduction.""We talked a bit around 11 PM last night, but we didn't sleep together. She explained to me that she did leave Shelia behind, but didn't intentionally harm her - the situation was too urgent. You can check the hotel's surveillance footage. I want to know the truth too.""All the h
Shelia's POV Travis told me the Arabic man who held me hostage had died, and the investigation had hit a dead end.Since Hugh's return, I hadn't had a good night's sleep, either lying awake or having nightmares. I constantly felt like something bad was about to happen.It wasn't until Wednesday, when Will returned, that the gloom lifted. Will is my second older brother and now the Vice Chairman of Warner Pharmaceuticals."He initiated the divorce? I always thought you'd be the one to end it within three years. He's like a block of wood, with no sense of romance. I never understood what you saw in him," Will said disapprovingly after hearing about my situation."That guy's no block of wood. He cheated and even brought the woman home. Our foolish sister spent a year waiting for him," Travis added, exaggerating the story."What the fuck? He dared to cheat? Is he blind? Marrying a beauty like Shelia and still cheating. He’s really a dung beetle, loves eating shit. Don't worry, Shelia, I w
Shelia's POV “That Lucy is probably just jealous and giving you a hard time on purpose. Don't take it to heart. If she bothers you again, just let me know. Everyone in the company knows she likes Will. Seeing Will personally arrange your job must have infuriated her," Zia said, cutting into her venison while gossiping about the company."Does Will like her?" I thought to myself, surely my brother's taste isn't that bad."No way. Will is a workaholic. I even suspect he might not be interested in women at all. But tell me about you. What have you been up to these years? Why did you suddenly give up the chance to be Professor Lander's graduate student? Do you know there were only three spots in the whole school, and everyone was fighting for them?""I got married at that time.""What kind of man could make you give up such a great opportunity!?""We're already divorced. He fell for someone else," I sighed, trying to sound casual.Zia was clearly still processing this information. She sta
Hugh's POV Wasn't she with Travis? How is she now with Will? Will is the vice chairman of Warner Pharmaceuticals, a well-known bachelor. In just half a month, she's entangled with so many wealthy and powerful men. Is she deliberately trying to get revenge on me? Or is this her true nature? The more I thought about it, the more irritated I became.I wanted to call and ask her directly, but I knew she'd just mock me: "What right do you have to question me?"Remembering last night's events, I couldn't help but close my laptop and rub my temples. Just then, Esther pushed open the study door and entered. She placed a cup of tea on my desk, hesitating as if she had something on her mind."What's wrong? Do you have something to tell me?" I asked, taking a sip of tea."Hugh, did you go on a date with Shelia yesterday?""No.""Then what's this news about?"She placed her phone on my desk, showing a video: #Thornton Aviation Group Heir, Peacekeeping Hero in Bar Brawl#, which had already garne
Shelia's POV"How many more secrets are you keeping from me?" Zia playfully asked."Just keep this one for me. I don't want others in the company to know Will is my brother.""Well, I'll need some hush money. You owe me a fancy dinner."After finding out about my true identity, Zia pretended to be upset, but she still treated me like a normal friend. Over the weekend, I invited her to dinner at my place and asked her and Will to help me quickly learn about the company's operations."Who would've thought a wealthy young lady like you could cook so well," Zia complimented."I'm glad you like it," I replied, too embarrassed to admit that I had learned to cook to please Hugh after we got married."You never liked cooking before. Must be for that jerk," Will teased."From now on, I'll only cook for you. Happy?" I retorted.With Zia and Will's help, I quickly picked things up. The week passed by busily but fulfillingly, and before I knew it, it was Friday. I hadn't forgotten my appointment w
Hugh's POV I arrived at the courthouse at 2 PM sharp, but Shelia never showed up. I called her three times, but there was no answer.Was she getting back at me for being late on our wedding day three years ago?I remembered the day we were supposed to get married. I had been called to an emergency at an amusement park where a Ferris wheel had malfunctioned, trapping dozens of people. By the time I finished the rescue and checked my phone, there were several missed calls from Shelia. I had completely forgotten we were supposed to go to the county office that afternoon.When I finally arrived, Shelia was sitting alone on the steps of the county office, looking sad. However, her face lit up when she saw me, shining like a sunflower. By then, the staff had gone home, and we had to reschedule.It was now 5 PM, and it was clear that Shelia wasn't going to come today. Just like last time, we would have to reschedule. Strangely, amidst my anger, I felt a peculiar sense of relief. If we final
Hugh’s actions made me want to laugh. Did he really think throwing money around could make up for all the hurt he caused me? What did he take me for? A cheap decoration he could put on display when it suited him and toss aside when he didn’t need me? I looked at him coldly, as if he were nothing but a pathetic clown—ridiculous and pitiful.Carol’s face turned green with jealousy when she saw Hugh "defending" me. She clung to his arm, her voice dripping with bitterness. "Hugh, why are you bidding on that worthless thing?"Before she could finish, Hugh cut her off, his voice calm but firm: "It’s just an auction, Carol. Stop talking."Carol was furious but swallowed her words, glaring at me like she wanted to tear me apart. I smirked inwardly but pretended not to notice, casually watching the next auction item on stage.Just then, Ada gracefully walked onto the platform, dressed in an elegant white gown and with flawless makeup. She took the microphone from one of the staff and began
*The charity gala began with the clinking of glasses and the buzz of polite conversation.Susanne was dressed in an elegant light blue gown, adorned with expensive jewelry worth millions, giving off an air of sophistication and grace. But I instantly recognized her necklace—it was an old piece, the same one she wore when she got married. Carol, on the other hand, was dressed in a perfectly tailored red gown, showing off half of her large chest, exuding a bold, radiant beauty. She clung to Hugh’s arm like a proud peacock, flaunting her charms for everyone to see. She whispered sweet nothings to every man who passed by, always on the hunt for new admirers.I looked at Hugh, unsure how to feel. There was a time when I used to attend events like this on his arm, foolishly believing that was what love looked like. Now, we were strangers.Carol had become the center of attention lately, thanks to all the media coverage.Zachary couldn’t come because his back injury was too severe, an
In the past, I would have apologized to him out of habit, a natural sense of submission. But things are different now.“What does it have to do with you?” I snapped back at him.Furious, Hugh threw the cake to the ground. Cream and fruit splattered across my shoes, but I barely noticed. I just stood there, staring at him in disbelief. Hugh, how could you do this?“Hugh, what’s wrong with you?” I tried to keep my anger in check, but my voice trembled despite myself.“You have the nerve to ask me that?” he growled through clenched teeth. “Shelia, how many times do you expect me to stand by and watch? Huh?”His hot breath, laced with the smell of alcohol, hit my face as he leaned closer. The rage in his eyes was like sharp knives cutting into my heart. I could feel the sting deep inside.“What did I do?” I lifted my chin stubbornly, refusing to back down. “Zachary is just a friend. He was hurt, and I helped him bandage his wound. What’s the problem?”“Friend?” He laughed bitterly,
I got breaking news from Gregory—a massive update! Garcie had collapsed in prison, and no one knows why. She’s in a coma now, lying in the ICU. What kind of drama is this?Damn it, just when we were piecing everything together, the trail goes cold! A few days ago, we discovered that Garcie wasn’t just working with Carol—there’s a big boss pulling the strings behind the scenes. Now, with her unconscious, all the evidence she could’ve provided is gone. How could this happen? Did someone try to kill her in prison? Or is she really sick?My head was spinning. I lit a cigarette, something I rarely do, but the nicotine helped calm my nerves a bit. If I could dig into these women’s connections, I’m sure I’d find links to some powerful figures.Just then, I heard a knock at the door. Zachary walked in, looking as handsome and intense as ever. Today, he was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, making him look even taller and stronger. But his deep, brooding eyes always seemed to carry
*These past few days, I’ve been on cloud nine! News about my successful deal with Ada is everywhere, headlines like “Business Genius Carol” and “The Youngest Marketing Queen” plastered all over. Every time I see those flattering articles, I can’t help but smile inside, though I keep my signature "elegant" smile on the outside.Hmph, Shelia, did you see that? The Ada deal you tried so hard to get—now she's working with me! Who do you think you are? Just a discarded woman Hugh threw away!To celebrate my victory, I arranged a get-together with Fiona. After all, we landed this project together. I wonder if Lucas will come too. He’s one of the best guys I’ve ever dated. Maybe tonight, we could rekindle some old flames. I told Fiona to bring him along.I took extra care getting ready—slipping into a red backless gown, my hair elegantly pinned up to show off my long, slender neck. My makeup was flawless, and I looked sophisticated, sexy, untouchable. Glancing at myself in the mirror, I th
"Hugh, I’ve already scheduled a meeting with Ada. How about we go to Vienna the day after tomorrow? I heard the pastry chef at that hotel has won several international awards. We could try some of their desserts while we’re there." I put on a sweet, pleading tone, even though, in my heart, I thought Hugh was a total idiot—arrogant, cold, and not very bright.Without even looking up, he coldly responded with just two words: "Not going."“What’s that supposed to mean? I can’t handle Ada alone. She likes you! You have to come with me!” I tried to hold back my anger, raising my voice. How dare this useless man refuse me!He glanced at me with disdain, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Carol, I’ll say this one more time. Figure out Ada on your own. And honestly, you should give up—this was Shelia’s project from the start.""You!" I was trembling with rage, my carefully applied makeup barely concealing the fury twisting my expression. I’d gone through so much trouble to steal this projec
I sat in the café, gripping a cup of cold latte, my gaze fixed coldly on Marcus, who was sitting across from me. He kept his head down, hands nervously twisting together, looking like a beaten dog with its tail between its legs."Marcus, I really didn’t expect this from you," I scoffed. "I treated you like one of my own, and you..." I let out a cold laugh. "You and Garcie teamed up, scheming behind my back. But your biggest mistake was thinking you could cross me, Shelia!"Marcus jerked his head up, his face pale. "It’s not Garcie’s fault! We didn’t do anything!"“Do you even hear yourself, Marcus? Still defending her? That woman has been cheating on you left and right!"“No way! Don’t slander her! Garcie loves me and only me.”"How pathetic." I sneered. "Let me show you what your precious Garcie is really up to."I called Gregory. "Proceed as planned. Come pick him up."“Got it,” Gregory replied.I hung up, standing over Marcus, my voice cold. "Marcus, I’m giving you one last
The first step was to root out the traitor. To do that, I needed to find Gregory. He had been pursuing me for a while, but he was much younger than me, and I only saw him as a younger brother. I explained the whole situation to him, and he handed me a thick envelope filled with documents, a confident glint in his eyes."Shelia, it’s all in here. Marcus Leedon and Garcie Milton are working together, betraying the company. This time, they won’t get away with it! But for now, we don’t have enough solid evidence."I took the envelope, flipping through the pages. The evidence of Marcus and Garcie’s scheming was worse than I imagined. If it hadn’t been for this incident, they would’ve continued selling company secrets, and the entire company might have been destroyed in their hands! In a way, I should thank Carol for exposing the traitor early.Gregory handed me a stack of photos. "I dug up something else. Garcie is even more complicated than we thought—she’s been involved with several se
After leaving Amanda’s room, I rubbed my temples, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me. I needed to think carefully about my next move against Carol. This was like a game of chess, and I had to plan my strategy well.I went to the bathroom and soaked in a hot bath, hoping to relax. But just as I started to unwind, the doorbell rang. I barely had time to dry my hair, so I quickly threw on my pajamas and went to answer the door.“Shelia, are you home?” It was Zachary’s voice from outside, deep and gentle.I opened the door and saw Zachary standing there in casual clothes, looking even more fit than usual. He was holding two bags, his usual warm smile on his face.“What brings you here?” I asked, surprised but touched by his visit.“I came to check on you and brought some things,” he said, stepping inside and placing the bags on the table. Inside was a box of freshly picked strawberries and a beautifully packaged raspberry pie.“Wow, raspberry pie!” I lit up with excitement. It