CHAPTER 1 : THE GAME STARTS
Astrid
HILLTOWN PACKING LOT
I looked down at the result in my hands and a smile broke out on my face. It was finally happening I had waited for years to have this baby and I couldn't wait to tell him the news.
I smiled to myself immediately I caught sight of Calvin's car. He must have been concerned about having a child; we had waited five years, and it was finally happening. I wonder what his reaction will be.
I was only a few steps from his car when I saw him. I would feel less stressed if I could call him. "Ca..!" The next sight shook me to my core: Judy was with Carter.
"No, it could not be..." I reassured myself as I hurriedly approached the alley I saw them enter; it could be that they caught sight of each other, or I was having hallucinations.
"Ca—cal—calvin!" I trembled at the sight of him making out with her in such a place and at such a time.
"You told me you would forgotten about her. Right? "What are you all doing here?" I gulped; there must be an explanation for this; it may not be what I think it is, or perhaps I was simply overthinking it.
He tried to leave her side, but he held his arms, gave a warning smile, and walked towards me, holding my shoulders and whispering, "I never loved you." "You know it."
"Now that Judy is back, I do not have to lie," he said, chuckling softly. "I do not love you, Astrid!" He shouted loudly, spreading his arms in the air, as if he had been enslaved and endangered but had now been freed; as if I had forced him to love me.
"I love you Calvin, and you love me too. I can pretend I did not see anything, but please do not tell me you do not love me." I wept, clutching his shirt tightly. I know that even if he did not love me when we married, he should have fallen in love with me within these five years.
Judy stepped forward and threw my hand away from his shirt. I glared at her as she spoke, wondering who would be interested in her; she had everything bad you could think of, why could not he see it?
"Is it really that hard to understand that he does not love you?" She grasped his hand, giving me an eye roll because she was so confident in herself. In fact, she was too proud of herself; she had done nothing in the years Calvin had been looking for her, and now she just wanted to take him back?
"Calvin!!" Are you really going to support her? I was devastated; it was obvious that she would not be a good match for him, and his parents would not even allow him to marry her. Or so I thought.
"I said I DO NOT LOVE YOU!" He yelled at me, grabbed her hand, and walked over to his car. His remarks astounded me; I was not bad—I even gave him control of my business—so why could not he love me?
No, I can not cry. I wiped my tears, got into my car, and drove away, determined to show him that he was not important and that I could live without him.
Buzz! Buzz!
I looked down at my phone to see who was calling, but when I looked back up, I noticed a truck coming in my direction. I quickly diverted my route, but it appeared to be tailing me. I turned the car away, attempting to get on another lane, but I was still hit. The last thing I remembered was seeing blood splash all over the place as I blacked out.
STAN HOSPITAL.
"Hello! Welcome back!" I was greeted by a deep voice. I tried to get up, but my strength failed, and I realized I was attached to machines.
"What happened?" I asked in confusion, staring at my surroundings, unable to recall what had occurred. "Where am I? and who are you?" I asked shakily on the bed, feeling as if my life was currently being supported by a system.
"A lot of questions, but they do not matter," he said, smiling. To be honest, his outfit and the way he spoke made him appear quite dangerous.
"You got into an ac; I brought you here to save your life," he explained. 'I was speeding...' I trailed off, unsure what had happened, but if I had been run over by a car, where was my baby?
"How is..." I inquired, but he gave me my answer before I could ask; she shook his head slowly and said, "I am sorry, but your baby is dead." I looked down at my belly as a tear fell from my eyes; it was probably not even appropriate for me to cry at this time; everything had just shaken me...He walked up to me and held my hand, saying, "You can not cry; it is bad for you." He was annoying, but he was correct.
"Who are you?" I could not help but ask again; he had answered all of my previous questions except the one about his name.
"I..." He said with a low smirk and presented his card, "See for yourself." He said, "I looked at the card, and the identity stated that he was the CEO of Tanks Industry, and his name was Damon.
"You are the CEO; what do you need me for?" When I asked, he smirked. He looked like someone who could kill her in the next second.
TWO YEARS LATER
I smiled as I slowly stepped out of the car; there were a slew of directors waiting for her, including the CEOs of small businesses who all wanted to collaborate with me. The powerful Miss Eleanor, the image I made for myself solely to exact revenge on him. Only a few people have seen my face, but all have felt my wealth. Only a few people will see my face before I exact my revenge.
I was wearing a mask on my face and an umbrella over my head. At the time, I was the wealthiest person in town, and only a few people had seen my face.
"Submit your proposal to the company. I walked forward without listening to their voices; after all, they were not assisting me in any way.
HAN CORPORATION
I clenched my fist in anger as I looked up at the sign on the company building. He had the audacity to change the name of my company. The company was originally mine, It was my parent's last assets for me before they got killed in a mysterious car accident but after I got married to him I signed the company over to him for me to be a full housewife but he obviously didn't value the opportunity.
I walked straight to the meeting room and was greeted by Calvin, who said, "Please sit, Ma'am." He pointed out a seat for me and I smiled as I sat down; he seemed overjoyed with the opportunity I gave him.
"I am glad you gave us the opportunity to see you." He claimed I could see him looking at my face even with the mask on, and that if he could persuade me and close a deal with me, he would become a billionaire.
"I see your company has potential, but it simply does not have enough funding." I stated an obvious fact: the company was probably on the verge of going bankrupt.
"Yes, you have an in-depth understanding, as expected, and that is precisely why I would like to work with you," he said with an obnoxious smile, as if he were about to fall to his knees and beg my approval.
"I have an even better idea," I smirked as I shook the wine he handed me, staring deep into his eyes. He sat upright and seemed invested, despite the fact that he had yet to hear the idea.
"Let me buy your company."
"I apologize, but I am not interested...."
"Don't reject yet I can offer you more than you think." I said and placed the glass of wine down on the table staring at him deep in the eyes what more could he want than money he couldn't possibly value the company.
"I know your position in the business world,I know that you can offer millions but i am nlt interested." He said pulling a smile on my face "Then why are still contemplating?" I asked and he just shook his head.
"There are various reasons the most important is that I don't have a better option than this company for now" he said and I raised a brow at him he couldn't possibly be denying my offer.
"Are you denying my offer?" I asked and he shook his head vigoursly.
"I really need the money but I can't sell the company." He said and he shook his head one of the most important factors was Judy she would never let him rest in peace.
I still had a bunch of ideas to propose but I soon saw her coming,she was probably planning to obstruct the interaction. "For a more efficient conversation I would advice you put a call over to me"
"Why would I!?" He seemed a bit confused but when he heard her voice call "Darling" he understood immediately called with a with a seductive voice as she went to hug him giving him a peck before sitting on his laps, they both got married a few years ago and now she was officially his wife.
"I will love it if you could reconsider though" He said but Judy seemed to not want her to even talk to her.
"I see your wife is here I will leave you to it." I stood up and walked out the door with a smirk on my face, knowing they were still the same.
"She has finally left," Judy said, smiling as she stood up. She would not let anyone get too close to him; she knew him too well.
Calvin asked, "Why were you behaving like that?" She rolled her eyes."Oh, please do not start with the lies; I am sure you would have asked her out on a date if I had not arrived on time." Judy spoke, and Calvin grinned.
"You are being overly paranoid; we are just having a business discussion." He said she was such a jealous lady that she could not bear the sight of them together.
"I do not need to know what you are doing; I just do not trust you around the other gender." Judy said with a smile. She moved closer to him, rubbing and romancing his body.
"Don't use that trick on me,this discussion isn't over yet." Calvin said with a determined mindset.
"Come on, Calvin just forget about" she said as she touched his lips slowly. "Come here you little vixen" he said and carried her up onto the desk planting a kiss on her lips.
Listening to their conversation I smiled the game had just started.
Nina"Will you do the honour of marrying me?" I stood frozen on my feet as I stared at the ring he held out to me. Never would I have thought that our trio would end up like this.I raised my hand, ready to kick the ring off, but I remembered his words before he started this: 'Play along' was what he whispered in my ear. I put on a smile, reluctantly dropping my hand to his face as I said, "Yes, I will marry you."The crowd erupted in applause, even giving a standing ovation, and how much I wanted to roll my eyes at them—what fakers. But why wouldn't they? It was Caspian. No one could bear offending anyone in his lineage.From the corner of my eye, I could see Sage's mother panting heavily; she must have never thought that her son's burial would be an avenue for an engagement for me."Congratulations," someone shook his hand while he smiled lowly. "Your father has always been wishing for you to get married; I never thought you actually would." He took him away as he spoke, and I was a
NinaMy scream broke through the house as I could hear approaching footsteps to the house. “Who are you?” I asked the lady who was between the curtains before I got distracted by the opening of the door.“Is everything fine?” Rein asked, and I shook my head negatively.“No, nothing is fine. First, you all locked me up here, and now she is…” I said, looking to my side, but the figure I had seen there was gone. “Where is she?” I asked, about to twirl when she tapped my shoulder, and I looked back, frightened to see her behind me.“You…” I was speechless at this point. So her first scare attempt wasn't enough; she had to continue it.“That's Helen, your childhood friend. Don't you remember?” Rein asked, and I ohed, the memory of her face flashing through my mind. I raised a finger as I pointed towards her, shaking it vigorously before I ohed again; I had found my ticket to escape.“You can leave now, Rein.” I said, waving him off, and he scoffed as he walked out the door while I pulled H
Nina“I am watching your every move, watch your back,” the letter read, and her eyes twitched as I began shaking. I looked back to see if anyone was watching me, but I couldn't find anyone behind me. I held on to the letter tightly as my mind roamed freely in what could go wrong.What if they were actually after my life? What exactly happened after I left the country? Why was everything so dangerous? Just in that deep moment of thought, I felt a hand on me, and I shrilled.“What's wrong? Why are you so shocked?” she asked, and looking at the face, I recognized it was Helen. I breathed out a sigh of relief as I hid the paper behind me.“I guess the crowd is just too much; we should leave before we lose each other again,” I said, and she nodded, walking forward a little, but she stopped as she turned back to me boldly.“What are you hiding behind you?” she asked, and I shook my head negatively. Immediately getting defensive, I began stepping backward. “Nothing, I just feel like standing
NinaI turned back sharply to see it was Caspian behind me. I rushed to him as I held his arm. “What is wrong in your house? Why is everywhere so silent?” I asked, but he didn't seem interested in my question.“I asked what you are doing here. This isn't somewhere you can be,” he said, and just at that moment, I heard a sound from a corner, most likely the corner he was coming from, and my curiosity getting the best of me, I inched forward.“Who was that?” I asked as I did, and he pulled me back, dragging me towards the back of a pillar in the house as he signaled for me to keep quiet.Still making sure his hands were placed on my lips, he peeped out from the pillar, carefully scanning with his eyes whoever he didn't want to see me. “I already told you. You shouldn't be here,” he said finally pulling his hand off my lips, probably because the coast was finally clear.“So what's wrong? What exactly are we hiding from, and why did you just start to ignore me after you greatly disrespect
Nina“Hello..hello..can you hear me?” My father's voice snapped me out of my thoughts as I removed the phone from my ears and placed the phone on speaker so he could hear.“What do you mean? You told me to go to Caspian that the city wasn't safe. Don't you remember?” I asked, but his voice sounded confused and afflicted as Caspian looked at me weirdly; this was everything far from what I wanted.“I don't, I didn't tell you to do that. I can never…” He said, desperation obvious in his voice, and my heart ached. What exactly was going on? Why was everyone so…? “Wait, give the phone to Caspian.”I raised a brow as I asked, “How do you know I am with him?” I asked, and all I heard was a scoff from the other end as Caspian took up the phone, putting off the speaker, and walked away to receive the call while I paced back and forth in his room.Though it was a part of my plan to come here in the first place, after that message, there was no way I could, and I sure didn't want him thinking th
NinaShe opened her eyes slowly to see her hands tied behind her and she was kept in a car, she struggled as she screamed at the top of her lungs"Let me out! Whoever is there should let me out.” She screamed at the top of her lungs as she banged hand on the boot of the car.The boot was opened and she anticipated who was there who could have tied her down like this from a VIP lodge in a high class hotel. “Sylvester?” Her face was filled with confusion was he here to save her.“It is better you don't continue screaming or your punishment will be doubled” his voice sounded different and only then did I notice that it wasn't him. He signaled to some people who pulled her out of the car.“Wait where am I? Where is this place? And where are they taking me to?” She asked, He scoffed as he walked closer to her “I already said, no questions”She struggles to break free from the bond they put her in but all her efforts was in vain soon enough came in another bunch of guys who beat her up till
Paris I opened my eyes slowly but I couldn't see anything they had my eyes covered and I couldn't see a thing but I did her their voices."You are finally awake? I was thinking I got you here for nothing. So... Where is the map?" The voice sounded thick and hoarse but I couldn't seem to recognise it from any where."Which...which map?" I asked confused at their words but my question only seemed to aggrievate them, as I heard the chair shift back harshly and he got up in anger."Don't pretend like you don't know what we are talking about the whole realm knows that you have the map don't act dumb" he hit the table beside shivered in fear.I would have really said where the map was but I had no idea what they were talking about, I was really scared for my life at this moment though I was used to such treatment from Ethan and I am supposed not to be scared but he was never ready to kill me? These ones seemed more than ready."I really don't know what you are talking about. But if it's mo
ParisI looked before me and the man who was supposedly suspicious pulled out a gun and I docked lower as I saw him shot.I previously thought my life wasn't in danger since they wanted something from me but this proved me otherwise.The hotel got into chose as a gun shot was heard and in this choas Lucian pulled my hand and we ran off through the backdoor just before it got crowded.After running miles I stopped to take a breather as I said "Luci, I think we lost them we can take a break now" I tried to catch my breath as layed back against the wall in the corner."I thought they wanted something from me? Why did they now want my life?" I asked and he scoffed he seemed not really that suprised that all this was happening.He seemed prepared but Luci was just that adaptive and I wasn't willing to doubt him he was my only help."He isn't from the same gang. Infact he isn't even from a gang he is a killer." He said and my eyes widened who could I have offended that was after my life?"A
CHAPTER 1 : THE GAME STARTSAstridHILLTOWN PACKING LOTI looked down at the result in my hands and a smile broke out on my face. It was finally happening I had waited for years to have this baby and I couldn't wait to tell him the news.I smiled to myself immediately I caught sight of Calvin's car. He must have been concerned about having a child; we had waited five years, and it was finally happening. I wonder what his reaction will be.I was only a few steps from his car when I saw him. I would feel less stressed if I could call him. "Ca..!" The next sight shook me to my core: Judy was with Carter."No, it could not be..." I reassured myself as I hurriedly approached the alley I saw them enter; it could be that they caught sight of each other, or I was having hallucinations."Ca—cal—calvin!" I trembled at the sight of him making out with her in such a place and at such a time."You told me you would forgotten about her. Right? "What are you all doing here?" I gulped; there must be
ParisI looked before me and the man who was supposedly suspicious pulled out a gun and I docked lower as I saw him shot.I previously thought my life wasn't in danger since they wanted something from me but this proved me otherwise.The hotel got into chose as a gun shot was heard and in this choas Lucian pulled my hand and we ran off through the backdoor just before it got crowded.After running miles I stopped to take a breather as I said "Luci, I think we lost them we can take a break now" I tried to catch my breath as layed back against the wall in the corner."I thought they wanted something from me? Why did they now want my life?" I asked and he scoffed he seemed not really that suprised that all this was happening.He seemed prepared but Luci was just that adaptive and I wasn't willing to doubt him he was my only help."He isn't from the same gang. Infact he isn't even from a gang he is a killer." He said and my eyes widened who could I have offended that was after my life?"A
Paris I opened my eyes slowly but I couldn't see anything they had my eyes covered and I couldn't see a thing but I did her their voices."You are finally awake? I was thinking I got you here for nothing. So... Where is the map?" The voice sounded thick and hoarse but I couldn't seem to recognise it from any where."Which...which map?" I asked confused at their words but my question only seemed to aggrievate them, as I heard the chair shift back harshly and he got up in anger."Don't pretend like you don't know what we are talking about the whole realm knows that you have the map don't act dumb" he hit the table beside shivered in fear.I would have really said where the map was but I had no idea what they were talking about, I was really scared for my life at this moment though I was used to such treatment from Ethan and I am supposed not to be scared but he was never ready to kill me? These ones seemed more than ready."I really don't know what you are talking about. But if it's mo
NinaShe opened her eyes slowly to see her hands tied behind her and she was kept in a car, she struggled as she screamed at the top of her lungs"Let me out! Whoever is there should let me out.” She screamed at the top of her lungs as she banged hand on the boot of the car.The boot was opened and she anticipated who was there who could have tied her down like this from a VIP lodge in a high class hotel. “Sylvester?” Her face was filled with confusion was he here to save her.“It is better you don't continue screaming or your punishment will be doubled” his voice sounded different and only then did I notice that it wasn't him. He signaled to some people who pulled her out of the car.“Wait where am I? Where is this place? And where are they taking me to?” She asked, He scoffed as he walked closer to her “I already said, no questions”She struggles to break free from the bond they put her in but all her efforts was in vain soon enough came in another bunch of guys who beat her up till
Nina“Hello..hello..can you hear me?” My father's voice snapped me out of my thoughts as I removed the phone from my ears and placed the phone on speaker so he could hear.“What do you mean? You told me to go to Caspian that the city wasn't safe. Don't you remember?” I asked, but his voice sounded confused and afflicted as Caspian looked at me weirdly; this was everything far from what I wanted.“I don't, I didn't tell you to do that. I can never…” He said, desperation obvious in his voice, and my heart ached. What exactly was going on? Why was everyone so…? “Wait, give the phone to Caspian.”I raised a brow as I asked, “How do you know I am with him?” I asked, and all I heard was a scoff from the other end as Caspian took up the phone, putting off the speaker, and walked away to receive the call while I paced back and forth in his room.Though it was a part of my plan to come here in the first place, after that message, there was no way I could, and I sure didn't want him thinking th
NinaI turned back sharply to see it was Caspian behind me. I rushed to him as I held his arm. “What is wrong in your house? Why is everywhere so silent?” I asked, but he didn't seem interested in my question.“I asked what you are doing here. This isn't somewhere you can be,” he said, and just at that moment, I heard a sound from a corner, most likely the corner he was coming from, and my curiosity getting the best of me, I inched forward.“Who was that?” I asked as I did, and he pulled me back, dragging me towards the back of a pillar in the house as he signaled for me to keep quiet.Still making sure his hands were placed on my lips, he peeped out from the pillar, carefully scanning with his eyes whoever he didn't want to see me. “I already told you. You shouldn't be here,” he said finally pulling his hand off my lips, probably because the coast was finally clear.“So what's wrong? What exactly are we hiding from, and why did you just start to ignore me after you greatly disrespect
Nina“I am watching your every move, watch your back,” the letter read, and her eyes twitched as I began shaking. I looked back to see if anyone was watching me, but I couldn't find anyone behind me. I held on to the letter tightly as my mind roamed freely in what could go wrong.What if they were actually after my life? What exactly happened after I left the country? Why was everything so dangerous? Just in that deep moment of thought, I felt a hand on me, and I shrilled.“What's wrong? Why are you so shocked?” she asked, and looking at the face, I recognized it was Helen. I breathed out a sigh of relief as I hid the paper behind me.“I guess the crowd is just too much; we should leave before we lose each other again,” I said, and she nodded, walking forward a little, but she stopped as she turned back to me boldly.“What are you hiding behind you?” she asked, and I shook my head negatively. Immediately getting defensive, I began stepping backward. “Nothing, I just feel like standing
NinaMy scream broke through the house as I could hear approaching footsteps to the house. “Who are you?” I asked the lady who was between the curtains before I got distracted by the opening of the door.“Is everything fine?” Rein asked, and I shook my head negatively.“No, nothing is fine. First, you all locked me up here, and now she is…” I said, looking to my side, but the figure I had seen there was gone. “Where is she?” I asked, about to twirl when she tapped my shoulder, and I looked back, frightened to see her behind me.“You…” I was speechless at this point. So her first scare attempt wasn't enough; she had to continue it.“That's Helen, your childhood friend. Don't you remember?” Rein asked, and I ohed, the memory of her face flashing through my mind. I raised a finger as I pointed towards her, shaking it vigorously before I ohed again; I had found my ticket to escape.“You can leave now, Rein.” I said, waving him off, and he scoffed as he walked out the door while I pulled H
Nina"Will you do the honour of marrying me?" I stood frozen on my feet as I stared at the ring he held out to me. Never would I have thought that our trio would end up like this.I raised my hand, ready to kick the ring off, but I remembered his words before he started this: 'Play along' was what he whispered in my ear. I put on a smile, reluctantly dropping my hand to his face as I said, "Yes, I will marry you."The crowd erupted in applause, even giving a standing ovation, and how much I wanted to roll my eyes at them—what fakers. But why wouldn't they? It was Caspian. No one could bear offending anyone in his lineage.From the corner of my eye, I could see Sage's mother panting heavily; she must have never thought that her son's burial would be an avenue for an engagement for me."Congratulations," someone shook his hand while he smiled lowly. "Your father has always been wishing for you to get married; I never thought you actually would." He took him away as he spoke, and I was a