It had barely been six hours when Diana and her two daughters dusted off their legs like they were shaking off the past, and approached the TV station. I didn't even know they could do it this fast. This made me remember the first time Tyler and I were to be married.After our parents were perfectly introduced, it took more than a month to get Diana to finally agree to the date we had picked to get married. In her defense, her son deserved someone to match his status.But excuse me, “What did she mean by someone to match his status?” I was the perfect industrious lady who had her own money in her pocket. Obviously, Diana thought of me as a dependent woman. Someone who looked to her husband’s hand even before she could afford her own pads for her monthly flow.Over my dead body!I was the vibrant and hardworking lady whom Tyler knew he was lucky to have. And so he knew how to handle it, and eventually, Diana agreed to the chosen date, and we got married.So, if I had been beautifully ri
The day of reckoning was indeed near, and it was even more funny because Tyler and his family knew nothing about it.The instant they were allowed into the station, they were led into the channel room, where they’d be interviewed.Though it was obviously not Tyler’s first time being interviewed, it was his first time at a TV station wanting to go live on air.Right before their eyes was a lady seated behind a desk. In her hand were a notepad and a pen. Behind her was a large screen that seemed more or less like a projector, displaying the name BBC News boldly.On the right-hand side, the left-hand side, and in the center, Tyler and his family saw the media crew standing behind cameras and staring right into them.Tyler was asked to sit on a chair a bit distant from the interviewer's desk, and right beside him was a stool with a glass of juice on top of it. Emily, Olivia, and Diana were seated in the same manner, and they did not wait long before taking their first sips of the juice.“A
One thing I noticed about the media houses in the United States of America since I became a well-known and affluent person is that you could still be on air, answering questions from the interviewer, but newspaper companies, magazines, blogs, and social media handlers have already published written documents about you. If care is not taken, they could even be sold out before you come out of the TV station.Funny right? but that's just the case around here and honestly it's a shock to most people.That was not a surprise to me, though. I just smirked when Robert walked in and brought me two of the newspapers out of the many that were published just a minute ago. Just like my late uncle said, my name trending on the internet is a great thing because it means more money for me.*Scoff*Checking out the first newspaper Robert brought for me, I saw Tyler’s face, his mother’s face, and his siblings' faces on the front page. The caption was:“Do These Family Members Know What They Are Saying
Just as I knew he would, Robert came to me, bowed, and informed me about a visitor waiting for me in the 'visitor’s meet.' According to Robert, the visitor was a reporter.This made me smirk like a cat because I knew Tyler was about to face a daunting challenge. He was about to experience the most terrible ordeal ever, like a mouse caught in a lion's den. If you know what I mean,.Slowly but deliberately, I put on a nice blouse and jeans, like an artist carefully selecting their brushstrokes. It was my home, after all, and I could dress informally, right? I also wore a hat that perfectly suited my outfit and an expensive wristwatch on my wrist, like a finishing touch on a masterpiece.Walking out of my grand room and down my grand stairs, I eventually arrived at the 'visitor’s meet.' As soon as I arrived, I saw the reporter rise to his feet and bow to me immediately, like a subject greeting their queen.I was definitely a person of value. No one would see me and not give me my due res
We were soon done with the questions and answers, and I watched how Reporter King devoured his meal. If I said I didn’t like how he emptied his plate and swallowed everything into his stomach, I would be lying.I watched him rise to his feet, bow to me, and be escorted out of the mansion.I smiled silently to myself with my legs crossed, like the boss I was. Then, immediately, I began to envision how everything would happen on this day.In my imagination, I saw the audience in the church clapping their hands as I walked in, wearing a white wedding gown with a veil covering my face.I saw cameramen and women taking sporadic pictures of me as I walked elegantly and stylishly, just like the beautiful Celine Dion walking to receive her award on stage.I saw myself finally climbing the altar and standing before the priest, where Tyler was looking at me, his eyes gracefully watching me. He couldn’t wait for my beautiful name to be changed back to his.Then, I saw the priest asking us to say
Tyler, ever since his recent interview, has been granting interview after interview like a relentless torrent, flooding the media with his presence. He has made himself a kind of celebrity that people want to hear from and is gaining popularity everywhere.But only if he was indeed a celeb. He was more of a laughter stock, which would make the mockery company rake in more profit than ever before.LolThis is, of course, an obvious sign that he is an opportunist. He cannot hide his lust for my money, as if it were a stripper dancing naked and shaking its curvy buttocks at him....While watching television, I saw that Tyler had granted an interview with a television channel called AM News.AM News, short for American Morning News, was a television channel that gained popularity in the 1980s. It was the channel that announced the first richest woman in the country in that century, and since then, people have trusted their news to be authentic.However, since 2002, AM News has been losin
Knowing fully that his face was what was showing boldly on the TV screen right now, Tyler immediately crafted a smile on his face again. His eyes blinked. And thus, I smiled.I knew that look. I recognized it like I recognized the back of my hand, only that I was a fool back then.This reminded me of whenever Tyler told me he was not coming home for the night but would come in the morning because he had a meeting. Whenever he arrived in the morning and I asked how the meeting was, he said that blinking was what he’d do before he’d answer.Stupid me, I always thought the blinking was meaningless. I did not know it was an unconscious act of Tyler whenever he was about to lie. But now, I am really glad I know better.“If Matriarch Alessandra lost all her wealth tomorrow, I would still be by her side. I would love and cherish her because this is genuine love, not lust for her money. And in fact, they say, two heads are better than one. We are meant to help each other rise, not suck each ot
While the interview was ongoing, Robert came to me, bowed, and handed me a newspaper as he said, “Ma’am, this newspaper was just released into the market barely 20 minutes ago, and I thought you should see this.”When he handed it to me and said this, I immediately scanned the words on the newspaper, and what I saw at that moment amused me.“Mr. Harrington claimed he did not abuse his ex-wife; his neighbor disagreed.” At the top of this caption, I saw a picture of Tyler wearing the big coat, shoes, and trousers, just as he was dressed in this interview with AM News.Immediately after reading the caption, I smirked and took a gentle sip of my wine. Then I began to read the rest of the newspaper.“Today, Mr. Harrington was seen in an interview session with AM News and has been saying a lot of things, including that he wanted the matters from his previous marriage to remain a secret. However, he plans to marry the same woman he divorced. Isn’t this odd?While Mr. Harrington was speaking,
Robert’s POVMy job is simple: protect Alessandra at all costs. But as I stand here, watching everything unfold, one thought keeps repeating in my head—I’ve failed her.I should never have stayed behind at the hospital, no matter how much she insisted. Alessandra may be strong, but I should’ve known better. I should’ve been there, more alert, more prepared. That woman who pretended to be hit? I should’ve seen right through her. Everything is finally falling into place, and the truth hits me like a punch to the gut.I know who Diana is. I’ve figured out who Emily and Olivia really are. And those three idiots hiding behind their ridiculous code names? Yeah, I know them, too.It was them—we passed them on the road earlier. The bodies scattered across the pavement... the blood... It all makes sense now. Alessandra—Matriarch Alessandra—is in serious danger.That’s why I don’t waste any time. My foot slams down on the gas pedal, racing us past the chaos on the road. Stopping isn’t an option
Sandra’s POVWe pull up to the warehouse, and the moment I spot the front door slightly ajar, I know it’s time. I drive inside, parking with purpose as the tension in my chest tightens. Locking the door behind me, I take a deep breath, bracing myself for what’s next.I watch Alessandra step out of the vehicle, her face calm—too calm. She doesn’t look scared, like I thought she would. Instead, she’s asking, “Where are we now? Are they gone?”I pause. What? Does she seriously think I’m here to save her?A twisted laugh threatens to escape my lips, but I swallow it down. Instead, I turn toward the backseat and yank open the door. My fingers grip the cold steel of the sniper rifle. The weight of it feels satisfying in my hands, a reminder of the power I hold.Without missing a beat, I swing the rifle around and aim it straight at her. “On your knees, now!” I command, my voice as sharp as the edge of a knife.For a second, her eyes widen, but then realization sinks in. She knows now. She’s
Brandon’s POVI never thought I'd find myself here. In custody. The cold metal of the handcuffs still lingers on my wrists even though they’ve been removed. My mind is racing, struggling to keep up with everything that’s happened. How did I get here?I’ve already contacted my family lawyer. He promised he’d help—at first. But then he learned that bigger forces are involved, and he left me to fend for myself. I don’t blame him, though. When powerful people decide you’re guilty, it doesn’t matter what the facts are. According to them, I committed a crime too big to ignore, and they want me to pay for it, no matter who I am.But how do I make them see I’m innocent? How do I prove I’ve been framed? The evidence stacked against me is so clear, so detailed, that even I would think I did it if I were on the outside looking in.It feels hopeless.I sit in the interrogation room, staring at the dull gray walls. The weight of everything crashes down on me. But the thought of Alessandra pushes t
Diana’s POVOut of nowhere, Olivia, Emily, and I suddenly see Viper, Red, Jinx, and Blade fall to the ground, each with a bullet wound to the head. Blood pools around them, dark and terrifying, staining the ground beneath them. The sight makes my heart race, and for a moment, I can’t believe what I’m seeing. My breath catches in my throat, and time seems to stand still. I’m in shock, completely blindsided by the sudden violence. How could this have happened? One moment, we’re in control, and the next, everything’s gone to hell. But as I watch them fall, one after another, the horrifying reality hits me: we’re under attack. We’re not safe. We never were.This can’t be anyone but the police. Who else would come at us like this, so precise, so deadly? And it’s my fault. My fault we didn’t get out sooner. My fault this mission is hanging by a thread. I should have listened to Viper when he told us to leave. We should have been long gone, but I hesitated. And now they’re dead—Viper, Red, J
Sandra’s POVI steady myself in the cramped toilet, heart pounding as I carefully position the sniper rifle out the narrow window. The cold metal of the trigger grounds me, and I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts.Through the scope, I zoom in to 8X. Alessandra finally comes into focus as she steps out of the law firm. She looks composed, but there’s a tension in her movements that makes my gut clench. Something’s wrong.In the distance, off to the right, a group of people is watching her with an intensity that makes my skin crawl. Their eyes are locked on Alessandra, and the cruel twist of their lips sends a chill down my spine. They’re like predators circling wounded prey, relishing the kill before it even happens.I should take the shot now, end this. It’s the perfect moment. Then Brandon would finally be free, and he’d be mine. But something holds me back. These people, whoever they are, might be more dangerous and I need to know why they’re after Alessandra.As
Diana’s POVAs Viper deftly tosses a small canister of smoke into Alessandra’s car. We don't waste a second, swiftly moving to take control of the other vehicles in her entourage.Alessandra is being escorted by three cars: one at the front, one in the middle where she sits, and one at the rear. The plan is precise, and we execute it with the efficiency of seasoned professionals.Olivia and Emily take on the first car. They expertly deploy another smoke canister, filling the vehicle with a thick, suffocating fog. Meanwhile, I focus on the rear car, tossing a canister of my own into it. Smoke quickly engulfs all three vehicles, forcing their occupants to open their doors, desperately gasping for fresh air. Even Alessandra, who had been hysterically screaming moments earlier, is silenced by the choking haz
Diana’s POVWhen Jezebel’s message arrives, confirming what we've been anxiously anticipating—Alessandra is alone. My heart beats faster, not out of fear but from the anticipation of what's to come. It’s time to set our plan in motion.With a cold, calculated calm, I gather Viper, Red, Jinx, and Blade. “She's alone,” I say, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. “Jezebel’s done her part. Now it’s our turn.”They nod in unison, a silent agreement passing between us. There’s no need for words; we all know what needs to be done. The stakes are high, and failure is not an option.We regroup at my rundown, hidden in the shadows of the city. Viper, the most experienced among us, checks his blade, its edge gleaming under the dim light. “Remember,” he says, his voice low but firm, “guns are for boys in the game. Blades are for men.”His words echo in my mind as I glance around at the others. Red is sharpening his weapon, his eyes filled with a cold, ruthless determinati
Sandra’s POVStepping out of the warehouse, I don’t know where I am, and it’s terrifying. I’m stranded, disoriented, and powerless.I stand by the road, feeling utterly lost, watching taxis whiz by as if the world is oblivious to the chaos inside me. My hands shake as I lift them to flag down a taxi. But just as I do, my phone rings.The sound sends a jolt through me, and I glance at the screen. My heart pounds as I see the caller—Private Number. Dread tightens around me like a noose, and I hesitate before answering, my breath shallow.“Hello?” My voice barely escapes, trembling with anxiety.A cold, deep voice responds, as sharp as ice.
Jezebel’s POVI’ve been treated at the nearest hospital, but if I let this personal assistant slip away now, then I’m not the Jezebel everyone thinks I am.The doctor finishes up, wiping his hands as he says, “There you go, ma’am. You’re free to leave now.”I flash him a polite smile, but my mind is already elsewhere. My fingers tighten around the personal assistant’s arm, my nails digging into his sleeve as I anchor him beside me.The room is cold and sterile, yet I feel the heat of the moment. Matriarch Alessandra sits across from us, her silence dominating the room. When I grip her assistant’s arm, I catch the flash of surprise in her eyes, the slight parting of her lips. She wasn’t expecting this.“I still feel pain in my leg,” I say, my voice tinged with just enough distress to sound convincing. “It’s much worse than I thought. I don’t think I can walk.”Alessandra’s eyes narrow ever so slightly as she watches me closely, trying to figure me out. Let her think I’m putting on an ac