Brandon's POVIt was insane to see all this happening at what was supposed to be a wedding. In fact, to say that I was shocked to the bone marrow would be an understatement, because I was even more shocked than that. This expression I could also see on my father’s face. The shock written on his face was so bold and large that everyone could see it. And I knew, even if he did not tell me, that this reminded him of Mom.Mom was Dad’s world. He happily did everything for her, even while they were still dating and not married. Dad had happily paid her school fees because Mom was not from a well-to-do family. He did everything out of love and a kind heart, but suddenly, a few months after my birth, Mom started changing in how she treated him.“She looked at me and told me she was tired of everything and that she wanted a break,” was how he used to describe the situation. And he’d be worried all night and day, wondering why his wife was suddenly tired of the marriage. So, he decided to take
---Brandon’s POV It feels like ages since the chief justice's verdict was pronounced on Tyler, but saying it was ages is a lie. It has barely been over five months, yet it feels like a century ago. Don’t blame me; I am just the lover boy who wanted to see Matriarch Alessandra so badly that I felt like I could die if I didn’t see her soon.The wait was intentional. It was so Matriarch Alessandra could heal from her heart's bruises and so Tyler would be long gone from disturbing her. Speaking of Tyler, the news about how he treated Matriarch Alessandra poorly in their last marriage hasn't left the headlines. Every day, another new lady comes out to confess about his cheating scandal and how he’d always talk badly about Matriarch Alessandra to them.Lol. I don't understand how a man could be such a dog, jumping on every female he encounters. If I counted right, over seven new women have come out to confess in just a week alone.This morning was perfect for dressing like the gentleman
Matriarch Alessandra POVIt is five months since the judge's verdict at my wedding, and I still cannot take a break from Brandon’s thoughts. He is in my heart every now and then, and I can't stop thinking about his cute face since I saw him at my supposed wedding. Maybe how I dealt with Tyler at my wedding has made him run away because it has been too long, and he should have made a move already.“Or am I the one thinking he loves me, and he does not?” Maybe using the word "love" is too strong for a person I have yet to speak to. But even Robert confirmed he was staring at me at my supposed wedding, and could it be that he loves me? Now that my revenge against Tyler is complete and I am sure he is in jeopardy, reaping the consequences of his actions, it is sad to say my life is now a boring story without the right person to call my own. Perhaps you may call me an old-fashioned woman or an old cargo from the 11th century, but I believe in the virtue that says women should not approac
---**Matriarch Alessandra POV**It has already been thirty minutes of him talking about himself and thirty minutes of me yawning and trying to endure his boring monologue. I have read about men like Elbert and seen movies about them on TV. All they care about is themselves.Imagine, ever since I arrived at this upscale restaurant, with its crystal chandeliers casting a soft glow and the scent of gourmet dishes wafting through the air, he hasn't even asked me how my journey was. He is disinterested in anything I have to say and uninterested in anything that pleases me; he just wants to talk about himself and his Audi Motors.I can’t endure a relationship like this. He would make me a slave to his dry talks and jokes, and I would have no other option but to make endurance my friend. This is going to be another hellish marriage, and anything that contains toxicity in any form, be it in actions or words, I do not want any longer.The hell I saw in my marriage with Tyler is enough. I will
Matriarch Alessandra POV We have not driven for ten minutes when Robert already tells me about the second man I have on my appointment. To be honest, if Brandon does not show up and confess his love to me, I wonder how many men I have to go on blind dates with until I meet the perfect match.Life without love is boring. I could turn 60 tomorrow and be single, but will that make me a happy woman? Personally, I want love in my life. I guess if you don’t agree with this, then we have different opinions about life, yes?“Who is this person I am going to see now?” I asked Robert. To answer this, Robert first passes me his tablet from the driver’s seat. Just as if he knew I would be asking to see what this man looks like, his picture is already showing on the screen.“His name is Andrew Williams. He is the heir of Central Williams and Co., and he is 40 years of age.”To be very honest, his age matters a lot and makes me concerned. “Why is a 40-year-old man still looking for love?” I thought
Brandon’s POVIt has been taking too long. Right now, I doubt if Matriarch Alessandra hasn't moved on with her life.Sigh.It’s not like she knew I loved her before. We only gazed at each other for a while at her supposed wedding, and that was it. I doubt she knows anything about my feelings for her.Indeed, my self-esteem as a man is too damaged. Look at me, I even have to consult YouTube on how to ask a woman out. If it were left to me, I would have given up on my heart. It is not the first time I did this anyway, but Sandra, my childhood friend, has been told of my secret by my father, and since then, she has been on my neck to ask Matriarch Alessandra out.Yes, you heard that right. My father, the President of the United States of America, knows about my interest in Matriarch Alessandra. But my cross is my cross, and he hopes I am able to muster the courage someday to tell Matriarch Alessandra. In his words, he said:“Son I know we both shared bad experiences from the wrong people
Matriarch Alessandra POVAs Andrew looks at me with his heartwarming eyes, I smile again. I am already comfortable with him, so I answer his question.“Well, I am just a very shy person. That’s what the media won’t tell you.”Andrew exclaims, “What?”Of course, no one is going to believe that I am a shy person, given how often I appear on TV, how often I go for pre-recorded interviews, and all the other things I do on screen. My public persona is so different from my private self that it’s almost like I’m leading a double life.“You are shy?” he exclaims again, and I just laugh.“What about you?” I ask him. “What are the things people don’t really know about you, but you know are true?”“Well, I am an extrovert.”Lol. It is funny to hear that a person who doesn’t talk much and likes to keep to himself calls himself an extrovert. That’s why I continue to smile, and I am so glad that Andrew is such a gentleman to be with. He has this calm, collected demeanor that makes me feel at ease.H
Brandon’s POV Noting Sandra’s correction, I begin to create conversation. But Sandra is not making it easy. With all the "hello, huh, huh...” I sounded, she fluttered her eyes like she was uninterested in my conversation and only corrected me to try again. I immediately wonder if it will be just as hard to talk to Matriarch Alessandra.“Calm down, Brandon. It is not that hard, okay?” Sandra says this, seeing how I am beginning to sweat. She then takes her right hand to the table where my right hand is and suddenly begins to rub her hand on mine gently.Sandra is always like that toward me. Anytime she finds me in distress, she tries as much as possible to comfort me in one way or another. While she is doing this, she says again, “Just look me in the eyes and say, 'hey!' Say it brightly with a cheerful smile, then ask me how my day went.”When she says this to me, she takes her hand off mine, and I try to do exactly what she told me to do. I smile brightly as I say, “Hey!”“How did
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