Jason's POVThe office was quiet, with only the soft hum of the air conditioning filling the silence. I leaned back in my chair, absently drumming my fingers on the polished desk, when Frederick walked in, his expression calm and composed as usual. He held a document—a signed contract, the one Elena had finally approved."Boss, she signed it. You just need to validate it with your signature," Frederick said, placing the papers on my desk. His eyes lingered a moment, curious yet professional.I glanced down at the contract, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and guilt. I had pushed Elena toward this, and now that it was real, a weight settled in my chest. "Thank you, Frederick," I replied, picking up the pen, but before he could leave, something made me stop him."Fred…," I hesitated, clearing my throat, feeling a rare moment of vulnerability. "Have you ever been in a relationship?" I asked, trying to sound casual.Frederick’s brow lifted in mild surprise, and a faint smile tugged
**Elena's POV**As I hung up the phone, I couldn't help but feel a bit lighter, a little happier. Jason's call always seemed to have that effect on me. But then, my mind drifted to the message I’d received earlier—a message from an unknown number claiming to be Aurora, asking for a meeting.I’d agreed, but I had no intention of meeting her in some secluded place where she could pull anything shady. That’s why I’d chosen one of Jason’s restaurants, a busy spot with enough people around. I had no reason to trust her, but I also had no reason to refuse. At least, not yet.When I arrived, I spotted Aurora seated at a table near the window. Two glasses of wine were already waiting on the table, which made me pause. She'd ordered for both of us? Odd, but maybe she was just trying to set a polite tone."Hi, Aurora. Make this quick; I have other things to do," I said, keeping my voice casual but distant.She looked up, her expression almost remorseful, but I wasn’t buying it. “Elena, I called
Aurora's POVA sharp, throbbing pain radiates through my head, like a hammer pounding against my skull. My eyes flutter open slowly, and I find myself in a nauseatingly filthy truck, bouncing and rattling over rough terrain. I take in the surroundings—the truck bed filled with grimy tarps and bits of hay, as if it’s been used to transport livestock. A disgusted groan escapes me.“Oh, great,” I mutter, forcing myself to sit up. I reach up to grab my purse, which has somehow stayed hooked on a corner of the truck bed. Digging through it, I fumble for my phone, dread pooling in my stomach as memories of the night before start filtering back. I’d tried to outwit Elena, slipping something into her drink to give her a taste of her own medicine. But now, somehow, it’s all turned against me.Finally, I hit call. When Desmond’s smug voice answers, I nearly shout, my patience frayed. “Desmond! What in the world did you do to me?!”There’s a pause, then his calm, indifferent reply. “Exactly what
Elena’s POVMy hands felt numb, trembling as I sank into the cold, hard chair outside the ICU. The sterile, white walls pressed in on me, and every sterile beep and whirr from the machines inside only added weight to my chest. If it hadn’t been for Lucas… I’d be the one in there, lying broken and battered. Someone had targeted me, but why? And who could be behind it?Tears blurred my vision, spilling over as I buried my face in Jason’s shoulder. I clutched him tightly, desperate to ground myself as I sobbed. He gently rubbed my back, murmuring, “It’s going to be okay, Elena. You’ll be okay. I’m here.”But nothing felt okay. Not when I was responsible for this. Lucas was fighting for his life in there because of me.The doors to the ICU burst open, and Mrs. Brown rushed in, her eyes red and frantic. Her gaze landed on me, and anger darkened her face as she stormed over, her voice trembling with fury. “You… you did this to him! My son is lying in there, broken, because of you!”I raised
Elena's POVAs I stepped into the ICU, the sterile air thick with the scent of antiseptic, my heart twisted at the sight of Lucas lying still, fragile against the white sheets. His once-vibrant features seemed drained, yet his eyes—pale but intensely focused—found mine the moment I entered.“Elena,” he murmured, his voice raspy but warm. The hint of a smile touched his lips, though it couldn’t mask the pain he was in.“Lucas…” I swallowed hard, fighting the lump forming in my throat. “How are you feeling?”He let out a slow breath. “Better, now that you’re here. Just seeing you…” His words trailed off as his gaze drifted over my face, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. “I’m glad you’re okay.”A wave of frustration and guilt surged through me. “Why, Lucas? Why would you risk your life for me?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. “You didn’t have to do that. You don't have to save me again.”He held my gaze, his eyes hardening. “Save you again? Because…” He hesitat
Aurora’s POVAs soon as I entered Lucas’s hospital room, I could feel the tension between us. He looked pale, fragile even, but there was still a strength about him—an intensity in his eyes that lingered on me as I approached. I put on my best concerned face, though I wasn’t sure if I could even fool him.“Lucas, I brought you something.” I forced a smile, holding up a pizza box. He didn’t even look at it, his eyes drifting back to the window as though my presence was already boring him. My fingers twitched with irritation, but I kept my composure. I had to.“Thanks,” he muttered, barely glancing my way.I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat, squatting down beside him as I pretended to inspect his legs. I could feel the anger boiling beneath my calm expression. He should be thanking me for being here after all I’d done for him, yet his attention was still fixed on that…Elena.His voice broke the silence. “What happened to your face?”I hadn’t expected that. Startled, I quickl
Jason's POVAs I walked out of the restroom, I noticed a figure in the hallway—a tall, slim person in a black hoodie, her face partially hidden, but her stride gave her away. It was Aurora. Just moments ago, she'd mentioned needing to leave for a business meeting, yet here she was, sneaking around in the hospital, her movements tense, like she was concealing something. I quickly ducked behind a corner as she passed, barely breathing, watching her hurry down the corridor with suspicious urgency. Once she disappeared, I let out the breath I'd been holding, a strange unease building in my gut. What was she doing here? I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought, but it lingered, persistent.I caught up with Elena, and we headed to Lucas's room, where he was sitting up in bed, slicing through a ripe apple. His casual demeanor faded the second he saw the look on my face. "What’s going on? Did something happen?" he asked, his brows knitting together in concern.Elena and I exchanged a gl
Aurora's POVI’m sure I need to limit how often I visit Lucas, but I can’t help it—I love him too much. The mere thought of not seeing him feels unbearable, even if I have to act like everything is fine. I know I should be cautious, especially after last night. I’m certain someone saw me there, but I can’t afford to let my guard down, not now.The morning light streams into my room, and I stare at my reflection, combing my fingers through my tangled hair. My heart’s racing; I feel the weight of everything piling up. I quickly brush my hair, slip into my floral mini-dress, add just a touch of makeup to hide the restlessness under my eyes, and throw on a pair of flip-flops. With one last look in the mirror, I head out.Since last night, Lucas has ignored my calls. Anxiety twists in my stomach, but I know I have to see him. If he knows anything—or worse, if someone told him—I need to be prepared, to act as though I have nothing to hide. As I drive to the hospital, memories flood my mind.
**Hamilton's POV** Leila thought she could outsmart me? How naive. Does she think I’ve been blind all these years, sitting back, watching her smug little face parade around as if she owns the world? I was there. I’ve always been there, watching her grow from that scrawny little girl into the woman she is now. From the moment her mother abandoned her and left her in my care, I knew she was trouble. But I played my part. I cared for her as a stepmother should—no, as a *better* stepmother than she deserved. I fed her, clothed her, sheltered her, even before I got pregnant with Mara, my beautiful daughter, my pride. But Leila? I always knew she’d try to rise above her station. She had that defiance in her eyes, even as a child. That rebellious streak. She thought she could hide it from me, but I saw it all. I *know* her. I know what makes her tick, what she hates, and most importantly, what can destroy her. Leila is allergic to water. She’s always hated
**Laila’s POV**Weekends. Oh, how I loved weekends. Those were the only days I didn’t have to think about work, deadlines, or the stress of daily life. It was my sanctuary, my time to rest and rejuvenate. This particular Saturday, I had no plans except to curl up in bed and let the world pass me by. I was in the middle of a blissful dream when the shrill ring of my phone jolted me awake. Groaning, I reached for it on the nightstand, my eyes barely open. **Nolan’s name flashed across the screen.** Why is he calling me so early? I wondered, yawning. “Good morning, Laila,” Nolan’s deep, cheerful voice greeted me. I stifled a yawn and replied lazily, “Good morning, Nolan. How can I help you?” His chuckle was warm, almost teasing. “Help me, I help you, huh? Well, I wanted to ask if you’re free this evening. Let me take you out for dinner—just a casual hangout. You don’t relax enough, you know?” I wanted to decline,
Laila's pov The tension in the air was almost palpable as I sat in my car, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Clara’s words from earlier still echoed in my mind, her paranoia about the loan, her relentless warnings that things could spiral out of control. She had been restless, pacing my office like a caged lioness, her eyes darting with worry. "Clara," I had said, my tone firm but calm, "you need to trust me on this. I anticipated this mess a long time ago. That’s why I insisted on installing the CCTV cameras. It’s all under control." She wasn’t convinced, not entirely. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her brows furrowing deeper as she leaned against my desk. "Ms. Lila," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, "you’re always so composed, but this... this could ruin everything." I had smiled at her then, a small, knowing smile. "Clara, you worry too much. Sometimes, you have to let people dig their own graves." The polic
### Laila's POVOne thing about me is that I keep records—meticulous, detailed records. My company is my life, my fortress, and my legacy. I know I have enemies, a long list of them. People who want me dead. People who want to see me fail. But what they don’t realize is that I am always prepared. I’ve spent years perfecting the art of vigilance. It’s why I’ve made sure no stone is left unturned when it comes to my company’s security. A week ago, Clara—my trusted assistant and confidante—accompanied me to the supermarket under the guise of buying office supplies. What we really purchased were state-of-the-art CCTV cameras. I had them discreetly installed in the most inconspicuous places, embedded in ceilings and hidden from plain sight. No one would know they were there—no one except Clara and me. This afternoon, as I was engrossed in some paperwork in my office, Clara burst in, her face pale and her hands trembling. I immediately put my pen down, sensi
**Laila’s POV** The past few weeks had been nothing short of a whirlwind. Between the legal battles over Miranda Inc., court appearances, countless hours spent at the police station dealing with Desmond’s embezzlement case, and managing the mountain of work at my office, I was stretched thin. Stress had become my constant companion, yet somehow, through sheer determination, I pushed forward. The day I finally reclaimed Miranda Inc., my late father’s beloved company, was nothing short of victorious. After months of being robbed of what was rightfully mine, the judge’s gavel struck, and the courtroom erupted in applause. Relief surged through me like a tidal wave, and for the first time in months, I felt a flicker of hope. I held onto that feeling tightly as I left the courthouse, the company once again bearing my name. The next day, as I woke up to the soft golden light filtering through my bedroom curtains, I allowed myself a moment of
**Desmond’s POV** The chill of the cell crept into my bones, but it was nothing compared to the storm raging in my mind. I sat hunched on the cold, hard bench, my head buried in my hands, trying to make sense of it all. Homicide. The word echoed in my skull like a death knell. Did someone see me that night? Did someone see me throw Brenda into the river? My heart hammered against my ribcage as a thousand possibilities flashed through my head, each one worse than the last. The clinking sound of keys snapped me out of my thoughts. One of the officers approached, his face a mix of indifference and authority. “Mr. Desmond, someone wants to see you,” he said curtly, unlocking the cell. I frowned, confusion tightening my features. Someone wanted to see me? Who? My mind reeled as I was led out of the cell and down the dimly lit hallway. My stomach churned, not just from hunger—I hadn’t eaten since morning—but from the growing dread in my chest.
### Miranda’s POVThe night was unusually quiet as I drove home, the streetlights barely illuminating the long stretch of road ahead. My body ached from the exhausting day at work—dealing with the embezzlement of company funds, fielding calls from lawyers, and dodging relentless reporters. The air in my car was cool, the gentle breeze brushing against my skin, offering a small reprieve from the day’s chaos. It was almost 8:00 p.m. when I left the office, and all I wanted was to collapse into bed. But as fate would have it, peace was the last thing the night had in store for me. I was crossing the bridge that divided the city from the suburbs when something unusual caught my eye. A figure was squatting near the riverbank, his silhouette illuminated by the dim moonlight. My hands tightened on the steering wheel as I squinted to make out the details. From his posture, I could tell it was Desmond. But why was he out here, alone, at this hour? What could he possibly b
**Desmond’s POV** The day had started with a glimmer of hope, however faint. I had driven to Miss Leila’s house, swallowing my pride to beg for mercy. I hated every moment of it—groveling before a woman who thrived on others’ misery. But I had no choice. My company was crumbling, my clients had abandoned me, and the penalty fees she demanded were far beyond what I could pay. Still, I had hoped that a sliver of humanity would emerge from her cold, calculating heart. Her response, though, was a brutal reminder of the kind of person she truly was. “No refunds, Desmond. And no, I won’t lower the penalty,” she had said with a twisted smile, arms crossed as if relishing my despair. I had begged, my voice cracking with desperation, “Please, Miss Leila, just reduce it a little. I’ll fight to pay the rest. I just need a chance to save my company!” Her expression didn’t falter. “That’s not my problem. You should have thought about this be
**Laila's POV**I stepped out of the company, needing a breath of fresh air and a brief respite from the constant chaos. The sun was warm on my face, but it did little to ease the storm brewing inside me. As I headed back towards the entrance, I caught sight of him—Daniel. My heart skipped a beat, not out of love or affection, but from the rush of anger that surged through me like wildfire. His usually confident demeanor was replaced with frantic movements. His tie hung loose, his hair disheveled, and his face was etched with desperation. He looked like a man clinging to the edge of a cliff, and I knew I was the one who had pushed him there. Good. He deserved it. I kept walking, my heels clicking against the pavement, my head held high. I wouldn’t let him see even a flicker of emotion. I had caused his misery, and I had no regrets. After all, he had caused mine first. I was the one who had called the authorities. I was the one who had ensured he faced th