MARIUS’ POV: I clench my jaw tightly as I watch Dr. Tiu and the Schultz couple on TV, taking their seats at a press conference. There’s only one person I can think of who would orchestrate this - dad! Dr. Tiu and the Schutlzs each reveal my past crime, as if they didn’t gladly accept my money. But then, it gets worse. They claim that I only hid Hazel from Carter because we’re having an affair. I can’t believe that dad will be willing to paint Carter as the victim, while I as the aggressor! The public’s opinions online have become out of control overnight. The majority claims that Carter’s extreme actions were justified because of Hazel’s and my supposed betrayal.I hiss, cursing under my breath.If only I could choose another father, I would never choose him again. I'll never do to Sammy and Archie what he’s doing to me. I’d rather suffer so they can live in comfort. That’s what a loving parent should do!I think about holding my own press conference, but it’s just gonna be a was
HAZEL’S POV: Marrying Marius is the best decision I’ve ever made, but being the daughter-in-law of his parents is the worst. I sit at the long conference table, surrounded by the key executives of my cosmetics business. I barely register a word of what they’re saying. The majority of my thoughts are consumed by papa’s worsening health condition, and Marius’ crumbling financial situation. My circumstances aren't any better either. The consumers have unleashed a wave of boycotts against my cosmetic products. Hence, this unplanned meeting is taking place.People who know nothing about the truth casts me and Marius as the culprits while painting Carter as the victim. The press conference Marius held last night helped, but only a little. The hate lessened, but still overwhelming.Dropping the case against Pierce won’t guarantee our safety; it may even put us in more danger. I also consider the idea of doing to Pierce what I did to Carter, but I’ll only relive the traumatic memories of
Marius’ law firm is forced to shut down, which is his last source of income. He can invest in papa's companies, but we have to wait for papa to wake up first. At times, I’m catching him staring blankly in extreme silence for hours. And it breaks my heart to see him like this.My own financial situation is crumbling too. SMW Corporations isn’t making any real progress, and two of my cosmetic stores are on the brink of closing due to the boycotts. I can't understand why Pierce isn’t suffering the same fate. His reputation has been dragged through the mud just like ours, yet he remains untouched. He’s really an expert in this game, and that scares me a lot.Finally, the day of the first hearing against Pierce Thorne arrives. At the courtroom, Pierce sits with an air of arrogant confidence, as if daring the law to touch him. When it’s time for the judge to call on the chef to state his claim, the chef sings a different tune again. "I was forced to lie by Ms. Hazel and Mr. Marius Thor
I'm staring at the still unconscious figure of papa. Marius and I need him. And I don't know what I'll do if he never wakes up again. Suddenly, Pierce's face flashes in my mind, and anger flares within me. It's all his fault! He'll have his doomsday too! But for now, I must focus on saving myself and my family from him. Then, I'll execute his downfall.When I head back home, Marius isn't there. I ask the staff and the bodyguards, but none of them can tell me where he is. I try to call him, but he isn't picking up. And my worry begins to twist like a knot in my chest.Then, my phone rings. It's Leslie. -["Hazel, I'm with Marius. He's... he's drunk.”]-"Where are you?" I ask."We’re at Uptown Bar," Leslie replies.Quickly, I hop back in my car and drive away.Inside the bar, Marius is slumped on the table, almost paralyzed. Leslie is beside him, trying to help him to his feet. "Marius?" I call out gently, rubbing my palm on his back.Marius looks up, his eyes half-closed. But he does
This new evidence we have against Pierce Thorne will hopefully be the beginning of his true downfall. Marius and I watch the TV as the news shows Pierce being arrested again. His face is calm, almost smug, as if he’s above the law. Just like last time, the police can't keep him in jail ‘cause he manages to pay his bail again. He even dares to give a short interview to the reporters swarming him at the police station’s porch. "My son lost his direction when he married Hazel Montgomery. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up like Carter Whitlock—betrayed and depressed… and dead.”His words cut deep, wickedly assassinating my character, always finding a way to twist the truth. I clench my fists, trying to hold back the anger boiling inside me. Marius puts his arm around my shoulders, offering comfort. I lean into him, grateful for his support. No matter how much Pierce tries to destroy me, the proof I posted online has become our best shot to win our cases against him. However, our
I don't know if this will work, or I'll just waste my time, but I'm willing to try to hopefully end all our suffering.With my bodyguards close by, I walk into a high-end restaurant where there’s a VIP room exclusive for its patrons. Pierce is there, seated at the head of the table, his legs crossed as he leisurely sips his tea. I take a seat opposite him, and ask, "So, what offer do you have for me?" Pierce sets down his teacup, a smirk playing on his lips. "Simple. Drop your cases against me, and I’ll reinstate Marius as one of the board of directors in my corporation."Drop the cases? I can’t make this decision on my own—it’s papa’s choice. And I wonder, is Pierce’s freedom really worth Marius’ financial security? "I’ll wait for papa to wake up and talk to him about that," I reply. Then, I bring up another issue, "About the agreement of making Archie the sole heir of your wealth, I’ll agree. I just need to convince Marius–"I stop when Pierce raises his hand. "There’s no need. I
Papa is awake now! He survived the poison! Marius and I sit beside papa. Papa looks weak, his face pale against the white sheets, but the doctor has reassured us that the mercury is completely out of his system. He just needs time to fully recover. I also take the chance to tell him everything that happened while he was unconscious—about Pierce, the chaos.Anger builds in his eyes as he says, “Pierce is a dangerous man, just like Carter. He shouldn’t be walking free among us.” Then his gaze softens as he shifts it towards Marius. “Son, you can invest in my corporation if you want.”Marius hesitates, before he can respond, “That was my plan. But I realized that if I do that, the consumers may boycott your companies because of me. I don’t want to take that risk.”Papa nods in understanding. “If that’s your decision, I respect it. But if you need me to invest in your new business venture, let me know.”Marius smiles. “I will. Thank you, Mr. Montgomery.”“Stop being too business-like. Ca
MARIUS’ POV: Dad is now in jail and can’t post bail, which is an awesome feeling. The lies about Carter have done enough damage, and at least some of the hatred against me and Hazel has lessened. But the public still can't forgive me for swapping two identities without their permission, and it’s terribly affecting my real estate business. The pre-selling condo units and house and lot projects have started with some promise, but the numbers of sales are much lower than I’ve anticipated. Every day, I try to stay optimistic, telling myself that once the high-rise buildings and the houses are finished, more potential buyers will show interest. But, the thing is, I’m running out of money. The loans from different banks are piling up too, and the thought of asking Hazel or dad, Mr. Montgomery, for financial help again makes my stomach churn. I’m trying so hard to prove myself and to provide the best future for my family, but now I wonder if I’m just sinking deeper into a hole I can ne
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