EMMA'S POV The morning had started like any other— filled with warmth, passion, and an undeniable sense of intimacy. Jason and I had just finished making love, our bodies entwined, our breaths heavy as we lay tangled in the sheets. It had been one of those mornings where time seemed to stand still, where we explored each other in ways we hadn’t before, pushing boundaries, discovering new sensations.I lay there, my head resting on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing. The scent of his cologne mixed with the faint trace of sweat, a scent I had come to associate with comfort. My fingers traced lazy patterns across his skin as I tried to steady my own breath.Everything felt perfect.Then my phone rang.The shrill sound cut through the peaceful silence of the room, pulling me out of my haze. I sighed, reluctant to leave the cocoon of warmth we had created. Jason groaned beside me, running a hand through his messy hair."Ignore it," he murmured sleepily, pulling m
SOMEONE'S POVI should have known the system would fail us. It was foolish to believe in justice, to think that the law would do what was right. From the moment I saw the news, my stomach twisted into knots. Rose and Judith had been released. Just like that. No consequences. No real punishment. It was as if everything they did meant nothing.I could barely believe my eyes when I read the headlines. It felt like a sick joke. How could the police let them walk free? After everything? After what they did? Attempted rape. Assault. Threats. All of it. And yet, here they were, roaming the streets like innocent women. As if they hadn't nearly destroyed Emma's life.Letting them go was the worst mistake Daniel and I ever made. We should have stopped them when we had the chance. We should have used our money, our influence, whatever it took to keep them behind bars. If we had been ruthless, if we had played dirty, we could have made sure they rotted in jail for the rest of their lives. But we
ROSE'S POVI never thought Marcus would betray me. Not in a million years. But there I was— bleeding, bruised, and barely hanging on— while he stood over me, his face twisted in something close to regret. But regret wasn’t going to change anything. It wasn’t going to take back what he did. It wasn’t going to stop the pain that spread through my body like fire. And it definitely wasn’t going to erase the betrayal that cut deeper than any knife ever could.I had trusted him. I had fought beside him. I had shared my victories and losses with him. Yet, here I was, lying on the cold, hard floor, struggling to stay conscious, while he towered over me, making his choice.A choice that sealed his fate.Daniel had painted my name red in the underworld. A high price— one million dollars— was now on my head. That kind of money? It was life- changing for most people. It was enough to make even the most loyal friend think twice. Anyone who brought me to Daniel would be set for life. And Marcus? Ma
DANIEL'S POVI knew exactly what Rose was trying to do when she revealed the secret about how Simeon became rich. Yes, I was shocked, but I didn’t show it. I had learned long ago never to let my emotions betray me. Rose was smart— too smart for her own good. She wanted to use me against Simeon, make us fight while she achieved whatever twisted goal she had in mind. But she underestimated me.I wasn’t a fool, and I wasn’t about to let her manipulate me like that. I had been taught well, trained to see through deception. And if Rose thought she could pull me into her game, she was dead wrong. Still, I had to admit, she was impressive. Escaping from a bunch of men at the restaurant? That wasn’t something just any woman could do. I won’t lie— her ability to slip through my fingers that day stung. I had set everything in place, and yet, she still managed to escape.But I wasn’t worried. One day is for the thief, and another is for the owner. Rose had done too much damage, especially to Emm
EMMA'S POVMy life has been nothing but a mess for the past few months. Everything I worked so hard to build, everything I poured my time, effort, and energy into, is falling apart right before my eyes. It feels like I am watching my entire world crumble, and there is nothing I can do to stop it. My company, Pixel Forge Studios, which I built from the ground up, is almost gone. The once- thriving business that I dedicated years of my life to is now on the brink of collapse. I have lost almost every single case filed against my company in court. The losses keep piling up, and no matter how much I try to fight back, it feels like I am always on the losing end. The money I once had is disappearing fast, and before I know it, I’ll be completely broke. Soon, I’ll be drowning in debt, unable to pull myself out of this bottomless pit. And all of this— every single terrible thing that has happened to me— can be traced back to one person. Rose.Just thinking about her makes my chest tighten. T
EMMA'S POVo the house after my conversation with Matthew, the first person I saw was Jason. He stood near the couch, his face lighting up with a big, warm smile the moment he saw me. His excitement was so obvious that it made my heart sink. I already knew what he was going to ask before he even opened his mouth.“Any good news?” he asked, reaching for my hand and leading me to sit beside him on the couch.I hesitated, my mind racing with thoughts. How was I supposed to tell him what had happened? How could I explain that the only way L&B Lawsuit would help me was if I agreed to break up with him after we won the case? The thought alone made my stomach twist painfully. I looked at Jason, at the happiness in his eyes, and I couldn’t bring myself to say it. The words felt too heavy, too cruel.So, I stayed silent. It felt like the safest option in that moment.I knew Jason. If I told him the truth, he would agree to the contract without hesitation. He would do anything to help me, even
JASON'S POVI sat across from Emma at the dining table, watching her as she slowly moved her fork around the plate, pushing her food from one side to the other. She hadn’t taken a single bite. Not even a small one. Her eyes were distant, unfocused, as if she wasn’t really here with me but lost in some other place, trapped in thoughts I couldn’t reach. I had noticed her unusual behavior since she returned yesterday, but I had hoped she would open up on her own. Now, I couldn’t ignore it anymore. Something was clearly wrong.“You haven’t touched your food, Emma,” I said softly, trying not to sound too pushy. “Is there a problem? Something on your mind?” I wanted her to feel safe enough to talk to me.She nodded slowly, almost absentmindedly, then forced a small, strained smile. “No… no problem,” she said, but her voice betrayed her. It was shaky, uncertain, like she was struggling to keep herself together.She then started stabbing at her food with her fork, her movements sharp and tens
DANIEL'S POV I have never truly believed in the existence of the devil. People talk about him as if he is some supernatural being, lurking in the shadows, whispering temptations into people's ears, pushing them toward wrongdoing. They speak of him as though he is an unseen force, a dark entity with horns and a tail, manipulating human desires and leading people astray. But to me, that has always sounded like nothing more than a fairy tale— a story created to comfort weak minds, a convenient excuse that allows people to shift the blame for their own wickedness. It is easier to believe in an external force, a malevolent presence pulling the strings, than to accept the truth: evil is born within us. It is a part of human nature.In my eyes, a person who commits evil acts is the devil himself. There is no outside force, no mysterious entity whispering in their ears, no dark power forcing their hand. The devil is simply the name we give to the worst parts of human nature— the greed, the c
EMMA'S POV No… No…I stood up from the couch, my legs trembling slightly, my heart racing so fast it felt like it would burst out of my chest. Liam stood up too, his eyes locked onto mine. As he took a step toward me, I instinctively took one back. I didn’t trust him— not like this.My mind was at war with itself. Should I scream for help? Should I try to push him away? Or should I just let him speak, let him explain whatever it was he wanted? But before I could come to a decision, he suddenly reached out, grabbing my waist and pulling me toward him.My breath hitched. His touch was unexpected— too soft, too smooth, as if his hands had never known hard labor or roughness. It sent a shiver down my spine, and not in a good way. I froze as his fingers moved lower, sliding from my waist downward. A sinking feeling formed in my stomach. I knew exactly what he was trying to do. He wanted to grab my ass.Panic surged through me. I reacted immediately, stepping back as fast as I could. But m
EMMA'S POV"Can I come in?"Liam's voice pulled me back to reality. I had been so lost in thought that I barely noticed how long I had kept him standing there, waiting for an answer.I hesitated, gripping the doorknob tightly as my mind raced. Should I allow him in? If I did, it would only be the two of us inside. The thought sent an uneasy feeling through me. Only God knew what would happen.A part of me wanted to close the door in his face and pretend this moment never happened. I could act like I had never heard his voice, never seen his face again, never been reminded of everything we used to be. That would be the easiest thing to do.But another part— the part I didn’t want to acknowledge— wanted to let him in.I still liked him.The realization made my stomach tighten uncomfortably. I had spent years convincing myself that I was over Liam, that our past was nothing but a closed chapter in the book of my life. I told myself he didn’t matter anymore, that my heart had healed, and
HANNAH'S POVI had been planning this for weeks, carefully thinking through every little detail to make sure nothing went wrong. Now, everything was finally falling into place, just the way I had envisioned it. Jason and Emma’s wedding was only a few weeks away, and if I wanted this mission to be successful, I needed to act fast. There was no room for mistakes, no time for second thoughts. Jason was deeply in love with Emma, and I knew he wouldn’t leave her unless something drastic happened— something that would shatter his trust completely. That’s exactly what I was going to make happen.Liam was the key to everything. He was my golden ticket, the perfect tool to execute this plan. He had history with Emma, and despite everything, I knew she still had feelings for him—even if she refused to admit it out loud. It is normal for everyone. It was clear in the way she had reacted when she saw that Liam was back in town. The little hesitation in her voice, the way her eyes had flickered wi
EMMA'S POVI tried to hold back my tears as I entered the cab, my hands trembling as I shut the door behind me. My heart pounded against my chest, and my breath came out in short, uneven gasps. I told myself I wouldn’t cry. Not now. Not in front of the driver. Not when Liam was still running toward us, his voice calling my name, growing fainter with each passing second.The driver, an elderly man with tired eyes and a kind face, glanced at me through the rearview mirror. His gaze shifted between me and the figure of Liam, who had stopped in the middle of the road, watching me leave. His hands were on his knees as he tried to catch his breath."Are we waiting for him?" the driver asked, his voice gentle yet curious.I felt a lump rise in my throat. I knew that if I turned around, if I allowed myself to look at Liam for even a second longer, I would break down completely. So I clenched my fists, dug my nails into my palm, and forced myself to speak."No," I said quickly, my voice barely
JUDITH POVI never planned for any of this. It all started the day I slept with Matthew just to save Emma. It was supposed to be a one-time thing, a moment of desperation where I traded my body for something I thought was more important. I convinced myself that it was just a transaction, a simple deal with a clear purpose. There were no emotions attached, no lingering feelings, nothing beyond the physical act. That was what I believed. But somehow, Matthew and I fell into an arrangement— an agreement that neither of us had discussed but both of us understood. No strings attached. No commitments. Just sex.At least, that was how I saw it. And that is who I am.Matthew, on the other hand, treated me differently. He didn’t just see me as someone to sleep with. He started showering me with gifts, things I never asked for but somehow always received. Cars, money, expensive jewelry— he made sure I had more than I needed. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but over time, it became overwhel
HANNAH'S POVI watched Liam's face closely as he spoke, a grin forming on my lips. He looked so pleased with himself, like a child who had just been praised for doing something clever. I almost laughed at how easy it was to manipulate him. He was just a pawn, a tool for me to use."She left in anger immediately after I told her everything," he said, his face lighting up with satisfaction. His chest puffed out slightly, as if he had just accomplished some grand mission.I turned my gaze to Daniel and Simeon, my trusted allies in this scheme. They were sitting on the plush leather couches, their faces showing the same satisfaction that I felt. Everything was falling into place. Everything. Just as I had planned."I think my plan is working," I said, finishing the whiskey in my glass. It burned going down, a sharp reminder that power always comes with a price. But this price, this burn, felt good. It felt like victory. And victory always tasted sweet.Daniel nodded, his expression satisf
EMMA'S POV It has been two weeks since Jason and I sorted things out between us. We agreed to hold the wedding in two months, and preparations were already in full swing. Invitations had been sent out to family members, friends, and even enemies. I didn’t care who showed up as long as the day went smoothly. The wedding was going to be grand, and I wanted everything to be perfect. The dress, the decorations, the food— I wanted it all to be just right. Jason was excited too, and we spent a lot of time talking about our future together. It felt good to plan a life with him, to imagine growing old together. It felt safe.Pixel Forge Studios was back on its feet. After the fire incident that almost brought the company down, I worked tirelessly to rebuild it. I have hired new staff, including Judith, who reclaimed her position as my secretary. She was good at her job and helped keep everything running smoothly. Business was booming again, and people were back to using our apps like they di
SIMEON'S POVI sat with Hannah and Daniel, watching them as we discussed Emma and Jason's upcoming wedding. I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. I had feelings for Emma, and I knew Daniel did too. It was awkward, competing with my friend who is like an enemy for the same woman, but I wasn’t about to back down. I wanted Emma, and I was ready to fight for her, even if it meant going up against Daniel."I believe you both got the wedding invitation from Emma and Jason?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual. I didn’t want them to know how much it bothered me that Emma was marrying someone else."I did," Hannah replied with a wicked smile, her eyes sparkling as she spoke. She seemed genuinely not happy for Emma, but I could see something else in her eyes— something that didn’t quite match her smile. It made me wonder what she was really thinking apart from evil.I turned to Daniel, expecting him to say something, but he was unusually quiet. I followed his gaze and realized he was staring at
HANNAH'S POVI always believed that Jason would somehow come back to me. And he did. But the painful part was that he came back strictly for help, nothing more. It was a few weeks ago when I heard a knock on my door. I was in my room, lost in my thoughts as usual. The days had become monotonous, each one blending into the next, as I replayed memories of us over and over in my mind. I missed him terribly, even though I pretended to be fine. His absence had left a void that nothing could fill. I told my twin sister, Rachel, to check who was at the door.After about half a minute, Rachel walked into my room with a mischievous smile on her face. She stood by the door, leaning against the frame with her arms crossed. “Guess who is at the door?” she asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.I looked up at her, confused. “You know I’m terrible at guessing. Just tell me, who is it?” My heart began to race, not because I was expecting anyone special but because of the way Rachel was acting. She