DANIEL'S POV:I was feeling incredibly restless that night. My mind wouldn’t stop running wild with thoughts—thoughts I didn’t want to have. What if the child in Veronica’s womb was mine? How would I react?A part of me wanted the baby to be mine, even though I knew he would be raised by a troublesome, insufferable woman. But seeing the chaos she was currently causing for Simeon, I was relieved that the child wasn’t mine. Dealing with her had been exhausting, and I couldn’t imagine a lifetime of it.I tossed and turned in bed, unable to find a comfortable position. My thoughts refused to let me rest. Frustrated, I finally gave up, throwing the covers aside. I needed fresh air. Maybe a walk in the garden would calm my nerves.Grabbing a bottle of whiskey and a glass, I made my way outside. The cool night breeze hit my face, offering a slight sense of relief. I settled on a bench in the garden, poured myself a drink, and took a long sip.As the alcohol burned down my throat, I found mys
DANIEL'S POVI stood up from the couch, my gaze darkening with irritation as I took slow, deliberate steps toward her.She instinctively took a step back, eyes wide with alarm, her hands slightly raised as if to shield herself. But I didn’t stop. I kept moving forward, closing the distance between us until her foot caught on the edge of the rug. She let out a startled gasp, her body tilting backward, arms flailing in an attempt to regain balance.Before she could crash to the ground and hit her head on the coffee table, I lunged forward and caught her, my arms wrapping around her waist just in time.Our eyes locked.She was so delicate—so fragile. Her soft breath fanned against my neck, and for a brief moment, I forgot my annoyance. The warmth of her body pressed against mine, her features so effortlessly beautiful yet her actions so incredibly foolish.She was like a troublesome pet—one that needed strict training.A light cough from Kelvin shattered the moment. My jaw tightened, and
EMMA'S POVI walked into Daniel’s office building with excitement bubbling inside me. Today was his birthday, and I had spent weeks planning the perfect surprise for him. I could already picture his face lighting up when he saw the box in my hand—his favorite cake—and the gift I had carefully picked out for him. I couldn’t wait to see his smile, to celebrate the man I loved so much.I stepped off the elevator and walked down the hallway to his office. The closer I got, the more I imagined how the day would unfold. It would be just the two of us, laughing together, sharing a quiet moment. It was supposed to be perfect.But then, I rounded the corner.I froze.Through the glass of the office door, I saw them. Daniel was sitting there, relaxed, smiling at someone. And that someone wasn’t me. It was Veronica—his colleague, someone I’d heard of but never really paid attention to. They were sitting close to each other, their laughter blending together, and Veronica’s hand was resting casuall
EMMA'S POV I tried to make it through the rest of the day at work, but my mind wouldn’t stop replaying what I saw in Daniel’s office. Veronica’s laughter, her hand on his arm, the way he didn’t pull away—it all haunted me. I stared at my computer screen for hours, unable to focus on anything. When the clock struck five, I grabbed my bag and headed home, hoping the familiar comfort of our house would ease my turmoil. As I stepped inside, I noticed the lights were on. Daniel was already home. My heart clenched. Maybe this was my chance to talk to him, to confront him about what I saw and get the truth. I set my bag down and took a deep breath, preparing myself for the conversation. But then, something caught my eye. Clothes were scattered across the floor of the living room—Daniel’s shirt, a pair of pants—and then, there it was. A bra. Not mine. My breath hitched as dread pooled in my stomach. I stood frozen for a moment, trying to convince myself that I was jumping to conclusions,
EMMA'S POV The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed. Simeon was gone, and the sheets beside me were cold. My heart sank for a moment, but I quickly brushed off the feeling. What was I expecting—a good morning kiss and breakfast in bed? I sighed, ran my fingers through my tangled hair, and sat up. The events of the previous day played on a loop in my mind. I couldn’t take it anymore. Today, I had to confront Daniel. It was time to end this nightmare. I left the bar without bothering to grab breakfast, straightened my hair in the rearview mirror, and drove straight home, rehearsing what I’d say. As soon as I stepped into the house, the smell of freshly cooked food greeted me. My stomach churned. The aroma wasn’t welcoming; it felt like mockery. How dare they carry on like nothing happened? From where I stood, I could see Daniel slouched on the couch, staring blankly at the television. His fingers fumbled with the remote control, his expression unreadable. Suddenly, he snapped and
SIMEON'S POV The bar had become my second home. Ever since Veronica left me, I’d been drowning my emotions in alcohol. It was the only way I knew how to cope. I never used to be this way, but something in me broke when she walked out. I didn’t know it then, but that heartbreak set me on a path I never thought I’d walk. Three years ago, if someone—anyone—had told me that I’d be a billionaire today, I would have laughed in their face. Me? A billionaire? I could hardly imagine it back then. But Veronica... she changed everything. Her departure, as painful as it was, lit a fire in me. I started working harder, thinking smarter, and pushing myself beyond limits I didn’t even know I had. The pain she left in me was what made me who I am now—the richest man in New York, as of yesterday. But no matter how much money I had, no matter how many deals I closed, it didn’t fill the emptiness inside me. I still drank. I still felt the sting of what I lost. I never thought I’d care about another wo
EMMA'S POVI never expected to see Simeon again, let alone in the middle of my workday, sitting across from me in my office. Of all people, why him? The moment I saw him step into my office, I felt my heart skip. Simeon Grant, the man I’d met at the bar yester-night, was now here to buy fifty percent of Daniel's shares in Pixel Forge Studios.Before I could fully process his presence, my phone rang. The name flashing on the screen made my stomach twist: Daniel.“I heard there’s a buyer for my shares,” his familiar, cold voice said as soon as I picked up.“Yes,” I replied cautiously. “But why are you selling? The company is doing so well.”“What I do with my money is none of your business,” Daniel snapped, his tone loud enough that I was sure Simeon could hear him.I clenched my jaw, biting back the words I wanted to hurl at him. Daniel’s selfishness never failed to surprise me. Part of me wanted to tell him that Simeon Grant—his business rival—was the one buying his shares. I imagined
EMMA'S POVI stepped out of the building, the cool evening air hitting me as I made my way to the sidewalk. My heart was still racing, and I could hear Simeon’s voice calling after me, but I didn’t look back. I couldn’t. I didn’t want to. I was done with all of this—done with him, done with Daniel.I hailed a cab and slid into the back seat without a second thought. “Take me to Pixel Forge Studios,” I said to the driver, trying to push the chaos of the last few hours out of my mind. As the cab pulled away, I stared out the window, my thoughts a tangled mess. It wasn’t until we reached the company that I felt the weight of everything settling in.I paid the driver and stepped out, heading straight for the parking lot. I needed my car. I needed space. I needed to get away from everything that had happened.After a short drive, I pulled up in front of my Aunt’s house in Queens. She was the one person who never judged me, and I needed her now more than ever.As I walked up the front steps
DANIEL'S POVI stood up from the couch, my gaze darkening with irritation as I took slow, deliberate steps toward her.She instinctively took a step back, eyes wide with alarm, her hands slightly raised as if to shield herself. But I didn’t stop. I kept moving forward, closing the distance between us until her foot caught on the edge of the rug. She let out a startled gasp, her body tilting backward, arms flailing in an attempt to regain balance.Before she could crash to the ground and hit her head on the coffee table, I lunged forward and caught her, my arms wrapping around her waist just in time.Our eyes locked.She was so delicate—so fragile. Her soft breath fanned against my neck, and for a brief moment, I forgot my annoyance. The warmth of her body pressed against mine, her features so effortlessly beautiful yet her actions so incredibly foolish.She was like a troublesome pet—one that needed strict training.A light cough from Kelvin shattered the moment. My jaw tightened, and
DANIEL'S POV:I was feeling incredibly restless that night. My mind wouldn’t stop running wild with thoughts—thoughts I didn’t want to have. What if the child in Veronica’s womb was mine? How would I react?A part of me wanted the baby to be mine, even though I knew he would be raised by a troublesome, insufferable woman. But seeing the chaos she was currently causing for Simeon, I was relieved that the child wasn’t mine. Dealing with her had been exhausting, and I couldn’t imagine a lifetime of it.I tossed and turned in bed, unable to find a comfortable position. My thoughts refused to let me rest. Frustrated, I finally gave up, throwing the covers aside. I needed fresh air. Maybe a walk in the garden would calm my nerves.Grabbing a bottle of whiskey and a glass, I made my way outside. The cool night breeze hit my face, offering a slight sense of relief. I settled on a bench in the garden, poured myself a drink, and took a long sip.As the alcohol burned down my throat, I found mys
SIMEON’S POVThis can't be true, right? How did they find out that I was the one who killed Nena?There must be some kind of misunderstanding. That security guard couldn’t have possibly identified me—I made sure of that. I was careful. Too careful. There was no way he could have linked me to the crime.My mind raced as I sped toward the hospital. I needed to figure out what loophole I had left behind—what tiny, insignificant detail I had overlooked that led Emma to suspect me. She wouldn’t have called me otherwise. No, she must have something—some shred of evidence that pointed in my direction.When I arrived, the atmosphere was tense. Authorities, doctors, and nurses crowded outside the emergency room, speaking in hushed voices. Their worried expressions only added to my unease. I parked my car and stepped out, composing myself before walking in with my usual air of confidence.Emma spotted me instantly. She was standing with Jason, who was being interrogated. The moment her eyes loc
VERONICA’S POVAfter Simeon ditched me on the way to the restaurant, I had no choice but to wait for the driver he arranged to pick me up.I stood there for almost an hour, growing more irritated by the second. My feet ached from standing too long in my high heels, and my stomach growled in protest. The sun had already set, and the once-busy road had quieted down. Every passing car that slowed down gave me false hope, only to drive off and leave me standing there like a fool.By the time the driver finally arrived, my patience had long since run out. The moment he rolled down the window to apologize, I silenced him with a sharp slap across his face."Do you have any idea how long I’ve been standing here?" I snapped, watching as he clutched his cheek in shock. "Next time, don’t keep me waiting like this."Without giving him another chance to speak, I got into the car and slammed the door shut. As the car pulled away from the curb, I leaned back against the seat and exhaled deeply. My t
EMMA’S POVMy heart pounded as I sped toward the airport, gripping the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I had to stop Jason. I couldn’t let him leave.Tears blurred my vision as I repeatedly dialed his number, hoping—praying—that he would pick up. But each time, the call went straight to voicemail. His phone was unreachable.Panic settled deep within my chest, making it hard to breathe. I had been so cruel to him, so quick to believe lies instead of trusting the man who had given me nothing but love. How could I have been so foolish? How could I have doubted Jason when he had never given me a reason to?I wiped the tears streaming down my cheeks, shaking my head in self-loathing. If only I could turn back time, I would never have made such a terrible mistake. If Jason could find it in his heart to forgive me, I would spend the rest of my life proving to him that I would never doubt him again.The moment I arrived at the airport, I jumped out of the car and rush
SIMEON'S POV What the hell is wrong with the man I hired for such a simple job? He was supposed to take care of everything swiftly, yet he allowed both Lily and Nena to get caught. I had given him clear instructions—shoot her on sight and ensure she was eliminated completely. And yet, here she is, still clinging to life in a hospital bed. The worst part? Someone managed to capture Lily and remove the implanted bomb I had used to control her. Whoever did this is highly skilled, and that complicates things for me. But it doesn’t matter. I can still fix this. I need to get to the hospital immediately and finish what that incompetent fool failed to do. As for Lily, I will deal with her later. She may no longer have the bomb implanted in her, but I still have her greatest weakness—her son. No matter how much she fights, I still hold the ultimate leverage. --- I arrived at the hospital, driving straight to the address I had been given. As I approached the entrance, the security guar
EMMA'S POV: I drove to the location that had been sent to me. As I neared the destination, I tried calling the person who had sent the message, but the number was unavailable. The map on my phone directed me to an abandoned building. A sinking feeling settled in my chest. Was this really a good idea? I hesitated, gripping the steering wheel tightly. This place didn’t look safe at all. The street was eerily quiet, the building standing tall like a forgotten relic. I think it was a bad idea to come here without protection. The realization hit me hard. What if this is a trap? A chill ran down my spine. The windows of the building were shattered, and graffiti covered the walls. It was the kind of place where bad things happened in movies. Emma, when will you learn not to trust people so easily? My heart pounded in my chest. What have I really gotten myself into? The uneasiness growing in my gut screamed at me to turn back. It wasn’t too late. I could still leave. I could just
VERONICA'S POV"Hello, I’m already on my way to the hospital. Wait for me there."The moment I walked out of Emma's house, Daniel called me. His voice carried a mix of urgency and irritation, and I could tell he was eager to know the results of the paternity test.I smirked. If everything went according to my plan, I would be the happiest woman alive.As for Emma, the trouble she was facing now would keep her occupied long enough for me to execute my next move.I pulled out my phone and quickly dialed Simeon’s number. He needed to be at the hospital too. It was only right that he witnessed the big reveal firsthand.Honestly, I didn’t care which one of them turned out to be the father. Both Daniel and Simeon were rich—filthy rich—so whoever ended up responsible for my baby wouldn’t make much of a difference to me. Either way, I was set for life.Fifteen minutes later, I arrived at the hospital and took a deep breath before stepping inside. This was it. The moment of truth.The automati
EMMA’S POV:"Emma, thank goodness you're finally awake! You've been out for hours," Veronica exclaimed, relief evident in her voice.I could barely process her words. My head felt like it had been run over by a truck. The pounding pain made it impossible to even tilt my head.I attempted to sit up, but the moment I did, the room spun wildly around me."Are you okay?" Veronica asked, noticing my strained expression."I'm having a severe headache… more like a migraine," I muttered."It's a hangover. Just relax, you'll be fine," she assured me."Hangover?" I frowned. "What happened to me, Vee?""Not now, Emma. Let me get you some coffee— it'll help sober you up a little."As Veronica stood to get the coffee, I forced myself to sit up, leaning back against the headboard for support. The throbbing in my skull intensified."Shit!" I cussed, pressing my fingers against my temples in frustration."Here, Emma, have a sip. It’s hot, so be careful."I took the cup from her and sipped cautiously,