Hii guys! How are you all? With December in its ending phase, I hope everything is good in your lives. I'm waiting for 2025 restlessly. How about you? Any new year's resolution? Don't forget to comment and vote on the chapters too:)
23Jasmine's eyes flickered open to the intense light shining down on her. She kept her eyelids close for a while until she could adjust with the light. When she opened them again, her heart thudded anguishly.She curled her fingers and tried not to freak out. That's because she was back in that same old room she didn't think she would go back to— Vince and her bedroom in their marital house.The dark green color on the walls seemed like the deep and harrowing waters in an ocean. She felt like she was drowning.Correction— she didn't really feel like she was drowning, but actually as if she was being pushed into the water to drown by none other than her husband Vince.Jasmine immediately threw the blanket away and decided to get off the bed. The moment she pushed her lower body out of the bed, she collapsed as pain shot up her wait. She was hoping to run out of the house before Vince saw her. But the numbness in her legs made her cry out loud. She blinked her eyes to focus better and
24 Jasmine stared at the shameless man standing arrogantly before her with his stepmom in his arms. 'Lucy? So she's 'just' Lucy to him. Great!' She scorned to herself before she turned around to try to crawl out. She hadn't moved an inch away when she felt Vince's fingers in her hair. He pulled her back and shoved her towards Lucy where she was standing... Right at her feet. "Apologize to her now!" He ground the words out as he pushed her head against Lucy's feet until her nose was touching the fur slippers. Pain tore through Jasmine's chest. She saw her tears dampen the fur as they fell one after another from her chin. "I said apologize, Jazz!" Disgust filled Jasmine's being. After doing all this, he still had the audacity to call her by her nickname. Jasmine couldn't move. The anguish of being treated like trash by her own husband sliced through her heart like a sharp sword. She reflected back on the time she doted on him as an obedient wife. All the years she cared for him
25Jasmine's POVI opened my eyes with a heavy feeling on my belly. I sat up straight, startled, as it reminded me of my miscarriage.I was sensitive. Although I got the time and space to mourn the death of my dear baby when I was at Birdie's, I was still not used to touching my belly as freely as before. Not without feeling my heart pounding in my chest.When I looked down at my stomach, my blood ran with vengeance in my veins. My eyes shot up as I saw red.The weight was from Vince's hand and he was sleeping beside me. It was dark in the room and there was no light outside the open windows, meaning the night had crept in. My muscles jumped under my skin in enrage as I tossed his hand away from my belly.My teeth chattered as my veins pumped with the urge to strangle him in his sleep. I wasn't so lucky to have my urge fulfilled because the light filled the room and Vince sat up rubbing his eyes. "What the hell is wrong with you? I had just fallen asleep, Jazz." He complained and I wa
26Jasmine's POV My heart pounded violently in my chest and the trembling shot up in my arms and face.Vince appeared tired as if he wasn't very happy to reveal the truth. But when he started, my hatred for him grew intense."My relationship with Lucy is stronger and older than ours. I met her five years ago at a party. It was love at first sight for me. She also seemed interested in me when I made the first move. However, when I tried to touch her intimately, she'd jumped away." He paused to look up at me.I gave him a nod, showing that I wasn't affected by how the story started. But deep down, my muscles tangled as I suppressed my rage. I swallowed down the burn of acid in my throat as I tried to ignore the fact that my meeting with Vince, those days of our secret meetings after office hours I considered as dream come true, the proposal I thought was too filmy to be real, and the years I cherished as Mrs Vince has been nothing but a lie. A BIG FAT LIE. "She was wary that I might l
27Jasmine's POV "I had no other choice. But it wasn't as terrifying as it sounds after we've found a way out." His lips curled into a dark smirk that made shivers erupt in my body. "My father can't go to bed without drinking. So Lucy makes sure he's utterly drunk before they get into bed." "Then a maid that we've hired to replace Lucy jumps into the bed with my father. She leaves only in the morning and then Lucy pretends that it's been her with him. This way she avoids my father from trying to touch her.""But those kisses in public? The way he gropes her ass in the parties, doesn't that infuriate you?" "Not as much as the thought of Lucy going back to GoldenRidge to her oppressor's brother." He shrugged coolly. "I can handle my father touching my woman more than other rascals. Not that my father's done anything more than that. He thinks he has Lucy at his mercy, but you know the truth." It makes sense. It's better to have a single bite of a tasty cake than to never have it. Vinc
28Kyle's POVThe last few days have been pretty rough for me. I barely ate food or met my friends or anyone else given I was locked up in my cabin taking back to back conferences or online meetings with overseas clients. Being the CEO of the rapidly rising business group is not easy, but I have to do it anyhow. This was my dream, after all. To be so successful that I wouldn't have a single second to think back about my past. I wanted this life and I have it. In the past few years I worked on climbing every ladder I could to make my name. I left no stone unturned, and in fact, there were no more rungs left after all these years of working so hard. I've climbed all the ladders that were there and now I'm aiming for whatever is there beyond the zenith of success I've achieved. But I wish my mother was alive. I wish I could show her what her departure did to me. What her decision of divorcing my father led me to become. I'm a heartless mercenary today. A man so focused on doubling and
29 Kyle's POV When I woke up, the sky was bright and the warm rays of the sun shone off the ceramic vase holding big blue flowers near the window of my room. I looked at the clock on the wall and my jaw dropped. Fifteen past one! Damn, I was supposed to be at my father's house for breakfast. I got out of the bed hurriedly and dashed inside the shower for a quick bath. Lila was going to accompany me to breakfast. I wonder why she's not here already. Lila. My lips curved into a grin as I massaged shampoo into my hair, thinking about her. It's not like I need her to go with me to breakfast. But she still wants to go because she feels overprotective of me as if I'm her sister, not the other way around. The thing is, she doesn't like Tania and her behaviour around me. She hates it when Tania throws herself on me and acts all lovey dovey as if we could be an item if she tried harder to pursue me. Nothing will ever happen between her and me. Tania is the daughter of the woman who destroy
30Kyle's POV Raw shock whipped into her face as she pushed herself away from me. She pretended to be nauseated by my question and turned around to act like she was throwing out as she also made those noises. "Like you? Keep dreaming, Panther! Who would like a playboy like you? You are a good friend... But boyfriend? Eww. I don't want to end up with aids. No, thank you." She said with an attitude and though I should feel humiliated, I was relieved to hear that. I pinched her chin to look at me and again she gave me that flustered look. But I wasn't fazed because I now knew her feelings towards me. "I'm glad that you don't see me that way, Lila. It's a favour you're doing on me." I smiled at her. "What if I really liked you hmm?" She asked teasingly and I left her alone. With a scoff I turned back to dry my hair, "As I said, you're doing a favour on me by not having such feelings for me. But if you did," I looked at her through the mirror, my eyes glowing darkly, honestly. "I woul
62"I'm so wounded that everything makes me want to jump at someone and scratch their face beyond repair. You have no idea what it feels to be capable but still have not enough strength to help yourself, Lila." Jasmine got up.Lila's eyes followed her movements, her mouth hanging open. Jasmine's rise was elegant and it did look like she came from wealth and power like herself where maintaining etiquettes was an important part of elite life."It was nice meeting you, Lila, and thank you for your support. But I'm not looking for advice or sympathy right now.... I just need good memories that I will carry out of here." She gave a curt nod, making her point clear that she wasn't going to let anyone belittle her.As her eyes turned to Kyle, he straightened up, otherwise he had his chin in his hand and his eyes glued to her face, totally lost in her fierce but polite retort.
61"I... I'm sorry! I didn't know it was you. I thought—" "That's okay. I'll take care next time and make sure I cut on the oil." Jasmine smiled genuinely, thinking that Lila was really innocent. "No, I truly mean it. I'm sorry. I thought it was Jojo. If I knew you made everything today then I wouldn't have— I'm sorry. That might have sounded mean and we've not officially been introduced to each other. You must feel so bad because of me. But I didn't..." Lila trailed off, looking at Kyle regretfully as if she would cry if he didn't help her. Kyle let out a heave as he touched Lila's hand in her lap. All the three sitting on the other side of the table— Jasmine, Jojo and Mari— saw his hand movement too. "This beautiful crazyhead here is my most valuable, amazing, always available for me, sometimes cute and sometimes crazy, my forever partner in crime... My closest friend, Lila. Lila Calvin. She's a social media influencer and one of the best advisers I have in life." Kyle said with
60"Well, well, well… looks like someone’s having a grand feast! But I feel disappointed, Kyle. What have I done to not get an invitation? Your guest seemed to have gained her senses back too." Lila walked in on them as she refused to stay in the corner while a stranger was enjoying Kyle's attention and compliments. She sat down next to Kyle after kissing him on the cheek, her eyes fixed on Jasmine darkly. "I am sad! How can you do this to me?" "Oh, Lila," Kyle rolled his eyes the same way he did each time Lila threw an unnecessary tantrum. "Stop being ridiculous. You were out of town for a big brand's ad shooting, weren't you? And you said it'll take about a week or two before you come back. How could I have known it would be over within a week!" Lila's ears turned pink. She wasn't expecting Kyle to treat her with such offending boldness— like yeah, she knew that he assumed her as a 'good' best friend. But she still had a reputation. It felt like an insult in front of Jasmine and
59Jasmine mentally facepalmed and held her breath. She cursed herself for saying that. "W-why don't you come and sit down? I'll serve you food."His dark eyes suggested that he was in for a playful conversation. Nevertheless, her pink face made him sigh and let it be. The woman had never given him anything but sharp words in her right mind. This had to be a mistake.Kyle sank in his chair. He subtly lifted his eyebrows in surprise at the swan he saw in his plate. Since he heard their conversation, he called Mari over and said, "This is lovely, Mari. Perhaps, you should teach this to Lila someday." "S-sure, sir. And thank you." He stayed quiet while Jasmine served food on his plate. There were a variety of dishes. Each one smelled delicious. After Jasmine was done giving a portion of each to him, she folded her hands and stood beside him with hopeful expression. "Aren't you going to join me?" Kyle frowned. "I'll..." Jasmine took a deep breath. "Thanks. But Mari, Jojo and I will ea
58Ruby collapsed on the floor as tears left her eyes. Fear, the likes of which she had never known, consumed her. Kyle's threats reverberated in her ears, making her mind to conjure the images; and damn, they caused her belly to surge with intolerable fright. "H-he knows about my secret. He knows Tania is my biological daughter! H-he will use her to punish me. M-my daughter, my beautiful daughter... S-she..." Ruby trailed off as she shook her head. She slapped her cheeks to regain her senses and cleaned her face. Kyle might have threatened her, he wouldn't do anything if she got him whatever he wanted from Karson."He spoke about a sign. I should have been concerned if he had shown interest in Karson’s property. What issues can arise from signing non-inheritance related documents?" She told to herself. If one sign can get Kyle Panther off her back and away from their lives, she would do it at any cost. Because Kyle Panther had nothing to lose if he didn't get that sign. But she w
57"Oh, but I'm still your husband's only legitimate heir. Who do you think his property will go to if I file for it?" His voice was cold and exact. Ruby was caught off guard and rendered speechless. She hated the fact that the test of time had steeled the boy she bullied for entertainment into a fierce, cunning and ruthless man with no weakness. She shuddered on the inside, realizing that she had no leverage over him. She couldn't hurt a single hair strand on his head now. The boy had indeed grown up to be the devil himself. "Y-you won't dare. You voluntarily walked out of the house and refused your father's provision when you were a child. You have no right to demand anything. The law will never allow it." She tried to act strong. But Kyle saw through her fear. She knew as much as he did that nothing was impossible for him. He had law in his back pocket. Law was like a stress ball in his hand that he squeezed and unsqueezed as he liked. "That's what you think? Haha, age is real
56"Your mother was a gone case. She may have been a successful businesswoman, she lacked trust and perseverance! Other women in her spot would fight to hold their family and relationships together. But your mom— that narcissistic woman preferred to leave her husband and son for the sake of her so-called dignity." She took another sip and sniggered. "And then what? She died a painful death in isolation with no one to look after her." Kyle's body stiffened as all the blood rushed to his head.He didn't exactly know how painful Sophia's death was, but he was aware that she had cancer. She discovered it when it was already the last stage. "It's no fun talking about her! She left too soon. I didn't even get to see her properly.""But you were there for a while, weren't you? Why don't we relive some of the old time? We had so much fun, after all." She grinned while Kyle's face became white as memories flooded back to his mind. "You've turned into a meek little boy who always cried after
55Kyle was wrapping up for the day. He had an online conference and it just got over five minutes ago. He was sitting with his head resting on his hands on the desk as he kept his eyes closed to relax himself before preparing to leave. Sun was half set, painting the world with a red and orange hue. Shadows of the buildings outside the window grew bigger on the ground while the birds returning to their nests squawked. Kyle had slipped into a slumber but a knock on the door sounded and he sat up straight. As he ran his hands on his face, Titus trudged towards the desk with a somber look. His eyebrows were drawn together and it could be seen that he had a file in his hands— one that he clutched tightly with his fingers. Kyle observed that look and raised an eyebrow. "Why do you look like someone asked for one of your kidneys from you?" He attempted to joke but there was no shift in his PA's expression. He nervously placed the file he was holding onto the desk, and slid it towards h
54Mari had to lie as she was told, and her employer believed because his guest did fall in his presence on the first night she was brought home. "Maybe you're right." Jasmine said, breaking her trance. "I did fall that night but my entire body was buzzing with pain back then, so I didn't notice.""But if you look at it, it seems like I've been pinched!" "No!" Mari almost screamed. "I... I mean, you're overthinking, miss.""Haha, you're right. But I won't be surprised if my husband's mistress did this to me in the hospital while I was sedated." "Is she really that cruel?" Mari meekly asked. For her, no one was crueler than Lila. She was unbeatable and could wear the crown of the concerned title eternally. “You sound like you know someone who is worse than my husband's mistress!” Jasmine smirked. “Don't ask me about them! They can battle with the devil and come back unscathed. They possess a level of cruelty that could potentially cripple even the devil.” Mari exaggerated with wide