RONALD POVThe family gathered in the mourning hall where all the guests were as we got notified that Father's lawyer had some information to relay to the family privately.The Hoffmans sat down in the private room quietly ready to hear what father's lawyer has to say. The lawyer cleared his throat “Mr Hoffman left a will detailing his assets, properties and share with a suspensive condition.His will is as follows: “I leave my mansion and cash to be donated to Home orphanage” The lawyer paused for a while adjust his glasses “I also will all the Empire business and affiliate and shares to a designated legatee.The designated legatee is Ronald Hoffman” My eyes widened when I heard my name mentioned.Shock written all over my face.“Why?”I said with a low tone at no one in particular, staring at Father's picture.The lawyer continued “The condition attached to this will is that Mr Ronald Hoffman can only have access to this inheritance if he gets married within one month, unable to c
EMILY'S POVI went straight to my boss's office who is also my boyfriend. I waited for him to hang up on the call when I entered his office.“Hey babe,” he said,moving close to me and about to kiss me on the lips when I avoided it.“What's wrong?”He asked with furrowed brows.“I am here to tender my resignation letter,”I said keeping a straight face, trying to suppress the emotions running through me .“Why?” He asked ,his eyes bewildered at my outburst .I shook off his hands from arms “I'm not only quitting this job , I'm quitting our relationship too”I said ignoring his question.“You can't be serious, quitting our relationship? you must be kidding” he said, running his fingers through his thick platinum hair.“I ain't kidding,you are nothing but a douchebag,you cheated on me with my sister, How could you?” I said with disdain raising my voice. “Ha,is that why you are quitting your job and our relationship? don't tell me you were jealous?It was a mistake. You know you are the one
RONALD'S POVI sat in front of my computer, typing away at the screen when my phone rang,without glancing at the phone screen I picked the call. “Hello,”I said hoarsely, my eyes still on my computer screen“Let's meet.We need to talk," A feminine voice said across the phone.I paused looking at the strange number that called then my mind drifted to the previous day.“Aghh, it slipped my mind,I almost forgot I had a deadline. I guess I can't get used to this," I sighed, realization dawned on me .I swiftly put on my suit that had been laying on the couch. I picked my phone to send a text to her “Let's meet at Daily Grind”Daily grind is a coffee shop that sells the best brewed coffee in the area,just a few blocks from my office. I quickly reserved a private room for the meeting.I checked my golden wristwatch at intervals waiting for Emily,after some time she arrived at Daily grind looking stressed.“I'm so sorry for being late,got into traffic,” she apologized, removing some strand
EMILY'S POVI was about entering my apartment when someone stopped me“Good day. I'm here to deliver a package to this address,”—. “I don’t remember purchasing anything.I think you are mistaken,” I cut in sharply .“ This was the address I was told to deliver to.You can confirm and sign on the receipt here,” said the delivery man . “ Thank you,”I reluctantly signed on the receipt and entered my cozy apartment.‘Who could have sent this?’ I muttered , unboxing the package.The box was sealed with a red ribbon. I loosen the ribbon and brought out the contents;a red gown , black heels,a black purse and a letter printed on a black card. The letter reads ‘ “wear these for today's date.Ronald,".I let out a deep sigh and landed my butt on the sofa, ‘Emily are you really ready for this?’ I said in my thoughts, staring into space.After a while I dragged my lazy body to the bathroom and soon I was done with my makeover,wearing the clothes Ronald sent to me. I glanced at the mirror one l
RONALD'S POV Dinner was set and I was waiting for Emily's arrival but she seems to be taking long. I decided to reach her on phone but it was going on voicemail. ‘I hope she gets here safely,' I said under my breath . I walked down to the mansion hallway where series of arts where hung.I dailed Emily's number again and it finally went through. “ Gringgg,” a phone rang in the distance ‘ That sounds like a phone ringing tone. I think she is here already' I made a mental note tracing the ringing tone to the other side of the hallway. “Emily, is that you?” A voice echoed in the hallway as I approached but there was no response from the other end . That sounds like Ethan. He must be here for the dinner.I was against inviting those who are not relatives to this dinner but my stepmom won't agree. ‘How does Ethan know Emily by the way?’ I said in my thoughts as I approached them. “Babe, you are here.” I said smiling , closing the distance between us, placing my hand on the sma
EMILY'S POV I stood admiring the arts hung on the wall along Hoffman's hallway when my phone rang and I also heard some one call out my name. “Emily,is that you?” He asked , raising his eyebrows. 'Ethan? What's he doing here?” I muttered, clenching my fists.He is the last thing I want to see right now, seeing him makes my blood hot. “Babe , you are here.” Ronald said walking towards us. “ Babe?” Ethan muttered but audible enough for us to hear. Ronald introduced us and I was surprised that his family is related to the Hoffman's in a way. it's such a small world. We went to eat dinner with the rest of the family. All eyes where on me as I sat beside Ronald , making me nervous. Ethan kept staring at me from where he sat across the table making me more uncomfortable but I ignored him. Soon,we were all done with dinner and it was dessert time. Ronald stood up from his chair to break the news of our wedding to the family and we were congratulated. I excused myself from
RONALD POV“ Boss,you have to see this,” Leila said,hastening her steps towards me as I entered my office.“ What's the problem?” I asked, tapping the table. Last night was exhausting for me and now there is another issue to deal with.“ The board of directors seem to be rebelling,sir,” Lillian said, showing me the latest update on her laptop.“ Rebelling?” I said with raised eyebrows.“70% of the board of directors are opposing you for being the next chairman — .”“What's the cause of this opposition?” I asked, removing my tie. It's suffocating.“Your Uncle ,Luke Hoffman.” She replied“ He is making his move already,” I said, smirking.“ Get the meeting room set,get the directors on board and put a call across to my lawyer ,” I ordered.“ Okay Boss,” she said, turning to get straight to work.The meeting lasted for hours,I was able to convince the directors so that I could buy more time. I stretched my arms , relaxing in my chair. My eyes were heavy, I can't afford to sleep now.“M
EMILY'S POV“You!” I shouted, dropping the baseball bat on the ground slowly, kneeling down beside the body.'Oh my God! I didn't know I hit her that hard,” I said, trembling and placing my head on her chest to check if she was breathing.“Thanks heavens! She is breathing” I said, relieved. I called the emergency line and in no time an ambulance came and conveyed us to the hospital.At the hospital,she laid down on the hospital bed , resting, while I sat by her bedside. I brought out my phone from my bag to check my messages when I saw Ten missed calls from Ronald and also saw a picture of Ronald and I during our date on the internet stating that I and Ronald would be walking down the aisle this weekend.‘ How come I don't know that I will be getting married this weekend?’ I muttered, putting a call across to Ronald.“Hello, I'm —,” I said , wanting to apologize for missing “ You don't know what the purpose of a phone is ,do you? I tried calling you several times but you didn't pi
EMILY'S POVAs I sat at the kitchen table, sipping my coffee and staring blankly at my phone, I couldn't shake off the thoughts of Ronald that had been plaguing me all morning. I had made up my mind to avoid him at all costs when I get back to work on Monday. But the thought of avoiding him only made my heart ache. Mia's sudden return, beaming with a bright smile, caught me off guard. "Emily," she called out, her voice low and sweet, like a gentle breeze on a summer day.I looked up, my curiosity piqued, and raised an eyebrow. "What's making you smile like that?" I asked, my tone laced with a hint of amusement.Mia just chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and said, "I have something to show you." My curiosity was piqued, and I found myself leaning in, eager to know what Mia had in store.Just then, Colin walked in, followed by Ronald. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met, and I felt a rush of emotions: anger, hurt, and a hint of longing. My expression changed instantly, my
RONALD'S POV Ronald went about his morning routine, tackling his tasks with his usual efficiency. But just as he was getting into the swing of things, his phone buzzed with an unexpected call from Calling."Hey, meet me at the usual spot," Calling said, his voice low and mysterious.Ronald's brow furrowed in surprise. "What's up? It's only 2 pm. We don't usually meet until evening."There was a pause on the other end of the line before Calling responded, "Just trust me on this one, Ronald. I need to show you something."Ronald's curiosity was piqued. What could Calling possibly want to show him that couldn't wait until evening?As I drove to meet Colin, the city streets blurred together in a haze of worry and anxiety. The sound of the engine and the hum of the tires on the pavement were the only sounds that filled my mind. I navigated through the crowded streets, my eyes fixed on the road ahead, my mind racing with thoughts of Colin's call. I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease
EMILY'S POV As I lounged on the couch, lost in thought, the door swung open and Mia burst in, her energy infectious. She dropped her bag with a flourish, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Emily, let's eat out today!" she exclaimed, already moving towards me.I opened my mouth to protest, but she was too quick. Her hand shot up, palm facing me, and I felt a familiar sense of resignation wash over me. Mia always got her way, and I knew better than to argue.With a sigh, I let her pull me up from the couch. She propelled me towards the bedroom, chattering excitedly about her day. I shrugged, letting her fuss over me as she rummaged through my closet for a change of clothes.As Mia dug through my closet, her voice bubbled over with excitement, recounting the highlights of her day at the office. I couldn't help but smile as she giggled her way through a story about her boss's misadventure with a cup of coffee. "And then, he stood up, and coffee just dripped down his shirt!" Mia's laugh
RONALD'S POVI sat at my desk, staring blankly at the papers in front of me. It had been a week since I'd sent Emily packing, and I couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that had settled in my chest.I missed her. I missed her smile, her laugh, her sleepy face under the morning light . I even missed the way the calls me, the way my name rolled out of her tongue when we were intimate .But my pride refused to let me admit it. I had to maintain my tough exterior, my confident demeanor. I couldn't let anyone see the vulnerability that was eating away at me.As I glanced around the office, I noticed my subordinates whispering and glancing at me. I knew they were speculating about my relationship with Emily. The fact that she hadn't been coming to work only added fuel to the fire.I felt a surge of anger and frustration. Why did they have to gossip about my personal life? Bunch of gossipers. But deep down, I knew it was my own fault. I had let my pride and ego get the better of me. I ha
EMILY POVI felt like I was drowning in a sea of despair, unable to escape the crushing weight of my grief. My body ached from crying, my eyes burning from the constant flow of tears. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt such overwhelming sadness.As I lay there, I felt Mia's gentle touch on my shoulder, her soft words of comfort whispering in my ear. But I couldn't respond, couldn't even muster up the energy to push her away. I just lay there, numb and broken, as she tried to reach me.I knew Mia was worried, I could sense it in her touch, her voice. But I couldn't reassure her, couldn't even look at her. I just felt too much pain, too much sorrow.As the minutes ticked by, I felt Mia's presence fade away, leaving me alone in my darkness. The silence was oppressive, the only sound was my quiet sobs. I felt like I was suffocating under the weight of my grief, unable to escape.I don't know how long I lay there, lost in my sorrow. Time seemed to stand still, the world outside my
RONALD'S POVI stormed into the conference room, my face a thundercloud. My team, seated around the table, exchanged nervous glances. I couldn't help it - I was still reeling from the pictures I had received the previous day. My mood was in a jumble of mess. "Alright, let's get started," I growled, slamming my fist on the table. My team jumped, taken aback by my outburst."Uh, yes, sir," one of them stammered. "We've got the quarterly reports ready for review."I snatched the report from the team member's hand, my eyes scanning the pages with a mixture of disdain and anger."This is unacceptable," I snapped, my voice rising. "You call this a report? It's a joke!"The team member who had presented the report looked taken aback. "I-I apologize, sir. I'll make sure to-"I cut him off, my face red with rage. "You'd better. I expect to see a revised report on my desk by the end of the day. And if it's not up to par, there will be consequences."The team nodded hastily, eager to escape my
EMILY POVI trudged into the room, my heart heavy with shame, regret and confusion. Ronald's words still echoed in my mind, "I don't want to see you again." I felt like I'd been punched in the gut,my heart shattered,my breath knocked out of me.I began to pack my bags, my hands moving mechanically as I tried to process what had just happened. The question, ‘How did this happen?’ swirl in my mind,I couldn't even remember all that happened before I black out, I just know that I was in the club. I didn't have anywhere to go, no one to turn to. I contemplated calling Mia, but I didn't want to burden her again. She'd already done so much for me.But I didn't have a choice. I had to call Mia. She was the only person I could turn to. I dialed her number, my heart racing with anxiety.Mia's son came to pick me up, and the drive was silent. I could feel Mia's eyes on me, sense her curiosity and concern. But she didn't ask me any questions, didn't pry. She just let me be.When we arrived at Mi
RONALD'S POVAs I stepped into my house, I felt a wave of fury wash over me. My expression was a mask of controlled anger, my eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. My jaw was clenched in a tight line, my face set in a stern, unyielding expression.I couldn't believe what I had just seen. A photo of Emily, laughing and smiling with a drink in her hand, had been sent to me. My mind was reeling with questions and doubts. Why had she lied to me? Why had she told me she was going to a quiet dinner with Mia when in reality she was out partying?I felt like I had been punched in the gut, my trust and faith in Emily shattered. I couldn't believe that she had betrayed me like this. I thought we had something real, something special. But now, I wasn't so sure.As I walked through the house, my footsteps were heavy and deliberate. I was weighing each step carefully, trying to calm myself down before I confronted Emily. But it was no use. My anger and hurt were simmering just below the surface, w
EMILY'S POVThe doctor discharged me, giving instructions that I should have enough rest and should be taken care of. I couldn't stop crying as we left the hospital. The pain and grief were overwhelming, and I felt like I was drowning in my own tears.As we were about to part ways,Ethan turned to me with a pleading look in his eyes."Emily, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me," Ethan said, his voice filled with regret. "I feel like this is all my fault."Mia's voice was sharp and angry. "You're right, it's your fault. Why weren't you watching her? Why did you let her out of your sight? You invited her to the party,you should have made her your responsibility."I reached out and put a hand on Mia's arm. "It's not Ethan's fault, Mia. It's an accident. I'm the one who...who...". I couldn't finish the sentence. The pain was too much, and I felt like I was going to break.But Mia's was unforgiving. “An accident? An accident that could have been prevented if he had been paying attention.”Mia'