Benjamin.I paced relentlessly, a tempest of rage churning inside of me. My fists clenched so tightly that my knuckles turned white, and with a single, furious motion, I sent everything on my desk crashing to the floor. "Dammit!" I roared, my voice echoing through the room.It was a shock.Seeing her standing there was a terrible shock. I had given her clear instructions, confident that I had everything under control, confident that I had covered up all my tracks.How could things have gone so wrong? I had meticulously planned and executed every step, building Julia’s trust, earning her loyalty. Just when it seemed like I had finally secured what I desired, Rose had to show up with our son and jeopardize everything!"Brat!"I couldn't really remember when I had been so angry. I wanted nothing more than to make Rose pay for what she did. That fool thinks I care about her or anyone else? All I want is as much money that I can get and live my best life! I’m so damn tired of leaving of wo
Camilla’s POVA gunshot rang out. Then another. And another. Pain exploded in my chest, searing, unbearable. I gasped, trying to scream, but no sound came out. My body felt heavy, sinking, drowning in darkness— I jolted awake with a sharp gasp, my hands clutching my chest. My heart pounded violently as I tried to catch my breath. Cold sweat covered my skin, and my fingers trembled as I reached up, expecting to find blood. But there was nothing. Just my ragged breaths and the dimly lit room around me. Just a dream. But it felt so real. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to focus. The sound of rain pattered against the roof, but something was off. Drip. Drip. Drip. I frowned, looking up just in time to feel a cold drop of water splash onto my forehead. Then another. "Great," I muttered, throwing the thin blanket off me. The roof was leaking again. This has been the story of my life ever since I moved in here with Racheal.The wind howled through the cracks in the walls,
Camilla.The morning air was cold and damp, but I barely noticed. I sat on the hard pavement outside the small, rundown shelter we had been thrown out of, my arms wrapped around Racheal’s frail body. Her skin was clammy, her breathing weak and uneven. "Racheal," I whispered, gently shaking her. "Wake up. We have to get you help." She groaned softly but didn’t move. Panic clawed at my chest. She had been weak last night, but now she was worse. Much worse. I couldn’t waste another second. Summoning every bit of strength I had, I lifted her onto my back. She was light—too light for someone who had been surviving on scraps for so long. With shaky legs, I started toward the nearest hospital. Each step was agony. My ribs throbbed from the beating last night, my muscles ached, and my stomach growled in protest, I haven’t eaten since yesterday but then that wasn’t I cared about at this point.I had to rushed her to the hospital before this gets worse!By the time I reached the hospi
Julia.It had been a week since my world shattered. Seven days since I found out that my husband—the man I had given everything to—had a son with his personal assistant. Seven days of silence, of sleepless nights, of a rage so deep it threatened to consume me. I couldn’t even look at Benjamin without feeling sick. For the past week, I had avoided him completely. I locked myself in my room, only coming out when I knew he wasn’t around. He had tried talking to me at first, but I ignored him. What was there to say? What could he possibly say that would erase the betrayal? The only thing that filled my mind now was revenge. I had given up my rights to Camilla’s company for him. I had trusted him blindly. And now, I saw the truth—Benjamin wasn’t just a liar, he was dangerous. If I didn’t act fast, I would lose everything. Everything that I killed Camilla for.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the floor. My fingers clenched around the silk sheets as my mind raced. I n
Grey."Enough Grey! I’ve had it up to here with all the nonsense you keep doing!”My father’s voice boomed through the grand dining hall, shaking the walls just as it shook my patience. I barely spared him a glance as I buttoned the cuffs of my crisp white shirt, adjusting my tie in the reflection of the antique mirror. "You will get married, Grey," he continued, slamming his palm against the table. "You will find a woman, settle down, and give me a grandchild!" I exhaled slowly, pressing my lips together. Same speech. Different day. My goodness! Doesn’t this old man ever get tired? I mean he just got back from the hospital few months ago! "Father," I said, my voice steady, "we’ve had this conversation a hundred times. My answer hasn’t changed. I wonder why you keep bringing it up again and again!”"And it’s a disgraceful answer!" My mother stepped forward, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floors. "You’re being selfish, Grey. You think this is about you? This is abo
Benjamin.I sat at my desk, fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood, my mind racing. Julia had been here. She had gone through the company’s financial records. I clenched my jaw, staring at the stack of documents in front of me. I knew this moment would come, but I wasn’t ready for it. Now she knew—knew that the company was on the brink of bankruptcy. And if she knew that, then she also knew that I had been lying to her. Damn it. I leaned back in my chair, exhaling sharply. There was only one way to distract her now—give her what she wanted. Isaiah. I pinched the bridge of my nose. Julia had given me two days, and the clock was already ticking. If I wanted to keep her from looking deeper into the company’s finances, I needed to act fast. But first, the meeting. I straightened my tie and I was so damn determined to get that contract. This business deal was my last chance to keep the company afloat. If I could just secure this contract, I could buy mysel
Grey.I sat in my office, my fingers tapping against the desk as I stared blankly at the city skyline through the large glass windows. The sound of my father’s words still clung to me like a heavy chain, dragging me down into a pit of frustration. Bryce sat across from me, his arms crossed, watching me with that knowing look. He had been my best friend for years, my right-hand man in everything, but even he knew this was a situation neither of us could easily fix. "So, let me get this straight," Bryce finally spoke, breaking the silence. "Your father, the great and mighty father of all time, has put it in his will that if you don’t get married and produce an heir within two years, you inherit absolutely nothing?" I let out a humorless chuckle and leaned back in my chair. "Exactly." Bryce whistled low. "Man, that’s cold. Even for him." I shrugged. "He’s desperate. He thinks an ‘heir’ will fix things, will somehow make me care about running the family business. But you know I
Camilla.The sun beat down on my skin as I walked through the crowded streets, exhaustion weighing heavily on my shoulders. My feet ached from hours of trekking, and my stomach twisted in hunger, but I couldn’t afford to stop. Racheal was running out of time, and I still had no idea how I was going to come up with five thousand dollars. I had spent the entire morning searching for work—any work. But everywhere I went, the answer was the same. “Sorry, we’re not hiring."“We don’t need extra hands right now."“Try again next week."Desperation clawed at my chest. I wiped the sweat from my forehead, my fingers trembling slightly from exhaustion. I couldn’t let Racheal die. She had taken me in when I had no one, and now it was my turn to save her. With no other options, I made my way back to the same construction site I had worked at before. My body still ached from the last time, but If this was the only way to make money, I would do it. When I arrived, the foreman looked at me w
Camilla.I didn’t tell anyone.Not old lady that has been friendly lately, not even Miri—no one. If I opened my mouth, they’d try to stop me. Maybe not out of malice, maybe out of fear or love or whatever, but it didn’t matter. This was something I had to do. Alone.The newspaper felt damp in my hands, crumpled and nearly torn at the edges from how many times I’d folded and unfolded it throughout the night. The image on the front page stared up at me like a challenge—her face, my face. That woman... she could be my exact replica, if not for the blank emptiness in her eyes. And there, in bold print beneath the photograph, was the name of the venue where it all supposedly happened.I held the paper tighter, slipping past the east wing of the mansion, careful not to make the floorboards creak. My heart thundered in my chest, screaming that someone would catch me, but no one did. The morning air hit me like a slap the moment I stepped outside—sharp and cold, waking me up in ways that no a
Camilla.The soft rays of morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I stretched lazily, feeling the remnants of a wonderful dream about Grey. Last night had been perfect. He’d held me close, kissed me with such intensity, and whispered promises of forever into my ear. It had felt so real, so right. I smiled at the thought of it as I slowly sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes.But as the haze of sleep lifted, something felt… off. I glanced around, noticing immediately that the space beside me was empty. The sheets where Grey had been just hours before were cold, undisturbed. I reached out instinctively, as if hoping to feel him beside me, but there was nothing. The bed was just a bed, and it felt like it was missing a piece.A small pang of disappointment blossomed in my chest. Where did he go?I stood up and pulled on my robe, then quickly made my way out of the room. My feet moved automatically, but my mind was clouded. I hadn’t expected him to be gon
Grey.What was she doing?Restlessly, I swept my gaze around her room, passing indifferently over the bed. I tried to pierce the darkness beyond, and focus on her bathroom where I knew she was. But the night was impenetrable. Earlier, I’d heard her splashing water. Then I’d heard sniffling. Now—nothing. Just the cry of a lonely owl.What the hell was she doing?It felt like she’d been gone for a long time, but I knew it hadn’t been more than ten or fifteen minutes. So why was I impatient? Patience had been a survival skill I’d learned long ago. But my mind was playing tricks on me—cruel, vivid tricks. I imagined her unbuttoning her blouse, baring her big, white breasts to bathe. I stood and began pacing, tugging at the crotch of my trouser. I wasn’t used to this kind of frustration.I was spoiled when it came to women. They always wanted me. All of them. I couldn’t remember one who hadn’t. But this one? She was different. A lowlife that probably doesn't even know her real name. I didn
Camilla.I’d never known boredom could be this loud. The silence of the mansion roared in my ears as I paced around my room, again, arms folded, lips pressed into a thin line. The walls felt like they were closing in, suffocating me with every passing hour. I wasn’t a prisoner, technically, but that’s exactly what it felt like. A golden cage wrapped in luxury, yes—but a cage all the same.Grey hadn’t come to see me all day. Again.I flopped onto the bed, rolling onto my side to stare at the cold, untouched spot next to me. My hand hovered over the sheets, then clenched into a fist. I was done being ignored. If Grey wasn’t going to give me attention, then I’d get it elsewhere—even if it meant sneaking out.When Miri, one of the younger maids, walked by my room with a tray of clean towels, I sprang to the door like a woman possessed.“Miri!” I called, soft enough not to draw attention, but loud enough to make her stop.She peeked her head in, cautious. “Yes, ma?”I stepped closer, dropp
Benjamin.I was seething.My hands were trembling, fists clenched so tightly my knuckles had turned bone white. I could still feel the sting of humiliation crawling under my skin, burrowing deep like a parasite I couldn’t kill. She threw me out—threw me out like I was some houseboy she caught stealing silverware.Julia.I could still see her face, jaw tight, eyes burning like acid when she stormed into the room and found Rose and me having sex in that bed. No words. No screaming at first. Just silence. And then hell broke loose. The sound of her voice still echoed in my ears—sharp, cold, controlled.“Get. Out.”At first, I thought she was bluffing. I sat up, dazed. “Julia, listen—”“No. No explanations. No fake apologies. Just go.”I’d never seen her like that. I wasn’t sure if it made me angrier or just… shocked. But when she turned and walked out of the room like I didn’t exist, like I didn’t matter, something inside me snapped.I didn’t even realize I’d started trashing the place u
Julia.I don’t know how long I sat on that park bench, knees pulled to my chest, face buried in my hands. The tears had dried up, but the ache in my chest stayed, like a dull blade slowly turning. I should’ve stayed away. I wanted to stay away. Every fiber in me screamed that going back to that house, to him, was the worst idea possible. But then that was all I have, and I could not possible run away from it like a coward.Dragging myself to my feet felt like dragging a boulder. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, ignoring the judgmental looks from passersby. My legs moved on autopilot, taking me through streets that were far too familiar, back to the one place that was supposed to be safe—but hadn’t been for a long time.I unlocked the door, pushing it open slowly like the house might somehow swallow me whole.And then I saw something that took me a while to decode.A pair of women’s panties. Just lying there. On the floor. Pale pink lace.My heart stopped mid-beat. My brain st
Julia.I woke up gasping, drenched in sweat, my chest heaving like I’d just run a marathon. My heart slammed against my ribs, the final echoes of the nightmare still clinging to the edges of my mind like cobwebs I couldn’t shake off.Then I saw him.Benjamin.Standing over me.With a pillow in his hands.For a heartbeat, I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed. My body refused to cooperate, but my mind screamed—Run. Get out.“What the hell are you doing?” I snapped, shooting up from the bed so fast that the sheets tangled around my legs. My voice cracked, equal parts fear and rage.He laughed. Actually laughed. Like I’d just told him the dumbest joke in the world.“Oh, relax,” he said, shaking his head. “If I wanted to kill you, Julia, I’ve had seven whole months to do it. Don’t be so dramatic.”Then he turned, still chuckling to himself, and walked away—pillow still in hand like none of this was completely unhinged. Like he wasn’t completely unhinged.I sat there, frozen. My fingers gripped
Camilla.I didn’t expect to be stunned. The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of what could only be described as a palace carved out of glass and white marble. I blinked, twice, maybe three times, and even rubbed the edge of my sleeve against my eyes, hoping I wasn’t hallucinating. But no—this was real. This was Grey’s house.The walls stretched high into the sky, with delicate arches and floor-to-ceiling windows that reflected the golden dusk like they were part of the sun itself. A circular driveway curled around a fountain so pristine I could see the rippling reflection of a swan statue balanced in its center. The air smelled like lavender and wealth. There were actual gardeners trimming the already-perfect hedges, and I caught the soft echo of a grand piano playing from inside.I stood there, frozen. My heart thudded somewhere near my throat. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe for a moment.This was his world. And I—what was I doing here?The image of the slum I left behind fla
Camilla“I’ll do it,” I said.The words slipped out of my mouth before I could catch them—like breath on a cold morning, there and gone. I didn’t even mean to say it out loud, not yet, not until I was sure.Grey’s eyes narrowed as he took a step closer, the faintest trace of shock flickering across his otherwise unreadable face. “What did you just say?”I swallowed, hard. My heart thundered against my ribcage like it wanted to escape. This was it. No going back.“I said I’ll do it. I’ll agree to the contract marriage.”Silence.Grey didn’t say anything immediately—he just stood there, watching me like I was a puzzle he hadn’t figured out yet. Like I had somehow surprised him. Which, let’s be honest, I probably had.From behind him, Bryce stepped forward, his shoes tapping against the polished floor like a ticking clock. He pulled something from his coat pocket—an envelope. He held it out toward me with both hands, like it was some kind of sacred offering.“This is yours,” he said.I b