“No, no, no. I trust Audrey. This can't be possible,” Zach muttered to himself, pacing his living room. His mind was racing, and he ran his hands through his hair, tugging at the ends as if that could somehow relieve the growing tension inside him.But for some reason, the image he saw earlier wouldn’t leave him. It kept flashing before his eyes, like a nightmare he couldn’t wake from. He needed to know the truth. He couldn’t rest until he heard it from her own lips. What if… No. Audrey wouldn’t betray him, right? He pulled out his phone, dialing her number with shaky fingers. But no response. "Come on, Audrey, pick up!" he said through gritted teeth, his voice barely above a whisper. He quickly dialed again, his heart thudding harder with every second of silence. “Why aren’t you picking up?” Frustration crept into his voice.Back at the hospital, Audrey had no idea her phone had been ringing. She was too caught up in the overwhelming stress of the situation. Frank’s sudden appearan
Audrey clutched her chest, her eyes widening in shock, as if the very air had been stolen from her lungs. "Poisoned?" she gasped, her voice a whisper of disbelief."Yes, poison," the doctor confirmed solemnly, his eyes shadowed with concern. "A very deadly poison, capable of killing someone in less than an hour. How he survived... well, it's nothing short of a miracle." His words hung heavily in the sterile air, each syllable like a hammer blow to Audrey’s already fragile heart.Audrey staggered slightly, her legs threatening to give way beneath her. She had expected bad news, but not this. She gripped the back of the chair in front of her for support, her knuckles turning white with the effort to stay standing. Tears pricked at the edges of her vision, but she held them back, her heart clenching painfully. The report from the doctor was devastating, soul-crushing, yet she knew she couldn’t break down—not now. Jake needed her to be strong.Taking a few deep, steadying breaths, she fo
“Why the hell would you let Frank into the house, Jake?” Audrey demanded, her voice laced with frustration and a hint of panic. Her eyes were wide, filled with a mixture of disbelief and anger, as she stared at her older brother. It was clear that the very thought of Frank being anywhere near their home had shaken her to her core.“I didn’t!” Jake retorted, his tone defensive but also slightly exasperated. “Earlier that day, I was just at home, minding my own business, watching TV like I usually do, alright? Then, out of nowhere, I heard a knock on the door.” He paused, rubbing his temples as if trying to piece together the surreal events of that day. “I decided to check who it was, and honestly, I wasn’t expecting to see that bastard of a man standing there. But when I opened the door, there he was. Frank.”Jake glanced at his sister, a puzzled look on his face. “How did you manage to date that guy?” he asked, his voice dripping with disbelief. He couldn't fathom what his younger sis
"Wait, you blacked out?" Audrey's voice was tight with concern as she leaned in closer to Jake, her eyes scanning his face for any sign of distress. "Yeah, I did," Jake replied, his voice sounding distant, like he was still piecing everything together. Audrey’s heart pounded as dread started to crawl up her spine. "I knew it! I *knew* it!" Her hands clenched into fists. "Shit! Everything that happened was planned by that bastard just to lure me. How could he stoop so low?"She paced the room, her mind racing, heart beating like a drum. The room felt too small, too stifling. Her thoughts flashed back to the hospital, to the moment she saw Frank standing there, smug and assured. His words echoed in her mind, searing her like hot iron: *I told you, I’ll do anything just to see you.*"How do you know it was him?" Jake asked, confusion pulling at his voice. He shifted in bed, clearly uncomfortable with the tension radiating from her. "I mean, I slammed the door in his face. Frank wouldn’
When I bumped into Zach, my heart skipped a beat. Although I was happy to see him, I had to play it cool—I couldn’t let him think I had forgiven him so easily. My emotions were in turmoil, but I masked them with a cold demeanor, refusing to show him the chaos he had caused within me. I looked him in the face for a moment, his piercing blue eyes searching mine for any hint of softness. But I couldn't give him that satisfaction. Not yet. I turned my gaze elsewhere, as if dismissing him like an afterthought, folding my arms tightly as a shield around myself. With deliberate steps, I walked past him, my shoulder brushing against his in a slight, but pointed, gesture of defiance. As I passed, I could feel the tension between us, palpable like a storm brewing on the horizon. Then, out of nowhere, Zach turned, grabbing me by the arm with a firm but gentle grip. My breath hitched as he pulled me into a warm embrace, his familiar scent wrapping around me like a blanket. It felt like a dream
"Chris," Audrey said weakly, her voice barely a whisper, as her heart raced."Hello, my beautiful damsel," Chris replied with a chilling calmness, his eyes gleaming in the dim light of the room. He stepped closer, his shadow looming over her like a predator stalking its prey."Chris, why am I here?" Audrey asked, her voice trembling. Her head hung low, her hair falling messily over her face. She tried to blink away the fog in her mind, but it was no use. The confusion was too thick, like a heavy blanket she couldn’t shake off. "What is going on?" she murmured under her breath, her pulse quickening."What kind of question is that, wife?" Chris asked, a twisted smile forming on his lips. His voice was soft but carried a sinister undertone that made Audrey’s skin crawl."Wife?!" Audrey’s heart skipped a beat, panic bubbling up inside her. "I am not your wife, Chris! Please, let me go!" she pleaded, her voice growing more desperate. Her hands strained against the tight rope that bound her
"Wrong question, Mr. Trillionaire," the other man said smoothly, his voice dripping with an eerie calmness. "The main question should be why *I* called you." Zach, his patience wearing thin, leaned forward, gripping the phone tightly. His jaw clenched. "Look, I don’t know who you are, but this is not the right time to play silly games. Who are you, and why have you called me?" His voice rose with irritation, each word sharp, like a knife. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" the man on the other side chuckled. "Chillax, bro. If I were you, I wouldn’t raise my voice." His tone was light, but there was something chilling underneath—a sense of control, of power that Zach couldn’t shake. Zach frowned, his temper flaring. "What? Do you even know who you’re speaking to?" he asked, his voice biting, a challenge hanging in the air. "If I didn’t know, I wouldn’t have called you, Mr. Trillionaire jerk." The casual insult stung, but Zach was too preoccupied to care. He exhaled sharply, his patience snap
They all turned and began running. Just as they reached the entrance, the bomb detonated. The explosion ripped through the air, shaking the ground beneath their feet. A deafening roar swallowed their screams as the building collapsed. Zach barely had time to react. He was thrown back by the sheer force of the blast, crashing to the ground along with the police officers. The world around him became a blur of dust, smoke, and crumbling debris. Pain shot through his body as he landed hard on the cold floor, his arms instinctively bracing for impact. His hands and legs burned from the force, even though he wore a protective suit. It didn’t matter. The damage had been done. Around him, the police officers lay scattered. Some were crushed under the weight of fallen concrete blocks, others impaled by sharp shards of metal. Moans of pain filled the air, but none of them were dead—yet. The blast had spared their lives, though at a steep cost. Zach struggled to push himself up, his limbs t
THE NEXT MORNINGI woke feeling refreshed and full of anticipation for the day ahead. The previous night with Zach had been unforgettable—one that would remain etched in my memory forever.Sliding out of bed, I stretched and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. The soft sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow across the room. Once in the bathroom, I began to undress for a shower, savoring the quiet moment of solitude.But the peace didn’t last long.The door creaked open, and Zach stepped in casually, his mischievous smile lighting up his face.“Zach! What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to cover myself with a towel.“I want to take a shower with you,” he said, completely unfazed by my protest.I narrowed my eyes, trying to look stern, but a smile tugged at the corners of my lips. “Really? Now, of all times? You’re one naughty man, Zach.”He grinned, pulling me close by my waist. The warmth of his touch melted my resolve, and soon the rest of the morning became
I walked into the big organization, hoping I would find Zach in his office.Once inside, I headed straight to the counter and found the same rude lady who had called the guard on us the last time.“You,” she said, quickly recognizing me. “What are you doing here? Hope you're not going to cause a scene.”“Shut the fuck up,” I yelled. “I’m here to see my husband, Zach.”The woman chuckled. “Husband? I thought Mr. Zach made it clear last time that he doesn’t have a wife.”I glared at her as my patience wore thin. I could feel the urge to slap her rising within me.“That’s because he didn’t know I was the one coming to see him,” I snapped. “Now, before my patience snaps, tell me: is Mr. Zach in his office? I’m not standing here to explain myself more than I already have.”“Sorry, ma’am, but you can’t see him,” she replied.I heaved a heavy sigh. “And why is that?” I asked, my eyes already turning red with frustration.“It’s because Mr. Zach didn’t come to work.”“What do you mean he hasn’
AUDREY'S POVI was wrongly accused of cheating, and I couldn't do anything to defend myself. My hands trembled as I stood up from my chair, tears stinging my eyes. The room felt suffocating, but my anger gave me strength.I marched up to Frank, my vision blurring with fury, and delivered a hard slap across his face.“How dare you slap my son!” Keira shot up from her seat, her voice shrill and cutting through the tension.But I wasn’t in the mood for her antics. I turned to her, my voice firm and unyielding. “Quiet!”She froze, her eyes widening as she saw the anger burning in mine. I caught a flicker of fear in her gaze before she sat back down.Turning my attention back to Frank, I grabbed his collar, my voice trembling but forceful. “Tell them! Tell them that everything you just said is a lie!”His smirk only fueled my rage, and I slapped him again, harder this time.“You were the one who came to my room last night!” I accused. “You tried to force yourself on me, and when I kicked y
FRANK'S POVAfter Nora had given that beautiful night of pleasure, there was nothing I wouldn’t do for her. The memory lingered in my mind as I left my room, a sense of satisfaction and purpose fueling my steps. I needed more of her.But for now, I had another task to handle. I began heading toward Audrey's room.Once I arrived, I stood outside her door and heaved a heavy sigh. My fist hovered for a moment before I knocked firmly on the door.********Audrey’s night had already been ruined once, thanks to Nora. The bitter memory of being interrupted still burned in her mind. She had finally managed to drift back to sleep when another knock echoed through the room.Groaning, she sat up, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.“I swear, if it’s Nora again, I’ll rip her skull apart,” she muttered, rubbing her temples.Dragging herself out of bed, she made her way to the door, each step fueled by irritation. She yanked the door open, only to freeze.Standing in front of her was Frank—the last per
I stared at her as a smile tugged at the corner of my lips. I began walking, wanting to go inside, but she held me by the neck and pushed me back outside."I said, what do you want, Nora?"She sneered at me again."Nothing much," I replied. "Just came to say congratulations. I heard you're getting married, and I just want to say you better watch your back. There are lots of problems which come to many people on their wedding day. Lots of problems."After speaking, I could see her clenching her jaw in anger, and the satisfaction I had was indescribable."See you later," I said lastly as I turned and began walking away down the hallway. I heard the door slam shut with a heavy thud, and I couldn't help but give a slight chuckle.You don't know what's coming your way, Audrey, I thought. I'm your worst nightmare.While I kept walking down the hallway, I stumbled across a room. Music came coming out from the room—it was loud, and I knew only one person could be this dumb: my pawn, Frank.I
I stared at her, tightening my jaw unintentionally. My anger flared up, but I kept it under control.“Jake, what happened to your house? How come it's on fire? Oh my God, Jake, what are you going to do?” Nora said, her voice filled with panic as she began acting.Her expression changed into a sad one, and tears welled up in her eyes.Wow, this girl is a good actor, I thought. Why didn't she go into the movie industry instead of trying to steal other people's husbands?Jake placed his hands over his head and bent down.“Don’t worry, Jake. Everything will be fine, okay? Just calm down. Calm down, okay?” I reassured him.“No, Audrey,” Jake said. “Everything’s not gonna be okay. That house was handed to me months ago, and here I am hearing it’s been burnt to nothing but ash. Where am I going to stay? How am I going to live, Audrey?”I glanced at Zach. His expression was perfectly composed, but I noticed the subtle twitch of his lips as he tried to hold back laughter. I knew it was because
My brother had told me about a girl he wanted to be his life partner. He said he was going to bring her home so I could meet her, and surprisingly, it was that good-for-nothing Nora.I stood there momentarily shocked. Nora stood there smiling at me, while Jake wore an opulent smile on his face.I clenched my fists as my jaw tightened. I didn't hesitate for a second. I stormed toward her, not caring about Jake's presence or what he would think. I raised my hands and slapped Nora across the face.The slap tilted her face to one side, and she held her cheek."AUDREY! What's wrong with you? Why did you slap Nora?" Jake said as he held Nora tight in his arms."Never mind him," my eyes kept staring at Nora. "So because you couldn't get Zach, you wormed your way into my brother's life?""AUDREY, what are you talking about? Nora is my girlfriend. We've been dating for months now!" Jake said."You don't know this girl, Jake. She's evil, believe me. She tried to create a rift between Zach and m
I walked out of the warehouse soon after Frank and strolled down the road to hail a cab home. I knew my plan was a solid one, and there’d be no room for pitfalls.With each step, a smile tugged at the corner of my lips. A family of fools, I thought. They're so gullible.I saw a taxi approaching and quickly flicked my hand to signal the driver to pull over. As soon as he stopped, I got into the car and closed the door.The rest of the journey was pleasant, filled with thoughts of my plan in motion. Soon enough, the taxi pulled up at the street leading to my house.With deliberate steps, I walked down my street toward my house. Once I reached the front door, I searched my bag for my keys. Surprisingly, I couldn’t find them.“Where could I have put it?” I muttered under my breath.My mind quickly darted back to the warehouse. Shit, I cursed. I had been so focused on my plans that I’d forgotten my keys there.I sighed. “What am I going to do now? Should I spend the night at Jake's?” An id
Frank’s sharp gaze pinned Nora in place as he leaned against the edge of the desk, arms crossed. “Has the plan started?, what do you mean the plan 's started? " A sly smile spread across Nora’s lips. She tilted her head slightly as she took a slow step toward him, the heels of her shoes clicking softly against the tiled floor. “Oh, baby boy, I’ve got two pawns up my sleeve now—oops, sorry, allies.” Her voice dripped with mock sweetness, but her eyes betrayed the cunning behind her words.Frank’s jaw tightened. “I’m not your pawn, Nora,” he said, his voice firm and edged with warning.She blinked innocently, placing a manicured hand over her chest. “Did I say you were my pawn?” she asked, feigning surprise. “It was just a slip of the tongue.”Frank took a step closer, the air between them crackling with unspoken tension. His voice dropped, low and threatening. “I know very well that wasn’t a slip of the tongue, Nora. You meant every word.”For a moment, she faltered, her smile flicker