ISABELLA The crisp afternoon air greeted me as I stepped out of the café, my heels clicking confidently against the pavement. I felt invincible. Sarah’s defeated expression was seared into my memory, fueling the satisfaction coursing through me. “Too easy,” I muttered to myself, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. The sun was warm on my skin, and everything seemed brighter, as if the universe itself was congratulating me. Sarah was finally stepping aside, and soon, Marco would be all mine—just as it should have been from the start. I hailed a cab, deciding on a whim that I deserved something better than my usual routine. Somewhere upscale, somewhere that matched the victorious glow I carried. I gave the driver the name of a ritzy hotel bar I’d been to once before, a place where the drinks were overpriced and the atmosphere exuded exclusivity. As we weaved through the streets, I allowed myself a moment to revel in my triumph. Marco would be waiting for me, clueless as eve
SARAHI lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, a small, satisfied smile tugging at my lips. Tomorrow was the day—finally. The day I’d show everyone, including Marco, the truth about Isabella. No more lies, no more manipulation. Her smugness, her arrogance, her calculated schemes—they were all about to crumble. And I would be the one to light the match.The thought kept me awake, my mind running wild with anticipation. I replayed the steps over and over, imagining her face when the truth came crashing down. She wouldn’t see it coming. The mighty Isabella, so proud and untouchable in her delusions, was about to fall.It was a satisfying thought—so satisfying, in fact, that I didn’t notice how long I lay there. When sleep finally crept in, it felt like the sweet calm before a storm I had waited too long to unleash.The next morning, sunlight filtered softly through my curtains, bathing my room in a warm glow. I stretched, the tension in my body melting away as a rush of energy surged thr
SARAHMarco’s gaze held mine, steady and unyielding, as he stood by the kitchen door. For a moment, the world around me seemed to fade. The clinking of utensils, the hum of the stove—it all melted into the background.He tilted his head slightly, motioning for me to follow him out. His presence filled the space, leaving no room for hesitation.I nodded at Martha, who gave me a look that was equal parts curiosity and encouragement. “I’ll be back,” I told her softly, setting down the knife.I followed Marco out into the hallway. My heart raced, the weight of everything I wanted to say pressing down on me. This was it—the moment I’d decided I wasn’t going to hold back anymore. No more avoiding the truth. No more brushing past the lies.When we reached the living room, he stopped and turned to face me. His expression was unreadable, his jaw tight.“Sarah,” he started, his voice low and careful, like he was trying to pick the right words.Before he could continue, I blurted out, “Marco, I
SARAHI had just finished setting out a few ideas for Marco’s party when my phone buzzed on the counter. Tony’s name lit up on the screen. My stomach tightened as I grabbed the phone, knowing this wasn’t a casual call.“Tony?” I answered, trying to sound composed.“Sarah,” he said, his voice low but edged with a hint of urgency. “We’ve got everything we need.”My heart skipped. “Everything? You mean—?”“We’ve got all the proof,” he cut in. “Enough to bury Isabella for good. Her lies, her schemes and the voice record properly aligned. all of it. It’s airtight.”I sat down slowly, the weight of his words sinking in. “You sure?”“Is is now clear as day,” Tony said firmly. “I’ve been over it twice. Her tracks aren’t just messy—they’re a disaster. And the best part? There’s no way she can talk her way out of this. We’ve got her, Sarah.”A slow smile crept across my face. “So that’s it, then? It’s finally over?”“Not yet,” Tony said, a slight warning in his tone. “We’ve got the information,
SARAHThe living room was bustling with activity, but it wasn’t enough to drown out the pounding in my chest. Marco sat across from me, scrolling through his tablet, completely focused on the seating arrangements. His sharp focus somehow made me feel calmer, even though my thoughts were racing.I leaned over the list in front of me, pretending to check it carefully. “So, are we sticking to the original table placements, or are we moving the contractors closer to the center?”Marco glanced up briefly. “Closer to the center. They’ll feel more valued that way. This deal’s been a long time coming. We need everything to go off without a hitch tonight.”“Got it,” I replied, scribbling a quick note. I nodded as if his words didn’t rattle me, but inside, I was already rehearsing how tonight would unfold. Isabella’s lies were about to be exposed, and I needed to stay calm.Marco noticed my pause. “You okay? You’ve been unusually quiet today.”I forced a smile. “Just focused. There’s a lot to g
SARAHI raised the glass slightly, the light catching the crystal edges as I let the room settle into silence. All eyes were on me, expectant and curious. My heart hammered in my chest, but I kept my expression composed. I’d waited too long for this moment to falter now.“As we celebrate tonight,” I began, my voice clear and steady, “I feel it’s important to acknowledge not just the successes we share but also the challenges we’ve faced to get here. And tonight, I want to shed light on something that’s been weighing heavily for quite some time.”There was a ripple of murmurs in the crowd, people exchanging puzzled glances. Marco’s brows furrowed slightly, his gaze locked on me. Isabella, near the bar, stiffened, her confident posture now rigid as her smile froze.I turned toward the crowd fully, placing the glass down with deliberate care. “It’s said that truth has a way of coming out, no matter how deeply it’s buried. And tonight, I think it’s time for a little honesty.” My eyes swep
ISABELLA I ran out of the house as if the walls themselves were closing in on me. My heels scraped against the pavement, but I didn’t care. The sound of the crowd’s laughter, their murmurs, their judgment still echoed in my ears. I couldn’t breathe. It was like my chest was caving in, the air too thick for me to swallow.I reached the gate and waved desperately at the first cab I saw, nearly stepping into the street to make it stop. The car screeched to a halt, and I yanked the door open without waiting for the driver to say a word.“Just drive,” I snapped, throwing myself into the seat. My voice cracked, and I hated how weak I sounded.“Where to, miss?” he asked, his tone polite but wary.“I said just drive!” My voice came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t look at him. Couldn’t look at anyone. I slammed the door shut and pressed myself against the window, clutching my bag like it was the only thing keeping me grounded.The cab pulled away, and the moment the
SARAHThe room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner. The party had ended hours ago, leaving the house in an eerie calm. I sat cross-legged on my bed, my back resting against the headboard. A sense of victory pulsed through me, steady and reassuring, like a beat I hadn’t heard in years.The recorder in my hand felt heavier now, though it wasn’t from its weight. I pressed play again, letting Isabella’s shaky voice fill the silence.“Of course I did it! You think I care about anyone but myself? Sarah doesn’t deserve Marco, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep them apart!”I paused the tape and leaned my head back, a small, satisfied smile tugging at my lips. That moment earlier—the look on Isabella’s face when her own words turned against her—played on a loop in my mind. The way her jaw dropped, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for a way to escape. And then, the best part: her sprinting out of the house like a thief caught red-handed.It felt… good. N
SARAHI couldn’t breathe. The air felt thick, suffocating, like it was being sucked out of the room as I stared at my phone screen, my hands trembling so hard that I could barely keep hold of it. My chest tightened, the pressure unbearable, like someone had wrapped a fist around my heart and was squeezing.The words blurred before my eyes, but they were already seared into my mind, each letter carving itself deep into my soul, leaving behind nothing but devastation.Marco De Luca Caught in a Late-Night Rendezvous with His Secretary—Compromising Photos Emerge from the Party.I swallowed hard, my throat dry, my stomach twisting violently as I scrolled down. Maybe I was seeing things wrong. Maybe there was some ridiculous explanation for this. Maybe—But no.There he was.Marco.My Marco.His shirt undone, his arm hanging lazily around Aisha’s waist, her lips too close to his ear, whispering something that made his lips curl into that damn smirk—the one I used to think was just for me. M
SARAHI woke up to a pounding headache, the kind that made it feel like my skull was being split open. My entire body felt heavy, sluggish, and for a moment, I just lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, trying to piece together why I felt like I’d been hit by a truck. My mouth was dry, my limbs ached, and my mind was clouded with a strange, disoriented fog.Something was off.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push past the grogginess. Then, like a slap to the face, it all hit me at once.The party.The drinks.Marco.Him disappearing.Me looking for him.Me finding him.Shirtless.Drunk.And mumbling her name.Aisha.My stomach twisted violently.I sat up so fast the room spun around me, a wave of dizziness crashing over me. I gripped the sheets, my breathing uneven as I tried to steady myself. But my mind was already running a mile a minute, shoving painful reminders to the surface.Marco had been laying there, barely able to hold himself up, his body swaying, his words slurred
SARAHI sat on the edge of the bed, watching Marco’s unconscious form. His chest rose and fell steadily, his face slack with sleep, completely unaware of the storm he had left in my head.I should have just walked away. I should have left the second I saw him like that—drunk, shirtless, and muttering her name. Aisha. His so-called secretary.If that was even true.A bitter laugh bubbled in my throat, but I swallowed it down. The thought alone made my stomach twist. My mind wouldn’t stop running through the possibilities. What if he had been lying to me all along? What if she wasn’t just his secretary? What if I had been stupid enough to believe all of his excuses while they—I squeezed my eyes shut and exhaled through my nose.No. I needed to calm down. I needed to wait. Jumping to conclusions wouldn’t help anything.But God, how could I not?Everything about tonight had been wrong. The party, the forced smiles, the tension in the air I hadn’t been able to shake. And then to find him
SARAHI stared at Marco, my entire body frozen.Did I just hear that right?His voice had been slurred, thick with alcohol, but the name he mumbled was as clear as day.Aisha.Something inside me cracked, sharp and painful, like glass shattering.I swallowed, trying to steady myself, but my hands trembled as I reached for his shoulder, shaking him harder this time. “Marco, wake up,” I said, my voice uneven, breathless. “Get up, dammit.”He barely moved. His head lolled to the side, his lips parting slightly before another mumble slipped out.“…Aisha…”I sucked in a sharp breath, my nails digging into his arm.No.My heart slammed against my ribs, a sickening weight settling in my stomach.I shook him again, harder this time. “Marco, wake up! What the fuck is wrong with you?”Still, nothing.Just a groggy groan, his brows twitching slightly, his face slack. He was completely out of it.I clenched my jaw, my eyes burning as I stared at him, at the way he lay there so carelessly, unaware
SARAHThe party was alive—music blasting, laughter ringing out, people moving around with drinks in their hands. I was caught up in it, letting the distractions pull me in. The energy was infectious, and for a while, I didn’t think about anything else. But then, out of nowhere, a nagging feeling crept up on me.Marco.I hadn’t seen him in a while.I glanced around the crowded room, scanning the faces, but there was no sign of him. My stomach tightened slightly, but I tried to brush it off. Maybe he had just stepped out for air. Or maybe he had gone to take a call. It wasn’t a big deal.Except… it was unlike him.Marco didn’t just disappear without a word. If he needed to step away, he usually let me know. And the last time I had seen him, he had been with Aisha.I swallowed, my unease growing. Something wasn’t right.I turned my head again, trying to spot him through the mass of people. Nothing. No glimpse of his dark suit, no familiar presence near the bar or in the corners where he
AISHAMarco’s weight leaned into me as I carefully guided him through the grand hallways of his mansion. His steps were sluggish, his body heavy, but I kept moving, dragging him forward as subtly as I could. Every few steps, he mumbled something—half-slurred directions that barely made sense, but I forced myself to listen.“Left,” he muttered, pointing vaguely with his free hand. “Then, uh… another left.”I nodded like I was paying attention, though my focus was split between keeping us moving and making sure we weren’t being watched. My eyes flicked around constantly, scanning for any sign of Sarah or anyone else who might get in the way. The last thing I needed was someone questioning why I was hauling Marco through the halls like this.My heart pounded so hard it felt like I could hear it in my ears.Not from fear—at least, that’s what I told myself—but from the sheer pressure of the situation. I needed to get this over with. Fast.Isabella was waiting.And once I was done with thi
AISHAMarco took a seat beside me, stretching his arms across the back of the barstool, looking way too relaxed for someone who had just thrown a man out of his own party. His eyes flickered toward me, then to his drink, then back to me again.“You okay?” His voice was low, steady, but there was something else beneath it. Something unreadable.I exhaled through my nose, picking up my glass and taking a slow sip. “I’m fine.”Marco hummed, not entirely convinced. “Bastard’s lucky I didn’t break his nose.”I let out a small laugh. “What, one punch wasn’t enough?”He smirked. “You think he deserved more?”“I think men like that deserve worse.” I took another sip before setting my glass down. “But he’s not worth it.”Marco nodded slightly, rubbing his jaw as he glanced toward the bartender. “What are you drinking?”“Whiskey.”His brows lifted slightly. “Didn’t take you for a whiskey person.”“I’m full of surprises.”Marco chuckled under his breath, then signaled for the bartender. “I’ll ta
AISHAMarco took a seat beside me, stretching his arms across the back of the barstool, looking way too relaxed for someone who had just thrown a man out of his own party. His eyes flickered toward me, then to his drink, then back to me again.“You okay?” His voice was low, steady, but there was something else beneath it. Something unreadable.I exhaled through my nose, picking up my glass and taking a slow sip. “I’m fine.”Marco hummed, not entirely convinced. “Bastard’s lucky I didn’t break his nose.”I let out a small laugh. “What, one punch wasn’t enough?”He smirked. “You think he deserved more?”“I think men like that deserve worse.” I took another sip before setting my glass down. “But he’s not worth it.”Marco nodded slightly, rubbing his jaw as he glanced toward the bartender. “What are you drinking?”“Whiskey.”His brows lifted slightly. “Didn’t take you for a whiskey person.”“I’m full of surprises.”Marco chuckled under his breath, then signaled for the bartender. “I’ll ta
AISHASarah doesn’t like me. That much was obvious.I could see it in her eyes—the way she shook my hand, the way her fingers tensed just slightly, the way her lips curled into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She was polite, controlled, but I wasn’t stupid.She didn’t trust me.Not that I blamed her.Women like Sarah had instincts. And mine was telling me that hers were screaming at her that I was a problem.Which, of course, I was. But she couldn’t know that. At least, not yet.I needed to be careful. I needed to move slowly, smartly, if I wanted to get close to Marco without raising too many alarms. If she thought I was just a secretary, an employee who happened to be a little friendly, she might let her guard down.I could work with that.I sighed, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear as I made my way toward the bar, my heels clicking against the polished floor. The party was elegant, the music low and sophisticated, the lighting dim and warm. Everything about the atmos