**Third person**Layla's fingers danced across her phone's screen, typing out a message to her private lab contact. She attached a photo of the package containing Valerie's saliva and Karen's hair."Rush order. Compare these DNA samples and confirm match." She hesitated, then added, "Discreetly."The response came swiftly: "Understood. You'll get the results within 24 hours.""Great! I'll swing by in an hour and drop them off.”At Harrisons Enterprises, Valerie sat at her desk, her gaze fixed on the computer screen. "You’ve been smiling all day," Tessa pointed out with observing eyes.Valerie gasped at Tessa's words, her eyes widening defensively. “Me?” "Yes, you,” Tess replied, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Something good happened last night?""How does Tessa know something happened last night with Lucas? Was it that obvious?" She thought."And smiling has nothing to do with Lucas, of course. Wait, I wasn't even smiling to begin with," she reassured herself internally.Then her
**Third person**“Today is the day you die,” Adam growled, his voice laced with venom as he walked towards his pregnant wife, Ashley.Ashley, whose back was facing him, turned to look at him. “Oh Adam, it's you.” She gave him a casual smile, clearly ignorant of what Adam had planned for the night. Then she shut her eyes briefly and took a relaxing breath, allowing the cold night breeze to brush her skin for a few seconds before opening them back.“The view here is wonderful, isn't it?” She pointed out. “It's really scary how the ocean can be so dark.” Today was her twenty-fifth birthday, and she'd decided to celebrate it on her luxurious ship with friends. The lighting on this side of the ship was dim, and so she missed the icy glare on Adam's face.Adam took a step towards her, a smirk plastered across his face. “I'm really glad you like the view, it would have been a shame if you didn't. Especially since this is the last view you'll ever enjoy.”“Oh, don't say that. We'll defini
**Third person**One year later,A tall, beautiful woman stood in front of Harrison Enterprises, a familiar feeling washing over her as she took in the towering building. Not much had changed since the last time she was here.Just then, her phone buzzed, and she fumbled her bag for the device. A warm feeling spread through her as her eyes caught the caller's ID."Hey," Matthew's voice rang through the receiver."I'm just standing in front of the company. I'm feeling nervous, hurt, and excited all at once," Ashley confessed.She could be vulnerable around him.Matthew was more than a friend to her; he was her savior."I understand, Ash. It's normal to feel that way, especially after so much time," he soothed.Because of the injury on her face from that night, Ash had undergone plastic surgery that completely transformed her facial appearance. And workouts had sculpted her figure into enviable perfection, the fitted red dress on her hugging her curves flawlessly.She looked like an en
**Third person**Her mother was the first to speak up.“What are you doing here?” Her sharp tone and icy look sent shivers down Ashley's spine.Even though she looked like a different person, she still felt so small and so scared in front of them. What if they attempt to kill her again now, and they actually succeed?Breathe, Ash. They don't even know that you're the one. “Sorry, I lost my way. I was looking for the restroom,” answered Ashley, trying to keep her voice steady.“And who are you?” Her mother's eyes narrowed, and her gaze turned even icier.Just then, Adam stepped in. “Uh, Mrs. Harrison, she's my new secretary.”“Is that so?” Kate Harrison asked, her gaze turning to Adam.“Yes, ma'am.”Kate's eyes shifted back to Ash, and she stared at her for a few seconds before she continued, “What's your name?”“It's, uh, it's…” Ashley stuttered, her mind searching for suitable female names that she could adopt.“You don't remember your name?” Kate snapped, her voice tingling with i
**Third person**Ashley was already out the door, the sound of his protests fading behind her.As she sprinted down the stairs, a hysterical laugh bubbled up from her chest, the awkwardness of the situation finally hitting her. She had just slept with a stranger and told his wife what happened.Phew…What a way to start her day!She hoped she'd never see him again.***************************************Ashley sat in Matthew's spacious living room, her fingers tapping nervously on the plush leather armrest.Matthew, noticing Ashley's nervousness as he poured tea into a cup, reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. "I understand your pain. But don't you think you'll be in danger if you go back?”Tears welled up in her eyes yet again, spilling over and tracing a path down her cheeks.“What do you suggest then, Matt?” She shouted. “That I just let them be? That I just… just…” her voice broke.“They put me through hell!” Ashley's chest heaved in pain, her croaked and hoarse voice mi
**Valerie**Today I was wearing a low-cut U-neckline dress, and he kept looking at me like I was some meal.I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. “No,” I replied, a bit nervous. His shameless staring made me despise myself even more.How did I fall for a guy like this?Adam seemed to have noticed the awkwardness. “You don't have to be shy around me. You're my new secretary.”“I thought you already have a secre…” I tried to remind him, but he cut me off. “Nonsense!” He immediately rose to his feet. “Follow me.”He headed outside his office to the secretary's office, and I followed him closely behind. “Pack your things and go to the finance department. That's where you'll be working for now,” he ordered the woman, who was seated at the secretary's desk. She seemed to be in her late forties."But, sir, it was…” She started. “Amelia, I don't want to hear anything,” he interrupted with a harsh tone. “Just pack your things and leave.”Amelia glared at me, her jaw clenching visibly, bef
**Third person**When his eyes met Valerie's, Lucas cocked an eyebrow in a questioning or, more like, disdainful way.Valerie's pretense of calm seemed to crumble under Lucas's piercing stare. He then took a seat without acknowledging her greeting and began scrolling through his phone, leaving the room pregnant with an awkward silence.After what felt like an hour of silence, Valerie released a breath she didn't know she was holding. “I'll go get you some coffee,” she suggested before disappearing into Adam's office.She returned almost immediately with a cup of coffee in hand.“Here,” she murmured, and extended the cup to Lucas, careful not to let their fingers touch."Miss Thorne..." Lucas took the cup, raised it to his lips, and sipped slowly. His expression remained unreadable.Valerie nibbled on her fingers nervously. "Is there anything else you need, sir?” Placing the cup on the table, he leaned back in his chair. “I really wasn't expecting to see you here.” His dark and cold
**Third person**Lucas turned to glare at him, shrugged, and continued walking.Valerie stood with her head poking out of the restroom, watching Lucas and the dirty looks he got as he strolled by. Her colleague’s obvious infatuation with him made her cringe.How could anyone be so captivated by someone they barely knew?Just then, Lucas ran his thick fingers through his jet-black hair. His side profile was striking, with a chiseled jaw and pointed nose.She swallowed hard. It seemed like he was deliberately drawing attention to himself.If only they knew how condescending and arrogant he truly was.“You sure look at him like you want to fuck him.”Valerie flinched and spun around, startled by the voice.She clutched her chest and released her breath when she saw the face. “Why did you do that? You scared me.”“I’m Tessa. I work in that office,” she said, pointing to the project design department.“Hi, Tessa. I’m Valerie.” She shook Tessa’s outstretched hand and moved toward the water