Chapter: The Will of the PastI sat across from Mr. Richard , my family’s lawyer, feeling both nervous and overwhelmed. Alex was by my side, his presence a quiet reassurance. The office smelled of old books and leather, and the heavy wooden desk between us felt like a barrier between my past and my future.Mr. Richard stared at me with wide eyes, still in shock. “Mira…” he whispered, shaking his head as if trying to wake up from a dream. “You’re really alive.”I gave him a small, tight smile. “I am.”He exhaled sharply, then looked at Alex. “When he called to set this meeting, I thought it was a cruel joke. I handled your family’s estate for years, and when I heard about your… passing, I—” He stopped himself, his voice full of emotion.I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I’m here now,” I said softly. “And I need to know everything.”The Lawyer nodded and reached for a thick envelope. “Your parents left this for you, along with a message. They wanted you to have this the moment you tur
Chapter: A Gift for AaronI sat across from Alex, still trying to process everything that had just happened. I was rich. Not just comfortable, but wealthy beyond what I had imagined. My parents had left me everything, securing my future and Josh’s. For the first time in a long while, I wasn’t powerless.The first thing that came to my mind was how much Alex had done for me. He saved me, gave me a home, took care of Josh, and even helped me get back on my feet.I turned to him. “Alex, how much did my hospital bills cost?”He raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. “Why?”“I want to pay you back.”That’s when he burst into laughter. A full, deep laugh that made me frown.“What’s funny?” I asked, crossing my arms.“Mira, you don’t have to pay me back,” he said, still grinning.I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t want you to feel like you carried me out of pity.”His smirk grew. “Pity? No, let’s just say I have some old games with Aaron that still need to be played.”That piqued my interes
Chapter- An Old Friend I stepped out of the hospital room, my heart still pounding in my chest. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. On the outside, I looked confident—walking in with that bouquet, acting like I wasn’t fazed. But the truth? I was scared.I wasn’t scared of Aaron. No, that part was easy. Watching him struggle, seeing the panic in his eyes—it felt good. Maybe even satisfying. But deep down, I was scared of what all of this meant. I had spent years trying to survive, running from the past, and now… now I was right in the middle of it again.I clenched my hands into fists and exhaled slowly. You can do this, Mira.Just then, I saw Clara walking toward me. Her face was tense, her movements rushed, like she had been waiting for me to step out.I kept my expression neutral, my lips curling slightly in amusement as she stopped in front of me.“Why now?” she asked, her voice sharp. “Why did you have to come back now of all times?”I raised an eyebrow. “Now? Oh, you
Chapter- A Step at a TimeWhen I got home, the sound of laughter filled the air. Alex and Josh were in the living room, playing some video game, both of them so focused that they didn’t even notice me at first. Josh was grinning, eyes glued to the screen as he leaned forward, gripping the controller like his life depended on it.“You’re going to lose,” Alex teased, smirking as he effortlessly dodged whatever attack Josh had planned.Josh groaned. “No way! I—”He suddenly looked up and saw me standing there. “Mom!” He dropped the controller and ran toward me, wrapping his arms around my waist.I smiled, ruffling his hair. “Did you miss me?”He pulled away and gave me a look. “Of course I did! You took forever.”I chuckled. “It wasn’t that long, was it?”Josh pouted. “It felt like it.”Alex finally turned away from the game, stretching as he leaned back against the couch. “You’re back early. I thought you’d be out longer.”I glanced at Josh. “Hey, sweetheart, why don’t you go get ready
Aaron’s Silence-Mira’s SpeechAaron was discharged from the hospital and taken back home. He hadn’t said a single word since waking up. His face was blank, his eyes distant, and no matter how many times people tried to get him to speak, he just sat there in silence.Clara was growing frustrated. At first, she had been understanding—after all, it wasn’t every day that a dead wife came back to life—but now, she was done being patient.“This is ridiculous!” she snapped, pacing back and forth. “I don’t understand. We got divorced! It’s over! So why is he acting like this? Why is he fainting and going mute because his ex-wife is back?”No one answered her. Olivia, Aaron’s grandmother, let out a tired sigh and shook her head.“Clara, calm down,” Olivia said. “Aaron is in shock. You need to understand that he thought Mira was dead. There was a funeral, a burial—”“I don’t care!” Clara interrupted. “That was months ago! Why is he acting so cowardly? He’s a grown man! He should deal with it in
Aaron’s SilenceAaron’s mother grabbed the remote and switched off the TV. The room fell silent, except for the faint ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner.Aaron sat stiffly on the couch, his eyes still fixed on the blank screen, as if he was still seeing Mira standing there, smiling, calling him a friend.His mother turned to him. “Did you see her face?” she asked, watching him closely.Aaron didn’t respond.“Aaron,” she called again, firmer this time. “Did she look at you?”Still nothing.She sighed, rubbing her temples. The doctor had said it was shock, but this was getting ridiculous. A man like Aaron, known for his temper and sharp tongue, had gone completely mute.“Maybe she didn’t see you pull the trigger “ she muttered to herself, though even she wasn’t sure if she believed it.Just then, the door swung open, and Clara walked in with her mother, their expressions tense.Clara’s mother didn’t even wait before launching into complaints. “I still can’t believe this!” sh
Breaking Aaron’s SilenceAlex walked into my suite with an amused look on his face.“You won’t believe this,” he said, shaking his head. “Aaron still hasn’t said a word since the wedding.”I burst into laughter. “You’re joking.”“I’m dead serious,” he said, leaning against the wall. “His mother is losing her mind. Clara’s furious. And Clara’s mother? She’s blaming everyone except herself.”I couldn’t stop laughing. “So, let me get this straight—Aaron, the same Aaron who never shut up when he was ruining my life, has gone completely mute?”Alex smirked. “Looks like it.”I tapped my chin, pretending to think. “Maybe I should pay him a visit.”Alex raised a brow. “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”“Of course,” I said, grabbing my coat. “I just need to see this for myself.”—When I arrived at Aaron’s house, I could feel the tension in the air. His mother looked exhausted, Clara was nowhere to be seen, and the staff tiptoed around like they were afraid to breathe too loudly.I wal
Taking Back What’s MineI had been waiting for this day.Josh was my everything. The only good thing that came from my time with Aaron. And there was no way I was going to let him be raised by a family that had tried to bury me six feet under.So today, as I dressed him up, buttoning his shirt carefully, I took a deep breath.“You look so handsome,” I said, smoothing down his collar.Josh grinned. “I always do.”I chuckled, brushing his hair back. “We have somewhere to go before school drop-off, alright?”Josh nodded. “Dad’s house?”“Yes.”He didn’t say anything after that, but I could tell he wasn’t excited. And I didn’t blame him. That house was toxic, and whether he fully understood it or not, I knew he could feel it.“Come on, baby,” I said, taking his hand. “Let’s go.”When I pulled up to Aaron’s family house, I wasn’t surprised to see that almost everyone was gathered.They had probably been waiting for this moment, expecting to see me hand over my son like a well-behaved ex-wif
Mira’s heart raced as she clutched Josh’s hand tightly, her fingers trembling from fear. The woods were silent except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. It was cold—too cold—and the night seemed to stretch on endlessly. She looked around, trying to find any sign of help, but the dense trees and thick fog obscured everything beyond a few feet.Josh was quiet beside her, his small frame shivering. He had been through so much already, and now Mira had to protect him, even if it meant risking her own life.She pulled him closer to her, trying to shield him from the chill, but her thoughts kept drifting back to what had happened before they ended up here.Two men had burst into their house, guns pointed at Josh, taking them both against their will. The flashbacks were vivid—Mira had screamed, had fought, but it was useless. They shot two of Alex’s security guards and dragged her and Josh out of the house. Her worst fears had come to life in that instant, and now they were h
Alex’s POVAlex paced around his office, his mind running wild with anxiety and frustration. Mira and Josh were gone, and the more he tried to track them down, the more the trail seemed to fade. His men were searching every inch of the city, every corner of their contacts, but there were no signs of them—no leads, no calls, just complete silence.His fingers tightened around the edge of his desk, the weight of the situation pressing on him harder than anything he had ever experienced.Who would do this? Who would dare take Mira and Josh?The questions rattled through his mind. He had powerful enemies, sure, but none of them would have the audacity to go after his family—his real family, the ones who mattered. And if it was someone who had been watching from the shadows, how did they even know how much Mira meant to him now?Just as his thoughts spiraled deeper into confusion, his phone buzzed sharply, interrupting his frustration. The unknown number that flashed on his screen gave him
Mira’s POVJosh’s cries were the only sound keeping me from losing my mind.He clung to me, his little fingers digging into my arm as he sobbed, his body trembling against mine.“M-mom, I’m scared,” he whimpered, his voice breaking.I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing myself to be strong. If I broke down now, it would only make things worse.“I know, baby. I know,” I whispered, tightening my grip on him. “But you have to stay calm, okay? No matter what happens, don’t say anything. Don’t cry too loud. Just… just listen to me.”He nodded against my shoulder, sniffling, trying his best to be brave.The men in the front of the car barely paid attention to us, speaking in hushed voices to each other as they drove. I couldn’t see their faces clearly, but their towering frames and rough voices were enough to terrify me.The car smelled like smoke and sweat, and the air was suffocating. My hands were tied behind my back with thick rope, making it impossible to hold Josh properly, but I
Mira’s POVA loud bang shattered the silence. My body froze. That sound—I knew it too well. It was the same sound I heard the night I was attacked years ago.Before I could react, the door burst open, and two hefty men stormed in. My heart slammed against my ribs.Josh.They had guns. And they were pointed straight at him.“Mommy?” Josh whimpered, his little hands gripping his toy car.“No!” I screamed, stepping in front of him. “Please, don’t—”One of the men grabbed me roughly, yanking me backward. Josh shrieked as the other man lifted him off the ground like a sack of rice.“Let go of my son!” I thrashed against my captor, kicking and clawing, but his grip was like iron.“Shut her up,” one of them growled.Something hard slammed against my temple. Pain exploded in my head, and my vision blurred.No. No. No.I felt myself being dragged outside. The cold air hit my skin, but it did nothing to clear the fog in my head.Then I saw them.Alex’s security guards. Two of them. Lying lifele
Mira’s POVThe second I answered the call, a voice on the other end spoke before I could say anything.“I’ve been expecting your call.”I exchanged a quick glance with Alex, who immediately leaned closer, listening intently. My grip tightened around the phone.“Who is this?” I asked cautiously.The man chuckled. “The guy you’ve been searching for.”Alex immediately caught on. He mouthed Aaron’s financial adviser?I kept my voice steady. “You worked for Aaron?”“Yes. And I know everything you want to know,” he said. “But there’s one condition.”I could already guess what was coming.“I need to remain anonymous,” he continued. “No names, no connections, nothing that ties back to me.”I hesitated. This was huge—someone on the inside willing to talk. But could I trust him? What if he was baiting me into a trap?Alex motioned for me to put the call on speaker, and I did.“You don’t want your name involved?” Alex asked. “Then why reach out?”The man sighed. “Because I know what Aaron is cap
Mira’s POVAs we stepped outside, the cold night air was a welcome relief from the suffocating tension inside. I had barely taken a few steps toward the car when I heard someone call my name.“Mira!”I turned just in time to see one of Aaron’s cousins rushing toward me. She was a little out of breath, her eyes darting around as if making sure no one was watching her.Before I could ask what was going on, she slipped a small piece of paper into my hand. “Call him,” she whispered urgently. “He has a lot you’d want to know.”I frowned and looked at the number scribbled on it. “Who is this?”She hesitated, glancing over her shoulder. “Someone who knows things about Aaron. Things you should know.”That caught my attention. “What kind of things?”She shook her head. “I don’t want to get involved. Just call him. And Mira…” She smiled slightly. “I’m happy you got out of that marriage. And that you’re with Alex. He suits you better.”I blinked in surprise. Of all the reactions I had gotten ton
Mira’s POVThe morning of the family event came faster than I wanted. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have attended at all, but Aaron had sent a reminder message, probably hoping to intimidate me into showing up. I wasn’t the same woman he used to control. If anything, this was the perfect opportunity to make a statement.I focused on getting Josh ready first, helping him with his little tuxedo. “You look so handsome,” I said, adjusting his bow tie.Josh grinned. “I know,” he said confidently. “But why do I have to wear this? It’s too tight.”“Because it’s a formal event,” I said. “Besides, you match with Alex.”At that moment, Alex walked in, dressed in a sleek black tuxedo. He took one look at Josh, then at me, and smirked. “Did we all just decide to ignore the dress code?”I turned back to the mirror and admired my red dress. It was bold, fiery, and a complete rebellion against the expected white. “I guess so,” I said, shrugging. “White isn’t really my color.”Josh laughed. “Dad’s
Mira’s POVThe house was quiet when I walked in, the kind of silence that made the weight of the day feel even heavier. The plans, the secrets, the moves I had just started to make—it was all swirling in my mind like a storm. But there was one thing I needed to do before I could let the chaos take over. I needed to talk to Alex.I found him in the living room, leaning back on the couch, his eyes glued to his phone. His usual calm was there, but I could tell something was bothering him. Maybe it was the pressure of everything happening with Aaron or the shadows from his past that still seemed to haunt him.“Hey,” I said softly, sitting next to him. “We need to talk.”He looked up at me, his gaze steady. “What’s going on?”I took a deep breath, my thoughts scattered. But I started from the beginning, telling him everything that had happened with the two investors—how they’d come to me, their plans for a hostile takeover, and how they’d been waiting for the right moment.“They said they’
Mira’s POVOlivia had left earlier with a promise to get back to me with some information. When she called me back, her voice was different, a little more unsure than usual.“Mira, I’m not sure about this. It feels like everything is moving so fast, and I can’t help but wonder if we can trust these men.” Olivia’s words lingered in the air as I leaned back in my chair. The weight of the situation had started to settle over me.I knew exactly what she meant. It felt too good to be true that these men—who had been a part of Aaron’s inner circle, who had supported him for so long—were suddenly on my side. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that if this was going to happen, I needed to take control and handle it the way I always did: strategically.“Olivia, show me the reports,” I said, my voice firm but calm.There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Olivia responded. “Okay, I’ll have someone bring them to you. Just… Mira, make sure you’re really ready