{Martha's POV} As Nathan pulled out of the parking lot, he glanced in my direction with a comforting smile before turning his focus back to the road. He didn’t say a word, and neither did I. The silence in the car stretched on, heavy and unyielding, as he navigated down the highway. It was obvious he didn’t believe my excuse. The furrow of his brows and the way his fingers tightened around the steering wheel told me his mind was elsewhere, likely trying to piece things together on his own. When we reached the house, Nathan parked the car and turned toward me, his eyes fixed on mine, filled with uncertainty. “My love, promise me you’ll be honest with me,” he said, his voice soft but firm. I swallowed hard, my gaze fluttering as I struggled to find the words. Why now? Why was he asking this? And how was I supposed to give him what he was asking for? “I promise, I’ll be honest with you,” I finally managed, my voice barely audible. He paused, his gaze searching my face as though
{Martha's Pov}The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of activity. I met with the staff, reviewed the investor list, and worked through a mountain of documents. As the day wound down, I leaned back in my chair, exhaustion tugging at my limbs. All I wanted now was to go home and rest.A knock on the door broke my thoughts. My gaze shifted towards it as Cherie stepped inside. “Miss Evans, someone is here to see you. He’s our major investor and insists on speaking with you about an urgent matter.”I frowned, rubbing my temples. “I can’t meet anyone today. The meeting has already been scheduled for tomorrow. Please let him know.”Cherie hesitated, her brows knitting together. “I’ve told him, ma’am, but he refuses to leave. He says it’s too important to wait.”A sigh escaped me, resignation settling into my voice. “Fine. Send him in.”Cherie nodded and left, the door clicking softly behind her. I shuffled the documents on my desk, skimming them one last time to prepare for tomorrow’s m
{Martha's Pov}"You've got to be kidding me!" Carolina almost screamed when I told her about Peter asking me out on a date. "Wait, you're serious?"I nodded, letting out a sharp sigh. "I know Peter Henderson has been flirting with me lately, but I didn’t think he’d go as far as asking me out.""And what did you say?" Carolina asked, her piercing gaze locked on me as she walked to the other side of the kitchen. She picked up two plates and placed them side by side on the table."I told him I can’t, and that he should stay within his limits." I stood and walked to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water. Scraping off the lid, I poured myself a glass."That’s not bad, but I think you should," Carolina said. I nearly choked on the water but managed to swallow it down forcefully. “Peter actually thinks he is smart but you can prove to him that you're smarter.“She moved to the other side of the kitchen and returned with a glass jar of orange juice, carefully placing it on the table."Wha
{Martha's Pov}“Thank you for choosing to invest in Evans Company. I truly appreciate your interest,” I said, standing near the whiteboard at the front of the long table. The investors sat on either side, their eyes fixed on me.At the front row sat Peter, his gaze lingering far too long. I ignored him, focusing on the others.“I’ve reviewed the product and analyzed the potential impact of your investment once again. I can confidently guarantee double your return if everything goes as planned,” I continued, gesturing toward the board displaying the chart of projected profits.“How can we be sure it will yield the profit you’ve mentioned?” one of the men to my right asked.“It will definitely be profitable,” I replied with confidence. “I’ve analyzed the sales data and profit margins extensively, and the results show a strong guarantee of success.”The meeting lasted longer than expected. By the end, Peter surprised everyone by offering to pay more than anticipated. He was even willing
{Martha's POV} “Taffy Diner,” I told Cherie as she maneuvered the car out of the parking lot and onto the driveway. “Okay, ma’am,” Cherie replied with a brief smile, her eyes focused on the road ahead. I clasped my hands tightly, then released them, placing one gently over my chest. My heart was thumping erratically, and I couldn’t shake the nervous tension creeping through me. Why was I feeling this way? Why was I nervous about dining with Peter? I shouldn’t be doing this—not after everything he did to me three years ago. Why am I doing this again? The question churned in my mind as the car slowed to a stop. Cherie glanced at me through the rearview mirror, concern flickering in her gaze. “Ma’am, we’re at the diner,” she said gently. “Do you want me to go inside with you?” I shook my head, plastering on a small, reassuring smile. “No, stay in the car. I’ll be back in a bit. It shouldn’t take too long.” Grabbing my purse, I stepped out of the car, taking a steady bre
{Martha’s POV}“How are you feeling this morning, my love?” Nathan whispered softly in my ear, his voice warm and comforting. I turned toward him on the bed, his arms pulling me into a soothing embrace.I rested my head against his chest, inhaling the scent of his cologne, a rich blend of olive and winter. I loved that scent, it always made me feel safe and I've gotten accustomed to it over the years. For a while, we stayed like that, enveloped in the quiet moment until my phone began blaring on the nightstand.Reluctantly, I pulled away from Nathan’s arms, his body shifting as he propped himself up on the bed. Stretching, I reached for my phone, fumbling slightly before finally grabbing it. Without checking the caller ID, I pressed it to my ear.“Hello? Martha speaking,” I said groggily.A familiar, smooth voice responded. “How are you, Martha?”I frowned, struggling to place the voice. “Who’s this?” I asked, turning to glance at Nathan, who mirrored my confusion.“You still can’t re
{Martha's POV}“How lovely to see you too. What brings you here so early?” I asked, padding into the living room. My steps were soft against the marble-tiled floor, the faint chill waking me up further. I crossed my arms loosely over my chest as I moved toward the couch opposite hers and sank into it, brushing a hand through my unkempt hair. My gaze locked on Rachel, curiosity bubbling beneath my calm exterior.Rachel leaned back against the couch, crossing one leg over the other as if she owned the room. A small, amused smile played on her lips. “Oh, come on. You act like it’s so strange for me to show up.”I arched an eyebrow. “It kind of is, considering you didn’t mention you were coming.” My tone was sharper than intended, and I instantly regretted it. Clearing my throat, I added more gently, “I mean... I wasn’t expecting you.”Rachel’s eyes flicked toward Carolina, who was standing nearby with the remote still in her hand. Rachel’s smirk deepened as she turned back to me. “Ah, so
{Martha's POV}“Are you Martha Stewart?”I blinked, staring at Rachel as though she had lost her mind. Her question was strange, and though it was supposed to make me feel uneasy, I found it more ridiculous than alarming.“What?” I asked with a scoff, stepping closer to her. “Are you confusing me with someone else? First, you came here accusing me, and now you’re trying to connect me to the Stewart family?”She looked at me, confusion flickering in her eyes. Slowly, she took a step back, her expression softening for a moment before it turned firm again. “Quit the act, Martha. You know exactly what I’m talking about—” she said with an eyes roll. “I know you're her and you're just pretending.”I nearly laughed, but the familiar sting of old wounds kept my amusement in check. Pain from years ago resurfaced, the memory of Rachel mocking me, telling me I’d never be good enough to be part of the Hendersons because I was overweight.“I won’t tolerate another insult from you, Rachel,” I warne
{Martha’s POV}Mrs. Henderson gave me a sweet smile, the kind that hinted she knew something I didn’t. She removed her summer hat and placed it beside her, then leaned back in her seat.“You know, Martha, after all these years, I thought you’d be smart enough to come out of your shell.”I blinked, trying to decipher her words. It was clear she was playing the same game Rachel had attempted earlier, using carefully chosen words to push me to the edge, to make me lose control of my anger and spill the truth. But I refused to give her the satisfaction. Instead, I remained composed, pretending not to understand where she was heading.“What are you talking about, Mrs. Henderson?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.She paused for a moment, adjusting her posture on the lounge chair before speaking again. “I had a little conversation with Nathan yesterday. About you.” She tilted her head slightly, gauging my reaction. “I was very concerned, you see. I wanted to know more about you.”A chill crept u
{Martha's POV}I stood up from the bed, raising a hand to block the sunlight peeking through the slightly open curtains. As usual, Nathan wasn’t in the room, I assumed he was already up and getting ready for work.Walking over to the bathroom, I freshened up, changed into a fresh pair of light brown overalls, and headed downstairs.By the time I reached the kitchen, I found Carolina sitting on the counter, her eyes glued to her phone while she absentmindedly nibbled on a carrot.“Good morning, ma’am,” she greeted as I walked past her toward the refrigerator to grab a bottle of chilled water.“Morning, Carolina,” I replied, taking a seat across from her at the counter. Twisting open the bottle, I took a sip, then rested my hand on the counter, watching as she typed furiously on her phone before suddenly looking up at me.“You won’t believe this,” she blurted, her eyes widening to the size of baseballs. “The Hendersons are hosting an event to honor the death of the Stewart family. And g
{Peter’s POV}“Something tells me that she is Martha,” Rachel’s voice rang out from the living room just as I stepped inside.She immediately sprang up from her seat, rushing toward me, her excitement barely contained. The way she had said Martha’s name made my chest tighten with unease.My mother sat on the three-seater couch, scrolling through her phone with a level of seriousness that only fueled my suspicion.“Honey, you won’t believe this if I tell you,” Rachel exclaimed, her face lighting up as she met me halfway across the room.I sighed, already exhausted from the day, and rubbed a hand over my jaw. “What is it?” My tone was flat, but I couldn’t help the flicker of curiosity in my voice.For days, Rachel had been relentless about Martha, accusing her of being behind the termination of our contract with the Evans. She was convinced it was some elaborate revenge plot. I had laughed it off every time, finding the whole idea ridiculous.Martha Stewart, the fat, timid woman I once
{Martha's Pov}Peter adjusted his grip on my hand and stepped in front of me, his blue eyes piercing into mine. "I don't know why I feel so..." He paused, as if searching for the right words. "Happy whenever I'm with you. I feel safe, and maybe that's why I tell you things."I pushed aside the unsettling feelings prickling my pulse as I slipped my hand free from his grasp. "I know how this might seem to you, Mr. Henderson," I murmured, stepping back. I knew this was my moment to convince him, but I couldn't stop myself from speaking the truth. "But you're married, and I'm sure your wife is at home right now, wondering why you haven't come back. And you know that I'm with Nathan. I don’t want things to get messy because of this."Peter took a step closer, reaching for my hand again. And to my own frustration, I let him. I seemed to be allowing a lot of things lately, and the urge to slap myself back to my senses was stronger than the urge to slap him."We shouldn’t let that bother us,
{Martha's POV}I grabbed a file from the stack Hendrix had placed on my desk and scribbled my signature on the first page before setting it aside with the rest of the completed documents.Flipping open another file, I signed it quickly, only to pause and glance at the remaining stack waiting for my approval. With a sigh, I realized I'd been doing this for hours now, reviewing purchase confirmations and sales reports. I couldn't help but wonder just how many products had been sold so far and how many more orders needed verification.The sudden ringing of my phone pulled me out of my thoughts. Without checking the caller ID, I picked it up and brought it to my ear.“Hello?”“How are you doing, Martha?” Peter’s voice came through the speaker, instantly making my stomach twist. Instinctively, I felt the urge to hang up, but I quickly reminded myself to stay composed. I had a plan, and I needed to stick to it. If I wanted to get my hands on those documents, I had to keep up the act.“I’m f
{Nathan’s POV}The day had been far more stressful than usual, especially compared to my regular routine of scheduled surgeries and checking in on patients a few days after they've been discharged.I dropped the tab onto my desk and sank into the brown leather chair opposite it. I reached up to massage my temples, the tension in my head throbbing, before letting my head rest on the armrest. I closed my eyes, trying to clear my mind and release the weight of the day before I gathered the energy to finish my remaining tasks.The creak of the door pulled me out of my momentary respite. I lifted my head to see who was at the door.“Dr. Nathan, one of your patients is here to see you,” Nurse Hannah said, her hand still on the doorknob.I glanced at her through tired eyelids. “Who is it, precisely?" The question slipped from my lips slower than intended.“Mrs. Henderson,” she replied, shutting the door. Almost immediately, it opened again, and Mrs. Henderson walked in, looking more excited
{Martha's POV}I took a deep breath and exhaled sharply as I sat in the passenger seat of the car. The city lights flickered through the tinted windows, casting shadows that danced across my face.Through the rearview mirror, I caught Hendrix stealing a glance at me before quickly looking away. He was always unreadable, but tonight, I sensed something behind his gaze, curiosity, perhaps, or maybe concern.The dinner had gone well. Peter had been thoroughly engaged, hanging onto every word, savoring every moment. And yet, all I could think about was the feel of his hand in mine, It wasn’t supposed to happen.I hadn’t planned for physical contact, hadn’t accounted for how much it would unsettle me. And the fact that it was just the beginning, that there might be more, made my stomach churn with unease, there had to be another way.I shook my head, my mind racing for an alternative. Some way to get those documents from Peter without spending more time with him, without letting him touch
{Martha's POV}My heart ached with every passing minute as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. For the fifth time, I reminded myself why I was doing this. Why I had to.Carolina straightened the last section of my hair, running her fingers through the strands with admiration. I couldn’t deny it, the smooth, silky look suited me. My brown waves shimmered under the vanity light, framing my face just right.I reached for a lip gloss and coated my nude lips with a subtle sheen. Turning toward Carolina, I placed my hands on my waist. “How do I look?”Her smile was bright, teasing. “Beautiful. I’m sure Peter won’t be able to resist staring at you.”I rolled my eyes but smiled. “Thanks.” I grabbed my silver purse from the vanity and tugged down the hem of my plush dinner dress. “If Nathan comes before I return, tell him I went out for an important meeting.”Carolina chuckled. “Got it. Just make sure to break a heart today.”I smirked, shaking my head as I stepped out of the room.—The
{Peter's POV}I ended the call and dropped my phone onto the desk, rubbing my sweaty palms together. I hadn't realized just how nervous I was until I received confirmation that the video of Rachel had been removed from the internet. Thank goodness for the influence I had.Letting out a deep sigh, I ran a hand through my hair before rising from my chair. I walked over to the glass wall, gazing out at the city. This had always been my favorite thing to do, watching the endless movement of people below, the vibrant city lights blending into a symphony of colors, and the chaos that somehow always seemed perfectly organized.The soft creak of the door opening behind me pulled me from my thoughts. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.Mabel was the only person in the entire Stewart Company who had unrestricted access to my office. Not because I fully trusted her, but because she was my personal assistant."Mr. Henderson, there’s a lady here to see you," Mabel’s small voice chimed