Chapter 19Kathryn’s eyes lit up. “That’s smart. People appreciate when you meet them where they are. And what about the board? How are you handling them?” “That’s where it gets tricky,” Lyon admitted. “Some of them are already backing other candidates. But I’ve been meeting with them individually, presenting my vision, showing them why aligning with me is better long-term.” Kathryn raised a brow. “Is it working?” “Yes, by the way, my influence too,” Lyon said, his tone honest. “It’s not easy convincing people. I’ve got more people on my side right now. It’s all about persistence.” Kathryn smiled, proud of him. “You’re really giving it your all, aren’t you?” “I have to,” Lyon said, leaning closer to her. “This isn’t just about me. It’s about us. If I win, it changes everything.” “You have it,” Kathryn said immediately, her voice firm. “You don’t even have to ask.” Lyon smiled at her, reaching out to take her hand. “That means more to me than you know.” Kathryn squeezed
Chapter 20I thought a gust of wind might send us flying into the sky with you, with your hair like that..” Kathryn continued.Fiona’s eyes widened. “Oh, so now we’re coming for my hair, huh?”Kathryn laughed, holding her hands up in mock surrender. “No, no, I love it. It’s just... a lot to handle some days.”Trisha chimed in, “Yeah, Fiona, you’ve got enough volume to make a cloud jealous.”They all burst into laughter again, the kind of laughter that felt like it could go on forever. The teasing was playful, light-hearted, and just what they needed to keep the mood easy.Fiona put her hands on her hips, shaking her head, but the smile on her face betrayed her. “You two are impossible. I thought I’d get a compliment today, but I see how it is.”Kathryn smiled. “We do love the glam, Fiona. You just might need to tame it down when we’re around. It’s like a walking hurricane some days.”“Oh, so now I’m a hurricane,” Fiona said, pretending to be offended. “What’s next? A tornado?”“Exactl
Chapter 21Lyon's eyes turned red seeing, Kathryn was in hold of the picture. He couldn't shake off the feeling that, she'd find out, he was a murderer.“Get out! Out!” He yelled, he sounded so cold, even Kathryn saw it.Kathryn was teary as she dropped the picture, even though, she didn't see who it was in the picture.She held her hands out, held her mouth and ran out of Lyon's study.What has he done?Lyon noticed the harm he has done. That picture? It wouldn't have been there if Wendy hadn't sent it in her usual cunning way. He bit is lower lip so hard, till it peeled.He hit his hand so hard on the table, he knew Kathryn might not forgive him. She had cried in his very eyes.But that didn't change the fact that she was meddling with matters that didn't concern her, was there something in his life that didn't concern her really? Maybe, she could have stayed away from the picture.Lyon wasn't someone that allows anyone into his study but, he thought they were getting along well, no
Chapter 22Trisha drove into the compound with a speed that made the security guard at the gate wave nervously. She barely noticed him, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as her mind raced. The moment her car came to a halt, she jumped out, slamming the door shut without care. She was on a mission. As she approached the house, she spotted Fiona standing outside, wringing her hands anxiously. Fiona’s eyes widened as she saw Trisha coming, her face a mixture of relief and worry. “Fiona,” Trisha called out, her voice firm but laced with urgency. “What’s going on? Did something happen to Kathryn?” Fiona hesitated, her hands clasped together. “I don’t know exactly,” she admitted, her voice soft. “She hasn’t come out of her room since last night. I’ve tried talking to her, but she won’t open the door. She’s been crying. I could hear her sobbing all night…” Hearing this, Trisha didn’t wait another second. She took off toward the front door, pushing it open with determinati
Chapter 23“I missed you,” Kathryn said finally, her voice muffled. “Oh, my baby,” her mom replied, pulling back just enough to look at her face. “I missed you so much. What took you so long to come home?” Kathryn smiled weakly, trying to hold back more tears. “Life,” she said simply. Their mom nodded, cupping Kathryn’s face in her hands. “You’re here now, and that’s what matters.” Trisha leaned against the wall, watching the reunion with a satisfied smile. “Told you this was a good idea,” she said, crossing her arms. Their mom turned to Trisha and swatted her playfully. “You should have told me! I would’ve prepared something special.” Kathryn laughed softly, wiping her eyes. “You’re always prepared, Mom.” Their mom chuckled, pulling both of them into a group hug. “Come inside, both of you. Tell me everything. I want to hear it all.” ——Kathryn sat on the old familiar couch, running her fingers over the fabric. It felt strange but comforting to be back. Her mom sat acr
Chapter 24The morning sun was soft, casting a glow over the Alberto mansion’s garden. Fiona was crouched low, her hands carefully trimming the overgrown edges of the flowerbed. The vibrant flowers swayed gently in the breeze as she worked, humming softly to herself. Her focus was sharp, making sure not to cut off the wrong stems. Just then, Martins strolled out from the side of the house, his usual easygoing stride carrying him toward her. He noticed how absorbed she was in her task and smirked slightly. “Still at it, Fiona?” he called out. She glanced up, brushing a strand of hair from her face, and narrowed her eyes. “These flowers won’t trim themselves,” she replied politely, but there was a teasing edge to her tone. He chuckled, stepping closer. “Is Lyon still inside?” “Yes,” Fiona said, her voice lowering slightly. She looked at the house briefly, then back to her work. Martins nodded and started for the door, his hand reaching for the handle. But just as he was about
Chapter 25The next few hours were a whirlwind. Lyon worked closely with the finance team, going through spreadsheets line by line to identify where the issues were. His sharp eye for detail and quick thinking helped uncover the mistake, a junior accountant had mistakenly duplicated several entries. Once the error was fixed, Lyon instructed the team to generate corrected reports. He personally reviewed them before giving his approval. Meanwhile, Martins returned with the PR team’s draft statement, which Lyon fine-tuned to ensure it struck the right tone. By the time everything was resolved, it was well past noon. The board members, visibly relieved, thanked Lyon for his leadership. As he left the conference room, the assistant who had first briefed him approached cautiously. “Sir, the media has already started sharing the revised statement. Public response seems positive so far.” Lyon gave her a brief nod. “Good. Make sure the reports are sent to every stakeholder before the e
Chapter 26His laughter wasn't one of joy, but of triumph, like he had orchestrated the whole thing for his own amusement. Lyon’s heart skipped a beat as the words echoed in the air, and everything seemed to stop for a moment. "Du…what?" Martins muttered under his breath, his eyes darting to Lyon. They both watched in disbelief as the man continued to laugh, his body shaking with the force of it. It was as if the entire world had been fooled, like they had walked right into a trap that they couldn’t even see. The blood-stained man raised a hand, still laughing as if the joke was the punchline of some twisted comedy show. “You thought you could save the day, huh?” he jeered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, guess what? You’ve just been played.”Lyon’s breath hitched. He felt the weight of the man’s words like a punch to the gut. It was as if the whole scene, the angry crowd, the stolen goods, the chaos, had been a set-up, an act to manipulate him into making the wrong decision
Chapter 36Kathryn stood by the bar in the parlor, her fingers tapping against the cool surface of the countertop. She wasn’t sure if the rhythm of her foot against the floor was to calm her nerves or if it was just an automatic response to the chaos swirling in her head. Lyon is a murderer!Wendy's voice echoed in her mind, cruel and mocking, mixed with that infuriating laugh that made Kathryn want to scream. Her heart felt like it was sinking into her stomach, a pit forming as the weight of the accusation pressed down on her chest. The room around her seemed to blur, her vision narrowing to the thoughts racing in her head. No. This can’t be true. Lyon wouldn’t, he can’t be…Her phone buzzed, cutting through the whirlwind of her thoughts. The screen lit up, and for a moment, Kathryn just stared at it, frozen. She already knew who it was. The unknown number. The one that had been tormenting her.Her fingers moved slowly, almost unwillingly, to unlock the phone. The message from the u
Chapter 35Kathryn stepped into the restaurant, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor as her eyes darted around the bustling space. She wasn’t sure who she was looking for, but something about this entire setup felt off. She tightened her grip on her handbag, her nerves creeping in as she scanned the tables filled with strangers engaged in quiet conversations. Pulling out her phone, she stared at the last dialed number before reluctantly pressing it again. The line rang twice before the voice picked up. "I'm here," Kathryn said, glancing around nervously. "Where are you?" The voice chuckled, low and mocking. "At your back, buddy." Kathryn froze, a chill running down her spine. Slowly, she turned, and there she was, a face from the past that Kathryn thought she’d never see again. "Wendy…?" Kathryn’s voice wavered, her brows furrowing in shock. "Isn’t it?" Wendy smirked, her lips curving into an all-too-familiar smug grin. "You have a good memory, Katy," she said
Chapter 34Gling! Gling!Kathryn's phone rang, she motioned towards the dinning table where she had left the phone after eating that morning.Unknown number!“Unknown number?” She muttered trying to be sure she saw right. She hasn't been called by unknown contacts before, she grew suspicious but on a second thought, she waved it off.It ranged the second time, since she wasn't able to pick the first time. She picked and placed it on her ear, waiting for the caller to speak first.“Hey, Katy…” the voice came from the other end, “I know you might not remember me…” “Hi, please who's this?” Kathryn asked, an etch of concern written all over her face.“Some, you'd love to meet…” The voice chuckled, leaving Kathryn more confused than ever. She lifted the phone from her ear and placed it back, trying to ascertain who the person was.“See, I don't have time for all of this, if you don't want to tell me who you are, then get the fuck out!” Kathryn roared and ended the call.Kathryn’s phone bu
Chapter 33“Congratulations, Mrs Alberto, you're two weeks pregnant!” Their family doctor, Dr Leo announced to Kathryn, who laid on the bed, smiling boldly.“Thank you, doctor!” Kathryn gestured as the doctor packed his kits up, nodding slightly.“And…. doctor,” she called, when he was almost leaving, “I want to be the first person to announce it to my husband.”Dr Leo nodded, “off course Mrs Alberto,” he said and left.Kathryn laid back in the bed, smiling and chuckling, she rubbed her tummy slightly, “I will be the best mum ever, okay?” She muttered, her hands on her tummy.Fiona barged into the room, her face lighting up with joy as she caught sight of Kathryn lying on the bed, her hand absentmindedly rubbing her tummy. Fiona gasped dramatically, clasping her hands together as if she’d just uncovered the best secret in the world. "Congratulations!" she screamed, running across the room like a child who’d just been handed candy. She threw her arms around Kathryn, pulling her into
Chapter 32Two months passed, and the house that once felt like a cold battleground now echoed with laughter and quiet moments of tenderness. Lyon and Kathryn’s love, began to blossom like a garden finally given the care it needed. Kathryn had noticed the little things first, the way Lyon waited for her before meals, the way he held her hand longer than necessary when they were out, and how his eyes softened every time he looked at her. She started to see sides of him she didn’t know existed: the man who stayed up with her when she couldn’t sleep, who listened to her stories about childhood, and who teased her just enough to make her laugh without crossing the line. For Lyon, the change was undeniable. He couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment he fell for Kathryn all over again, or perhaps for the first time, but every day, he felt his walls crumble a little more. Her smile became the highlight of his mornings; her voice, the melody that soothed his evenings. She wasn’t just his wif
Chapter 31Lyon's voice echoed behind Kathryn, who was standing still.“I wish I could turn time around,” Lyon continued, his eyes a little dim and alluring. Kathryn stood, her back to him, not uttering a word, she didn't want to.Lyon stepped quietly toward her, his footsteps almost inaudible on the soft carpet. Kathryn stood by the window, her arms crossed over her chest, staring out into the dark night as if searching for answers in the void. His hands gently circled her waist, pulling her out of her thoughts. The warmth of his touch startled her. She gasped softly, her breath catching in her throat as his hands moved lightly, tracing the line down her back. The unexpected intimacy sent a shiver through her, but she didn’t pull away. “Please…” she murmured, her voice unsteady. It wasn’t a plea for him to stop, it was a mix of emotions she couldn’t quite articulate. She turned to face him, her eyes wide and filled with questions, her heart racing. Lyon met her gaze with an exp
Chapter 30Kathryn’s father took Lyon's hand,, shaking firmly, his grip lingering just a moment longer than necessary. “I see you’ve made yourself comfortable,” he remarked, glancing at the spread on the table before returning his attention to Lyon. “I guess you’re here for your wife?” he continued, his tone light but laced with something that wasn’t entirely welcoming. Kathryn's mom stared angrily at him for welcoming Lyon so well, knowing fully well, what he had done.The dining table was finally clear, and the clatter of plates being stacked and taken to the kitchen echoed faintly through the room. Lyon sat upright in his chair, his gaze shifting from the cleared table to Kathryn’s mother, who was meticulously wiping her hands with a towel. He hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts, then spoke. “Thank you for the meal, ma’am,” he said, his tone respectful but slightly uneasy. “It was delicious.” Kathryn’s mother didn’t respond. She didn’t even look at him. Instead,
Chapter 29Lyon stepped forward hesitantly, his hands hovering in the air as though unsure if he was allowed to touch her. But seeing her like that, so broken and vulnerable, pushed him past his hesitation. Gently, he reached out and pulled her into his arms, wrapping them around her trembling frame. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, his voice muffled as he buried his face in her hair. “I’m so sorry, Kathryn. I was wrong. I was so wrong.”Kathryn didn’t resist. Instead, she melted into him, her hands gripping his jacket tightly as though it was the only thing keeping her upright. The warmth of his embrace, the steadiness of his voice, broke down the last of her defenses. Her tears soaked through his shirt, but Lyon didn’t care. He held her as though letting go was no longer an option, his arms tightening around her with each passing second. From a few feet away, Martins stood watching the scene unfold. He leaned against the car, his arms crossed, his face a mask of quiet contemplation. He h
Chapter 28Lyon stepped out of the house, his movements sharp, but there was a tension in the way his shoulders held. His suit was crisp, his tie slightly undone, but he didn’t care. He adjusted his cufflinks once, twice, as though trying to focus his restless energy. Martins was already outside, leaning casually against the car door, scrolling through his phone. He looked up as Lyon approached, immediately straightening and slipping the phone into his pocket. "Sir," Martins greeted, opening the car door for him. Lyon didn’t waste time. “We’re going to Kathryn’s house,” he said, his voice calm but with an edge that left no room for discussion. Martins paused for a split second, his brows pulling together slightly in silent question, but he quickly nodded. He walked around to the driver’s side, pulling open the door. Just as Lyon was about to step into the car, Fiona came hurrying out from the kitchen door, wiping her hands on her apron.Lyon's suit was sharp, perfectly tailo