JENNIE'S POV:I paced back and forth in my grand, luxurious penthouse apartment, feeling the cold, sterile atmosphere seep into my bones. Each echoing step reflected the frustration that had been building within me for the past few weeks. Our family's legacy, the company, was on the line, and Sarah, that wench, with her cunning ways, had somehow succeeded in swaying public opinion against us.The elevator dinged, a metallic sound echoing through the corridor, signaling the imminent arrival of my father, Austin Jackson. As the doors slid open, revealing his imposing figure, it was clear that he exuded an aura of authority, evoking both reverence and trepidation in those around him. His steely gaze, intense and perceptive, seemed to assess every inch of the space before finally settling on me, acknowledging the urgency that colored my expression."Daddy, we need to talk," I said, my voice trembling with barely restrained fury.His brows furrowed in concern as he settled onto the plush l
JENNIE'S POVThe room was dimly lit, shadows flickering against the walls as Andrew was thrown to the floor, his body collapsing with a thud. He was weak, visibly shaken from the beating inflicted by the bodyguards. His face was bruised, his breath shallow and ragged, and fear radiated from him like a palpable aura.My father, Mr. Austin, stood at an impressive six feet, his broad shoulders and confident posture filling the room with authority. As he approached Andrew, every step seemed deliberate, exuding a sense of controlled power like a predator closing in on its prey. Andrew's eyes shifted nervously from side to side before finally locking onto my father's steely gaze, his expression betraying a mixture of surprise and confusion as he tried to anticipate my father's next move."Mr. Austin," Andrew stammered, his voice barely above a whisper, quivering with a combination of terror and pain. He winced as my father knelt beside him, grabbing his chin and forcing him to look up. Andr
SARAH'S POVAs I glanced at the rearview mirror, I noticed a car trailing me. My heart rate quickened, and a chill ran down my spine. My instincts screamed that something was off, but I couldn't quite place it. I decided to take an alternate route, hoping to lose the tail, but the car mirrored my every turn. Panic bubbled beneath my calm facade as I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles white against the leather.Out of nowhere, another car screeched to a halt right in front of me, completely blocking my path. I reacted quickly, slamming on the brakes and narrowly avoiding a dangerous collision. In the midst of the chaos, my hand bag went flying from the passenger seat, leaving a trail of crumbs across the dashboard. Before I could even comprehend what was happening, two imposing figures emerged from the car, their faces set in grim, foreboding expressions. With a predatory grace, they advanced toward me, their intense gaze locked squarely onto me.Fear gripped me, cold and
SARAH'S POV When I lifted my gaze, my senses were jolted by the sight of Mark standing there. My voice barely escaped as a whisper, filled with disbelief. "What are you doing, Mark?" I managed to ask, my confusion and surprise evident. His presence was the last thing I expected, and it threw me into further turmoil. I nodded, though I felt far from okay. The reality of what had just happened, of what my uncle had revealed, settled over me like a heavy shroud. My parents' deaths, the betrayal of my uncle, the uncertainty of my future—it all pressed down on me, threatening to crush me under its weight. As Mark extended his hand to help me up, I felt the warmth of his touch on my arm, the gentleness of his grip providing both support and reassurance. It was evident that he was concerned, his furrowed brow and searching eyes revealing his worry. "Sarah, what happened?" he inquired with genuine concern, his gaze locked onto mine as he sought to understand the turmoil I was grappling
SARAH'S POV:The shrill sound of my phone interrupted me, causing me to look over at the caller ID display. The screen showed an unfamiliar number, and my heart raced with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. With a deep breath, I picked up the phone and brought it to my ear."Hello?" I said, attempting to conceal the unease in my voice as best as I could.A cold, menacing voice cut through the silence, "You think you're clever, don't you?" The voice on the other end sent chills down my spine. "Do you think I don't know what to do?" the voice sneered.I froze, recognizing the voice instantly. "Uncle?" I murmured, my voice dreading.My mind flashed back to the call I had received early this morning. Barr Lawn had called to let me know that the legal papers were finally ready to be served. The plan had been carefully laid out, and the goal was to serve the papers without my uncle suspecting a thing. After giving Barr the green light, I was certain that the element of surprise would work
SARAH'S POV:I quickly gathered our essentials, my grandmother moving with a calm efficiency that belied the urgency of the situation. As I packed a bag, my mind raced with a thousand thoughts. Where could we go that would be safe? How much time did we have?As I was in the middle of packing, my phone rang once more. On the other end was Barr Lawn.“What's happening?" Barr inquired, his voice tinged with tension. "I just got information from a reliable source that your uncle has found out about the papers.”"I just received a phone call from him," I whispered, my voice low with fear. "He's making threats to hurt my daughter and my family if I don't retract the accusations.""Try to stay calm," Barr reassured me. “I have several options available. I can contact the authorities, involve the police, and arrange for protection for you and your family to ensure your safety.”"I know," I replied, glancing at my grandmother, who was now comforting my daughter. "But I don't want to escalate t
SARAH'S POV:As the first light of dawn gently filtered through the curtains, I stirred from my slumber, filled with a sense of purpose that only comes with anticipation of an important event. Today marked—the day of my long-awaited public address. With great care and intention, I selected my attire, opting for a garment that emanated poise and authority, a silent declaration of my unwavering determination to reclaim what is rightfully mine. As I stood before the mirror, examining my reflection, I not only saw the crisp lines of my outfit, but also the steely resolve gleaming in my eyes—a resolve that remained unbreakable, despite my uncle's relentless attempts to undermine it.The memories of the intense arguments I had with my uncle yesterday weighed heavily on my mind as I made preparations. Despite his relentless efforts to sway me and prevent me from delivering this public address, I remained steadfast in my decision. My father's company was more than just a business; it represen
MARK'S POVThe air in the crowded room was charged with tension as I stood there, racking my brain for a solution. Sarah was within arm's reach, yet it felt like there was an impenetrable barrier between us - a barrier erected by Barr Lawn. I took a step back, keeping my eyes fixed on her, hoping to find a way to break through the wall that had been built between us. "Sarah!" I called out, my voice cracking with emotion as I desperately tried to push through the throng of people and reach her. An officer, tall and imposing, moved to block my path, his firm presence a solid barrier. "Step back, Mr. Mark," he commanded, his authoritative tone leaving no room for argument as he held out a restraining hand to stop me from getting any closer to Sarah. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked at Sarah, my eyes pleading with her to listen. "Sarah, please. Just hear me out." Her eyes, filled with a mixture of fear and confusion, locked onto mine for just a brief moment. In that instant, I
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