EMMA'S POVI wasn’t expecting the kiss from Daniel. It was gentle, soft, and sweet—a fleeting moment of comfort that washed away the pain I had been feeling, even if just briefly. But what caught me completely off guard wasn’t the kiss itself. It was Simeon, standing a few feet away, staring at us. The look on his face was enough to stop my heart—a mixture of disappointment and hurt that I wasn’t prepared to see.As Simeon turned to leave, I couldn’t stop myself. “Simeon! Simeon, wait! It is not what you think,” I called after him, running as fast as my legs would allow. My heart raced, pounding louder than my footsteps.He stopped suddenly and turned around, his eyes blazing with anger. “What I saw was so well-defined,” he said coldly, his voice sharp and accusing.In that moment, I realized how foolish I was. Why was I running after a man who had betrayed me? A man who was sleeping with my secretary? The thought hit me like a slap. “Yeah, well-defined, Simeon. You’re right,” I said,
DANIEL'S POVAs I drove away from the abandoned building, my mind was filled with mixed emotions. I had successfully stirred more trouble between Emma and Simeon, but it left a bitter taste in my mouth. The satisfaction I thought I’d feel wasn’t there. Instead, there was an emptiness—a nagging thought that perhaps I had taken things too far.Still, I needed answers. Emma’s words lingered in my mind like an echo. I had to confront Veronica and find out the truth about her intentions. If she really planned to hand over Trenton Corp to Simeon, then everything I had done so far was pointless.When I arrived at Veronica’s house, it was about 9pm. The lights were dim, but I could see the faint glow of her cigarette through the window. After being let in by her securities, I found her lounging on the couch, cigarette in hand, smoke curling lazily around her.“You should be sleeping by now. It’s late,” she said casually, blowing out a puff of smoke.“Yeah, well, I have no house to sleep in si
EMMA'S POVI didn’t even get a chance to scream twice before Simeon’s security guards burst into the house. Their faces were filled with shock as they took in the sight—the blood on the floor and Simeon lying motionless. My hands pressed down on his wound, but it wasn’t helping. The blood kept coming, and I felt utterly helpless."Call 911!" one of the guards shouted.At that moment, I was terrified. Terrified that Simeon might die. My mind wasn’t thinking about who stabbed him or why it happened. All I cared about was keeping him alive.The sound of the ambulance sirens outside brought a brief moment of relief. Finally, help had arrived. I watched as the paramedics rushed in and began working on Simeon. Their hands moved quickly, but my heart still felt heavy with fear. Tears blurred my vision as I watched them lift him onto a stretcher and carry him out.I couldn’t let him go alone. “I’m coming with you,” I said, my voice trembling.They didn’t argue, and I climbed into the ambulanc
VERONICA'S POVI was already drifting off to sleep when my phone vibrated on the bedside table. At first, I ignored it, not in the mood to deal with anything that late. But then it rang, pulling me out of my half-asleep state. Groaning, I reached for it and checked the screen. It was Daniel.“Check your messages,” he said the moment I picked up, his tone sharp and cold. Before I could respond, he ended the call.Curious and slightly annoyed, I opened my messages. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the screen. It was a picture—a horrifying picture. Simeon lying on the floor, blood pooling around him. My heart started racing as fear gripped me. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.I quickly dialed Daniel’s number, but he didn’t answer. I tried again, and this time, he picked up.“What?” he barked.“What have you done, Daniel?” I demanded, my voice shaking as I scrambled to dress. “Please tell me this isn’t real.”“It is, Veronica,” he replied, his voice devoid of any emotion.
EMMA'S POV"Alright, Miss Martinez. You know why you’re here, right?" the interrogator asked, his voice calm yet filled with a hint of intimidation.I leaned back in the cold, metal chair, forcing a small smile to play on my lips. "Nope," I said, feigning ignorance.The man—Peter, as I soon learned—smiled back, but his eyes remained sharp and calculating. "My name is Peter, and I’d really appreciate it if you could make this easy for both of us. I mean, don’t drag this out," he said, tapping his pen on the table.I crossed my legs and readjusted my sitting position. "What do you want from me, Peter?"He leaned forward slightly, his expression hardening. "So, Miss Martinez, why did you stab Mr. Grant?"I blinked, keeping my face calm, though my insides churned at his accusation. "I didn’t," I said firmly.Peter studied me in silence for a few moments, his stare almost unnerving. "So, he stabbed himself?" he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm."I don’t know," I replied, keeping my tone
VERONICA'S POVOne thing I’ve always been good at is pretending. I know how to put on the perfect act, making people see only what I want them to see. So, when I had Emma arrested, I knew it would buy me time. Time to get closer to Simeon. Time to make him forget her.I sat by his bedside, watching his pale face, waiting for him to open his eyes. It was late—around 2 a.m.—and I must have dozed off. I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep until I felt a light tap on my shoulder.I woke up abruptly, blinking in the dim hospital light. It was him. Simeon. His tired eyes were open, looking straight at me.“You’re awake?” I said, quickly sitting up, my hand reaching out to touch his cheek. I smiled at him warmly, as if I’d been waiting for this moment forever.“Where is Emma?” he asked.The question hit me like a slap. My smile faltered for a moment before I quickly recovered. Of course, she was the first thing on his mind. Not me, the one sitting by his side, sacrificing my sleep to care for h
VERONICA'S POVIt wasn’t long before a nurse walked into the room. Simeon quickly tried to remove his hand from my chest, but I held it firmly, giving him no chance to withdraw. The nurse gave me a curious look before speaking.“Miss Stacy, there are some people outside waiting to see Mr. Grant. Should I let them in?” she asked, her tone polite.At first, I was tempted to say yes, but I decided to check for myself who they were. Peeking through the door, I saw them — a group of reporters with cameras, microphones, and eager faces. My heart skipped. The media.“Praise God,” I whispered under my breath. If I had foolishly allowed them in, Simeon would have known I was the one who broke the news about Emma’s alleged involvement in his stabbing. That revelation would ruin everything I’ve been working so hard to achieve.Turning back to the nurse, I spoke calmly, “Tell them to wait. I’ll address them shortly.”I took a moment to compose myself, then stepped outside to meet the reporters. A
EMMA'S POVDaniel’s unexpected visit to the police station felt like a blessing. Thanks to him, I was able to call in a lawyer, and after some grueling interrogation, I was finally set free. They did, however, warn me not to leave the city. It was clear Veronica’s plan to keep me locked up for two days had failed. I silently thanked Daniel as I left the station, but my mind quickly shifted to Simeon. I needed to protect him.I hailed a cab and told the driver to take me to the hospital. My hands shook as I prayed silently, hoping it wasn’t too late. The guilt gnawed at me—what if something had already happened to him? When I reached the hospital, I rushed straight to the reception desk. “I’m here to see Simeon Grant. He was brought in last night to Room 106,” I said, out of breath.The nurse gave me a blank look before glancing at her computer. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but there’s no record of a Simeon Grant being admitted here.”Her words hit me like a brick wall. “What do you mean by ‘no
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