Chapter 3
Aaron’s house was packed with mourners dressed in somber shades of black, murmuring condolences and exchanging hushed whispers. The air was thick with the scent of fresh lilies and the weight of fabricated grief. A large, framed photograph of Miranda rested on an easel, her smile frozen in time—a cruel contrast to the lies being spread about her even in death. Aaron stood at the center of the gathering, playing the role of the grieving husband. His voice carried a false tremor as he addressed the room. “Thank you all for coming,” he began, dabbing at his dry eyes with a handkerchief. “This has been a difficult time for me and my family. Miranda… she was troubled in the end. I suspect she was having an affair, and when she couldn’t handle the guilt, she ran off to meet her lover. I don’t know who killed her, but I will ensure justice is served.” Gasps rippled through the crowd, and Aaron’s mother, Clara, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. His sisters, Lilian and Grace, nodded in silent agreement, their expressions a blend of sympathy and disdain. In a corner of the room, Alex stood with Josh, who clung tightly to his uncle’s hand, tears streaming down his small face. “I want Mommy,” Josh sobbed, his voice breaking through the room’s murmur. Alex knelt down, his heart breaking as he wiped the boy’s tears. “Your mommy loves you, Josh,” Alex whispered, his voice firm yet gentle. “We’ll find her.” The room began to empty as the guests offered their final words of comfort and departed. Soon, only the family remained. Aaron took a seat at the head of the dining table, his posture relaxed, as though he hadn’t just orchestrated a sham funeral. “I’ve made a decision,” Aaron announced, his tone flat. “I’m going to remarry.” The room fell silent. Clara looked at her son with approval. “It’s the right thing to do,” she said. “You need someone to take care of you and Josh.” Grace chimed in, her voice light. “We can start looking for suitable women right away. You deserve a fresh start.” Alex slammed his palm against the table, startling everyone. “Are you serious?” he snapped, his voice sharp. “You’re not even mourning your wife, Aaron. You rushed her funeral, and now you’re talking about marriage? Her body hasn’t even been found!” Aaron’s eyes narrowed, his voice icy. “The fact that her body hasn’t been found doesn’t mean she’s not dead,” he said. “And I’m not going to put my life on hold for someone who was likely cheating on me.” Alex’s fists clenched as he struggled to contain his anger. “You disgust me,” he said through gritted teeth. “Miranda deserved better than this—better than you.” Aaron smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Don’t act so righteous, Alex. You were never part of this family. You don’t get to tell me how to live my life.” Josh’s quiet sobs filled the room, breaking the tension for a moment. Alex scooped the boy into his arms, his resolve hardening. “You might have fooled everyone else, Aaron,” Alex said, his voice low but firm. “But you won’t get away with this. I’ll make sure of it.” Without another word, Alex looked at Josh who was asleep in Stella’s arm and he walked out. Alex drove out of the compound and he headed to the outskirts of the town , After what felt like hours of driving, He stopped at an abandoned hospital…That was what it looked like from the outside but on the inside this was a well facilitated hospital, The hospital he was treating Miranda who was in coma for months ,He had bought the hospital from the owner and brought in a doctor and his team from overseas to help miranda gain consciousness, it’s been months and yet miranda wouldn’t open her eyes. He opened the ward and there she was laying peacefully, It was as though she was enjoying a peaceful sleep, Aaron sat beside her and watched her for a while , She had a personal nurse who would clean her up and Aaron had told them to make the room scent ike vanilla, it was the way her old room smelt like when she was with her family, He wanted her to forget the memories of her abusive marriage but she still wouldn’t wake up. “ Mira , it was your funeral today “ He paused and scoffed. “ Aaron had gathered people and they all mourned you in front of your son …Mira would you be asleep and watch all of this happen? You promised me that night soaked in your own blood that you wanted to see Aaron kneel and beg you for forgiveness, You cannot do all of that lying here …” Aaron choked in his own tears , he was loosing his mind . “ Josh…He cried and begged for his mommy…if not for anyone do it for your son “ Alex held her hand he let it all out, He wasn’t one to show emotions but tears rolled down his cheeks and when his tears touched her , It was as though it moved her , he felt her finger moved and he heard low tone muttering. “ Please don’t let him take my son…” Miranda was awake !Chapter 4I opened my eyes to the faint hum of machines and the sterile scent of antiseptic. My head felt heavy, like I’d been dragged through a fog I couldn’t escape. Blinking slowly, I stared at the ceiling, unfamiliar and cold. A quiet beeping sound echoed in the room, steady and rhythmic, grounding me in the present.Where am I?I tried to sit up, but a sharp ache spread through my body, forcing me to stay still. Panic crept in as I looked around the room—white walls, a window with sheer curtains letting in soft light, and a man sitting beside me, his head bowed as though deep in thought.“Who…?” My voice came out weak, raspy. The man’s head snapped up, and his eyes—dark and intense—locked onto mine.“Miranda,” he breathed, his voice filled with relief. “You’re awake.”I frowned, my heart racing. “Who are you? Miranda…That’s my name?”His expression shifted, a flicker of pain crossing his face. “It’s me, Alex,” he said gently, leaning closer. “Don’t you remember?Yes…You are Mirand
The room was dim, illuminated only by the soft glow of a desk lamp where Alex worked silently. The sound of his pen scratching against paper filled the air, but his attention kept drifting toward Miranda, asleep on the hospital bed. Her chest rose and fell in steady rhythm, her face peaceful—a fragile moment of calm after months of torment.Suddenly, a sharp scream shattered the stillness.Alex’s head shot up, his heart racing. Miranda bolted upright in bed, her face drenched in sweat, her eyes wide with terror. “No! Stop!” she screamed, clutching her head. Her breathing came in ragged gasps, her body trembling uncontrollably.“Miranda!” Alex was at her side in an instant, his hands on her shoulders, steadying her. “Mira, it’s okay. You’re safe. I’m here.”Tears streamed down her face as she looked at him, her voice breaking. “I remembered,” she choked out. “I remembered everything, Alex. It all came back… the years of pain, the beatings, the lies… and that night—Aaron fired those sho
Chapter 6:The drip I had ripped out earlier now fixed back in place. My body was still too weak, rejecting the medication. I turned to the other side of the bed, sobbing quietly. The door creaked open, and Alex walked in. To be honest, I didn’t want to talk to anyone right now. My head was pounding, and I was overwhelmed with confusion.“Hey… Are you alright?” Alex asked softly, but I didn’t respond. I was holding back my tears, unable to bring myself to look at him.“Mira, are you crying?”“No, I’m not…” I managed to say, choking on my own tears.“What’s wrong?” Alex pressed gently.I wiped my tears and finally turned to face him. “What’s wrong? Alex… I was pushed down the stairs. My son watched me struggle for breath in a pool of my own blood. I lost my baby, got divorced, and my ex-husband tried to kill me. I have no idea where my son is… Why did I even survive?”I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Alex said nothing at first, silently watching me cry for what felt like hours. Fi
Chapter 7. Alex sat at the far end of the large dining hall, his eyes fixed on Josh, who looked small and frail in the oversized chair. The boy’s face was pale, his eyes tired, and he seemed to have lost weight. The family event hadn’t officially begun yet, and Aaron along with the rest of the family, was too busy to notice. Alex , however, couldn’t take his eyes off Josh.When he saw the boy wipe a tear from his cheek, Alex got up and walked over to him. He crouched down so they were at eye level.“Hey, buddy, are you okay?” Alex asked gently.Josh hesitated, then burst into quiet tears. “I miss my mummy,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “I want to be with her, but I can’t…because she’s dead.”Alex’s heart clenched. He wanted to tell Josh the truth, to let him know that Mira was alive, but he couldn’t—not yet. Instead, he placed a comforting hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I know you miss her. She loves you so much, Josh. She wouldn’t want you to be sad.”Josh sniffled, his tiny han
Chapter 8Alex had planned to head straight to the hospital, but halfway there, he made a U-turn. There was something more pressing to take care of.Mira’s family lawyer.For years, Mira had lived under Aaron’s control, believing every word he told her. Aaron had convinced her that her parents hadn’t left her anything when they died, claiming their family’s debts had wiped out whatever was left. She never questioned it, never looked into it herself. She was too wrapped up in Aaron’s lies and manipulation. But Alex didn’t buy it. He knew Aaron too well to trust a single thing he said, and if Mira was going to reclaim her life, she needed to have a strong foundation—financially and socially.He pulled up outside the lawyer’s office. The man had agreed to meet with him on short notice, but Alex knew this wasn’t going to be an easy conversation. He straightened his jacket, taking a deep breath before stepping inside.The lawyer, an older man with graying hair and a stern expression, greet
I stared at Alex, my mind racing, completely thrown by the two words he’d just said.“Marry me.”The words hung in the air, heavy and strange. My lips parted, but no sound came out. I didn’t know what to say, let alone what to think.When I didn’t answer, Alex shifted in his seat, his expression softening. “Listen,” he said, his tone calm but serious. “I’ve been thinking about ways to bring you back—to make your return impactful. Right now, Aaron is parading my ex-fiancée as his new woman, trying to erase your place in his life like you never existed. We need something big, something that puts you back in control.”I tilted my head, unsure where he was going with this.“So,” Alex continued, leaning forward slightly, “why don’t we stage a fake engagement? If I introduce you as my fiancée, it’ll turn Aaron’s little act into a joke. It’ll make people question everything he’s said about you. And trust me, nothing would hurt his ego more than seeing you with me.”The words hit me like a pu
Aaron sat at the dining table, chewing his steak slowly, his eyes cold and distant. Across from him, his mother barely touched her food. She had been watching him all evening, and she couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was terribly wrong.Unable to hold it in any longer, she stood up abruptly and grabbed Josh by the arm. “Go to your room,” she said in a firm but calm voice. Josh frowned but obeyed, his eyes lingering on his father before he walked away.Once they were alone, she pulled Aaron to a quiet corner of the house, her grip on his arm tightening. “What did you do with Mira?” she demanded, her voice low but filled with accusation.Aaron turned to face her, his jaw clenched. “How do you expect me to know that?” he snapped, pulling his arm free. “I went to her father’s estate to talk to her. I wanted to beg her to come back, but when I got there, I only found her clothes… and a pool of blood. She was gone.”His mother scoffed, her sharp eyes never leaving his face. “Yo
I sat alone in my hospital room, staring blankly at the wall, but my mind was far away. I could hear the steady beeping of the machines around me, the soft murmurs of nurses outside, and the faint hum of the air conditioning, yet none of it felt real. My chest felt tight, and my hands trembled slightly as I gripped the hospital blanket.My thoughts drifted back to a night I had buried deep inside me. A night I wished I could forget but always seemed to creep back into my mind when I least expected it.I was eight months pregnant with Josh. My feet were swollen, my back ached constantly, and every step I took felt like I was carrying the weight of the world. That evening, I had come home late from a prenatal appointment. The doctor had taken longer than expected, and by the time I walked through the front door, Aaron was already pacing in the living room, his face dark with anger.“Where the hell have you been?” he barked the moment I stepped inside. His eyes flicked to the empty dinin
The Confession(Mira’s POV)Cynthia drove me home in silence, the only sound in the car was the hum of the engine. My head was still spinning from everything that had happened. Tonight was supposed to be fun, but instead, it had turned into another night of chaos.When we pulled into the driveway, I let out a tired sigh. “Thanks for the ride,” I mumbled, unbuckling my seatbelt.But the moment I stepped out of the car, my stomach twisted painfully.Alex was standing there.Under the dim glow of the streetlight, I could see his knuckles—bloody and bruised. His jaw was clenched, his face unreadable, but I could see the exhaustion in his eyes. The way he held his injured hand told me he was in pain, but he wasn’t even acknowledging it.Before I even thought about what I was doing, my feet moved on their own.I ran to him.The ache in my chest grew stronger with each step, and the moment I reached him, my emotions exploded.I hit his chest—softly at first, then harder.“Why?” I shouted, my
A Night Gone Wrong(Mira’s POV)Sitting in the VIP lounge with Cynthia, I sipped on my drink while we watched the dance floor. The music was loud, the bass vibrating through my body, but I was having a good time. It felt nice to unwind, to just sit back and not think about work, responsibilities, or the mess Aaron had made of my life.But, of course, peace never lasted long for me.“Come on!” Cynthia suddenly grabbed my hand, pulling me up. “You didn’t come all the way here just to sit and watch. Let’s dance!”I laughed, trying to resist. “Cynthia, I’m not really—”“No excuses, Mira. Let’s go.”Before I could argue further, I was already being dragged onto the dance floor. The lights flashed, people moved in sync with the beat, and for a brief moment, I let myself enjoy it.Then, I felt someone behind me.I turned around, expecting a stranger, but my heart dropped when I saw who it was.Aaron.Drunk, stumbling, and looking at me with the same arrogance he always had.“Mira,” he slurre
An Unexpected Reunion(Mira’s POV)I tried my best not to make it obvious, but I was definitely waiting for Alex to say something.His words from earlier kept replaying in my mind. When the time is right, I need to tell you something.What was it?Did it have to do with our almost kiss? Did he feel the same way I did? Or was I reading too much into it?I stole a glance at him as we stepped into the club, but his expression was unreadable. The music was loud, the flashing lights making everything feel more alive. People were already dancing, the atmosphere filled with energy.Just as I was about to say something, I heard someone call Alex’s name.A guy approached us, grinning. it was daniel’s friend . Alex recognized him instantly and gave him a handshake.“Daniel,” Alex greeted. “Didn’t know you’d be here tonight.”“Man, you know me. Always around,” Daniel said, then turned to me. “Mira so good to see you here , you look hot”Alex threw him a look.I nodded politely, offering a small
(Mira’s POV)I had been staring at the clock endlessly, tapping my fingers against my dresser, waiting for time to pass. Every minute felt like an hour. I was already dressed, and I looked hot.The deep black dress hugged my curves perfectly, stopping just above my knees, classy yet daring. My makeup was light but flawless, highlighting my best features. My hair? Perfect waves that framed my face just right.I picked up my phone and took a few pictures for Instagram. It had been a while since I posted something for myself and not business-related. I smiled at the photos, satisfied.“Mom, you actually look hot,” Josh teased from my doorway, arms crossed with a smug grin.I rolled my eyes, laughing. “Oh, so I never look hot?”He shook his head dramatically. “Not this hot. Are you sure you’re going to the club and not a red-carpet event?”I threw a pillow at him, and he dodged it easily, laughing. But deep down, his words made me wonder.Would Alex bail on me tonight after what happened
“Let’s Pretend That Didn’t Happen” i said to myself. The second I stepped into my house, I rushed straight to my room and shut the door behind me, pressing my back against it. Josh was sitting on my bed, playing a game on his tablet, but as soon as he saw me, he smirked. “What was that about?” he asked, his voice filled with amusement. I groaned and covered my face. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” Josh chuckled. “You and Uncle Alex were about to kiss.” I gasped. “Excuse me?” I dropped my hands and looked at him. “We were not.” He rolled his eyes. “Mom, I’m not a kid. I saw it.” I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, but he dodged it, laughing. “Go to sleep, Josh.” He snickered. “Whatever you say, Mom.” Before I could throw another pillow at him, I heard a knock on my door. I froze. Josh raised an eyebrow. “You gonna get that, or should I?” I slowly walked to the door and peeped through the peephole. My stomach did a little flip when I saw Alex standing there, wavi
Stepping out of her comfort zone I stared at my closet, arms crossed, lips pressed into a thin line.All I had were work clothes.Blazers. Pencil skirts. Crisp white shirts. A few modest dresses that screamed corporate boss rather than night out.I sighed. “Well, this is a disaster.”Josh, sitting on my bed with his legs crossed, let out a loud laugh. “Mom, you’re so funny right now.”I turned to him with a playful glare. “Oh? And what exactly is funny about this?”He grinned, eyes twinkling. “You, freaking out over what to wear to a club.”I scoffed. “I am not freaking out.”Josh raised a brow, clearly not convinced.I groaned and grabbed my phone, dialing Alex. He picked up immediately.“Yo,” he answered. “You ready for tonight?”“No,” I huffed, flipping through the clothes in my wardrobe again. “I have nothing to wear.”There was silence for half a second before he burst into laughter.“Oh no,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “The great Mira doesn’t have the perfect o
Taking Back ControlThe office was finally peaceful. No more chaos, no more betrayals—just me, my work, and the steady hum of productivity. I focused on my new project, checking every little detail carefully. Things were falling into place, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I was back in control.Just as I was about to take a sip of my coffee, my manager walked in with a smirk on his face, holding a document in his hand.“You wouldn’t believe this,” he said.I raised an eyebrow, curious. “What is it?”“A direct mail from Aaron’s company,” he said, waving the paper slightly. “Do you want to read it?”Aaron? The name alone made my mood sour. There was no way he would have the guts to contact me himself. If anything, he’d use someone else to do his dirty work.“Let me see,” I said, taking the document from him.I skimmed through the contents, and before I could stop myself, I let out a loud laugh.Co-CEO?They really thought I would agree to that? After everything I had
Aaron’s Office ShowdownAaron sat at his desk, flipping through a stack of files while trying to ignore the growing headache pressing against his temples. The past few weeks had been stressful. His company was struggling, facing unexpected financial hits and internal instability. Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, his assistant walked in.“Sir, the Chief Director is here to see you,” she announced cautiously.Aaron frowned. The Chief Director rarely showed up unannounced. Something was off.“Let him in,” he said, closing the file in front of him and leaning back in his chair.A few moments later, the Chief Director, an older man with silver-streaked hair and a sharp gaze, walked in. His expression was unreadable, but Aaron could sense the weight of his presence. He gestured toward the chair in front of him.“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Aaron asked, trying to sound casual.The Chief Director sat down, placing a folder on the desk. He adjusted his suit jacket and ex
Chapter: A Small Victory to Celebrate(Mira’s POV)The moment I stepped into my house, relief washed over me like a warm wave.Josh was in the living room, curled up on the couch with his tablet, completely engrossed in whatever game he was playing. His little fingers moved swiftly over the screen, his brows furrowed in deep concentration.I stood there for a moment, just watching him.This was why I fought so hard. This was why I refused to back down.“Mom!” He looked up and beamed the moment he noticed me.I walked over and ruffled his hair before pulling him into a hug. “Hey, baby. How was your day?”“It was okay. I finished my homework already,” he said proudly.“That’s my boy.” I smiled, brushing his cheek before deciding it was time to tell him the good news.I sat beside him, taking a deep breath. “Josh, you’re not going to boarding school anymore.”His eyes widened in disbelief. “Wait… what?”“You heard me.” I nodded, watching his face carefully. “You’re staying home with me.