Chapter 53: Not for longETHAN I sat at my desk in the study as the morning sun streamed in from the window flipping through files absentmindedly, but my thoughts were miles away. Mia. She was becoming a distraction that I hadn't found a way to get rid of. The more I thought about her, the more determined I became to have her. Not just for a night, but completely. I wanted her trust, her time, her attention, her everything. And that made me agitated. I was thinking of my next move when my phone rang on the desk. Mia’s name lit up the screen. Speaking of the devil.“Hello, Mia,” I answered smoothly, leaning back in my chair. “Ethan, I need a favor.” she said, her voice hesitant but urgent. That immediately had my interest. “A favor? That's pretty interesting. What kind of favor?” “It’s about Liam,” she began. My jaw tightened at the mention of her boyfriend, but I kept my voice calm. “Go on.” “He’s… in trouble. He’s being blackmailed, and he needs help.” She explained, h
Chapter 54: Coup d'étatGREG EVANSThe thought of John getting everything I ever wanted made my blood boil. It always had. Ever since we were kids, he was the golden son—our father’s favorite, the one who could do no wrong. He was willed the whole estate and I was left with nothing but I'll reclaim everything that belonged to me. John thought I was gone—back abroad, back in hiding but I just stayed away from him and his daughter. I'm still in the city and I'll get what was mine.I adjusted my tie, smirking at my reflection in the elevator mirror. I was heading to Ryan Williams’s office, John’s sworn enemy. A man like me had no business colluding with someone like him, but desperate times called for strategic alliances.Ryan hated John as much as I did—maybe more. The elevator dinged, and I stepped into the floor leading to Ryan's office. Thankfully it wasn't on the same floor as John’s office. As soon as I got to his office his secretary led me in. Ryan was sitting behind a massiv
Chapter 55: Fuck these emotionsETHANI stood in front of Mia's door, hands stuffed in my pockets, waiting for her to open the door after I rang the doorbell. John was out of town. Thankfully, I confirmed it from him before making this unannounced visit.It wasn’t a habit of mine to barge into someone’s house uninvited, but I didn't want to call Mia and tell her about my plans of taking her out because I was sure that she would say no and be dismissive of me also, if I was being honest with myself—I wanted to see her. When the door opened, Mia appeared in front of me, her hair tied up in a messy bun, wearing a loose sweater and shorts. “Ethan? What are you doing here?” She asked surprised, her hazel eyes narrowing slightly as looked at me. “You owe me remember,” I said simply, stepping forward.Her eyebrows shot up. “I owe you?” she echoed, folding her arms. “For helping your boyfriend, so, I’m here to get what you owe. Go get dressed. We’re going out.” I said smoothly, my voice
Chapter 56: Freedom at last!LIAMI stared at the untouched glass of whiskey on the coffee table, the thought of my mistakes pressing down on me. Ethan hadn’t called with any updates, and the longer I waited, the more I felt like a trapped animal. Mia already told me to stop looking for the money so it won't get to my dad's ears since I didn't want him to know.The faint sound of a knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. I hesitated before answering, hoping it was Mia with good news. Instead, it was Sophie. Her presence was so unsettling, what was she doing here again? She walked in without waiting for an invitation, her eyes scanning my scattered living room. “We need to talk,” she said, her voice dripping with confidence. “Sophie, this isn’t a good time,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. She ignored me, settling onto the arm of the couch. “I think it’s the perfect time.” I knew where this was going, and I wanted no part of it. “What happened last time…” “W
Chapter 57: Tiger gangETHAN “Hello Sam, any updates on Smith's case?” I asked my PI as soon as Cassandra left.“Nothing yet sir.” Sam responded, his voice low.“Okay, keep me posted, I have another job for you.” I chipped in, sitting in my study looking at Liam’s phone in my hand.“I need you to dig into this mess,” I added, handing him Liam’s phone and a folder containing the blackmail details Liam had provided. I had already gone through his phone and my patience had already worn thin since I didn't find anything tangible, then I decided it was time to involve someone competent.“I’ll get on it right away.” Sam nodded, his expression neutral as always.“Good,” I said curtly. “Call me if you find anything.” After Sam left, I decided to visit my aunt Margaret. She’d been adjusting well since coming out of her coma, but I still liked to check on her. I drove to her house and found her in the garden, tending to her flowers. “You look like you’ve gone through hell and back.” she
Chapter 58: TherapySOPHIEThe walls of my therapist’s office were painted a calm shade of blue, but the peace that they were supposed to give only made me feel more on edge. Dr. Collins sat across from me, her pen placed over a notepad, her eyes patient. “So, Sophie,” she began, “How have you been faring emotionally since… everything?” she asked, her tone soft, almost too soft. “You mean since Jacob nearly killed me?” I snapped, crossing my arms, feeling the heat rise to my face“Yes, Sophie. Since that incident.” She responded, blinking but remaining calm.“I’m fine,” I said, my voice sharp and clipped. “Perfectly fine. Why does everyone keep asking me that? What do you want me to say? That I wake up in a cold sweat? That I hear his voice in my head? That I feel like I’m losing my mind?” I added, my jaw clenching.I hadn’t meant to spill so much, but the words just came out, I couldn't help it. “Sophie, it’s okay to feel this way. What happened to you was traumatic, and…” She
Chapter 59: At warJOHN EVANSI arrived home from my business trip feeling relieved, ready to unwind after a stressful trip filled with negotiations. The house was quiet, maybe a little too quiet, but I didn’t think much of it. Mia had probably gone out, and the staff knew better than to disturb me when I first got back.I poured myself a glass of scotch, savoring the warmth as it slid down my throat. Finally, a moment of peace. The moment I set the glass down, a thick envelope sitting on the edge of the dining table caught my eye. My stomach rumbled as I tore it open and I made a mental note to ask the maids to get me something to eat after I was done resting. The letter was short, formal, and straight to the point—Notice of Intent to Contest the Will. I read it twice, my pulse quickening and my grip on the paper tightened as the realization sunk in. Ethan was correct, so Greg was actually going through with it. After all the arguments, the blatant disrespect, the entitlement, he
Chapter 60: in her headMIAI stared at my phone for what felt like forever before finally dialing Sophie’s number. Our disagreement has escalated for long enough, I needed to sort out our issues. The ringtone echoed in my ears, and when she finally picked up, her tone was sharp and guarded. “What do you want again, Mia?” she snapped. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm. “Sophie, can we please talk? I hate how things have been between us.” “Oh, now you hate it? Funny, considering you didn’t think about that before betraying me.” she said, her words dripping with sarcasm. Her words stung, but I pushed through. “I didn’t betray you, Sophie. I’ve tried to explain so many times now…” I tried explaining.“Don’t, Just don’t, Mia. I don’t want to hear your excuses.” She said cutting me off.“Sophie, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I swear. I thought we could move past this.” I stated, gripping the edge of the counter, tapping my fingers while at it. “Move past this?” she
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