I knelt on the cold, marble-tiled floor, my knees screaming in protest as I scrubbed with what little strength I had left. Sharp, searing pain shot through my arms and legs, a cruel reminder of how long I had been at this, not just today, but every single day since I married Peter Henderson.This was my life now. Cleaning, scrubbing, cooking, endless chores that Peter insisted were for my own good.“You need this,” he’d said with that charming smile of his, shortly after firing all the maids. “It’ll help you lose weight and stay active.”I had believed him. What choice did I have?I paused, panting like I’d just run a marathon. My chest heaved, my body trembling, begging me to stop, to rest. But I didn’t. I couldn’t.How long can I keep doing this? The thought gnawed at me as I wiped sweat from my forehead. Slowly, I stood, wincing as pain lanced through my knees like needles piercing bone. Swallowing the groan rising in my throat, I forced myself upright and surveyed the space I had
“Peter… please,” I begged, my voice cracking, raw with desperation. “After everything I've done, how can you say this? I gave up so much for you.”Peter smirked, leaning lazily against the dining table, his casual behavior cutting deeper than any harsh word could. His indifference mocked me, taunted me, and yet I couldn’t look away. “Gave up what, Martha?” he sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. “You think I cared about any of that? I’ve got what I wanted, and now I’m moving on. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”My sobs faltered, replaced by a suffocating numbness that spread through my chest, making it hard to breathe. I stared at him, my mind looping over the cold cruelty of his words. I’ve got what I wanted.And then, like a cruel twist of fate, realization dawned on me.The inheritance.I remembered the moment clearly, just days ago, when Peter came to me with soft words and gentle promises. I had signed every document he placed before me, relinquishing control of
My heart shattered, the weight of betrayal pressing down on me, leaving me hollow and suffocated. My legs trembled as I struggled to stand, my body aching just as much as my soul. The room seemed to spin, the air thick with humiliation and grief. I could barely look at Peter, let alone form the words that clawed at my throat.“You’ve already replaced me?” I whispered, my voice cracking under the weight of disbelief. The words felt fragile, as if they would break apart just like I had. “You’re parading her in my house while demanding I sign these papers?”Peter scoffed, his lips curling into a disdainful sneer. His cold gaze pierced through me, void of any trace of the man I once loved. “This was never your house, Martha,” he said, each word a dagger to my chest. “You were just keeping it warm for someone better.”The woman, Rachel, as I now knew, chuckled softly, her laugh dripping with malice. Her smirk deepened, her eyes raking over me with contempt. “Don’t take it personal,” she sa
Mrs. Henderson sneered, her lips curling as she thrust the papers toward me. “Save your pathetic tears,” she hissed. “Sign the papers and disappear. You don’t belong here. You never did.”Her words were cold and unrelenting, each syllable carving into me like a blade. My hands trembled as I stared down at the divorce papers, my tears falling in hot, silent streams. My vision blurred, the ink smudging beneath the weight of my despair.I wanted to fight back. I wanted to scream, to tear the papers apart, to stand up to them both. But my strength had abandoned me, crushed beneath their cruel behavior towards me. My heart screamed for me to hold on, to not give in, but my body refused to move.“Sign it!” Mrs. Henderson snapped, her voice sharp and commanding, cutting through the haze of my pain.My trembling fingers hovered over the pen, torn between giving in and holding onto the last shred of strength I had left. Tears dripped onto the paper as I hesitated, my soul warring with itself.
“Please, Peter,” I cried as I scrambled on the floor, my knees stinging from the pain of my body colliding with the ground as I stared at the door. Confused and scared, the pain in my heart was much worse than when my parents had died. A feeling that was so hard to believe. Why didn't I see this coming? Why didn't I see through all those times when he showed love to me that they were all fake? The question hung in my mind, a painful reminder of how blinded I’d been. My knees ached badly as they pressed against the floor. The chill of the night bit into my skin, the icy wind stinging my cheeks and seeping into my bones. But it couldn’t compare to the cold emptiness within me, a void left by betrayal so complete it left me hollow. This mansion had been the only thing that kept the memory of my parents alive in my mind, and now it was gone, stolen by the man I had trusted above all else. I tried to pry myself up from the floor, my body aching from so much pain, as I stood there
{Nathan's Pov} I hit the cold water with force as I dove in, swimming fast toward the woman crying out for help. Her voice was faint and broken by the sound of the storm as she disappeared beneath the surface again. “Help me, please,” she gasped weakly, her voice barely audible before the river pulled her under once more. I pushed forward, ignoring the cold that bit into my skin. The river raged against me, shoving me back, but I wouldn’t stop. Stretching out my hand, I reached for her. The current surged, nearly tearing her away, but I kicked harder, slicing through the water until my fingers finally closed around her arm. “I’ve got you,” I murmured, though I wasn’t sure she could hear me over the roaring water. With every muscle in my body screaming, I dragged her toward the shore. The river resisted, but I held on tight, refusing to let go until we reached the muddy bank. Her body collapsed onto the wet ground, trembling violently. She dragged herself away from the water
{Martha's Pov} My heart ached, each passing second making the pain sharper, heavier. I looked up at the man sitting across from me, his calm presence grounding me in a way I couldn’t explain. I opened my mouth to speak, to thank him for saving my life, for bringing me into his home and offering me comfort. But the words wouldn’t come. They were trapped, stuck beneath the weight of everything I was feeling. I was shattered, so broken that I couldn’t imagine putting myself back together. No matter how hard I tried to push away thoughts of Peter, they came rushing back, each memory cutting into me like glass. Every laugh we’d shared, every touch, every whispered promise, they all haunted me now. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine,” Nathan’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts, steady and calm. I looked up at him, meeting his piercing blue eyes. They held no judgment, only kindness. Somehow, in that moment, they eased a fraction of the pain in my chest, enough to let me breathe.
{Martha's POV}Her lashes fluttered as she waited for my response, her sharp gaze fixed on me. I froze; my tongue felt heavy, and I struggled to find the right words. As a stranger in the house, I didn’t know how to explain myself. My throat was dry, and I swallowed hard, avoiding her expectant stare.“I’m a friend of Nathan,” I finally mumbled, the words tumbling out awkwardly. My voice sounded strange even to my own ears, and beads of sweat gathered on my forehead, threatening to roll down.Her expression hardened instantly, her eyes narrowing with a judgmental glare. It was the kind of look I’d seen so many times before, a look that said I didn’t belong, that I wasn’t good enough to be here.But she didn’t press further. Instead, she placed her small handbag on the couch and began tying her dark hair into a neat bun.“I’m Carolina,” she said briskly, her voice calm but distant. “I handle the housekeeping when Mr. Evans isn’t around.” She paused, her sharp eyes continuing to scan me
{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
{Martha's POV}The next day I stepped into the office feeling both relieved and curious. I needed to know who had taken the video of Rachel’s outburst. While I wasn’t angry, far from it, actually, I was grateful. Still, my curiosity was gnawing at me.Hendrix walked beside me, matching my pace as we entered the elevator and rode up to the first floor. Once we reached my office, I moved straight to my chair, crossing my arms against the desk. Hendrix, always efficient, placed a stack of files neatly in front of me, then stood by, waiting for instructions.I bit my lower lip, debating whether calling for a meeting would help me identify the person or if I should just let the matter slide."Is there anything you’d like me to do, ma’am?" Hendrix asked, his deep voice calm."Yes, Hendrix," I said, my tone firm. "A video of Rachel’s outburst was posted online yesterday. I want to know who recorded it. Call all the staff to my office, now."For a split second, Hendrix lowered his gaze to the
{Martha’s POV}I walked further into the room, stopping where Rachel sat next to Mrs. Evans, her face buried in her hands. Nathan knelt beside her, rubbing her back in an attempt to console her as she continued sobbing.“She hates me, Brother!" Rachel wailed, lifting her tear-streaked face. "She’s been trying to steal my husband, she terminated my contract with your company, and now she wants to make me a laughingstock!""I’m sorry this is happening, Rachel," Nathan soothed. "I promise I’ll do everything I can to have the video taken down."I bit my lip, fighting back my irritation as I stepped closer."Rachel, I’m sorry this happened," I murmured, keeping my voice low. Nathan glanced up at me with sympathy in his eyes, but Mrs. Evans didn’t even spare me a glance.Rachel lifted her head, her expression twisting in disgust. I let a small, smug smile slip before masking it with feigned concern."I’m sorry if you think I’m against you because of everything that’s happened lately," I con
{Martha's POV}The next morning, I woke up before the sun had fully risen, its golden light barely peeking over the horizon. I slipped out of bed and made my way to Nathan’s door, standing hesitantly in front of the oak panels.After everything that had happened yesterday, Nathan’s anger, my guilt, there wasn’t much I could do now except apologize.I took a steady breath and knocked softly. No response. I knocked again, waiting a little longer, but still, nothing.Just as I reached for the handle, the door creaked open, revealing Nathan standing before me.His eyes met mine, softer than I had imagined all night. I thought he would avoid me or greet me with a frown, but instead, his expression was warm, almost comforting."I… I…" I stammered, lowering my gaze to the floor. My nails dug into my palms as I struggled to find my voice."You don’t have to apologize again, my love," Nathan’s calm voice pulled my gaze back to his. "You’re the CEO anyway, but…""Whatever I do from now on, I’ll
{Martha's POV}After a long bath, I walked down the stairs in a blue sweatshirt and leather pants, my hair pulled up into a ponytail with soft curls cascading over my shoulder. The living room was quiet, though I could hear Mrs. Evans and Carolina chatting in the kitchen, their conversation punctuated by the soft clinking of ceramic plates.I settled onto the couch, tucking my legs beneath me as I reached for the remote. I wanted to watch a rom-com, any kind I could find. It had been so long since I’d let myself unwind like that.But just as I switched on the TV, the living room door slid open. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Nathan walk in, carrying a small dark blue bag.I stood up immediately, rushing toward him, and we wrapped each other in a comforting embrace.Resting my head against his broad shoulder, I inhaled his familiar scent, a mix of warm musk and summer air. I had missed him so much. The last three days we’d spent together had mostly been him insisting that I rest an
{Martha's POV}I handed my bag and jacket to Carolina before walking toward Mrs. Evans and Peter. The atmosphere in the room was heavy, as if the air had suddenly thinned, or maybe that was just how I perceived it.Peter sat calmly, a worried expression plastered on his face, while Mrs. Evans had a slight arch in her brow. I spared Peter a brief glance before making my way to Mrs. Evans, taking a seat beside her."Martha, how was work today?" Mrs. Evans asked with a warm smile, though her gaze flickered toward Peter."All good," I replied, making an effort not to look in his direction. Mrs. Evans gave me a subtle knowing look before turning back to Peter."Mr. Henderson, I apologize for any inconvenience the cancellation of the investment contract may have caused," she said, and Peter’s gaze snapped to her. "We've been waiting for Martha to arrive so we could see if there's anything she can do."I swallowed hard, heat rising in my chest as I waited to see where this conversation was h
{Martha's POV}I had just finished wrapping things up in the office and was about to leave when Hendrix opened the car door for me. Just as I was about to step inside, the sharp clicking of heels on the pavement made me pause."Martha, how dare you?!"Rachel’s voice cut through the air like a blade. Before I could react, she lunged toward me, almost jabbing me in the ribs, but Hendrix was quick, he grabbed her arm, pulling her away before she could make contact.I turned in shock, my eyes widening at the sheer rage radiating from her. I hadn't expected her to react like this. Her face was flushed red, her breaths short and ragged. If I said I saw smoke coming out of her ears and nostrils, I wouldn’t be lying."Is this your way of getting back at us?" she cried, her voice trembling with fury. Her eyes glistened, on the verge of spilling tears. Her outburst had drawn attention, and soon enough, several employees rushed outside to witness the commotion.I blinked, feigning confusion. "Ra
{Martha's POV}I settled into my chair the moment I stepped into my office, my fingers drumming against the desk as I picked up a blue file and skimmed through it."This is going to be my comeback, Henderson," I murmured with a smirk before dropping the file back onto the table.The sound of the door opening made me look up expectantly, almost hoping Peter Henderson had walked in already, but it was too soon. Instead, Hendrix entered, holding the file Brea had just been carrying not long ago."Miss Evans, here are the termination documents for the Henderson," he said, extending the file to me.I took it from him, flipping through the pages briefly before setting it down."Alright, I'll call you if I need anything else," I told him. He nodded softly before turning and walking toward the door.My gaze lingered on the file, the smile on my lips unwavering, until a deep voice snapped me out of my thoughts.I looked up to see Peter Henderson striding into my office, dressed in a brown shir
{Martha's POV}"My love, I'm off to work," Nathan said as he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss on my neck before capturing my lips. "Please be okay and take care of yourself for me.""Alright, my love," I mumbled, watching him pick up his stethoscope from the bed and drape it around his neck before walking out of the room.I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I couldn’t deny that I was pretty, and it had been a while since I had taken the time to really look at myself.Walking over to the closet, I ran my fingers over the collection of corporate wear until they landed on a white formal blouse, a black jacket, and a fitted black skirt.I grabbed a pair of black court shoes before closing the closet. By the time I was dressed, Carolina walked into the room with a cup of coffee and a tray of cookies."Good morning, ma'am," she greeted, placing them on the table. "Sorry, I would’ve brought this earlier, but I got stuck in