Chapter 126 – Simeon's POV : Frustrated When I heard Adrian's voice in the earpiece, my hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. A cold, lethal fury developed inside my chest as I listened to him mock Lily, his voice dripping with venom. Then Vanessa spoke.It was then that my anger set and turned into something lethal.Nelson cursed alongside me, fists balled. "Son of a bitch." His voice strained with incredulity. "I knew Adrian was an asshole, but Vanessa—" He shook his head. "She's been waiting for this moment.""This isn't about business." My voice was cold, repressed, although fires of outrage burned inside of me.Nelson nodded, his jaw clamped. "This is personal.".I stamped down harder on the gas pedal, and the car skidded through the nearly deserted roads. The warehouse was not so far away, but each passing second was an eternity.Then Lily's voice cut through the transmission."So now what? You threaten me? Hurt me? That's the plan?"Silence.Then Adrian's low, laughing voi
Chapter 127 – Lily's POVLies I knew I wasn't supposed to go back.Simeon had told me so. Following last night's debacle at the warehouse, after everything Adrian and Vanessa had done, I was supposed to be in hiding, keeping a low profile.But I couldn't.I couldn't sit around while they took everything away from me.So, in spite of the threats, in spite of the risk, I waited outside the company building the next morning, looking up at the glass tower that had been my second home.Now, it was not my home.I took a deep breath and opened the doors.The moment I stepped inside, I realized something was wrong.The usual hum of the office—the ringing telephones, the muffled conversations—fell into a strained silence as I walked through the lobby. Heads turned. Eyes darted away. People who had once smiled at me warmly now whispered behind their hands.I ignored it. I held my chin high and walked towards the elevator.Then, a voice stopped me."Miss Monroe."I stepped to turn and find Henr
Chapter 128 – Lily's POVPeaceThere was a crackling tension in the air.I stalked around the room, crossing my arms tightly over my chest, my irritation brewing just below the surface.Nelson sprawled on the couch, his arms stretched over the backrest of it, but even he did not seem settled, his gaze flicking from me to Simeon.And Simeon—he sat behind his desk, crossing his ankles, his fingers idly drumming against the highly polished wood as if he were not the man who had taken the company down.The silence grew, dense and heavy.I could no longer contain it."You had no right to do that."Simeon raised a brow, his dark eyes barely lifting to meet my own. "No right?" His voice was too even, too restrained, and it served only to further infuriate me."Yes, Simeon. No right!" I threw my arms up in the air. "You let go of an entire team of employees today! You didn't even stop to think! Do you have any idea what that's going to do to the company?"Simeon sat back, his expression unyie
Chapter 129 – Nelson's POV 1A Frustrated Nelson I fell back into the couch, staring up at the ceiling, releasing a loud sigh. Not a regular sigh, but a deliberate, exaggerated one, meant to be heard. But of course, no one paid me any attention. Lily was at the other end of the couch, tucked in, staring at her phone, and Simeon was at the desk, flipping through some reports. They were both completely engrossed, like the rest of the world didn't matter. And I was losing my mind. I sighed. Louder this time. Lily didn't even raise her head. "If you're doing that for attention, it's not working." Simeon smirked but kept on reading. "It's Nelson. He always wants attention." I clapped a hand across my chest, faking deep emotional woundedness. "Wow. So that's what I am to you two? Some pitiful supporting character in your romance novel epic?" Lily snorted. "Pretty much." Simeon didn't even object. I groaned, throwing my head back. "I need a girlfriend." This time, there
Chapter 130 – A New Plan(Lily's POV)The tension between Simeon and me still lingered after the fight about the workers, but we both knew we needed a break from it all—the stress, the brawling, the endless fighting against Adrian. So, when Nelson mentioned a struggling village outside of the city, I saw a chance.We must leave," I told Simeon that morning, eating breakfast. "Those people are needy. You have resources, and this would be a good thing."Simeon folded his arms, sat back in his chair. "Lily, this is not the time for altruism. We have more critical problems to fight."."I know," I said, my tone calm. "But this isn't about giving food or supplies. We need help, and right now, people believe Adrian more because he gives them work. If we help them first, we might be able to find someone useful."Simeon exhaled a harsh breath, rubbing his temples. "You always have an idea, don't you?"I shrugged. "I learned from the best."There was a long silence before he nodded at last. "Fi
Chapter 131 – A Test of Loyalty(Nelson’s POV)1. Digging into the PastTrust was dangerous in our world. And right now, we were trusting a woman we knew nothing about.I didn’t like it.The moment Lily and Simeon brought Liora back, I knew my next task—I had to find out exactly who she was and if she had any ties to Adrian.Simeon didn’t need to say it directly, but I knew him well enough. Before he even gave the order, I was already preparing.So, the next morning, I left early, heading straight back to the village where we found her. The road was just as rough, and the stench of smoke from burning firewood still hung in the air. The people here had nothing.And yet, something about Liora had seemed different from the others. She wasn’t just desperate—she was determined.That could mean she was ambitious. Or it could mean she had a hidden agenda.I was going to find out which one.2. Searching for AnswersI parked the SUV outside a small market where people sold dried fish, vegetabl
Chapter 132 – The First Foot into the Enemy's Camp (Liora's POV)There was tension in the air that morning.I sat at the end of my bed, staring down at the simple clothes Lily had laid out for me to wear on my first day working for Adrian's company. Blah, professional—nothing flashy. But however plain I looked on the outside, inside my belly was a twisted ball of nerves.Today, I was on enemy territory.Simeon and Lily had been very clear about that—I was not there to do any work. I was there to listen, observe, to learn anything that would help them in taking down Adrian. But as I thought about it, a tiny piece of doubt crept into my mind.Could I really do this?I folded my hands, driving the thought out.I had no choice.Final Instructions from Lily and SimeonDownstairs, Simeon and Lily were already waiting for me. Nelson was present too, reclining on the couch, browsing his phone.Lily examined me from top to bottom, nodding in agreement. "You look ready."I wasn't as certain, bu
Chapter 133 – A Hidden Threat Lily's POVThe night was heavy with silence, the kind that pressed upon my body and made my mind sound louder than it was. I sat at the table in front of Simeon, my fingers closed around the burning mug of tea I hadn't even taken a sip of within the past ten minutes. The room was dim, shadows dancing on the walls, but the real weight in the air wasn't from the shadows—it was from the conversation we were about to have.Liora had just returned from work, her face expressionless, but I could tell by the way her hands were clenched in her lap, the way her lips pressed into a thin line as if she was holding something enormous in.Nelson, standing next to me, said something first to break the quiet. "You seem to have something to say."Liora jerked her head and caught her breath and then at last said her words. "I overheard them talking about this big investor. His name is Vincent Moore. He's deciding if he will invest his money in Adrian's business."My grip
Chapter One hundred and Forty FourMeeting with Camila:Lily's POV – The Meeting with Camila (Continued)The waiter brought us our beverages first. I thanked him quietly and looked over at Camila. She sipped a glass of orange juice, peaceful face, hands placed on the table. She did not seem nervous one bit. That made me a little angry. If I were introducing people near my boyfriend, I would have been somewhat shy or apprehensive.Not her.She laughed easily at Nelson’s jokes. She looked him straight in the eyes when she spoke. She even asked me questions politely, like she really wanted to know me.“So, Lily,” she said, smiling gently, “Nelson told me you’re very good at cooking. What’s your favorite thing to make?”I smiled back, keeping my voice soft. “I like cooking simple meals. Rice and stew. Pasta. Fried plantains. Nothing too fancy.”"Sounds good," she told me. "Someday I might even get to sample it."I simply nodded, my smile failing to reach my eyes. I observed how she didn't
Chapter One hundred and Fourty threeChapter: Lily's Caution and Meeting CamilaLily's POVI had been inside the kitchen, at last doing the dishes which I had cooked for dinner. Stew fragrance filled the atmosphere, and ringing of plates that I set in place on the dining table. Things were just fine, yet my head wasn't well-oriented towards the food. It was onto Nelson's girl, Camila.Nelson had been boasting to me about how great she was. He was ecstatic, but something in me just wasn't working. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but after all that had gone down with Adrian and with our company, I just felt like we needed to be careful. I didn't want to hurt Nelson's feelings, but I couldn't help but say something.Nelson," I burst out, trying to be calm. "Are you sure about her? I mean, I just don't know."Nelson looked at me, confused. "What are you talking about? Camila's a good girl. She's friendly to me.".I took a deep breath and put a spoon on the table. "I don't know. I ju
Chapter 142 – Quiet MovesLily's POVI did not say a word until we got home.Simeon simply acted as if nothing had happened. He came in, took off his jacket, and even smiled at me as he had a glass of water.But I was not able to contain my feelings.My heart kept racing. My hands were cold. The way Adrian showed up before us last time—his smile, his words, the way he glared at Simeon like he was about to destroy everything we had built—it kept ringing in my head."Simeon…" I whispered as I sat on the couch, holding a pillow close to my body. "Are you not worried?"He looked at me with uncomplicated eyes, like the whole affair didn't happen to him. "No."I blinked. "You're saying no what? That was Adrian. He broke into our firm—like that—and delivered a threat.""He did not deliver a threat," said Simeon, sitting down beside me. "He simply displayed his teeth.".I scowled. "That's worse. You see what he means. And the way he glared at me. as if he was threatening you as well. What if
Chapter One hundred and Fourty one – The Unexpected VisitLily's POVThe morning started off like any other.The sun was shining through the window, and the office was quiet. I had just finished talking with Simeon about the new files we needed to prepare for Vincent's team. Nelson was on the phone. Liora was scanning documents on her computer.Everything was normal.Until the elevator rang.I didn't think much of it at first. People were always coming and going. But then I heard Nelson cut off in the middle of a sentence. And I saw the color drain from his face.I turned towards the door.And there he was.Adrian.He walked in slowly, as if he owned the whole building. Dressed in a sharp black suit, dark glasses, and that smile—the sort that doesn't mean he's happy—it was proud, cold, dangerous.My heart skipped a beat.I couldn't breathe for a second. I rose from my seat, hands trembling.Simeon stood up too, but he didn't react. Not even slightly. He just gazed at Adrian as if he h
Chapter: Unspoken TrustLily's POVThe moment the door shut behind Nelson, I recognized something was off. His light footsteps were replaced with a pause I had not previously seen. He came in, his gaze on me with a mixture of determination and uncertainty. Simeon leaned against the kitchen counter, his usually calm expression not quite as sharp tonight, behind him.Nelson's eyes locked on mine as he walked towards the couch, the tension between us heavy. My chest was aching just to glance at him, wondering what news he'd brought."Lily," he began, his voice uncertain, "I have to talk with you and Simeon about something."Simeon didn't move, simply sitting there with a quiet attention. I stayed in the doorway to the kitchen, glancing over at the two of them, waiting. My hands were still wrapped around a glass of water that I hadn't even known I'd picked up. I put it down hastily."What is it?" I snapped more harshly than I intended.Nelson took a breath and brushed a hand over his hair
Chapter 140 – Her True FaceNelson's POVIt was a mellow afternoon. The sky was pale blue, and the sun was not too intense. I sat at an outside café, waiting patiently. The street was not busy, just a few cars driving by and pedestrians. I lazily drummed my fingers on the table, my mind trying to stay calm.I hadn't seen Camila in a couple of days. Lily had cautioned me to be cautious, and Simeon had cautioned me too. They didn't believe that something was amiss with her. But I wasn't sure. Camila had never provided me with a reason not to trust her.But I was being cautious.Then I saw her.She came up the sidewalk, her bright red hair flowing in the gentle breeze, a soft smile playing on her lips. She wore a simple blouse and jeans, nothing fancy, and still, she looked. serene. Ordinary. Innocent."Hey," she said, breathless, as she reached the table."Hey," I stood to greet her, pulling out a chair for her to sit.She smiled a little and sat down, sweeping her hair back from her fa
Chapter 138 – Be Careful, NelsonLily's POVIt was a quiet afternoon, and for once, the house did not feel like a battleground. The air was peaceful, and the tension that had been present for weeks appeared to have taken a wee break. The deal with Vincent was going smoothly. He had called only two nights prior and told me that he would be in touch soon with the final papers.I had just cooked lunch—rice and hot chicken with fried plantains. The smell wafted through the house, inviting and warm. Simeon and Nelson were in the living room, both staring at their phones. Liora was out on an errand, and I took advantage of the moment to sit between the two men now that I considered them the best pillars around me.Simeon appeared relaxed, one arm draped over the back of the couch, his other hand scrolling through his phone . Nelson sat on the edge of the cushion, tapping something on his phone with a small smile on his face.I rested my head and smiled. "You've been smiling at your phone fo
Chapter 136 – The Morning After VictoryLily's POVI awakened to the warm heat of Simeon's body next to me. His arm was draped across my hips, his breathing slow and steady. I didn't move for a while. I simply lay there, listening to the quiet of the morning, the warmth of his body against me. It was peaceful—like the calm after the storm.Last night was one of the most incredible nights of my life. Vincent had called with his decision, and he was going to go with us instead of Adrian. The resulting excitement was nearly too much. We had laughed, danced, celebrated, and for the first time in ages, I felt free.I leaned slightly to look at Simeon. Even while asleep, he looked so powerful, so in control. His black hair was a bit mussed, and his features had a vulnerability that he never showed when awake. I smiled, reaching up to brush a strand of hair off his forehead.As if sensing my touch, his eyes fluttered open. His lips spread into a slow smile as he pulled me closer. "Good morn
Chapter 135: Vincent's DecisionLily's POVThe warmth of the night surrounded us as we gathered in the living room. The smell of freshly cooked food filled the air—my efforts at cooking something that everyone could enjoy. Something that I barely ever got to do anymore, what with the chaos and tension that went into closing business deals, but I was eager to make this night a little more normal. Looking around at the friendly faces of those I loved—Simeon, Nelson, Liora—it was comforting to have them all in one place, as if nothing else in the world mattered for a little while.Liora and Nelson were chatting something softly in the room corner, laughing at a joke they'd just told each other. Their laughter, so free and light, was a rare blessing. It made me smile as I set the table, setting the last dish of salad before them."Is that all?" I asked, trying to push down the little bit of nervousness I felt, even though I knew they'd be happy with the work.Liora grinned. "Lily, this is