Junia’s P.O.VI was stunned to silence, his words resounding in my head till I finally got a grip of myself. “Miss Junia?” I repeated, totally at a loss for words to say. Ethan dropped his pen on the table in a way that caused me to shudder. He raised his head, the expression on his face was inscrutable but these eyes, those eyes! It glinted with anger. “What? Do you want me to repeat myself or do you want me to serve you your first query to know the gravity of what you have done?” My lips parted. I was shocked and didn’t even know what to do at that moment. Aiden tapped on Ethan's desk gently. “Ethan, what are you doing?” Ethan peeled his eyes off me, ignoring Aiden. “What are you doing here? Miss Junia Kensington? Don’t you have any work to do?”I gulped, mustering the courage to speak. “Earlier…..” My words trailed and I contemplated if it was better to bring up what had happened earlier or just wait for the perfect moment to talk things out with him. He raised a brow. “Earli
Ethan’s P.O.VWhy did I drop that on her desk after everything that happened between us?Plus, why did I feel bad for giving her a lot of work to handle? My initial plan behind giving her that offer was to keep her next to me so that I just stare at her face all day. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. But, Junia! How could she lie to me because she wanted to meet with Nicholas? How could she keep returning to the man whom she had doubts about?How could she never see through Nicholas? How did he manage to convince her all the time?The last thing that I would do was to give up on her but this time, I am not going to make it obvious any longer. I want her to see Nicholas for who he is. I wanted her to step out of that phase where her mind always swirled with uncertainty. I wanted her to be sure of what she wanted and who she wanted. Aiden opened the rooftopdoor, causing me to turn to look at him. “Are you seriously going to keep this up?” “I don’t want to hear anything abou
Nicholas’s P.O.V I heaved an exasperated sigh, placing my hands on my forehead. I reached for the crystal tumbler, cradling an ice cube while dropping it into the glass of whiskey. “My head hurts” I groaned, tossing my head to the back. The events of earlier replaying in my head. If Maddie had been there, she would have incriminated me by spilling the whole truth about the divorce. If she didn't do that, she would have used that as an avenue to blackmail me.“Where has she been? I am glad that she hasn't reached out to me yet!” I sighed, squeezing my eyes shut. “Oh! She told Ethan that she had a few months to live and, she must be planning something. I can't wait for her comeback” I grinned, the image of Junia flashing through my head at that moment. My eyes flicked open instantly. “If Ethan has given up on her, that means that I can get her back! But Le Mort wants me to gain his trust first”I swiveled my gaze around the whole living room, my eyes falling on the awards that wer
Ethan’s P.O.V “Nicholas Hawthorne” I muttered through gritted teeth before dropping my head on the steering wheel. I raised my head in that swift moment, fixing my gaze on Junia and Nicholas who walked down the alley. The horrible and heart-wrenching scene before my eyes caused a sharp pain in my head, causing me to toss my head to the back, a groan leaving my lips. The truth was I was frustrated! I was tired of everything that was going on.I shouldn’t have been so brutal with my words. But despite all of that, why should Nicholas be the first person that she would call if she needed help? I took in a deep breath, getting outside the car while following Junia and Nicholas closely. The way their laughter echoed down the alley triggered all the senses in my head! Then she got to the restaurant while I watched as she guffawed, slurping on her ramen.Nicholas even dared to feed her with meat and the worrisome thing is that she accepted it! “What the heck?”Okay? What was I doing ou
Junia’s P.O.VThe Next Day Facing the dressing mirror while making curls to my hair, I received a call from Aiden and I answered immediately. “Hey, Junia. Good morning, I brought your car”I paused for a while. “You did?”“Yeah, the car is parked in the garage. I will see you at work…..” Before I could respond, he had hung up the call. I chuckled slightly, grabbing my purse while going outside the room. Nicholas had sent a text. “Good morning Junia, how are you? Did you sleep well?”“I slept well, Nicholas, and I had one of the best ramen that I had ever tasted. Thank you for letting me know about the place, I would be visiting that place quite often” I responded to Nicholas’s message. Last night was kind of fun! It was fun and yet, it felt empty.Walking down the stairs as my stilettos echoed through the whole place, my heart almost jumped out of my chest when I met Ethan at the dining table, eating breakfast. His face was stoic, devoid of emotion as he bit on the croissant. My
Ethan’s P.O.V Plush velvet seats were arranged in two rows and the conference room was adorned with a huge chandelier that hung majestically from the ornate ceiling. Not exchanging pleasantries with anyone, I was about to sit when I caught sight of Junia’s father alongside Matteo! They were coming to the conference?Sitting on the seat that was kept specifically for me, Aiden sat right next to me, leaning by his side. “Did you check the guest list?”I shot him a glare. “I should be asking you that. Anyways, did you help me to see my wallet? I couldn’t find it in the office”Aiden leaned in. “I didn’t notice your wallet. I am sure that it isn’t missing though, we will find it soon, hopefully”I nodded, searching my eyes around for Junia! Where was she? First of all, she was late to the office— Just ten minutes late and now, she was nowhere to be seen.Amidst me searching my eyes around for her, the door swung open and she strutted in, going to the back seat. I quickly darted my ey
Nicholas’s P.O.VMy bottom lips shook as I stared intently at Maddie who stared daggers at me. I was snapped out of my thoughts as soon as I heard the murmurs that swirled around me. This was bad!What was she doing here?How did she find out that the bag that I gave to her was a total knockoff? Admitting into knowing her meant one thing and it meant that everything that I have built could crumble right now. I marshaled the last bit of strength that I had inside of me, clearing my throat while forcing out a smile as I matched her stare. “Do I know you?”Maddie tossed her head to the back, a wistful smile escaping her lips as she burst into a peal of hysterical laughter. “You don’t know me? Seriously? How can you not know me? You have known me before I even knew you!”I blinked my eyes continuously. Things were about to take a different turn and I hated it. I exchanged fleeting glances with a security personnel and he understood what I meant immediately. He rushed towards her. “Ma’
Junia’s P.O.VHe was lying! I could feel it deep inside of me that he was telling a lie.As I walked out of the station, different thoughts coursed through my mind at that moment. If Nicholas was telling the truth, then why did he stare at Maddie the way he did earlier? The way he clenched his jaw that time flashed through my head and I really wanted to believe him but the look that he had in his eyes already sold him off. He told a lie!He knew Maddie personally! That Liar! I walked towards the parking lot where Aiden stood as he lit up a cigarette. However, as soon as he caught sight of me, he threw the cigarette underneath his shoe, stepping on it while flashing me a smile that showed how awkward he was. I forced out a smile. “Thank you for bringing me here”Aiden nodded. “You can never let Ethan know that you came here. The two of us came out on the disguise of work”I exhaled sharply, patting him on the shoulders. “Thank you so much, Aiden. You are a good person”“Really? Yo
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