Chapter 62: Pre-trial conflictGREG EVANS“Hello again!” I heard a voice whispered in my ear.I looked to see who it was and there she was, the girl from a few nights ago. I had dismissed her then, uninterested and caught up in my feelings but tonight was different. Tonight, I need a distraction. Her smile was coy as she sat on the barstool next to me, her red lips wrapping around the rim of her cocktail glass. I didn’t bother with small talk. I knew what she wanted, and I wanted same. “I’m staying upstairs, do you care to join me?” I asked, cutting through whatever greeting she might’ve been planning. Her eyes widened slightly, then she smirked and nodded. No hesitation. Perfect. I was frustrated and needed something to pour it out on and she was just perfect, she didn’t seem to mind. If anything, she matched my energy, pushing back, challenging me. I ravaged her succulent body and entered her with every stroke venting each frustration.When I was done with her, I got up with
Chapter 63: OD’dLIAMBowling was my escape, a place where I could be free. I decided to go bowling to celebrate finally being free of those blackmailers. Every strike I threw felt like a small victory, a way to claw back some control over my life. I was mid-game, aiming for another shot, when my phone rang in my pocket. I almost ignored it, but something told me to check. It was my father. I sighed and answered. “Yes, Dad?” “Come to the family house immediately.” He said, his voice stern and clipped. No pleasantries, no explanations as usual.I knew better than to argue. His tone left no room for debate. When I arrived, I was greeted by the usual grandeur of my family’s home. Expensive furnitures, polished floors, and an air of self-importance that matched my father’s personality. He was waiting in the sitting room, a girl by his side. She was dressed flawlessly, her posture perfect, and she had the kind of poised smile you’d expect from someone groomed for public appearanc
Chapter 64: Court hearingAUTHOR'S POVThe courtroom was charged with tension as the trial for the contested WILL progressed, and Ethan could feel the weight of every eye on him. John sat beside him, stiff with anxiety but trying to maintain composure. Across from them, Greg’s lawyer, Marcus, was a picture of unshakable confidence, his smug expression making Ethan’s blood boil. This wasn’t just about inheritance, it was about control. And as much as Ethan hated to admit it, the case had taken a turn for the worse.The Judge called the room to order, his voice carrying authority as he glanced at the opposing sides. “Mr. Marcus, you may begin.”Marcus stood smoothly, adjusting his cuffs before addressing the court. “Your Honor, today we are faced with a situation that raises serious doubts about the validity of this so-called will,” he began, his voice cold and calculated. “We believe that the will submitted by John Evans is a forgery. This document was not written by the late Mr. Ev
Chapter 65: Focus, MiaMIAI had gotten dressed and had been waiting for Liam to pick me up for over an hour, looking at my phone constantly to see if I'll get any messages from Liam, but nothing. I had called him so many times, and each time it went straight to voicemail. What the hell was going on?I picked up my phone again, dialing his number yet again, but as expected, it rang out. The anger was bubbling up in me now, gnawing at my insides. Why was he doing this? Now I was regretting agreeing to his arrangement, I didn't want to go but he insisted. I wasn’t asking for much—just for him to show up, just for him to care enough to be there when he said he would.As I finished my last sip of wine, I decided to call it a night. I started to head back upstairs to change when my phone rang. Liam’s name appeared on the screen, and despite the frustration coursing through me, I answered.“Mia, I’m so sorry,” his voice came through, tired and strained. “I didn’t mean to stand you up. Som
Chapter 66: Spotless reputationMARCUS (GREG'S LAWYER)This was the second court hearing this week for this same case and to be honest, I was getting tired. Why wouldn't the judge just make a verdict? All rose as the judge returned from chambers, his robe flowing behind him like the weight of justice itself. I sat at my table, my posture relaxed but sharp, watching Ethan out of the corner of my eye. He was too composed for my liking, a calm arrogance that I found particularly irritating. He thrived on playing the intellectual hero, but today, I’d show him who was in control and that's why I decided to take on this case to prove to everyone that my law firm was a hundred percent better than Ethan's.The judge cleared his throat, silencing the murmurs. “The court will now proceed with the cross-examination of witnesses. Mr. Marcus, you may begin.”I rose smoothly, buttoning my jacket as I made my way to the center of the room. My first witness was already seated—a former family friend
Chapter 67: SuspicionsETHAN The judge had made his ruling. Greg had won.I could barely hold back my anger as I watched Greg stride forward, his attorney Marcus behind him. It was a blow, but not the end. At least, that’s what I tried to tell myself. The week had felt like an endless cycle of frustration, I had hoped that our legal arguments were enough to hold Greg off, but his smug grin had never wavered. And now, here we were, standing in the courtroom, facing the weight of our loss.My mind raced as I glanced at John, who was standing next to me, his face pale. “It’s not over yet,” I muttered, though I wasn’t sure if I believed it anymore.Greg turned towards John, his smile as condescending as ever. “I told you, this was always going to be mine. The house, the company, the money. All of it.” he said, his voice dripping with triumph.John’s jaw clenched, and I saw the fury building in him, but he didn’t speak. He didn’t even look at Greg. He just stood there, taking it, as Gre
Chapter 68: In controlGREG EVANSFinally, The court had done the right thing. As the elder son, it was only fitting that I take control of Dad's estate. Let John and his pathetic lawyer sulk all they wanted; I was the one who deserved this. Walking into the house, my chest swelled with pride. This was mine to handle now—All of it. The sound of footsteps interrupted my thoughts. I turned and saw John and Mia standing in the hallway, their expressions gloomy. They looked so out of place, like uninvited guests in my kingdom.“Greg, we need to talk.” John said, his voice steady but clearly trying to hold back frustration.I smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe. “Talk? About what, little brother? The court’s already spoken. If you’re here to cry about fairness, spare me that crap. It’s done.”“This is still our family home, you don’t have to be so smug about it. Moreover the judge said you are to handle everything concerning the properties till they share it between you and da
Chapter 69: The new CEORYAN WILLIAMSFEW WEEKS AGOThe boardroom was quiet, except for the occasional rustle of papers. I leaned back in my chair, taking in the skeptical faces of the board members as they exchanged glances. They were hesitant, but that was exactly how I wanted them to feel. Suspicion bred caution, and cautious men were easier to manipulate. “Gentlemen,” I began, my voice calm and measured. “I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me today. I know this is an unusual situation, but I believe we’re all here because we care about the future of this company.” The oldest man on the board, a silver-haired man with a sharp gaze, folded his hands on the table. “Ryan, you’re asking us to consider something unprecedented. Why should we trust you?” I smiled, keeping my demeanor composed. “Because I’m the only one who can bring stability to this company right now.” A few eyebrows rose, and I took that as my cue to elaborate. “Let’s be honest, John and Greg are l
Chapter 81: The CEOJOHN EVANSThe plan sounded simple, okay maybe not that simple. I thought as I sat in Ethan’s office, my fingers drumming against the armrest of the chair. Greg was pacing near the window, his usual arrogance replaced with something sharper—determination. Ethan, on the other hand, was unnervingly calm, his gaze fixed on the laptop screen in front of him."This has to work," Greg muttered, running a hand through his hair. "If Ryan catches on too soon…" "He won’t, he’s too busy gloating over his so-called victory. He won’t see this coming." Ethan interrupted smoothly as he leaned back, hands behind his headI exhaled slowly. "Walk me through it again. Every step." "We’re manufacturing a controlled market panic. We’ve already leaked insider reports suggesting Ryan’s reckless financial decisions. The key investors are nervous—once we push just a little more, they’ll start pulling out." Ethan said as he finally looked up, his expression unreadable."And when they d
Chapter 80: Tough luck, MarcusETHAN I sat in my office, staring at the stacks of documents spread across my desk. The final court hearing was tomorrow, and everything depends on what Greg would do. Would he actually follow through with the plan? Or would he let his arrogance get the best of him? I didn't trust him. Not fully. Which is why I had spent the last two nights digging up every possible loophole, inconsistency, and piece of evidence to shut Marcus down if things took a turn. If Greg backed out, I needed to be ready. Daniel knocked on my door and walked in without waiting for permission. "Boss, you need to rest. You’ve barely slept in days." He said, his voice filled with concern.I ignored him, flipping through another document. "Did you get the financial records I asked for?" He sighed but handed me the folder. "Yeah. Marcus’s case is weak. If Greg doesn’t do as planned, you can crush them with this.""Good. But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that." I nodded, fli
Chapter 79: A planGREG EVANS I should have known better.I should have seen it coming. Ryan played me like a damn fool, and now, here I was stripped of everything that should have been mine yet again. The company, the power, the influence—all gone because I was stupid enough to think Ryan would actually be loyal to me. I scoffed, swirling the whiskey in my glass as I leaned back in my chair. I thought the burn of the liquor would do something to soothe the anger bubbling inside me but boy was I wrong. I'm sure I was red as boiling lavaI had trusted Ryan, received his assistance with the thought that he just wanted revenge against John but boy was I wrong. He went behind my back and snatched everything.And the worst part? John was right.The thought made my stomach churn with disgust. That last family meeting had been a disaster, the moment I admitted to John and Cecilia what Ryan had done. I clenched my jaw as the memory played out in my head. The way John lunged at me
Chapter 78: MarvinMIAMy heart jumped and I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my breath hitching in my throat. Slowly, I turned my head, my stomach knotting the moment I saw him. It was my brother— His eyes, eerily calm, met mine through the glass. I hesitated before rolling down the window just a crack. “What are you doing here?” “Relax, Mia. I’m not here to cause trouble. I just wanted to see you.” He responded, a small smile played on his lips, one that was almost… gentle. His voice held none of the usual sharpness, none of the unstable energy I always feared. My shoulders loosened slightly. Maybe… maybe he was okay. Taking a cautious breath, I opened the door and stepped out.“I’ve missed you so much Marvin,” I admitted softly, and before I could second-guess myself, I wrapped my arms around him. For a moment, he didn’t move. But then, his muscles tensed beneath my touch. His breathing grew shallow. A warning bell rang in my head—too late. I immediately felt a sh
Chapter 77: Don’t act like you’re some saintLIAMMia, cheating on me with Ethan.The words kept repeating in my head, over and over, my fingers curled into fists as I stared at the empty space where Mia had stood just minutes ago. She had left. Not even a single explanation. Nothing to deny Sophie’s claim. She didn’t even try. Sophie was still here, watching me, waiting for me to say something. But there was nothing left to say. "Are you seriously just going to stand there all night?" Sophie asked, arms crossed. I turned to her, my voice dangerously calm. "Get out. I need space." "Excuse me?" She blinked, feigning innocence. "You heard me." My jaw tightened. "Get. Out." "Liam, don’t act like you’re some saint. Mia’s not the only one who…" She scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder."I said, get the hell out of my house." I growled, as I took a step toward her, my patience running dangerously thin.Her smirk faltered, but she recovered quickly, rolling her eyes a
Chapter 76: The biggest joke of the centuryMIAEthan, in love with me? That had to be the biggest joke of the century.“What?” I asked as I bursted out laughingI stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest, my breath caught somewhere between disbelief and… something else. Ethan Blake doesn’t do love. And yet, there he was, standing in front of me, looking at me with those eyes that made my throat dry. “I’m in love with you, Mia.” His words echoed in my head, repeating endlessly, as if it were some cruel joke.“You don’t just wake up one day and decide you love someone, Ethan.” I said, shaking my head vigorously.“That’s not what happened.” He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.“Really?” I crossed my arms. “Then what did?” “It wasn’t just one day. It was spending every damn day thinking about you, spending every second fighting against it. And then, I realized I didn’t want to fight it anymore.” He responded, his jaw tightening.I blinked, my throat tightening. I hated
Chapter 75: ConfrontationJOHN EVANSI sat at the edge of my bed, my fingers tightening around the whiskey glass in my hand. Greg had been granted access to everything he had always desired and still lost everything. How could my own brother be so damn stupid? As if it wasn’t enough that he contested our father’s will, taking what should have rightfully stayed in my control. No, Greg had to go a step further. He let Ryan—of all people, double-cross him.Ryan. My teeth clenched. The man who had once been my best friend.I should have seen it coming. Revenge, that’s all this was to him. And now, he has succeeded. I exhaled sharply and set the whiskey glass down, rubbing my temples. I can’t let this go.Greg might be too much of an idiot to fight for the company, but I wasn’t. I refused to watch from the sidelines while Ryan sat at my father’s desk. I stood up and grabbed my suit jacket, sliding it on. Cecilia, who had been watching me silently from across the room, sighed l
Chapter 74: Fallen for youETHANI knew I had fallen for her. There was no point in denying it anymore or pretending that she was just some obsession or a challenge I was yet to conquer. It was already certain that no matter how much I tried to resist, I would keep coming back to the same damn realization. I was in love with Mia Evans.I let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing a hand down my face as I replayed this morning’s disaster. She had woken up in my bed and immediately assumed the worst. The anger in her voice, the way she had looked at me like I was nothing but a predator—it hurt as hell. I don't blame her to think that of me, after all, I have always been a womanizer hell, I even slept with her bestfriend and I have a lot of women as my booty call.But the fact was that I had done nothing wrong, the past me would have been so disappointed, afterall that's what I wanted, to have a taste of her pussy, but after she threw herself at me, I just carried her to my room and slept
Chapter 73: Everything, goneMIAWhere was I? I shifted under the covers, only to realize that I wasn’t in my own bed. The scent of expensive cologne, woody, masculine, and all too familiar—wrapped around me. I turned my head, scanning the room as realization hit me.This was Ethan’s room. I sat up abruptly, my heart beating hard. I was no longer wearing my night wear from last night, and that got me thinkingOh shit, he didn't…?I turned to the other side of the bed—it was empty. The door creaked open before I could finish the thought. Ethan walked in, freshly showered, dressed in a casual white shirt and dark pants, his hair slightly damp. His eyes flicked to me, surprise flashing across his face. “You’re awake,” he said, his voice smooth as ever. “You jerk! How dare you take advantage of my vulnerable state.” I screamed immediately I set my eyes on him, my jaw clenching.“What? I don't…” He responded.“Don't even say anything, I don't want to hear it asshole.” I seethed