Chapter 51Sara's Point of ViewThe evening sky was turning dark as I waited for Max in his study. My heart beat fast, nerves curling in my stomach, but I pushed them down. Tonight, I’d say what I’d held back for so long. Tonight, I’d make him see that I was ready to be everything for him, if only he’d let me.Finally, the door creaked open, and Max walked in, his face as cold and unreadable as ever. He barely glanced at me, his attention locked on some papers he’d brought in.“Max,” I said, voice soft yet steady.He looked up, clearly caught off guard. “What is it, Sara? I thought we discussed everything earlier.”But I shook my head. “No, Max. We haven’t discussed this,” I replied, stepping closer. I gathered all the courage I could, knowing I couldn’t keep living like this, clinging to some fragile hope that one day, he’d love me. “Max, I… I think it’s time we took the next step. Let’s get married.”The silence that followed was thick and icy, chilling me down to my bones. Max's fa
Chapter 52Max’s Point of ViewThe ring of my phone shattered the quiet in my office. I rubbed my eyes, trying to focus on the endless paperwork in front of me. It was late, and all I wanted was to clear my mind, but as soon as I saw the caller ID, I knew that wouldn’t happen. Emily. Sara’s mother. I almost didn’t pick up, but something told me I should.“Max?” Emily’s voice came through, soft but tense. “Sara… She’s locked herself in her room. She hasn’t eaten or come out all day. She’s... she’s devastated. I thought you should know.”A surge of guilt twisted in my chest. Despite everything, I hadn’t expected Sara to react like this. The thought of her sitting alone, hurting, left me uneasy. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.“Is she… Is she alright?” I asked, voice strained.Emily sighed, her voice laced with worry. “She’s not, Max. You need to come over. Maybe… maybe you can talk some sense into her.”After a moment’s hesitation, I agreed, ending the call. As I grabbed my ke
Chapter 53 :Max's Point of ViewI couldn't move from Sara's doorway. My feet felt stuck to the floor, heavy like stones. The room was so quiet I could hear the old clock on her wall, tick-tick-ticking away. Sara stood there, hugging herself tight, watching me like she was afraid I'd disappear if she blinked.I had to say something. The silence was too much."Sara." My voice came out rough, like I hadn't used it in days. I had to start over. "Sara, there's this party tomorrow night. A business thing." I stopped, watching her face change as she listened. "I need to go, and... well, maybe you'd like to come with me."Her whole face changed. It was like watching someone turn on all the lights in a dark house. But there was fear there too. I could see it in the way her hands shook a little, in how she bit her lip before speaking."You want me to come with you?" She said it so softly, like she was afraid speaking too loud would make the invitation disappear. "Really?""Yeah." I tried to k
Chapter 54: Eva's Point of ViewI sat there staring at myself in the mirror, the soft gold light making everything look like a dream. But this wasn't a dream. This was real. My hands shook a little as I watched the woman in the mirror, she looked so different from the Eva I remembered. Gone was the haunted look, replaced by something stronger, fiercer. The stylists buzzed around me like busy bees, dabbing here and brushing there, each little touch turning me into someone new.My mind kept drifting back to darker times cold prison cells, lonely nights, the smell of smoke from that terrible fire. The memories made my chest tight, but I pushed them away. Not tonight. Tonight was about showing them all that they hadn't broken me."Hold still, sweetie," one of the stylists said, gently turning my face to the side. Her name was Rose, and she had kind eyes. "Just a little more mascara..."I watched as she worked, amazed at how each little touch changed me. The woman in the mirror looked ele
Chapter 55EVA'S point of view Whispers filled the grand hall as I walked through the crowd with Uncle Josh by my side. People were staring at me, their voices a low hum. But I kept my head up, my heart steady, no matter how heavy their looks felt.Then I saw him. Maximilian.He was standing near the bar, looking sharp in a dark suit. He was the same powerful, cold man I remembered. But he wasn't alone. My heart sank when I saw her - Sara, my stepsister, my husband's lover. She was clinging to Max's arm, laughing softly, running her fingers over his sleeve. She had no idea I was there. Until our eyes met.The laughter died on Sara's lips. Her face went pale as she stared at me, like she'd seen a ghost. Max followed her gaze and looked right at me. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze.I made myself keep walking forward, closing the distance between us. I could see the shock in Max's eyes, the disbelief he couldn't hide. For once, I felt like I had the upper hand."Surprised to s
Chapter 56Eva’s Point of ViewI made my way through the grand hall with Uncle Josh, feeling the burn of the crowd’s whispers at my back. Every step I took was steady and purposeful, but my heart pounded beneath my calm facade. After years of hiding, of bending to their will, I was finally ready to face them.As we reached the car park, the familiar figure of Maximilian caught my eye, his sharp gaze piercing through me. Beside him was Sara, my so-called sister, who wore a smirk that practically dripped with spite. She was the same as ever entitled, arrogant, believing herself untouchable. But this time, she was going to realize that I was no longer the meek Eva she once bullied.They noticed us approaching, and their faces shifted. Max's expression tightened into an icy stare, while Sara’s eyes gleamed with barely concealed hatred.“Well, if it isn’t the prisoner herself,” Sara sneered, her voice loud enough to gather attention from the guests milling around the car park. Her words cu
Chapter 57Sara’s Point of ViewI stormed into the house, slamming the door behind me as hard as I could, the loud crash echoing through the empty hallway. The rage boiling inside me needed an outlet, and this was only the beginning. How dare she! Eva, that miserable excuse for a sister, had the audacity to humiliate me in front of everyone, including Max. My mind spun with the memory of her smug face, that smug little smile. She was supposed to be broken, ashamed, a shadow of her former self after everything I’d done to her. But somehow, she’d found the nerve to rise up and face me.I grabbed the nearest vase and threw it against the wall. It shattered, pieces scattering across the floor like my fury, but it wasn’t enough. I swiped everything off my dresser, letting the bottles and trinkets clatter to the ground. The noise felt satisfying, almost therapeutic, but it couldn’t erase the humiliating sting of her words, her slap, her cold confidence that left me feeling exposed.My bedro
Chapter 58: Max's Point of ViewI sat in my study as the sun was going down. The papers on my desk were just sitting there, untouched. I couldn't focus on work - not when my mind kept going back to Eva. She had come back into my life so suddenly, and I couldn't stop thinking about her. It had been six years since she disappeared after they sent her to prison for killing my grandfather. Everyone thought she died in that prison fire. I thought she was gone forever. But here she was, back again, still as stubborn and challenging as she'd always been.A loud bang startled me as my study door flew open. Sara came storming in, her face red with anger. She didn't even knock just walked right in, her high heels making loud clicking sounds on the wooden floor as she came up to my desk."Max," she said my name like it was something bitter in her mouth. "We have to do something about Eva. Right now."I raised my eyebrow, feeling both annoyed and curious about what she was up to. "Sara, what ex
Chapter 100Maximilian’s Point of ViewThe air in the boardroom felt thick and heavy, pressing down on me like an invisible weight. The tension was almost unbearable, crackling in the silence like a storm waiting to break. I sat at the head of the long oak table, my fingers gripping the armrests of the chair tightly, trying to steady myself. Around the table, familiar faces stared back at me, their expressions a mix of doubt and suspicion. These were people I had worked with for years, individuals who once respected my decisions, trusted my leadership. Now, their eyes held something else judgment.I took a deep breath, but it did little to ease the discomfort in my chest. The room seemed colder than usual, the sharp scent of polished wood mingling with the faint aroma of coffee cups left untouched on the table. The faint hum of the air conditioning was the only sound breaking the silence, and even that felt intrusive.“Mr. Graves,” one of the senior board members, Harold Whitman, bega
Chapter 99Max’s Point of ViewThe muffled hum of the city outside my office was a stark contrast to the suffocating silence within. I sat behind my desk, staring at the sprawling view of the skyline, but my mind was consumed by the chaos of the morning.The memory of the reporters, their voices like daggers, still clung to me. Their accusations echoed in my mind, each one sharper than the last. My fists tightened against the cool wood of the desk. No matter how absurd their claims were, they had planted a seed of doubt in the public’s mind, tarnishing everything I’d worked to build.A knock on the door snapped me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I barked, my voice harsher than I intended.My secretary, Maria, stepped inside, her usual composed demeanor faltering. She held a tablet in her hands, her expression tense. “Sir, I thought you should see this.”“What now?” I growled, leaning back in my chair as she approached.Maria placed the tablet on my desk, her fingers trembling slightly. “
Chapter 98Max’s Point of ViewThe flash of cameras hit my eyes the moment I stepped out of my car. The usual buzz of morning traffic was drowned out by the chaotic frenzy of reporters swarming outside the company gates. A sea of microphones and questioning voices surged toward me, their questions sharp and relentless.“Mr. Graves, is it true you and Sara conspired to kill your grandfather?” one voice shouted, cutting through the noise.“Do you have any comments on the evidence emerging that implicates you in the murder?” another chimed in.My jaw clenched, my hand tightening on the strap of my briefcase as I fought to keep my expression neutral. The accusations were absurd, yet the weight of their words struck something deep within me—a mix of anger, disbelief, and the faintest twinge of fear.“Mr. Graves! Is the recent media rise linked to you framing eva as the culprit for your grandfather death?” a third voice demanded, forcing me to pause mid-step.I turned sharply, my glare enou
Chapter 97Eva’s Point of ViewThe soft clink of glass meeting wood was the only sound in my office as I leaned back in my chair, a faint smile playing on my lips. The dim lighting cast a golden hue over the room, reflecting off the crystal decanter on my desk. Beside it sat two half-filled glasses of wine.“Cheers to a small victory,” I said, raising my glass toward Josh, who lounged on the couch across from me.Josh gave a wry grin, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he raised his glass in response. “Small? I’d say this was a significant blow to them.” He took a sip, his gaze fixed on me with a mixture of admiration and curiosity. “You’re playing this game better than I expected, Eva.”I took a slow sip of the rich, crimson wine, letting its warmth spread through me. “It’s not about playing the game, lJosh,” I replied, setting the glass down gently. “It’s about justice. About proving the truth.”Josh arched an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. “And you think the public turning ag
Chapter 96Sara’s Point of ViewThe silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the soft hum of the air conditioner. My mother paced the floor with the ferocity of a caged lioness, her heels clicking against the hardwood with each sharp step. Her face, usually a mask of icy composure, was twisted in fury, her eyes blazing with unrestrained anger.“I have never,” she hissed, pausing mid-step to glare at the space as if her words could strike down an unseen foe, “been humiliated like that in my entire life.”She spun around, facing me. “Do you know what it feels like, Sara? To be reduced to nothing in front of the entire world? To have everything you’ve worked for trampled on because of someone else’s incompetence?”Her voice rose with each word, cutting through the air like a whip. I flinched but kept my gaze steady, though my heart pounded in my chest.“It’s not my fault,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.“Not your fault?” she repeated, her tone dripping with disbeli
Chapter 95Sara’s Point of ViewThe dim glow of the television filled the room, the sharp voice of the news anchor cutting through the silence like a knife. I sat on the edge of the sofa, my hands clenched tightly in my lap as each damning word echoed in the air around me. Beside me, my mother’s face was a pale mask of fury, her lips pressed into a thin line as her sharp eyes flickered between the screen and Maximilian.He stood by the window, his broad back turned to us, his posture as rigid as the tension in the room. The world outside was still, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside the estate.The anchor’s voice carried on, relentless and unforgiving.“Maximilian Graves, the celebrated CEO, is under fire for allegedly protecting his mistress, Sara Brown, from facing the consequences of her actions. Public outrage continues to grow, with many accusing the duo of conspiring to frame Eva Brown, Maximilian’s estranged wife and Sara's Step-sister, in a bid to strip her of her inh
Chapter 94 Sara’s Point of ViewThe first sound that registered was the shattering of glass. A bottle, hurled by one of the crowd, smashed against the pavement near my feet, sending shards flying. My pulse raced as fear clawed at me, and I instinctively flinched, shielding my face with trembling hands. The jeers and insults continued, a relentless tide of rage that refused to ebb.“Traitors! Murderers!”“You thought you could get away with it?”The words stung like a thousand needles, each one embedding itself deeper into my skin. My mother’s grip on my arm was iron-like, her nails digging in as she tried to keep me upright.“Keep walking,” she hissed through gritted teeth, her voice unsteady. “Don’t give them the satisfaction.”But how could I? The world had turned against us. Every face in the crowd was twisted with contempt, their eyes gleaming with righteous fury. I felt naked under their gaze, exposed and vulnerable in a way I never had been before.Another projectile a crushed
Chapter 93Sara’s Point of ViewThe morning air was thick with tension, as if the universe itself knew what awaited us beyond the front door. I glanced at my mother, her face set in a mask of forced composure. Her sharp features, so similar to mine, gave no hint of the storm brewing within. But I knew her too well. Behind that calm facade was a woman just as shattered as I was.“They’ll be out there,” I murmured, my voice hoarse from a night of restless tears.Mom adjusted her scarf, her movements measured and deliberate. “Let them. We’ve faced worse than a few cameras.”Her words, meant to reassure, felt hollow. We hadn’t faced worse not like this. This wasn’t just scandal; this was public crucifixion.I tightened my grip on the handle of my purse, my knuckles white. “Maybe we should wait. Let this die down.”Mom scoffed, her lips curling into a bitter smile. “Wait for what? For them to get bored? They won’t. Scandals like ours don’t just fade, Sara. They fester.”Her words stung bec
Chapter 92Josh’s Point of ViewThe silence in my office was heavy, broken only by the soft rustle of Eva moving around as she grabbed the first aid kit from the shelf. My face stung, the bruise on my cheekbone throbbing where Max had landed his punch. But the pain didn’t matter. Not when Eva was standing here, her presence like a soothing balm on my frayed nerves.“Sit,” she commanded, her voice firm but gentle. She pulled a chair closer to me, her eyes scanning my face for injuries.I obeyed, leaning back as she opened the kit and pulled out some antiseptic. Her touch was careful, deliberate, as she dabbed a cotton ball against the cut near my eyebrow.“You didn’t have to step in like that,” I said, my voice low.Her hands paused for a fraction of a second before resuming. “Yes, I did. Max had no right to treat you or anyone like that.”My jaw tightened at the mention of his name. “He doesn’t deserve you, Eva. Not now, not ever.”She sighed, her expression softening as she focused o