EMMA'S POV It had been four days since Simeon’s last text message, and those words still lingered in my mind. He had made his feelings clear, and it was obvious he wanted me. But I didn’t want to seem like a woman who was too easy to win over. No, that wasn’t me.I stayed at my Aunt Grace's house, ignoring his calls and countless messages. His persistence was unrelenting—sweet words, loving texts, even apologies—but I didn’t budge. I convinced myself that his inability to see me was only because he didn’t know where I lived. That gave me a bit of peace, but it didn’t stop me from thinking about him.Today, however, I decided to stop hiding. As I stepped out of bed, I made up my mind: I was going to work. I couldn’t avoid the world forever.After a quick shower, I stared at my wardrobe, searching for something that would make me feel confident. My hand rested on a deep red gown, fitted to the point where every curve of my body would show. Perfect. I slipped it on and dabbed on some li
SIMEON'S POVI couldn't believe what Daniel had said to Emma. The audacity of him, acting like he owned everything, including her. But I had to make her understand—it wasn't over. Emma was giving up too easily, and I wasn’t about to let her."Tell him no, Emma. You can’t let him take everything from you," I said after explaining everything Daniel had thrown at her. My voice was firm, trying to break through the fog of doubt that clouded her mind."I can’t do that, Simeon," Emma replied, her voice filled with frustration. "I think I should just let him win.""Emma, listen to me. Everything he said is nothing but empty threats. Nothing more," I said, trying to give her a little confidence, though I could tell it wasn’t enough. She sounded defeated, like she didn’t believe in herself anymore. I hated hearing it.I could hear her breathing heavily through the phone, and it hurt me. I wanted to be there for her. "Emma," I said softly, "I think we should see each other and talk about this i
EMMA'S POVIt wasn’t long after Simeon and I had finished talking when I heard my name. Aunt Grace was calling. The urgency in her voice startled me, and I felt my heart tighten. “Emma, come quickly,” she said, her words filled with tension. I didn’t hesitate. My feet carried me to the living room where Aunt Grace sat, looking perfectly fine on the couch.“What’s wrong?” I asked, breathless and panicked.Aunt Grace shook her head, her expression calm. “Nothing’s wrong with me,” she said, her tone almost dismissive. “But you might want to look at this.” She gestured toward the TV with the remote in her hand.I followed her gaze and froze when I saw the headline plastered across the screen:“Emma Trenton Caught Cheating to Ruin Her Husband’s Life.”My legs wobbled as if they couldn’t bear my weight anymore. The words on the screen felt like knives stabbing me repeatedly. My breath caught in my throat, and a wave of dizziness washed over me.Aunt Grace’s voice seemed distant as she asked
VERONICA'S POVThe question on everyone’s lips was, “Who is Veronica Stacy?” Since Simeon’s explosive interview, where he revealed my name to the world, the media had been in a frenzy. Overnight, I had become the most talked-about woman in the country, and not in a good way. The headlines were relentless, the gossip unforgiving.“Daniel Trenton: Cheating Billionaire or Wronged Husband?”“Veronica Stacy: The Woman Behind the Scandal.”“Husband Snatcher or Innocent Victim?”Photos of Daniel and me flooded the internet. There we were, holding hands in a restaurant, walking together in the park, and the most damning of all—a picture of Daniel kissing my cheek during one of our secret dates. Those moments, once private and intimate, now felt like evidence against me.The world was painting me as the villain, the woman destroying the Trenton marriage. I hated it. I never wanted this kind of attention. I had dreamed of being known, yes, but not like this. Not as the other woman.Staying indo
EMMA'S POV Leaving the house was no longer an option for me. Every time I thought about stepping outside, the weight of people's judgment held me back. The situation between me, Daniel, Simeon, and that husband snatcher Veronica had made me a prisoner in my aunt’s house. The last time I attempted to go out, I regretted it immediately.It happened at the supermarket. I had gone there to buy some foodstuff, thinking it would be a simple errand. The moment I walked in, I could feel the stares. Whispers grew louder, and before long, the comments began.“It’s because of women like you that most men don’t want to get married,” a man sneered as I walked past him. I kept my head high and ignored him, pretending his words didn’t sting.But it didn’t end there. A few aisles later, another man approached me. At first, he seemed uncertain, glancing between me and his phone.“It’s you… wow,” he said, sounding almost impressed. For a moment, I thought he might say something sensible, maybe even ki
EMMA'S POVThe feelings I had for Simeon were no longer something I could ignore. Every text message, every video call, only made me want more. I didn’t just want to see him through a screen or hear his voice over the phone—I wanted him here, beside me. I wanted to feel his presence.This morning, I decided to act on my desire. I sent him my aunt’s house address. For the past week, I’d convinced myself that the only reason he hadn’t come over was that he didn’t know where I lived. After the text message, I finally received reply:"I’m on my way."I couldn’t believe it. He was coming. My heart raced as I paced the living room, nervously glancing at the mirror to make sure I looked okay. When I finally heard the knock on the door, my heart nearly stopped.I opened the door and there he was, standing tall, looking effortlessly handsome. His smile was warm, and his eyes held that familiar kindness that had always drawn me to him.“Hi, Simeon,” I said, squeezing my fists behind my back to
SIMEON'S POVThree days after I bought forty percent of Pixel Forge Studios’ shares, Daniel showed up at my office. I wasn’t surprised; I knew he’d try to get them back. What did surprise me was his approach.He walked in with a confident air, as if he already knew how the conversation would end. I offered him a glass of wine, which he accepted, but his focus wasn’t on the drink.“I’ll pay you twice what you paid for the shares,” he said without hesitation.I leaned back in my chair, keeping my expression neutral. “I’m not interested in the offer,” I replied firmly.He took a sip of the wine, studying me. “What about three times the price?”“Daniel, I’m not interested in your money,” I said, trying to keep my tone civil. “Don’t you get that?”He chuckled softly, placing the glass on my desk. “Why do I have this feeling that this isn’t about business? Is this your way of retaliating for me taking Veronica from you?”The mention of her name made my chest tighten, but I refused to give h
EMMA'S POVWhen my phone rang, I was still half-asleep. My hand fumbled around on the bed until I found it. I didn’t need to check the screen to know who it was; the voice on the other end was enough.“Good morning, dear,” Simeon greeted.With my eyes barely open, I mumbled back, “Good morning.”“Are you still asleep?” he asked, and I finally opened my eyes to check the time. It was 11 a.m.“Nope, I’m awake,” I lied, sitting up and brushing my hair back.“How was your night?” I asked, trying to sound cheerful.“Bad,” he admitted, his tone heavy. “I couldn’t stop thinking about what happened yesterday. The world now thinks I’m secretly involved in drugs.”The pain in his voice hit me hard. “I’m so sorry, Simeon,” I said softly, wishing I could take his pain away. “All this will end soon.”“How? When?” he shot back, frustration lacing his words.I didn’t have a solid answer, but I couldn’t let him lose hope. “Soon,” I said firmly, even though I wasn’t sure myself. “Daniel will pay for h
SIMEON'S POVI was having a wonderful time in my sitting room, surrounded by laughter and the warm glow of soft lights. The air was rich with the aroma of wine and the faint scent of expensive perfume. Two stunning ladies were with me, each captivating in her unique way. Their beauty was undeniable, their presence mesmerizing. As the evening unfolded, the sound of clinking wine glasses echoed in the room, blending harmoniously with their playful laughter.They were dressed in nothing but radiant smiles, their carefree energy filling the space. I leaned back in my chair, savoring the moment, feeling like I had the world at my feet. Everything was perfect, almost too perfect. Then, out of nowhere, a noise outside shattered the tranquility.At first, I thought it might be the wind or some distant commotion, but then I recognized the voice. It was Emma’s. My heart skipped a beat. That voice, so familiar and yet so sharp at that moment, sent a wave of panic through me. Emma couldn’t see th
EMMA'S POVFor the past day, Jason hasn’t been answering my calls. At first, I tried to brush it off, convincing myself he was probably busy with work or tied up in something important. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling growing inside me. Yesterday at the office, his behavior wasn’t normal— it was strange, almost as if he was deliberately avoiding me. He barely even looked at me, let alone spoke to me like he usually does. Jason is never like that. Even when he’s stressed or under pressure, he always makes time to smile at me or share a few comforting words. Yesterday, though, was different. It was like he was trying to put some invisible wall between us, and I couldn’t understand why.The goodbye kiss he gave me by my car was the clearest sign that something was off. It wasn’t the same as usual. It wasn’t deep or passionate, and it didn’t feel like it came from the heart. Instead, it felt distant, almost like he was holding himself back. I replayed t
SIMEON'S POVThe moment Daniel and I discovered we shared a common enemy, Rose, it felt like fate had aligned our goals. She had been a thorn in both our sides for too long, interfering with our plans and making life unnecessarily complicated. It didn’t take long for us to decide we needed to eliminate her from the picture entirely.It was Daniel who suggested framing her for a crime. The idea was brilliant in its simplicity. If she were accused of something serious, something that could not be easily disproven, she’d be out of the way for good."Frame her for what?" I asked, leaning in to hear his plan.Daniel grinned, his confidence evident as he sipped his glass of wine. "I think framing her for running an illegal casino would be the best option," he said.I nodded thoughtfully but remained cautious. "There has to be evidence," I pointed out. "There must be a casino for the authorities to find when they investigate."Daniel leaned back in his chair, his grin widening. "I have a cas
EMMA'S POVI noticed the way Mary was looking at me, probably because of how I was staring at Jason. Her concerned gaze told me she had noticed something unusual about my reaction. “Is there any problem, ma?” she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and a hint of worry. I quickly shook my head, forcing a smile to reassure her. “Nothing,” I replied, hoping to divert her attention. To change the subject, I asked, “Are they all five?” Of course, I already knew the answer. The five candidates scheduled for the interview were waiting.“Yes, ma,” Mary confirmed with a professional tone, her expression now calm.It wasn’t every day you saw a man applying for a secretary position, and that alone would’ve been enough to surprise me. But seeing Jason— the same Jason I had met on the dating app and spent a wonderful evening with— completely left me speechless. It felt like the universe was playing a trick on me. What were the odds of him showing up here, in my office, for this job? I didn’t kn
EMMA'S POV Three days after my conversation with Rose, she was arrested. Her arrest didn’t surprise me, but her words before she was taken away kept replaying in my mind. She had insisted that Simeon and Daniel had framed her. As much as I didn’t want to believe her, the thought clung to me, refusing to leave. Since her arrest, everything around me had taken a strange turn. Simeon and Daniel began acting oddly, almost like they were trying too hard. They showered me with expensive gifts and compliments that felt excessive. It was as though they were competing for my attention and favor. I couldn’t shake off the echo of Rose's final words to me: “They’ve placed a bet on you. Whoever wins your heart gets something big.” At first, I brushed it off as a desperate attempt to manipulate me, but the constant attention and gifts from Simeon and Daniel made me reconsider. Could there be some truth to her claim? I had no evidence, but the idea planted a seed of doubt in my mind. The more I th
EMMA'S POVI sat on the couch, my mind swirling with a whirlwind of emotions I could barely process. Aunt Grace had just said something that felt like a slap across my face, and I couldn’t shake off the sting of her words. She stood in front of me, her arms folded tightly across her chest, her expression a mix of frustration and concern. Her sharp tone cut through the silence of the room like a knife."I don’t know why you don’t listen, Emma. Leave those two men alone. They don’t love you," Aunt Grace said, her voice firm and unyielding as we delved into the sensitive topic of Daniel and Simeon, the two men I had convinced myself were important in my life.I inhaled deeply, trying to maintain my composure despite the bubbling frustration threatening to spill over. I didn’t want to argue with her, but Aunt Grace had a way of pushing all the right buttons. "They both love me, Aunt Grace," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady. "I believe one of them is the best for me," I added, hop
SIMEON'S POVI sat on the edge of the bed, my hands gripping the sides, my head pounding with thoughts of Emma. The guilt swirling inside me felt like a heavy weight pressing down on my chest, suffocating me. My eyes stayed fixed on the floor as if staring at the wooden tiles would somehow bring clarity to the chaos in my mind. Emma’s face flashed in my thoughts— her bright smile, her warmth, her laughter. She didn’t deserve this. None of it.Behind me, Rose lay sprawled across the bed, her body glowing under the dim light of the room. Her hair cascaded over the pillow, and her lips curved into a small, smug smile. There was no denying her beauty; she was captivating in a way that could tempt anyone. But my heart wasn’t here. It wasn’t in this room, with her. It belonged to Emma, even though my actions betrayed every word of my love for her.Taking a deep breath, I forced the words out. "I can’t continue this with you. We can’t keep doing this," I said, my voice firmer than I expected
EMMA'S POVI couldn’t believe what I just heard. The message Rose had sent felt like a punch in the stomach, leaving me breathless. The words replayed in my mind like a haunting melody, each repetition more terrifying than the last. “You promised me two weeks to make Emma mine for the exchange of your life, but I haven’t seen anything. So, tell me a reason why I shouldn’t send my men to kill you?” My hands trembled as I clutched my phone, listening to those words over and over again, as if doing so would somehow change their meaning. But no matter how many times the audio kept playing , the words remained the same— cold, sharp, and utterly devastating.It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room. My heart raced, pounding so loudly in my chest that it drowned out every other sound. For a moment, the world around me seemed to blur, my mind unable to process what I had just listened to. Was this some kind of cruel joke? A mistake? I didn’t want to believe it, but deep down, I k
DANIEL'S POV It’s been six days since Rose made her promise to help me win Emma back. She said I’d have her in two weeks, but honestly, I haven’t seen any real effort from her side. Sure, Simeon hasn’t been around Pixel Forge Studios for the past two days, but does that really mean anything? I can’t help but feel like I’m being played. This question has been stuck in my head, repeating itself over and over, like an annoying tune you can’t get rid of.This morning, I woke up determined to take matters into my own hands. If Rose wouldn’t help me the way I wanted, then I’d have to find my way back into Emma’s heart myself. My plan was simple: pick her up for work. I thought it would be a good way to show her I was serious about fixing things between us.As my car pulled up in front of her house, I spotted her standing in the driveway, looking at her cars. She seemed undecided, her eyes moving back and forth between the vehicles, as if she were struggling to choose which one to take.“Ju