Jess: I feel like I’m trapped in a fucking sci-fi movie. How the hell is Selene still alive? She doesn’t have nine lives—this isn’t some movie! How was it so hard for my father to just put a bullet right between her eyes? He had one job. I can’t have any peace knowing she’s still out there, walking around this city, looming over me. Every day, the fear she’s instilled in me grows stronger. It’s like she’s becoming more powerful, more untouchable. Just last month, her hospital got ranked one of the best, with the most advanced facilities. And I hate it. Everyone keeps praising her for all her achievements, even though she never shows up at any of the conferences. Her colleague always goes in her place, yet she still gets all the credit. It’s infuriating. “Calm down,” my mother says,. “We’ll have other chances to kill her. Your father may have failed, but he hasn’t explained why yet, and that doesn’t mean we’ll keep failing.” Relax? How could I possibly relax? I can’t figure
Maximus POV He devours a large bite of his hamburger, humming in satisfaction. I roll my eyes at the exaggerated way he sips his drink. I really don’t know why he insisted on meeting me here. When Mason suggested having lunch with me, I wasn’t thrilled about it, especially having him at my workplace. All I wanted was for summer to come faster. I needed Mia back home so Mason could pester her, and I could finally get some work done. Mason, with his mouth full, flashes me a grin. I let out a quiet chuckle and shake my head. Some things never change. Even though he’s wearing his sharp black suit, I can still see the little boy who used to run around the mansion in nothing but his underwear. I smile at the memory. “Are you just going to keep staring at me, or are you going to eat your lunch too? I am telling you, this is the best burger in the whole of NYC!” Mason says between bites, still grinning wide, his gummy smile on full display. I shake my head, unwrap a burger, and take a
Jess’ Pov: I shove the chair back in frustration, not caring that I’m not at home. Sure, I know I’m throwing a temper tantrum, but I don’t care. It’s not like anyone’s paying attention to me. I knock over the expensive antique vase, screaming at the top of my lungs. I couldn’t care less if the entire restaurant hears me. I’m in the VIP section, and I know the owner is going to be livid, but again—no concern. This is payback for the way she embarrassed me at that fundraising event last month. Does she really think I’ve forgotten? The way she fawned over my step-sister, how she laughed and made fun of me when Selene compared herself to me. It’s all too much. My head feels like it’s going to explode. It’s been a bad day, and the stress has been building up for weeks now. I can’t believe I had to find out that Maximus—my own husband—was having lunch with his ex-wife, looking way too cozy, holding her hand like it’s no big deal. I just hope the picture doesn’t get out to the me
Mason: “Are you homeless or jobless?” She rages with her words cutting through the air. “Seriously, dude, aren’t you tired? You’ve got to be more relentless than any other suitor of hers. I can’t say I’m thrilled to see you, but Dr. Andrea’s busy, so you need to leave now!” I frown at the chatty girl, my eyes flicking to her name on the lab coat. “Dr. Christopher, I don’t think I’m causing any trouble here,” I say, glaring at her. “I’m just being a good friend, and besides, Selene is my best friend. What’s wrong with bringing her gifts and food? Or…Are you jealous? I know I’m awesome, not just because I’m from the Hemsworth family or a great attorney, but just look at me. You’d be swooning over me, Dr. Christopher.” She scrunches her face in annoyance, stepping closer, clearly not impressed. “ trust me, you’re not exactly my type!” She snaps. “And just so we’re clear, Dr. Andrea isn’t your best friend. She’s mine. Got it?” I stand my ground, matching her glare. She could easily p
Selene’s POV “I don’t get why you hate him so much. Mason is a great guy. He’s been my best friend for years—long before I even met Maximus.” Avery rolls her eyes so dramatically it’s almost theatrical. “I know I don’t know the guy,” she says, rubbing her chin like she’s piecing together a mystery. “But something about him feels... off. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but trust me, Dr. Andrea, no one is that nice. Not even me.” She shrugs, her tone dripping with skepticism. She sounds bitter, and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. Does she secretly like Mason? Or is there something I don’t know—something I’ve missed entirely? “Why does this bother you so much? Do you like him? Because, honestly, if you do, I wouldn’t have a problem with it,” I say, tilting my head to gauge her reaction. Avery scrunches up her face like she just smelled something awful, looking like she might gag. I can’t help it—I burst into laughter. “No offense, Dr. Andrea, your Mason is ha
Jess Pov: If I weren’t surrounded by people, I’d be laughing out loud. I’ve been holding it in for a while now, but this… this is comedy gold. Watching the Hemsworth family crowd around their precious matriarch is nothing short of ridiculous. The only reason I’m even here is to play the part of the good daughter-in-law. But let’s be honest—if the woman were being buried today, I wouldn’t so much as blink. Death is the only thing she truly deserves. That nosy, overbearing b**** never missed a chance to criticize me. She antagonized me every chance she got, turning my daughter against me, constantly reminding me of how “jobless” I am. As if I need a job when my husband is a billionaire. Like I’d waste my time on some pointless, backbreaking work. When Maximus texted me that his dear mother had landed in the hospital, I knew exactly why. My plan worked perfectly. It wasn’t hard to figure out her routines—what she wore each day, right down to her favorite heels. I knew tho
Maximus: “What the hell is going on, Raymond? Why are our stocks plummeting? What the hell happened?” I snap, my voice echoing through the room as I glare at everyone seated in the office. “Someone better give me a damn good explanation, or heads are going to roll. I’m not joking—start talking!” The room falls dead silent. Not a single person moves, and no one dares to meet my gaze. I turn my attention to Raymond, expecting answers, but he just stares back at me with the same bewildered expression. “I don’t know what’s going on, Maximus,” he stammers, his tone defensive. “I woke up to this mess, too. One moment everything was fine, and then… this. But don’t worry, we’re working on it. Everything’s under control.” “Under control?” I roar, slamming my hands on the table. The loud bang makes everyone jump, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. I’ve never been one to lose my cool, but this—this is insane. What the hell happened overnight? Where’s the weak li
Selene: I stare blankly at the television, the screen flickering with headlines I can’t bring myself to believe. I’m supposed to feel indifferent—maybe even satisfied—but instead, there’s this strange heaviness in my chest. A slow, creeping dread that I can’t shake. Every news outlet is buzzing about Maximus, accusing him of using fake materials to build an orphanage. I might resent him. I might blame him for the years I spent picking up the pieces of my life and raising my children alone. But one thing I know for sure—Maximus would never do something like this. He’s already a billionaire. What would he gain from cutting corners on a project meant to help children? If there’s one thing I know about Maximus, it’s how much he loves kids. He used to talk about wanting a big family, how growing up with siblings shaped him, and how he wanted the same for his own child. Even though we never got to live that dream—our divorce made sure of that—I know deep down that he’d never jeopa
Maximus’ POV"Asher, slow down! The ice cream isn’t going anywhere," I grunt, watching my son sprint ahead like he’s in some kind of race. "If you fall, I swear I won’t feel bad for you this time. I’m serious—get back here!"Of course, he doesn’t listen. If anything, he runs even faster, making me chase him like some desperate lunatic.I give up. I’m already exhausted, and the last thing I need is to pass out because my kids are being their usual mischievous selves.Beside me, Raymond chuckles, clearly enjoying my suffering. I shoot him a sharp look, and just like that, his laughter dies."I don’t think you’re in any position to laugh," I scowl, crossing my arms. "This is your fault. You had one job, Raymond. One. Look after them till I got back. I don’t need you to be the ‘cool uncle’—I need you to be the responsible one. No wonder Avery doesn’t like you.Please, for the love of everything good, remind me never to let you babysit again. You’re the worst."He grins, completely unfazed
Maximus: My heart skips a beat. “That bomb explosion was meant to take out everyone, including Benjamin, whom I sent. That’s right, Maximus, I’m the one behind your sabotage,” he continues, grinning widely. “The orphanage, the construction worker, Henry O'Hara, sending you those threatening messages—it was all me. And I must say, I had fun, but now the fun is over. My sidekick is dead. I told him I don’t like loose ends, so I had to end his life. Benjamin is practically useless to me.” It’s one shocking revelation after another. First Jess, now this?! What’s next? “You’re lucky Raymond survived. I don’t know how he got out of the building on time, but that’s not my business. My fight isn’t with him.” Mason steps closer “Now come over here, let’s go, Selene. I’ve already arranged a plane to take us anywhere you want. We can get married and live however we want.” Selene takes a step back as Mason points a gun at us. I move her behind me, determined not to let my brother hurt th
Maximus POV It’s been over an hour since the police took Jess away, and the weight of it all still hasn’t fully hit me. She’s finally going to pay for what she’s done. Her words echo in my head, and I can’t seem to shake them. I can’t believe all these years I’ve been lied to—Kylie isn’t even my daughter. Jess has been deceiving me all this time. But I won’t let that define how I see Kylie. I will prove Jess wrong. When I look at my child, I won’t see someone else’s daughter. I’ll see my daughter, and nothing Jess says will change that. If she thinks that I’m going to hate Kylie because of her lies, she’s sorely mistaken. Kylie has always been the light in my life. She’s the reason I’ve been able to endure this broken marriage for as long as I have. Every morning, seeing her smile makes everything worth it. The thought of ever telling her she wasn’t mine is unthinkable, especially with the anxiety issues she’s been battling thanks to Jess. I would never put that on her—she’
Selene: I take an involuntary step back as panic courses through my veins. "What are you doing here? How are you out?" My voice comes out shaky, my mind racing. How is he not behind bars? He poisoned me. He almost killed me. I can’t comprehend how he’s standing in front of me, free. He must see the confusion in my eyes, because he immediately starts talking, as though he’s read my thoughts. "I know what you're thinking," he says, his tone hesitant but strangely apologetic. “What am I doing out of jail? Well, I can't tell you how I got out. I didn't escape if that's what you're thinking. I just... I wanted to apologize." I feel an odd sense of dread twist in my gut. "Apologize?" I repeat, incredulously. I take another cautious step back. I don’t trust him. Not after what he did to me. Not after what he almost did. His eyes are desperate, almost pleading, as he moves closer, and I instinctively take another step back, my body going tense. "I lied," he continues, his voice low. “I
Selene: My life feels like it's spiraling, like a country song with all its ups and downs. I'm drowning in the weight of it, but there's no time for wallowing in despair. That’s exactly what Jess wants, and I'm not going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me broken. When Anna and Asher get back from their outing with Maximus, the first thing they do is run straight looking for Nelly. My heart tightens, knowing the truth that they can’t yet understand. How do I explain to them that the woman they trusted—who took care of them, played with them, and protected them—was the same person who orchestrated their kidnapping and tried to take my life over the past few months? How do I explain that? It hits my mom the hardest. She’s known Nelly for years, taken her in like family. To find out that the woman she trusted was behind this all… it’s breaking her. She doesn’t say much, just quiet and distant. But I can see the sadness in her eyes. She tells me she’ll heal, just needs time
Selene’s POV: Without thinking, I slam her door open, my anger boiling over. How dare she?! After everything, after I took her in, trusted her, and let her live under my roof like family. I feel like a fool. How could I not see that something was off about Nelly all this time? She’s been my enemy this whole time, and I didn’t even realize it. "Selene, I’m fine. I’m just frustrated," Nelly says, her voice trembling slightly. "I wanted to go to the bathroom, but then I remembered that I can't walk. I almost hurt myself, but I’m fine. Really." I can’t even look at her. How does she act so innocent, so pretentious, when I know what she's done to me? How does she stand there, pretending like nothing happened? Every instinct tells me to slap her, to make her feel the weight of what she’s done. But I know it wouldn’t be worth it. I’ve already called the cops. It won’t be long now before she’s where she belongs. I can't hold it in any longer. The words spill out of me, bitter and furio
Selene: If life had a spinning wheel, mine would be spinning out of control. Chaos. That’s what my world feels like. One disaster after another, piling on top of each other until I can barely breathe. First, I got hit by a car. Then, I barely survived being poisoned. Not long after that, my children were kidnapped from school. And now? Now Nelly is stuck in a wheelchair, with no clear answer on when—or if—she’ll ever walk again. Whoever ran her over wasn’t just reckless. They were brutal. She’s devastated. She barely leaves her room, convinced that her life is over. That she’s useless to me now. Nothing I say seems to get through to her. She keeps insisting that I’ll fire her—abandon her—because she can’t take care of Anna and Asher anymore. As if she’s just some employee. She’s family. My mom adores her. My kids love her. I wish she could see that. I wish she could understand that she’s not alone in this. At least the driver was arrested. A drunk driver. In the m
Maximus POV His eyes flick to Anna, then back to me, a smirk playing on his lips. "You do have kids elsewhere," he says, his tone laced with something unreadable. "And might I say, your daughter is your exact copy. So? Aren’t you going to introduce me to my niece and nephew?" I don’t respond. I can’t. He studies my expression, his smirk deepening. "Why are you looking at me like that? You seem… tense. What’s going on?" I force myself to mask my shock, but my mind is racing. What the hell is Mason doing here? And more importantly—how does he know about Selene and the kids? I get that Anna looks exactly like me, but why does Mason automatically assume Selene is their mother? There are plenty of women he could have considered—so why her? My stomach twists. He’s obsessed. And I don’t like it. It’s like he thinks Selene belongs to him. Like she’s some prize he missed out on. Did he follow me here? I didn’t even notice if someone was tailing me. That’s what bothers me th
Maximus’ POV For the first time in days, I feel a sense of relief. My kids are safe. That’s all that matters. Even though Anna sprained her wrist and has to wear a bandage for now, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of pride. Turns out, she was the one riling up their kidnapper, protecting Asher from getting hit. I guess whoever took them doesn’t like quick-witted kids. Anna may have my looks, but she’s got Selene’s sharp tongue. And while that might have made things worse for her in that hellhole, I’m glad she never backed down. She’s strong. What I don’t feel good about is Selene still believing I had something to do with this. No matter what I say, no matter what I do, she refuses to let go of the idea that I was involved. And honestly? I’m getting tired of proving my innocence. But nothing could have prepared me for the shock I got this morning. Selene called me—early. Good thing I spent the night at the office. If I’d been home, Jess would have started nagging