Brenda’s life fell apart when her father’s fortune crumbled, dragging them from wealth to ruin. But her nightmare didn’t end there. After her father was murdered, while fleeing the same fate, Brenda became entangled in a crime that made her a fugitive. Desperate to stay hidden, she took refuge as a housekeeper in a wealthy family’s mansion—only to find herself surrounded by danger and secrets. Amid the chaos, she crossed paths with Lucian, a mysterious billionaire whose charm was impossible to resist. Yet falling for him could cost them both everything. Will Brenda find solace in Lucian’s arms, or will her past haunt her forever? Can Brenda uncover the truth behind her father’s death and reclaim her life, or will the dark forces hunting her finally catch up?
View MoreLucian’s POVI was still seething as I stared at Brenda Anger coursed through my veins like fire, burning hotter with every second.I had defended Brenda. Trusted her. Opened myself up to love her.And yet. The headlines. The pictures. The proximity and the kiss with that guy. Damn it!The betrayal hit harder than I ever could have imagined.I didn’t know if I was angrier at her or at myself for believing in her in the first place.But then, something changed.Right in front of me, Brenda’s entire demeanor shifted.She had been trying to plead her case—trying to get me to listen—but when her phone buzzed, she glanced at it, and suddenly…She wasn’t crying anymore.She wasn’t defensive anymore.She wasn’t saying anything anymore.Instead, her face drained of color, her fingers clutching her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white.And then, she ran.Again.Just like she had the other day.She bolted past me so fast I barely had time to react.For a moment, I just stood there,
Brenda's POVThe entire house was silent, wrapped in a darkness so thick it felt suffocating. The only sound was the soft rhythm of Lucian’s steady breathing beside me.He was asleep. Peaceful. Unbothered.Unlike me.I lay there, staring into space, my body exhausted but my mind unwilling to rest.Sleep had abandoned me the moment I closed my eyes. Too much had happened today. Too much to process, too much to forget.Vanessa’s unexpected arrival.Chairman Kingsley’s blatant favoritism.The argument between father and son, a battle of power and authority that I found myself stuck in the middle of.The accountant.Mrs. Vivian.Their dirty hands siphoning the charity funds meant for the less privileged.And then—Ralph.The audacity of him. The way he had forced himself back into my life as if he had a right. The way he had—My fingers curled into the sheets at the memory of how he kissed me.It was overwhelming.This family was drowning in secrets.Dangerous, destructive secrets.And Luc
Brenda's POV By the time closing hour finally rolled around, I felt like I had been wrung dry.Chairman Kingsley hadn’t lingered long after his spat with Lucian that morning, but Vanessa had made it her mission to remind me exactly who held the power at work today.All. Damn. Day.She had me running back and forth, calling me into her office for the most trivial, pointless tasks—reviewing reports that had already been approved, fetching documents that weren’t even necessary, nitpicking over work I had already done perfectly. It was all a show. A game.And I let it slide.I answered her every time, didn’t argue, didn’t give her the satisfaction of a reaction.She wanted me to break. She wanted to see cracks.But I refused to let her win.Still, as I sat at my desk, gathering my things, I could feel the exhaustion pressing down on me, not just physically but mentally.It was almost exactly like before, back when I lived under her roof—back when she controlled every aspect of my life, t
Brenda's POV The moment I laid eyes on Vanessa standing in my office doorway, a surge of disbelief shot through me.Lucian had made it very clear that she was no longer welcome here, and yet, here she was, standing in front of me like she owned the place.She was smiling. Not a friendly smile, but one filled with arrogance, as if she wanted me to know she was untouchable, that she could do whatever she wanted, no matter what Lucian said.I felt my fingers curl into fists at my sides."You shouldn’t be here," I said, keeping my voice steady.Vanessa chuckled, tilting her head. "Oh, Brenda," she murmured. "You didn’t really think I’d just disappear, did you?"I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could, a deep, furious voice thundered from behind me."What the hell are you doing here?"Lucian.His voice was thick with rage, and my entire body tensed.I turned just in time to see him storming toward us, his movements sharp, his expression deadly. His icy blue eyes were locked onto Va
Lucian's POV The murmurs swelled, a storm of whispers and gasps rippling through the hall, but I had no patience for them."Enough," I said, my voice sharp, cutting through the noise like a whip. The room stilled instantly, every pair of eyes locking onto me with wary anticipation. "There's been a mix-up." I didn't elaborate, nor did I feel the need to explain myself to my employees. They worked for me—I didn’t owe them anything beyond their paychecks."Go back to your duties." My tone left no room for argument. "Now."The exodus began, people slowly dispersing, though their curious gazes lingered on Brenda and me longer than I liked. I was about to walk Brenda out, eager to remove her from their scrutiny, when a voice sliced through the thinning crowd."Excuse me!"My eyes snapped up, a sigh already building in my chest before I even saw her. Vanessa.She stepped forward, cutting through the dispersing employees with an air of authority that made it clear she wasn’t about to be ign
Lucian's POV The morning sunlight poured through the glass windows of the company’s grand entrance as Brenda and I walked in, hand in hand. I held her firmly, not just as a show of support but as a silent message to everyone watching—we were a united front.Yet, despite the confidence I exuded, I could feel the tension in Brenda’s body the moment we stepped inside.The atmosphere was thick with hushed conversations, barely concealed snickers, and darting glances. Even though no one dared to speak outright when I was near, the whispers were unmistakable."Did you see the way she ran last night?""Barefoot, like some street beggar!""How embarrassing—"The moment my employees realized I was within earshot, their eyes widened, and their mouths snapped shut. Some gasped audibly, covering their lips with their hands as if that would somehow erase what they had just said. Others turned abruptly, pretending to be occupied with work they hadn’t been doing a second ago.I clenched my jaw but
Lucian’s POVThe door slammed shut behind Margot, leaving behind the sharp scent of her perfume and the bitter aftertaste of betrayal.I exhaled, forcing the anger in my chest to settle.Margot.For years, I had thought of her as a woman who, despite being my stepmother, had at least harbored some semblance of care for me and my father. But tonight, that illusion shattered.She had played us all.The affection, the kindness, the support—it had all been a carefully crafted performance. The moment she showed her true colors, demanding that I step down as CEO, I knew the love she claimed to have for us was nothing but a means to an end.She wanted power.She had never cared about me. Not as a son, not even as a person.I clenched my jaw and stepped out of my office. I needed air. More than that, I needed to see Brenda.I had left her to handle the charity team, but something in my gut told me to find her. I strode down the hallway, my mind still processing the depths of Margot’s deceit,
Brenda’s POVThe gala night was in full swing.The grand ballroom buzzed with energy as elegantly dressed guests mingled, their glasses filled with the finest champagne. Soft orchestral music drifted through the air, adding to the enchanting atmosphere. From the stage, a compere welcomed notable guests while waiters moved gracefully through the crowd, serving hors d'oeuvres on silver trays.As much as I wanted to stay by Lucian’s side tonight, we both had responsibilities to ensure the success of the event. While he was handling crucial business matters, I was preoccupied with my charity team, making sure everything was in place for the charity segment of the gala.Supervising the team was no small feat. The donations had to be organized, the presentation had to be flawless, and every guest who had pledged funds for the cause had to be acknowledged. My team bustled around the side of the hall, setting up the donation booth while I double-checked our list.Vanessa was surprisingly di
Brenda’s POVLucian’s fingers were warm as they curled around mine, his grip firm yet gentle, as if he never wanted to let go. We sat in the back seat of his sleek black car, the city lights casting a soft glow through the tinted glass. The hum of the engine and the distant chatter of pedestrians outside blended into a low, soothing murmur.I couldn’t stop smiling.Everything about this moment—about us—felt so surreal. Just weeks ago, my world had been nothing but uncertainty and struggle. And now? Now I was here, my fingers intertwined with Lucian’s, heading toward an evening gala as his wife.I turned slightly, my gaze trailing over his sharp, striking features. His jawline, defined and strong, his dark eyes focused ahead as he absentmindedly stroked my palm with his thumb. The smallest of gestures, but one that sent a warmth spiraling through my chest.As I looked back out the window, watching the city glide past us in a blur of neon and moonlight, my mind drifted back to the morni
Brenda's POVThe living room brimmed with friends who had turned up for Ralph's birthday party, the clinking of glasses, hearty chatter, and background music adding to the liveliness.From cutting the cake to making a toast, as a good girlfriend should be, I was right beside him through the whole process. It was a happy moment and I was supposed to be happy and totally unbothered. Well, I was happy—for him at least. But despite the happy atmosphere, I couldn't help the unusual clumsiness that descended on me tonight. I grabbed a drink and started refilling my cup. I was staring into vacancy, but the subconscious part of me noticed the silence that suddenly ensued at the table. Everyone was looking at me like I were some alien now, and I didn't realize what I was doing wrong until Ralph's voice cut through the silence like a sharp knife.“Babe! What are you doing? The cup is full.”Only then did I realize that I had been pouring the drink absentmindedly. It had filled to the brim,...
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