**Miranda’s POV** My heart was pounding, each beat thudding like a drum in my chest as I opened the door to our bedroom. The sight that greeted me made my knees weaken, my breath catching in my throat. My husband, Desmond, the man I had fought my family for, the man I’d spent two years loving despite their warnings, was lying in our bed with my cousin—Brenda. Brenda’s bare shoulders peeked out from beneath the sheets as she clutched them to her chest, her face flushed with embarrassment. Desmond didn’t even try to cover himself. Instead, he looked at me with wide eyes, his lips parting as though he had something to say. For a moment, the room was filled with nothing but the sound of my own breathing, sharp and ragged, as the betrayal of the scene before me sank in. “Miranda… I can explain—” Desmond began, his tone calm yet pleading, as if he believed there was some version of this situation where I wouldn’t explode in fury. “Explain?” I hissed, my voice trembling but gaining s
Another family.Laila’s POVMy name is Laila Martins, daughter of the late Emperor Martins—one of the wealthiest and most influential men in London. You’d think my life was a dream come true, filled with luxury, privilege, and endless opportunities. But that’s far from the truth.Since my father’s untimely death, my existence has been nothing short of a nightmare. I’m nothing but a maidservant in the very house I was born into. My father, after my mother’s tragic death during my childbirth, married another woman. At first, my stepmother was kind and loving—a true angel sent to heal our broken family. But the moment she gave birth to my stepsister Mara, her mask slipped. She became a tyrant, and Mara, my supposed sister, transformed into a demon in human form.I still remember the first time they turned against me. Mara had broken one of my father’s priceless vases, and when I tried to explain what had happened, my stepmother slapped me so hard my ears rang.“Don’t you dare accuse my d
Miranda's POVWhen I emerged from the riverside, water dripped from my borrowed body, pooling at my feet as the early sun warmed my skin. My breath came in short gasps, my mind racing. I wasn’t Miranda anymore. No, not in this reality. My reflection earlier had confirmed it—I now inhabited Laila Martins’ body. A fresh chance, a twisted kind of miracle. I straightened my spine, wiping away the salty tears that mingled with the ocean’s residue. If the heavens had given me this second chance, I wasn’t going to waste it.Standing by the road, I hailed a taxi with a trembling hand. The driver, an older man with kind eyes, gave me a curious glance."Miss Martins?" he asked, tilting his cap."Yes," I managed to say, voice steadier than I felt. Laila’s voice. Soft, melodic, yet weighed down with sadness.He nodded and began driving. For the next ten minutes, I stared out the window, my mind spinning. Laila’s memories were faint but present, like whispers at the back of my mind. I wasn’t just
Miranda/Laila’s POVTo be frank, I couldn’t understand why this man, Mr. Williams, was so insistent on making my life miserable. Ever since I walked into the Emperor’s Company as Laila, he had been an active conspirator with my stepmother, Hamilton, and her daughter, Mara. They were all set on ensuring I wouldn’t become the CEO. Little did they know, I was not just Laila; I was Miranda, and I was more prepared than any of them could imagine. Every word, every action they took against Laila before her untimely death, would be repaid tenfold. Today wasn’t just about taking control of this company—it was about serving long-overdue justice.I straightened my back and looked around the room with a calm yet calculating smile. My stepmother’s smug expression, Mara’s barely concealed arrogance, and Mr. Williams’ defiance all fueled the fire inside me. They thought they could challenge me? Oh, how little they knew.“You don’t have all the shares!” Mr. Williams interrupted, his voice loud and m
Miranda/Laila's POVAfter a long day filled with corporate chaos, I retreated to my apartment—a sanctuary far removed from the clutches of my stepmother and her conniving daughter, Mara. My luxurious space reflected the life I had built after clawing my way back from the grave they buried me in, both literally and metaphorically. Sitting on my plush couch, I savored the comforting aroma of the meal my maids had prepared while one of them massaged my feet. A Netflix drama played in the background, but my mind was far from the screen.As much as I enjoyed these small moments of victory, a storm brewed within me. Memories of my ex-husband and cousin sister flooded back—the two snakes who orchestrated my downfall. I hadn’t forgotten their betrayal, nor had I forgiven it. They were living lavishly off my stolen wealth, blissfully unaware that the reckoning I had planned for them would strip them of everything.But tonight wasn’t about them. Tonight was about Mara and the debt she owed me.
Miranda/Laila's POVRevenge is a dish best served cold, and I’ve always enjoyed serving it frozen. The thrill of reclaiming everything that was stolen from me and watching my enemies squirm under my heel was a high I could never describe. Today was no different. The moment Mara’s guard dragged her away like a thief, I couldn’t help but savor every expression on her face—shock, fear, humiliation. She deserved every second of it.Settling into the plush sofa in the grand sitting room, I gestured for the maids to bring me a glass of wine. They scurried off without a word, their heads bowed, their movements brisk. It pleased me to see them like this. Once upon a time, I was the one bowing, shrinking in corners, too afraid to speak. Those days were over.When the maid returned, placing the tray with a glass of red wine and a plate of roasted chicken before me, I didn’t even acknowledge her. Instead, I took a slow sip, letting the rich flavor of the wine coat my tongue as I leaned back, cro
Miranda/Laila's's POV I was stunned when my stepmother started ranting about the law, as if she had the moral high ground. The audacity of it all left me momentarily speechless. She stood there, her lips pursed, her hands clutched into fists at her sides, while spouting nonsense about her daughter’s supposed innocence. This was the same woman who had joined forces with her precious Mara to ruin my life and even tried to kill me in my first life. That memory alone was enough to make my blood boil, but I refused to let it show. Not this time. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing me lose my composure. “Stepmother,” I said calmly, though my voice carried an unmistakable edge. “It’s interesting to hear you speak so confidently about the law. Since you’re such an expert, I wonder… Are you aware that both attempted murder and actual murder are punishable by prison sentences? Did you know that?” She glared at me, her eyes narrowing into slits, but she said nothing. “I aske
Miranda/Laila’s POVAfter the fiery confrontation with my stepmother, I returned to my room, my heart still pounding with satisfaction. The tension of standing toe-to-toe with her, the woman who had tormented me for years, lingered in the air like a storm about to break. My room, dimly lit by the soft glow of my bedside lamp, offered a semblance of peace—though peace was the last thing I felt.From my window, I could see Mara's locked room, just adjacent to mine. The faint light leaking from beneath her door cast a shadow of unease. I had deliberately chosen that room for her—close enough to hear every word she screamed, every desperate cry for help. Call me cruel, but this was justice. She was feeling a fraction of the agony I endured when she pushed me into that ocean, leaving me to die.I sat on the edge of my bed, surfing the web on my phone, feigning indifference. But my ears were sharp, tuned to her every sound. It wasn’t long before the wails began.“Get me out of here!” Mara s
### Desmond’s POV The world around me seemed to collapse in slow motion, like the weight of my sins was pulling me into an abyss I couldn't claw my way out of. My breath hitched as I sat in the car, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. The reporters outside my company were a sea of chaos, their voices melding into an indistinct roar that made my pulse race. Cameras flashed, questions were shouted—each one a dagger aimed at my already fractured soul. I couldn’t face them. Not now. Maybe not ever. Taking a sharp turn, I headed to the one place I thought I might find solace—my aunt’s house. The road stretched endlessly before me, my mind replaying every poor decision, every moment of weakness that had led me here. *How could I have been so stupid?* Shame burned hot in my chest, but beneath it simmered fear—raw and unrelenting. When I arrived, I felt like I was barely holding myself together. My aunt's house was just as imposi
### Desmond's POV The news hit me like a thunderstorm in the middle of a calm day. My personal assistant's voice was trembling as she explained the chaos unfolding outside my company gates. The police, reporters, and the Martins Group’s lawyer—all gathered like vultures waiting to pick apart the remnants of my crumbling empire. My hands instinctively clenched the armrests of the chair I was seated in. “Sir, they’re making a scene outside the company,” she continued, her voice barely above a whisper, as though saying it aloud would solidify the nightmare. Without wasting a second, I bolted out of Ms. Lila’s office and rushed to the company. My mind raced faster than my feet. The thought of reporters and the Martins Group openly accusing me of embezzlement in public was enough to send my heart into overdrive. How could this happen? How did it escalate so quickly? When I arrived, chaos greeted me like an uninvited guest. A sea of reporters surrounded me the moment I stepped out o
### Laila's POVI stood in the doorway, my arms crossed tightly over my chest, as I glared at Desmond. His excuses poured out like a broken faucet, each word more desperate than the last. "It was Brenda," he stammered, his face flushed with a mix of shame and panic. "She—she seduced me! I swear, Laila, I would never do this to you willingly!"I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head. “Even now, you can’t admit the truth, can you?” My voice was cold, laced with contempt. “Do you think I don’t know about the late-night calls? The secret meetings? The way you’d suddenly disappear without explanation?”Desmond’s eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape from my accusations. His shirt hung loosely around his shoulders, exposing the evidence of his betrayal—hickeys and scratches that couldn’t be explained away. Brenda stood frozen in the corner, her face pale as a ghost. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. For years, I’
### Miranda’s POVWhen Desmond stormed out of the office earlier today, I knew something was off. The way he avoided eye contact and rushed his steps—it wasn’t like him. Desmond was a man of confidence, someone who always left the office with a composed demeanor. But today? His body language screamed guilt. I wasn’t going to let it slide, especially not after hearing the name “Brenda” flash across his phone earlier. Something told me to follow him, to find out the truth once and for all. My heart pounded as I trailed him to a nearby hotel. The very thought of what I might discover churned my stomach, but I needed answers. I needed to see it with my own eyes. With trembling hands, I parked my car and followed him inside, keeping a safe distance. He didn’t even bother to look over his shoulder—his focus was entirely on his destination. It was room 408. I took a deep breath before knocking on the door. My knuckles grazed the wood, but I didn’t have to wait
Miranda's POV I woke up with a jolt, the shrill sound of my alarm clock piercing through the silence of the early morning. My heart was racing, and it took me a moment to realize I wasn’t in a nightmare. The sunlight streamed through the curtains, bathing the room in a soft golden glow, signaling the start of what I thought would be a perfect day. With a sigh, I reached out and turned off the alarm, my fingers brushing against the cold metal of the clock. I stretched, feeling the pull in my muscles, and swung my legs over the side of the bed. The smooth wooden floor was cool beneath my feet as I padded to the bathroom. The familiar routine—brushing my teeth, showering, and meticulously choosing my outfit—helped settle my nerves. Today was important. Not just because of the project agreement but because this was my chance to finally claim the upper hand. I pulled on a sleek black trouser, paired it with a crisp white shirt, and added a pop o
---**Miranda's POV**I couldn’t help but smirk as I watched the growing frustration flicker across Desmond’s face. His brows furrowed deeply, his lips pressed into a thin line, and his nostrils flared ever so slightly. It was almost amusing, the way he tried to mask his desperation behind a facade of confidence. How ironic. This was the man who once thought he could crush me, take everything I built, and rise on the ruins of my empire. Yet here he was, groveling for a piece of my success, as if the universe itself had handed me the perfect opportunity for revenge. I crossed my legs and leaned back in my chair, feigning nonchalance. "Mr. Desmond," I began, my tone laced with mock sincerity, "surely you understand that every worthwhile venture requires investment. Profit doesn’t simply appear out of thin air. It takes effort, resources, and—most importantly—capital. If your company cannot meet the terms, then I’m afraid this collaboration is impossibl
### Miranda’s POV I never thought the day would come when Desmond would waltz into my house uninvited, holding a prenuptial agreement as if it were some kind of peace offering. The nerve of him! After everything that happened with his mother, I had decided to take the day off from the chaos of my life. It was supposed to be my self-care day—popcorn, wine, and a stack of feel-good movies to escape reality before heading to the office later in the evening. But, as always, peace was too much to ask for. The sound of the door creaking open jolted me from my comfortable position on the couch. My brows furrowed as I turned to see Desmond standing in the doorway, a folder clutched tightly in his hands. He didn’t even have the decency to knock! My first instinct was to scream at him, demand why he thought he could barge into my sanctuary unannounced. But before I could open my mouth, he thrust the folder toward me, his face a mix of determination and desperation. “I’m sorry, Miss Layla,
### Miranda’s POV I never thought the day would come when Desmond would waltz into my house uninvited, holding a prenuptial agreement as if it were some kind of peace offering. The nerve of him! After everything that happened with his mother, I had decided to take the day off from the chaos of my life. It was supposed to be my self-care day—popcorn, wine, and a stack of feel-good movies to escape reality before heading to the office later in the evening. But, as always, peace was too much to ask for. The sound of the door creaking open jolted me from my comfortable position on the couch. My brows furrowed as I turned to see Desmond standing in the doorway, a folder clutched tightly in his hands. He didn’t even have the decency to knock! My first instinct was to scream at him, demand why he thought he could barge into my sanctuary unannounced. But before I could open my mouth, he thrust the folder toward me, his face a mix of determination and desperation. “I’m sorry, Miss Layla,
**Miranda’s POV**This has been their plan all along—Desmond and his conniving mother. They intended to cheat me, stripping away everything my father worked so hard to build. The first clue came when I overheard Desmond on the phone with Brenda, his side chick, casually discussing how he planned to marry me just to take all my father’s properties, wealth, and hard-earned money. And now, his mother has revealed the rest of the despicable plan. She stood before me with a smug expression, her lips curling into a triumphant smirk as she spat her words like venom. "Once you marry my son, I will be in charge of everything. Everything you own will belong to us. You won’t have anything to call your own anymore."Her words cut through me like a blade. I couldn’t breathe for a moment, the weight of their betrayal sinking in. My jaw clenched, and my fists curled at my sides as I stared at her. Desmond’s plans were bad enough, but his mother’s arrogance, her audacity to lay it all out so openly,