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 The room feels heavy with tension—stillness, awkward glances. Everyone’s waiting for someone else to speak, but no one’s willing to go first. I know it’s only a matter of time before my father calls. He always does when the stock numbers dip, even when things are somewhat under control. Not that the media’s making it easy for me to catch a breath. I still can’t wrap my head around how everything spiraled so quickly. The guilt eats at me—especially for the injured construction worker. The man’s lying in a private ward now, security posted outside his door. All because some shameless reporter decided to sneak in and hound him for a story. The man can barely stay awake without being sedated, let alone fend off vultures like that. I hate it. The audacity of it. The lack of respect for boundaries. His family hasn’t blamed me for the accident—not once—but that doesn’t make it any easier. I feel for them. I feel for him. Then came my father’s call. He didn’t ask; he
Selene's POv Taking coffee breaks in the park feels like the ultimate escape when you’re drowning in a hospital schedule. I slump back on the bench, utterly drained. That six-hour surgery nearly had me keeling over from exhaustion. Avery clinks her coffee cup against mine, a soft giggle escaping her as she drapes an arm over my shoulder and rests her head against me. “Cheers to stealing a moment of peace,” she says with a grin. I let out a deep sigh, sinking into the moment. This is exactly the kind of rest I’ve been craving. “I’m hosting a little get-together at my place on Sunday,” Avery says casually. “I was hoping you’d come. And, hey, maybe after everyone leaves, you could crash at my place?” Her words hang in the air for a moment as I grow quiet. I already know I can’t make it. Asher and Anna have been buzzing with excitement about the camping trip I promised them, and I’m not about to let them down now. “I’m so sorry, Avery,” I say, meeting her gaze. “I already have
Maximus POV Raymond and I stand in front of the half-finished orphanage, the Infinity logo displayed proudly above the entrance. Out of all the projects I’ve undertaken in my life, this one means the most to me. Providing a home for thousands of children—giving them even a fraction of what I had growing up—wasn’t just business. It was personal. And now, someone is trying to sabotage it, trying to make me look like a failure. There’s no way I’m backing down without a fight. I’ve poured my heart into this, and I won’t let anyone destroy it. These kids deserve better. Even if they’ll never know the privilege of a golden spoon, this project can still give them something—hope, security, a chance. I gave the construction workers the day off. I wanted the entire site cleared so Raymond and I could take a proper look. Somewhere in this mess, there has to be proof of foul play. At first, I thought it might have been an accident—a mistake blown out of proportion. But Raymond was righ
Mason’s POV: “Mind if I join you, lovely ladies?” I say, flashing my most charming smile. “I couldn’t help but notice you all from afar—such beauty and elegance in one place. Especially you with the blonde hair. Those blue eyes of yours? Absolutely captivating.” She scowls, her irritation unmistakable. I grin wider as she pulls off her sunglasses, her movements sharp. She pushes her plate away in annoyance, nearly spilling her wine in the process. “What the hell are you doing here, Mason?” she snaps, her voice dripping with frustration. “Are you stalking me? Get out of here before you ruin my mood. I’m trying to stay happy,” she growls, her glare sharp enough to cut through steel. Her friends whisper among themselves, their eyes flicking between me and her. A few of them exchange knowing looks, their faces turning playful, flirtation sparking in their eyes when they hear my name. Jess picks up her glass of wine, her hand trembling slightly. “Isn’t it a little early to be
Maximus POV The tension in the dimly lit room is suffocating. Everyone exchanges glances, uneasy, as they wait for me to speak. My anger is barely contained, simmering just beneath the surface. How could someone stoop so low? The audacity of trying to sabotage this project—a home for children who’ve never known comfort—has my blood boiling. What were they offered? Did they honestly think I wouldn’t find out? Or were they so stupid as to believe this would quietly disappear? I steal a glance at Raymond, sitting quietly across the room, and my chest tightens. The memory of that day replays in my head like a broken record. What if he hadn’t made it? What if he had fallen from the fourth floor? I wouldn’t be looking at him now—I’d be burying my best friend. That thought alone is enough to send chills through me. Raymond keeps joking about it, brushing it off like it’s no big deal, but it’s not funny. It never will be. If I had lost him, I don’t think I’d ever forgive myself. But no
Jess’s POV Mason coming back to this city is turning out to be a bigger problem than I ever imagined. I’ve told Maximus over and over again to tell his brother to stay the hell away from me, but does he listen? No. Mason seems determined to make my life a living nightmare. I can’t shake the memory of the last time I saw him—the way he grabbed me by the throat in that restaurant. My heart was pounding, my body frozen with fear. In that moment, I thought he was actually going to kill me. He wasn’t the Mason I used to know. No, this version of him is darker, more vicious, more unhinged. I always knew Mason hated me, but hate me enough to strangle me? That’s a whole new level. And yet, I didn’t tell Maximus. How could I? If he found out about Mason, then he’d dig deeper, and eventually, he’d stumble on what happened with Kylie and my step-sister at the park. Somehow, in Maximus’s eyes, I’d always be the bad guy—especially since my little daughter decided to throw her tantrums for t
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