Chapter 93: Special guestJOHN EVANSWalking into my office felt different today. Maybe it was the weight of everything that had happened recently—the battles fought, the company reclaimed, the damages done—but as I sat in my chair, I felt calm and peaceful.Then, the door opened, and there she was. Ava. She walked in with a confidence that had always drawn me to her. Her dark hair was pinned neatly, her dress hugging her curves just right, and damn it if she looked all professional, all I could see was the woman I recently started a relationship with, the woman who had reignited something in me I thought had died with Martha. “Good morning, Mr. Evans,” she greeted with a smirk, knowing full well I hated the formality. I leaned back in my chair, eyes locked on her. “Ava.” She placed a stack of documents in front of me. “Your schedule for the day. Also, these need your signature.” I barely glanced at them. Instead, I reached out, letting my fingers trail up her arm. “You lo
Chapter 94: Do betterGREG EVANSI stared at my phone, my fingers tightening around it as I read the anonymous text. Another text came in immediately from the same unknown number.“Meet me at the bar downtown, you owe me a lot.” A scoff left my lips. Who the hell did this person think they were? I didn’t owe anyone anything. I deleted the message and locked my phone. I had better things to focus on—like making up for lost time with my kids. The smell of grilled burgers and fresh fries filled the air as I sat across from Derrick and Amanda at a quiet diner. Neither of them looked excited to be here. Derrick leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “You’ve never taken us out before.” “I know,” I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck. “I should have, and I regret that.” Amanda raised an eyebrow. “Wait, you regret it?” she repeated, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Am I hearing right?” I exhaled. “I was a terrible father.” Derrick scoffed. “That’s an understatement.” I clen
Chapter 95: FreedomSOPHIELiam sat on my couch, his head in his hands, looking as lost as ever. He had been like this since the night I dragged him out of that restaurant. I watched him for a moment, knowing exactly what he was thinking. “He’s going to keep controlling you as long as you let him,” I said finally. Liam sighed and leaned back, rubbing his face. “You think I don’t know that?” I folded my arms. “Then do something about it.” He scoffed. “Like what? He froze my accounts, changed the locks on my place, and practically cut me off from everything. What am I supposed to do?” I walked over and sat beside him. “Give it all back.” He frowned. “What?” “Give it back,” I repeated. “Everything your dad ever gave you. The car. The credit cards. The status he handed you. Return it all.” Liam stared at me like I had lost my mind. “And then what? Live on the streets?” I rolled my eyes. “You’re staying here for now. And you’re going to get a job. A real job, one that doe
Chapter 96: SeductionETHAN I had to do something about Emily, I couldn't have her ruining everything I've worked so hard to protect. First of all, I need to sort out the divorce. The best person to help me with this is Hilary, the last time we met was a mess because I ended things with her. But I needed her and I had to swallow my pride and go to her.As I sat across from Hilary I noticed the tension she sat, arms crossed, her gaze sharp and detached. I had expected resistance, but not outright hostility. “I need your help,” I said, sliding the divorce papers toward her. She didn’t even look at them. “No.” I frowned. “No?” She leaned back, letting out a humorless laugh. “Ethan, after everything? You actually think I’d jump to help you?” I exhaled slowly. “This isn’t personal.” “Maybe not to you,” she said, eyes narrowing. “But it is to me.” I clenched my jaw. “Hilary, you’re the best at this. I need someone out of my life, quietly and cleanly.” She tilted her head. “
Chapter 97: Dad’s girlfriendMIAFirstly my dad was cooking, something he hasn't done since mum passed and now he's hugging and kissing her in my presence. It wasn't something I expected, I thought my dad had lost all emotions after mum passed but it turns out that I was wrong.Ava had always been someone I wished my dad would date—she was kind, smart, and most importantly, she genuinely cared about him.Immediately, I grabbed Ava and rushed upstairs to my room with her.I turned to her and she looked almost shy, which was new. “You’re really dating him? Tell me everything, how did it happen?” “Well, yeah. Your dad is actually pretty charming when he’s not being a workaholic.” Ava chuckled, her face beaming.I squealed, jumping up and down. “Oh my God, this is so cute,”“Tell me how it all happened.” I added, still jumpy.“Well, after I quit my job, your dad found out and asked to meet me. I told him how I felt and well the rest is history.” She explained, smiling from ear to ear.“
Chapter 98: A gonerJOHN EVANSAs soon as Mia left the dining room, I turned to Ava, watching the way she delicately wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin. There was always something so graceful about her, even in the simplest actions. She caught me staring and smirked. “Do I have something on my lips?” she asked, still wiping her lips.“What? Nothing” I chuckled, scratching the back of my neck.She raised an eyebrow, “Then what are you looking at?”“I'm just looking at the goddess in front of me, did I do anything wrong?” I asked, biting my lips.She laughed, looking everywhere but me. “You're so cringe.”I leaned back, swirling the wine in my glass. “I’m also thinking about our next date.”Ava let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “Oh John, please. I know you, you won't tell me about what you plan to do.” I leaned closer, dropping my voice. “If you press really hard, I might give you some hints.” She tilted her head, “Hmm… so what is it? A fancy restaurant? A weekend
Chapter 99: Smith corporationETHANI walked into Michael Reed’s dimly lit office, wondering what kind of information he found and hopeful that it would help me get rid of Emily. Michael was sitting behind his desk, a laptop open in front of him. He looked up, smirked, and gestured for me to sit. “You’re gonna like this,” he said, tapping on his keyboard. I sat down, my patience thinning. “Get to it.” Michael turned his screen toward me. “Your ex-wife has been receiving money. A lot of it.” I frowned. “That’s not surprising. She’s always been greedy.” Michael shook his head. “This isn’t just alimony or hush money. These payments are coming from an account linked to the Smith Corporation.” I stiffened. “Smith Corporation? As in Smith Cole?” Michael nodded. “And it gets better. These transactions started way before your client’s wife was murdered.” I exhaled sharply, leaning back. My suspicions about Smith Cole had never faded, I still had Bill investigating the case, bu
Chapter 100: LeverageUNKNOWN POVBlood fascinates me. The way it drips, thick and slow, glistening under the dim, flickering light. The way it stains my skin, so warm at first, then sticky and dry. The man in front of me was shaking, his breath coming out in ragged gasps. I crouched, tilting my head with a smile on my lips. His lip was split thanks to me, one of his teeth was knocked loose. His left eye is nearly swollen shut. I hum, tapping the pliers against my palm. “You know,” I said, starting a conversation. “People always assume pain is the worst part.” I said, bringing the pliers to his fingernail, gripping it tight. He stiffened. “But it’s not.” I yanked, a hoarse scream leaving his throat as the nail came free, blood oozing down his trembling hand. I smiled, holding up the piece of him I just took. “The worst part is knowing it doesn’t stop. That it gets worse.” I flicked the nail to the ground, watching it bounce across the concrete. “Now, you were saying?” “I
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 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 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 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 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 113: Don't get killedETHAN I 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 tens
Chapter 112: Watch your attitudeSOPHIEThe past few weeks had been excruciating, working under Alexis had been nothing short of hell. She found every reason to criticize me, overload me with unnecessary tasks, and question every decision I made.If I as much as breathed wrong, she’d be there, arms crossed, lips curled with that stupid smirk. I endured it, knowing that engaging in a battle of egos with her wouldn’t end well. But today, she was on a whole new level of insufferable. “Sophie, I need you to redo the entire client report,” Alexis barked, dropping a thick file onto my desk. “The formatting is completely off, and frankly, I expected better. Didn't you graduate from one of the most prestigious universities in the country?” I looked up, barely masking my irritation. “But I followed the company template, Alexis.” “Well, it’s wrong. Redo it.” She turned on her heel, but not before adding, “Oh, and I need it in an hour.” I clenched my jaw but nodded. There was no point
Chapter 111: You’ll regret thisETHANMia was lying down close to me, I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't dreaming, I looked down and she was still there, in my arms.I reached out, trailing my fingers lightly over her arm. She stirred, a small hum escaping her lips, but she didn’t wake. Smiling to myself, I slowly slid out of bed, careful not to disturb her. Slipping on a pair of sweatpants, I walked into the kitchen. Mia had fallen asleep early last night, exhausted from all the rounds we went on yesterday, and I wanted to do something for her. Breakfast in bed seemed like a good idea. As I moved around the kitchen, cracking eggs and brewing coffee, I thought about how different things felt when I was with her. Unlike Emily, Mia didn’t try to manipulate me or force me into anything. With her, I could breathe. When the food was ready, I balanced the tray in my hands like a chef and walked back into the bedroom. Mia was just beginning to wake, stretching lazily before her eye
Chapter 110: Families stick out for each otherJOHN EVANSI woke up to the warmth of Ava’s body beside me, her soft breath tickling my bare shoulder and for a moment, I just lay there, watching her, wishing we could stay like that forever. She looked so peaceful, so content like she belonged here, in my arms, every morning. A lazy smile appeared on my lips as I brushed a strand of hair away from her face. Just as I was about to pull her closer, she stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. “Morning,” she murmured, her voice husky from sleep. “Morning, beautiful,” I said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She stretched, a satisfied sigh escaping her lips. “You’re staring,” she teased. “Can’t help it,” I admitted. “I like waking up to you.” She grinned, but then her gaze flickered to the clock on the nightstand. “You have work, Mr. Evans.” I groaned, burying my face into the pillow. “I’d rather stay here.” “Well, you can’t,” she laughed, playfully shoving my shoulder. “Go be