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 101: Your babyETHAN“What?” My voice was barely above a whisper.She stepped closer, her lips curling into a victorious smile. “That’s right, Ethan. I had your baby after I left.”The world seemed to have turned upside down.I swallowed hard, my breath unsteady. “You’re lying.”She leaned in, her voice a taunting whisper. “Am I?”I stared at Emily, my fists clenched so tightly my nails dug into my palms. A child. My child. It doesn’t make sense. If this were true, why the hell didn’t she come to me before? Why now? I narrowed my eyes at her. “Do you expect me to just believe you?” Emily sighed, crossing her arms. “I knew you’d react like this.” “How the hell else am I supposed to react?” I snapped. “You disappear from my life, and years later, you waltz back in with a kid? You expect me to just take your word for it?” She shook her head. “I didn’t waltz back in, Ethan. I just need us to be a happy family again, I need you to trust me.” I glared at her. “Seeing that
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