Jess POV "What are you doing here? I thought I said that I didn't need any visitors. Didn’t my staff tell you I’ve just been discharged from the hospital?" Maximus’s mother grumbles under her breath. "The last thing I need is visitors. I didn’t have a cardiac arrest, I just passed out from exhaustion." I almost roll my eyes as I glance at my mother. If it wasn’t for her forcing me to visit the old woman, I wouldn’t even have shown up. I couldn’t care less if she passed out and died. She’s the least of my problems. Her death would just stop her from breathing down my neck. She’s really annoying for an old woman. I don’t know what’s happened over the years, but now, I find her unbearable. I thought she would finally treat me like a daughter, but I guess I was wrong. The only reason she tolerates me is because of my child. Whenever I come over with Maximus, she always throws snide remarks my way. At least I convinced Maximus for us to move out of his parent's house. I don’t
Selene's POV I’ve always loved being a doctor. It’s been my passion for as long as I can remember. I can't imagine doing anything else, no matter how emotionally and physically drained it leaves me at times. It’s been a few days since Maximus and his mother visited the hospital. Things are slowly returning to normal, but I can feel the whispers behind my back. My staff is clearly talking about me, especially after what happened with Maximus. They’re all curious about how I know the most powerful man in this city. They can't seem to stop marveling at his looks, and honestly, I can't blame them. The Hemsworth family is known for their striking features, after all. I keep my distance. I have to be careful. I can’t let Maximus get too close. I don’t want him recognizing anything. If he sees Anna, just one look at her would be enough. The resemblance is undeniable. He would know. And I can’t let that happen. I won’t lose them—not to him, not to anyone. Not even if he takes legal
Jess POV I’m tired of going through this every day, but if I stop, I’ll be the one who looks like the bad wife. Maximus has been getting on my nerves lately. He’s been coming home later and later, always with the same excuse: “Too much to do at the office.” As if I’m buying that nonsense. When we first got married, there was always that love-filled look in his eyes when he looked at me, but now… It feels like his love for me is starting to fade, and I need to figure out why. Why isn’t he looking at me the way he used to? "Do you seriously have to come back so late?" I snap, my anger boiling over as I glare at Maximus. "You don’t even give your child a goodnight kiss anymore. You don’t read her bedtime stories. I don’t know what kind of father you’re becoming, but I’ve had it up to here, Maximus!” I can’t help but wonder if the only reason he’s still with me is because of our child, or because he can’t handle another divorce. The bad publicity would be too much for him.
Jess's POV: "Why are we all just sitting here? Some of us have businesses to run. My store hasn’t even opened yet, and here I am, wasting time, waiting for our dear princess " Martha grumbles, her face twisting into an annoyed scowl. "I’m sure she’ll waltz in soon," another mutters. "But if I were you, I’d watch what I say. You know how she gets—bossy and unbearable if we don’t shower her with attention. She’ll throw one of her famous tantrums and act like she’s better than us. What a stuck-up b*tch" I stand back, peeking through the door and listening, barely hiding my smirk. These girls? I used to call them friends. Honestly, it’s no surprise they feel that way about me. I’ve never felt a real connection with any of them, anyways. They’ve always been more like... tools. Useful when I need a dirty job done. Nothing more. At least I had the sense to choose a private room for this lunch. Let them grumble all they want. "If it weren’t for her husband, she’d be nothing. H
Selene’s POV: "How long were you planning on hiding this from me? In case you’ve forgotten, Selene, I own this city. Getting information isn’t exactly difficult." I scrunch my face in disgust as I watch him speak. The words dripping from his lips are like poison. "You lied to me," he accuses, his eyes narrowing. "I kept insisting you were Selene, but you kept saying you were Dr. Andrea. Why is that? Did you really think I wouldn’t find out? I stay silent, the confusion clouding my mind. What is he talking about? I don’t even know what I’m supposed to be apologizing for. I have no idea how Maximus found out where I live, or why he’s even here. Ever since he saw me at the hospital, it feels like he’s been stalking me, and it’s honestly making me uncomfortable. "I don’t have time for your cryptic nonsense, Maximus," I snap in anger. "What are you talking about? I haven’t hidden anything from you. And even if I had, it’s none of your damn business!" He turns his gaze away
Angela’s Pov: There’s something off about Selene this morning. She’s not her usual bubbly self. Instead, she looks moody, distant—like something important has been taken from her. I can’t stand seeing her like this. I’ve been with Selene for years now. She’s like a daughter to me, someone I love and cherish deeply. Ever since I rescued her that day, everything in my life has changed. Despite being a stranger, I never doubted her for a second. I’ve watched her grow, become part of my family, and give me grandchildren. But for the past few weeks, there’s been this gloom around her. Whenever I ask what’s wrong, she just shuts down. I can’t help but wonder if it’s because her children have started pestering her about their biological father. I knew this day would come, that they’d grow curious about the man who brought them into the world, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon. I’ve watched her over the years, and the once joyful girl I knew is gone. In her place is someone fi
Maximus’ Pov: "This is outrageous, Mr. Hemsworth! You can’t just breach our contract like this. I’ve invested a lot of money into this deal, and now you’re pulling the plug? This is disrespectful! Your father would never have done this," the client yells, his voice rising as he hurls profanities my way. I stay calm. My expression remains unchanged. Slowly, I lean forward and lock eyes with him. “You’re right,” I begin with a low tone.“My father would never have done this—because he tolerated shady businessmen like you. Did you really think you could hide under the umbrella of my business?” At my words, I catch the flicker of discomfort in his eyes as he shifts uneasily in his seat. I tilt my head to the right and notice Raymond glaring at him with equal intensity. I let out a low chuckle. Turning my full attention back to the man, I press on. “Drug possession. Trafficking illegal firearms. And let’s not forget—your son was charged with vandalism. I knew there was something
Jess’s POV I can’t sit still. My heart’s pounding, and the nerves are crawling under my skin like ants. The last time I felt this way, I was about to marry Maximus. Back then, I was suffocating, too young to be tied down, and I ran. I don’t want to think about why I really ran—it’s not worth it. But right now, something’s off. Maximus has been acting strange for weeks, and I’ve been ignoring it, chalking it up to stress or whatever else he wanted to blame. But now I know why. Selene’s back. After all this time, she’s here. The thought of it makes my stomach turn. He’s still fixated on her, still staring at her pictures like he’s never stopped. I can’t believe it. How many years has it been? And yet here we are, her shadow still hanging over everything. It’s like all the old feelings I buried are resurfacing, and I can’t shake the jealousy gnawing at me. She left him once. Why does he still care? Why does it feel like I’m always second to her in his eyes? It doesn’t feel l
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