Gina’s POVThe phone pressed against my ear, I paced the length of my office, my heels clicking against the marble floor. "Just stay put, Elena," I hissed, glancing toward the door. "I need time to figure out our next move. We can’t afford another slip-up." Elena sighed on the other end. "We should've taken care of her the moment she walked back into his life." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I know that," I snapped. "But we need a smarter approach. Monica’s in the way, and Julian… he’s unpredictable when it comes to Lily. If we move too soon, we risk everything." A beat of silence stretched between us before Elena muttered, "Fine. But hurry up"The moment I hung up the call with Elena, I let out a sigh, tapping my nails against the desk. The wheels in my mind were already turning, formulating the next step. Julian, Lily, Monica—none of them would see what was coming. I would make sure of that. But just as I leaned back in my chair, I felt a presence behind me. My body tense
Gina’s POVThe moment Alex stormed out, the walls of my world caved in around me. I collapsed onto the bed, my body curling in on itself as an unexpected wave of emotion crashed over me. My chest tightened, and before I could stop it, a sob ripped through my throat. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks, soaking the silk sheets beneath me. He didn’t understand. No one understood. Alex thought I was bitter. He thought this was some petty attempt to hold onto a past that was already lost. He thought I was just another scorned woman who couldn’t move on. But he was wrong.This wasn’t about bitterness. This wasn’t about love. This was about justice.I pressed my face into my hands, my nails digging into my skin as I let the memories claw their way to the surface—the memories I had buried so deep I had almost convinced myself they no longer had power over me. But they did. They always did. I had once loved Julian with every piece of my soul. I had once believed he was my forever,
Lily's POVI was in the garden tending to the overgrown flowers that had been carefully arranged by me some weeks back, when I heard some footsteps and felt a presence behind me.I picked a particular daffodil, held it up to my nostrils and smiled in satisfaction. The scent of fresh flowers is always refreshing.I needed to pick some fresh flowers for my room, just to rearrange and give it a new look.It's been two days since Elena left to take care of her mother and I haven't heard from her ever since. I just hope she is well and fine.Julian must have been the one that stepped into the garden. Thinking of him, standing there, watching me attend to my little plants brought another smile to lips.“Ma'am, I'm sorry to interrupt you.” A voice said from behind, breaking me out of my reverie.“Oh,” I turned to see Carla, one of the maids standing right behind me, with her hands in front of her. Her fingers were trembling and from the way she folded them at intervals, she made it obvious t
Lily's POVI was visibly shocked at the revelation. It seems there are many other things that I'm not aware of.“Yes Ma'am. I thought Elena would tell you but it seems your mum wanted her visit to be kept secret.” Carla said.I nodded in acknowledgement, taking in everything in good faith in as much as anger lurked in my stomach.“So, what else do I need to know about her visit? Aside asking about Elena, did she ask anything else?” I queried.“Nothing else. She only asked me to keep an eye on Elena. She dismissed me afterwards, so I didn't know when she left eventually.” “Have you been doing as she said ever since then? And she really didn't give you a reason for her suspicions?” It didn't make sense that my mum would suddenly be suspicious of Elena.The last time she visited, she made it quite obvious that she doesn't like Elena, but I thought that everything died down after going to the hospital that day.Well, she probably has some doubts left. But she would have asked me directly
Lily's POVI dismissed Carla with a wave of my hand, still fuming. My head pounded from the frustration of dealing with Julian’s indifference. How could he be so casual about this? I stormed into our bedroom, slamming the door behind me. But instead of pacing around in anger like I usually did, I forced myself to sit on the edge of the bed and take a deep breath. I’ll wait. Julian wanted to enjoy his dinner? Fine. Let him. But once he was done, he *would* listen to me. So I sat there, arms crossed, counting the minutes. After what felt like an eternity, I heard the sound of his chair scraping against the floor, then footsteps heading toward the living room. I followed. And when I walked in, there he was—lying comfortably on the couch, his legs stretched out, a beer bottle in one hand, eyes fixed on the damn TV. Football. Of course, it was football. I inhaled sharply, willing myself to stay calm. I walked up to him, standing directly in his line of vision, but h
Lily's POVI paced the sitting room, my arms crossed over my chest, my nerves on edge. Julian sat on the couch, watching his football game like there wasn’t something urgent at stake. His calmness only fueled my frustration. "Lily, come sit down," Julian said, glancing at me briefly before returning his attention to the screen. “She’ll be here soon,” he said lazily from the couch, his eyes glued to the screen. I shot him an annoyed look. "How can you be so relaxed? This is important!" "I'm not relaxed. I'm waiting—like you should be." "You don’t understand how urgent this feels." Julian sighed, muting the TV. "I do, but pacing won’t make Monica arrive any faster." Julian leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head. "It’s your mom we’re talking about. She does things at her own pace." I shot him a glare. "That’s the problem." I ignored him and continued walking back and forth, my thoughts a jumbled mess. Where was she? She said she’d be here an hour ago. Another
Julian’s POVMonica leaned back against the couch, arms crossed, her expression dark with satisfaction. “It’s the only way,” she muttered. “Elena’s caused enough damage. We need to make sure she doesn’t get another chance.” Lily sat beside me, her fingers curling into the fabric of her jeans. She hadn’t spoken much since Monica revealed Elena’s actions. I knew she was trying to process everything, trying to understand how someone she trusted could betray us so thoroughly. I exhaled, rubbing a hand down my face. “We just have to be smart about it,” I said. “We can’t leave any loose ends.” Monica smirked. “That’s why I suggested kidnapping her. Scare her enough to disappear, or… something more permanent.” Lily’s head snapped up. “Mom, we’re not killers.” Monica raised a brow. “No, but we know people who are.” The weight of her words settled over us. Monica was ruthless when it came to protecting those she cared about. And right now, she wanted Elena to pay. “Who do you kno
Gina's POV I sat at the head seat inside the boardroom, overlooking the city's landscape. It was indeed a sight to behold but the beauty wasn't where my attention was.I thought of the last fight I had with Alex, within the week. He had called me a bitter and vengeful woman. The words still rang in my ear repeatedly.I had thought that Alex would support me in my quest for revenge against all the people who had wronged me but instead he said all sort of things about me.I never thought he would ever threaten me with our marriage. He had asked me to stop or risk losing everything.Previously, I had already begun to love and cherish Alex, as my husband and not just business partner. But now, he is using it against me.If I had known that he would have tried to stop me from having my sweet revenge, I would have just kept him at arm's length. Like I initially planned to do.Well, nothing is going to stop me from having my way in anything. If I must let him go, then I will.Maybe we aren'
Five years later, the estate is no longer just a retreat. It’s a sanctuary—a living, breathing testament to the resilience of love, family, and legacy. As I stand by the grand oak tree in the heart of Seraphina’s Garden, I can hear the laughter of children echoing through the estate. My daughter is among them, her golden curls bouncing with every step as she runs around with her friends, her infectious giggle carrying on the breeze.Seraphina. The little girl who was born during a storm and who now, in the light of day, flourishes as a beacon of joy and hope. She’s everything I ever dreamed of and more. Every day, she reminds me of the strength I had when I thought I had none. And every day, she teaches me that the future is always worth fighting for.I watch as Alex kneels on the grass, helping her with the butterfly she’s carefully cupping in her hands, showing her how to let it go, how to trust the world outside. His love for her is something more than I ever imagined. A father’s l
Gina's POV There’s something sacred about peace—not just the absence of chaos, but the quiet fullness of a life hard-earned. I used to wonder if I would ever know such a feeling. Now, sitting in the sun-drenched solarium with my daughter giggling in my lap and Alex stretched beside us on the chaise, I know I’ve found it.I’ve found home.And it didn’t come wrapped in the perfect package or with a roadmap. It came in storms and secrets, in compromise and conflict, in tear-streaked nights and breathtaking mornings. It came in the arms of a man I never expected to love. And in the eyes of a child who showed me how to live without fear again.That’s why I decided to write it all down.My story.Our story.At first, it started as therapy. I needed a way to untangle the knots left behind by everything that had happened—the contract marriage, Victor’s threats, the courtroom battles, Evelyn’s truth, and the secrets buried deep within the Saxton legacy. But the more I wrote, the more I realiz
Gina's POV We named her Seraphina.The moment I held her in my arms, I knew there was no other name that could ever fit. She was born from fire and softness, from struggle and grace. And as she blinked up at me with those curious hazel eyes, so much like mine yet startlingly like Alex’s, I felt my heart permanently tether to hers.“Seraphina,” I whispered against her soft cheek, brushing a kiss there. “You’re going to change everything.”****Weeks passed in a blur of midnight feedings, lullabies hummed through tired lips, and soft coos that echoed down the estate’s halls. Alex and I were exhausted, but blissfully so. Our world had narrowed to a singular, perfect focus—her.The estate, once a symbol of looming uncertainty and painful inheritance, had become our sanctuary. But I didn’t want it to be just ours. My grandfather’s name had been dragged through courtrooms and sullied by lies. I wanted something different—a legacy rooted in healing, not conflict.That’s how the idea for the
Gina's POV The nursery smelled like fresh paint and baby powder, soft sunlight streaming through the white lace curtains that fluttered slightly in the breeze. I sat on the rocking chair near the window, my hand resting over my growing belly, which had become more prominent with each passing week. I was just seven months along, and though I felt constantly tired and achy, I also felt an overwhelming sense of love swelling inside me—more than I thought was humanly possible.Alex had just left for a quick meeting with our lawyer to finalize some estate documents. Evelyn was downstairs preparing her herbal tea mix that she claimed would "bring me peace of mind and smooth sleep," and Lana was folding tiny baby clothes in the corner of the room. It was a quiet morning. Too quiet.I shifted in my seat, rubbing my belly as a sharp ache shot up my spine. I winced but brushed it off. Pregnancy was full of strange sensations—this had to be just one of them. But a few minutes later, the ache r
Gina's POV The courtroom was colder than I remembered, its marble walls echoing the low murmurs of conversation, the clicking of heels, the scratching of pens. I wasn’t physically there—I was still confined to my bed—but through the live stream set up on my bedside table, I watched everything unfold.Alex sat at the front beside our lawyer, composed and confident in his tailored navy suit. Beside him, Evelyn, dignified in a modest beige dress, clutched a worn leather folder tightly in her lap. Her hands trembled slightly, but her eyes held the strength of someone ready to face the ghosts of her past.I pulled the blanket tighter around me, my heart pounding. This was it.“Court is now in session,” the bailiff announced.I gripped the edge of my blanket. This wasn’t just about reclaiming the estate anymore. It was about reclaiming the truth—our family’s truth. It was about protecting our baby’s future from a man who had threatened everything we held dear.Victor sat across the room, a
Gina's POV The room was silent except for the steady ticking of the antique grandfather clock that stood tall near the window. I lay in bed, propped up with an array of soft pillows, my hands gently resting on my growing belly. The sun had barely risen, but I hadn’t slept. My mind buzzed with anxiety, thoughts turning in endless circles.Alex had been pacing the hallway since dawn, talking to lawyers and strategists, his voice hushed but urgent. I could feel the weight of our reality pressing down harder with each passing day. The threat Victor posed wasn’t just legal anymore—it was dangerous, personal. And with each letter from Evelyn, each scrap of evidence we uncovered, the stakes only grew.I had never imagined a world where my family’s legacy could turn into a battlefield, or where protecting my unborn child would mean playing dangerous games of deception and strategy.When Alex finally stepped into the bedroom, his face was pale but determined. His suit was pressed, his tie per
Gina’s POV The morning sunlight filtered gently through the gauzy curtains, wrapping the living room in a soft golden glow. The sound of waves crashing against the distant shoreline was like a lullaby to my anxious heart, and for the first time in days, I allowed myself to relax. I stretched slightly on the couch, my swollen belly cradled by pillows, and let my eyes drift lazily across the pages of the book I was reading.Lana sat just behind me, carefully running a wide-tooth comb through my tangled hair. She was gentle—always had been. Her hands worked through the knots in slow, practiced strokes, humming quietly as she did so. It reminded me of childhood days, when my mother would brush my hair and talk softly about her dreams and regrets. It brought a strange sense of comfort, even amidst the chaos of recent events.“Lana,” I murmured, closing my book and glancing over my shoulder, “would you mind getting me a glass of water?”“Of course,” she replied warmly, setting the comb dow
Alex's POV The courthouse smelled of polished wood, nerves, and freshly brewed coffee. A place where truth was supposed to hold weight—but truth, I’ve learned, is fragile in the face of men like Victor Wells.The judge’s voice echoed in the courtroom as the proceedings began, stern and unwavering. I sat at the front bench beside our attorney, Mr. Langdon, a seasoned man with sharp eyes and a mind like steel. Beside Victor, his legal team looked smug—too smug for someone who hadn’t even seen the real documentation yet.Gina should’ve been here with me. She would’ve sat tall and poised, even in fear. But the doctor’s orders had been clear: strict bed rest. No exceptions. Not when her life and our baby’s were on the line.Just the thought of her curled up at home in bed while this circus played out made my jaw tighten. I was here not just as a husband—but as her voice, her shield, her sword.Victor looked every bit the conman he was, wrapped in a tailored gray suit and arrogance. He sat
Gina's POV “He claims to be Martin’s son,” Evelyn said. “My grandson. Your cousin, Gina.”The room tilted slightly.“Claims? You're not sure?” Alex asked, cutting in.“That’s why he’s claiming the estate,” I said slowly. “Because he believes it’s rightfully his.”“Yes. But he doesn’t know the full truth. He doesn’t know what Wilson planned. And he certainly doesn’t know that I kept every letter. Every piece of proof.”“And yes, I'm not sure”, Evelyn continued, throwing us into further confusion.My son, Martin, never told me about his son. I know he had a child some years back but I never met him. Surprisingly, this Victor Wells, has the resemblance of Martin. I suggest you carry out a DNA test to be sure if he's from our lineage. That will give you all the answers that you need, because if he isn't, a court case wouldn't be necessary.’She slid a box across the table toward me. “It’s all here. Letters, photographs, even legal documents Wilson sent me but never filed. They’ll be enou