**Desmond's POV** I stared at Brenda, my eyes narrowing with simmering fury as her words echoed in my mind. The audacity. Did she honestly think she could threaten me and walk away unscathed? Her voice, sharp and venomous, had sliced through the air moments ago, and now, silence hung between us like a storm cloud about to burst. “I’ll tell Lila everything about us,” Brenda had hissed, her lips curling into a sinister smile. “I’ll expose you. Let’s see how you’ll get your father’s property then.” My hands clenched into fists at my sides, my jaw tightening as if it were locked in place. My breath came faster, angrier, as I fought the impulse to lash out. Brenda’s dark eyes glittered with defiance, and she crossed her arms as though daring me to make a move. I hated being threatened. *Especially by someone like her.* "Who do you think you are?" I finally growled, my voice low but laced with menace. I stepped closer, towering over h
Miranda's POV ---I leaned back in my chair, massaging the back of my neck. It had been an excruciatingly long day at the office, one that drained every ounce of energy I had. Clara had just left, taking the stack of signed files to the shareholders. I barely had time to eat, let alone breathe. As the CEO, it seemed every document in existence required my signature. When my phone buzzed with a call from the manager of the restaurant downtown, I almost ignored it. But then I remembered the new resort project my company was building beside the restaurant. My presence was needed, so with a tired sigh, I grabbed my coat and headed out. Clara joined me as we made our way there.As we entered the restaurant, the familiar hum of activity greeted us. The clinking of utensils, the murmur of voices, and the occasional burst of laughter were all comforting sounds. But then, something caught my attention—a group of three women seated near the window. I
**Miranda's POV** I stood behind the counter of my restaurant, busy taking stock of the day's supplies when the door swung open. A sharp gust of wind carried with it the scent of expensive perfume. I looked up, and there she was—Desmond's mother, striding in as if she owned the place. Two women trailed behind her, both dressed to the nines, their heels clicking against the tiled floor. I plastered on my most professional smile, but inside, I braced myself. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Davenport,” I greeted her politely, setting aside my clipboard. She glanced around, her nose slightly wrinkling as if she found something offensive in the air. “Miranda, darling,” she drawled, her tone dripping with insincerity. “How lovely to see you working... here. So hands-on for someone of your status.” I bit back a sarcastic remark, knowing better than to fan the flames of her condescension. “How can I help you today?” I asked, maintaining my composure. “Oh, we’ve already helped ourselves,” she
**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,
### 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 After my encounter with Desmond earlier in his office, I felt a strange mix of satisfaction and unease. Flattering him was easy—his ego soaked up every word I said, especially when I dangled the possibility of his company designing my hotel project. His overjoyed reaction wasn’t surprising. That was exactly what I wanted: for him to believe he was inching closer to my wealth, my power. I wanted him to feel like he had a stake in my empire. Of course, I had no intention of letting him reap where he didn’t sow. The thought of him smugly claiming my hard-earned assets after marriage sent a ripple of annoyance through me. But for now, I had to play the game. His motives were still unclear, and I needed to stay ahead of him. I arrived home at around 3 p.m., exhaustion weighing heavily on me. Kicking off my heels, I stretched out on my bed, hoping for a moment of peace. The silence was short-lived. My phone rang sharply, jolting me out of my reverie. Groaning, I grabbed
---**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 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
Laila’s POV As I sat on the soft sand beside Nolan, the cool ocean breeze brushed against my skin, its salty scent filling my lungs with a sense of calm. The sun, now dipping below the horizon, bathed everything in a soft, golden hue. I leaned against him, feeling his warmth seep into my bones. For the first time in a long time, I felt at peace. The chaos, the threats, and the betrayals that had once consumed my life seemed like a distant memory, fading with the setting sun. But despite the serenity, the thoughts still raced in my mind. I was torn between two lives—Lila and Miranda—and it was hard to reconcile them. One life, full of memories I had no control over, and another that had become my reality, shaped by my choices and the people I met along the way. Nolan, though, had always been a constant. He was the thread tying everything together, even when I couldn’t see it. I turned to him, meeting his deep, sincere gaze, and
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