Ethan’s P.O.VJunia tugged at my arms closely and even though she was trying so hard to put on a bold font, I could feel the nervousness that emanated from her. As soon as we both stepped foot inside the building, silence enveloped the whole place and the melodious tune of the classical song stopped instantly. All eyes settled on the two of us and the only thing that I wanted in that moment was to protect Junia with my life as she tugged more tightly to my arm.I heard her say. “I should have never come here in the first place. No actually, I didn’t want to come, you were the one who changed the plans and you were the one who forced me here. The plan was to stay in the background”I chuckled slightly amidst her rants while she quickly removed her hands from mine. She said again. “I don’t even know why I am standing so close to you. People would have the wrong idea again and they would begin spreading terrible rumors about things that are wrong”I responded. “This is the problem. Do y
Junia’s P. O.VTears pricked the back of my eyelid, my knees wobbled and every part of me felt like I was about to crumble to the ground. I wanted to scream and tear apart Matteo but the only thing I did was remain at the same spot staring at the large screen that showed how Matteo raised his hands at Briella. With teary eyes, I glanced at Briella whose hands flew over her mouth, her eyes glinting with fear— the fear of the unknown or rather, the fear of what my father might do to her. Matteo thundered. “What is the meaning of all of this? Take this down now!”My father also yelled. “This is all a lie to tarnish my image and to ruin my birthday party! This is all a lie! This video is nothing but a doctored video” I couldn’t believe my ears. Briella didn’t even matter to him, the only thing that mattered was his reputation. The same damn reputation that is the reason why I became the family’s outcast. Slowly, the video faded in the background and when I was thinking that it was all
Junia’s P.O.VI stared at the ceiling fan that creaked slowly, the sound of the classical song in the background, disrupting my thoughts that I had no option but to get out of my bed and turn off the music. I heaved a sigh, not able to get rid of the thoughts of Briella that almost plunged me into the darkest abyss. I just couldn’t understand the extent to which Briella’s mind had been so messed up that she would turn down my help. If I could remember vividly, there was always this glint in her eyes that seemed to me like she was screaming for help— most especially for me to save her! Or could it be that I misinterpreted things like I have always done? I tossed and turned on my bed, trying to understand the real reason why Briella would do something like that. How could she turn down my help when it was time for her to claim her freedom?“Something is wrong somewhere! I feel it in my bones that something is wrong somewhere” Could it be that Briella is being blackmailed or could i
Ethan’s P.O.V Somehow, at the back of my mind, I had already known that the plan to save Briella was going to work but the question was, did she need saving? Anyway, what mattered the most to me was making sure that Matteo’s biggest fears came to pass! His fear of losing everything and the only thing that I needed to do was just release that picture of him with Lee Hugo and like I expected, his company’s stocks went down drastically with everyone pulling down their shares. He was also a member of the World Universal Union (A global union that was all about fighting for human rights, human equality and basically fighting for things concerning humans!). But since that night when all of his secrets were uncovered, he was removed as being a member.As I expected as well, Junia’s father was a selfish person and he was denied about knowing anything concerning Matteo physically assaulting his daughter. He would do anything to save his name and reputation from being tarnished but what he d
Ethan’s P.O.VAs soon as I heard and saw the clicking of a camera, my face contorted in a frown that deepened and the only thing that I wanted to do at that moment was to wrap my fingers around Maddie’s neck and strangle the hell out of her. Even if it meant snapping the life out of her. “You must be kidding right?” I scoffed while she blinked her eyes rapidly as she retracted her step backward. Undeterred by her fearful reaction, I closed the space between us while she gulped. “You manipulative witch, you are up to something and that was the reason why you saw this as a perfect moment to confront me? Do you want to go viral in the media again? You don't even know who you are messing with because my dear, I would do anything to ruin you”She eyed me before she pushed me. “The heck do you mean? What the hell are you even trying to say”I scoffed. “Do you know what I hate about you? Your pretentious nature! Maddie you are playing with my patience and my dear, you don't even know what
Junia’s P.O.VI raised a brow in confusion, not because of the situation that I found Maddie and Ethan in but the fact that Maddie saw that particular moment as the right me to attack me.I glanced behind me to confirm if she was addressing me, doubting that I was the one she called a home wrecker.“Pardon?” I pointed to myself, resisting the urge to burst into a peal of hysterical laughter that depicted nothing but mockery. A mischievous smile graced her lips and in that very moment, I knew what she was up to. “Oh, you are going to act like……” Before she could complete her words, Ethan yelled at her. “She is going to act like what? What kind of narrative are you trying to push” Ethan turned to look at me, running a hand through his hair. “It isn’t what you think Junia…..”I pointed to myself. “It isn’t what I think? Why do you even think that I am bothered about what is going on between the two of you? I am here for something else and not this!” Ethan gritted his teeth angrily as
Ethan’s P.O. VA wave of anger surged inside of me at the very moment, creating a fiery pit that lodged beneath my stomach as my fingers curled into fists.“Maddie” I muttered through gritted teeth. I've always had this gut feeling that she was up to no good!— She has never been up to any! And now that I think about it, isn’t it hilarious how she transformed from the sweet girl I once dated in college to this wild woman whose sole purpose seemed to be scheming as if her life depended on it?She didn't stop at just playing mind games with Junia regarding Michaela and Liam; she even dared to threaten me with revealing the truth about Michaela to Junia.This only meant that even if I had not sent Aiden to get back the money from her, she would have still gone behind my back the way that she did.“I should have snapped the life out of her earlier!”Junia sipped her coffee as she sat across from me, tapping her fingers on the coffee before she stared at me suspiciously. “You have not answ
Junia’s P.O.V I couldn’t get Ethan’s word off my mind. The way he was so brazen about his words. “Come and live with me” I mimicked, smoothening my hair with my hand. I had always known that he was delusional but I didn't know that it was to this extent! Did he think that assisting me with Briella would lead me back into being in a relationship with him?If that were his initial thoughts, then he would be in for a long run because I would never return to him nor would I even dare to live with him. My mind strayed towards Briella and Matteo and even with everything that she did, I still couldn’t get rid of the thoughts of her that crossed my mind every passing second. I could not get rid of a lot of thoughts. The thoughts of my father whose deafening silence kind of made my heart palpitate with fear, Briella who still stood up for Matteo despite everything that he did to her, and annoyingly, she was one of the major reasons why he isn’t being charged to court. Despite my attempts
Epilogue- SANTAJunia’s P.O.V It was snowing outside as I shut the windows while Ethan sat next to the fireplace, with his eyes fixed on the wallpaper. “I hate the snow….” He grunted from afar, raising his head, his eyes slowly meeting mine. “I mean, I just hate it…..” He shrugged. Ashlyn, my oldest child, a perfect replica of her father, shook her head. “How can you hate the snow? We should play in the snow tomorrow…”Ethan shook his head. “No!”She pouted. “Yesterday, Andre and I played in the snow alongside Mum but because you caught a cold. You couldn’t play with us but since you are getting better, can you just play with us tomorrow”She darted her eyes towards me, her eyes glinting as she pleaded. “Mum, can you tell him….”I sighed. “Baby, your dad isn’t feeling too well at the moment. You don’t want him to catch a cold again, right? You know he doesn’t listen to me again and he only listens to you!”Ashlyn gasped, snapping her fingers as she jumped on Ethan. “That is right,
Junia’s P.O.VAfter Two Years Was this how it felt to be all left alone?The loneliness, the heart that ached for someone who just woke up one day and disappeared.“Ethan”On the day that I regained consciousness, I didn’t find myself, the only ones I found by my side were Briella, Jones, and a hand-written letter. The letter read;“Dear Junia, I am sure that by the time you are reading this letter, you will have regained consciousness. I am sorry that I am writing this to you while hiding in the dark like a coward but I can’t bring myself to face you. I feel like meeting me has brought you a lot of trouble which I would never forgive myself for. I couldn’t even keep to my words of me protecting you, I wallow in regret, sadness, and grief every day”“But, amidst all of this, you are still very dear to my heart. If fate wants, we will meet again in a happy and healthy state. I hope that you forgive me for causing you a lot of pain. I love you, Junia.”Then he disappeared like the wind
Nicholas’s P.O.V**After A Few Months**Was it worth it?The things that I did, the people’s blood that I soiled my hands with. Was it worth it? Now, I lost everything and the only thing that remained was me wallowing in regrets. If I had taken things differently, then I was sure that I wouldn’t be in this situation!I was reduced to a pauper, I had all of my funds seized and somehow, the Government confiscated everything that I owned. I was left with nothing but sorrow. Why did I do this to myself? Wasn’t it quite appalling that the one behind all of this was never found? What happened on that island after I was arrested? Now that I thought about it, turning myself in was the best decision that I have ever made. After the dramatic turns on the island, someone or an organization went after almost all the members of the cartel, totally wiping some off while some were arrested. It was more like a huge sweep over that shook the entire country. Another mysterious thing was that whoe
Ethan’s P.O.VDread, fear and anxiety. How could so much happen in a day?When the rhythmic thud of rotor blades pierced through the air, I was supposed to breathe a sigh of relief, to be happy with the fact that help was here at last. But that wasn’t the case, staring at Junia’s motionless body as she lay in her blood. On the other hand, it was Aiden, the one that I trusted. Was this the end? No! It was the beginning of how miserable my life will be from now. Empty, desolate, and void. I wiped off my tears, at the same time, darting my eyes at the television. The news was on and it was about Nicholas who had finally been arrested and how Aiden was wanted. Tears formed in my eyes again. It was so painful and suffocating. I was so suffocated. **Flashback** Nicholas tossed the plank as his chest heaved up and down. “I wanted to run away but I saw the two of you from the shore. I saw how you were willing to protect her even if it all led to a dead end”“I felt ashamed of myself an
Ethan’s P.O.V“We have to leave this place as fast as possible, there is a helicopter that is currently waiting for us”Junia breathed heavily, glancing behind her as we ran deep inside the island’s forest. She placed her hands on her chest, muttering under her breath. “How were you able to find me?”She pursed her lips slightly, tears glinting in her eyes. “I am sorry, I should have listened to you when you told me to wait for you. I was just concerned for my sister”I swallowed. “Don’t say anything. Just run if you want to see BriellaThankfully, I was grateful that I had listened to my instincts when something kept bugging me to add a tracker to her necklace. It was as if I knew that something crazy was bound to happen because first of all, Nicholas’s name wasn’t on the guest list just for his name to be added last minute. At that very moment, I knew that something was amiss. “I tracked you here! Don’t just worry about anything, when we get to the helicopter, we can talk about ev
Nicholas’s P.O.VAiden sighed, running his hands through his hair. “From a very young age, I had always looked up to Ethan. He was the standard and he always did the bare minimum but still, everyone was like, be like your cousin Ethan. So isn’t being like Ethan actually doing the same things that he did?”My face scrunched up in confusion. “I knew that he liked Junia from the very beginning. I liked the same things that he liked, hated the things that he hated! I wanted everything that he had and no matter how much it takes, I did everything to get it”“As much as I liked him, he didn’t deserve the happiness that he had. Junia was the one who built him up so I thought, what if I snatched Junia away from him? Everyone would realize that he couldn’t do anything on his own so I used you!”He continued. “I used his weakness, Maddie! Despite everything that I did, he and Junia found their way together. I tried to tear them apart by using you, using Briella’s situation but still, they foun
Nicholas’s P.O.VThrough the help of the yacht that was already stationed at the sea behind the house, I was able to get Junia to the island and finally, I was glad that it was all over. Finally, she was mine and in the end, it was just me and her in a world without Ethan Blackwood. I watched as she shivered and I pulled the duvet over her, tucking the strands of hair that were on her face behind her ear. She was breathtaking! She was everything that I had ever wanted. My voice was barely above a whisper as I stroked her in the hair. “It is just you and me from now. We are going to have beautiful kids that will make you forget about Ethan!”She groaned, talking in her sleep. “Ethan, Ethan, Ethan,” She mumbled. The smile on my face suddenly vanished, replaced by a frown! Why would she mention his name when I was clearly before her? I lowered my head, pressing my lips on her cheeks. “Very soon, you will learn to mention my name alone”I heaved an exasperated sigh but at the same ti
Junia’s P.O.VI was so uncomfortable with the way Nicholas stared at me! It wasn’t only annoying but it made my blood boil because why in the world was he staring at me like that after the warning that had been issued to him by Ethan? While Ethan conversed with some of his friends at the event, I talked with a few people that I knew but despite all of that, I could feel Nicholas’s eyes bore into my face. His eyes almost pierced into my soul and it made me so uncomfortable. Anxiety crept at the back of my neck and I had no option but to dart my eyes towards him. I raised a brow at the same time glaring at him. “What do you want from me? Why do you keep on staring at me?” I sent him a text and he checked his phone almost immediately. He read my message, didn’t say a word nor did he type back. All he did was stare. He was a lost cause! Why did I even text him in the first place? I was sure that he had mental issues as well because if he didn’t, then why was he acting like a creep?
Junia’s P.O.VI gnawed on my fingers, pacing back and forth while trying to process one or two things together in my head. Jones sent the address that Briella had sent to him and it was another whole different address from the one that Briella had given me. Someone was playing games right now! I was snapped out of my thoughts when the door swung open and Ethan poked his head inside. He heaved a sigh on seeing the worry that was etched on my face. I rushed towards him, pulling him in a hug. I wrapped my hands around him while he patted me on the back. “Junia, you are going to smudge your makeup”On the realization, I withdrew from his embrace, darting my eyes toward his tuxedo that was already stained with my foundation. “I am sorry, I would clean it now”Ethan laughed. “Why would you clean it when I can buy another one? You don’t have to worry about that and on the other hand, you don’t have to worry about Briella. I have everything under control”I stared deep into his eyes. “Ar