{Martha's POV}“You need to calm down, ma’am,” Carolina said as she sat beside me.I had my face buried in my palms, my entire body vibrating with rage. “This is ridiculous. First, they put out that stupid news about me being dead, and now they’re saying I have mental issues?” I groaned through gritted teeth. “These people don’t know when to stop, do they?”“They don’t,” Carolina replied firmly. “That’s why when you finally get your revenge on them, they’ll be shocked.”Her confidence made me lift my head, my furious gaze meeting hers. She was right. These people had played their games for long enough. I had suffered in silence, hidden in the shadows, and rebuilt myself piece by piece. But they weren’t ready for what was coming.Carolina gave me a knowing look and gently patted my knee. “But for now, you need to breathe. You have work, Martha. You can’t let them mess with your head like this.”I exhaled sharply, pressing my fingers against my temples. “You’re right,” I muttered. “I ha
{Martha's POV}I stomped out of the waiting room, my heels clicking sharply against the marble floors, my mind racing with a mix of fury and frustration. Rachel had pushed me to my limit. I had barely recovered from the last scandal, and now she was pulling out footage from five years ago, footage that could destroy everything I had rebuilt.The moment I reached my office, I stopped short, turning to Hendrix, who was already seated at his post beside Brea. His sharp blue eyes flickered with concern as he looked up from his tablet."I need you in my office, Hendrix," I said, my voice harsher than I intended.He stood immediately, his expression unreadable, and I wasted no time disappearing into my office, shutting the door behind me.I collapsed into my chair, leaning back against the cool leather as I exhaled slowly. My hands clenched into fists on the desk as I tried to steady my breathing. But no matter how much I tried to focus, my mind kept wandering back to Rachel’s smug face, he
Martha's POVI ran a hand through my hair as I descended the stairs, my throat suddenly dry. I needed a drink, something to steady my nerves. The thought of walking into the Henderson estate today, restraining order in hand, gnawed at my mind. I could already picture the look on Rachel’s face when she wpuld be served the legal papers, officially barring her from posting anything about me online. The satisfaction would have feel like a victory, but instead, a bitter anger curled inside me.The last thing I wanted was to start my morning with their faces haunting my day.As I reached the bottom of the stairs, the low hum of the television filled the space. A reality show played on the screen, voices chattering about their passions and ambitions, but my attention flicked toward the figure sitting on the couch.Mrs. Evans.She turned her head at the sound of my footsteps, her face lighting up with warmth. “Martha, how are you, sweetheart?” she asked, standing up.I forced a small smile. “
{Martha's POV}I inhaled deeply, steadying myself as I stepped further into the mansion. The air inside was thick with the scent of cinnamon and lavender, a stark contrast to the cold hostility I had always associated with this place. Michael walked beside me, the legal documents firmly grasped in his hands. His presence was reassuring, a silent reminder that I was no longer the weak woman the Hendersons had once controlled.The quiet atmosphere of the house was broken only by the faint hum of conversation echoing from deeper inside. My heels clicked against the polished marble floors, each step a deliberate reminder that I was no longer a guest here. I belonged here, and soon, I would make sure they were the ones standing on the outside looking in.I was lost in the thought of finally reclaiming what was rightfully mine when Rachel’s high-pitched laughter rang through the mansion, cutting through my musings like a blade.“You don’t seriously mean they wore that to the dinner party?”
{Martha’s POV}If I could describe the look on Mrs. Henderson’s face before I left, I would say she felt defeated. The carefully constructed game they had played had been shattered within seconds. I had won this round, and the knowledge settled in my chest like a warm glow.A cool breeze swept through the driveway as I brushed away a loose strand of hair, tucking it behind my ear. Hendrix stood by the car, his imposing figure a familiar source of security. As soon as I approached, he pulled the door open, his sharp eyes scanning the area before giving me a short nod. I slid into the back seat, sinking into the plush leather interior.Michael followed, settling beside me, the weight of the legal documents still in his grasp. I turned to him, my voice softer now that the battle was over.“Thank you for helping me out, Michael.”He smiled slightly, adjusting his tie. “No problem, Miss Evans. If they give you any more trouble, just let me know. I’ll drag them straight to court.”A chuckle
{Martha's POV}"Nathan's birthday is this weekend?" I muttered as I followed Mrs. Evans to the car, my voice laced with disbelief. How could I forget something so important? I scolded myself internally, giving my arm a small pinch to snap myself out of my thoughts."Yes, dear," Mrs. Evans chuckled, her warm eyes crinkling at the corners. She didn’t seem to catch the surprise in my tone, or perhaps she didn’t expect me to forget something as crucial as her son’s birthday.As I slid into the car beside her, a little excitement bubbled within me. Ever since I had known Nathan, I had never visited his workplace. His previous birthday had been a quiet celebration at his mother’s diner, just the three of us. It was simple, intimate, and filled with laughter. But this time, I had been so consumed by my battle against the Hendersons that his birthday had slipped from my mind entirely.Mrs. Evans sighed contentedly, her gaze soft as she looked out the window. “Nathan has always been a wonderfu
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
{Martha's POV}"Nathan's birthday is this weekend?" I muttered as I followed Mrs. Evans to the car, my voice laced with disbelief. How could I forget something so important? I scolded myself internally, giving my arm a small pinch to snap myself out of my thoughts."Yes, dear," Mrs. Evans chuckled, her warm eyes crinkling at the corners. She didn’t seem to catch the surprise in my tone, or perhaps she didn’t expect me to forget something as crucial as her son’s birthday.As I slid into the car beside her, a little excitement bubbled within me. Ever since I had known Nathan, I had never visited his workplace. His previous birthday had been a quiet celebration at his mother’s diner, just the three of us. It was simple, intimate, and filled with laughter. But this time, I had been so consumed by my battle against the Hendersons that his birthday had slipped from my mind entirely.Mrs. Evans sighed contentedly, her gaze soft as she looked out the window. “Nathan has always been a wonderfu
{Martha’s POV}If I could describe the look on Mrs. Henderson’s face before I left, I would say she felt defeated. The carefully constructed game they had played had been shattered within seconds. I had won this round, and the knowledge settled in my chest like a warm glow.A cool breeze swept through the driveway as I brushed away a loose strand of hair, tucking it behind my ear. Hendrix stood by the car, his imposing figure a familiar source of security. As soon as I approached, he pulled the door open, his sharp eyes scanning the area before giving me a short nod. I slid into the back seat, sinking into the plush leather interior.Michael followed, settling beside me, the weight of the legal documents still in his grasp. I turned to him, my voice softer now that the battle was over.“Thank you for helping me out, Michael.”He smiled slightly, adjusting his tie. “No problem, Miss Evans. If they give you any more trouble, just let me know. I’ll drag them straight to court.”A chuckle
{Martha's POV}I inhaled deeply, steadying myself as I stepped further into the mansion. The air inside was thick with the scent of cinnamon and lavender, a stark contrast to the cold hostility I had always associated with this place. Michael walked beside me, the legal documents firmly grasped in his hands. His presence was reassuring, a silent reminder that I was no longer the weak woman the Hendersons had once controlled.The quiet atmosphere of the house was broken only by the faint hum of conversation echoing from deeper inside. My heels clicked against the polished marble floors, each step a deliberate reminder that I was no longer a guest here. I belonged here, and soon, I would make sure they were the ones standing on the outside looking in.I was lost in the thought of finally reclaiming what was rightfully mine when Rachel’s high-pitched laughter rang through the mansion, cutting through my musings like a blade.“You don’t seriously mean they wore that to the dinner party?”
Martha's POVI ran a hand through my hair as I descended the stairs, my throat suddenly dry. I needed a drink, something to steady my nerves. The thought of walking into the Henderson estate today, restraining order in hand, gnawed at my mind. I could already picture the look on Rachel’s face when she wpuld be served the legal papers, officially barring her from posting anything about me online. The satisfaction would have feel like a victory, but instead, a bitter anger curled inside me.The last thing I wanted was to start my morning with their faces haunting my day.As I reached the bottom of the stairs, the low hum of the television filled the space. A reality show played on the screen, voices chattering about their passions and ambitions, but my attention flicked toward the figure sitting on the couch.Mrs. Evans.She turned her head at the sound of my footsteps, her face lighting up with warmth. “Martha, how are you, sweetheart?” she asked, standing up.I forced a small smile. “
{Martha's POV}I stomped out of the waiting room, my heels clicking sharply against the marble floors, my mind racing with a mix of fury and frustration. Rachel had pushed me to my limit. I had barely recovered from the last scandal, and now she was pulling out footage from five years ago, footage that could destroy everything I had rebuilt.The moment I reached my office, I stopped short, turning to Hendrix, who was already seated at his post beside Brea. His sharp blue eyes flickered with concern as he looked up from his tablet."I need you in my office, Hendrix," I said, my voice harsher than I intended.He stood immediately, his expression unreadable, and I wasted no time disappearing into my office, shutting the door behind me.I collapsed into my chair, leaning back against the cool leather as I exhaled slowly. My hands clenched into fists on the desk as I tried to steady my breathing. But no matter how much I tried to focus, my mind kept wandering back to Rachel’s smug face, he
{Martha's POV}“You need to calm down, ma’am,” Carolina said as she sat beside me.I had my face buried in my palms, my entire body vibrating with rage. “This is ridiculous. First, they put out that stupid news about me being dead, and now they’re saying I have mental issues?” I groaned through gritted teeth. “These people don’t know when to stop, do they?”“They don’t,” Carolina replied firmly. “That’s why when you finally get your revenge on them, they’ll be shocked.”Her confidence made me lift my head, my furious gaze meeting hers. She was right. These people had played their games for long enough. I had suffered in silence, hidden in the shadows, and rebuilt myself piece by piece. But they weren’t ready for what was coming.Carolina gave me a knowing look and gently patted my knee. “But for now, you need to breathe. You have work, Martha. You can’t let them mess with your head like this.”I exhaled sharply, pressing my fingers against my temples. “You’re right,” I muttered. “I ha
{Peter's POV}“It was really good of you to do this for the Stewart family,” a man in his late sixties complimented me as I stepped down from the podium. He stretched out his hand for a handshake, which I took solemnly."Thank you for coming, Mr. Parker,” I said with a smile before walking past him. My gaze drifted toward the crowd as I searched for Martha. I thought that after our conversation the previous day, she would change her mind and come, but I hadn’t seen anyone remotely similar to her."That was wonderful, honey,” my mother’s voice trailed from behind me. I turned to see her walking toward me with a satisfied smile. Well, I couldn’t blame her for being excited, this whole thing was her idea."I'm so proud of you.""This was mainly your idea," I said simply, clearly not in the mood for all the fuss."I know, but you gave the speech, and it was superb," she said, stepping beside me.I ran a hand through my hair, my mind solely on Martha as I scanned the crowd again. “Did the
{Martha's POV}If anyone had told me that I would be sitting on the couch, staring at the TV instead of doing something else with my time, I would’ve laughed at them and called them insane.I pulled my hair into a ponytail, holding onto the remote as I switched the channel to the one broadcasting the Stewart Memorial Celebration. The headline scrolled across the screen in bold letters, confirming that the event was being hosted by none other than the Hendersons.They were expecting me to be there, but I knew better, I wasn’t about to walk into whatever trap they had laid for me.As the screen flickered to life, displaying the crowd gathering at the event, I crossed my arms and sank deeper into the couch. A bitter taste settled at the back of my throat as I watched the Hendersons put on their performance, their fake grief draped around them like designer coats.The sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, and within seconds, Nathan appeared in the doorway, dressed in his usual crisp
{Martha's POV}His touch was like a million tiny shocks, not just any kind of touch, but the kind that sent fire quenching my coldness, making me feel warmth in a way I hadn’t in so long.Nathan slowly spread my thighs, positioning himself between them as he tugged my trousers down along with him. I was left in only my panties as he adjusted me, placing a pillow beneath my head. His fingers traced along the waistband of my underwear, sending shivers across my skin as he slowly trailed his fingers up my torso.He pressed soft kisses against my skin, lingering for a moment, but then, almost as if he was resisting himself, he stopped. Without a word, he climbed off the bed, leaving me with the aftermath of being abandoned in the heat of the moment. My eyes fluttered open, watching as he disappeared into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.That was strange, I couldn't hold myself back. Something wasn’t right.I pried myself from the bed, hesitating as I stood in front of the bathr