Monalisa's POVIt's almost two months since Louis started living with me in the same house. As much as I try to avoid him, he always come up with a way to appear before me. And not just that, I noticed that he is trying to use me as a pawn to get on Alex's nerves.Two weeks ago during a cold night, the whole family decided to have dinner together. I and Alex came down together to meet mum and dad already seated. Louis was not in sight and I was so happy.I walked up to one of the chairs and sat down, Alex was about sitting beside me when Louis beat him to it. I turned to look at Louis with a shocked look even Alex was shocked too.Mum tried to explain to Louis that I am a married woman and needs to sit beside my husband but Louis wouldn't want to have any of that. He insisted that he likes the chair and doesn't think it's a big deal if he sits beside me.After much arguments, dad stepped in and pleaded with Anita and Alex to let it slip. Afterall, it's just for a while and Louis will
Alex's POVI thought he wanted to spend time alone with his son?. Who then is he waiting for?."Yes. He is here" Dad exclaimed, excitedly. I looked up to behold the least expected person. Louis, my stepbrother."You?" We both chorused.I quickly spring up to my feet. "What is he doing here Dad? How could you have invite him?""What kind of a question is that? He is my son just like you" I glanced at Louis and he smirked at me. " Then spend time with your loving son because I can't imagine sitting down on the same table with him" I said through gritted teeth and clenched fist.Louis scoffed. "Hello. I'm also not interested in having any form of reunion with you "Dad suddenly banged his hand on the table, causing us to flinch. " You both should sit down now"His voice was so loud and authoritative that we both sat down quickly without trying to oppose. Ugh. My day was going so well until this two came into the picture.Dad beckoned unto the waiter. "Take their orders""I don't want an
Louis POV I finally brought my black Rolls Royce car to a halt as a lot of thoughts ran through my mind. Why does Monalisa want to see me all of a sudden? Could it be that she has finally understand that she is still in love with me and can't live without me as she has always said in the past. Or maybe, she wants us to elope together and get married.No. That can't happen. Yes I want her but I don't think I'm ready to get married.I quickly shook off all the crazy thoughts and let out a deep breath. I softly fixed my hair and took a glance at the car's mirror. I was satisfied with my look, she definitely will fall all over in love with me at first sight.I stepped out of the car and confidently walked into the eatery. I ran my eyes around the hall, searching for Monalisa. Many people were already settled, discussing, laughing and eating their food. I grinned as my eyes rested on Monalisa who was seated at a corner with her eyes fixed on her wristwatch. She must be worried thinking t
Monalisa's POVI let out a deep sigh as I sauntered across the large foyer. It was already late and the maids seemed to be tidying up for the day. I walked up the stairs, hoping that Alex isn't home yet, what would I say if he inquires about my whereabout. No matter how nonchalant he tries to act, I'm sure he will not be happy if he finds out that I went to meet my ex boyfriend who happens to be his stepbrother.Humph. It will be best if he isn't home yet.Flipping my hair backwards, i pressed my hand on the door knob and pushed the door open. The room was barely lit with the light emanating from the bed lamp. I felt my heart missed a bit. Alex was back but why was he in such a dark room?.Not sure of what to expect as i walked inside the room, I suddenly felt a hand grab my arm and push me fiercely against the wall. I gasped in surprise as i watched his piercing green eyes stare intently at me, as though to peel my clothes off, layer by layer. Before i could comprehend what was happ
Louis' POVI let out a loud hiss as I stared at my watch for the upteenth time. Lena had agreed to meet up with me today by 6pm and it's ten minutes past six already and she is nowhere to be found. I sat uncomfortably on the chair as I tried to resist the urge to stand up and walk away.Ugh. If not for what I want, I will definitely not be doing this. I make people wait for me and not the other way round.I was still lost in my thoughts when someone suddenly pulled out the chair across me and sat down on it.I looked up to behold Lena, she looked so relaxed and unperturbed. "Hey. Is this the time we both agreed to meet up?" I said through gritted teeth.She placed her expensive Chanel purse on the table then turned to look at me, "sorry about being late, I had some modelling work to finish up before I could head out"I scoffed. " Seriously? Are you trying to say that I am some kind of lazy man who has no work to finish up? Hello, you're talking to the director of one of the biggest co
Alex's POVEverything went back to normal. After that night with Mona, I was scared that she was going to hate me. But I was wrong, she acted like nothing happened and we went back to being good friends. She is so kind hearted. I hope she gets a better man who would truly love and appreciate her. I chuckled and shook off the thoughts before going back to work. I went through the pile of documents on the table, inputting my signature where necessary and declining unprofitable proposals.Just then, the door cracked open to reveal Lena. She was dressed in a pink short gown revealing her perfectly carved hips and beautifully exposed cleavage. Everything about her was perfect. This must be the reason why I can't resist her. I looked up at her. There was something wrong with her eyes. They looked expressionless. She usually gives me such looks whenever she is sad or angry. I hope she hasn't find out my secret. I stood up and walked up to hug her but she stopped me. "Hey baby. What is w
Kate's POV The door cracked open to reveal an unfamiliar young lady, dressed in a uniform which shows that she is a maid. "Hello. Good afternoon" She gave me a warm smile. "Hi. " I smiled back and stepped in. "Where is Monalisa" "She is up in her room" "Thank you" I replied and hurried towards the stairs but came to a halt when a figure suddenly appeared before me. I looked up to see Louis, causing me to flinch back in shock. Monalisa's ex?.. "Hello darling, it's been a while. Why are you acting as if you have just seen a ghost" " What are you doing here? " I said through gritted teeth. Louis is one of the person that added to monalisa's hatred for the rich. I still remember how she had cried her eyes out when she learnt that this bastard left the country without saying goodbye. He just left her like she really never mattered. It took a lot of advice and care to stop her from almost commiting suicide then. " What do you mean?..Oh I see. Looks like your friend hasn't told
Monalisa's POVThe sun gets Brighter within the blink of an eye even though i have a blind to hide its presence.I stand up amd reach for the window in my room to open it. The early morning breeze brushes through my hair as I open the window next to my bed,allowing the rays of the sun to flow inside my room. The heat of the sun is almost insignificant on my body.Its warm and feels tender on my skin,not harsh as it would be a few moments from now.The bird swarm the air in their numbers and the sight of it calms me.The noise of chattering from the street around me is licentious as the noise of the engines it fuses with.Looking down from my window into the Street beneath me,it is filled with a lot of familiar faces,Worn out faces.Brushing shoulders against each other moving absent minded. All dressed up in their licit clothes,out for their daily races.The sight seems like another deja vu to me,but it is not.Maybe that's just how easily I get used to repetitive commotions I see. My
LisaI grinned as I pressed the red button. Let’s see how Alex reacts to this.After that drunken night, I realized something—Alex still cares. Beneath his cold, guarded exterior, he’s hurting just as much as I am. But he’s afraid;afraid to confront his feelings, afraid to let go of his fears. If jealousy is his weakness, then I’ll use it. It’s the only way to make him confront his feelings.I just hope it works.Kate, who had been carefully painting her nails, suddenly stopped and turned to me, her brow furrowed.“What?” I asked, feigning innocence.She scoffed. “Seriously? You’re really going this far just to make Alex jealous?”“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, shifting uncomfortably.Kate slow-clapped, her smirk deepening. “Nice move, bestie. Really, top-tier manipulation. But what if he doesn’t come? What if he doesn’t even try to stop you?”That thought slammed into me like a freight train.What if he doesn’t come?. If Alex didn’t react, I would be doomed. St
AlexFor the first time in weeks, I felt light. Like a weight had been lifted off my chest, allowing me to breathe again.I had spent too long fighting what I knew deep down to be true, drowning in my own fears, and pushing away the only woman who had ever looked at me like I was more than just a broken man. But today, that changed.Today, I was going to tell Monalisa the truth.A smile tugged at my lips, and despite my best efforts to suppress it, I couldn’t. The realization that I loved her- truly, madly, and without reason had settled in my bones, warming me from the inside out.But of course, Kelvin had to ruin my moment of peace."Alright, spill," he said, dropping his phone with a loud thud. His narrowed eyes locked onto mine. "What’s with the smile?"I barely glanced at him. "What do you mean?"He scoffed. "Oh, come on, Alex. You’ve been sulking since Monalisa left, acting like life has no meaning. Now, out of nowhere, you're all smiles? Something’s up."I hesitated. Should I t
Lisa"Where am I?" My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. My head throbbed as I rubbed my sleep-filled eyes."You’re home," Alex said, his voice tense, like he was holding something back.I blinked at him, trying to focus. His brows were furrowed so tightly it was as if his entire face was carved from stone. I reached up, smoothing the crease between them with my fingertip. "Why the long face?" I giggled, my voice laced with exhaustion. "You look like someone stole your food or something."He didn’t laugh. Instead, his jaw clenched and when he spoke, his voice was low, almost shaking. "How could you do this to yourself? Lisa, you’re pregnant. You shouldn’t be drinking."I scoffed, rolling onto my side. "It’s not like you care," I muttered. "What are you even doing here? Shouldn't you be with her?""Don't," he snapped, his tone sharp enough to slice through the fog in my brain. "Don't say her name."I snorted, unimpressed. "Why not? Afraid of feeling guilty?"He exhaled heavily,
LisaI swallowed hard as camera flashes exploded around me, the chaotic voices of reporters blending into a deafening roar. Their aggressive questions cut through the thick air, but I barely registered them. My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt suffocated. Strong hands, ones I didn’t recall summoning, kept the press at bay, shielding me from the frenzy."Is it true that you and Alexander aren't together anymore?""We noticed renovations at your shopping mall. Are you repurposing it?"My throat tightened. Alex’s parents hadn’t just handed me major shares in their company, they had bulldozed my shopping mall and erected something bigger.I hesitated before stepping closer, knowing that the only way to get rid of them was to give them something. “Firstly,” I started, keeping my voice steady, “my shopping mall will remain. I’m simply adding a confectionery section. As for Alex and me…” I exhaled. “We are still together.”Silence. Then, a hand shot up. A woman with perfectly curled blo
MonaLisa “How do I look, Kate? Do you think they’ll believe me?” I asked for the third time, adjusting the disheveled strands of my hair in the mirror.Kate hesitated, her lips pursed as she studied my reflection. Then she smirked. “If I didn’t live with you and hadn’t seen firsthand how you prance around like a woman without a care in the world, I would actually feel sorry for you right now.”I arched a brow. “Really?”She folded her arms, feigning deep thought. “Mhm. You look like a woman who just escaped from a psychiatric hospital. So yeah, I think they’ll fall for your drama.”A slow grin spread across my lips. “Finally.”I turned back to the mirror for one last glance, and for a second, even I barely recognized myself. After watching hours of makeup disguise tutorials, I had managed to perfect the art of looking like a woman drowning in despair. The smudged mascara and the streaks of smeared eyeliner created the illusion of swollen, tear-ravaged eyes. My tangled hair, barely he
AlexI dragged my feet into my room, each step heavier than the last, and slumped onto the cold, hard floor. Monalisa is gone.Isn’t this what I always wanted? To be free? To finally breathe without the weight of a marriage I never truly surrendered to? No more obligations. No more expectations. Then why does my chest feel like it’s caving in? Why does my heart ache as if she took a part of me with her?. I clenched my fists, inhaling sharply. I hate this feeling.I ran a hand through my hair, gripping the strands, trying to keep myself together. My thoughts were spiraling, threatening to consume me, but before I could sink further, a knock sounded at the door."Come in," I hoarsed.The door creaked open, and there she stood- Nanny Dora. In her hands, a silver tray balanced a crystal glass and a bottle of whiskey. Exactly what I needed.She walked toward the nightstand, but I stopped her before she could place it down."Bring it here," I muttered.She hesitated, her gaze scanning my d
AlexI dragged my feet into my room and slumped on the floor. Monalisa is gone. Isn't this what I have always wanted?. To be a free man. Completely free from the annoying entanglement called marriage. But then, why do I feel sad that she is gone. Why does my heart hurt. Ugh. I hate this feeling.I ran my hand through my head, struggling to keep my loose emotions together. I heard a knock on the door. "Come in" I quickly replied and the door cracked open to reveal exactly what I needed at this moment - alcohol. With the tray which contained the bottle and glass cup in her hands, Nanny Dora headed towards the side table at the end of the bed."Bring it here" I stopped her.She hesitated as she turned to glance at me, probably wondering if it was right for me to be seated on the floor. I don't care right now. I just want to get rid of the emptiness. I let out a sigh as she placed the tray before me, on the floor. "Thank you." She made to leave but paused and turned to me. "Just got a
AlexI exhaled deeply as I finally brought the car before my huge mansion. I stepped down and rushed towards the main door, hoping that monalisa doesn't hurt herself . Jeez. What just happened. The automatic door pulled open and I rushed in, I was quick enough to halt or I would have collided with Lisa who was hurrying towards the door, rolling her pink travelling bag along."What is going on Lisa?. Why are you with a bag?" I asked, confused. "I'm obviously leaving your life so that you can have all the freedom to go back into the arms of your most beloved Lena " She growled and made to leave but I blocked her." What are you saying Mona?. You can't leave me just like that " I countered. " I know you are angry right now but it would be better we talk it over than making such a haste decision to leave "" Talk over?. Look Alex. There is nothing to discuss here. You have chosen who you want to be with and I'm sick and tired of being a sideline. I'm sick and tired of hoping for a relat
AlexI was trying to get clothes for Mona when I got a text message from Lena. She has arranged an apology surprise package for Lisa and would want me to check it out before inviting Mona over. Mona has been moody since their fight, I just hope this surprise will lighten up her mood again and probably, they will become friends.It was a few minutes drive and I finally got to Silverado's hotel. I got out of my car and walked into the large building. The moment I stepped in, the receptionist seemed to be waiting for my arrival as she quickly got to me and escorted me to the room."Come in." Lena's voice came as the young lady knocked on the door.I muttered a thank you to the receptionist before stepping in. I closed the door and turned to see Lena seated on the bed with no sight of any surprise package. "Hi, Alex" Lena chuckled as she stood up from the bed and walked towards me. She was dressed in a red gown which had a side slit, revealing her laps."I thought you said you prepared a