**Emma's POV**It was early morning when Mr. Foden and I agreed to meet, ready to confront the ghost of my past—Auntie Isabella. The air felt heavy as we walked through the streets, my nerves tightening with each step. Mr. Foden filled the silence with the bits of information he had dug up. “She couldn’t go far because she had to watch the shop. Her life’s been full of ups and downs ever since she was fired,” Mr. Foden continued, though my mind was already spinning with thoughts of the woman who had been like family to me.As we rounded the corner, I saw her—Auntie Isabella. She was hunched over a small wash basin, scrubbing dishes with sweat glistening on her tired face. My heart lodged itself in my throat. She looked so frail, so worn down by life, and guilt crashed over me like a wave. What had she been through because of us?Mr. Foden took the lead, his voice calm yet firm as he approached her. “Excuse me.”She didn’t even look up. “I’m on my break. Come back in the evening,” she
Grandpa's words hung in the air, thick with tension. I could sense the weight of the moment, the gravity of what we were discussing. My chest tightened as I thought about everything—the poison, the betrayal, the company. "Then Hannah must’ve put the poison in your food," Grandpa repeated from his bed, his voice weary but certain.I sighed, trying to gather my thoughts. “She was especially cruel to me when I started middle school. She probably learned I was my father’s biological daughter. That would explain everything—her sudden hatred.”Grandpa frowned, confusion flickering in his eyes. “But how did she find that out? And why did she say those things to Isabella?”I leaned forward, my heart pounding as I prepared to ask the question that had been nagging at me. “How did Hannah come to marry my dad?” Grandpa's face hardened as he recalled the past. “She was an assistant in the secretary’s office. Polite, good at her job, and she got along well with Henry. After your mother and Henry
**Zayn's POV**It was early in the morning, and I found myself pacing back and forth, nervous and agitated. I had to see Elena. What CEO Amory had said about her kept echoing in my mind, and I needed answers. As soon as I reached her neighborhood, I saw her in the distance, hurriedly flagging down a taxi. Her steps were quick and urgent, and before I could catch up, she disappeared into the car, leaving me behind.Glancing around in frustration, I spotted a nearby taxi approaching. Without hesitation, I waved it down, quickly getting in with a sense of desperation. “Follow that white taxi ahead,” I instructed, my voice laced with anxiety. I could feel something big looming, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it.The driver nodded, and we took off, trailing Elena’s taxi as it weaved through the morning traffic. My mind was racing. Why was she running? What was she hiding? After several minutes of pursuit, her taxi came to a stop in front of a restaurant. I watched her exit the vehicl
**Amory's POV** Today marked my first meeting with the executives of Emgrand Group, and I could feel the weight of the room as soon as I stepped in. After agreeing to my grandmother's terms, I was appointed as the Vice President, and it was time to make my presence known. I had no intention of being late for my first meeting, especially with my brother sitting opposite me across the table, next to the acting president. The tension between us was palpable, but I kept my focus. “Next on the agenda,” the acting president began, his voice steady, “ is for Emgrand group’s newly launched safety and sustainability department, we will be voting on bringing onboard Amory, current CEO of H-Terier, as Director and and Vice President. Would anyone like to speak on the matter?” The room grew still, but I could sense unease. The man beside me, whose name I had yet to catch, shook his head subtly before leaning forward to press the microphone button. “Director of a new department… and at such
**Emma's POV**At precisely 12:30 p.m., Madam Elizabeth and I entered my father's company. The air was thick with tension as we prepared to address the issue of Elena's blackmail attempt, targeting both Emgrand Group and me. The recent events had spiraled, thanks to Zayn’s desperate attempt to clean up his mess, which now entangled my sister and father in this web of lies.“You understand Emma is part of Emgrand Group, right?” Madam Elizabeth’s voice cut through the room, cold and sharp. My father sat at the head of the table, reading the latest article, while across from us were Elena and her mother, Hannah Smith.“The fact that Smith’s daughter slandered her like this,” Madam Elizabeth continued, glaring at Elena, “should we consider it a slander against Emgrand Group as a whole?”Elena's fake smile faltered, but she quickly composed herself, adopting a sickeningly sweet tone. “Mother, I would never do such a thing.”“Please don’t call me that. It’s unpleasant.” Madam Elizabeth snap
**Hannah's POV**"What is this?" Henry snapped, frustration etched on his face.I ignored his tone, opening the medicine bottle and taking out two doses of psychotropic drugs. I grabbed the glass of water from the table and moved closer to the bed where he sat, his eyes glued to the recorded video of his father."Proof of how much your father invested into Emma's marriage," I said, sitting down next to him. My voice was calm but calculated. "He begged Chairwoman Amara to accept Emma. He even returned all the interest he ever earned from her. That painting he donated to the foundation? It was already sold, and he paid to bring it back."Henry’s face twisted in confusion. "Why would my father do all that?"I avoided his gaze, placing the glass of water on the table and reaching for his hand. Opening his palm, I dropped the pills into it."That’s not even the whole story," I continued, locking eyes with him. "He even moved from nursing homes behind our backs—with Emma leading the way."H
**Emma's POV**“Hannah did that?” I snapped, barely able to process Grandpa's regretful expression.“I’m sorry. I was careless,” he said, his voice low and filled with pleading.“No, I was too,” I muttered, the weight of my own mistakes pressing on me, eyes averted from his as guilt gnawed at my chest.“But there’s something bothering me,” he added, his tone shifting, curiosity creeping in.I looked up at him, my heart racing. “What is it?”“What Hannah said… Isabella thought she was talking to her. But if that were the case, Hannah wouldn’t have let her go so easily. Which means… she was talking to you, Emma,” Grandpa said with an air of conviction, locking his gaze with mine.I blinked, the realization sinking in, making my stomach churn. “When she said, ‘How dare you grovel back to this house,’ that means she already knew her husband had another child,” I whispered, my voice almost inaudible.Grandpa nodded slowly, his face tense. “Exactly. And when she said, ‘Do you want to die by
**Hannah's POV** Emma must not know, right? That her being alive at all is a crime. I mumbled to myself, my gaze fixed on my husband, lying asleep on the hospital bed, tangled in tubes and wires, oblivious to everything. I took another bite of the apple, pressing my fork deeper into its flesh with each bite. “How she survived that fire… I don’t know,” I muttered, my voice barely audible. My fingers clenched around the fork as I pierced another piece. “But even if she did… she should have stayed hidden, tucked away in that orphanage where she belonged.” I bit down hard, relishing the snap of the apple as if it could somehow absorb my anger. I stood up, placing the empty plate on the table beside him, watching as he lay there, utterly defenseless. The memory of Emma’s endless, needy glances surfaced in my mind—how she always tried to catch my attention, pretending she wanted nothing. *Just like her mother,* I thought, clenching my teeth. *So innocent, so self-sacrificing. And then, t