It was 7:30 a.m., a quiet, somber morning. This was the day Mr. Tom had dreaded ever since he told his boss that Mrs. Alexander would finally be laid to rest. Inside his room, Alexander stood before the mirror, already dressed in a black shirt and trousers. His personal assistant was fastening the buttons of his tailored black suit, his hands trembling slightly as he felt the usual breath of his boss."What time is the burial?" Alexander's voice broke the heavy silence. It wasn’t the usual commanding tone that struck fear or respect into everyone around him. Today, it was fragile, as though the air barely passed through his throat."Eight a.m., sir," the assistant replied quietly.Alexander nodded but didn’t move to leave the room immediately. Instead, he turned toward the bathroom, his steps deliberate and sharp. Tom assumed he had forgotten something and he was right.Inside the bathroom, Alexander’s gaze fell on the portrait of his late wife, Becky, hanging against the large mirror
It has been mourning for Mr Alexander. His heart was literally cut into two seeing his late wife's coffin go down. Each time he closed his eyes, his subconscious mind brought those scenes before his mind. “I am sorry for the death of your wife,” Mr Tom said when they got home with a heavy heart. He has not seen his boss broken down like this before. Alexander didn't say a word at first. He took some steps and because he didn't want any disturbances he turned and said to Tom. “Don’t bother to check on me, I will be fine. I am giving you off, go, go.” He tightened his lips not to break down in the presence of his other staff. No matter how he hid it, it became more obvious. “Our boss has never had such facial expressions,” one of them said after several minutes when Alexander had gone and they heard the way he slammed the door. “What happened to him?” Another confronted Mr Tom as he was about to leave. He paused and looked at the direction of the way leading to his boss' roo
“Sir, it's been two days now that you haven't eaten something. This is not good for your health?” Mr Philip, chef of Mr Alexander's house was at a safe distance and he poured out his mind to his boss. Alexander sat down on his couch in his room close to the window. He paid no attention to him or responded to him by looking in his direction. At Alexander's feet were empty bottles of alcoholic wine. Mr Philip wanted for a few seconds and added, “I have been your cook for so long and I have never seen you in this kind of situation before. Please, eat, I prepared your best meal.” Still, Alexander kept him quiet. His face was down, probably his eyes were open or closed. “The calories that this alcohol gives you are an artificial source of energy. They are not good for your body…” “Do you know that I lost my dear wife? Have you lost someone that you love so dearly before? Have you ever had to bear such a burden before?” Alexander for the first time turned his face and looked at
Becky stood wrapped in her blue towel, staring blankly at her open wardrobe. Morning light filtered through the curtains—it was the day of the summit. Her skin glistened faintly from the body lotion she'd just applied. The uniform-like red and white gown with its stylish fitted bodice hung before her, ready to be worn. She and Diana had collected their outfits from the organizers the day before.But now, a strange weariness fell on Becky, a heavy exhaustion that seemed to pin her hands as she gripped the wardrobe doors. She stood there, lost in thought, unaware that Diana had slipped into the room and was watching her.“Becky? Are you still brooding over the name I accidentally wrote down?” Diana’s voice broke the silence, startling Becky. She spun around abruptly.“No, no,” Becky stammered, shaking her head.Diana raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “I don’t believe you. I’ve been standing here for nearly a minute, and you didn’t even notice me.” Her tone turned slightly accusatory. “It
“Who is this untrained waitress?” Helen shouted and she subconsciously pulled backwards as she saw the split of the wine slashing towards her. Becky had already filled the glass cup in her hand with wine and was about to give it to the man who requested her name a few seconds ago. One thing was still unclear. Did Becky deliberately throw the cup of wine towards the direction of her ex-husband and Helen who haven't taken notice of her? “Did she know the amount my darling here used to purchase the designer gown?” Her voice drew the attention of those sitting around. She cried without tears frantically and used her hands to dust the wine from it, but the colored wine had already entered. “This gown will pay your bills and wages for a lifetime,” her face still on the gown while Alexander stood there, altering no words and his eyes a bit disgusted by her reaction. She purposely wanted people to see her gown. Truly, the gown worth hundreds of thousands, but she was doing the opposit
Diana heard the stretched, haunting sound of the word “No…” echo in her head as she walked toward the hotel building. Meanwhile, Becky sat trapped in the car, her fingers tapping aimlessly against the glass as if searching for an escape. Panic settled in her chest. She couldn't leave—not now. Not with Alexander and Helen nearby. But an unsettling question lingered: Did she still love Alexander?If she didn’t, why was she so desperate to prevent Diana from carrying out her plan? Her mind wavered. Could she live with her friend's idea of revenge? Why was she opposing the easiest way to make the two people she believed had destroyed her life pay for their crimes?Becky fumbled for her phone and dialed Diana’s number with shaking fingers. The phone rang twice before Diana abruptly ended the call. Becky stared at the blank screen in disbelief, only for her worst fears to be confirmed as Diana switched off her phone entirely. The line was dead, and so was their connection—for now.“Aaaaahhhh
"Go inside and change your dress! What if my dad sees you during the video call?" Becky whispered urgently to Diana, who quickly rushed inside. But before Becky could set up the call, her father’s face filled the screen.“Where am I?” Becky spun the phone camera around the room, her voice was so relaxed.“That looks like a sitting room...” her dad’s voice came out slowing as his eyes kept turning, trying to see the room properly.“If you’re still doubting me, I’ll step outside and show you the house,” Becky countered smoothly, her camera now capturing Diana’s compound. “Honestly, Dad, how do you expect me to split myself in two? The ceremony is still going on.”In the background, her mother’s voice was heard. “Who said they saw Becky working as a waitress at the annual business summit?”Becky winced as her father spoke again, his tone softer. “I’m sorry, Becky. It must’ve been someone who looked like you. But you know I’ve never supported you leaving home. Have you found work yet? Nev
“Helen, what is wrong with you? You’ve been so distant, acting as if something went wrong since you returned from the annual summit.” Zara said and there was silence. She stood by the bed, staring intently at Helen, who sat with her head bowed to the floor.It was the morning after the business summit, and Zara had been waiting for an explanation. Helen sighed deeply, avoiding her friend’s gaze.“I’m waiting, Helen,” Zara pressed, her tone more demanding this time.“For what?” Helen’s lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. “For me to tell you I changed my mind and followed Mr. Alexander instead of Adams? That’s not news, Zara. I know exactly what I’m doing.” She finally raised her head, meeting Zara’s eyes. “Both of them serve a purpose. My leg is in Alexander’s camp, and the other is with Adams. Both paths lead to what I want—to be either the vice CEO of AZ Corporation or the wife of whoever becomes the next CEO.”“Helen…” Zara clapped her hands in a way that showed she needs to
Kathrine’s POVI felt so dizzy I might have collapsed if I hadn’t been sandwiched between Henry and Noah, their strong bodies holding me up. The kitten, tired of being squished, had climbed onto my shoulder, her tiny claws pricking my skin.Was this real? Had I slipped into some alternate reality? Maybe the almond milk my mom gave me had sent me into a coma, and this was all just a dream. Because who in the world gives their girlfriend a house for her nineteenth birthday?But it wasn’t the price tag or the extravagance of the gift that hit me the hardest. It was the understanding.Henry and Noah knew. They knew that for the past three and a half years, my life had been nothing but temporary, unstable, unreliable, and downright terrifying. When I lost my dad, I lost my home, my safety, my security. I’d followed my mom from one boyfriend’s place to another, always feeling like an unwanted third wheel, always at the mercy of strangers. I thought I’d built up a tough shell, that I was str
Kathrine’s POVI wasn’t expecting any more gifts from the Robert brothers. They’d already spoiled me with flowers, a fancy stainless steel water bottle, an incredible dinner on the gazebo, and those stunning rings. I couldn’t stop twisting the rings on my finger, just to remind myself this was real. This wasn’t some scene from one of my romance novels—this was my life.But when they drove me out to the waterfall, I almost melted. It was such a sweet, romantic gesture, taking me back to where it all kind of began. Okay, technically, it started at the Professor’s house, but our first real date was here, at the swimming hole under the man-made waterfall. That was the moment I started to believe I could actually be with both of them.When we arrived, there was a blanket laid out on the grass, scattered with rose petals. A vase of fresh flowers sat beside a white box tied with a big red bow. They sat facing me, their eyes full of anticipation, like they were waiting for something huge. It
Henry’s povI woke up before the sun even started to rise, the sky still dark over the mountains. Kathrine was curled up next to me, our legs tangled together with Noah’s. My brother was on the other side of her, holding her close while she faced me. At some point during the night, we’d kicked off the blankets, but the three of us together kept the bed warm and cozy.When Noah and I planned her late birthday dinner, we never imagined it would end the way it did, with the most incredible, unforgettable night of my life. Maybe even our lives. I reached for her hand in the dark, my fingers brushing over the ring she now wore. She’d accepted it. She’d accepted us.Kathrine stirred, stretching with a soft groan. “Oh my God,” she mumbled, her voice still heavy with sleep. She threw a leg over mine and sighed. “I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus. No, make that two buses.”I smiled, brushing her hair back from her face. Even in the dim light, I could see how beautiful she looked. “I’m sorry,
Kathrine’s POVI should have done this a long time ago. Sliding behind the wheel of my new car, I gripped the steering wheel a little tighter than necessary, just to remind myself that it was real, this was real. The scent of pine-tree air freshener mixed with the sharp, chemical tang of whatever they used to polish the interior at the dealership. It wasn’t exactly pleasant, but it smelled like freedom. Like a fresh start.No more asking for permission. No more borrowing keys. No more waiting for some taxi driver to show up at his own pace. This was my car, and I could go anywhere I wanted, whenever I wanted.It should have been a good feeling, liberating, even but there was a dull ache gnawing at the back of my mind.My mother wasn’t speaking to me.Late last night, I’d heard her voice sharp and angry, drifting from the other end of the house. I couldn’t make out every word, but I didn’t have to. I knew exactly what the argument was about.She must have gone to Weah, her voice rising
Noah’s PovEven though Kathrine was trying to hide it, I could see she was upset. When I got to the dojo, she was already there. She had taken off her jacket, put on boxing gloves, and was hitting the heavy bag hard. She wasn’t just practicing, she was putting all her strength into every punch and kick. I could almost feel the force of her hits. Her face was red, her breath was sharp with each strike, and sweat was running down her neck.It was impressive and attractive, but also a little scary.I wouldn’t want to be that bag, but that wasn’t what worried me. It was the way she was fighting, so intense, so focused, so fierce. It was like she was fighting for her life. Or maybe she was punishing herself.After what Henry told me about her meeting with her mom, I thought it might be a mix of both. I wasn’t sure if I should stop her or let her keep going. Since we were in the dojo and she was higher-ranked than me, I felt unsure of what to do.Luckily, Clement noticed something was wrong
Kathrine’s Pov“Time to face the executioner,” I muttered under my breath as I opened the door and headed downstairs to confront my mother. My purse was slung over one shoulder, and I could hear the keys to my new car jingling inside, almost as if they were taunting me. I kept my face calm and composed, but inside, my stomach was churning with nerves. I had no idea how my mother was going to react, and I really didn’t want Henry to witness it if she completely lost it.I found her pacing back and forth between the living room and the kitchen. She had kicked off her heels by the back door and I mean kicked. One of them had flown halfway across the room. Her hair, which had been neatly tied up, was now loose and floating around her flushed face. Her pupils were tiny pinpoints, and she was shaking with anger. She was furious, and it showed in every movement.I took a deep breath, trying to detach myself from her emotional state. It wasn’t easy. Her stress and anxiety felt like invisible
Kathrine's povBuying my own car might have been a little impulsive, but I didn’t regret it. Well, not entirely. The process wasn’t exactly smooth, though. I had to visit three different dealerships before I found a salesman who actually took me seriously. The first one looked me straight in the eye and told me to come back with my parents. Can you believe that? The second one laughed in my face when I said I wasn’t interested in financing and planned to pay in cash. It was frustrating, to say the least. But at the third dealership, I finally found a guy who treated me like an adult. We talked about the pros and cons of different cars within my budget, and after some back-and-forth, I settled on a modest, older Toyota with low mileage. It wasn’t flashy, but it was reliable and affordable.I paid for the car in full and drove it off the lot, feeling a mix of pride and guilt. This was my first car, and it should’ve been a happy moment, but instead, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in
Henry’s POV“How much longer?” I barked into the phone, my patience hanging by a thread.“We’ll wrap up by Tuesday,” said Guy Wilson, the contractor I hired to handle the asbestos cleanup at the old factory. “After that, you’ve got to wait at least 48 hours for the air to clear. Honestly, with a job this big, I’d give it a full week before we run the final tests to make sure it’s safe.”I rubbed my eyes, frustration gnawing at me. A week shouldn’t feel like a lifetime, but with the chaos at home, it felt like an eternity.I always knew Kathrine’s mom wouldn’t be on board with us, but I didn’t expect her to go full attack mode. The way she tore into Kathrine was disgusting, shaming her, calling her awful names. It made me sick.That morning at breakfast, Clara dropped the bomb. “You’re grounded,” she announced, her tone dripping with superiority. “And you’re not touching your car. Got it?”Kathrine didn’t even blink. She just raised an eyebrow, squeezed a lemon into her water bottle li
Kathrine's POVThis wasn’t going to blow over. I could feel it in my bones, like the ache of a storm before it hits. The tension in the house was thick enough to cut with a knife, and I knew it was only a matter of time before everything came crashing down. Unless I walked away from whatever this thing was between the Robert brothers and me, my mom and Weah would keep pushing. And I’d be the one caught in the crossfire.I was the odd one out here. The outsider. The girl who didn’t belong in the Robert’ world. And honestly, I could see why my mom was so uncomfortable. Weah, her professor boyfriend, was all about appearances. He was the kind of guy who ironed his socks and probably had a spreadsheet for his grocery list. I could practically see him breaking things off with her if I caused too much of a scene. The thought made my stomach twist.Even if I ignored my mom and Weah, this thing with the twins was a risk. A huge one. Relationships were messy enough, but with two brothers? It w