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 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
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 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 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 POV Ever since I warned Simeon to stay away from Jason, things have been peaceful. Jason and I have been living in harmony, building something I thought was unshakable. Even Daniel, the one who could never let go of the past, got a clear warning from me that same night I went to Simeon’s house. It was clear I was drawing boundaries, protecting what Jason and I had, and ensuring no one meddled in our relationship. I had worked hard to secure the peace I now enjoyed, and I wasn’t about to let anyone ruin it. One thing that stood out during this time was Aunt Grace. She absolutely adored Jason, and I could see it in her every word and action. The way she spoke to him was so warm and kind, nothing like how she used to communicate with Daniel when we were still together. Jason had a charm, a way of winning people over with his charisma and gentle demeanor, and Aunt Grace was no exception. Despite her religious nature and constant mantra of, “Don’t sleep with a man you’re not marri
EMMA'S POV“Jason is your boyfriend?” I asked, barely able to hide the shock in my voice. My heart pounded, and my hands trembled slightly as I tried to process the bombshell Hannah had just dropped. Her words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, making it hard for me to breathe.“Yes,” Hannah replied, her voice steady and cold. She didn’t flinch or hesitate. Her lips curled into a sharp, knowing smile that sent a shiver down my spine. “And I know you’ve been sleeping with him.”Her accusation hit me like a slap to the face. I felt as if the ground beneath me had vanished. I took a shaky breath, struggling to keep my composure. Simeon’s words from a few weeks ago echoed in my head like a haunting melody. Jason isn’t who he says he is. At the time, I had brushed it off, convincing myself it was just another attempt by Simeon to meddle in my life. But now, everything seemed to fall into place, like puzzle pieces forming an ugly, unwanted picture.“So,” I began cautiously, my voice tr
DANIEL'S POVI wasn’t happy when Simeon told me Emma had someone she was dating now. It felt like a thorn in my plans. She wasn’t supposed to move on. Emma and I had history, and deep down, I still wanted a share in Pixel Forge Studios. Losing that share of the studio was bad enough, but now, with her dating someone else, I knew there was no way she’d open her heart to me again. Not unless we made some drastic moves.“What do we do now?” I asked Simeon, my voice thick with concern.“We’ll set him up,” Simeon replied firmly, his words hanging in the air like a sinister promise. I could see the gears turning in his head as he started forming a plan. “We need to make it look bad— so bad that she has no choice but to walk away from him.”It was a solid start, but I already had a plan brewing in my mind. A better plan. Simeon’s idea would be the first step, but mine would seal the deal. I stayed quiet, letting him believe he was leading the charge for now.When his framing attempt failed a
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