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 1EVA POINT OF VIEWMy hands tremble as I stand before the mirror, looking at my reflection, I hardly recognize myself. Fearful, wide eyes stare back at me, and the lace of the wedding dress were suffocating me and itching against my skin. The weight of this decision that I never made were like a heavy load placed on my shoulders it was pressing down on me like a miserable person. Yes, i was miserable because this isn't the life that i wanted for myself.Outside my room, everyone was busy, they were busy preparing for my wedding, sunlight gleaming on the lawns, guests entering the grand ballroom, but here, my world has shattered.." You will do this for the family, Eva." My father's cold, sharp voice replayed in my mind. He spoke with such ease, as if my life was merely a pawn in his game. My stepmother and Step sister Sara watched in silence, their eyes shining with satisfaction, as if this was the moment they'd been waiting for." Sara should be wearing this dress," I mutter
Chapter 2 Maximilian point of view The door slams behind me, and I lean against the cold wall, running a hand through my hair. My chest tightens with frustration, my anger was swirling like a huge storm and I can’t control it. I am supposed to be married to Sara not her sister, not that slut Eva. Every time I look at Eva, I see my grandfather’s betrayal, my family’s manipulation, and the lies they spun to trap me in this marriage. And the worst part Is that she just stands there, acting like she didn’t want this. Like she didn’t know exactly what my grandfather and her father planned. I know everything about Eva to know better than to fall for that innocent act of hers. Sara and I were the victims here not her.But even as I try to harden my heart against her, something kept drawing me to her, those brown wide eyes of her kept pushing me towards her, the way her hands trembled when she said her vows. Was that fear real? Could she really be a pawn in this, just like me or was she ac
Chapter 3Eva’s Point of ViewI woke up in darkness, my body aching, my vagina sore. The bed beneath me was cold, just like the man who once lay beside me. I reach out to the other side of the bed, but Max was no longer there, I wondered if he had sneaked out of the room without me noticing.My gown was torned, shreds of my cloth was scattered across the floor like the little dignity that i had left, I was broken, violated, and utterly alone. I was disgusted with myself.Max’s assault wasn’t just physical, it was emotional , it destroyed everything that i have ever believed, it destroyed my dignity, my sanity. It is gradually making me insane. I pull the sheets tightly around my body, my body trembling, not from the cold, but from the horror of what’s just happened. His cruel words still ranged in my mind, “Aren’t you a slut? Better to be treated like one.”I clench my eyes shut, wishing I could make it all go away. My entire life, I’ve been the obedient daughter, the quiet one, the g
Chapter 4Eva’s Point of ViewI hesitate for a moment, standing in the doorway, my heart pounding in my chest. Max is sitting on the couch, his expression was cold, his eyes met me with that same icy glare. He holds a glass of whiskey in one hand, even though it’s barely morning. “Sit,” he said, his tone sharp and commanding.I don’t want to. Every part of me screams to run, to get away from him, but my legs move on their own, carrying me to the chair across from him. I sit down slowly, keeping as much distance between us as I can, my back straight and my hands clenched in my lap. The ache in my body reminds me of what he did to me, how he forcefully took away my pride and dignity but I force myself to ignore it. He takes a long sip from his glass before setting it down on the table, the sound of it clinking against the wood breaking the heavy silence.“We need to set some rules since we both are living together,” Max said, his voice cold and it lacks empathy. “This marriage isn’t g
Chapter 5Max’s Point of ViewI watch as Eva walks out of the room, her fragile figure trembling, but she holds her head high, trying to maintain whatever dignity she has left. I can see the pain in her eyes, but I don’t care. I won’t let myself care. She deserves it, after everything that she did to me. I lean back on the couch, feeling the familiar numbness settle in, the burn of whiskey doing nothing to ease the frustration bubbling beneath my skin. I pour another glass and down it in one gulp, the alcohol doing little to make me forget about the past and the painful memories. Why should I feel guilty? Why should I care about her pain when she didn’t care about mine all those years ago?Eva. The name once used to bring warmth and happiness to my heart, but now, it only brings resentment. Hatred. She used to be my best friend. The girl I confided in, the one I trusted above all else. But she betrayed me in the worst possible way.I close my eyes, letting the memories from all thos
Chapter 6Eva's Point of ViewI'm sitting on the bed, just staring at my phone. I keep hoping it'll ring, but it doesn't. It never does. I don't know why I even care anymore. It's not like Max is gonna call. He hasn't said a word to me since he left. No "I'm sorry," no explanation, nothing. He's acting like I'm the one who messed up. Typical Max.My chest hurts so bad. I try rubbing my arms to make it feel better, but it doesn't work. The pain's too deep. I can't stop thinking about this morning. The way Max looked at me, like I was something gross on his shoe. The way his voice sounded when he talked to me. He hates me. I know he does. But why? What did I do to make him hate me so much?I get up and go to the window. I open the curtains to let some light in. The sun's bright, but I don't feel warm. Everything feels dark and heavy. Like I can't breathe right. I want to run away, but I can't. This marriage feels like a jail, and the walls keep getting closer every day.Then my phone bu
Chapter 7Eva's Point of ViewThe house is so quiet it's freaking me out. I've been sitting on this bed for hours, just waiting. Every second feels like it's taking forever. The clock keeps ticking, and it's so loud. It's like it's counting down to something really bad.Then I hear the door open downstairs. My heart starts beating super fast. Max is home. But I'm not excited. I'm scared out of my mind.I can hear him walking through the house. Each step makes me more nervous. He's getting closer, but he's not in a hurry. He doesn't call my name or anything. It's like he doesn't even care I'm here.When he opens the bedroom door, I stand up. My legs are shaking so much I think I might fall. Max walks in like nothing happened, like he wasn't just caught with my sister Sara all over the news. He doesn't even look at me."Max," I say quietly, but it's enough to break the silence.He stops and finally looks at me. His eyes are so cold, it's scary. He doesn't look sorry at all. "What?" he s
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