(ARIELLE'S POV) "Is everything alright?" Ashley asked, noticing my sudden stillness. I turned to face her. "It's Jared." Her eyes widened. "What is he doing here?" I shook my head. "I don't know." Ashley stood up, concern on her face. "Do you want to let him in?" I took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright. Do you want me to stay?" "No, I'll handle this." She nodded, carried her meal and walked to her room. After she left, I exhaled sharply, before pulling the door open. I almost fumbled when I met Jared's intense gaze, but I quickly got a grip on myself. I put on a blank face, completely erasing all emotions from my face. "Hi," I said, my voice icy. Jared's unnerving gaze didn't waver, and he didn't acknowledge my greetings either. Instead, he walked past me into the house, his movements sharp and angry. I was taken aback, stunned by his audacity. I shut the door and faced him. "What the hell?" He ignored me, his eyes scanning the room briefly before settlin
(JARED'S POV)“Hell has no fury like a woman scorned in the heart.”The words reverberated in my ears over and over again, and I felt like cutting them off. I was driving home after the confrontation with Arielle, but the words won't stop replaying in my head. And each time they did, I felt shivers run down my spine. Those words were no mere words. They were the words of a woman who had changed in so many ways. Arielle had changed.My eyes trailed to the papers on the passenger seat, the words “Irreconcilable differences” staring back at me. I sighed and tore my gaze away. I had tried to convince Arielle to change her mind, to consider what people would say.So far, people who were privy to our marriage thought it to be perfect –a match made in heaven. How will they take the news of our divorce?But Arielle was adamant. She had walked into the room and returned with the divorce papers which she shoved into my hands, and asked me out of the house.I had tried to pacify her, but she th
(JARED'S POV)I went quiet for a moment, lost in my thoughts. As much as I hated to admit it, Sofia had a point. If she hadn’t left, I never would’ve met Arielle. And even if I had, we wouldn’t have ended up married. But that was life. I couldn’t go back and rewrite the past. What was the point of dwelling on what could’ve been?I shook my head as I recalled everything that had happened. “Why did you suddenly change your mind about me after twenty years?”Sofia’s expression flickered—pale at first, then quickly recovering. “It’s okay to be angry with me, Jared. You’ve always been kind to me, and I let you down. I rejected your proposal without a second thought. I didn’t respect you. I take full responsibility. And I’m sorry.”I nodded, a little moved by her apology. This was the first time in all these years she’d admitted she was wrong for turning me down. But... things were different now. Everything was different.“It’s fine.” I paused. “I forgave you, if that’s what you need. Can’t
(ARIELLE’S POV) “Friends?” I taunted him. “Best friends? Just like you and Sofia? He didn't respond, so I continued. “I have enough friends. I do not need more.” He nodded and rose to his feet. “I'll see you some other time. I wanted to scoff and tell him, “You wish,” but I restrained myself. Instead, I nodded curtly and followed him to the door. He hesitated for a moment, sparing me a glance before walking out. As soon as the door shut, the dam broke. I walked over to the couch and collapsed onto it, burying my face in my palms. Reality finally dawned on me. I was truly divorced from Jared. I was not hallucinating, it was real. I didn't realize how long I sat there sobbing, but the door going open alerted me that Ashley was home. I tried to bolt to hide my swollen face, but it was too late; she saw me. “Are you all right? My goodness, have you been crying?” She shrieked, rushing to me. I tried to hide my face by looking away, but she forcefully turned it to face her. “What h
(SOFIA'S POV)I was taken aback by Jared's cold demeanor toward me, but I refused to relent. I took a deep breath, trying to suppress my anger. In the past, it was me calling the shot, forming a miss hard–to–get, but now, the tables have turned. It was now my turn to amend things with Jared, and I needed to humble myself.I imagined a scenario where I could regain the influence I once had over him. With that thought in mind, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief.“You look tired,” I said, bringing my voice to a soothing tone. “ Did you two argue?“Yes,” he responded.“Is she threatening, or trying to use the divorce as means to claim half of your assets? Be assured that I wouldn't let her. I have really powerful lawyer friends that can ensure she doesn't take a dime from you.”“Unfortunately, she's not that kind of person. She doesn't want anything from me.”I was genuinely surprised. Was she stupid? What type of a woman agrees to a divorce from a man like Jared, and wouldn't demand
(ARIELLE’S POV)I was startled by Ashley's question, totally thrown off guard. "I...I don't know," I stuttered. "For now, all I want is to return to work.""I understand," she said, patting my shoulders. "Come on, let's go back to what we were watching."The rest of the evening passed in a blur. The following days were uneventful and the cycle repetitive. Ashley went to work and returned in the evening while I stayed at home, doing almost nothing.I missed my job, and made up my mind to return to work, damning my mother's and Ashley's advice. I planned to tell Ashley when she returned from work today.As for Jared and Sofia, I had no option but to block them on all social media platforms as I kept seeing pictures of them together at every turn. I deleted Jared's numbers and blocked them. I would protect my sanity at all costs. My mom was still in the dark about the divorce, and presumably Jared's mother too. I was not going to tell either of them. I'll let them find out for themsel
(ARIELLE'S POV)The young man chuckled and took off his shades, revealing piercing eyes that sparkled with amusement. "Alright, there was a catch. How're you, Madam?"I was stunned, my eyes widening in surprise. Dwayne? Of all people? Before I knew it, laughter bubbled up from my chest, and I burst into tears–streaked giggles.He was the last person I expected to see, and I couldn't believe I sang alongside him without even recognizing him."You're so–" I started, still chuckling."A jerk?" He finished, grinning. "I know, guilty as charged. I'm sorry if I startled you. I didn't want to reveal my identity and startle you. I wanted to hear you sing, and I'm glad you did. You sing so well. Are you sure you've never had a music career?My cheeks turned warm at his flattery. I shook my head, still trying to process running into him again. Is this a coincidence, or some planned act?"Here," he cut into my thoughts, handing me a tissue. "You need it."I nodded and accepted it, dabbing at my
(ARIELLE'S POV)"You will be fine, won't you? And hey, promise me you won't overwhelm yourself," Ashley said, concern perched on her face.We were parked in the restaurant's parking lot. It was Monday, and I was resuming work. Ashley had driven me as she wouldn't let me board a cab or Uber."I promise.""Good. Have a nice day at work today, " she said and hugged me tightly."Thank you. You too," I said, returning the hug. After we disengaged, I grabbed my bag and alighted, waving.As I walked towards the restaurant's entrance, a feeling of nostalgia hit me. It had been weeks since I'd been away, but it felt like months. I took a deep breath, excited about my return.Suddenly, someone threw their weight around me, nearly knocking me off balance. "Goodness, it's so good to have you back!" Rebecca exclaimed."I know, right? It's good to be back, and I missed you," I said, laughing and hugging her back.She giggled and grabbed my hand. "Let's go in. I'm sure Mr Stone will be excited to
(JARED’S POV.)I stopped by a flower shop on my way to the restaurant. Thankfully, the storekeeper was a friendly middle-aged lady. She took me through the large shop, showing me different flowers sticking out of fancy flowerpots. The place was designed to have an infinity garden theme—it felt like a walk in paradise, with all the smells and sounds. There was a deer statue in one end and a flowing water fountain from which fishes jumped into the air on the other. A squirrel sat on a rubber tree statue in the far corner, while a bunny stuck its head out of a log somewhere else. I let my awe of the place cover up for the fact that I didn’t know what flower to get Keira.“Having a hard time deciding what to get her?” she asked with a kind smile.I nodded, scratching the back of my head in embarrassment. “Gosh. I don’t even know what which to get her. She loves Lavender, hit I want to pair it with another nice flower,” I confessed.“Well, no one ever goes wrong with a mix of lavender and
(ARIELLE’S POV.)I sat in my office for the first time since the hospital incident, and I had to keep a hard fight to keep my mental energy flying high. I couldn’t help but feel a bit overwhelmed by the mountain of work that welcomed me on my first day. Jared and Dwayne had insisted that I let things at the restaurant handle themselves under Stephen and Rebecca’s care. And even though they’d done their jobs very thoroughly, I still had a mountain of paperwork to sign through. Turns out the administrative expectations of the restaurant didn’t take a break like I did.I heard a knock on the door and raised my head from the document before me. Stephen walked in, his lips stretched out in a goofy smile as always. Rebecca pushed past him almost immediately.“Get out of the way, Ste…,” she began saying but paused to observe him. He’d frozen still with the smile still intact, like a mascot. “Hey. Earth to Stephen,” she snapped her fingers in his face and caused him to jump back in fright.“T
(ARIELLE’S POV.)The other parents were taking forever to get ready. The sun was going down and the skies were stained a bright orange. Jared looked at his watch multiple times and I could tell he was growing restless and would’ve disappeared if Maverick’s emotions weren’t involved.The public address system crackled to life and the principal took the stage. All eyes filed in the direction of his booming voice. “In a matter of moments, the race will begin… hold on. I’d like to acknowledge the presence of our biggest sponsors…,” he said. But we didn’t need to hear him finish his sentence.Out of the blues, Mr. Langley appeared in sight, Tiana perched on his arm. They had the facetious look of hypocrites putting on a good show for all who cared to see.“What are they doing here?” my mother asked, her face set in a skeptical frown. I looked at Jared too who was having a hard time concealing the contempt on his face. We exchanged a knowing look and I shook my head in the negative to keep
(DENZEL'S POV)The gears clicked into place in my head. I’d been missing a key detail this whole time. Of course. “Your nephew. The kid is your nephew!” I pointed out in a moment of eureka. “Of course. Jared Smith is your brother. Now you’ve made me look stupid,” I said with an animated pout."You’ve been stupid from the start," Dwayne said, amusement laced with dry contempt. "That’s your problem, not mine. Stay away from Jared and his family." My brain was racing. My lips stretched out in a smile. “You see, sir, actually I think we’ll make a good team.” He raised an eyebrow."I know how it goes with you rich brothers—fighting tooth and nail over family assets. Even if you are a Mafia godfather, so what? There's still more wealth to go around in the wealthy Smith, right? You’re using a fake identity to compete with him, which means there’s a reason. Whatever it is, I can help you." I was on a roll now, the more excitement buzzing in my veins as the more I realized. “Jared owes
(DENZEL’S POV.)I licked my lips in self-absorbed satisfaction as I watched the gears in the man’s head move. He’s a dangerous man.That’s the first thought that struck me.There’s a vast difference between how men and women look at other men. A woman might first notice the tailored black suit sculpting his broad shoulders and tapering waist, the sharp cheekbones and chiseled jaw that gave him a sculpted air.But I? I saw the quiet promise of violence beneath his composed demeanor.He stood tall, his frame lean but deceptively powerful—built for precision rather than bulk. Those weren’t gym-trained muscles but the product of relentless, high-intensity exertion. A body honed for efficiency. For lethality.A man like Jared was a lion or a tiger—the noble king of the jungle. But this man was a leopard. Not the biggest beast in the wild, but the deadliest.I made a mental note: If I could deliver someone this menacing into my grandfather’s service as a foot soldier, the old man might jus
(DWAYNE’S POV.)My legs carried me in the direction I’d been looking earlier, my eyes involuntarily scanning the place for any signs of the face I’d seen. He was supposed to be away— at least for a long time. So it didn’t make any sense that I was seeing him out here in the open. Maybe I was just paranoid. Or maybe it was just my mind giving me a reason to keep away from Jared while he attained hero status before his son.I stepped around a family of three, the parents laughing as they tied their legs together with their little daughter’s. It was a simple, beautiful moment—one I had no right to interrupt. The little girl giggled, catching my gaze, and I gave her a quick wink before moving on. Then I saw him again. This time, he was in motion, moving through the crowds. My pulse slowed in calculated awareness. I didn’t know if he was the mastermind or just another pawn, but I wasn’t about to take any chances. I murmured “excuse me” and “sorry” as I cut through the moving bodie
(DWAYNE’S POV.)“Fist bump?” I held out my hand for Maverick and he brushed his knuckles gently against mine and pulled it backwards with a soft “whoosh” to mimic an explosion. Jared was in the corner. He’d finally let the paramedics tend to his injuries which thankfully didn’t need any serious medical intervention. Half a bottle of spirit and swabs of cotton later, he was all fixed up and ready for the race.The public address system crackled to life and all heads lifted up to the now cleared stage where the principal was standing, his face devoid of its usual sternness. The smile on his face seemed so out of place — and must have been an uncomfortable expression for him to make— because it looked more like a grimace than anything else.I pulled Maverick in closer and stroked his hair tenderly. Jared’s eyes trailed to us and he looked away.“I want to sincerely apologize again for the accident earlier on. You must believe me when I say the school will never do anything to put our st
(DWAYNE'S POV)I couldn't remember ever being scared as I was when I saw the chandelier falling. Without thinking, I bolted off my seat with one mission in mind; save Maverick. Fortunately, Jared was faster. And for the first time, I didn't think about who saved the little boy first, no thought of competition whatsoever. All that mattered at that point was that Maverick was safe.I just couldn't imagine what would have happened if anything had happened to either Maverick or Jared. As much as I hated to admit it, Jared was still my blood and that was not changing. I would rather have him alive as my sworn rival, than dead.As we stood there, trying to process what had just happened, parents approached us to offer consolation and thank the stars for not letting harm come to either Maverick or Jared. A group of school staff approached us, too, looking worried and apologetic."I'm so sorry, everyone," Maverick's class teacher said, her voice shaking. "It was an accident, a totally unexpec
(ARIELLE'S POV)After that round of activity was over, there were subsequent ones, and soon it was time for the talent show. In the talent show, parents anxiously watched as their kids and wards who were participating came on the stage. I was anxious as well, as Maverick was also participating.Minutes ticked by, and pupils trooped in and out of the stage for their performance, but there was no sign of Maverick. I shifted impatiently in my seat, wondering when his turn would be. His class teacher had earlier come to pick him up, citing that he had to get dressed in his costume in preparation for his performance, but there was still no sign of him.I was just about to turn to the others to voice my concern when Maverick emerged. He was the last to appear as others were already done with their performance. I sat up properly in my seat, curious about what Maverick would show. I turned to others to see if they were as anxious as I was, and that was when I found that Jared was no longer i