MELISSA’S POV Wearing a long-sleeved lace top, tugged neatly in black leather shorts which complimented her equally long black leather boots, she strolled towards me. Her oblivious eyes met my gaze and her face instantly changed into a hardened expression. She looked too pissed for someone who claim to not know nor have met me before. Seeing her made my blood boil, and the surge of anger swirling inside me turned me into nothing more than a ticking bomb waiting to explode. I mean, I understand she was trying to save her face and protect her relationship but why did she have to go to that extent of disrespecting me? Indirectly classifying me as a slut? Ha! How dare she! My grip on the steering wheel tightened as I glared at her through my windscreen. I guess she purposely came here for me as she was still walking towards my car. She was almost a few meters from me when, one of the back doors of the sleek black salon car parked adjacent to me, flew open. The force with which
LISTOWEL’S POVLisa cut me a deadly glare before jerking my hands away. Although she didn’t utter any other word again, her silence was very loud. If not for Wendy, that brat, whose appearance had ruined everything, my initial plan would have gone through. Why did she have to come around today of all days? For the past week, I’ve been trying to get to reach out to Melissa and apologize or at least, release a communique to retract her statement but what? She’s been giving me excuses upon excuses. And just when I had planned to ask for Melissa for forgiveness on her behalf, she’s ruined everything!I gritted my teeth in annoyance as her attitude at the parking lot replayed in my mind. I can’t wait to end the goddamn engagement that binds us. Slowly exhaling, “Don’t fret buddy, it’s just a matter of days and you will be free from her shackles. As soon as the contract gets signed successfully, you will officially cancel the engagement,” I inwardly reminded myself. The thought of it
LISTOWEL’S POV Today was a very long and eventful day. After the contract agreement, I had to meet some new investors who had shown interest in Gordon Inc. as soon as the government announced its collaboration with us. I headed straight to the bathroom as soon as I came home. Feeling tired and exhausted, I bathe in the jacuzzi, allowing the coolness of the water to wash over me. As I sat on my bed, wrapped in my bathrobe, I had my phone in one hand while I used my other hand to hold the towel that I was using to dry my hair. A smile immediately tugged on the sides of my lips as my eyes fell on the headlines of the various articles circulating the internet. Lots of people were praising my company, Gordon Inc. Some of the media houses have also enlisted my achievements over the years. My eyes gleamed with joy as people complimented me like they weren't the same people tearing me apart with their mean comments the previous week. The smile on my face even grew wider as I
WENDY’S POVThe call went through and an eternity later, she answered. “Good morning, Madam Gordon,” forcing the words out of my throat, I greeted. “Good morning dear,” she responded in a melodious tone that spurred me to continue. Per how she called me ‘dear’ I guess she's in a good mood but as I said earlier, she can't be predicted. Steadying my breath, “I'm calling to let you know that I will be at your place very soon, I will be hitting the road now,” I relayed. “Alright darling, I will be waiting for you soon”. “Ummm… I was thinking… is there anything you'd like me to bring along?” The was a long silence after my question which made me think it probably didn't sit right with her. “Just be yourself, Wendy” With that, the call hunged, leaving me staring at the screen in annoyance. Despite her nonchalant response, I wouldn't really be myself if I went empty-handed. A thought flashed in my mind while I was searching on the internet for cool gifts for a soon-to-be gra
WENDY’S POV Grandma Gordon smiled back at me while nodding. “You’re a good match for my grandson, Wendy”. You have the right strength, and I believe you could make him happy and no one else.” I felt butterflies in my tummy as she said this. From her tone, it felt as if she was indirectly dismissing Melissa and the other ladies who wouldn’t hesitate to throw themselves on Listowel. “Tell me what you need from me. What can I do to make this transition smoother for both of you?” My heart skipped a beat before it started racing heavily against my chest. Was she seriously asking me this? Could this really mean she’s in full support of me, despite all that I did to Listowel in the past? My cheeks flushed pink from delight as my lips parted to respond. “Ummm…,” shifting to the edge of my seat, I commenced, avoiding eye contact, “There is something… I’d need your help with.” “What is it dear, c’mon tell me. I will grant it for you,” I leaned towards the table a bit, holdi
MELISSA’S POV As I sat in my office, my fingers aggressively tapped on the letters on the keyboard while I finalized some details of the latest contract. Although my attention was fully focused on the work at hand, the whispers and murmurs from the hallway were too loud for me to ignore. Since morning, news of Wendy Macinni currently working as an employee at Gordon Inc has been circulating every nook and cranny of the company as it spread like wildfire. A group of people who call themselves “sisters” has been going around, taking it upon themselves to explain what Wendy’s presence at the company meant but I refused to let it distract me. . “Let her work here. The company belongs to Listowel, after all,” I muttered to myself a while after I realized the pitiful gazes people had been passing at me. “If he wants his fiancée prancing around like she owns the place, that’s none of my business.” Yet, I still couldn't believe how much of a pretender Listowel could be. Wasn
LISTOWEL’S POV “You can’t do this to me, Listowel” Wendy yelled as she realized the seriousness in my eyes. “Your grandmother will hear about this” “I don’t care what she’ll say. You’re not welcome here. Leave!” “Is it because of her? Are you doing this because of that bitch?!” she shouted, pointing towards the secretary’s desk. My eyes trailed to the direction she had pointed; only for me to lock eyes with Melissa! I instantly froze for a minute, processing the fact that Lisa was standing right opposite me, witnessing the beast in me! I bit the sides of my lips as I hurriedly dragged Wendy and handed her to the security guards for them to throw her out. Running my hands roughly through my hair, I anxiously bit my lower lip as I turned and headed back to my office. My head lowered, refusing to raise my gaze as I was enveloped in embarrassment. I couldn't believe I had not noticed Melissa’s presence all this while. “I might have scared her,” I whispered under my br
WENDY’S POV “I suspect Melissa coerced Listowel into throwing me out. She was already standing in front of Listowel’s office when I got there. I’m very certain, this was her doing….” “Mmm… that lady. I hate her guts. Please, I’m all ears. Tell me what you need me to do?” My grip on my phone tightened as I replied, “I want you to……..” “What?” Ivy exclaimed. “Why would you need—” Just do it!” I shouted, annoyed at Ivy’s sudden demeanor. Wasn't she the same person that had just said she hated Melissa’s guts? Why then is she acting like I’m the bad one? “Just get it for me. I'm not going to hurt her. I just need to clear things out to get,” “Mmm…” I could sense the hesitation in Ivy’s voice. “But miss…, this sounds… extreme. Can’t you just—” “Ivy,” I growled in a low tone. “I’m not in the mood for lectures. And if for anything at all, you're the last person I would seek advice from. It’s either you get it for me or your father suffers the consequences. “I’m sorry m
MELISSA’S POV I had been sitting by my laptop for hours, staring at the screen, trying to keep my mind occupied. But my thoughts kept drifting back to the same thing: my decision. I needed to leave Aphrodite City, leave everything behind—leave him behind. Listowel. The man who had once been my husband. The man who had destroyed me then tried to put me back together only to tear me apart again. The one who had used his influence to get me to work for his company. The one I could never forget, no matter how much I hated him. But this time, I was doing it for myself. I was doing it for Crystal. She deserved a fresh start, a life without the constant reminders of the toxic mess that had been my marriage. She deserved a life away from him. I’d already looked into apartments in the U.S. I had found a few options, but nothing felt final, nothing felt right. The uncertainty made me uneasy, but I had no choice. I was determined to go. I scrolled through job listings on my laptop, glan
I sat in my dimly lit room, my fingers nervously tapping against the wooden desk. The silence felt suffocating, and the weight of everything going wrong pressed down on my chest. It seemed like everything was falling apart, and I couldn’t see a way out. Then, my phone buzzed on the desk, breaking the silence. It was Clinton. My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to breathe slowly before picking it up. “Clinton,” I said, my voice low and shaky. “Wendy,” he replied, his voice calm but tense. “Listen, Tony has been arrested. Listowel traced and got him. This is bad. Really bad.” My heart clenched. Tony. He was the one who poured the acid on Listowel. He was supposed to be my tool, my ally in getting revenge. And now, he was in custody. The thought of losing him made my stomach turn. I couldn’t let that happen. Not after everything I’d done to get here. “What do you mean, they’re onto us?” I asked, trying to keep my panic in check. “Listowel knows that you and I are i
Listowel’s POVIt's been three days since the meeting was held. I still held my position as CEO. But I hadn’t slept in two days. Two damn days. And it felt like the world was spinning slower, dragging me with it. I’d been to Melissa’s house, again and again, hoping, praying, that this time she’d open the door. That time, she wouldn’t turn me away.But nothing had changed.The silence from her side of things felt like a rejection I couldn’t escape. Every time I approached her house, I was filled with this aching sense of defeat, as if she had put a wall around herself that I couldn’t break through.I had thought I could live without her. But now, I wasn’t sure I ever would.The sound of my phone buzzing on the desk cut through my thoughts. Kevin’s name flashed on the screen. I answered it, not even bothering with pleasantries. “What is it?”“Sir please, I’ve got something,” Kevin’s voice was steady, but there was a tension in it. “We’ve been able to track down the guy who did the att
Wendy’s POV My Grandpa had been doting on me evet since I tried to kill myself. I had cut my wrist and was lying down in a pool of blood when the maid came out of nowhere and shouted for me to be taken to the hospitalZ Since then, my grandfather has been trying to feed me, and even put me to sleep. The warmth of the food on my tongue didn’t soothe me; I pushed the plate away. “I’m not hungry,” I muttered, staring down at the half-eaten food. “Stop this, Wendy,” Grandpa said, his tone firm but laced with concern. He was always so damn concerned about my well-being, but never once had he asked about my heart—about how Listowel had thrown me aside. “You can’t keep on punishing yourself like that” I shot him a bitter look. “I’m not punishing myself. I’m trying to figure out what’s left of me,” Grandpa sighed heavily, his brow furrowed in thought . “We’ll fix this, Wendy. You just need to pull yourself together. You need to go back to Italy and clear your head. Go to sch
LISTOWEL’S POV The conference room was suffocating. The air hummed with tension so thick it was almost palpable, and every gaze in the room seemed to be aimed at me. I leaned back in my chair, outwardly calm, though my chest felt tight. I’d been through a hundred board meetings in my time as CEO, but this one was different. This one wasn’t about strategy or projections; it was about survival. I scanned the room, noting the familiar faces of the board members, most of whom avoided meeting my eyes. At the head of the table sat my grandmother, her icy glare directed straight at me. James and Daniel were to her left, their smug expressions irritating me more than they should. They whispered and chuckled to each other, completely at ease. Mr. Maccini, seated next to Grandmother, maintained his usual unapproachable demeanor. His presence alone was a threat. With his shares and my grandmother’s influence, it was clear they had worked tirelessly behind the scenes to have me impeached as
AUTHOR’S POV The bar was loud, throbbing with music that vibrated in the whole building. James and Daniel, Listowel’s half-brothers, were enjoying themselves as their bodies swung rhythmically with the music . “James, you’re unbelievable!” one of the women said, her high-pitched laughter cutting through the noise as James whispered something into her ear. Daniel, a tumbler of whiskey in his hand, smirked as he watched his brother work. “Save some for the rest of us, huh?” he teased in a mocking tone. “Relax, Danny,” James shot back, throwing an arm around the woman. “There’s plenty to go around.” James raised his glass, his voice cutting through the loud music. “To Listowel’s downfall!” Daniel joined in, raising his drink. “May his stupidity finally give us the chance we deserve.” They clinked glasses, laughter spilling out as they downed their drinks. “Breaking off the engagement with Wendy?” James scoffed, slamming his empty glass onto the table. “it would have been better
MELISSA’S POV The cab ride to the airport felt like the longest twenty minutes of my life. Every bump on the road jarred me, not because of the roughness of the ride, but because of the weight of my thoughts. Leaving Aphrodite again felt like the only option. This time I wasn't leaving as a broken woman. But as a woman who had something to protect. I wanted to protect myself and my daughter Crystal. The fact that Wendy was able to hire someone to come and hurt me even when he was still with Listowel, I can’t imagine the kind of thoughts she could have now that Listowel has broken up with her. I will not sit here and wait for something bad to happen again before I take action. Although I have no intention of letting Listowel know about Crystal, if Wendy manages to know just like how she got my address; she might lose her mind and hurt my daughter. Nothing could be as dangerous as a scorned woman. The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “ Are you okay, miss?” I no
LISTOWEL’S POVThe incessant ringing of my phone got on my nerves as I sat at my desk, staring blankly at the forecourt of my company building through the floor to ceiling glass window. I ignored the vibration at first, but whoever was on the other end was relentless. I glanced at the screen and it was my Grandma.With a deep sigh, I leaned back in my chair and swiped to answer.“Grandma,” I said flatly, already bracing myself for her tone.“Listowel,” she barked, her voice stern, “come home. Now.”I pinched the bridge of my nose. I didn’t need this right now. “I’m busy, Grandma.”“Busy doing what? Chasing after that girl who’s clearly moved on?”My jaw tightened. She knew exactly what to say to push my buttons.“Don’t start, Grandma,” I warned, my voice low.“I’m not starting, Listowel. I’m finishing. If you don’t come home today, I will call an emergency board meeting. Let’s see how long you keep your position as CEO.”A chuckle escaped my lips. “Do whatever you want, Grandma. I do
MELISSA’S POVThe water cascaded down my body. It was warm but it couldn't ease the storm brewing in my mind. The unplanned kisses and the laughter Listowel and I shared while he was at the hospital filled my memory. “Melissa,” I whispered to myself, leaning against the tiled wall, my wet hair plastered against my back. “You can’t let him pull you back in.”I turned off the shower, grabbed a towel, and dried myself. My reflection in the mirror caught my eye. As I stared into my own eyes, “You deserve better than this Melissa. He's the only man in the world. You can always love again,” I thought to myself. I wrapped the towel around myself and headed to the living room. I turned on the TV and switched the channel where they were playing music. My attention was not even in the music that much but a breaking news caught my attention. “News Flash—billionaire Listowel Gordon has officially ended his engagement with socialite Wendy Maccini. Sources close to the Gordon family confirm…”I