"Damn that bastard!" I muttered, frustration coursing through my veins. What was his problem? He was being annoying and causing me unnecessary stress. I plopped down on the bed, desperately needing a moment to gather my thoughts.
Ashlyn lived the life of a typical billionaire's wife, but she was too naive and easily manipulated. And to make matters worse, she had a boy toy? Well, I was breaking up with that pathetic excuse for a man immediately.
I picked up Ashlyn's phone, scrolling through her contacts. Ah, there it was. She had saved his number as "Zaddy." How pathetic. I dialed the number, anticipating an intense confrontation.
The call connected, and I heard a voice on the other end say, "Hello slut."
My blood boiled. How dare he speak to her like that? "What the fuck did you just call her?" I snapped, barely controlling my anger.
"Why are you wasting my time, slut? We aren't supposed to meet today," he replied.
I had to restrain myself from unleashing a torrent of insults and threats. Instead, I clenched my fists and demanded, "What the fuck did you call me, Zachary?"
"What? Are you trying to break my rules, slut? I own you. I own your body and speech as well. No nasty words from now on!" he sneered.
I had had enough. "Listen up, you bastard. I have no idea why I even entertained you and listened to your crap, but I'm calling to tell you one thing. It's over. Don't call me, don't approach me, and don't even think this is a damn joke. If you do anything stupid, I'll personally make sure you regret it," I warned, my voice dripping with venom.
"How dare you try to threaten me?! I will release those videos," he threatened.
Curiosity piqued within me. What videos was he talking about? I wasn't going to be shackled to an idiot, though. "I don't give a fuck. Release whatever you want," I spat defiantly, ending the call abruptly.
I needed answers, and I needed them fast. I called for Charles, hoping he could enlighten me. "What videos is he talking about?" I asked urgently.
Charles paused, knowing full well who I was referring to. He looked uncomfortable, unsure of how to answer. "By bastard, I'm assuming you mean the Master, ma'am. He is in the living room and hasn't left since you two met there," he finally replied.
An idea formed in my mind. "Is there a computer cafe nearby?" I asked, already planning my next move.
"Yes, ma'am, there is one in the next building," Charles informed me, curiosity evident in his tone.
"Take me there, please. I need some time alone," I said, determined to get to the bottom of this.
We made our way to the cafe, and I found a vacant computer. As I sat down, thoughts raced through my mind. What kind of videos did Zachary have? What had Ashlyn gotten herself into? And why did it feel like he had the upper hand in this situation?
With a calculated click, I hacked into Zachary's phone, determined to uncover the truth. As I navigated through his data, an idea struck me. Wiping his phone alone wasn't enough. I needed to hit him where it hurt the most.
"Idea," I murmured to myself. "What if I wipe all the computers in his company clean?"
The decision was made, and I proceeded to erase all traces of data from Zachary's company. They would crumble within weeks, and he would have a whole new set of problems to deal with. I smirked, satisfied with the power and revenge I held in my hands.
But before I could revel in my victory, exhaustion washed over me. It had been a long day, and I needed some rest. Besides, I still had loose ends to tie up here. I made a mental note to deal with any remaining threats and walked out of the computer cafe with a newfound sense of determination.
***
Reina stepped out of the computer room, her face beaming with satisfaction.
"Charles."
"Yes, mistress."
"Is the bastard finally gone?"
Charles hesitated, well aware of who Reina was referring to. He felt uneasy about how to respond.
"When you say 'bastard,' I assume you mean the Master, ma'am."
"Obviously."
"He is still in the living room, ma'am. He hasn't left since you both met there."
"Hmph. Is there another entrance to the house? I can't stand his face."
"Yes, ma'am, but it will take some time to get the keys as the Master himself holds them."
"Oh, why do I have to be so unlucky?"
Charles chuckled and led Reina to the front door of the mansion. She hesitated for a moment, gathering her determination before stepping inside.
"I can do this."
Reina made a conscious effort to avoid looking towards the living room, but Charles tapped her shoulder, causing her to turn and find Axel standing right beside her.
"When the hell did you get here? And where is Charles?"
Axel looked amused but quickly composed himself.
"Get dressed. We're leaving for Lana Mctokins' party in an hour."
"Who the hell is Lana?"
Axel gave her an amused look again and replied,
"Don't act clueless. You have an hour to get ready. I'll have the head maid attend to you."
Reina watched Axel walk away, clenched her teeth in frustration, and muttered,
"I just got here and now I have to deal with this bastard and some unknown person. Who the hell is Lana?"
***
I entered my room for the third time that day and surveyed my closet. I had plenty of elegant dresses, but I had no idea who this Lana person was or what kind of party we were attending. I felt helpless and frustrated, and eventually gave up, collapsing onto the bed.
That's when I heard a knock on the door.
"Come in, Charles."
"My apologies, ma'am. It's not Charles. I'm Lilith, the head maid here."
I stared at her and memories came flooding back. Lilith, the head maid, had once sabotaged Ashlyn, feeding her sedatives and causing her harm. She was dangerously obsessed with Axel, displaying pictures of him all over her room. I had to be careful around her, but I also had to beat her at her own game.
"Oh, Lilith. It's been a while. I was actually thinking about what to wear to this party."
"Axel mentioned it's a birthday party, ma'am, and that he would be escorting you. So you'll need to look your best."
Axel? She addressed him so informally. It was strange, but I couldn't let it bother me. If I were Ashlyn, she would make a big fuss, but she hadn't realized Lilith's true intentions yet. She was playing a dangerous game.
"Since 'Axel' will be escorting me, is it possible for me to get a new dress? The ones in my wardrobe are too frilly and annoying. I need something... I paused to think about it.
With my striking red hair, I couldn't really wear anything too colorful. So I decided to go for a simple, yet elegant black dress. I didn't want to attract more attention than the birthday girl herself. Something told me this evening was going to be eventful.
"Make it black and exciting. I have a feeling I'll need a dress like that tonight."
I knew I was in for an exciting time.
***
"What do you think, Charles?"
I stepped out of my room and twirled around for Charles, who was waiting at the door.
He looked at my dress and I could tell he was pleased.
"It's simple, yet beautiful, Mistress."
I beamed at him.
"Why, thank you, Charles."
"I am merely stating a fact, ma'am. Oh, by the way, where is Miss Lilith?"
Hehe, the little troublemaker had gone too far.
"She's sitting in a chair, whimpering. I have no idea what's wrong with her. But I hope she's okay. Can you check on her for me? I'm worried."
"Of course, Mistress."
I smiled and walked down the stairs, ready to meet Axel and get this afternoon and evening over with. I was curious to see what the rest of the day had in store.
****
Axel watched Reina's figure from the top of the stairs, perplexed by her uncharacteristic calmness.
"This is so unlike her. What is she up to?"
He struggled to believe Ashlyn's transformation.
"She also seems... different, colder somehow."
Axel approached Reina and stood in front of her, trying to gauge her intentions.
Reina groaned in exasperation.
"I don't know why you have to ruin my mood with your foul face."
Axel remained silent, taking in Reina's appearance. She wore a long, elegant dark blue body-con dress that accentuated her figure, with a daring thigh-high slit. She wore a simple diamond necklace and her hair was styled in a French twist, with a few loose curls framing her face. A dark blue butterfly pin adorned her hair, and she completed the look with ankle strapped heels.
"You look alright. Did Lilith dress you up this time?"
"I believe that's none of your business, Axel. Can we please just leave?"
Axel said nothing as he walked past Reina and headed towards the door.
Husband and wife got into the car, the tension between them thick enough to slice with a knife.
"I advise you not to do anything rash this time, Ashlyn. We have to act like the loving couple we are. Don't make things difficult. Lana adores you, despite your flaws."
Reina turned to Axel, her face a storm of fury and composure.
"Flaws? Tsk, tsk, I seriously wonder who the foolish one is if you can't even see certain things. And we have to act all lovey-dovey? It's common knowledge that we can't stand each other. Your former proteges will be there, even the current one, Lilith Cedar. Funny enough, she has the same name as our head maid. Speaking of which, I'd like a new head maid. The current one is terrified of me for some reason. And as for acting all lovey-dovey? That ship sailed the moment we said our vows. To hell with what you say, Axel. You go in on your own and I'll do the same."
Reina took a deep breath, staring out the window for the rest of the car ride, not giving Axel any more attention.
***
That bastard! Acting all lovey-dovey? I won't stand for this bullshit. No way in hell was I going to pretend with him.
I glared out the car window, ignoring Axel's piercing gaze. The bastard irritated me to no end. It was sad that the same person who had hurt Ashlyn so much was right in front of me, and there was nothing I could do about it.
I hoped this drive would end soon. I was on the verge of losing my cool and hitting someone.
"We've arrived."
"Thank god. There definitely wasn't enough space in that car for the both of us."
I quickly got out of the car, leaving Axel behind. I apparently found myself right in front of the party residence when a rush of memories came flooding back.
Damn it. Was Ashlyn always this bitchy? I remembered her trying to insult Lana, and yet Lana would smile and defend her when others talked her down.
Sigh... Why did things have to be so messy? Well, for now, I would avoid her and apologize later. I needed to gather my thoughts.
I stepped into the house and was met with a deafening silence. All eyes were on me, and I could feel their gaze burning into me. How did Ashlyn manage to fall out of favor with all of these people?
A red-haired woman made her way towards me, her eyes brimming with emotion as she tightly hugged me.
"I'm so glad you're alive, Ashlyn
Crap talk about rotten luck. I just had to run into her here.
I forced a smile as she wrapped her arms around me.
It was none other than the celebrant and star of the day that Ashlyn had always mistreated, Lana Mctokins.
"What the hell am I supposed to say to her?" I muttered under my breath, noticing that every pair of eyes in the room had turned to us. This situation was rapidly spiraling into the realm of pure awkwardness.Desperate to break the tension, I impulsively reached out and enveloped her in an embrace, a smile plastered on my face. "Well, well, well, look who it is," I said, attempting to sound nonchalant.To my surprise, she quickly pulled away with a look of shock on her face. I couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. "Are you alright, Lana?” “Hmm… Did the doctors say anything about the side effects of the poisoning? Should we go somewhere quieter to talk?" I shook my head and smiled at her. “Let's go somewhere else to talk. Her concerned expression quickly turned into a mischievous grin. "Haha, you're such a joker, Ashlyn. But sure, let's get out of here."I led her towards one of the nearby rooms in the mansion, away from prying eyes and eavesdroppers. It wasn't far from the par
Reina had no inkling of the call that had just taken place and how it would shape her plans for the future. Little did she know that her encounter with Lilith in the midst of a lively party would set off a chain of events that would leave everyone stunned.As Reina reclined in her chair, savoring the succulent dishes prepared by the remarkable chefs, she couldn't help but notice the lingering gazes directed her way. Celeste, in particular, shot her a piercing glance but decided to keep her distance. Her eyes then fell upon Daren, holding a bottle of champagne. A thirst suddenly overcame her, compelling her to join him. Sneaking up behind him, she intended to surprise him with her sudden appearance.However, her plan was swiftly thwarted by Lana. The protective older sister caught Reina in the act and questioned her intentions. "What on earth do you think you're doing, baby sis?" Lana inquired.Without missing a beat, Reina replied, "You caught me that quickly, Lana? I simply wanted t
Daren burst into the closet, bringing out a collection of dazzling rhinestone dresses. "Oh no! Daren, I wouldn't be caught dead in those!" I exclaimed, shaking my head. "Lana may look stunning, but I want something more elegant yet laid back. Let me find something myself."I rummaged through the closet and found a cream sequin mini dress. It had a cowl neck, long sleeves, and an exposed but tasteful back. The dress exuded elegance with a touch of sassiness. Long dresses were always so inconvenient, after all.As I tried on the dress, I realized that pairing it with boots would make the outfit appear too outdoorsy. Instead, I opted for a pair of cream-colored lace-up heels. Luckily, Lana and I shared the same shoe size, so I quickly slipped them on. With my ensemble complete, I confidently stepped out of the closet, catching Daren's wide-eyed stare."Now that's the reaction I was expecting," I grinned, sashaying towards him. I needed his assistance to tackle my unruly hair, though. I h
"He–he caned you?!"Tina's eyes widened in shock as Reina's face contorted with rage."Ma'am please, it was a long—"The bowl slipped from Reina's trembling hands, crashing upon the floor and shattering the tense silence. Tina's body froze in place, her heart pounding in her chest."Can I– can I see the marks?""Ma'am, it's really not–""Please Tina," Reina pleaded with a shaky voice."Alright ma'am."Tina hesitated for a moment before slowly lifting her shirt to reveal the horrifying burn mark on her back. The scar was jagged and disfigured, a testament to the cruelty she had endured.Reina's hands shook even more as she reached out, her fingertips hovering just above the scar. The fury within her intensified, threatening to boil over."What sort of sick bastard– finish cooking Tina. I have something to sort out and don't you dare get in my way.”With those words, Reina stormed out of the kitchen and made a beeline for Axel's study. The doors swung open with force as she marched in, h
Tina froze up, her eyes widened in surprise, and I couldn't help but let out a chuckle. It seemed that the old lady, whom I had always known as a bit of a grump, had actually decided to meet with me. I couldn't help but wonder what in the world she could want. She had never exactly been a fan of Ashlyn, and had never supported her either.I let out a sigh, rolling my eyes playfully. "From one nuisance to another, huh? Fine, I'll be there, but make sure to tell Axel that I will go alone. He shouldn't even think about picking me up or coming to Lana's place. Trust me, Lana would castrate him before I even got a chance. And I'd hate to miss such an amazing opportunity," I said, a mischievous glint in my eyes. "So, he better not show up. I'll go with Tina as my escort."The poor servant, Charles, tried to protest, but I interrupted him. "You tell him what I said. And it'll be a pity if Lana gets to him before I do. I promise you, Charles, I would be pained to miss such an amazing opportuni
Lana's gaze locked onto me, her expression frozen in a mix of fear and curiosity. After a few moments, she mustered the courage to speak, her voice shaking with unease."Why... why do you need to know?"My anger welled up inside me, realizing that Lana was still haunted by her past experiences. Even the mere mention of his name sent shivers down her spine. I clenched my fists, desperately seeking answers."I have to find out where he sent Kyle and Amber. I've tried contacting them, but it's like they've disappeared off the face of the earth.""What?! I spoke to them just this morning.""Ash told me something isn't right. I need to investigate him thoroughly, but I can't because that devilish woman is demanding to meet with me and her annoying child."Lana's eyes lit up with a mischievous spark."Is he coming here to pick you up? I'd love to give him a taste of his own medicine."I let out a sigh. Lana's reaction was predictable, and I was grateful that I had warned Axel about coming h
***“Where the fuck are you Ashlyn? I've been waiting for you outside mom's residence for thirty minutes!” “Go in without me Axel. I'm coming with Tina.”“So you were serious about that?” “Don't sound stupid now Axel of course I was and also with every other thing I said. Do not wait for me and if you do, your loss.”“Mother wouldn't want–” I hung up before Axel could protest and annoy me even more. “Tsk how pesky. I already told him that I wasn't going to be available for him to pick up and he wants to make his mum think we're some happy couple? Who the fuck is he kidding.”“We're here ma'am.”“Oh thanks Tina so I guess it's back to formal addressing till we get back home. Let's get this over with.”“Alright ma'am and best of luck with the Matriarch.”“Haha thanks Baby girl but I don't need luck in this case baby girl. It either goes my way or nothing else happens so! Put on your brave face.”Tina opened the door for me and I stepped out of the car and stood right in front of the
***Lilith smirked in obvious delight. Sigh… What in the world was wrong with this girl? “Of course it's rude to do so Lilith Cedar.”“I'm glad we have similar thoughts on this. May I ask what you got mother?” “Oh it will be arriving soon. I couldn't bring it myself as it was rushed.”***FLASHBACK “Baby you're going to visit your mother-in-law. What do you plan on giving her?” “Huh does Helen even need anything? Not as if I want to get in favour with her or anything.”“Sigh… Reina, for someone so smart, you can be really stupid.”“Ok, ok. What do you suggest I should give her?” She whispered in my ears and I almost stumbled over. “You're kidding…” “Hehe, I'll send it to her address in your name. That old hag will be pleased.”***“So what did you get me Reina?” I was about to reply but was cut short by a knock on the door. “Yes, what is it?” “A package for you Madame.”“From who?” “Mrs Reina.”I smirked to myself. Lucy was sure fast at procuring things she needed. “Alrigh
I could feel the rumble in Axel's chest, a deep and hearty chuckle that reverberated through his body. His laughter was infectious, and I couldn't help but be drawn into the amusing scene that was unfolding right in front of me."Are you okay, Ashlyn?" Axel's concerned voice broke through his laughter, and I couldn't help but be amazed at his acting skills. If only he had pursued a career in entertainment, he would have been a star."What in the world are you doing, Axel? Put that woman down right now," Lilith demanded, her frustration evident in her voice."Shut the fuck up, Lilith. And what are you doing here anyway? Did I invite you over?" Axel retorted, his tone sharp and dismissive."N... no, but we had plans for today. We made the reservation over a month ago," She stammered, feeling a sense of disappointment welling up inside her and displaying itself all over her face."I remember canceling that. Didn't the restaurant inform you? I even asked Liam to let you know that I wouldn
"I pay him more than enough for all the stress he goes through," Axel stated with a sigh and a feeling of sympathy rose in my chest.Axel's secretary , Liam, looked worn down and exhausted as he tirelessly worked to handle the burdens of his job. "Still, poor Liam," I thought to myself, feeling a pang of guilt.Unable to withstand the tension any longer, Axel decided to confront the situation head-on. "Are we going to keep dancing around the main question here, or are you finally going to give me the answer?" he asked, his voice filled with impatience.I smirked mischievously, apparently finding his frustration amusing. "Dancing seems fun. How about we waltz?" I jokingly replied.He scowled at my attempt to lighten the mood. "Not funny, Ashlyn . What. The. Fuck. Happened?" He demanded, my voice laced with anger.I held up my hand, gesturing for him to calm down. "No need to emphasize every word, Axel. I'll tell you, alright? But first, could you get me my phone? I should be getting a c
"Pfft. You silly little thing," I scoffed, unable to hide my amusement. "I could never hate you, man. You're my brother and favorite person right after Reina."The room was heavy with tension as everyone turned to look at me. "Ok, ok, ok! No one is going all soft and emotional here," I proclaimed, trying to diffuse the seriousness. "I can't stand those. Lana? Do you have something to say to these two?"Lana hesitated for a moment before she mustered up the courage to speak. "I--I'm so sorry for jumping to conclusions without asking you what was going on first, Amber," she admitted, her voice filled with remorse. "On the other hand, I'm not sorry for hitting you, Kyle. You should have controlled yourself more.""Lana!" Reina interjected, her face filled with anger. "You broke his teeth and gave him two black eyes. He deserves that apology.""Fine!" Lana responded, her irritation evident in her voice. "Sheesh, Reina. I don't know why you're standing with him in this case, but I guess I'l
Reina's icy demeanor held the room captive, transfixed by her growing aura of intensity. Everyone couldn't help but be drawn to her. "Bi–big sis?" "Rei? I understand you're angry, but please, gather yourself... Your presence is frightening everyone here." "Kyle, get away from Amber this instant, and Amber, come sit next to me." Amber hesitated, hardly recognizing the person before her as her sister. "Amber!" "O-okay." "Good. Now, Kyle, can you explain exactly what happened?" Kyle nervously glanced at the women in the room until he was interrupted by a stranger's voice. "Kyle beat Amber mercilessly and raped her. All under the orders of Maximus Don." Shocked, everyone turned to face the stranger, her words hanging in the air. "And who might you be to accuse my brother of such a horrendous act?" "Oh, excuse me, my name is Donna, ma'am." "Ah, so you're Kyle's ex, I presume?" "Yes, and I sincerely apologize for everything you all went through. It was entirely my fault." "Is
“What expression?” I inquired, curiosity piqued.Axel promptly rose from his seat at the table, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.“I'll tell you someday, my love. But right now, I'm afraid I must rush off to a meeting or risk being embarrassingly late.”I scoffed, knowing well that Axel despised tardiness. “Oh please, you could never be late. It's simply not in your nature.”A smirk danced across his face. “Ah, but you see, my darling, I intentionally delayed to spend a few precious moments with you.”My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Pardon me? What was that? Have you gone all Shakespeare on me? He leaned closer, planting a tender kiss upon my hair before exiting the dining room. I remained seated, stunned by his words, struggling to process the unexpected encounter. It was then that I noticed Tina and Amber exchanging gleeful looks. What on earth were they so delighted about?"Reina, I believe you require a mirror," Tina teased, snapping me out of my embarrassed stupor. The
"Well, that was... Something," Amber said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice."Spill it, Amber," I demanded, rolling my eyes. "Okay, was it just me or did one of the most feared girls in the Organization just declare peace with her so-called 'biggest enemy'?" Amber questioned."First things first, Axel is anything but my biggest enemy. He's more like a minor annoyance that I unfortunately have to deal with, and trust me, I really need that bastard," I explained."Mhm," Amber replied, clearly amused by my choice of words.I noticed her phone buzzing incessantly and pointed it out to her. "Your phone has been going off since we left the dining room. Aren't you going to answer that?""Oh yeah, it's Lana," Amber remembered. "Pick up, you silly thing," I encouraged her.Amber pressed the speakerphone button as she answered Lana's call. "Hey big sis. What's up?""Hey baby girl. I tried calling Rei but couldn't reach her, so I had to bother you.""No probs. She's here with me, so you can s
I couldn't believe my eyes as I observed this eccentric woman going out of her way to save some random stranger, all with the sole intention of getting under my skin. "Fine, I'll give her to you," I finally conceded, unable to resist her antics any longer.Her initial amusement quickly transformed into surprise upon hearing my unexpected response. "Really?! Wait... What do you want in return?" she questioned, suspicion evident in her eyes."Nothing," I assured her, hoping to alleviate her doubts.She shook her head, a look of disbelief on her face. "Axel... I refuse," she stated firmly."And why is that?" I inquired, genuinely curious about her reasoning."You want to have sex with me, don't you?" she bluntly asked, catching me off guard with her boldness.I hesitated for a moment, caught between the truth and the desire to maintain some sense of decorum. "While I must admit that I do enjoy being intimate with Lilith, engaging in a sexual encounter with you would undoubtedly be equal
I had heard sounds of the wild antics that occurred in the living room, so I didn't hesitate to bring Amber downstairs to witness it firsthand. As we descended the stairs, Amber's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the unexpected sight of Lilith and Axel engaging in really passionate sex on the chair. Grinning mischievously, I urged Amber to capture the scandalous scene on video."Amber, get a close up! We can't miss this shot," I exclaimed eagerly."Wow, living with you just keeps getting better and better," Amber replied, clearly amused. She continued recording the shocking display as I moved closer to Lilith and Axel. Lilith finally noticed my presence and hurriedly pushed Axel away, embarrassment painted across her face."It seems that not much has changed since I left. How amusing," I commented dryly.Axel fell over in shock upon realizing my return, stammering out a greeting. Why did he always lose his composure whenever I entered a room? I couldn't help but suppress a laugh
I couldn't help but burst into uncontrollable laughter as I stared at Kyle. "Pfft. Hahaha, money?! Damn, she's even better than Axel now.""It's not funny, big sis," Kyle said, clearly unamused.I tried to nod and keep my laughter in check, but it was quite the task. "I don't know why she would do this for money, big sis. They aren't rich, rich, but at least they lived comfortably. Besides, she could have asked me for anything, and I would have given it to her without hesitation."Sigh... Did Kyle ever stop and consider that Maximus must have had some dirt on her? She must have lied about something from the beginning. "Kyle... Don't you think that Maximus had something on Miranda?""What? Of course not! I checked her and everything. She's completely clean," Kyle insisted."No, she's not," Amber suddenly spoke up.All of us turned to her, curious about what she meant. "What do you mean, Amber?" Kyle asked, his voice laced with tenacity."Exactly what I meant. She isn't clean, Kyle. She