The photographer approached the gate, his footsteps echoing through the morning air. As he caught sight of the men in black, his heart skipped a beat. Their imposing figures seemed to loom over him.At first, he was scared. But Mira's assurance that everything was okay echoed in his mind, calming his nerves."Good morning," he greeted, trying to sound casual as he touched the gate, thinking he'd be able to open it.But instead of a friendly response, he felt a sudden jolt of electricity from the gates."What does this mean?" he asked, confusion etched on his face.One of the security personnel stepped forward, his voice firm."Where were you last night?" he asked.The photographer hesitated."Where exactly am I coming from? What sort of question is that?" he replied, trying to sound confident.The security personnel raised an eyebrow."Let me out!" the photographer demanded, touching the gate again without thinking.He yelped in pain as the electricity coursed through his body.The se
"And we also found this." The security personnel said as he brought out the stacks of cash given to the photographer by Mira.Andrew's smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression. The security personnel handed him the money found in the photographer's bag."Give the camera to the security personnel," Andrew ordered, his voice firm. "Wipe out everything in it and return it to him."Andrew understood the photographer's desire to make his family proud. But using illegal means was unacceptable.He walked to Mira's room, allocated by his mother. He knocked.Mira groaned from inside, hastily hiding the pictures under her pillow. She opened the door, attempting a smile."Good morning," she greeted.Andrew's expression remained stern."If you want to engage in illicit activities, don't do it here," he said. "This house belongs to my late grandfather. Show some respect. Take all your dirty affairs to your house or you get a hotel."Mira's eyes widened."I didn't do anything nasty," she prot
(An hour later)Astrid woke up, feeling a huge load on her chest. She opened her eyes and saw that it was Andrew; he fell asleep on her.She smiled, gently patting his hair, reminiscing about what had happened earlier.Suddenly, it hit her: today was Friday; she had to be at work.Andrew wouldn't be bothered, though - he was the CEO; no one would question why he wasn't in the office.She stretched her hand and picked up her phone, which was on the bedside lamp.Fifty-three missed calls from Mrs Karen and other workers flashed on the screen; they also sent text messages.Astrid's stomach knotted with anxiety.Astrid stopped patting Andrew's head and reached for her phone to read the messages. But Andrew was quicker; he took the phone from her hand."What's that?" Astrid pleaded. "Please get off. I need to rush to work.""You will go tomorrow," Andrew replied, his voice calm and soothing. "Take the day off.""Please, you're different," Astrid said, frustration creeping into her voice. "
George barged in without knocking shocking Andrew and Astrid,he walked in and held Astrid's hand attempting to drag her away from Andrews' grip but Andrew's grip was stronger. George continued dragging not minding if it was hurting her or not, his goal was to take Astrid back to The Smiths mansion "Let her go" George said when he discovered that he wasn't winning at all Astrid gripped unto Andrews' neck for support as she was being pulled by George. Andrew stood up releasing Astrid because he understood it was hurtful."Why are you here" Andrew asked "I'm here to take what belongs to me""There's no ring on a finger that says she is yours and there's no tag on her which says she belongs to you."Andrew!!" Astrid screamed in tears as George squeezed her hand too tight."Let her go!" Andrew replied." This is none of your business. I'm tired of letting you use who belongs to me and you wants to get married to her while I wasn't even a single chance to do anything,do you know how that
Mira was happy regarding the news of George's wedding to Astrid. She knew within herself that she would finally get Andrew, and nothing would be in her way. Suddenly, she remembered the pregnancy - Astrid was still pregnant. How could she forget something so crucial, something so important like that? She really needed to find a way to cleanse Astrid of such impurities, she thought.She drove home feeling happy - although she had urgent work to continue. That didn't stop her, because she would be so powerful soon, and no one would dare mess with her. As expected, she was thoroughly searched before she was. She stepped out of the car and handed the keys to the doorman, instructing him to park it for her. As she gathered her belongings, her mind wandered to the events that had transpired earlier. The news of George's wedding to Astrid still lingered, fueling her determination.After being thoroughly searched, she entered the building, her heels clicking against the marble floor. The w
She knocked on Mira's room.And Mira opened it.Mrs Thompson was shocked that Mira was already dressed for work.She was also happy to see Mira's devotion to her father's company, just like Andrew.A sense of pride swelled within her.She was sure Mira would make a good CEO."I want to talk to you briefly," Mrs Thompson said calmly.Her voice was measured."Oh, good morning, ma'am. Please come in and have a seat."The words hung in the air.When Mrs Thompson was seated, she invited Mira to sit beside her.Mira sat down.Her eyes locked onto Mrs Thompson's.Sensing what Mrs Thompson was about to say.Mrs Thompson's calm demeanor was unlike her usual self."I want to talk to you about something," Mrs Thompson began.Her words trailed off."I just hope you'll take it calmly, okay?"The silence stretched out."I'm listening," Mira replied.Her voice was steady.Mrs Thompson picked up Mira's hand and held it in hers."Look, I know this isn't what you wanted to hear," she said gently.Her e
Mira's mind was racing. The thought of losing everything she'd ever dreamed of, becoming a laughingstock, and facing public ridicule was driving her to the brink of madness. "What did I do wrong?" she asked herself, frustration etched on her face.She couldn't bear to go online, where posts mocked her and her followers ridiculed her. Even her friends had turned against her. The engagement to Andrew, once the epitome of her success, was now crumbling. The embarrassing online tantrums, the tagged pictures – all for nothing.A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she thought about the cruel irony. Her sister, Astrid, was marrying Andrew next week, while Mira's own engagement was being called off this week.Desperate for answers, Mira dialed George's number. But he ended the call abruptly. She tried again, only to be met with the same dismissive response."What's going on?" Mira wondered, annoyance growing within her. George had always prioritized her calls and texts, responding promptly. Thi
"You are only permitted to assist your husband at work," Mrs Thompson said, her voice firm but controlled. "I didn't work; I only assisted my husband with work. When he died, I took over the family business and trained Andrew."Astrid's eyes narrowed. "Well, I'm not married yet, so I'm free to work."Mrs Thompson's expression turned stern, her eyes flashing with disapproval. "You're not going to any place called work. You're getting married next week, yet you don't know the basics."A pause hung in the air, heavy with tension."Do you plan to disgrace us on that day?" Mrs Thompson continued, her voice dripping with disdain. "That day is a big day for the Thompsons and the Waltons."Ashley felt a surge of defiance. "I know how to behave," she said, her voice steady.Mrs Thompson's gaze lingered on Astrid, as if searching for weakness. "I've assigned someone to teach you how to behave."The air seemed to thicken, the silence oppressive."I know how to walk properly in heels or my weddin
Astrid's phone beeped with a message, breaking the silence. She picked it up, her eyes scanning the screen. The message was from George, and it read: "How is married life going?" with a smiling emoji.Astrid's anger flared up, her grip on the phone tightening. She felt a surge of emotions, unsure of what to do. But as she looked around, she realized that she was still outside the nightclub. The bouncers were still standing there, watching her.She decided to return home, feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. Even if she could sneak into the club, she risked getting lost or bullied by the thugs inside.As she drove back home, tears streamed down her face. She felt lost and alone, unsure of what to do.When she arrived home, she noticed that Mrs Thompson was there with Mira. Astrid wondered why she was there, but she didn't have the energy to ask.She wiped her tears and took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. She put on a smile and walked into the house, but Mrs Tho
Andrew's voice was calm and firm as he instructed John to take Astrid to the car. "Take her to the car," he said, unlinking their elbows. Astrid's eyes widened in confusion as John escorted her to the vehicle. She tried to process what was happening, but everything seemed to be unfolding too quickly. As John locked her inside the car, Astrid peered out the window, trying to make sense of the scene before her. Brian's voice was raised, his words dripping with malice. "So, you're the Andrew Thompson," Brian sneered. "You don't even look competent." Andrew's expression remained calm, his eyes never leaving Brian's face. He stood tall, his shoulders relaxed, as he waited for Brian to make his next move. The air was thick with tension as the two men faced off. Astrid's heart pounded in her chest as she watched, her mind racing with questions. What was going on? Why was Brian so angry? And what did Andrew have to do with it? As she watched, Brian's smile grew twisted. "What do you wa
Andrew's lips brushed against Astrid's, his words still lingering in the air. "I don't mind, I just want to taste those lips of yours." Astrid didn't resist, weary of their fights and craving peace instead. It touched her heart that Andrew had gone to such great lengths to make her happy – abandoning work, cooking an adorable breakfast, and making her feel special."Let's go eat," Andrew said with a smile as he broke the kiss,helping Astrid down from the kitchen counter. She smiled as he led her to the dining room.Just as they began eating, Kimberly burst in, "Mr. Thompson! Mr. Thompson!" She froze, her eyes wide with shock, as she took in the scene: Mr. Thompson having breakfast with Astrid, both of them beaming.To Kimberly, time seemed to stand still. It was unthinkable – Mr. Thompson, having breakfast with Astrid? Impossible. He must be using her; it was the only explanation.The silence was broken by Mr. Thompson's question, "Is something wrong at the company?"Kimberly forced a
Andrew's eyes were fixed on Astrid as she walked towards him, her red dress shimmering in the dim light. He couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion as he took in her beautiful appearance.The tears that had been welling up in his eyes began to fall as Astrid approached him. He felt a lump form in his throat as he struggled to contain his emotions.Astrid's smile faltered for a moment as she saw the tears in Andrew's eyes. She quickly recovered, her expression softening with concern.As she reached Andrew's side, Astrid handed him a glass of wine. Andrew took it automatically, his eyes never leaving hers.Astrid's gaze was gentle as she looked at Andrew. "You must be stressed today," she said, her voice soft. "It's okay."She reached out and gently swiped the tears from Andrew's eyes. Her touch sent a shiver down his spine.Andrew felt a sense of gratitude and affection wash over him. He was touched by the effort Astrid had put into creating this romantic atmosphere.He looked at the
Kimberly's eyes locked onto Mira's, her mind racing with thoughts of Astrid and Andrew. She felt a surge of anger and determination, but she didn't know what to do.Mira seemed to sense Kimberly's uncertainty. She leaned forward, her eyes glinting with intensity. "Let me ask you this," she said, her voice low and persuasive. "Does Andrew retire from work this early?"Kimberly hesitated, unsure of where Mira was going. "No," she said finally. "He usually works late."Mira nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Exactly," she said. "And why is that?"Kimberly shrugged, feeling a sense of unease. "I don't know," she said. "Maybe he's just dedicated to his job."Mira's smile grew wider. "Or maybe it's because Astrid is working late too," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "Maybe she's the reason he's staying late."Kimberly's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with the implications. She knew that Astrid was trying to seduce Andrew, but she hadn't realized that she was using their w
"Kimberly," Mira whispered to herself, a sly smile spreading across her face.She thought back to all the times Kimberly had clashed with Astrid, all the times Kimberly had made her disdain for Astrid clear. Mira's smile grew wider as she realized that Kimberly might be the perfect person to help her take down Astrid.Mira's mind began to spin with possibilities, thinking about all the ways Kimberly could help her. She imagined the two of them working together, coming up with a plan to destroy Astrid once and for all.As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, Mira felt a sense of excitement building inside of her. She knew that she had found the perfect ally in Kimberly, and she couldn't wait to put their plan into action.Mira's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she thought about reaching out to Kimberly. She imagined the conversation they would have, the way Kimberly's eyes would light up with excitement as Mira shared her plan.With newfound determination, Mira stood up and walked o
Andrew searched the entire house, but there was no sign of Astrid. He pulled out his phone and dialed John's number. As he waited for John to answer, his mind began to wander to all the possible places Astrid could be."Hey, have you seen Astrid?" Andrew asked John when he picked up."She's by the pool," John replied.Andrew's heart skipped a beat. Why was Astrid by the pool? Does she want to commit suicide by drowning herself?He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. He quickly made his way to the pool, his senses on high alert.As he approached the pool, he saw Astrid standing by the water's edge. She was wearing a swimsuit, and her hair was tied up in a ponytail. She looked relaxed, but Andrew's mind was still racing with worst-case scenarios.Astrid turned around as Andrew approached. "Hey," she said with a smile. "What brings you here?"Andrew's eyes scanned her face, searching for any signs of distress. But all he saw was a calm and serene expression. "I was just
Astrid looked up at Andrew with a determined gaze."Let's make a baby," she said, not minding the fact that the lawyer, Mister Clark, could hear them.Andrew was taken aback. He wasn't expecting Astrid to say this.He paused, collecting his thoughts."What?" he asked, shock evident in his voice.Astrid's eyes locked onto Andrew's. "I don't want to lose you," she said, her voice filled with emotion.Andrew's expression softened. He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind Astrid's ear.He looked into her eyes, searching for answers."You're not going to lose me," he reassured her.Astrid's eyes searched Andrew's face, seeking comfort and reassurance.Andrew added, "And our bodies aren't strong enough. You haven't recovered yet."Astrid cradled Andrew's cheek, her touch gentle.Andrew smiled and wrapped his arms around her."You won't lose me. I'm still here. Now, let's go back to bed."Astrid knew that those words didn't mean forever, and she didn't plan on giving up.The
Andrew's eyes blazed with fury as he towered over Sir Galton's desk. "Don't play dumb!" he spat. "I know you're behind this. The video, the threats... Astrid's safety is at stake."Sir Galton's expression transformed from surprise to calculating calm. "Andrew, you're jumping to conclusions," he said smoothly.Andrew's voice dropped to a menacing growl. "I'll uncover the truth. You're going down, Sir Galton."Sir Galton snorted, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "You're so predictable, Andrew. You'll do anything to protect your precious Astrid."Andrew's fists clenched. "What do you know about her?"Sir Galton leaned back, steepling his fingers. "More than you think. She's... complicated. And you're just a pawn in her game."Andrew's grip on Sir Galton's neck relaxed slightly, allowing him to gasp for air. Sir Galton's face remained crimson, his eyes bulging."You're... playing... with fire, Andrew," Sir Galton choked out, his voice laced with malice. "I'm not afraid because if