Nina's POVThe woman Mark called "Grandma" walked in with a young girl at her side, holding her hand. She looked like she was in her late seventies, yet despite her age, her skin was remarkably smooth, glowing with the kind of radiance only the very wealthy seemed to possess. It was hard not to be in awe of her presence, exuding elegance and dignity with every step she took across the polished marble floor. The opulent environment around her seemed to pale in comparison to her calm, commanding aura. As she walked towards us, Sarah’s face lit up with a polite smile that barely masked her smugness."Mrs. Santiago," Sarah greeted, her voice laced with charm, "I am so very happy to see you today. You look as gorgeous as always."Mrs. Santiago reached out, gently grasping Sarah’s hands as she smiled warmly. “And you, my dear, look lovely as well. I'm delighted to see you here. Such an honor.”Their exchange had an air of familiarity, an easy confidence that made me feel slightly out of pla
Nina's POV I couldn’t help but keep my smile soft yet pointed. The reactions around the room varied – Mark, Jasper, and Alexa all wore different shades of surprise on their faces, while Mrs. Santiago continued her gift-giving exchange with Sarah, completely oblivious to the silent tension brewing around us. I could sense the glances darting in my direction, wondering what on earth a “poor girl” like me could be planning.Just then, Mark who had been observing silently by my side, drew closer and whispered anxiously into my ear, "Nina, what are you planning to do? If you don’t stop this right now, I might not be able to help you later." His voice had a tinge of panic, and I knew he was worried. I merely tilted my head toward him with a serene smile, refusing to give away my thoughts. Oh, they’d see soon enough.Sarah, meanwhile, had her entire focus on Mrs. Santiago, flashing that same rehearsed smile as the next gift box was brought forward by the staff. She was so absorbed in the mo
Nina's POVI took a deep breath and let my gaze drift over the room, absorbing the mixture of confusion, disbelief, and irritation painted on each face. Alexa’s mouth was slightly open, her brows knitted as if I were a complicated puzzle she couldn't piece together. Jordan kept glancing at her, almost helpless, with nothing of value to say. Even Tony and his buddies were caught in the strangeness of the moment, their usual laid-back expressions now tinged with genuine curiosity.As I stood there, a small smile tugging at my lips, I could feel their silent judgments slicing through the air. They saw me as the underdog, the “poor girl,” yet here I was, confidently stirring the pot without a hint of fear. The surprise on their faces was almost amusing.Alexa narrowed her eyes and finally blurted, “How did she know the details so well?” Her voice was laced with disbelief and irritation, as if the very thought of me having any kind of knowledge was a personal affront.I met her gaze steadi
Nina's POVThe air grew thick with anticipation, the room falling silent as Mr. Donald Smith made his entrance. Gasps filled the space like ripples across a pond, and I caught a murmur from one of Tony’s friends in the back. “Mr. Donald Smith? The chairman of Liberty Enterprises?” he stammered, his eyes wide with shock.The reaction was priceless—Alexa’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, and Jordan’s mouth hung open as if his jaw had come unhinged. He turned to his friend, muttering in disbelief. “Does that mean the McDonalds are involved? The richest in the state?”I held back a smirk, savoring the thrill of their confusion and awe. Mr. Donald approached us with purposeful strides, his eyes flicking over each person in the room, holding their gaze for just long enough to make them squirm. My heart pounded, but I kept my expression smooth, only allowing the faintest smile to show.I glanced sideways at Mark, whose face was plastered with shock as he stared at Mr. Donald, clearl
Chapter One ^ELENA^I stared at the pregnancy test in my trembling hands with mixed feelings.Two dark pink lines. Although the result is undoubtedly positive, I'm still not sure what was the appropriate reaction for me– should I be happy or sad?In the eyes of the world, I was married to the love of my life– at least that’s what I used to think previously. But in the three years of our marriage, Lucas Brown has always treated me like a stranger.Beep!The shrill sound of a message alert broke through my thoughts. “Elena, I just sent you $500k. Please come to the hospital immediately. Aurora needs blood.”Aurora…I clenched the phone, my nails digging into my palm till the extent of drawing blood; but that was nothing compared to the pain I was going through.I felt like I had been pierced in the chest with a knife. The message was sent by “Hubby”, and that's what hurts the most.Right now, it feels like even his contact name is taunting me with its hollow meaning. In reality, our
Chapter Two^ELENA^Tears fell freely down my cheeks, hot and relentless. I had just lost my child just because of his precious Aurora, and this is what he has to say to me. “Aurora might need your blood soon. Get some rest.” He said those words, and I quickly turned my gaze at him, still grasping my tummy with both hands. Is this some cruel joke? Or an insult?“You bastard! I must have been blind till now, how come I never knew you're this heartless? How could you ask me to sell my blood to her after what has just happened? If I hadn't been giving her blood all these years, I probably wouldn't have lost our child. Do you understand, our child would have been alive!” I sniffed hard, tears streaming down my face. Lucas didn't flinch, neither did he offer any explanation. He didn't say a word, so I continued. “And as for what happened earlier. Lucas, I didn't touch her. She pushed me, and…”Lucas quickly flared up at me. “Don't be ridiculous, Elena! Why are you still trying to mani
Chapter Three^ELENA^The luxurious gold crust gate was flung open, and our Maybach glided into the huge compound. As soon as the car halted, the guards opened the car door for me. Vincent got down first and walked over to my side, stretched out his hand. I held the hand he was offering as I got out of the car, and a bright smile filled my face as I looked around the large compound. I've missed home so much. A lot has changed. I mean, it has been three solid years since I've been here! Three years since I chose that spineless bastard over my family. How pathetic!What hurts the most is that I left my life of luxury, all this comfort and affection… all for the wrong man. And what did I get in return? Heartbreak and betrayal. I didn't only get maltreated, I also lost my child just because of the Brown's. I'll definitely keep that in mind. “Welcome home, little Lena.” Vincent winked at me, and I hit him playfully on the arm, grinning.“You rascal! I'm no longer little. I almost moth
CAMPBELL'S MANSION.Jason's POVBeing CEO of Campbell’s Group, I was used to getting calls that turned my day upside down. But when I saw Grandpa’s name flash on my phone, I hadn’t expected the bombshell he’d drop.I poured wine into a crystal glass, watching the dark red liquid swirl as I added ice. My phone buzzed, breaking my thoughts.“Hey, kid,” he greeted me, his voice gruff as usual. “Edward’s granddaughter is back in town. You remember her, right?”I took a sip of wine, leaning back in my chair. “Elena Brooks, right? Yeah, we met once three years ago.”“Well, it’s time for you two to get to know each other better,” he said, not even trying to sugarcoat it. “We’re reviving the engagement for the sake of both our family businesses. Get ready for the marriage.”I nearly choked on my drink. “Wait… what? Grandpa, you can’t be serious! I barely know her! And you think I’d just… marry her because it’s good for business?”“Don’t be so dramatic,” he chuckled. “You’re a Campbell, Jason.