Audrey's Pov I disengaged my arm from Xander's and walked towards the door, just like I predicted Amelia was there arguing with our guards and my father looked exhausted in their midst. “What is going on here?” I asked and they diverted their attention towards me, Amelia's jaw dropped while her mother scowled. “Audrey my dear, you look lovely” My father complimented with a smile on his wrinkled face, I gestured for them to let him pass and was a bit annoyed with them for denying my father access to my own party. “Care to explain why my father was outside?” I glare at the head of the security, “He was allowed in but those two with him didn't have an invite, they refused to let him in saying they were coming with him” He explained. I guess my invite got lost in the mail or my assistant didn't care to send it to them, she dislikes Amelia and I understand she didn't want her at my party. “Let them in, they are already creating a scene” I look back at our audience, Xande
Audrey’s POVMy anger rose to high levels as I clenched my fists in rage.Who did he think he was? Appearing at my party and attempting to ruin everything? Was he a joke?I looked at Xander who had a calm demeanor about him.“Aren’t you going to do something?” I asked in fear of that man running tonight but he shook his head.“He’s drunk. Let him let it out.”I growled, holding my rage within but it was barely holding together.I could tell that if I didn’t do anything, I could explode and I didn’t want that to happen.I grabbed a drink and downed it as Zachary gave a speech but I didn’t care.I wasn’t here for the stupid speech.“I’m going upstairs,” I said as I looked at Xander, expecting him to come with me.He nodded and before he could follow me, Zachary broke a bottle of wine which had Xander excusing himself and going to check the damage caused.I ended up walking upstairs and headed for the balcony at the end of the hall.While standing there, I felt tears rush to my eyes but
Audrey’s POVI could see the way she flinched and her expression remained hard, but she had a flicker of something else on her face.She had a very dark expression as she looked at me with anger.“You know something,” she smiled as I tried to stay awake while she talked. “You may think you’re free but you are not. If you don’t do as I say, I swear to the Lord who made me I will make sure Xander knows everything.”But now she had lost me.Everything? About what?She was confused or what?Did she even know what she was saying?I blinked, confused. “Everything? What are you talking about?”She took a drink and finished everything as she gently dropped her cup to the ground and stretched her body.She was enjoying this.She wanted my attention and now she got it.Now I wanted to know what she wanted to tell my husband that would make him see me in another light.She leaned in, her voice low and dangerous. “Oh, you know. The little things. The skeletons in your closet. How you manipulated
Xander’s POV“She is her own person. Get that through your thick skull. I can’t believe you and I grew up in the same home.”“Is that what you think this is?” Zach moved like he was drunk. “She’s mine. You stole her from me.”Zach wavered, swaying slightly on his feet. His face was flushed, either from the alcohol or the anger—or both. He took a step toward me, his fists still clenched, and for a moment, I thought he might actually try to hit me.“I hate you,” he muttered, his voice trembling. “You think you’re better than me. You think you can just take whatever you want.”I shook my head, feeling a mix of anger and pity. “You’re drunk, Zach. You don’t know what you’re saying.”But then, before I could react, he lunged at me, his fist swinging wildly. It was a sloppy, uncoordinated punch, and I easily dodged it. He stumbled forward, losing his balance, and crashed to the floor in a heap.“How about…” I tried to help him up but he kicked my leg which had me stabbing back.He jumped to
Xander’s POVI looked at her at the stairs, her stance before me showing that she wanted me to do something with her.Her cleavages were her defining features with her short gown barely going to her knees.She used her tongue to lick her teeth as she showed her pearly whites with her eyes eating me up like I was a snack.Amelia could be seductive when she wanted, but she should know that I was with someone else. Her sister.I was not leaving Audrey for her.“Hey there big boy,” she smiled at me as I raised a brow in confusion.“What do you want?” I asked as she chuckled, rearing her head back in heavy laughter. “I just want to know how you’re doing. That is all. I don’t think it’s a problem.”“Amelia, I know why you’re here. It’s your sister's birthday. Shouldn’t you be with her and not me?”She rolled her eyes. “She’s drunk. I saw her stumbling around looking for what to do but I’m sure she’s passed out somewhere. You and I have all the time tonight to do something. We can do it on
Xanders POV “Things didn’t have to change,” she shot back. “You chose for them to change. You chose her.”I leaned back in my seat while staring at her. What was she thinking?“I’m married to her. You think I’ll leave her for some dream that you and I can be together again? I don’t know why you’re dragging this. Just let it go already. It’s over.”“Nothing is over,” she growled. “You were mine first before you decided to go for her. How could you do that to me?”“I didn’t do anything to you.”“She isn’t worth it. Just sign a divorce paper and everything and come for me.”I laughed. “Amelia, you're not serious.”“But I am. Just do it.”“I didn’t know I would say it but you’re just like your mother.”She gasped. “You take that back!”“And why would I do that? You want me to get rid of your sister? Well I’m not doing it. So you can forget about it.”Amelia stared at me for a long moment, her chest rising and falling as she processed my words. “You think you love her,” she said softly,
Amelia’s POVWhat she had said got my attention and I wondered if she was right to have said such.I looked at her and felt some kind of hope within me. Maybe she was right. Maybe there was really a way to win him back.“How?” I asked with a desperate voice. “How do I get him back?”She stopped pacing and turned to me with a sharp eye.She narrowed her eyes and considered me for a moment.“Are you sure you want me to help you?” She asked. “Because you look like you’ll chicken out if I start.”“Mum,” I said, tired of her withholding this information from me. “Just tell me all I need to know. Please.”She folded her arms. “Alright. Well first of all, you need to stop thinking about Audrey as his wife. She isn’t important. You of all people should know this. She is nothing. She is just a little distraction. A little dot in Xanders life, that is all. You can easily erase her. It shouldn’t be a problem.”I don’t like where this was going but I shook my head lightly. “Mum, they have been ma
Zachary’s POVThe minute I dropped down from the car, I started to my room, exhausted and drunk.I got into my apartment and headed into the bathroom to pour water over my face.As I stood over the sink while looking at my reflection, all I could think about was the way I had somehow destroyed my only chance at getting all Amelia’s father had.The riches they had and everything could have been mine. But somehow, Audrey had gotten married to my brother and ruined everything for me.I was so mad at myself that I didn’t know when I raised my hand and punched the mirror hard enough to shatter it.I yelled in pain while blood flowed everywhere.“Damn it!” I yelled in rage while holding up my bloody hand.I couldn’t believe I had been stupid enough to have done that.I rinsed the blood off, watching the blood flow down the drain as my rage raised to high levels again.Thinking of Audrey and Xander made me sick.How could she do this to me?She was supposed to be with me. How did she rush to
Author’s povThe police quickly surrounded Daniel, cuffing him as he groaned on the floor. Blood trickled from his nose, and his face was twisted in anger and humiliation.“You’ll regret this, Xander!” Daniel spat, glaring up at his brother.Xander leaned down, his expression calm but firm. “Regret? That’s something you should feel for all the lives you’ve ruined. It’s over, Daniel.”As Daniel struggled against his restraints, the head of police stepped forward. He pulled out a list of charges and began reading them aloud.“Daniel Clarkson, you are being charged with the following: the kidnapping of Mrs. Wright, the attempted murder of Xander Clarkson, embezzlement from your family’s company, obstruction of justice, and numerous other crimes. You’ll be facing a long time in prison.”Daniel’s face contorted with rage. “None of it is true!” he shouted. “This is a setup! You’re all working against me!”“Your corrupt cop was also seen running off and right now he’s willing to testify agai
Author’s povMrs. Wright sat in the dark room, straining her ears for the movements of her captors. It had been a few hours since they taken her from her old place and brought her to this new place, hours marked by terror and solitude and confusion. But something inside had changed that night. Something told her she couldn’t be captive anymore. With newfound resolve, Mrs. Wright steeled herself and tiptoed to the door.The house was still; her captors didn’t suspect a thing when they had gone to bed earlier. Mrs. Wright cautiously unlocked the door, afraid of its creaking as she turned the knob to let herself out into the night air that was cool and freeing.She was done hiding. This time, she was going to save herself.The road stretched before her was infinite in the dark. She knew that with each step she took away from her prison it was another opportunity to get to her son and get out a solution. Her heart was beating both in fear and anticipation of the worst. She ran through t
Daniel’s povI stormed out of his office, hot blood rushed through my veins. How dare he? Who the hell does this man think he is? Some kind of a superhero coming to ‘save’ the company. He was going too far and asking too much. I got out of the company and headed for my car as I sat down there and leaned back in it. I was so angry I couldn’t hold myself back.My hands gripped tightly around my steering wheel; those knuckles were all white as if they were screaming ‘help!’ in some invisible way. In anger, I punched my steering wheel a couple of times before leaning back in my seat.I then turned the ignition and drove directly to the warehouse where I had everything under control—my men, my operations, and my future. It was a sanctuary of sorts for me, a place where I could reorganize my thoughts and plans without any distractions or disturbances. A couple of my men were already there when I arrived.They all stood up as soon as they saw me enter, feeling the unrest radiating off me. “
Audrey’s povI clearly remembered the drive to the cabin that morning. I’d driven so slowly, looking in the rearview mirror every few seconds to make sure I wasn’t being followed. The streets had been practically empty, but everything had felt still and foreboding because of it. When I had gotten to the place, I had parked a few hundred meters from the cabin itself, hiding my car behind some trees before continuing on foot.The closer I got to the cabin, the more uneasy I felt. Something was very wrong. The place looked abandoned—deserted—but it wasn’t just that. It was something else; something I couldn't explain.“Mrs wright?” I asked while staying at the door and knocking. I hoped no one would bash my head in as I opened it inwards as it groaned under my hand as I gave it a push so I could step inside.The sight that met my eyes made my stomach plummet. The entire cabin was in shambles. Furniture was flipped over, papers were strewn across the floor, and a faint acrid smell wafted
Xander’s povI sat in my office, the door closed behind me as I went through the financial reports once more. My anger simmered beneath the surface. It was bad enough that the company was in such a state, but the audacity of the board to act like nothing was wrong infuriated me. My father had worked too hard to build this company, and I wasn’t about to let it crumble under their watch—or Daniel’s.Just as I was contemplating my next move, there was a sharp knock on the door. Before I could answer, one of the board members stepped in, closing the door behind him. He was an older man, someone who had been with the company for decades, yet his face now looked pale and nervous.“Mr. Xander,” he started, his voice shaking, “I need to talk to you.”I reclined back in my chair, signaling for him to continue. “What is it?” I questioned, but I already knew he didn’t come here to help me with anything but to stress me.The man hesitated, and then he leaned forward a little. “I think you should
Xander’s povI was in my company office gazing at the files lying on my table. My secretary had compiled every possible document pertaining to the financial record of the company and I was growing more angry after going through it. How was it not tallying? Who drew this large amount of money, the supporting bills and receipts were in no record?I could see lots of money being removed from the company but there was no mention of them being used for the company again. Why was this a thing?I called for my assistance as she appeared before me.“Is this all?” I asked as she nodded.“Yes, Mr. Xander. I think this is all there is available in the system…”“You think?” I interrupted her as she gulped.“It is all I could find in the system.”I leaned back in my chair and drummed my fingers on my desk. “This doesn’t make any sense… Someone has been withdrawing money at absurd rates recently, and with no record of what it’s being used for? How the hell does that work?”She didn’t answer, but sh
Daniel’s povI smiled after hearing his voice. Xander, always so easy to rile up. “Calm down, baby brother,” I scoffed. Taking another sip of my drink as I got to my feet to face him. “I was merely conversing with her. No need to get your knickers in a twist.”He stepped closer, glowering. “I said, stay away from her.”I saluted him sarcastically and stepped back a pace or two. “Okay, okay. Chill out if it bothers you so much.”As I walked away, I glanced back at Xander over my shoulder. “You should really learn to relax,” I drawled, mocking him as much as possible. “It’s bad for your health, all this stress you carry around.”Walking through the doors out of the pool area with self-satisfaction rolling off me in waves, I didn’t care about Xander and his anger. Not when they were both going to be defeated very soon.Back in my room, I poured myself another drink and stared out the window. It was a clear blue night with stars in the sky, but I wasn’t looking at the sky or the stars or
Daniel’s povLola’s body went rigid and her face turned a shade of red that clashed horribly with her hair. “Audrey?” she screeched.“Yes,” I said, nodding. “Why would she do this to me?”I shrugged. “I don’t know. But she must have seen that maybe Xander was looking at you a certain way and she just wanted you out of the equation.”Lola laughed cynically, and shook her head. “Audrey is going to regret this.” She said, “She honestly believes that nobody is going to stop her? For real.”I said nothing, just letting her stew. If nothing else, getting angry at Audrey took her mind off what had happened. "Wow, you look like hell," I said, taking a step back from the chart."Gee, really? How would you have guessed?" she snapped and rolled her eyes at me.I smirked, leaning against the wall. “You’re lucky to be alive, you know.”Her glare seemed to darken at my words. “If your people were competent at making sure no harm came to you and I, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place!”
Audrey’s pov“No,” I said, just as firmly. “But we can’t do anything stupid either. Any wrong step in this thing and it could throw us all over the edge. We just found her, let’s be careful and tail her for a while while trying to know what’s going on.”He gave a long heavy sigh and rubbed his fingers across his forehead. His eyes looked miserable because he knew I was right."Let's think this through," I said softly, resting my hand on his arm. "We'll find a solution for her. But we have to do it right."Reluctantly, he nodded, but his shoulders drooped in defeat. "Okay," he whispered. "But we need to hurry. I don't think she can last much longer."I nodded with both relief and determination. ***Daniel’s povI was in the car already heading to the house when I got a call from my men. “Boss, we have a problem.”“What is it?” I growled while clutching the wheel.“Mrs. Wright brought a stranger into the house she is hiding in, and now that we’ve arrived, the person is gone.”I frowne