Miranda’s POVThe sun dipped low in the sky as the car hummed softly beneath me, the city streets blurring past. My mind buzzed with unspoken thoughts, the sting of my earlier encounter with Mara still fresh. But there was no time to dwell on the past. I needed to focus on the present, on building the life Laila deserved. The Laila of this world, rich as she was, lived as though she had nothing—a sparse wardrobe, no fine jewelry, and not even the simple indulgence of a stylish bag. That was about to change. If I was to carry out my mission, I needed to look the part.“Driver, take me to Rosie’s Supermarket,” I ordered, my voice firm but calm. Rosie’s was reputed to be the best in London for high-end items, a haven for the elite.“Yes, ma’am,” the driver responded, steering the car toward the bustling shopping district.As we arrived, the vibrant lights of the supermarket illuminated the sleek facade, exuding opulence. I stepped out of the car, my heels clicking against the marble pave
Desmond’s POVThe restaurant was dimly lit, its ambiance meant to evoke comfort, but it did nothing to calm the storm brewing inside me. I sat at the far corner, nursing a glass of whiskey that did little to dull my anger. The termination email from the Emperor’s Company had been staring back at me on my phone all day, mocking me. The contract was gone—my lifeline, my safety net—ripped away by that insufferable woman, Laila.I clenched the glass tighter, the cold press of it against my palm grounding me as I thought of all the ways my carefully built empire was now at risk. The Emperor’s Company was the foundation of everything I had stolen... or, as I preferred to call it, earned. And Brenda—that useless woman—had made it worse.Brenda’s smug face flashed in my mind. My fiancée. The one person I thought I could manipulate to my advantage had sabotaged everything. Laila had slipped through my fingers at the gala because of her unnecessary jealousy and theatrics. I couldn’t even look a
Miranda’s POVI returned home that evening, the echoes of my encounter with Desmond and Brenda playing over and over in my head like a victorious symphony. Every little detail brought a sense of satisfaction that I couldn’t help but revel in. I loved seeing the shock etched on Brenda’s face when I snatched the jewelry she wanted right in front of her—especially when she didn’t recognize me. To her, I was someone else. Laila. And that’s exactly how I wanted it.Ending my ex-husband’s contract with my company, the one he so mercilessly stole from me by killing my husband, felt equally rewarding. Even though he was still profiting off what should’ve been mine, the thought of slowly dismantling his world piece by piece fueled me. It was only the beginning, and I had no intention of stopping.I stepped out of my car and walked briskly up the stairs to my apartment, a small grin tugging at my lips. It had been a long day, and all I wanted now was to relax and savor the first few victories i
Miranda’s POVI could have had those two hooligans killed if Nolan hadn’t shown up at the wrong moment. They had the audacity to try and murder me right in my own apartment, claiming no one hired them. Their words were laughable. Who else but Mara and her conniving mother could stoop so low? Of course, I had other enemies—plenty, in fact—but they were amateurs compared to those two serpents. The memory of their smug faces as they threw me down from my pedestal burned in my mind like an open wound.But Nolan... why was he hovering around me like a persistent plague? His presence was unsettling, to say the least. After what I’d been through, love was no longer an option for me—it was a game, a tool I could wield. And if Nolan was willing to follow me like a loyal puppy, I’d use him to make Mara burn with jealousy. Let her drown in the bitterness of what she could never have.“It’s not safe to stay here tonight,” Nolan said, interrupting my thoughts. His voice was low and firm, with a hi
Miranda's POVAs I stepped into my room, I slammed the door behind me, letting out a frustrated sigh. My hands trembled with a mix of anger and adrenaline after the heated encounter with Mara and her wretched mother. My stepmother’s words still echoed in my ears, laced with venom and the audacity to threaten me in my own home.I ran a hand through my hair, pacing the room like a caged lioness. My room, though modest, had become my sanctuary. Its warm, earthy tones and the faint scent of lavender candles I’d lit earlier offered me a shred of solace in a house that was anything but. But even here, I couldn’t shake off the suffocating tension that filled the mansion.Sitting down at my desk, I powered on my laptop. The faint hum of the machine was oddly soothing. Little did Mara or her mother know, I had installed hidden cameras in their room months ago. It wasn’t paranoia—no, it was survival. The cameras gave me eyes and ears on the people who wanted me gone. Every whisper, every scheme
Miranda/Laila’s POVI sat at my desk, sipping my morning coffee while poring over the stack of documents my secretary, Clara, had brought in earlier. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee swirled around me, momentarily easing the tension that had built up over the past few days. I needed this—something to ground me amidst the chaos. Yet, even as I tried to focus, I couldn’t shake the feeling that trouble was brewing. It always was.The knock on my office door pulled me out of my thoughts. Clara stepped in, her face unusually tense, lips pressed tightly together. Before she could speak, another figure emerged behind her. It was Mr. Williams, his usual stiff demeanor replaced by an unsettling smile. My brows furrowed slightly. This man had made his disdain for me clear from the moment I took over as CEO. What could he possibly want now?“Good morning, Miss Laila,” he said, his voice smooth, almost too friendly. “I hope I’m not disturbing you. I’m here to extend a formal invitation.”I plac
Miranda/Laila’s POVThey thought they knew everything, but I will show them they don’t. My stepmom, my stepsister, and even Mr. Williams—they planned it all to ensure I’d be molested. Foolish of them to forget I had other plans.Flashback...I was in my room, dressing up for the party. The crimson gown I wore clung to me perfectly, and I was just fastening a delicate gold chain around my neck when I overheard voices coming from Mara’s room. My hands froze, and I moved closer to the door, careful not to make a sound.“That drunk fool better go to room 101,” Mara said, her voice sharp and commanding. “Do you hear me? Room 101. Not 102. That’s my room. I don’t want any mistakes, Williams. If he messes this up, everything will fall apart!”I stood frozen for a second, her words sinking in like daggers. My heart thudded heavily, but a smirk soon spread across my face. They thought I was clueless, helpless even. They thought wrong.I crept back to my vanity, my mind already forming a plan.
Miranda's POVFor the first time in my life, I felt true satisfaction. Mara thought she could outsmart me, but I gave her a taste of her own medicine—no, I gave it back to her a hundredfold. What she had planned for me had backfired so spectacularly that even I hadn’t anticipated the depth of her humiliation. And tomorrow? Tomorrow would be even better.But the irony of it all was her audacity to come home furious with me. Furious! As if I had done something wrong. Wasn’t this exactly what she had wanted for me? Wasn’t this the humiliation she had planned? Yet here she was, her face twisted in rage, her words flying like daggers meant to cut me down.Her voice echoed through the living room as she screamed, “You did this to me! You caused me this pain! You humiliated me in front of everyone!”I watched her with calm detachment, my arms crossed over my chest. “Oh, Mara,” I said, a smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted? You wanted me bruised, broke
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