**Hamilton's POV** I was in my office when the call came in. It was a frantic voice on the other end, trembling with fear and urgency. “Mrs. Hamilton, it’s about your daughter... Mara.” My heart dropped before I even heard the rest of the sentence. “She was pushed... we don’t know who did it, but she was found lying in the kitchen of the Mountain’s Group of Companies... and she’s been... hurt.” My mind couldn’t make sense of the words, but the panic in the voice was clear. They told me Mara was still breathing, just barely. Without wasting a second, I ordered the ambulance to be sent immediately. My hands were shaking as I hung up, feeling like the world was collapsing around me. What happened? Who would do this to my little girl? The journey to the company felt like an eternity. Every second, every heartbeat, was filled with dread. I couldn’t imagine her in that condition. It felt like the air itself had thickened, and the suffocating fear clung to me. When we arrived, I saw her,
Laila’s POV I couldn't believe it. Everything that had happened up until this point felt like it was straight out of a nightmare—only, this was my reality. I was standing in the middle of a dark, damp basement, the air thick with tension and the smell of mildew, and yet, it felt like I was suffocating from the weight of betrayal. Mr. Williams’ words echoed in my mind: "You have one task—get out of this basement alive, and you’ll get the proof." The audacity. I had come here trusting him, believing his promises. He seemed genuine, his voice calm and reassuring when he spoke to me on the phone. But now, standing here, staring at him with a twisted smile on his face, I realized how wrong I had been. How could I have been so naive? I had ignored Nolan’s warning. I should have listened to him. Nolan had always been there for me, offering his wisdom and caution when I needed it most. But instead, I had decided to trust Mr. Williams, thinking that he was the key to uncovering the tru
Laila’s POV Mr. Williams slowly looked at Hamilton, a bitter smile curling at the edges of his lips as he braced himself for what was coming. His eyes, once warm and inviting, now glinted with the realization that he had outlived his usefulness. The situation had shifted drastically, and the cold air seemed to settle heavier with each passing second. "You really thought you could just use me, didn’t you?" Mr. Williams’ voice was raspy but laced with a cold edge of sarcasm. He turned his gaze to Hamilton, his old ally, but now she was nothing more than an enemy. "I was your friend once, Hamilton. A loyal one. And this is how you repay me?" Hamilton stood motionless, her expression frozen in a mask of rage and contempt. "You were never a friend, Mr. Williams," she snapped, her voice sharp and filled with venom. "You were always a means to an end. Nothing more." He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a grimace. "A means to an end...?” he repeated, his voice betraying a tr
Laila’s POV I continued to run through the dark, damp basement, my heart hammering in my chest as the man pursued me relentlessly. Each of my footsteps echoed in the vast, empty space, and I couldn’t believe I had come here alone. What was I thinking? What had possessed me to ignore Lance’s warnings? I should’ve listened to him. Now, here I was, running for my life, the walls closing in around me as I realized I had made a grave mistake. I stumbled, my foot catching on something hidden in the shadows, and fell to the ground. Pain shot through my knees, but I didn’t have the luxury to stop and nurse the wound. The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, and my pulse quickened. “Hamilton,” I gasped, my voice trembling with fear, “Please… you don’t have to kill me.” I wasn’t sure if I was pleading for my life or bargaining for a way out, but I had to try something. “I’ll give you money! I’ll give you anything you want! I’ll give you back the company!
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.
Laila’s POV I continued to run through the dark, damp basement, my heart hammering in my chest as the man pursued me relentlessly. Each of my footsteps echoed in the vast, empty space, and I couldn’t believe I had come here alone. What was I thinking? What had possessed me to ignore Lance’s warnings? I should’ve listened to him. Now, here I was, running for my life, the walls closing in around me as I realized I had made a grave mistake. I stumbled, my foot catching on something hidden in the shadows, and fell to the ground. Pain shot through my knees, but I didn’t have the luxury to stop and nurse the wound. The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, and my pulse quickened. “Hamilton,” I gasped, my voice trembling with fear, “Please… you don’t have to kill me.” I wasn’t sure if I was pleading for my life or bargaining for a way out, but I had to try something. “I’ll give you money! I’ll give you anything you want! I’ll give you back the company!
Laila’s POV Mr. Williams slowly looked at Hamilton, a bitter smile curling at the edges of his lips as he braced himself for what was coming. His eyes, once warm and inviting, now glinted with the realization that he had outlived his usefulness. The situation had shifted drastically, and the cold air seemed to settle heavier with each passing second. "You really thought you could just use me, didn’t you?" Mr. Williams’ voice was raspy but laced with a cold edge of sarcasm. He turned his gaze to Hamilton, his old ally, but now she was nothing more than an enemy. "I was your friend once, Hamilton. A loyal one. And this is how you repay me?" Hamilton stood motionless, her expression frozen in a mask of rage and contempt. "You were never a friend, Mr. Williams," she snapped, her voice sharp and filled with venom. "You were always a means to an end. Nothing more." He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a grimace. "A means to an end...?” he repeated, his voice betraying a tr
Laila’s POV I couldn't believe it. Everything that had happened up until this point felt like it was straight out of a nightmare—only, this was my reality. I was standing in the middle of a dark, damp basement, the air thick with tension and the smell of mildew, and yet, it felt like I was suffocating from the weight of betrayal. Mr. Williams’ words echoed in my mind: "You have one task—get out of this basement alive, and you’ll get the proof." The audacity. I had come here trusting him, believing his promises. He seemed genuine, his voice calm and reassuring when he spoke to me on the phone. But now, standing here, staring at him with a twisted smile on his face, I realized how wrong I had been. How could I have been so naive? I had ignored Nolan’s warning. I should have listened to him. Nolan had always been there for me, offering his wisdom and caution when I needed it most. But instead, I had decided to trust Mr. Williams, thinking that he was the key to uncovering the tru
**Hamilton's POV** I was in my office when the call came in. It was a frantic voice on the other end, trembling with fear and urgency. “Mrs. Hamilton, it’s about your daughter... Mara.” My heart dropped before I even heard the rest of the sentence. “She was pushed... we don’t know who did it, but she was found lying in the kitchen of the Mountain’s Group of Companies... and she’s been... hurt.” My mind couldn’t make sense of the words, but the panic in the voice was clear. They told me Mara was still breathing, just barely. Without wasting a second, I ordered the ambulance to be sent immediately. My hands were shaking as I hung up, feeling like the world was collapsing around me. What happened? Who would do this to my little girl? The journey to the company felt like an eternity. Every second, every heartbeat, was filled with dread. I couldn’t imagine her in that condition. It felt like the air itself had thickened, and the suffocating fear clung to me. When we arrived, I saw her,
Hamilton’s POV We had just been celebrating our latest triumph. The business was thriving, and every new plan we executed was a success. We were stealing Lila’s clients, breaking down her network one piece at a time. The feeling of victory was sweet, and I couldn’t help but smile as Mr. Williams and I sat together, discussing how far we’d come. “I’ll take you out for coffee,” I told Mr. Williams. “Let’s celebrate. We’ve earned it.” He smiled, clearly as pleased with our success as I was. Just as we were settling into the idea of a relaxing break, a sudden, sharp realization hit me. The Redwood Furniture Company, one of our major suppliers, hadn’t responded to our latest inquiry about stock mandates. My stomach turned. We had been relying on them for a crucial shipment, and without it, everything could come crashing down. I glanced at Mr. Williams. “Did they respond to your call?” I asked. He picked up his phone again, dialing the number. But his expression shifted almost immed
**Laila’s POV** I was determined to get to the root of this. I couldn’t let Michael’s lies go unpunished, especially after everything he had done. The moment I heard they had apprehended the criminal, I knew I couldn’t waste time. Without hesitation, I decided to follow Nolan to meet him. As we arrived, I could see the fear in Michael's eyes. He refused to speak unless I gave him something in return. The arrogance in his voice grated on my nerves. "I'll only tell you the truth when you sleep with me," he said, his voice dripping with smugness. I clenched my fists, fighting the surge of anger coursing through me. My company, my reputation, everything I had worked for was hanging by a thread. I was not the type to trust easily, but I had no other choice but to take this step. My heart was pounding, but my face remained steely, betraying no emotion. The knife in my hand gleamed under the dim light, and I stepped closer to him, my eyes narrowing. "Tell me what happened. Why did you d
Laila’s POV I’m so thankful for Nolan. He’s been my anchor, the only person I can trust, especially when everything else around me felt like it was closing in. Every time I thought I couldn’t face the overwhelming pressure of these accusations, he would be there, showing up with that reassuring calm in his eyes. I had no idea what this woman and the man with her were planning. I didn’t understand why they had come to my hotel, why they were accusing my security team of something so vile. But Nolan always seemed to have a way of cutting through the noise. "I’m not making any payments until I’m sure,” I had said to them, trying to stand my ground despite the anger and frustration burning in my chest. “We need an investigation. It’s not right to just pay without proof.” But before I could say more, Nolan had pulled me aside, his voice low and urgent. “It’s a setup, Laila. They’re trying to ruin us, trying to tarnish the reputation of this hotel. Someone has been targeting us from
**Laila's POV:** Every single day, I walk into the office with the heavy weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. It’s as if the universe conspires to test me, one problem at a time, with no relief in sight. And yet, I have no choice but to face it. Someone, somewhere, is working against me. There’s no other explanation. I can feel their eyes on me, their whispers in the shadows. My rivals, my enemies—they are always lurking, waiting for an opening to devour me and, more importantly, my father’s company. I’ve spent my entire life building this empire, and now, with the way things are going, it feels like I’m standing on the edge, waiting to be pushed off. They don’t want me here. They don’t want me to have this second chance that fate has granted me, but I won’t let them take it away. This is my opportunity to prove myself, to show them all that I’m not just some helpless pawn. I’ll fight with everything I have. This morning, as I sat in my office, trying to focus on the endle
**Nolan’s POV:** I was famished—having skipped lunch before the board meeting had left me ravenous. My stomach growled in protest as I drove to the restaurant, hoping to grab something quick for a takeaway. The thought of eating at home, away from the suffocating pressure of work, was a comforting one. When I finally got to the restaurant and grabbed my food, the hunger pangs in my stomach intensified, urging me to hurry. As I walked out, my thoughts drifting back to the exhausting day, something—or rather, someone—made me freeze. A woman bumped into me. I steadied myself and looked up to meet her gaze, and for a moment, I felt a jolt in my chest. She looked exactly like Lila. But something wasn’t right. The woman’s eyes held a different glint—something that Lila’s soft, serene gaze would never possess. I knew in that instant. This wasn’t Lila, it was someone else. But she was wearing her face. As she looked up at me, the seductive smile that stretched across her lips was all wron