Elena's POVI found myself pressed against the cold wall, my ear straining to catch every word spilling from the room. Julian and Lily were arguing again, their voices sharp and raw, cutting through the silence of the hallway like a blade. I had expected it, of course. It was only a matter of time before Lily realized the truth—before she saw Julian for what he really was. The perfect, doting husband act wouldn’t last forever. Not when it was built on nothing but greed and obligation. I smirked to myself as I listened. "You only care about me because of my father's will!" Lily's voice cracked, filled with frustration and pain. I could practically see Julian standing there, his jaw tight, his fists clenched at his sides. He would never admit it outright, but we all knew the truth. And poor, sweet Lily—so naive. So desperate to believe in love. Foolish girl. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t hear the argument dying down. I didn’t hear Julian moving toward t
Elena's POVI stood outside the living room door, my heart hammering against my ribcage as I counted down the seconds in my head. Gina had said the drug would take about thirty minutes to work, but I waited an extra ten, just to be sure. I couldn’t afford for this plan to fail. Not when I was this close to proving what kind of man Julian really was. The tray of biscuits trembled slightly in my hands, but it wasn’t nerves—I knew exactly what I was doing. I had planned this down to the last detail. Taking a deep breath, I turned to the maid standing beside me. She was young, barely older than me, with soft brown eyes and a naïve, eager smile. “Do you remember what we discussed?” I asked her in a low voice. She nodded, her lips curving up slightly in amusement. “Of course, miss.” I glanced toward the living room where Julian sat, flipping lazily through his phone, oblivious to what was about to happen. Then, I caught the maid’s gaze again and gave her a subtle nod. That was he
Elena's POVMorning came, dragging a thick silence with it. The air in the mansion felt heavier, as if last night's storm of emotions had left an unseen fog lingering between the walls. I could hear the occasional creak of footsteps, the hushed murmurs of servants exchanging words they didn’t dare speak aloud. I took my time getting ready, brushing my hair with slow, deliberate strokes while gazing at my reflection. My face betrayed nothing. A satisfied smirk tugged at my lips before I smoothed it away. No, I needed to keep my composure. There was still a role to play. A knock at the door made me sit upright. "Come in," I called, already knowing who it was. Lily stepped inside, her face pale, eyes red-rimmed and swollen. She had barely slept—if she had at all. Her lips trembled slightly, and for a moment, I thought she might break down right in front of me. But she straightened her back, her fingers tightening around the handkerchief she clutched in her hand. "Elena," she
Lily's POVThe morning light streaming through the curtains did nothing to lift the weight pressing against my chest. My head throbbed, my eyes ached from crying, and my heart—God, my heart felt like it had been torn in two. I sat curled up on the edge of my bed, knees drawn to my chest, staring blankly at the wall. The events of last night played over and over in my mind like a nightmare on repeat. Julian. The maid. The way they looked at each other. The way he had barely even tried to explain himself. A fresh wave of nausea rolled through me, and I clenched my hands into fists, trying to suppress the storm of emotions threatening to swallow me whole. Then, the door creaked open. I stiffened but didn’t turn. I already knew who it was. "Lily," Julian’s voice was soft, cautious. I closed my eyes, forcing myself to take a steadying breath. "Can we talk?" he asked hesitantly. I didn’t answer. I heard the door shut, the quiet click of the lock. Then, the sound of his f
Gina's POVThe evening air carried a quiet hum through the house as Alex walked in, his usual confident stride bringing warmth into the space. I had been setting the table for dinner when I heard the front door open, followed by the unmistakable sound of his deep voice. And then, a softer, more excited voice followed—his sister. I turned just in time to see her throw herself into his arms, giggling as he spun her slightly before setting her down. “Anna,” he said with a chuckle, “you’re still as dramatic as ever.” She grinned, flipping her long, sleek blonde hair over her shoulder before turning her gaze toward me. “And this is your must be Gina,” she said, looking me up and down with an assessing expression. I forced a polite smile.Alex wrapped an arm around me. “Anna, this is my wife, Gina. Gina, my very troublesome little sister.” Anna scoffed playfully. “Troublesome? Please. I’m an angel.” Alex smirked. “Angel? That’s a stretch.” I chuckled lightly, though somethi
Gina's POVDinner was quiet, the clinking of cutlery against plates the only sound filling the dining room. Alex sat across from me, his gaze occasionally flickering toward mine with a small, reassuring smile. Despite the chaos Anna had already caused since arriving, he was trying to keep the peace. I, on the other hand, wasn’t in the mood for pretense. Anna had been sleeping all day, completely oblivious to the running of the house. And now, just as we were finishing up dinner, she strolled into the dining room, stretching and yawning dramatically. She didn’t offer so much as a glance in our direction. No greeting. No acknowledgment of our presence. Instead, she plopped herself down in a chair, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Lana, bring my food,” she ordered, her voice dripping with entitlement. I set my fork down slowly, watching as Lana hesitated, glancing at me for permission before retreating to the kitchen. A few minutes later, the housekeeper returned with a
Julian's POVI sat alone in my dimly lit room, my head in my hands, consumed by the weight of what had happened that night. The memory replayed in my mind like a cruel joke—my hands on the maidservant, the way Lily had walked in at the worst possible moment, the disgust in her eyes. I hadn't meant for it to happen. I hadn't even realized what I was doing until it was too late. But none of that mattered. What mattered was that I had betrayed Lily’s trust, and now she wouldn’t even listen to me. I wanted to believe that if I could just explain, if I could just tell her that it was a mistake, that it had meant nothing—maybe she would understand. But deep down, I knew that wasn’t true. Lily had always been unwavering in her beliefs, in her expectations. To her, betrayal was betrayal, and no amount of reasoning would change that. I sighed heavily, running my fingers through my hair. My entire life was about to collapse, and I felt powerless to stop it. A sudden noise startled me—a sh
Julian's POV I couldn't let her leave. The moment Lily walked out of my room, I knew I had to do something. If she left now, it would be over—there would be no coming back from this. So I followed her. My heartbeat pounded in my ears as I moved down the hallway, watching her slender figure disappear into our bedroom. Our bedroom. Would it even be ours anymore? No. I wouldn’t let that happen. I reached the doorway just as she stepped toward the closet, pulling out a suitcase with steady hands. “Lily,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. She didn’t look at me. I stepped inside and, without hesitation, turned and locked the door. Her shoulders tensed, but she didn’t turn around. “Unlock the door, Julian,” she said flatly, pulling out a few dresses and folding them neatly. “No,” I said firmly. “Not until you hear me out.” She let out a sharp breath and finally turned to face me. Her eyes—cold, distant—cut through me like a blade. “What do you want to sa
Gina's POV I couldn’t stop hugging Alex. Over and over again, I threw my arms around his neck, pressing myself against him as if I could somehow merge our souls together. My heart swelled with so much love and happiness that I thought I might burst. “I can’t believe this,” I whispered against his chest, inhaling his scent—warm, musky, and familiar. “I just… I never thought we’d get here.” Alex pulled back slightly, his hands cupping my face. His thumb traced the corner of my lips, and his deep blue eyes shimmered with affection. “Believe it, Gina. Because from now on, we’re together—*truly* together.” A fresh wave of emotion washed over me, but before I could say anything, Alex suddenly grinned. “We need to celebrate.” I raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t we already?” He chuckled, stepping away to retrieve a sleek black case from a nearby table. When he turned back around, he held up a bottle of champagne, its golden liquid glistening under the soft candlelight. I gasped. “You
Gina's POV The drive to the estate was nothing short of magical. With the countryside stretching out before us, golden fields bathed in sunlight and rolling hills fading into the horizon, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t experienced in a long time. Alex had one hand on the wheel, his other hand reaching over to gently intertwine his fingers with mine. Every so often, he would glance at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he cracked one joke after another. I couldn’t stop laughing. “Okay, okay, stop! My cheeks are hurting,” I giggled, swatting at his arm playfully. “You love my jokes,” he smirked. I rolled my eyes but couldn’t deny it. He had a way of making me laugh so effortlessly, even when I least expected it. As the radio played a soft tune, Alex suddenly turned up the volume and grinned at me. “Come on, let’s sing!” I raised an eyebrow. “You *know* I can’t sing.” “That’s the fun part!” he teased. And just like that, we both burst into song, completely out o
Gina's POV The next afternoon, as I sat in the living room, sipping tea and flipping through a book, Alex walked in with a mischievous smile. "We’re leaving tomorrow," he announced. I raised a brow, setting my book aside. "Leaving? Where to?" "The estate," he said, walking over to sit beside me. He took my hand in his, gently rubbing circles against my palm. "I figured we could spend some time there alone, just the two of us. Consider it a romantic getaway." A rush of excitement flooded through me. I hadn’t even stepped foot in my grandfather’s estate yet, and now, Alex wanted to take me there for a whole week? "A vacation?" I beamed. He nodded. "Just you and me." I nearly squealed, throwing my arms around him. "That sounds amazing!" His deep chuckle vibrated against my chest as he hugged me back. As soon as I pulled away, I called for Lana. "We have to start packing!" ### **Packing for the Trip** Lana followed me upstairs, and as soon as we reached my room, I s
Gina's POV Ever since I returned from the hospital, Alex had been treating me like a delicate piece of glass. He barely let me lift a finger, always making sure I had everything I needed before I could even ask. At first, I appreciated his attentiveness, but after a while, it started to feel overwhelming. "Alex, I can do it myself," I protested one morning when he tried to help me put on my slippers. He ignored my complaint, slipping them onto my feet with ease. "You’re pregnant, Gina. You shouldn’t have to worry about anything." I rolled my eyes. "I’m not an invalid. I can still function, you know." He smirked but didn’t argue, simply brushing a kiss against my forehead before heading to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. This had been my life for the past few weeks—Alex doting on me as if I were royalty. I won’t lie; it felt good to be cared for, to be loved in a way I had never truly experienced before. But at the same time, it terrified me. Was he doing this because he
Gina's POV The air inside the car felt heavy as Alex and I rode home from the hospital. My hands rested gently over my stomach, still trying to grasp the reality of the life growing inside me. I should have been happy. This was supposed to be a moment of joy, of hope. Yet, deep inside, I felt something else—something dark, uncertain. The doctor had given me strict instructions—what to eat, what to avoid, when to come in for checkups. She had been reassuring, telling me that everything looked fine, that I was healthy. But none of it eased the fear that gnawed at my chest. Alex glanced at me as he drove. “You’ve been quiet,” he noted softly. I forced a small smile. “Just tired.” He reached for my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “We’ll get through this together.” I nodded but said nothing. When we arrived home, Lana was already waiting for us. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she rushed toward me. “Oh my God, Gina! I just heard!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a hug. “
Gina's POV As Alex and I stepped out of the courthouse, the blinding flashes of cameras assaulted my eyes. The air buzzed with urgency as reporters pushed microphones in our faces, bombarding us with an endless stream of questions. “Miss Saxton, how do you feel about the verdict?” “Do you think justice was truly served today?” “What are your plans for Julian’s company now that it’s been shut down?” "How do you feel about your family members being imprisoned?""What was your reaction when you found out that your sister was with your husband?"Their voices blurred together, a chaotic mixture of curiosity, speculation, and sensationalism. I kept my face expressionless, my lips pressed into a firm line as I walked forward. I had no interest in feeding the media frenzy. Alex, ever the protective force beside me, placed a firm hand on my lower back, guiding me through the throng of reporters. He shot a glare at one particularly aggressive journalist who tried to block our path.
Gina's POV Today was the day. I had waited for this moment for so long that it almost felt surreal. As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind replayed everything that had led up to this. The betrayals, the suffering, the fight for justice—it all came down to this one day. But before I could dwell too much on it, a wave of nausea hit me suddenly and violently. My stomach churned, and I barely had time to rush to the bathroom before I was kneeling over the toilet, vomiting. I gripped the sink afterward, breathing heavily as I wiped my mouth. What was that? I wasn’t sick. I wasn’t even nervous, not really. So why did my body react like this? A soft knock on the bathroom door made me turn. Lana, my personal assistant, peeked in, her face etched with concern. “Gina? Are you okay?” she asked, stepping closer. I forced a small smile. “I’m fine. Probably just the stress.” Lana didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push further. Instead, she helped me freshen up befor
Gina's POV #Gina's Triumph The night was ours. After months of battles, betrayals, and carefully orchestrated revenge, Alex and I finally had the victory we deserved. As we drove home, the cool night breeze drifted through the car windows, carrying with it the scent of the city—fresh rain on asphalt, the distant aroma of food vendors closing shop, and the faint trace of the ocean in the distance. I let my head rest against the window, a slow smirk playing on my lips as I replayed the look of horror on Julian, Lily, Monica, and Antoinette’s faces when the police took them away. Justice. Finally. Alex reached over and placed a hand on my thigh, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You did it, Gina,” he murmured. “You got your revenge.” I turned to face him, my heart swelling with gratitude. “*We* did it.” He chuckled. “Damn right we did. Now let’s celebrate.” Stopping by a liquor store, we grabbed several bottles of expensive wine and whiskey. Tonight wasn’t about drinking in
Gina's POV The time was almost 10pm. I had closed from work and now, I have one thing left before I can retire for the day. Yeah, call me wicked, but I love having my revengeAfterall, everyone gets what they deserve.The evening air was thick with the promise of a storm, but I felt nothing but satisfaction as I pulled up in front of the police station. The street lights flickered above, casting elongated shadows as I stepped out of my car and walked toward the entrance. My heels clicked against the pavement, the sound sharp and unwavering—just like my resolve. Inside, the station bustled with activity. Officers moved from desk to desk, filing reports, answering calls, and booking criminals. The scent of stale coffee and ink filled the air, but I ignored it, heading straight to the front desk where a tired-looking officer sat, skimming through some documents. He looked up, his gaze assessing. “How can I help you?” “I’d like to press charges,” I said, my voice firm. His brow l