My eyes grew wide in horror upon hearing that from my very own husband. I simply could not believe how it was just as easy for him to actually speak about wanting to divorce me in public.I understand that the fake photo from the projection could possibly have triggered him to actually say it, but if he truly valued me, at the very least, Justin wouldn’t even come to think about saying that to me.He wouldn’t possibly come to the conclusion of wanting to divorce me at all.“So does this mean that you’ll just completely ignore three years, Justin? Three years of our marriage just because you believe that i was the one one that stupid fake photo?” I quickly protested once more. At the very least, I still wanted to continue fighting for what I want—and that was for Justin to to believe me more than all the rest of the people surrounding us now. It was like a earnest desire that I thirst right now despite knowing that everything was at the brink of total failure.Justin just released my
As I waited for Justin’s response, I was then shocked out of the blue when all of a sudden, my mother-in-law suddenly emerged out of nowhere to slap me on my face.“You wench! I knew that you’re no good for my son the moment mother has chosen you to become my son’s wife!” She uttered with great rage. It was so intense that her slap left my cheek quickly swollen.“Mother, I am completely innocent of all these false accusations.”“There were no accusations because it’s the truth. You can’t possibly deny solid evidence now, Marga. And could you stop calling me mother? You are no child of mine.”Her words cut deeper than the slap, stripping
In that instance, Justin quickly pulled me in and gripped into my shoulders once more. His face was fuming with rage at the revelation he had learned.“Tell me you didn’t do that?” Justin’s voice was toned down for some reason. And yet, I could feel every seething fury in each of those words.There was silence that caused me to be like this for the next few moments. I don’t particularly remember being active about the project and yet, they had the audacity to accuse me of selling the project to the Alforques.“Why would I even do that, huh? I don’t even know the Alforques.” I quietly uttered, as I was trying to conform with the way that Justin spoke to me.
It was like even the clouded darkness of the night connived with the dark moments of my life. I had not only been accused for something farce, but here I was dumped and thrown away like a stray cat.At this point, I really wanted to go back and beg for Justin however, seeing how the security has tighten to prevent me from getting through, I supposed trying to get inside would be impossible.“If I were you, I’d leave.” Claude immediately stated, breaking my moment looking from the party inside as I look at his direction.“Were those my things?” I pointed at the luggage that was rested beside him. “You seemed to be prepared that this will eventually happened. Which was why you already had my things prepared, huh?” “The moment I saw what you did with the project, miss Marga, I already had a hunch that you’ll eventually be evicted from this family. And it was not because I already had it prepared.”“And you seriously think I would believe that lies?” “I don’t know with you, miss Marga,
As soon as I laid eyes on them, a chill ran down my spine, leaving me frozen in place. I was completely unsure of what to do in this moment.They’re headed in my direction, and they look totally wasted."What do we have here?" A man with an unkempt, rustic red beard and scruffy appearance stared at me as if he had just stumbled upon a life-changing jackpot prize.In all honesty, he appeared quite foolish-looking to me. However, what truly terrified me was the presence of the other man by his side. His shaved head was barely thin, and he towered over the redhead guy. With regard to this particular one, there was something about it that caused me to feel both intimidated and nervous. It seemed as though he was looking at me with a desire that was both lustful and malicious inside of him. His gaze lingered on me, taking in every detail, as if he was undressing me with his eyes. It was quite unpleasant, especially considering he wasn't exactly attractive—not that I would have found it a
I needed to get away from here as soon as I could, but how would I even do that now that I appeared to be helpless from these drunkards.“Get your hands off me!” I immediately protested. Yet as I tried to struggle to free myself, the one with red head tightened his grip so that it was almost impossible for me to get away from him any longer.“You’re too loud! It’s so annoying!” The other one complained and he quickly covered my mouth with his filthy hands. I could smell the pungent scent of his palm that made me think if he even touched himself first before using this particular hand to cover half of my face.The stink has made me nearly throw up. I even had to wiggle m
“So, how did you even end up being in that place again?”The policewoman who had been trying to ask me the same question for over nth time was already growing a little impatient, yet I could see that she was still trying her best to understand my situation as her tone has not changed a bit.She was still calm and compassionate, especially whenever she asked me some sensitive questions that I dare not answer.“I came from an event inside the villa.” I uttered.It has been hours due since the nightmare with those drunkards happened. I had called my Aunt Lou, thanks to the cops who lent me their phone righ
“Don’t you know how terrified I was when you called me about what happened?” Aunt Lou instantly told me as the two of us were inside the police station. She even hasn’t at least taken her seat when she began crying for goodness sake. I wasn’t even dead yet. Although I do understand why she would eventually feel that way. As someone who truly cares for me after my parents departed, of course Aunt Lou would really worry about me after learning of the incident a moment ago. Aunt Lou was so furious that she immediately spoke with the policewoman, “I want those two to rot in jail. Do you hear me! What they did to my niece was unforgivable!”“Calm down ma’am. There is a due process for that and we need your cooperation as well.” replied by the policewoman.Her statement has left my aunt in silence. She carefully listened to the words that the policewoman has informed her right after.Following that, my aunt then retrieved me from my seat. Her entire right arm was wrapped around me as sh
Nathan Calloway had always exuded a quiet menace, the kind that made people instinctively lower their gaze and step aside. But today, he didn’t bother with subtlety. He stood in my path like a hunter savoring his victory, his dark suit crisp, his expression one of smug satisfaction.“Margarette,” he said smoothly, like we were old friends. “Going somewhere?”I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to keep my expression neutral. My heart was pounding, but I couldn’t let him see my fear.“I was just leaving,” I said, stepping sideways.He moved with me, blocking my way. Behind him, two of his men stood by the black car, watching. Waiting.“Now, now,” Nathan murmured, tilting his head. “Let’s not make this difficult. We both know how this ends.”A cold rush of adrenaline flooded my veins. I could fight. I could run. But neither would get me far.Leon’s voice came through my earpiece, low and urgent. “Margarette, I’m coming. Stall.”I swallowed. “If you know everything, why are yo
Elise Grant was a woman born into privilege, but privilege came with its own kind of chains. She had spent her life learning how to play the game, but now she was realizing that the rules had changed—and I was the one rewriting them.I watched her disappear into the fog, but I knew she wouldn't be able to walk away from this. Not entirely. People like Elise didn’t just sit back and watch their world collapse—they fought, even when they didn’t know who the real enemy was yet.Leon let out a quiet sigh, his fingers flexing against his side. "She’s going to struggle with this."Dorian smirked. "Good. People make the best decisions when they think they don’t have any other choice."I pulled my coat tighter around me. The air was damp, the salty ocean breeze mixing with the lingering scent of gasoline from the fishing boats docked nearby. "She’s going to reach out again soon."Leon’s gaze flicked to me. "How can you be so sure?""Because she’s smart," I said simply. "And because she’s terr
The wind whipped through my hair as I watched Elise disappear into the night. A thrill ran through me, a mix of victory and anticipation. She had taken the bait, but we weren’t in the clear yet. Not by a long shot.Leon and Dorian flanked me, their expressions unreadable. The three of us stood in silence for a beat, the ocean waves crashing against the wooden pier below us.“She’s scared,” Dorian finally muttered, lighting a cigarette. The flame illuminated his sharp features for a moment before fading into the night. “Which is good. Fear makes people predictable.”Leon’s gaze remained fixed on the path Elise had taken. His jaw clenched, his thoughts miles ahead of us. “Fear also makes people desperate.”I turned to him. “You think she’ll run to her father?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he shifted his stance, slipping his hands into the pockets of his coat. “Not immediately. She’s smart enough to know that if she tips him off too soon, she’s collateral damage.”I nodded. “The
The moment Elise Grant’s fingers touched mine, I knew I had her attention. She was a woman who played in circles of power, who measured every interaction with precision. A single misstep could cost her everything.I held onto her hand for just a fraction longer than necessary, letting the weight of my words settle between us. Then, with a small, knowing smile, I withdrew, lifting my champagne flute to my lips.“Margarette,” Elise repeated, as if testing how my name felt on her tongue. “I don’t believe I’ve heard of you before.”I chuckled softly. “That’s the point, isn’t it?”Elise tilted her head, intrigued but guarded. “And what exactly do you do, Margarette?”I swirled the champagne in my glass, watching the golden bubbles rise to the surface. “I help people see things they’ve overlooked.” I lifted my eyes to hers. “Or things they’ve been kept from seeing.”Her smile didn’t waver, but something in her gaze sharpened. “That sounds dangerously close to a threat.”“Not a threat.” I to
The black SUV moved through the city under the cover of darkness, the tension inside as thick as the fog rolling in from the harbor. I sat in the passenger seat, my fingers drumming against my thigh, my gaze fixed on the glittering skyline ahead. Leon drove in silence, his grip tight on the wheel, while Dorian lounged in the backseat, casually checking his watch as if we weren’t about to walk into one of the most dangerous plays of our lives.“Elise Grant won’t be easy to approach,” Dorian mused, breaking the silence. “She’s got bodyguards, a strict schedule, and enough privilege to think she’s untouchable.”“That’s what makes her blind to threats,” Leon countered. “She’s never had a reason to look over her shoulder.”I exhaled slowly, my mind racing through the details of the plan. Elise would be attending a charity gala tonight, hosted at a high-end hotel owned by one of her father’s associates. It was the perfect opportunity to get close, to plant the seeds of doubt in her mind. Th
The cabin felt smaller now. Maybe it was the presence of this new stranger, or maybe it was the way my nerves coiled tighter with every passing second. Either way, the moment Dorian stepped inside, I felt it—the shift in the air.I gripped the revolver tighter, even as I pushed the door shut.Leon emerged from the hallway, still holding his phone, his dark eyes sharp as they flickered between me and Dorian. He didn’t look surprised. If anything, he looked… resigned."Dorian." Leon’s voice was clipped. "You took your time."The stranger—Dorian—chuckled, running a hand through his dark hair. "Traffic," he said, as if that explained everything. His green eyes met mine again, studying me with a mix of curiosity and something I couldn’t quite name.I didn’t trust him."You’re staring," I said flatly, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice.Dorian grinned, unbothered. "Just making sure you’re as sharp as Leon said.""Flattery isn’t going to make me lower the gun."Leon exhaled, pi
The car ride was silent except for the occasional hum of the tires against the pavement. Lillian sat in the driver’s seat, her hands steady on the wheel, eyes flicking between the road ahead and the rearview mirror. Every so often, I followed her gaze, expecting to catch sight of a shadow trailing behind us.Nothing.Yet the unease in my chest refused to settle.Leon had sent one of his private drivers to pick us up outside of town, just past the tree-lined outskirts where the city lights faded into darkness. The safe house was in an undisclosed location—secluded, heavily secured, and supposedly impenetrable. But after everything that had happened, I wasn’t sure I could believe in impenetrable anymore.Aunt Lou had been hesitant to let me go, but she knew staying behind was too dangerous. Uncle George had slipped a small revolver into my bag before I left, whispering instructions in a firm voice I had never heard from him before."Use it if you have to. Don’t hesitate."Now, as the he
i sat in the dimly lit room, my fingers trembling slightly as I clutched the warm cup of tea Aunt Lou had prepared for me. The fragrant steam curled upward, but even the soothing aroma couldn’t quiet the storm raging in my mind.No matter how tightly I wrapped myself in the comfort of my aunt’s presence, my thoughts remained restless, tangled with fear and uncertainty. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same thing—Leon, his jaw tight with determination, refusing to back down no matter the danger. His need to uncover the truth had set us on a treacherous path, and with Alexa hidden away for her safety, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong.Sleep had been a distant dream for the past few nights. Every creak of the house, every gust of wind against the window, sent my heart racing. I knew I was being watched. Maybe not now, in this moment, but somewhere out there, someone’s eyes were on me.A soft knock at the door shattered my thoughts.Aunt Lou
The room remained silent for a moment, heavy with the weight of what Lillian had just revealed. My mind raced, processing the implications of the forged document. Justin wasn’t just trying to intimidate me—he was trying to erase my claim entirely, to make it look like I had given up willingly.I clenched my fists, my pulse pounding in my ears. “How did you get this?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.Lillian exhaled sharply, pulling out a USB drive from her pocket and placing it on the table. “An informant within Justin’s circle leaked these to me. They overheard him discussing his next steps—he’s preparing to launder the stolen assets and shift everything offshore. If we don’t act now, your parents’ properties will be out of reach forever.”Uncle George muttered another curse under his breath. Aunt Lou, pale and shaken, placed a protective hand over mine. “What do we do now?” she asked, looking at me as if I had the answers.I swallowed hard, then turned to Lillian. “Do we have