SARAH'S POV:As I made my way towards Barr Lawn's office, my mind was in turmoil, torn between a fierce determination and a lingering apprehension. The recent confrontation with Jennie had left me unsettled, but I knew I couldn't allow it to sidetrack me from my purpose. The tragic loss of my parents had created a gaping void that could only be filled with a sense of justice and closure. Their once thriving company, now in disarray, stood as a poignant reminder of the life and legacy I was committed to safeguarding and rebuilding.The journey to Barr Lawn's office felt like an eternity, every step echoing with purpose. Finally arriving at the grand and imposing structure that housed Barr Lawn's office, I took a brief pause, mentally preparing myself for the significant encounter that lay ahead.As I made my way towards the reception desk, the receptionist looked up and met my gaze with a polite but inquisitive expression. Her eyes held a hint of curiosity as I approached. "I have an
SARAH'S POV:As I approached the door where Mark was waiting, I paused for a moment, preparing myself for the difficult conversation ahead. I needed to find the right words to warn him about Jennie's devious scheme and urge him to be careful.Earlier, Paul had phoned me to update me on his progress recovering from unconsciousness. Despite his call, I declined his invitation to visit him so I could rush over to see Mark instead.I opened the door, and in that moment, my heart skipped a beat. There he waa, gazing at me with a familiar look in his eyes. "Sarah," he called out softly. He appeared just as I remembered, yet there was a newfound strength in his demeanor. Our eyes locked, and in that silent exchange, it felt as if a myriad of unspoken emotions lingered in the air between us.My heart jumped into my throat, as I greeted him, "Hi, Mark," I said with a soft voice that felt like a soothing balm to my aching heart."Hi, Sarah," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Thank
SARAH'S POV:*Paul: How did it go with Mark? Are you okay?*I stared at the screen for a moment before typing back.*Me: *It was hard. I don't know what to do.*As I hastily stashed my phone in my pocket, I lifted my gaze toward the vast expanse of the sky, hoping to find solace and quiet my restless mind. Mark had always held a prominent place in my life, and witnessing his distress had profoundly unsettled me. However, I couldn't shake off the memory of his decision to choose Jennie over me and how that choice had endangered me.Lost in my own thoughts, the sound of someone's approaching footsteps barely registered until a familiar voice called out my name."Sarah?"Startled, I looked up to see Joe standing before me, his concerned expression catching me off guard. How did he find me? I wondered if he had been following me. I paused for a moment, gathering my thoughts before responding."Joe, what are you doing here?" I asked, my voice trembling as I nervously shifted in my seat."I
JOE'S POV:The atmosphere was thick with tension as Brenda and Paul's animosity permeated the air like a pervasive, palpable force. The crackling energy between them was almost tangible, casting a heavy, oppressive weight on everyone present. The heat of their anger seemed to radiate from their very beings, creating an atmosphere fraught with anticipation and discomfort."Stop it! Both of you, just stop it!" Sarah's voice echoed through the room as she rushed in between Paul and Brenda, placing herself strategically to keep them apart. Her eyes were filled with frustration and determination as she continued, "You can't decide for me. Neither of you has the right to dictate my actions or control my relationships. I am in charge of my own life and I will make my own choices.”Paul's face softened momentarily, revealing a subtle vulnerability as a flicker of hurt passed through his eyes before the facade of anger returned. Brenda, although outwardly defiant, couldn't entirely conceal the
JOE'S POV:The following morning, I woke up with the events of the previous day still fresh in my mind. After much deliberation, I made the decision to seek out Paul alone. It was important to me that he fully grasped my perspective and realised that I wouldn't be influenced by his arguments or his protective feelings towards Sarah.I arrived at Paul's workplace and opted to wait for him to come outside instead of approaching him in his office. After a while, he finally emerged, and I strolled up to him, waving a warm hello. As I approached him, he suddenly halted in his tracks and glanced up at me, his face displaying a cautious and guarded expression."We need to talk," I said firmly, crossing my arms as I looked at Paul.Paul sighed wearily and rubbed his temples. "I figured you'd come by.""Paul, I know you have good intentions, but you can't keep trying to control Sarah's life. She's old enough to make her own decisions, and you need to trust her to do so.”Paul gazed at me, his
SARAH'S POV:After I ended the call with Joe, I quickly got dressed and as I finished dressing, I looked at myself in the mirror, my reflection staring back at me with a mix of determination and anxiety. The upcoming board meeting looms large in my mind. It's not just any meeting; it's the culmination of years of planning and sacrifice.As I took a deep breath, I could feel my heart racing with anticipation. I carefully smoothed down my hair, making sure every strand was in place, and adjusted my tie, hoping to exude the confidence I only partially felt. With each step towards the dining room, I could sense the juxtaposition of comforting aromas - the freshly brewed coffee and toast served as a soothing contrast to the inner tension I was experiencing.Upon entering the dining room, I was greeted by the familiar sight and scent of a delicious breakfast prepared by my grandmother, the unwavering pillar of support for our small family. Her daily gesture of preparing breakfast was a tes
MARK'S POV:I felt an urgent need to check on her and make sure she was alright.As I made my way through the quiet neighborhood, the morning sun painted everything with a warm, golden glow. I could feel a knot tightening in my stomach as I approached Sarah's grandmother's house. It had been a while since she had visited me, and the last time I saw her, she had tears in her eyes. Since then, there had been complete silence, and I hadn't heard from her at all. Memories of our last meeting raced through my mind as I parked my car a few houses down, intentionally staying out of sight. The silence around me felt heavy and suffocating.As I gazed out of the window, I was filled with astonishment at the sight before me. Through the glass, I caught a glimpse of Sarah emerging from the front door of the house. The sunlight seemed to dance around her, illuminating the vibrant colors of her dress and casting a radiant glow around her. In that moment, she appeared absolutely breathtaking, and
MARK'S POV:As I drove straight to Paul's office, my hands clenched the steering wheel with such force that my knuckles turned white. The cityscape blurred past me. My heart thudded against my chest with a mix of urgency and dread, each beat driving me forward with an unstoppable force. Upon pulling up to the building, I caught sight of Paul stepping out. Without a moment's hesitation, I skidded to a dramatic halt, jumped out of the car, and called out his name, the urgency in my voice echoing in the air.Paul turned around, his eyes growing wide with surprise as he steadying looking in my direction. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern, the lines of worry etched across his face. "You're supposed to be at home. You're not too strong now to ever leave the house.""I need to talk to you," I said, my voice trembling with the weight of what I was about to reveal.Paul's eyes widened with concern as he glanced around nervously, scanning the dimly lit parking
MARK'S POVI could feel my pulse pounding in my ears, a low roar of rage building inside me. How could she? After everything, how could she do this now, knowing I still love her? Knowing what she meant to me? My fists clenched at my sides, my mind racing with a thousand questions, a thousand thoughts crashing in.Then I heard it — a low murmur from the crowd, a ripple of excitement spreading like wildfire. And then, as if on cue, voices began to chant, louder and louder, "Marry him! Marry him!"The words hit me like a punch to the gut. The room was closing in, the noise growing deafening, and I could feel the heat rising up my neck, my vision narrowing as the reality of what was happening sank in. Joe was down on one knee, a ring in his hand, and the crowd was cheering them on. “No… no, no, no,” I muttered, shaking my head as if trying to wake from a bad dream. My chest felt tight, and I could barely breathe. Paul reached out, grabbing my arm, trying to pull me back to my seat, but I
MARK'S POV:The restaurant was crowded, filled with the low hum of conversations and the clinking of cutlery against plates. Paul and I were seated by the window, where the sunlight poured in. I pushed my food around, barely tasting it, my thoughts elsewhere.Suddenly, Sarah walked in, her smile as radiant as ever, but my chest tightened when I saw who was with her — Joe. My jaw clenched instinctively. That man. I knew he had something planned, something dark. I’d seen enough of his schemes to know he was trouble, and now he was here with her. My Sarah. A burning anger rose inside me, spreading like wildfire. "They just sat down," I muttered, my eyes glued to them. I didn't even realize Paul was speaking until he snapped his fingers in front of my face."Hey! Earth to you," Paul called, his voice cutting through my thoughts.I blinked and turned to him. "What?"Paul’s gaze shifted towards Sarah and Joe, and then back to me. He sighed, exasperation etched on his face. "How long are yo
JENNIE'S POV:My father’s study, usually a place of calm, had turned into a storm of anger and tension. I stood near the doorway, my fists clenched, my heart pounding in my chest. I could hardly breathe. "Daddy, are you really going to sit there and let that bitch, Sarah, take everything we’ve worked for?" I spat out, my voice trembling with frustration. My words felt like acid on my tongue. The room seemed to shrink as I waited for his response, my breath quickening.My father, his face shadowed in the gloom, whipped his head towards me, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. "I’ve told you to shut your mouth! I’m doing something about it!" He shouted, his voice slicing through the air. His fury hung in the air, thick and suffocating.I felt my cheeks flush with heat, my anger flaring even hotter. I couldn’t stay still. I paced back and forth, my heels clicking sharply against the hardwood floor, frustration boiling inside me like a storm ready to break. My mind raced, thoughts tu
SARAH'S POVI smiled, glad to hear a proactive suggestion. “Absolutely. Explore those options. Bring me a list of potential partners and what they bring to the table. We’re not just here to compete; we’re here to lead, and sometimes that means joining forces.”Angela grinned and nodded, already thinking of ideas."And you, Daniel? What do you think needs to change?" I asked.He hesitated, then said, "We need stability. People are worried. They don’t know what to expect from you."I leaned back, considering his words. "Then make it clear: change is coming. But it’s a change for the better. We’re not just surviving; we’re going to thrive. And anyone who can’t keep up with that pace has no place here."I could feel the tension in the room. The executives exchanged uneasy glances. Some of them were on board, others were resistant. But they all knew one thing: this was not my uncle’s company anymore.No one moved. It was clear they had no more questions—for now, at least. I could see the g
SARAH'S POV:I could see the mix of expressions—some were still processing, some were skeptical, and a few were cautiously optimistic. I wanted to make sure there were no doubts and no misunderstandings about what was coming next.James, the CFO, raised his hand slightly, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses, he cleared his throat, adjusted his glasses, and stood. “What happens if these new strategies don’t work? What if we lose money and our position in the market worsens?" he asked, his voice steady but carrying a hint of challenge. I nodded, expecting this kind of resistance from James. "We adapt and pivot. We don’t cling to what doesn’t work. This company has been too afraid to take risks. But if we’re afraid to fail, we’ll never succeed. We’ll monitor every move closely, but doing nothing isn’t an option anymore.""We’ve been running a tight ship, focusing on profitability. I think we should maintain our current trajectory.” James continued.I nodded, my face expressionless. "P
SARAH'S POV:As I stood in my father's company, looking out over the city that had been the backdrop to this epic battle—a battle for survival, for control, for legacy. I felt a profound sense of accomplishment. The skyscrapers rose high above the clouds, their glass windows reflecting the dying light of the sun. I could see it all now—every corner, every street, every building that had witnessed the storm I’d fought through. This city had been a battlefield, and I had emerged victorious, my resolve unbroken. But the war wasn’t over yet. The real work was just beginning.Now, standing in this high-rise office, it was time to reset everything. I turned away from the window and looked around the office. Now, my office. Everything in here screamed of the old regime: the heavy oak desk, the leather-bound books lining the walls, the dimly lit. The office smelled of leather and old wood, a heavy scent of authority. I could feel the weight of my uncle's legacy pressing down on my shoulders
SARAH'S POV:The rawness of it cut through the air, making everyone in the room freeze. Andrew's words, high-pitched and frantic, shattered the heavy silence that had settled over the courtroom like a thick fog. Every head turned to him, eyes wide with shock. Even the judge, who had maintained a stoic expression throughout the trial, looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly. The tension in the room grew unbearable, like the air had been sucked out, leaving only the charged atmosphere behind.The bailiffs, trained to handle situations like this, tightened their grip on Andrew. But he continued to thrash, his movements wild and erratic, like a trapped animal. His eyes, once sharp and calculating, now darted around the room in sheer desperation. “I had no choice!” he shouted again, louder this time, his voice thick with fear. He scanned the faces in the courtroom, searching for someone—anyone—who might offer him a lifeline, a way out of the fate that awaited him.Then, his eyes landed on
SARAH'S POVThe courtroom was a cold, unforgiving place, filled with an almost palpable tension. The ceiling-high windows let in a harsh, gray light that settled over everything like a shroud. I stood at the defendant's table, gripping the edge so tightly that my knuckles turned white. The wood felt rough under my fingers, grounding me in the moment. My heart hammered in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears like the ticking of a clock. Every breath I took seemed louder than the whispers that had filled the room moments before. Now, it was silent. Unbearably silent.Barr Lawn stood beside me, tall and steady, his presence a rock in the storm of my emotions. He wasn’t just my lawyer—he was my friend, my guide through this harrowing journey. His eyes, usually so stern and focused, were softer now as they flicked toward me, giving a small nod of reassurance. I tried to find strength in his calm, but the fear was too strong. It coiled in my stomach, tightening with each second that passe
SARAH'S POV: The day before had been a blur of calls, documents, and the ceaseless hum. I didn’t feel like the same person anymore. The timidness that once gripped me had been burned away by the fire of righteous fury.My uncle’s legal team, once arrogant and dismissive, had fired the first volley—a desperate plea for a settlement. I had read their letter once, twice, maybe a dozen times. Each word was a thinly veiled threat wrapped in a mask of concern for “family unity.” But I wasn’t the same person who had bowed to their will in the past. That morning, as I held the letter in my hands, something inside me snapped into place, a final, unyielding decision.“No,” I had whispered, my voice echoing in the silence. “No more.”The battle lines were drawn in earnest. My reply to the settlement offer was curt, clinical—a refusal that left no room for doubt. Barr Lawn understood the stakes. He moved with precision, crafting each counter-response like a scalpel, cutting through the bluster