HAZEL’S POV: After a few days, there are no bodyguards knocking at my door, not even a confirmation about them from Marius as he has promised. I resist the urge to pick up my phone. Calling Marius will make me look desperate. Demanding. And I don't want that. Not after everything. I wanna believe he’s just busy, wrapped up in some business matters. But a nagging voice keeps whispering to my ears. What if Marius is in trouble again and I’m sitting here, helplessly waiting? What if Carter has found a way to strike at him again? I glance at the TV, hoping for some sign that Marius is okay by not seeing him in the news at all. But then, the breaking news banner flashes across the screen. There’s Marius, looking striking in a tailored suit, standing beside a stunning woman. Nicole Mendez, the caption read. Supermodel. Fiancée.My world tilts, the air rushing out of my lungs. Fiancée. The word echoes in my mind, drowning out the sounds of the room. I sink onto the ragged couch, my l
“Ma’am, you need to leave. You're making the guests uncomfortable,” one of the guards barks, his voice a mix of impatience and disdain.I wanna protest, to explain that I have nowhere else to go, but the words stop in my throat. I glance at Sammy, his small face pressed against my shoulder, his eyes closed in blissful ignorance of our predicament.“Please,” I manage to whisper, my voice hoarse. “We just need a place to stay until the rain stops.”The guard shakes his head, unmoved. “You can't stay here. Move along, or we'll have to call the police.”The threat of police makes my blood run cold. I can't risk that. Not with Sammy.Suddenly, there’s a voice, calm but commanding.“What's going on here?” I look up to see an old man in a crisp suit stepping out of the restaurant. His silver hair is neatly combed back, and his eyes, though sharp, hold a glint of kindness. The guards immediately step back, their demeanors shifting from authoritative to deferential.“Sir, this woman is causin
What if Mr. Montgomery is also friends with Carter? I hope not. Seeing Pierce Throne here makes me realize that these mega-rich people have a small circle coz there are only a few of them in this world. I fight to keep my composure as I set the tray down, my hands trembling slightly. Pierce glances up, his eyes narrowing in recognition. But I keep my gaze low, avoiding eye contact.I’m not worried that he will tell Carter I’m here coz what would he get from doing that? Help Carter, his enemy? I don’t think so.Mr. Montgomery raises his glass, snatching Pierce’s attention away from me. "This is for you, my friend. I look forward to investing more in your ventures in the near future."“And speaking of celebrations,” Pierce says, his eyes glinting with a knowing look, “I’m excited about Marius’ upcoming wedding. It's going to be quite the event. Albert, you must attend.”Mr. Montgomery smiles, lifting his glass again. “Of course, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”I feel as if the floo
I know it’s not right to ask, but I have to know. "I saw on the news that you’re getting married," I begin, a bit hesitant. "Are you in love with your bride?" Marius hesitates too, his gaze dropping to the ground. I brace myself for the answer I probably already know, but refuse to acknowledge. After some awkward silence, he replies, "Yes."That single word answer solidifies my resolve—I can't ruin his future with Nicole, especially not with the news I carry. My hand instinctively goes to my stomach, and I hope Marius doesn’t notice that."By the way, where are you living now, Hazel? The bodyguards I hired didn’t see you in your home. I tried calling you, but you’re not picking up," he says, his voice laced with concern."Sammy and I are fine," I say, carefully avoiding the specifics. There’s no need for him to know where we currently are or even the reason we have to leave our home.Though I wanna spend more time with him, it’s not right to do so. The reminder that he’s not mi
The divorce hearing is a mere few hours away, and the reality of facing Carter in the courtroom again sends a shiver down my spine. For the past few days, I’ve found a small measure of peace in my communications with Marius. Our exchanges have been strictly about the legal matters of my divorce, nothing more. But, it feels like the rift between us, though not healed, has at least been bridged for the time being. A knock on the door startles me from my reverie. Mr. Montgomery’s butler announces Marius’ arrival, and I leave Sammy in the care of one of my fellow maids. “Ready?” Marius asks. I nod, though I’m not really ready. The drive to the capital is filled with a tense silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. As we approach the imposing structure of the courthouse, I can’t help but wonder what Carter will do this time. The last time we faced each other in court, he begged me not to proceed with our divorce. What more could he want from me? I made it clear that I’m willi
“Congratulations, Hazel!” The atmosphere in the mansion is electric with celebration. My fellow staff members have gathered, their faces alight with genuine joy for my newfound freedom. Marius and Mr. Montgomery join in, raising glasses of champagne in a toast. Sammy, oblivious to the true reason behind the festivities, enjoys the evening too. As the party winds down, I join my fellow maids in cleaning up. When done, I head to my bedroom only to find that Sammy isn’t sleeping alone anymore. On the bed, Marius lies with him nestled against him, both of them fast asleep. They look so peaceful, so right together, like a real father and son. A pang of sorrow grips my heart. This is the last night Marius will be here. After tonight, he’ll return to his life, to his fiancée, and Sammy will lose the father figure he has come to adore. Silently, I fetch a blanket and pillow, settling myself on the floor beside the bed. The tiles are uncomfortably cold, but it’s a small sacrifice to let
MARIUS’ POV: I ask Mr. Montgomery to take care of Hazel and Sammy for me, which he agrees to. While I promise Hazel that I’ll come back for her. Dad needs to be tamed first. He’s anger gets out of control and it’s embarrassing that he’s showing his wild side to Mr. Montgomery. I rush towards my car, and dad does the same to his car, following a step behind him are his bodyguards.The drive back home is a silent storm, and as soon as we arrive and emerge from our cars, dad's fury erupts once again. "You listen to me, Marius," dad bellows, not even waiting for me to step inside. "Even if that woman is now pregnant, I won't allow you to be with her! You got that?!" “You can't dictate what I’ll do or won't do," I shoot back, my own anger rising. "I'm a grown a.ss man!" Ignoring dad's continued tirade, I storm up to my bedroom and begin packing. Just when I’m done and ready to leave, a summons comes from dad's study. I hesitate, but also hoping that perhaps dad is ready to have a calm
NICOLE’S POV: Marriage into the Thorne family is my destiny, my rightful place. Marius' voice rises in frustration, defying his parents with a conviction that both infuriates and fascinates me. How could he resist me, Nicole Mendez, the supermodel who graced the covers of Vogue and walked the runways of Paris and Milan? I’ve turned down princes and billionaires, but here I am, facing rejection from a man whose own mother has sought me out. Mrs. Betty Thorne first approached me at a gala in Dubai."You and Marius would be a formidable pair," she said, her tone leaving no room for doubt. At first, I was just intrigued, so I agreed to meet Marius. But that meeting sealed my fate—his intellect, his charm, and that undercurrent of vulnerability he’s trying so hard to mask. Now, I want him. And I’m not used to being denied.Mr. Pierce Thorne speaks, snatching me back to the current moment. And as he speaks, my confidence only grows. They’re on my side, backing me in this fight. Even my
Being the world’s richest and powerful couple is an honor, but comes with it the burden of attracting possible new jealous and evil individuals. To prepare for this, Marius and I put the country’s Chief of police and the General of the army on our payroll in exchange for their protection of our family’s well-being. Additionally, we befriend some politicians here and abroad by funding their projects and election campaigns. We also keep our contact with the hacker and the cosmetic artist. Though we’re not yet needing their help again, we’re sending them and their families’ gifts every once in a while - a way to show our appreciation for the skills and to keep them loyal to us. Everything is going well. Except,... My relationships with my former and my current mothers-in-law. They remain adamant in forgetting our pasts. Even so, we maintain our respect for each other unlike before. Plus, they always visit their grandchildren to spend some time with them. “Elmyra,” I begin, trying to
Charles Guo Committed S.uicide Behind Bars! - That’s the headline of every news outlet. I’m shocked that he’d do this to himself. But to make sure that this isn’t just a lie so that he can escape jail, I head to the morgue myself. And there he is - white and cold, with a chain mark on his neck. There’s a little guilt in me, but there’s also a huge relief. Suzy and the others who vouched for him in the courtroom are now in jail for lying, awaiting their trials. The second DNA results of Rain and his grandparents turn out to be positive, and the one Suzy presented to the court is proven to be fabricated. This, hiding Rain’s father’s death from the law, and hiring my former bodyguards to become their spies and kill my family, add to the charges she’ll be facing, making it difficult for her to pose bail. “P-please, Hazel… I’m sorry I chose my husband over you. He threatened me, that’s why I have no choice,” she cries, clutching the bars of her cell.I raise an eyebrow. “You didn’t
My tears continue to cascade from my eyes, as I chase after Marius, who’s on a stretcher and being rushed to the emergency room. “Ma’am, you can’t enter,” the doctor says as she shuts the door in my face. I sink to my knees and clutches my tightening chest. Oh God! Please, save Marius! Don’t take him from me! Hours pass, but the emergency doors remain closed. There’s no update about Marius’ situation so far. Betty has arrived too, panicking and sobbing, which only makes me even more apprehensive. The nurses help her to calm down by giving her some medications. Then I sit beside her, hoping to give and get comfort. But,... “If I lose my son too, I will kill myself, and will blame my death on you,” she says, coldly. I stop myself from responding. This isn’t the right time and place to argue. Finally, the doctor steps out of the emergency room, his expression grave. “The patient is in a coma and will be under monitoring. The bullet has pierced through his left lung, but it’s
A week has lapsed,...And finally, the judgment day has arrived! Will fate back us up? Or will it vouch for Charles instead? Inside the courtroom, Charles looks calm, a complete turnaround from how he was when he’s in our basement. Sitting on the bench behind him is Amber, Rain and Suzy. I saw those three earlier, arriving separately. The media were all over them, throwing questions about the scandal surrounding their family’s odd relationships. They ignored them. And just like Charles, they all look calmer than how I was expecting them to be. When the trial begins, the first case that’s discussed is the m.urder of Rain’s biological father. Rain’s grandparents get on the witness stand. Their emotions rise as they state how they remember their son when he was still alive. “He just suddenly came home one day with groceries and shopping bags that we knew he can’t afford, given the salary he’s getting in Mr. Guo’s factory,” the father says. “Soon, he brought us a brand new house
HAZEL’S POV: It’s proven that Amber Stark can’t be trusted. But, what about Suzy and Rain Guo, will they side with me and Marius? Marius and I, disguised as Crystal and Chris, meet Suzy and Rain in a high-end cafe. “Give us the list of Charles’ illegal businesses, and we promise that all of his wealth will be yours,” I say. Suzy responds, “Believe it or not, my husband doesn’t have any illegal businesses, so there’s no way you can lawfully freeze his access to his wealth.” It seems like we can’t trust these two as well. If only our hacker can find these pieces of information, then we won’t need to bargain with them. But our hacker has limitations too. Suddenly, Suzy’s aura shifts! “However, I can give you the identity of Rain’s biological father. You can use his death against Charles,” she says. That’s a help, but that's not enough to freeze Charles’ assets. Charles may still be able to utilize his wealth to manipulate the authorities. After giving us the details of Rain’s
AMBER’S POV: Crystal Wu’s offer is tempting, but she and her husband can’t be trusted. Plus, Charles won’t be defeated that easily. I call Charles through my phone since he hasn’t come back home yet. When he picks up, he sounds a little more enthusiastic than usual. Even when he’s celebrating something huge, he isn’t like this. “Weird,” I murmur, then continue with a clearer voice. “Be careful. Crystal Wu is planning to destroy your finances, and she’s trying to use me against you.” His enthusiasm doesn’t falter. -[“I’ll be careful. Thanks for letting me know.”]- He then drops the call, and I can’t reconnect with him when I try to call him again. Frustrated, I send her a text message: -[Where are you anyway? I need s.ex!]- But, there’s no reply. I meet Rain and Suzy, who are having their lunch in the dining area. Then I tell them about Crystal Wu’s scheme. “She wants me to know all Charles’ illegal businesses, so the government can freeze all of his wealth just like what hap
HAZEL’S POV: It’s not easy to harden our hearts, but Marius and I must do it if we don’t want our enemies to get the better of us again. We already got access to our bodyguards’ and house staff’s past and current call and text message logs, and we identified five Guo’s spies in total. To stop them from continuously betraying us, we target their weaknesses - their loved ones. We gathered the traitors inside the study, and took their phones and their weapons. At first they’re confused until we explained why.“You’re spies of Charles Guo and you’ll pay for that big time,” Marius said coldly.Stunned, their faces paled and their bodies clenched. But none dared to deny it.“We have your family members, hidden in a place where you can’t contact or see them. If you want them to stay safe, you must follow every single thing we’ll demand from you,” I added with equal coldness.Alarmed, they tremble. One of them even kneeled down and begged,“Please, my family has nothing to do with my bet
“Take off all the CCTVs now!” I roar. Frantically, the maids and the bodyguards uninstall all the CCTVs in every corner of my estate. It may lessen the safety of my home, but I can’t risk giving my enemies more of our privacy! Once they’re done, I turn to Suzy and clutches her shoulders furiously.“I didn’t realize that there’s CCTV in that hospital room!” Suzy explains, trembling in fear. “Regardless! You shouldn’t have told the Thornes about our family’s affair!” I hiss, before pushing her onto the sofa. Then I turn to Amber, who’s fearfully hiding behind Rain. I wanna lash out at her too, but I stop myself. Even I didn't think that the CCTVs in my home used for our safety would be hacked to shove us into danger.Over the next few days, the mainstream and social media explode with news about our unconventional family relationships. We have become the laughing stock of the entire country. I can’t get out of my estate out of humiliation, can’t even accept an interview or a new
CHARLES’ POV: There’s nothing! Crystal and Chris Wu’s cellphones can’t provide anything that’ll connect them to Marius and Hazel Thorne! I turn to Rain and ask, “Are you sure you don’t know them?” Rain replies, “They invested one billion dollars to my new business venture, but I don’t know them personally. And I also don’t remember ever inviting them to my prenuptial party.” Irritation courses through me. “You’re so s.tupid to not meet your investors in person! I’m not gonna be surprised why until now you can’t build connections on your own!” “And now we can’t be sure if we can trust those two or not!” Rain shrugs, unbothered in showing his disinterest. I can’t believe that I’m squandering so much wealth for this d.umbass! If only I’m able to produce my own son, I would never let him exist! Amber approaches me and seductively rubs her palms across my chest area. “Honey, I’m scared. Everybody is talking about us now. Shall we just confess our affair?” she asks without any hin