Chapter 113: Don't get killed
ETHANI leaned against the counter, staring at my phone for a moment before finally pressing the call button. The dial tone barely rang twice before Mia picked up.“Hey,” she answered, her voice soft.I exhaled, feeling lighter just hearing her. “Hey, baby. I wanted to tell you something.”“What is it?” She responded.I smiled, “I sent Emily away.”There was silence then she asked cautiously, “For real?”“For real. She packed up and left this morning. I told her she had no choice but to sign the divorce papers. She fought it, of course, but I don’t care. I should’ve done it sooner.” I responded, “hopefully, she doesn't cause any more problems.”There was another pause before she said, “I don’t even know what to say.”“Say you’ll come over.” I smiled, trying to ease the tensChapter 114: Did you groom her?JOHN EVANS“You really need to organize this mess,” Ava teased, holding up a stack of papers with a playful smirk. “How about I organize you?” I responded, wiggling my brows.She laughed, the soft melody filling my office as she ran her fingers along the edge of my desk. I chuckled, leaning back in my chair. “As for organizing the office files, isn't that what assistants are for?” She rolled her eyes. “I’m your secretary, dummy. You’re so impossible.” Something about the way she said it—her tone, the light amusement in her voice sent a sharp pang through my chest. It was the exact same way my dear Martha used to say it. For a moment, I saw my late wife standing there instead of Ava. Martha. I swallowed hard, the guilt creeping in on me. How could I be here with another wom
Chapter 115: A wreckMIAThe car ride home was unbearable. The silence between dad and I was suffocating and heavy. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, glancing at my father, but his hands remained tight on the steering wheel, his knuckles white. His jaw was clenched, his entire body was stiff with fury. I swallowed hard and finally gathered the courage to speak. “Dad…” My voice was quiet, hesitant. Nothing. “Can we at least talk about this?” I tried again, my fingers twisting in my lap. Still nothing. He didn’t even glance in my direction. I bit my lip, my chest tightening. “I know you’re mad, but…” He let out a sharp breath through his nose, gripping the wheel even tighter. “Mad?” he finally spoke, his voice dangerously low. “Mad doesn’t even begin to cover it. I'm livid, Mia Alexandria Evans.” I flinched, he never calls me by my full name. “Dad, I…” “Don’t! I do not want to do this with you, young woman.” His voice was cold, final. Tears stung my eyes. I hated th
Chapter 116: Danger to societyETHANPain was the first thing I felt when I woke up. A deep, throbbing ache that spread through my ribs and face like wildfire. I groaned, my head pounding as I forced my eyes open. My vision was blurry, but I could make out a figure sitting beside me. It was Emily. She was dabbing a cloth against my forehead, her face unreadable. “You’re awake,” she murmured, relief laced in her voice. I tried to sit up, but my body protested. “What the hell are you doing here?” I rasped. “You were beaten unconscious, Ethan,” she said matter-of-factly. “Someone had to take care of you.” I scoffed, wincing at the pain it caused. “I don’t need your help. You're the one who caused all these in the first place.” She frowned, clearly irritated. “You could at least say thank you, I mean, I did all of that for your own good. She doesn't deserve you, she too young for…”I glared. “I didn’t ask for your help. Get out.” She hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin
Chapter 117: Mr politicianLIAMI stood outside my apartment door, gripping my keys so tightly my knuckles turned white. I recalled what my boss told me as I got to the office.“We're sorry, we have to lay you off. We appreciate your time here.” That's how I was fired. Just like that, without any reason.I hadn’t even seen it coming. One moment, I was in a meeting, and the next, I was being pulled aside by my boss who told me that my services were no longer needed. No explanation. No warning.I forced a breath through my nose, trying to push the frustration down. I wasn’t going to tell Sophie. Not yet. She had been dealing with so much at work, and I didn’t want to add to her stress. I unlocked the door and stepped inside. The apartment was quiet. “Sophie?” I called, scanning the living room. No answer. I che
Chapter 118: FuryJOHN EVANSI dropped Mia off at the house and gave strict instructions to the security not to let her out. My blood was boiling and my fists clenched so tight my knuckles ached. The image of Ethan and Mia together, still fresh in my memory. My own best friend. My daughter. How could they? I needed to forget everything. I zoomed off, gripping the steering wheel, my breaths coming in short. I didn’t trust myself around Mia—not when I was this furious. I needed a drink. I drove aimlessly until I spotted a bar on the corner of an empty street. Without thinking, I pulled in, parked, and headed inside. The smell of alcohol and smoke hit me instantly. It was quiet, only a few people scattered around. Perfect. I walked straight to the counter. “Whiskey. Neat.” The bartender nodded, pourin
Chapter 119: AnxietySOPHIEMia was still asleep. I sat on the couch beside her, watching her. She looked exhausted, and I didn’t blame her. With everything happening, she deserved the rest. I tried to focus on her, on making sure she was okay, but my mind kept drifting. To Liam, the baby. To whether or not Liam even wanted this baby. He had reassured me, held me close, and told me we would be okay. But what if he was just saying that because he felt he had to? What if deep down, he was scared, or worse—regretful? He had always wanted to stand on his own, to build a life outside his father’s influence, I mean I even encouraged it but a baby changes everything. Did he see it as a burden? I shook my head at the thought. No. Liam loves me. He wouldn’t see our baby as a burden… right? Mia stirred beside me, stretching before her eyes slowly fluttered open. She blinked up at me sleepily. “You’re still here?” I managed a small smile. “Yeah, but I was just about to head home.”
Chapter 120: I'm not a childMIAI was curled up on the couch, absentmindedly scrolling through my phone when I heard the front door open. It was Uncle Greg.I sat up looking at him. Judging by the way he looked back at me, I had a feeling my dad had already told him everything. Greg walked into the living room, rubbing his neck, his eyebrows narrowing.“So,” he said, dropping onto the couch across from me, “you and Ethan, huh?” I swallowed. “Dad told you.” He snorted. “Told me? More like ranted for a full hour. I had to remind him to breathe at some point.” I let out a small, humorless laugh. “Sounds about right.” Greg leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Look, Mia, I get it.” I frowned. “You get it? That's a lie. No one understands me.” He nodded, sighing heavily. “You’re in love with someone older, someone who’s got baggage, someone who isn’t exactly an easy choice.” He paused. “I’ve been there.” I blinked. “Wait…what?” Greg rubbed his jaw, looking lik
Chapter 121: Innocent until proven guiltyETHANI barely had time to process the evidence I had gathered when my office door slammed open. A man strode in, wearing an expensive suit, his face red with fury. I didn’t bother standing. I simply leaned back in my chair and watched him. "You really think you’re untouchable, don’t you, Ethan?" He hissed, slamming his hands on my desk. I remained calm. "And who the hell are you? Barging into my office like you own the place." "Don’t play games with me," he snapped. "I know you had my late wife’s case reopened." I tilted my head. "Ah, so words travel fast. That’s interesting." His eyes darkened. "You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into." I let out a small chuckle. "That’s where you’re wrong. I know exactly what I’m getting into. The question is…do you?" Smith clenched his jaw. "Drop it, Ethan. I’m warning you." I stood slowly, placing my hands on my desk as I met his gaze. "You don’t get to warn me. You think I don’
Chapter 140: With all my heart ETHAN The soft hum of the television filled the living room as I scrolled through my phone absentmindedly. The news anchor’s voice droned on about economic fluctuations, political scandals—nothing that interested me. That was until I heard Smith Cole’s name. I glanced up at the screen. The bold letters at the bottom of the screen made my eyebrows lift. “BREAKING NEWS: BUSINESS TYCOON SMITH COLE FOUND DEAD IN PRISON CELL” I sat up, the remote slipping from my fingers. “According to sources, Smith Cole was found unresponsive in his cell early this morning. While initial reports suggest suicide, investigations are still ongoing.” I grabbed my phone and immediately dialed Greg. He picked up after two rings. “I was wondering how long it’d take you to call.” I didn’t waste time. “Did you hear the news?” Greg chuckled. “I knew the news before the news knew.” I froze. “Damn, don’t tell me you were behind this.” There was a pau
Chapter 139: OliviaMIA A Month Later.Time didn’t erase the grief I felt, but it softened the pain a little. A few months had passed since my dad’s death and Smith Cole’s sentencing, and while the pain still lingered, life had started moving forward. Uncle Greg had stepped up as the CEO of Evans Group, and surprisingly, he was doing a damn good job. It wasn’t just about running the company; it was about maintaining what dad had built. With Marvin by his side, helping in ways none of us had expected, the company was thriving again. His kids, Derrick and Amanda, had finally settled into life in New York. Amanda was adjusting well to her new school, making friends and embracing the city. Derrick became quieter but sharp as ever, and had taken a liking to Marvin. Watching my brother interact with them, laughing and being… normal, gave me hope. Ava moved out of the city after Dad's funeral, she said this city reminded her of him and if she needed to move on, she had to leave.Aunt
Chapter 138: CampingETHANThe drive to the cemetery was silent. Mia stared out the window, her fingers playing with the hem of her sweater. I knew she was deep in thought, maybe even trying to find the right words to say when we got there. I reached over, placing my hand over hers. "You don't have to say anything if you don't want to." She exhaled, nodding slightly but didn't look at me. When we arrived, she hesitated before stepping out of the car. The cemetery was quiet, the only sound being the rustling of leaves in the wind. I followed behind her, giving her space as she walked up to her father’s grave. She kneeled, tracing the name on the tombstone with her fingers. "Hi, Dad," she whispered. "It's been a while." I stayed back, leaning against the car, letting her have her moment. She wiped her eyes. "We won, you know. We got him. Smith Cole is going to rot in prison for the rest of his miserable life. Uncle Greg made sure of it." She let out a shaky breath. "But it d
Chapter 137: Together, We're strongerMIA"Mia, are you okay?" I heard as I woke up with a gasp, cold water dripping down my face. My heart pounded as my vision adjusted, and I saw Sophie kneeling beside me, her face filled with concern. I blinked rapidly, struggling to make sense of what had just happened. The last thing I remembered was seeing Ethan.Ethan, who was supposed to be dead, was standing in that courtroom. My chest tightened. Was I hallucinating? Was I losing my mind? “Thank goodness you're awake, you scared us Mia.” Aunt Cecilia exclaimed.I ignored her, “Wasn't that Ethan? I need to be sure, let's go back to the courtroom.”I struggled to get up and headed back into the courtroom, aunt Cecilia and Sophie behind me. Then I heard the judge’s voice. “In light of the overwhelming evidence presented to this court, Smith Cole is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.” My head snapped toward the judge’s bench. The courtroom was dead s
Chapter 136: Plea dealAUTHOR POVThe world around Smith Cole was crumbling. Politicians who once shook his hand in private meetings were now scrambling to erase any connection to him. Some fled the country entirely, disappearing into private jets with hastily packed bags, their families already on their way to safe havens overseas. George Ramsey, one of Smith’s closest allies, wiped the sweat off his brow as he rushed through a VIP airport terminal. “Where’s the damn pilot?” he snapped at his assistant, his hands trembling as he checked his watch. “He’s preparing the jet, sir. But…” “No buts! We need to be out of here in ten minutes!” The assistant hesitated. “Sir, the feds are looking into your accounts. If you leave now, it’ll…” “Shut up and do as you’re told!” George Ramsey barked before marching toward the boarding gate. Across the city, others were making similar escapes. Some tried bribing their way out of investigations, while others resigned from their governme
Chapter 135: Walk freeMARVIN EVANSMia wasn’t the same anymore. Since Dad’s funeral, she had withdrawn into herself, barely speaking, barely eating. I saw it in her eyes, the emptiness. She would sit for hours, staring at nothing, lost in a world none of us could reach. Sophie visited often, trying to get her to eat, to talk, to function. Sometimes, Mia responded with a weak smile or a nod, but most times, she just existed in silence. Greg’s kids were around too, trying to lighten the mood, but it was like talking to a ghost. I knew what she was feeling. I felt it too. Dad was gone, Murdered in cold blood and the bastard who did it was still out there. That changed the day Greg walked in. I was sitting in the living room, flipping through TV channels, not really watching, when Greg strode in with a determined look on his face. “I found him,” he announced. I turned off the TV. Sophie looked up from where she sat beside Mia. Even Mia’s blank expression shifted slightly.
Chapter 134: LawsuitSMITH COLEI had underestimated Greg Evans. That was my first mistake. I thought he’d come at me like a street thug, swinging wildly, making it easy for me to shut him down. But no—he was playing smart. Legal. And that was the kind of fight I wasn’t prepared for. One of my boys came running into my room interrupting my thoughts. “Boss, another club’s been shut down.” I glared at Marco, my patience wearing thin. “Which one?” “The one on the east side. The cops raided it last night, they said on suspicion of trafficking, illegal gambling, the whole damn list.” I exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of my desk. “And you’re telling me this now?” He hesitated. “Didn’t want to bring bad news first thing in the morning.” “Marco, you’re about to bring me bad news at your funeral if you don’t fix this.” I growled, staring daggers at him.I waved him off, already feeling the headache creeping in. My businesses were crumbling one after another. First, the cops hit m
Chapter 133: A ghostETHANI stood at the abandoned shipyard, waiting for Greg. The scent of salt and gasoline hitting my nostrils. The place was quiet except for the occasional creak of metal and the distant sound of waves crashing against the dock.I had chosen this spot for a reason, it was neutral ground, away from prying eyes and close to my hideout.The black SUV rolled to a stop a few feet away. The headlights cut through the darkness before shutting off. The door opened, and Greg Evans stepped out, his movements stiff and with caution. He scanned the area before his eyes locked onto me. Then, he froze. His body went rigid, his eyes wide with shock. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out. He took a slow step forward, shaking his head. “No. No, this isn’t possible.” I smirked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Greg’s face twisted in disbelief. “You’re supposed to be dead.” “Yeah, well… I guess I’m not.” His fists clenched at his
Chapter 132: Conspiracy and racketeeringGREG EVANSThe funeral was over, but the fight had just begun. I sat in my office, staring at the wall of documents pinned up like a detective solving a crime. Because that’s exactly what I was doing—solving the crime of my brother’s murder. My anger hadn’t lessened since the day we buried John. If anything, it had grown into something cold. It was no longer just grief, it was revenge.If Smith Cole thought he could get away with this, that he could walk free after having my brother killed. Just because he had a few connections then he had another thing coming.He had no idea what he had just unleashed. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples as I went through another set of documents. These weren’t just business papers—they were evidence. The ones my boys brought in for me.Smith Cole’s entire operation was filth, built on money laundering, blackmail, and human trafficking. His corporation wasn’t just corrupt—it was a damn criminal emp