The weight of Rowan’s revelation crushed down on me like a boulder. Victor didn’t just orchestrate my mother’s death—he used my father to do it. The room swayed for a moment, but I forced myself to stay upright. I couldn’t let the storm of emotions consume me now. Not with Joana here, her wide, innocent eyes begging me for answers I didn’t have."What do you mean?" I asked Rowan, my voice strained but firm. "What did my father do?"Rowan slammed the file onto the desk, the pages fluttering like restless ghosts. "This document outlines a significant financial transaction from Victor’s company to your father. It was made two days before your mother’s condition took a sudden turn. Victor doesn’t hand out money for no reason, Pamela. He’s manipulative, calculated. Whatever this
The tension was suffocating. Rowan’s warning about Victor’s men coming for the files reverberated in my mind like a drumbeat. Joana looked pale, her lips parted in disbelief as if she were waiting for someone to say it was all a misunderstanding. But no one spoke.I was the first to break the silence. "What do you mean they’re coming tonight? Are they attacking the villa?"Rowan exhaled sharply and crossed his arms. "Not an attack in the traditional sense. Victor doesn’t want a scene. He’ll send his people to try and sneak in—probably to ransack my study, grab the files, and leave. But if they can’t find what they want, they won’t hesitate to escalate."Joana gripped the armrest of her chair,
Rowan’s warning to stay in the safe room echoed in my ears as the minutes stretched into what felt like hours. The silence in the villa was oppressive, broken only by Joana’s quiet sniffles. I kept my eyes glued to the remaining live camera feeds, desperate for any sign of Rowan or Victor’s men.Joana sat beside me on the small bench by the monitor, her knee bouncing nervously. "Pamela, what if Rowan can’t stop them? What if—""Don’t think like that," I interrupted, my voice sharper than I intended. I took a deep breath to steady myself and softened my tone. "Rowan has dealt with Victor before. He knows what he’s doing."Joana’s lips quivered, and she nodded reluctantly, but the
The following morning, the villa felt quieter than usual. The air was thick with tension, and even the usual hum of the house staff seemed muted, as if they, too, were aware of the storm brewing on the horizon. Joana had gone to her room, exhausted from the night’s events, and Rowan had disappeared somewhere into the villa, no doubt strategizing for the next phase of his plan.I found myself standing by the window, staring out at the sprawling grounds that surrounded the villa. The gardens were peaceful, a sharp contrast to the chaos that seemed to lurk just beyond our doorstep. The events of the previous night felt like a fever dream, a blur of voices, threats, and unsettling revelations. I still wasn’t sure who was behind the men who had tried to break into the safe room, but one thing was clear—Victor wasn’t the only threat we had to worry about.&n
Pamela’s Point of ViewI step from the cab onto rain that comes down in sheets, soaking me to the bone the instant my feet hit pavement. My hair feels plastered on my face, my clothes are soaked, and I can feel the water squeaking in my shoes. None of that matters. My sister is in the hospital, fighting for her life, and I have no one else to turn to but him-my father.I push the heavy glass doors open to my father's building. As I do, I try to suppress the shiver that threatens to run through me. The lobby is as cold and uninviting as it ever was, a perfect reflection of the man who owns it. The receptionist gives me a once-over; her eyes widen slightly at my disheveled appearance, but I don't stop. I am unable to. I need to see him.My father is in a meeting, but quite frankly, I don't give a damn. I stomp toward the conference room, not allowing all the staring and whispered conversations to be a deterrent against me. With every step that brings me closer, my heart beats more rapid
Rowan’s Point of ViewI watch as Pamela disappears into the rain, her drenched figure quickly melding into the darkened city streets. The corner of my lips curls into a smirk, the cigarette between my fingers flaring to life as I take a slow, deliberate drag. Something inside me stirs at the sight of her running away, desperate and hopeless—something cold, calculating, and satisfied.She's infinitely more beautiful when she's angry, I think, exhaling a cloud of smoke into the crisp night air. It’s almost funny how fast she can be driven to that fire-filled side, the one that makes her defiant even in the face of her own despair. And this is only just the beginning.I flick the cigarette to the ground, mash it with my heel, and stride toward my car. My driver opens the door, and as I slide into the back seat, I pull out my phone. My finger hovers over Tristan Jones's number before I press dial. The call connects in a ring or two, and I can hear the desperation in his voice before he ev
Pamela's Point of ViewThe sterile smell of disinfectant fills my nostrils, and I sit here in the dimly lit corridor of the hospital, staring off at the beige walls. Quiet beeping of medical machinery and the minimum shuffling of feet move into a rhythmic background to my tattered nerves. My sister Joana is lying unconscious in one of those rooms, her condition critical from the accident. I can't process the fear and worry wanting to strangle me.My phone vibrates in my pocket, pulling me from my reverie. I glance down at the screen to find a message from my father, Tristan Jones.[I can help with the hospital bills. I’m in the hospital.]I stare for a long time at the message.I've had a pretty complicated relationship with my father, ever since his new life with his new wife and two new daughters made it clear my sister and I were no longer priorities in his life. That sense of betrayal still burns.I see him walking down the hall toward me, his face a mask of resolution and relucta
Pamela's Point of ViewI freeze outside of this mansion; the façade is grand and imposing, a fortress that could not be breached. The man, so tall and imposing, so arrogant, draws me inside by a cool detachedness, his fingers firm on my arm yet not hurting me. The warmth and richness in the interior of the mansion did little to thaw the coldness deeply in my bones.Long corridors are passed, tapestries of the richest kind, floors shining bright, and walls adorned with expensive art catch my eye. Everything about this place screams of wealth and power, but to me, it's no different from a prison. My mind begins to juggle various thoughts. My father had sold me to this man-literally. It's a burning betrayal, but there's no time for that either. Somehow, I have to get out of this nightmare.We eventually stop before a heavy oak door. The man turns into me, his eyes gleaming with mirth in the dark and a glimmer of superiority.“You should know with whom you're dealing,” he says, his tone o
The following morning, the villa felt quieter than usual. The air was thick with tension, and even the usual hum of the house staff seemed muted, as if they, too, were aware of the storm brewing on the horizon. Joana had gone to her room, exhausted from the night’s events, and Rowan had disappeared somewhere into the villa, no doubt strategizing for the next phase of his plan.I found myself standing by the window, staring out at the sprawling grounds that surrounded the villa. The gardens were peaceful, a sharp contrast to the chaos that seemed to lurk just beyond our doorstep. The events of the previous night felt like a fever dream, a blur of voices, threats, and unsettling revelations. I still wasn’t sure who was behind the men who had tried to break into the safe room, but one thing was clear—Victor wasn’t the only threat we had to worry about.&n
Rowan’s warning to stay in the safe room echoed in my ears as the minutes stretched into what felt like hours. The silence in the villa was oppressive, broken only by Joana’s quiet sniffles. I kept my eyes glued to the remaining live camera feeds, desperate for any sign of Rowan or Victor’s men.Joana sat beside me on the small bench by the monitor, her knee bouncing nervously. "Pamela, what if Rowan can’t stop them? What if—""Don’t think like that," I interrupted, my voice sharper than I intended. I took a deep breath to steady myself and softened my tone. "Rowan has dealt with Victor before. He knows what he’s doing."Joana’s lips quivered, and she nodded reluctantly, but the
The tension was suffocating. Rowan’s warning about Victor’s men coming for the files reverberated in my mind like a drumbeat. Joana looked pale, her lips parted in disbelief as if she were waiting for someone to say it was all a misunderstanding. But no one spoke.I was the first to break the silence. "What do you mean they’re coming tonight? Are they attacking the villa?"Rowan exhaled sharply and crossed his arms. "Not an attack in the traditional sense. Victor doesn’t want a scene. He’ll send his people to try and sneak in—probably to ransack my study, grab the files, and leave. But if they can’t find what they want, they won’t hesitate to escalate."Joana gripped the armrest of her chair,
The weight of Rowan’s revelation crushed down on me like a boulder. Victor didn’t just orchestrate my mother’s death—he used my father to do it. The room swayed for a moment, but I forced myself to stay upright. I couldn’t let the storm of emotions consume me now. Not with Joana here, her wide, innocent eyes begging me for answers I didn’t have."What do you mean?" I asked Rowan, my voice strained but firm. "What did my father do?"Rowan slammed the file onto the desk, the pages fluttering like restless ghosts. "This document outlines a significant financial transaction from Victor’s company to your father. It was made two days before your mother’s condition took a sudden turn. Victor doesn’t hand out money for no reason, Pamela. He’s manipulative, calculated. Whatever this
Pamela's Point of View Rowan pulled me behind him, his shoulders squared as he stood between me and the approaching men. The air around us felt heavy, charged with tension, and every step they took closer set my nerves on edge. There were five of them, each dressed in dark clothing, their faces half-hidden in shadows. The one leading them had a cocky smirk that made my stomach churn."Hand it over, Hamilton," the man said, his voice calm but dripping with menace. "You’ve got something that doesn’t belong to you."Rowan didn’t flinch. "If Victor wanted it so badly, maybe he shouldn’t leave his secrets lying around."The man’s smirk faded, replaced by a sharp glare. "You’re making this harder than it needs to be. Give us the files, and maybe we’ll let you walk out of here."My heart raced as I clutched Rowan’s arm. I couldn’t tell if I was trembling because of fear or anger. The thought of Victor always being one step ahead, always pulling strings, made me want to scream. Rowan reached
Pamela’s Point of ViewThe tension in the room was suffocating as Rowan ended the call with Lyka. His face was unreadable, a mask of calm that I knew he wore to keep his emotions in check. But his knuckles, white from gripping his phone, betrayed his inner turmoil.“What did she say?” I asked, my voice low but steady.Rowan inhaled sharply, placing the phone on the table. “Victor knows we’re digging into him. Lyka says he’s preparing to make his move.”“What does that mean? Is he coming after you? After us?” Panic crept into my voice despite my effort to stay composed.“I don’t know yet,&rdqu
Pamela’s Point of ViewThe minutes ticked by in heavy silence after Rowan’s phone buzzed. His jaw tightened as he stared at the screen, his fingers hovering over the reply button.“What are you going to say to her?” I asked, breaking the tension.Rowan glanced up at me, his eyes clouded with a mix of frustration and resolve. “I don’t have a choice. If she’s involved in this mess, I need to know.”I crossed my arms. “So you’re meeting her tonight?”He nodded, sliding the phone back onto the desk. “It’s the only way to fi
Pamela’s Point of ViewThe silence in the room was deafening after Lillian left. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might break through my chest. Rowan stood there, his hands gripping the edge of the desk, his knuckles white.“She’s lying,” he said finally, his voice barely audible.I didn’t know if I believed him. “Lying about what, Rowan? Because so far, nothing about your family has given me a reason to think they’re honest.”Rowan turned to face me, his expression a mix of anger and desperation. “I had no idea about that letter or any of her threats. You have to believe me, Pamela. I’ve been try
Pamela’s Point of ViewThe air outside was cold and crisp, biting against my skin as I stumbled into the villa’s garden. My mind raced with a storm of emotions—confusion, anger, and a deep sense of betrayal that churned my stomach. I had believed Rowan, trusted him, even as the cracks in his façade began to show. Now, with Evelyn’s accusations and the damning evidence she provided, I felt my world splintering apart.But one thing was clear: I couldn’t run forever.I found myself at the garden bench where I often sat to clear my mind. Tonight, the stars overhead provided no comfort. They were distant, cold pinpricks of light, mirroring the isolation I felt. As I sat, trying to piece everything together, my phone buz