XAVIER'S POV I heaved a slight sigh as I drove the car into the clear street walk of the estate, my estate. My hands clutched tightly on the steering wheel, my mind a thousand miles away and bogged down with the weight of all that happened today-marriage, Ivy, the omen of a storm about the president's request-assailed my attention with gnawing tenacity.As I approached the McKinney mansion, the familiar iron gates swung open with their usual mechanical precision, ushering me into the world I’d always known—a world built on legacy, power, and control. The McKinney estate stood before me like a fortress, cold and imposing against the night sky, a reminder of the weight I carried. My grandfather’s legacy. My legacy.I parked the car and stepped out, straightening my jacket as the mansion’s towering facade loomed above me. This place, my family’s empire, had always felt like a battlefield—one where only the strongest survived. My jaw tightened as I approached the grand doors, pushing t
CHAPTER 34ELLA'S POV I strode toward the car, the weight of my grandfather's words still lingering in the back of my mind. The old man rarely showed vulnerability, and yet, tonight, he'd let his guard down just enough to remind me that the world wasn't as safe as it seemed. Not for Ella, not for Ivy—and not for me.Just as my hand reached for the handle of the car, a voice cut through the silence of the night from behind. "Xavier."I froze. Instantly recognising the voice all too well. Lucas - my uncle. I turned slowly, my eyes locking onto his. He approached with that same smug look he always wore, like knowing something no one else knew. Irritated me, though I'd never show it."Off already?" he asked, stopping a few steps short of me. "I was hoping to catch you before you disappeared. There's a party coming up. Business, of course. Some powerful people you should meet. Thought you'd want to bring that new wife of yours."I tensed at the mention of Ella. His tone was too smooth, to
The following evening came sooner than I had thought, and while I stood in front of the mirror, my fingers nervously fidgeted with the hem of the simple dress chosen. I stared at my reflection, feeling a bit uneasy. Tonight was different-there was an unfamiliar weight to it, almost as if something was brewing from under its core, and I hadn't had a single hint as to what it was.I glanced over at the time and beckoned towards the clock. Xavier had told me to be ready by seven and of course in true Xavier fashion, he was prompt. When I came out of the bedroom, he was waiting for me at the foot of the stairs, leaning against the railing. My breath caught for a moment.He looked… well, he looked like sin wrapped in a tuxedo. The black suit fit his broad frame to perfection, his sharp jawline set in that cold, masculine way that always made him seem untouchable. Dark strands of hair were neatly combed back, save for that one rogue lock falling across his forehead and lending him that edge
XAVIER'S POV Claudia being here tonight was the last thing I expected to see. Sitting there, having to watch her saunter away after snide remarks to Ella, that old irritability surged right through me. The harder I seem to keep my past at arm's length, there Claudia was, crawling out of the shadows like a ghost I'd wish would finally disappear. I should've known better. I should have known better than to think a person like her wouldn't find a way to just pop up no matter where I went. That woman always did find ways of resurfacing at just about the time when I thought that she was gone for good.Claudia… She was one of those exes I wished I could eradicate from my life, someone whose persistence rivaled a damn cockroach. However many times I reiterated to her that things between us were over-long over-she continued snuffling around, trying to scratch her way back into my world. I didn't do well with loose ends, and Claudia was just that. A loose end that would not quit.But what in
ELLA'S POV The second Xavier returned to my side, I immediately put on my facade. I didn't want him to think that I was still bothered with what I had seen earlier on. I followed him, saw him meeting Claudia, and now I had more questions than answers. But I couldn't let him see the storm brewing inside me. Not now.He slid his arm around my waist like it was the most natural thing in the world, and I could feel the heat of him even through the layers of my dress. Perfect at pretending, his demeanor was so calm, so collected, so strong. Everything about him screamed control, dominance, and that unnerving masculinity that seemed to draw everyone in. No surprise there, because to everyone around us, he was this big, strong man who could not be moved. And then there was me, barely holding it together, pretending to fit into this world. My heart was racing in my chest, but Xavier…he was effortless. I wasn't. I'd found it increasingly difficult to keep up the pretence. Every smile contrive
CLAUDIA'S POVXavier was gone, and I was still standing, my fists clenched so tightly into my sides my nails stung my palms. How could he be blind? How could he leave me behind as though it didn't mean anything at all? My heart slammed around inside my chest. Anger rose inside of me. It just wasn't fair. Any of this was. That bitch Ella gets everything I want. With a child, that would mean fame, attention, and most importantly, Xavier. She had thought with a child she would be able to tie down Xavier with a marriage. And goddamn it, it was working. Now she gets to walk around, parading around Xavier with that excuse of a child, Ivy. Their names were a common murmur at the party; everyone was chatting about the new Mrs McKinney. It was working; she was getting far more attention than I had ever imagined. And that alone was enough to see my blood boil.Xavier was mine, he had always been mine, even before she stepped into the picture. And now? Now she was parading around as Mrs. McKinn
ELLA'S POV The drive home was silent, at least for me. My mind was tangled in a web that I couldn't untangle. Xavier and Ivy filled the car with chatter, their voices bouncing back and forth in casual conversation, but I barely heard them. I nodded here and there, faking my interest, though my mind was elsewhere— on Claudia.Xavier. Claudia. What had been going on between them?I clutched the seat and looked out of the window, watching the passing city lights, wondering if I had read too much into it. But again, Xavier's face when she approached us had told me all I needed to know: there was history there, and it wasn't one I was included in.It appeared that they met in the past. But where? Restless, I chewed my lower lip, fiddling in the back seat chairs of the car. The momentary glimpse of the skyscrapers made me remember that I was Xavier's wife— or rather, his sham wife. The marriage was to be one of convenience, one where all I had to do was make believe before the throngs and
ELLA'S POV I woke up the next morning with a sigh, the light of the new day filtering through the curtains. The air was cool, and the faint smell of coffee drifted in, rumbling my stomach. I rubbed my eyes and slid out of bed, feeling the slight tension in my muscles as I padded towards the bathroom. The shower water was warm, comforting as it cascaded over my skin. But my mind was definitely not so calm.Xavier was still here from last night. He'd been different. Still cold, still him-but yet more there. More real. And I just couldn't get out of my head that there was something more to this man than met the eye.I felt a weird flutter in my chest as I dried off-unease. I wasn't used to this form of life; everything was just a little bit off-kilter. I wrapped a towel around myself and moved back into the room. I froze as I heard the faint clatter of dishes from downstairs.What was that?I pulled on some clothes and went downstairs, freezing immediately when I saw Xavier at the count
ELLA'S POV As the car zoomed out of the McKinney mansion, I stared back at the figure of Rochelle and the man sprinting towards the parking lot. She flashed her a gaze and scrambled it through the parking lot in a daze.When her eyes met, I could've sworn the glass of the backseat door shook as her gaze pierced through it's transparent base. “That's her!! She running off!” She beamed and a dark smile tugged at my lips.I turned back to the driver and caught a glance at the bright glimmers of worry in his eyes. He turned to me, “It seems something's wrong, should I wait behind ma'am?” I winced sharply with my heart thumping hard in my chest as my voice rippled out in an hoarse beam, “No. Keep on going. I can't have them meet us here.” The driver hesitated for a minute before he said, “Yes ma'am,” He turned back to the steering wheel and gripped it before stepping his foot on the accelerator. The car roared to life and as the car sped into the streets, a surge of elation braced my h
ELLA'S POVAs I reached for my phone, I heard a sharp gasp tear through Rochelle's lips as she lunged in my direction. Stealthily, I maneuvered and ducked as I raced into the hallway.I started slowly, taking soft strides before I gathered enough momentum to make me sprint as fast as possible. As I pushed forward on weak legs, I heard her yelling at the guy she was with. “What are you looking at stupid? Go get her!!” Her commanding voice lashed through the air and I heard the ceding sound of boots and heels behind me. I continued running, this time, I made sure I was able to get to the staircase fast. My fingers shook like a winter leaf as I gripped the banister.The breath rolling through my lips heightened and with each whiff of air I took in, I felt my lungs tighten as I paused to glance at them. I tilted my head in their direction and I caught the sight of Rochelle sprinting towards me with her acquaintance hovering behind her in a wrinkled shirt and sagging trousers.The sight o
ELLA'S POV “Stay safe dear,”I waved at her. Ivy. She was just about pulling another unsolicited questionnaire when I shifted my gaze to my wrist watch. “You're going to be late. Hop into the car.” As my words travelled into the air, Ivy flashed me a glance and for the first time in what felt like forever, my curious little rascal turned and stepped into the car. My jaw tilted downwards a bit as shock seared into my veins.It took a while before she got to the car's backdoor and from where I stood, I watched her struggle to open the door. “Don't worry honey, I'm on my way.” I pushed forward slowly with a sharp jolt of membranes bridling my shoulders. The strength left in my legs was beginning to spiral out but I held back, steeling myself to stay strong.I clenched my fists tightly before taking slow strides in her direction. When I got close enough, I stretched my fingers and gripped the knob as I pulled it. The door pulled open and the flashy interior of the car caught my eyes. I
XAVIER'S POV “Now that Mr Xavier has finished his speech, we can now start voting.”I heard the soft beams of voices from behind me as I flashed my gaze at the media team. I stared at them for a moment and I fixed my gaze on each and every one of them. I took a moment to asess them and within a few seconds, I finished my analysis. In their widened eyes, their fear, anxiety and pity gleaned back at me.I sighed.The voting that was about to start was something that could either smoothen the edges of my life or create a dent but I made a decision and I was going to stick to it. Whatever happenes, I'd still stand by the company. I'd still nurtured it. I'd still watch it grow.The McKinney legacy couldn't go down like that.No.The sharp edgy lighting in the media team were holding beamed in my direction and I blinked slowly, steeling my eyes away from the lights. “It's so sad the president was kidnapped, I'm sure it’s the handiwork of that lady. I heard her name is Madame Browne.” The s
XAVIER'S POV I could feel their gazes on me.I heard their soft taunting sound of sighs and mumbling trudging through the air. This wasn't the first times they acted like this but this… this was definitely going to be the last.The news of the president going missing shocked me out of my wits. After my chat with him, he asked me to leave and as I returned to the room, I passed the night on the bed with Ella. I pulled into the sheets disorientedly as waves upon waves of tiredness launched into my veins.I was just about to pull to sleep when my phone suddenly beeped with an emergency contact signal from the president. I jumped to my feet almost immediately and grabbed my phone as I sprinted out of the room.I pushed the door open and raced into the hallway like a child being chased by clowns. My case wasn't really far from that. I was being chased by my fears, my hopes and the nerving sensation that came from the thought of having something bad happen to him.I couldn't afford to loos
ELLA'S POV ~The next day~“Good morning ma'am.” The sharp, cutting voice of a female slipped into my ears as I pulled out of the hazy confines of sleep. I yawned, stretching disorientedly as my stretched my fingers and reached for the other side of the bed to check if, just if, Xavier returned back to the room that night.My fingers stroke the soft cushion of his size of the bed and a sense of worry flowed into my veins. My eyes pulled open as I pulled my back from the bed. I flashed my gaze at his side of the bed for anything that hinted his presence but all I received was the familiar whiff of him in the sheets.Did he pass the night here or was all of this just another one of my disturbing thoughts?As I asked myself the question, I shot a glancea t the figure standing at the other side of the room. It was Madeline's. My eyebrows quirked and I clench my fists and I stepped down from the bed.I put on some flip-flops before pacing towards her. Her eyes sparkled from afar like alwa
XAVIER'S POV Dear reader, if absolute shock and confusion were a person, that god-damned person would be me.As I stood there, I felt my knees buckle as I nearly lost balance. The words the president spat out echoed repeatedly against the walls of my ears and with each replay, I felt fear encircling my senses.The fact that Lucas was the leader of a powerful mafia gang leader from Russia wasn't a small thing.I still couldn't believe it. Why would I believe Lucas, my uncle whose case I used to think could be taken down by a mere court case, was actually a powerful mafia lord himself.Confusion wrapped around me like a cocoon and in it's nerving sheets, I found a haunting solace that sent chills down my spine. It revealed a lot to me even at this time when I needed it the most. I used to think I could take him down with one course case backed with evidence but it's only then I realized this battle was one that had exceeded sparing words.The little energy I was able to gather in my l
XAVIER'S POV When my lips pulled open, It was to the starry vision of a dark room. I winced sharply, fear purring in my veins as I tried my best to make out something from the background I was.The last thing I remembered was zoning out after the president told me my family were killed by the brutal hands of Lucas McKinney and Madam Browne. As the thought punched through my mind, I shook my head slowly, my face powdered with sweats.Even now, I still couldn't believe it. It had to be a joke. Madame Browne and Lucas couldn't have done that. This had to be a dream, a nightmare of some sorts.I was sure it was edged far away from reality. That was the only logical reason I was waking up in a dark room. I must be sleeping peacefully on a bed with Ella's body clinging to mine.I must be sleeping peacefully.That had to be it.This was a dream.With gentle flinches, I pulled my back from the hard ground and I felt the brushing texture of the group against my back. The sudden scratch caused
XAVIER'S POV I obeyed the president's words and took my seat. As I did that, I still couldn't get a grip over the waves of emotions soaring in my chest. I flashed him a glance and I noticed the plain glint of remorse in his eyes.For quite a long time now, the president had been hiding something. I knew that for sure but what didn't know was why. Anytime he tried to talk to me, either Madame Browne or Lucas comes in and intrudes but this time around, there's no rooms for games.My heart thumped wildly in my chest as I took my seat and my chest heaved. I stared back at the president expecting him to start an explanation but instead, he stood up and walked over to the door which he locked before walking back to where I was.I wasn't sure what it was but I could tell for a fact that something was about to go down. Something dark. Something ground shattering.I steadied the uneven gasps rippling through my lips and turned back to him. The president's eyes turned dark almost immediately a