Author’s POV“What's going on here?” The store manager, Victoria asked with a stern look.“Ma'am this customer came in here asking to browse around the luxurious section of the boutique. I asked her to leave, but she wouldn't, insisting that she wanted to see our most expensive clothes in the store.” Lydia replied, her voice wavering, unable to look at Victoria directly in the face.“I was just about to call security to throw her out,” she quickly added, hoping to exonerate herself, but Victoria just ignored her with a wave of her hand. Her eyes shifted slowly towards the woman across the floor and slowly widened in shock when she realized who it was.“You!” The words escaped her lips.Immediately, a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, and her former furious gaze softened into a malicious look.“Ma'am, what do you want to do?” Lydia's voice echoed softly, noticing the familiar look between the two.“Don't worry about it,” Victoria said, walking confidently toward Hannah. “I'll ha
Author’s POVVictoria chuckled lightly, thinking this was some sort of ridiculous game, but when she saw the seriousness on Hannah's face, her smile faded slowly. “Have you gone mad?” Victoria hissed, her voice rising in anger, “Do you think you can come in here and just act so shamelessly? You think we're running a circus for lunatics like you?!” “You can't just–”“Why not?” Hannah shot back calmly.“You were so kind to let me stay here. Seems only fair that you'll treat me to a little something too. As a no good scum with no shame, consider it a favor to an old friend.” She said loud for everyone to hear and gave Victoria a wink.Clint shifted uncomfortably behind Hannah, sensing the tension that was brewing between the two women. He had seen enough to know that this was going to get messy, but he stayed away, unsure where this would be.Hannah was ready for a fight, and she was playing it smart, which he was intrigued to see.Victoria seethed now, storming around in anger, lookin
Author’s POVHannah’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, something darker flashed across her face. She remained quiet for a while, almost as if contemplating her next words carefully.“Well, what is it? It sure must be important if you are willing to risk annoying Ethan for it.” Clint asked curiously.A small smile stretched Hannah’s lips, she shook her head softly, deciding that she still couldn’t trust Clint or anyone connected to Ethan with her secret.“This isn’t just about Victoria,” she said quietly. “It’s about getting my dignity back from everyone who stole it from me. Every opportunity I lost because they took one look at me and decided that I wasn’t worth it, I wasn’t qualified.” Hannah lied, yet her fists still clenched in anger. This wasn’t the main reason she was doing it. It was to find Lily, but still, recounting every moment of her life when she was denied an opportunity just because she wasn’t wealthy or had a good status made her anger grow.Clint blinked, confused. He
Author’s POVSeeing the sinister grin on her face, Clint was puzzled. “Something about this situation seems funny to you?” He asked as he backed out of the driveway. Hannah swallowed hard, her resolve tightening.“I need to talk to him. Face to face.”Clint suddenly shot her a stern look, “Are you sure that’s a good idea? If he knows what you are doing, he’s not going to be happy.” “I don’t care,” Hannah said firmly.“This ends now. I need to know where he stands with this marriage. If he’s just going to keep abusing my privacy, then I might just have to return the favor a different way.” Without saying, Clint could see that Hannah was furious and meant every single word of what she said.He heaved a deep sigh, tired of arguing with her. Tonight had been too much trouble already and right now he just wanted to get her back home in time for the party.He tactically drove away from the store, occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror to ensure they were still not followed.After a
Author’s POV“So how are the party plans coming along? Anything I need to know before it starts?” Hannah asked, quickly changing the subject.Ethan’s expression softened as he heaved a sigh and started, “The party’s all set,” he said, tapping a guest list, and then his eyes narrowed into a stern gaze.“I need you to be prepared, Hannah. There will be people from my world – business associates, family, important people. Not the kind of people you should mess with. They’ll all be watching us very closely tonight, and if there’s any sign of slip up, someone might notice. So we’ll have to be very careful tonight.” He warned, looking at her intently.He paused, seeing the anxious look on Hannah’s face. Ethan knew just how much pressure this was on her. For someone who hadn’t ever been to any party with the elites, attending one where she would be the center of attention could be overwhelming.He strode toward her, stopping just inches in front of her. “This engagement…it’s as much a partne
Author’s POVThe Ford Mansion lit up in cherry festivities that evening. Hannah sat quietly in front of her dressing mirror, lost in thoughts. The party had already started downstairs in the grand decorated hall of the mansion, and still, she did not know what the occasion was.But one thing she was sure of was that tonight was more than a celebration; it was a stage, and everyone would be watching, especially Ethan.In the midst of everything happening, her mind still lingered on Ethan’s call, trying to figure out who was on the other end of the line.The soft knock on her door suddenly snapped her out of her thoughts, “Who is it?” Hannah asked anxiously, thinking that it could be Ethan.“It’s Reginald, Mrs. Ford.” The man answered softly.“Come in,” Hannah replied and turned to face the door.The door slowly opened and Reginald walked into the room, wearing a neat black tux.As soon as he saw her, he froze in place,“You look quite lovely Mrs. Ford. I’m sure everyone downstairs wi
Author’s POVThe Ford Mansion lit up in cherry festivities that evening. Hannah sat quietly in front of her dressing mirror, lost in thoughts. The party had already started downstairs in the grand decorated hall of the mansion, and still, she did not know what the occasion was.But one thing she was sure of was that tonight was more than a celebration; it was a stage, and everyone would be watching, especially Ethan.In the midst of everything happening, her mind still lingered on Ethan’s call, trying to figure out who was on the other end of the line.The soft knock on her door suddenly snapped her out of her thoughts, “Who is it?” Hannah asked anxiously, thinking that it could be Ethan.“It’s Reginald, Mrs. Ford.” The man answered softly.“Come in,” Hannah replied and turned to face the door.The door slowly opened and Reginald walked into the room, wearing a neat black tux.As soon as he saw her, he froze in place,“You look quite lovely Mrs. Ford. I’m sure everyone downstairs wi
Author’s POVHannah stared at the lady for some moment, stunned by her beauty.She wore a brown sequin dress that highlighted her curves, accentuating her golden blonde hair and moon-shaped face.“I’m sorry for bursting in here like this, I didn’t think there’d be anyone in here.” The lady quickly apologized.Still, Hannah remained quiet, unsure of what to say.Seeing the perplexed look on Hannah’s face, she quickly strode forward, placing her hand on her chest gently,“I’m Julienne.” She said, looking at Hannah keenly, and slowly her eyes widened in surprise.“You must be Hannah.” Hannah seemed even more confused at this point, and dropped the necklace,“How do you know my name?” She asked with a curious gaze.Julienne smiled and stepped closer to her, her fingers tracing the diamond necklace,“Ethan always goes all out, doesn’t he?” Hannah ignored her questions, creasing her brows impatiently,“Who are you? And what are you doing here?” She asked, her voice more firm.“I’m Julienn
Author’s POVThe air in the room was heavy, as Lily stared at the phone in Hannah’s hand, her fingers trembling. She didn’t want to answer. She didn’t want to hear his voice again. But Hannah wasn’t giving her a choice. Slowly, she grabbed the phone and brought it to her ear. “H-Hello?” she stammered, her voice barely audible. There was a brief silence on the other end for a moment, and then a calm yet cold voice spoke. “Lily,” the man said softly, his tone dripping with satisfaction. “Did you really think you could hide from me forever?” Lily’s breath caught in her throat. She tried to speak but couldn’t form words. Her throat felt dry, and her heart raced. “Wh-what do you want?” She stuttered.The man laughed bitterly. “What I’ve always wanted, Lily,” he said. “The money you stole from me.” “I don’t have it,” Lily said quickly, her voice trembling. “I don’t have your money anymore.” The man’s tone hardened. “Well, that’s unfortunate,” he said. “Alfred won’t like hearing t
Author’s POVHannah folded her arms, watching Lily closely. She could not imagine that she had spent years feeling so little since Lily took her boyfriend from her, but now looking at her now, all she could see was a small and uncertain girl who had no clue what she was doing. Hannah sighed heavily, the tension thick between them. “Well?” She asked, her voice sharp. “What are you doing here?”Lily hesitated, her eyes darting to the ground. It was as though she was struggling to find the right words or anything to say, but still, the words were unable to form. Frustrated, Hannah, turned on her heel to walk away.“Wait!” Lily’s voice broke through the quiet, her ton tinged with desperation and fear. “I’m here because of you.”Hannah froze mid-step, and slowly turned back, her face unreadable but her eyes hinting with curiousity. “What do you mean, ‘because of me?’” Lily moved uncomfortably, looking anywhere but at Hannah. She opened her mouth to speak, but before any words could come
Author’s POVHannah froze, the familiar voice sending a chill down her spine. She clenched her fist, recognizing it immediately.Slowly, she turned around, already aware of who it was, but still her heart dropped when she saw her.It was Lily.Hannah’s breath caught, and her expression twisted with shock and anger. Every memory of betrayal—her father’s death, Lily’s theft, and the wreckage she had left behind rushed to the surface. It was as if time had stopped, and all she could see now was the woman who had ruined everything.Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but the hurt was so deep that she couldn’t move. For a moment, she wanted to lunge at her, she had spent years thinking about what she’d do when this moment finally came. Would she fight her? Make her feel even a fraction of the pain she had caused? Would she immediately turn her over to Alfred Wolfe and every other enemy Lily had made along the way?The thoughts rushed at her, tempting, but she remained rooted in place,
Author’s POVEthan’s eyes widened when he heard Lily’s name and for a moment he seemed at a loss for words. “Lily?” he repeated, his voice soft with disbelief.“Yes, Lily,” Hannah spat.“Was I just her replacement? Someone to fill the void she left behind?”Ethan stepped closer, his face filled with confusion and a loss for words. He knew this day would come, but he didn't want to have to deal with this here. The crowd were still waiting for them, and he couldn't afford anything to seem wrong between them,“Hannah, where is this coming from? Lily was—”“Don’t,” Hannah interrupted, holding up a hand. Her voice was firm, though her heart felt like it was being ripped apart. “Don’t tell me she didn’t mean anything. Don’t insult me like that.”Ethan’s jaw tightened. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”“Oh, don’t I?” she shot back, her voice rising. “You think I don’t see it? Every time you look at me, it’s like you’re looking at someone else. Someone who isn’t here anymore. I’
Author's POVHannah’s heart raced as Liam’s name was announced. The revelation felt like a slap to her face. She had worked with Liam for more than two years and never for once sensed that he was the heir of the Eunuch family.At this point, everything she knew felt like a lie. Her breath hitched, and her head spun as she stared at him. How could this be? The man she had once worked with in the nightclub was now revealed as one of the most powerful figures in the city. Meanwhile, Ethan froze on the stage, still staring at Liam in disbelief, his face pale and his jaw tight, his shock mirroring her own. Hannah tried to wrap her head around this. Tonight was quickly becoming more than she could comprehend, but before she could even process the shock, her phone buzzed in her hand. Her stomach tightened as she glanced down at the screen. It was a message from Grace. She sensed what this was about. Grace had informed her earlier that she was closing in on a lead about Ethan, and would
Author’s POVThe hallway speakers suddenly sounded, breaking the festive atmosphere in the room.Curious to find out what was going on, Hannah approached Ethan hastily with a glass of wine and handed it to him, her face filled with confusion.At this time, a middle aged man strode towards the stage with a glass of wine in his hand,“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for showing up tonight. I must say you all look very lovely. Tonight is the beginning of a very important partnership, one that will change the future of two of the biggest companies in the country.”“With that, please join me as I welcome the man who made all of this possible to the stage to tell us briefly about what they have in future for us. I believe most of us here already know him.” As he spoke, the reporters among the crowd started looking around for Ethan, and just then, the announcers voice went off again,“Please welcome Ethan Ford to the stage.” As soon as Ethan’s name was announced, the crowd started applaudin
Author’s POV“Chairman Eunuch?” Ethan asked, seeking clarification. The chauffeur looked a little puzzled, but answered, “Yes, he’s excited to meet with you.”Ethan nodded, thinking it was Liam’s father. Finally, he wouldn’t have to deal with Liam anymore, he thought.The chauffeur opened the car door and after they entered, drove to the country club.The Eunuchs owned one of the largest real estate enterprises in the country and this country cafe was the largest in the country with a large reception and entertainment hall for events.After a short drive, Ethan and Hannah arrived at the venue and right from the entrance, they could tell this was a large event.The reception hall was luxuriously decorated, and outside stood a live media coverage. However, when Hannah saw this, her nerves felt like they were set on fire. Ethan noticed the anxious look on her face and gently held her hand, “It’s going to be okay. I’ll be right there with you the whole time.” He said in a calm tone.Stra
Author’s POVHannah's heart raced as she stared at Ethan, her thoughts drifting away. His large arms and ripped back left her in a trance, and slowly as if in a trance, she approached him.Ethan suddenly turned around hearing her footsteps, “Hannah.” He blurted in shock, his face flushing with humiliation.He quickly picked up his shirt and threw it on, “What are you doing here?”“I-uh…” Hannah stammered, her eyes still glued to his toned packs and rounded chest.“I came to check in on you.” She finally said.Ethan quickly dressed up, “I’ll be out in a minute.” He said dismissively.Hannah remained quiet for a while and then replied, “Right. I guess I’ll see you out there.” She turned to leave but then suddenly stopped at the door, turning back. She could not tell what came over her, but everything in her fought the urge to forget the party and throw herself on him right now. And for the first time, the thought of it did not make her uncomfortable. Ethan was buttoning his shirt w
Author’s POV“What is a letter doing here?” Hannah wondered, still staring at the letter curiously. After a while, she approached the dress, gently picked it up, and observed the intricate designs, and then her gaze shifted back to the letter. Hannah heaved a deep sigh, glancing at the door. At first, she thought it was Ethan, but they shared a room and Hannah could not imagine what it was he had to say that he just couldn’t say to her. Slowly, she picked up the letter and tore open the seal. However, as soon as she noticed who it was from, she froze in shock and the letter fell right out of her hands. Without thinking, Hannah turned and ran out of the room into the hallway, scanning her eyes around hoping to find the waitress from before, but she was too late, she was already gone. After some more time searching the hallways and trying to describe the waitress from earlier even though she had barely gotten a good look at her, Hannah finally gave up and returned to her room.She pace