CHAPTER 034The air in Jervis’s office was heavy, almost oppressive; the quiet found its way to a grave as Jervis spread the papers across the sleek, polished desk. The papers were more damning than the last, but it wasn’t the papers that had me on edge; it was Jervis. His jaw was tight, his green eyes sharp and unrelenting as they stared into mine. He was preparing to tell me something I wouldn’t want to hear.He said softly, but steadily, “You need to see this.” The edges of the sheet were crisp, as if the information it contained had been meticulously prepared to shatter me, and he slid it toward me.It was a tangle of numbers, names, and transactions I couldn’t make sense of. But one line, highlighted in bold yellow, caught my attention: I received a transfer of an obscene amount of money to a name I didn’t recognize. I traced the numbers with my eyes; my fingers trembled.“What am I looking at?” I whispered.Jervis leaned forward and explained, “This is one of Rowan’s accounts.”
CHAPTER 035A heavy, deliberate knock at the door jolted through my chest. My hand gripped the edge of the kitchen counter as if it could anchor me, and I froze. I already knew who it was. Rowan was always the most perfect, the most calculated. I paused, wondering if I should open the door or act as if I wasn’t home. The second knock, harder and more demanding, was the one that made me move.He was standing there, his blue eyes burning against the dim light of the hallway, when I opened the door. Impeccably dressed, he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. He stood in the doorway, and for a moment I couldn’t speak."Are you going to let me in, or do we need to have this conversation where the whole building can hear?" His tone was calm, even casual, but there was weight in his voice that made me take a step back, mindlessly.Not waiting for an invitation, he stepped inside and brushed past me with a confidence that meant I could hardly breathe in the space. My pulse quickened, and I cl
CHAPTER 036The dim light cast long shadows over the piles of papers in front of me as I sat in Jervis’s office. I turned another page; the words swung before my eyes, and my hands trembled. Every little signator told a story of betrayal I wasn’t prepared for. These weren’t random documents; this was my father’s desperation, his trust, and Rowan’s calculated cruelty.“Is this all of it?” I asked the question, my voice cracking, barely able to look Jervis in the eye.His lips pressed into a grim line, he nodded. That’s enough to prove what Rowan did. The contracts alone prove how he took over your father’s company. It gets worse when you look at the hidden transactions.”I didn’t want to look. I didn’t want to see any more how Rowan had taken everything my father had worked for. But I couldn’t stop myself. I perused through numerous emails, contracts, and other related documents. His name was Rowan, and his signature graced every deal that reduced the rest of my family to a meager exis
CHAPTER 037The last face I wanted to see was Rowan’s when I opened my door. There he was, tall and standing unyielding, his sharp blue eyes boring into mine. He didn’t wait for an invitation; he stepped inside as if he belonged here. He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. But it was too late.The voice was calm, too calm, so he said, “We need to talk.” The atmosphere surrounding him was charged, akin to the onset of a storm.Reluctantly, I shut the door, but not in agreement. I shot back, my tone sharper than I meant to be, “I don’t think we have anything left to say.”Rowan turned to me, his face blank. “Sarah, you’re making a mistake.” His voice was steady, but there was something darker laced in it, and he stepped closer. Do you think you can fight me with those papers? Trust Jervis to protect you? “You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”I folded my arms across my chest, trying to hide my fear deep down where he couldn’t see it. “I know exactly what I’m dealing
CHAPTER 038The café felt too quiet. I looked to every shadow, every corner, as though Rowan were going to step out of the dark any second. My hands gripped the edge of the table so tightly I could feel the rough wood pressing into my palms, and the coffee in front of me had gone cold, untouched. Across from me sat Jervis, calm, collected, and completely out of sync with the chaos that was raging inside of me.He slid a manila file across the desk toward me. "This is it," he said, his voice soft but firm. Your way out.”I looked at the file like it was a dangerous thing. “Out?” I whispered, my voice cracking to the point of barely being audible. “You think it’s that simple?”His green eyes were sharp and determined. Jervis leaned forward. It’s not easy, but it can be done. Look inside.”I opened the folder with trembling hands. Plane tickets. A new ID. Another name bank account. It all stared back at me, screaming one thing: leave.“Disappear,” Jervis said, as if he could hear my thou
CHAPTER 039Rowan's arrival hit me hard. His knock wasn’t loud, but it still cut through the walls of my apartment, through my thoughts. Dread and frustration collided inside me, and my hand hovered over the doorknob. I knew it was him without having to open the door. Somehow, I always knew.I finally turned the knob, and there he was, calm but commanding, his blue eyes pinning me in place as if I were caught in some invisible snare. “We need to talk,” he said. It wasn’t a request.He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, brushing past me and the smell of him, as familiar to me as his face was familiar. I slammed the door a little too hard, hoping he could hear the frustration in the sound.I crossed my arms over my chest and snapped, “I told you to stay away.” “You can’t just keep coming in like this.”His gaze swept over the room, and Rowan ignored my words. His presence made my small apartment seem even smaller. He spun around to face me, resting against the wall as if
CHAPTER 040 The city hummed softly below, but the penthouse was quiet. I sat on the soft sofa, staring at the steam and the coffee that Jervis had sat down in front of me. The room should’ve been warm, but my chest was tight, every breath heavier than the last. I hadn’t even taken a sip. I was trembling too much in my hands.Jervis’s voice cut through the silence, gentle enough. “You can let go here, Sarah,” he said. Across from me, he sat, elbows on his knees, green eyes steady on mine. “No judgment. Just talk.”I looked away from his gaze and swallowed hard. ‘I whispered the words, so bad my tongue felt them. Rowan came back again.’ “Same games, same warnings. He keeps telling me he’s protecting me, but all he’s doing is trapping me.”His jaw tightened, but Jervis didn’t speak right away. I looked at him, expecting him to wave it off, but he didn't.“He’s not protecting you,” he whispered. “He’s controlling you. That’s what men like him do. They make you feel like you can’t breathe
CHAPTER 041The air in the mansion was thick, building to storm potential. The moment I walked into the living room, I felt it. It wasn’t peaceful stillness; it was suffocating. Sitting there with their legs crossed, a now all too familiar smirk curled on their lips.She said sweetly, but her voice was like a knife wrapped in silk: "Sarah, you’re back." I didn’t reply. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of knowing how much she bothered me, so I just moved toward the staircase.“Heading out so soon?” she asked with more bite in her voice. “I thought you’d like to know what your dear husband said about you today.”That stopped me. Slowly I turned, my hands gripping the banister. “What are you talking about?”Lilith stood and was closer; her heels tapped against the polished floor. Her presence was sweet and suffocating, just like her perfume. She dragged out the words, “Oh, nothing.” “He just thinks you’ve been... distant.” Cold. He was not the loving wife he expected.”The ange
CHAPTER 055Sarah’s Moral Dilemma: Revenge vs. JusticeSarah Moon’s POINT OF VIEW!The weight of what I had exposed overwhelmed my chest. The documents in my hand—proof, hard, and undeniable—have been like poison seeping into my blood. Rowan’s empire of lies, manipulation, and crime became all specified in black and white. And, but, regardless of having everything I needed to damage him, there has been this gnawing feeling in me. What turned into I definitely after? Was this approximately revenge? Or turned into, I just... doing what turned into proper?I had already come this far. The path that had led me here had been lengthy and dark. From the primary day I’d gotten down to break him to now retaining the proof that might convey him down, each part of me screamed to smash him. But it changed into too smooth. Too enjoyable. A bitter kind of victory I wasn’t positive I desired anymore.I paced within the dimly lit condo, the town lighting fixtures flashing outside the window like a ne
CHAPTER 054Uncovering the Hidden Truth Behind Rowan’s SuccessSarah Moon's point of view!I could not sit down nevertheless. Not after everything that had come about. My mind was a whirlwind, spinning with questions, doubt, and rage. But one idea kept piercing through it all: I needed to understand. I had to understand how Rowan did it—how he constructed his empire, how he got all this electricity, all that money. What turned into the real secret?Megan had been insistent. She kept telling me to stay centered and not let the feelings blind me. But I have changed beyond emotions now. I needed answers, and I needed them rapidly.Flint Pharmaceuticals. That became what all of it led to. Where everything is related. Rowan wasn’t just a few business wealthy people; he was a crook mastermind hiding in the back of the cover of a respectable CEO.Megan had the plan. I wasn’t certain how, but she had the connections to get us into Flint. I didn’t care how risky it became. I’d come this far, a
CHAPTER 053Sarah's Hidden Ally Emerges from the ShadowsSarah's Point of View!The night felt heavier than regular as I walked again to my apartment, my head spinning. Rowan had driven me to the threshold, and just once I thought I couldn't stand it anymore, a call popped into my thoughts—Megan. She had been a former employee of Rowan’s, and although we didn’t speak a great deal, I remembered her eyes and the way she would look at me like she knew something I didn’t.Now, it seemed like the universe turned into pulling me closer to her. My phone buzzed in my pocket, interrupting my thoughts. I hesitated before pulling it out, already understanding it wasn’t going to be accurate information. It was an encrypted message from a random variety.“Meet me at the vintage warehouse the following day. I actually have something you need to recognize. Don’t believe anybody. Not even Rowan.I stood nonetheless, the hairs at the back of my neck standing up. Megan. This had to be her. My thoughts
CHAPTER 052Rowan’s Point of ViewI waited for her to come back from wherever she’d run off to. The tension in the air was almost suffocating. No one I’d ever dealt with was like Sarah. Charm or force could not sway her. The longer I waited, the more restless I became.I looked up from where I sat when the door creaked open. Her eyes were sharp and suspicious, as if she already knew I had something planned.With a cold voice, she asked, "What now, Rowan?"I pulled the small velvet box from my pocket and stood. Giving her something so small and trivial was a ridiculous gesture, especially considering the weight of everything I'd done to her. But I had to try.I stepped closer. “This is for you.”She looked at the box, then back at me. “Do you think you can buy me off with a gift?”I held it out and admitted, “No.” “I think you deserve something that proves I’m not your enemy.”She didn’t take it. Her jaw was tight, and she just stared at me. “What is it?”“Open it and see.”As she tore
CHAPTER 051Outside the storm had calmed a little, but inside my heart was a raging mess. My fingers sifted through the yellowed papers, searching for anything that could possibly explain the whisper I'd heard earlier."You don’t need to know who you really are."Those words had burrowed themselves into my mind, scratching at me like an itch I couldn’t reach.I wasn’t alone in the room. Detective Carter stood in the corner, arms crossed, his shadow reaching across the walls. He didn’t talk much, only watched me as I looked at him with that penetrating gaze that made me feel like I was trying to unravel some mystery he couldn’t even solve himself."What are we looking for?" His voice finally broke the silence, asking, "What are we looking for?"I didn’t look up. "The truth.""What's the truth about, Sarah?"I hesitated. Did I even know? The pull, though, was stronger than my doubt, and I kept going, the fragile papers crinkling under my fingertips.Then I saw it. A name. My name."Sara
CHAPTER 050 SARAH'S POINT OF VIEW With Jervis driving us out of the chaos of the house, I listened to the soft hum of the car engine. My thoughts collided; my mind filled with ideas. I looked at him, his jaw clenched as he stared at the road. Finally, I uttered, "I don't know where to start."His grip on the steering wheel tightened, but he didn’t look at me. Sarah, you don’t have to say anything. I get it. I also think you deserve better than what Rowan’s giving you.” His words were heavy and sharp, hanging in the air. I looked out the window, the city lights all blending together. I whispered, “It’s not that simple.” Jervis' frustration was palpable, and he sighed in response. You’re making it complicated; it’s not simple. The guy’s toxic, Sarah. “You know he’s controlling you.” His bluntness made me flinch, but I didn’t argue. My mind betrayed me, flashing back to Rowan earlier that night. He had seized my arm in a commanding and desperate manner, his eyes piercing.Jervis pu
CHAPTER 049 SARAH’S POINT OF VIEW I heard Lilith’s laugh in my head long after she left the room. The venom in her voice and the sharpness in every word cut me deeply, leaving her wounds like tiny knives that continued to pierce me. Every time she lost her grip, her danger increased. She was unraveling. I put my head against the window and stared out into the city, tears ruining my vision until the lights became streaks. I looked into the mirror and saw a woman ripped apart, barely hanging on. I wanted to scream, to hurl something that would allow the turmoil inside me to escape. I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, but instead I felt nothing.Steady footsteps dragged toward me from the hallway. My heart leapt. Rowan. The door creaked open, and he was standing there, frustration stamped across his face. As if summoned against his will, he crossed his arms and leaned against the frame.“What did Lilith say to you this time?” His voice was sharp, yet it ca
CHAPTER 048 SARAH’S POINT OF VIEW My apartment was silent, and I felt like I was being slowly hanged. I clenched my hands into fists on the counter, taking shallow, quick breaths, trying to stop my thoughts racing. Rowan’s last words wouldn’t stop playing in my head. Sarah, you have no idea what’s coming. But you will.” It wasn’t a threat; it was worse. It was a promise. I looked at my phone on the table; its screen was dark and ominous. I wanted to call Jervis, wanting to hear his steady, reassuring voice tell me everything would be fine. The other part, the stronger part, knew I couldn’t rely on him for this. Whatever Rowan was planning, it was for me. I hesitated, my hand hovering over the phone. The sound of a loud knock at the door knocked me out of my thoughts, and I felt my heart swell up into my throat. Not again.“Sarah, open up!” I heard the familiar voice, and relief flooded me. Jervis.I unlocked the door quickly, practically stumbling to it. His hair was slightly
CHAPTER 047 Sarah’s Point of View Even cozy in its disarray, Jervis’s apartment felt safe. The corner lamp cast soft yellow light over the wooden floors, casting long shadows. It should have been comforting, but this evening it only made me more restless. I looked out the rain-splattered window, cars blurring past below. Jervis spoke behind me, his voice low and careful. “You can’t keep doing this to yourself, Sarah." I turned, and his steady green eyes met mine. His arms crossed, he was leaning against the kitchen counter. The laxity of his demeanour could not conceal the potency in his expression, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar. “I don’t know what you mean,” I said, but we both knew I was lying. His footsteps soft but firm, Jervis took a step closer. You’re torturing yourself trying to untangle everything, Rowan, your family, all of it. At some point, you’ve got to decide what matters more: answers or peace." I ran a hand through my hair and laughed bitterly. “Peace? Af