ELLA'S POV "We're here ma'am!" The chillingly familiar voice of the driver jerked me out of thoughts. Displayed from the car's side windows, was the tall familiar building of the hospital, my previous work place. After my marriage with Xavier, the contract included me dropping off work as the marriage, according to Xavier, would be one that deserved full attention.Ivy was sitting beside me, her hair packed in two sideway buns. The cars in the parking lot of the McKinney mansion were sleek, mostly expensive limited edition cars of serialized brands. The cushions of the backseat were warm and inviting against my back, the AC in the car setting the atmosphere.The car finally settled at a vacant space in the parking lot and the chauffeur had opened the door for me not quite long after. The instant I stepped out, the hot summer air and the smell of desperation in the hospital's grounds fazed my breath.The familiar walk into the hospital felt chilling, unfamiliar, like it's been years
ELLA'S POV The lines of my lips crackled as I bit anxiously into my lower lip, my fist tightening as I stood up and headed out of the room. As I ascended the stairs, I couldn't help it but feel the weight of her words settled in my bones."Xavier may tolerate you for now, but you’re nothing more than a fleeting distraction. This family... this life? It's too much for someone like you." Her words echoed against the inner walls of my ears. The stairs now seemed to now be longer as I climbed slowly, my head dabbled in thoughts. Was this life really too much for me? She wasn't lying, maybe I was actually the burden here. I was nothing, just an underpaid nurse forced into this big life style as the wife of a billionaire. Was I really a distraction? If yes, then for what?As I progressed through the hallways. My fingers curled around the cup of water in my palms, the cool surface doing nothing to ease my doubts.Her soft voice echoed in my mind, with the double edged sharpness of a swor
XAVIER'S POV Madame Browne was a lot of things. Pretentious, fake, backbiting. But I never expected her to be this calculating. In life, I've learned the best way to get out the webs of pretentious people is to play along in their crazy game.Behind the soft hug and pleasantries she offered was a dark twisted figure. Madame Browne married into the McKinney family even before I was born, and as calculating as her husband, my uncle, Lucas was, she also held grudges against me.The truth behind the reason for their hatred was dark and painful— especially to me. My Grandfather knew of the hatred towards me and that was why he had sent me of to study business in other to keep me out of their web. They both wanted the company so bad and that explained the reason they had been mean to Ella.Seeing Ella like that made me angry. It drove rage through my veins, I had sensed how troubled she was from the instant I stepped into the dining room. It was obvious Madame Browne had said something to
ELLA'S POV I woke up with a shrill yawn, the sunlight from the blinds blocking my view the instant I opened my eyes slowly. I winced slowly as I stretched my fingers to tap on the other side of the bed to check if Xavier was there but he wasn't.I opened my eyes softly, my brows grimacing as I searched the room for Xavier but didn't catch a glimpse of him anywhere. Where had he gone? I pulled the sheets of myself and walked over to the bathroom, to wash my face with water from the sink. The cold water splashed on my face and I opened my eyes to the view of myself in the mirror on the wall.My shoulders were flared red, my lips swollen from the events of last night. My body still ached from all the pleasure he'd given to me as I smile softly. Today was going to be good and I could already tell it. The cool water fell on my skin and washed off grime and tension of the day before. Still, I lingered in the shower longer than usual, my mind racing and replaying everything that had happe
CHAPTER 75ELLA'S POV My heart raced as I stepped closer to the breakfast table and took my sit. The air was heavy with a heated silence the instant I stepped in. Madame Browne's gaze hovered over me, unwavering. Her lips were strewn into a tight line, the remorse in her eyes unhidden."Good morning, Ella." She said slowly, her voice sugar-coated but still dropping with malice. "I trust you slept well darling."I was taken aback by her words. Darling? Wasn't she the one just threatening me just minutes ago? I grimaced slowly, confusion written over my face as I shrugged it off and clenched my chin. This was obviously a trap, another trap.And I wasn't going to fall for it. Not again, at least not this time. I nodded my head softly and flashed her a polite smile, "Yes thank you, I did." I noticed the slight change in her face as she turned her had to face the chef. Signaling to him, he instinctively lowered his body and she whispered something in his ears. Something dark, twisted, d
CHAPTER 76ELLA'S POV A lone sweat trickled down my face as I stared back at my reflection in the mirror. I bit my lower lips and paced down the room anxiously, the sound of my heels clip-claping against the marble floor being the only sound in the room. “Of course, dear. But be careful. All hell has a way of breaking loose when someone like you tries to hold on to something beyond their reach.”Madame Browne’s words echoed repeatedly in my mind. Her words drove concern in my veins, the way she made it sound as if there was something I didn't know— something bigger than all of us.My stomach churned as I settled into a nearby chair, nerves rolled through me, in waves. I couldn't let this sit any longer. I had to know. I had to hear it from him.Xavier was avoiding me, just like he always did when things got too complicated. But not this time. I needed answers. Now.As if on cue, the door chimed open, and behold, Xavier. His face was as unreadable as always, that same calm, distant m
CHAPTER 77XAVIER'S POV "Just ignore her," I whispered softly as I gazed into Ella's eyes. A breath hitched in my throat as I lowered my head to place a kiss on those succulent lips of hers. She received it softly, the soft taste of cherry on her lips urging me as I pulled deeper into the kiss. Ella had been obviously really troubled by Madame Browne and it was nerving seeing her this worried.The fear in her eyes wash off as I traced my finger tips against her sharp jaw. She squirmed slowly, a muffled moan slipping through her lips. Damn. I wanted more— I want to hear her voice screaming my name, begging for mercy and also begging for more. I paused my fingers and repeated the exercise, but this time, I traced my fingers in an anti clockwise motion.Her eyelids flustered open and I caught the warm glints of desire in her eyeballs. I could feel her body's sensation under mine, the way her shoulders squared and the way her cheeks flushed red. From the gown she was putting on, I could
ELLA'S POVTHE NEXT MORNING I woke up with a soft yawn and stretched my arms disorientedly. Stretching my fingers to feel the other side of the bed but was shocked to find out it was empty. My eyelids fluttered open and I caught the back view of a striking male figure at the dressing room.I instantly recognized Xavier from the corner of my eyes and stepped down from the bed. The warm texture of the floor braced my feet as I walked into the bathroom. Once I was at the sink, I washed my face and readied myself."I'm going on an important business trip to Mexico and I won't be back until two weeks time.” Xavier's words echoed against the inner walls of my ears, this was not what I expected but I could persevere a week with Madame Browne. It sure would be tough but I was ready to finally face Madame Browne and beat her at her own game.But first, I needed to go meet Xavier and tell him goodbye. I would really miss him, his cold remarks and sexy eyes, everything about him marvled me. I
MADAME BROWNE'S POVWhile in my unconscious state, I felt darkness wrap around me. I saw, felt and even heard nothing. Nothing other than that ding. With each time it came, I writhed, twisted and strived to get it to stop. I was sick and tired of it and to make matters worse, I was beginning to get scared to my wits as questions pulsed through my mind. Did I die? Was this all another version of hell? I was expecting an erupting volcano, heat and a little bit of fire but all I saw was darkness. Thick, dark darkness. I was about to ponder on a question when I heard a ding. I tried to move but my body wouldn't budge.I tried again and then again but with each trial, I drew closer to the realization that maybe I had died. I mean my body wasn't going to move anymore and the signs were beginning to police together.I was about to accept the finalisation of my current dilemma when all of a sudden, I felt the elevator shake. Panic surged through me and in a fit of fear and confusion, I trie
MR MCKINNEY'S POV If you are reading this now, you must've thought Madame Browne had died. Well, I wished she was dead too but not all of our wishes came true and the acceptance of the fact was the beginning of maturity.Don't be discouraged yet. There was still a lot of things coming for her that she just didn't know yet. You see, when I planned on getting someone to do something, I made sure to leave no stones untouched. Right now, I was seated on my chair with my arm crossed and my eyes fixed on the tablet in front of me. Right there on the screen was Madame Browne, fallen and weak with sharp fearful gasps rolling out of her lips.She was afraid.Don't get me wrong this was the only time I'd seen her this shaken to fear. Her hair which you'd expect tostull be tied up in some fancy bun was now let down in rough, messy strands that draped down to her back. She was currently trying to block the dings I was letting off stop but little did she know that I, Mr McKinney, was the one beh
MADAME BROWNE'S POVThe entire walk from my room down to the elevator was long because most of the minutes were spent pondering on the invite. I bit my fingers slowly as fear pulsed throughout me in sharp jolts. The guard who was sent to call me over there led the way since I was too shaken with suspicion and fear to go alone. As I followed his lead, I still couldn't let out the gleams of suspicion that clawed at my chest.Something was in the hallway. Something was watching over me, judging maybe even cackling as I made my way to the elevator with my steps as soft as feathers. The guards' back figure filled me with relief as I rubbed my chest and sighed.Several droplets of sweat trickled down my forehead as I paused and watched as he jabbed his fingers against the controls. The buttons by the elevator beeped countlessly for a long period of seconds but the doors didn't open.It was as if someone was in it but if that were to be the case at hand, the indicator had to be flashing red
MADAME BROWNE'S POV As I stepped out of the car, the cold wind justled several strands of my hair into the air as I struggled to keep my strands down. My fingers brushed off some blocking strands as I paced towards the door leading into the mansion. Two guards stood by it with firm frowns on their faces. “Thank you.” I muttered out loud to the driver who was probably engulfed in something else to respond. I made my way to the door and as I approached it, the drivers standing by it, pulled it open as I stepped into the mansion. I walked into the mansion and walked directly to the staircase. I made sure no one was watching before I placed silent steps up the stairs. The overhead lights in the room flickered brightly as I traced my steps up it. It didn't take long for me to arrive at the hallway leading into the elevator. I tapped on the buttons and as the door chimed open, I locked my arms and inhaled deeply as I waited for the ride to come to an end. My body was aching so much I n
MR MCKINNEY'S POV I stayed at alert all through the time the guards informed me she had stepped out of the mansion down till the car that drove her out veered into the mansion. My eyes widened almost immediately as my fingers roved over to the window panes as I adjusted to me to get a clearer view of the car.Just as it parked safely in the parking lot, the door to the room pulled open and as the cracks it made slashed through the silence in the air, I paused then flashed my gaze in the direction. I tilted my head and I met the blank faces of the two security guards I gave the task of relaying every update on Madame Browne's movements to me. The golden brown lighting in the room buzzed over their cold features as one of them stepped forward. “She's here, sir.” he mumbled coldly and just then, I heard a sound. It wasn't from the room but from the parking lot.If I heard it correctly, it was the sound of her driver's voice. I wasn't able to catch the exact line of words he used but I
LUCAS'S POV The moment Madame Browne stepped foot out into the restaurant, I felt my heart thump heavily in my chest. A cold shiver trudged down my spine as a sensation sprouted within me. I didn't know how to explain it but it was there. Blossoming. Growing. With my gaze fixed on her figure, I carelessly grabbed a bottle of wine and raised it to my lips. The sour taste of grapes washed down my throat as I stared back at her. She was pacing towards the table in a black dinner gown that wasn't too flashy but still blended in with the people in the bar.They all seemed discreet enough to not even flash a glance at us. Everyone had their attention fixed on the people they came to meet and nothing else. No stolen glances, no glaring eyes… nothing. It felt like we were all alone.I had to give accolades to my assistant. She really did know what her job entailed and delivered effortlessly. My fingers curled around the wine glass as I placed it back on the table and for a split second, sho
MADAME BROWNE'S POV AN HOUR EARLIERAfter the call with Lucas, he passed the phone over to his assistant who I surprisingly caught up well with and as he did, her voice blared out. “You can come over. I've fixed a dinner reservation for you and him to talk it all out and figure out the next step to take.”I nodded softly as I asked, “What time is that going to be in?”Her reply came in quicker than I was expecting. “In about twenty minutes from now, I'll send you the address.”Just as she said that, my phone buzzed in my grip and as I paused talking just to glance at my screen, a pop-up message from her number came up. I read the letters on the card slowly and after reading it, I replied her softly. “Okay. I'll be out in a bit, it actually isn't that far from the mansion.” I uttered the words and as I finished, I ended the call and raced over to my wardrobe where I picked the first dress I saw and zipped it down as I stepped into it. Pulling the gown back up, I ran my fingers over t
MR MCKINNEY'S POVI shouldn't have chased him away. He wasn't wrong but I just couldn't stand seeing him like that. For the first time in the entire decades I'd spent raising him, my little boy was making his stand and as much as I wanted to let him flap his wings I couldn't let him go out there and lose his life to Lucas.I knew who he really was and how dangerous he was and having him contend with Xavier would crush me. Lucas could have him killed within the blink of an eye and I'd lose the one thing I promised myself I'd watch over. Just if you weren't aware, I made a promise to myself after the death of his parents to take care of him and shield him from any form of harm and now…I guess he'd outgrown my tactics buti just couldn't let him out of my grasp. At least not now. Not when everything was a standstill and each and every move we made was being closely watched by him. Lucas.My heart palpited in my chest as I watched him turn his back and leave. A part of me wanted to hold h
XAVIER'S POV As the words rolled off my tongue, the look on the president's face changed almost immediately. His eyes darkened and his expression turned cold as he tilted his head downwards. Confusion washed into my veins as I arched a brow and paced towards his chair.Did I say something wrong?If there was anything wrong with all that was happening now, it was his reaction. Why was he acting like that? Did I offend him? I inspected him with a steady gaze as my heart thumped ruthlessly against its ribcage. With each step I took towards him, fear growled at the pit of my chest “Grandpa?” I stuttered as I stretched my fingers to reach for his shoulders but before I could do that, his head snapped up and his gaze snapped in my direction. Cold droplets of sweat clung to my forehand as his head jolted up and his gaze raked mine. My breath hitched almost immediately. My fingers quivered as I clutched them tightly into a head fists. Several lumps of fear logged in my chest and as they l