28 “I have to go deal with my brother. I’ll be back soon, my love.”With that, he slipped out of bed and hurried to the bathroom, his resolve steeling as he prepared to confront Michael once and for all.**Michael sat in his office, angry as he stared at the news trending on social media. The headline read, *"The CEO of Berol Corporation, Mr. Xavier Rolland, Involved in a Sensational Reunion with His Girlfriend, Miss Anna of Munchkin with Chef Anna's Restaurant."* His anger boiled over, and he slammed his phone onto the table, causing the glass of wine in his hand to spill slightly. "I gotta teach that brat a lesson!" Michael yelled, clenching his fists and taking a furious sip of his wine.Suddenly, the door to his office creaked open, and Xavier walked in with a commanding presence. "No need to bother yourself, bro. I'm right here," Xavier said coldly, his voice laced with confidence and a hint of a curly smile.Michael’s eyes widened as he quickly stood up, shock and anger mingli
29Anna was in the kitchen of her restaurant, peeling green peas with a steady rhythm when the sound of the door opening made her glance up. There stood Xavier, a broad smile lighting up his face as he walked toward her. "Hey, beautiful," he greeted, his eyes filled with warmth. Anna's face lit up with joy as she quickly rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. "Xavier!" she exclaimed. "I’m so happy to see you." He held her close for a moment, then pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. "I missed you," he said softly, his voice full of genuine happiness. "How’s it going with exposing that bastard Michael?" Anna asked, her tone shifting as concern filled her voice. Xavier sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Seems like Michael has hurt a lot of women... but they all go silent the moment they hear his name. It’s frustrating. We’re so close, yet nothing."Anna breathed out heavily, shaking her head. "It’s just so typical of him." Xavier watched her
30Xavier chuckled as he listened to the officer’s request. "I’m sorry, but I think Maureen ought to find someone else to bail her out," he said dryly, then hung up without a second thought.Anna, sensing his relaxed demeanor, looked at him curiously. "What was that about?"Xavier leaned back in his chair, flashing her a reassuring smile. "At least there's no Maureen to worry about anymore."Anna's smile mirrored his. "I'll drink to that."They toasted, their glasses clinking together, before sharing a passionate kiss. Xavier swept her into his arms, carrying her upstairs to the bedroom.***Later, Xavier was seated at his desk, signing off documents when a notification pinged on his phone. Glancing at it, he noticed the message came from an unknown number. As he opened it, his heart raced.*"Xavier Rolland, say goodbye to your little slut! This is the end of her."*His eyes widened in horror. "Anna!" he shouted, bolting out of the office in a panic.At the restaurant, Anna was in the
OneTalia sat in her office, the usual hum of the air conditioner filling the room as she flipped through documents, signing off one after the other. Her phone buzzed on the desk, drawing her attention. A message flashed on the screen from an unknown number:*"Meet me at Dior Hotels for the shock of your life! Road 101."*Her heart skipped a beat. Confusion swirled in her mind, and she stared at the message in disbelief. What could this mean? Who would send something so cryptic? Flashbacks flooded her mind. Talia recalled the image of her husband, Marco, rushing down the stairs, his suitcase in hand. “Breakfast is ready,” she had said with a smile, hoping to share a meal before he left.Marco had leaned in to kiss her cheek before replying, “I wish I could, but I’m running late for my flight. Another business trip, you know how it is.”She had nodded, supporting him as always, never once doubting his word.The memory faded, and Talia’s grip tightened on her phone. As the manager of
TwoTalia sat at the bar, devastated and heartbroken. She gripped the glass of alcohol tightly, her emotions threatening to spiral out of control. The betrayal by Marco, her husband, with her own stepsister, Malia, was too much to bear. With trembling hands, she dialed her best friend Lisa, her voice thick with anguish.Within minutes, Lisa arrived, rushing to Talia's side, and tried to pull the glass from her hand. "Talia, stop this! Drinking yourself to oblivion won’t make the pain go away. You have to think of Marco. He’s not worth it. In time, you’ll heal."But Talia's emotions were a storm she couldn’t contain. Her tear-streaked face turned to Lisa, and her voice cracked. "Five years, Lisa! Five years I loved him, believed every lie he told me, while he hooked up with my own stepsister. How did I not see it? How was I so blind?" Her hand shot up, calling for another glass of alcohol.Lisa grabbed her arm firmly. "No more, Talia. You need to stop."Before she could argue further,
ThreeTalia sprang up from the bed in panic, quickly pulling on her clothes as Leo stood by the door, watching her with an unreadable expression. She rushed to him, grabbing his arm as he turned to leave the room. "Wait! Wait!" she cried, breathless, her heart racing in her chest.Leo stopped, turning slowly to face her. His intense gaze made her feel small, but she forced a smile, trying to regain some control. "Rape? But we’re both adults. We can make decisions for ourselves, right? How did this turn into harassment and rape?" Her smile wavered as she added, "Look, if it's money you want, I'll pay you. Just... don't take this to the police."What Talia didn’t realize was that Leo knew exactly who she was—his brother Marco’s wife. But she didn’t recognize him; he’d been away for years, and time had changed him. She had no clue the man she spent the night with was part of the same family she was trying to escape.Leo curled a smile, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he gripped her h
FourTalia rushed into the company, her eyes darting to her wristwatch. “Almost five minutes left!” she muttered under her breath, heart racing. *My attendance bonus is really at stake.* She quickly swiped her work card at the entrance, ready to dash to her office, but Malia, her stepsister, suddenly appeared, blocking her path.Talia groaned inwardly, rolling her eyes. “Move, Malia. I don’t have time for this.”Malia folded her arms, a smug grin plastered on her face. "Oh, isn’t this Mrs. Donovan? Still worried about your little salary? Or should I say… attendance bonus?” Her laughter dripped with sarcasm.Talia tried to ignore her, looking away, not wanting to engage. *Don’t let her get to you.*But Malia wasn’t done. “Pathetic,” she continued. “Even married into the Donovan family, you’re still as poor as ever. Nothing’s changed for you, has it?” Talia and Malia worked in the same company, often crossing paths with one another, and Malia never missed an opportunity to insult her.
FiveTalia marched to her desk, dropping her bag with a scowl. "Scammers! The entire Donovan family are just scammers!" she muttered, her voice dripping with disgust. Her friend Lisa, curious as ever, scooted her chair over. “What’s going on? Is that scumbag ex-husband of yours causing trouble again?”Just as Lisa asked, Talia’s phone vibrated. It was a Facebook friend request—from Leo. Rolling her eyes, she accepted it absentmindedly, barely listening to Lisa, who continued to ramble on.“By the way, did you hear? The company just appointed a new CEO! I thought the vice president would have a shot, but no luck there!” Lisa chattered on.“Humph! Indeed, I didn’t expect this!” Talia muttered distractedly, her eyes fixed on Leo’s message.Lisa, thinking Talia was referring to the CEO situation, nodded eagerly. “Right? I heard the new CEO just got back from studying abroad. Can you imagine? He must be really something.”Talia, still glued to her phone, typed out a quick message to Leo:
Greg's face was plastered with worry and panic, his brow furrowed and lips trembling as he fidgeted nervously. “Could it be that they’ve rekindled their old feelings, sir?” he ventured, hesitating as he spoke. His voice wavered, unsure whether he should even suggest such a thing.Leo’s reaction was immediate. His eyes darkened, the veins in his neck bulging as fury built inside him like a storm. His fists slammed onto the table, rattling the objects on it. “It’s *not possible!*” His voice exploded, raw and full of venom. His breathing quickened, each intake of air sharp and strained, the very idea of betrayal igniting something fierce in him.Greg stepped back, eyes wide with fear as he instinctively raised his hands in a defensive gesture. “S-sorry, sir,” he stammered, bowing his head to avoid Leo’s searing gaze. His heart raced, pounding against his ribs. Leo clenched his jaw so tightly his teeth ached, but the pain in his chest was far worse. His eyes darted back and forth as his
THIRTY FOURFear gripped Talia as she looked around the dark, suffocating room. Her heart pounded like a drum, her palms slick with cold sweat. She pounded on the door, her fists aching from the effort. “Mother! Mother! Please, open the door! Open the door for me! I know you're out there!" Her voice cracked with desperation as she slammed her body against the heavy door again, the sound echoing in the suffocating space.Outside, her stepmother smirked, her lips curling into a cruel grin. Her hand gripped the door knob tightly, fingers lingering as if savoring Talia’s agony. "Shut up, Talia!" she hissed, her voice dripping with malice. "Stay inside and let the matter settle. When everything falls into place, only then will I open the door for you. Do you hear me?!" Her voice was sharp, echoing through the cold, silent house.Talia’s heart dropped. She backed away from the door, chest heaving, her breath ragged. She fumbled for her phone, hands shaking, and frantically dialed the guards
THIRTY THREE Talia immediately stiffened, her name echoing through the hallway, spoken by a voice she didn’t recognize. A cold shiver ran down her spine as she turned slowly toward Leo, her heartbeat quickening with a mix of fear and frustration. “Let me finish this conversation with my mother tonight, Leo,” she said, her voice barely concealing the exhaustion that weighed heavily in her chest. Her eyes flitted away from his, avoiding the intensity in his gaze. “We’ll talk about this later.”She ran a hand through her hair, trying to soothe the tension pounding in her head. “And I think we both need time to calm down, to think clearly before we take any action.”Leo’s hand lingered on her arm, his touch soft yet filled with restraint. His lips pressed together as he held back the words he truly wanted to say. His eyes, though dark and stormy, flickered with something more tender—something Talia refused to acknowledge right now."Al
THIRTY TWOMr. Diego's eyes widened, confusion and disbelief etched on his face as Leo’s bold claim hung in the air. The room fell silent, all eyes shifting to Leo and Talia, their tension palpable. Talia’s heart thudded in her chest as she avoided her father’s questioning gaze, desperately trying to maintain her composure.“Wait… you’re married?” Mr. Diego asked, his voice thick with curiosity, as if struggling to grasp the reality.Leo’s lips curled into a mischievous smirk, his sharp gaze fixed on Talia, who stood rigid beside him. Her pulse quickened under his stare, a storm of emotions brewing beneath the surface. He seemed to take pleasure in the subtle discomfort he was causing her. “Yes. I got married as soon as I returned to the country,” Leo responded smoothly, his voice laced with arrogance. “I just haven’t announced it yet.”Mr. Diego raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled by the sudden revelation. “It’s quite a rush! I wonder if one of the people here is your fiancée?” His wo
THIRTY ONE Malia sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixated on the floor, as her mother gently combed through her hair. The rhythmic strokes of the brush were meant to soothe, but the tension in Malia’s clenched fists betrayed her frustration. “You look absolutely stunning, Malia,” her mother, Mrs. Lyra, said, a smile playing on her lips. “I’m telling you, no man will be able to walk past without turning his head.” She admired her daughter’s reflection in the mirror, her voice dripping with pride. Malia’s lips tightened into a thin line, her eyes dark with jealousy as she met her mother’s gaze in the mirror. “That’s only if my idiotic stepsister doesn’t decide to crash the night and ruin everything, like she always does,” she muttered bitterly, venom seeping into her tone. Mrs. Lyra’s fingers paused for a second, her face twisting with a knowing smirk before she resumed brushing. “Oh, that’s right, Talia. The ever-perfect golden child. But did you hear?” Her voice lowered, al
THIRTY Talia glared at Marco, the heat of her anger burning in her chest as she avoided eye contact. She clenched her fists, every muscle in her body screaming with frustration. She didn’t want to be near him, let alone listen to whatever nonsense he had to say. “What do you want?” she snapped, her voice sharp and cold. Her expression remained hardened as she shifted her weight uncomfortably, wishing he would just disappear. Marco’s face tightened, his jaw clenching as he took a step forward, his hand reaching for hers. “Let’s go,” he demanded, his voice devoid of emotion as though he had the right to still control her. Talia flung his hand off her wrist as if his touch burned her skin, her heart pounding with irritation. “Just tell me what you want, Marco!” Her voice rose, shaking slightly from the mixture of hurt and anger coursing through her veins. “Stop touching me!” Marco’s eyes flashed with a hint of frustration, the calm facade slipping for a brief second before he compos
TWENTY NINE Talia’s face was a mask of forced calm as she walked over to Leo's table. Inside, however, her stomach churned with discomfort. She sat down across from him, plastering on a fake smile, hoping this encounter would be quick."Mr. Leo, what a coincidence seeing you here!" she said, her voice bright, but her eyes carried a glimmer of frustration she struggled to hide.Leo leaned back in his chair, a sly smile curling on his lips as he met her gaze. “Yes, Miss Talia. Funny thing though, my wife cooked for me today, so I didn’t even need to come here.”Talia froze mid-bite, her throat tightening as she swallowed her food a bit too forcefully. She quickly reached for her water, taking a sip to mask her growing irritation. *Oh please, stop talking nonsense,* she thought, resisting the urge to roll her eyes."Then why aren't you eating what your wife cooked?" she asked, her voice filled with false curiosity a
TWENTY EIGHT Lisa's face flushed with anger, her lips pressed into a thin line as she stormed toward Malia, her eyes blazing with indignation. She moved so quickly and forcefully that the tension in the air crackled around her, completely ignoring Marco who stood nearby, his gaze shifting between the two women with a quiet intensity.“Malia, I thought you were fired?” Lisa spat, her voice sharp and accusatory, her eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. Her fists clenched at her sides as she squared off with Malia, her anger palpable.Malia let out a slow, sarcastic laugh, her lips curling into a smug smirk. She stood tall, shoulders back, exuding a cocky confidence that only made Lisa’s blood boil more. “Fired?” she repeated, her voice dripping with mockery as she raised an eyebrow. “No, darling. I wasn’t fired. I was *demoted,* yes, but I’m still your supervisor.” Her smirk widened as her eyes flicked over to Marco, who gave her a small nod of approval, his expression unreadable but approv
Lisa finished talking, letting out a long sigh as her head drooped back onto the desk. The exhaustion in her eyes was evident, dark circles framing them. Her shoulders sagged, and within seconds, she dozed off.“Lisa, don’t sleep!” Talia’s voice broke through the silence as she barged into the office, her hand dramatically placed on her growling stomach. “Let’s go eat. I’m *famished*,” she added with a playful groan. Her eyes scanned Lisa’s sleeping form before she walked over, lightly tapping her on the shoulder.Lisa jolted awake, her eyes fluttering open, squinting in confusion before she realized where she was. She groaned, stretching her arms above her head as a tired smile curled on her lips. “Ugh, Talia, I was in the middle of such a good dream,” she mumbled, but the moment she caught sight of her phone, her grogginess faded. Excitement sparkled in her eyes as she reached for it. “Girl! I have some juicy gossip for you!” she exclaimed dramatically,