Chapter 109: Some coy teenagerAVAI should have stayed. The thought had been haunting me since I left John’s house that night. I had wanted to stay—God, I had needed to, but my damn pride had gotten in the way. Now, here I was, a few days later, alone in my bed, staring at the ceiling, questioning my life choices. John hasn't even made a move on me since the night I said no to staying over.I was approaching my late forties, unmarried, and yet I was acting like some coy teenager playing hard to get. Who was I fooling? Sighing, I turned onto my side, frustration bubbling inside me. I wanted him. I had always wanted him. And now that he wanted me too and had made it clear. Why the hell was I making this difficult? Enough of this. If I wanted something, I just had to take it. Especially if that thing was already mine to begin with.The next morning, I dressed for work with a plan in mind. Underneath my professional navy-blue dress, I wore a lace lingerie set, it was black, seduc
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
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 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 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 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 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