Brenda's POV The moment Lucian stepped out of the car and strode toward the towering structure of Kingsley Enterprises, my stomach twisted into knots.The sight of it alone was enough to make my breath hitch.I had seen pictures of his company before, but nothing compared to standing before its magnificent presence. The glass-paneled facade reflected the morning sun, sending streaks of golden light dancing across the pavement. The sheer height of the building, the polished entrance, the marble floors gleaming from the inside—I had never stepped into a place this… grand.I swallowed hard, suddenly aware of how out of place I felt.I had never worked in a setting like this before.Even when my father was alive, back when he was still rich and powerful, I had never gotten involved in business affairs. I was just a carefree daddy’s girl, living comfortably in college, never worrying about responsibilities, never imagining a life where money would be scarce.But all of that changed.When
Brenda’s POVMrs. Elizabeth had been on my mind lately.It had been weeks since I last saw her, and I wanted to tell her how so much had changed.She was the only person I could truly confide in, the one who had been my support during my darkest times. I could already imagine the look on her face when I told her I had married Lucian Kingsley—the very man she had subtly warned me against.Her sharp, knowing gaze would pierce through me, and she would probably shake her head, muttering something about how life always took unexpected turns.But I would assure her that it was just a contract marriage—nothing real, nothing permanent.One year.That was all.She would be shocked to know that Lucian had bought me a car and that I was now working in his company.I had so much to tell her—and yet, I wasn’t ready to tell Lucian about her.Not because I was hiding anything.But because Lucian was cautious—too cautious. He would question my connection to her, wonder about my past, and I wasn’t in
Lucian’s POVThe office was nearly empty now, save for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the quiet shuffle of my movements as I straightened a few files on my desk. The day had been long, but productive. I had just finished signing off on a few last-minute approvals when my eyes landed on a particular file.I reached for it, flipping it open.The Charity Division Project.My gaze skimmed through the neatly typed reports and budget breakdowns, but what caught my attention wasn’t the numbers.It was Brenda’s name.A slow, thoughtful smirk tugged at my lips as I leaned back in my chair, letting the file rest on my lap.Brenda had been a force since she joined the company—far more than I had anticipated.At first, hiring her had been nothing more than a way to keep her occupied, a means to control the situation. I had assumed she would blend into the background, maybe help here and there, but nothing major.I had underestimated her.The first day she stepped into the Charity Divisi
Lucian’s POVThe moment I crushed my lips on Brenda's, time seemed to freeze Brenda’s lips were soft against mine, her breath warm, her pupils blown wide in shock. The way her lips parted in surprise was a testament to how the moment realization struck her, I knew what it must have looked like. That I had taken advantage of the moment, of the alcohol in our system, of the playful night we had just shared. But even if it was reckless, even if I knew I shouldn’t have done it—I couldn’t stop myself. I didn't even know where the compulsion to kiss her came from. Before she could say anything, before she could pull away, I deepened the kiss.My tongue slipped past her parted lips, and instead of resisting, she let out the softest gasp against my mouth.We finally pulled away to breath and just when I thought I had a lot of explanation to do for my action, she surprised me even more and she pressed her lips to mine and kissed me back.My breath hitched in my throat.She didn’t just reci
Vanessa’s POVI paced back and forth in my bedroom, my heart hammering in my chest as I wrapped my arms around myself.The police had been frequenting our house for weeks now, just as my father had predicted.Each time they arrived, I felt my stomach twist in knots, my palms growing clammy as I strained to hear their conversations with my father.They were still here yesterday.Still asking questions.Still sniffing around like hungry wolves.They mentioned that their senior officer’s daughter was still in a coma.Her father was still at the hospital, refusing to leave her side.And worst of all?Inspector Smith was pressing them relentlessly to find the person responsible.The person who had done this to his daughter.I felt sick.The walls of this house were closing in on me and the painful thing there is that I had nowhere to run to. Even if I were to leave this house, Lucian would have been my go to person but I still could not bring myself to go to him.Although I've called Luci
Vanessa’s POVI remained frozen in place for a moment and the world around me seemed to fade into silence as my gaze darted between the masked costume in my mother’s hands and her cold, unreadable expression.I knew this moment was coming the second I realized the costume was missing.But nothing—not even my worst fears—could have prepared me for this.The weight of the situation sank deep into my bones, my heart pounding so loudly it felt like it was going to burst.I swallowed hard, my mouth dry, and forced myself to meet her stare again.She wasn’t just holding that costume.She was holding my biggest mistake.My darkest secret.And she was waiting for an answer.Her fingers twitched impatiently against the fabric.She was never a woman of much patience, but she had never looked at me like this before.Like a stranger.Like I was someone she didn’t recognize anymore.I tried to speak, to say something—anything—but all that came out was a strangled sound.Panic coiled around my thro
Brenda's POV I sank into my office chair, exhaling deeply as I leaned back, my fingers pressing against my temples in an attempt to ease the storm raging in my mind.Today wasn’t just another workday.It was my father’s posthumous birthday.And no matter how much time passed, the ache of losing him never truly faded.I missed him so much!The weight of his absence clung to me like a second skin, wrapping itself around my chest, making each breath feel heavier.Memories of him flickered through my mind—his warm laughter, the way he always made even the darkest days seem bearable, how he held my hand when everything started to crumble around us.Even when he was scammed.Even when we lost everything.Even when he fell ill, and our world became a never-ending struggle for survival.Through it all, he had still been my father.My protector. My hero.But today, I was sitting here in some office, living a life so far removed from the one we once had together.I should have been focused—I
Brenda’s POVBefore I could respond to the knock, the door swung open.Lucian.Of course, it was him. Only he would barge in like that, completely disregarding my permission.My breath hitched as he strode toward me with cold, calculated steps, his tall frame cutting a powerful silhouette against the office light.His expression was unreadable. But his eyes—his cold, piercing eyes—bore into me with a sharp intensity that made my stomach twist.I slowly rose to my feet, bewildered by his presence, my pulse hammering against my skin.“What…?” I started to ask, but before I could complete my sentence, his voice sliced through the air.“What the hell was that all about earlier?”I blinked. “What?”Lucian’s jaw clenched.“In the meeting,” he clarified, his tone sharper this time. “And even now. What the hell is wrong with you?”His words sent a sting through my chest, but I forced myself to remain composed.“I— I don’t understand what you mean,” I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady.
Lucian’s POV“Brenda! Brenda, please!”My voice was hoarse, raw with desperation as I cradled her limp body against me. The warmth of her blood seeped into my clothes, sticky and thick, a constant reminder that she was slipping away. My heart pounded in my chest, my breaths ragged as I shook her lightly, willing her to open her eyes, to say something—anything.Tears burned at the edges of my vision, but I refused to let them fall.I couldn’t lose her.I wouldn’t lose her.“Damn it, Brenda, stay with me!” My voice cracked as I pulled her closer. “Don’t do this—don’t you dare leave me like this.”She didn’t respond.A strangled sob tore from my throat, and I pressed my forehead against hers, murmuring broken pleas against her skin. My entire body trembled as panic surged through me, drowning out all rational thought.I had to get her to a hospital.Now.With a deep breath, I swallowed the fear choking me and gathered her in my arms, staggering to my feet. Sweat dripped down my temples
Lucian’s POVMy fingers trembled slightly as I fast-forwarded through the CCTV footage, scanning each second with sharp focus. The tension in the room was suffocating, the only sounds being the low hum of the computer and the occasional sharp intake of my breath. My eyes burned from staring too long at the screen, but I couldn’t afford to blink—not until I found something.And then I did.Vanessa appeared on the screen, emerging from the restroom. Her posture was relaxed, unaware of the impending danger.Then her phone rang.I watched as she pulled it out of her purse, answering with a quick swipe. I couldn’t hear what was being said, but her reaction was immediate—her brows lifted in surprise, then a slow, eager smile spread across her face. Whatever was being told to her, it excited her.Then, without hesitation, she turned and started walking.My pulse spiked as I tracked her movements. She wasn’t heading back to the party—she was heading toward the exit.“Where the hell are you g
Lucian’s POVIt had been five weeks since Vanessa was released and reunited with her sister and mother. Five weeks since the dust began to settle, since the chaos that once tore through all our lives finally started to fade into something resembling peace.In those five weeks, everything had changed.My father had been sentenced to ten years in prison, a fate that somehow felt both too lenient and just enough. Meanwhile, Grayson had received life imprisonment—a fitting end for a man who had thrived on destruction.But justice didn't stop there.Since Grayson had stolen Miller’s capital—money meant for Mrs. Elizabeth’s fashion design business—along with her entire business idea, the court had ruled that the business rightfully belonged to her. The legal process to transfer ownership back to her was still ongoing, but soon, she would finally reclaim what had always been hers.Yes, a lot had changed.And as I sat on the couch, lazily scrolling through my phone, I couldn’t help but feel a
Vanessa’s POVThe past few days had been nothing short of a nightmare—a slow, painful unraveling of everything I thought I knew about myself.I had always carried myself with an air of superiority, proud of the wealth and power that surrounded me, believing I was untouchable. But now… now, I was nothing. A nobody.The moment Grayson had looked me in the eye and coldly told me that I wasn’t his real daughter, my entire world came crashing down. The man I had spent my entire life seeking validation from, the one I had desperately tried to impress, had never even considered me his own.I was just an adopted child.The words had cut deeper than I could have ever imagined.And if that wasn’t enough, yesterday’s revelation had struck the final blow—the one that shattered me completely.Officer Smith had walked into this cell, looked me dead in the eye, and delivered a truth so painful I had struggled to breathe.Brenda.Brenda, the woman I had despised with every fiber of my being. The wom
Brenda’s POVThe air in the hospital room remained thick with tension, the weight of Officer Smith’s revelation still settling over us. Grayson had been the one to order my father’s murder. The thought alone sent another wave of cold rage through me, but before I could fully process it, Officer Smith’s gaze suddenly shifted.I noticed how his eyes moved—from Mrs. Elizabeth to me, then back to her again. A slow, almost knowing smile spread across his face, and I felt a strange sense of unease rise within me.“What is it?” Lucian asked, his brows furrowing slightly.Officer Smith finally spoke, his voice carrying a kind of anticipation that made my heart pound faster.“Mrs. Elizabeth,” he began, his eyes flickering between the both of us again. “It would interest you to know that Brenda—seated right here—is your biological daughter.”The words hit me like a slap.I felt my body jolt slightly as I blinked rapidly, my mind trying to process what I had just heard. My mouth parted slightly,
Brenda's POVI couldn’t just blurt it out.Not like this.Not when Mrs. Elizabeth had only just regained her memory, not when she was still fragile from years of lost time. I feared that the shock might be too much for her, that her body—already weakened from everything she had endured—might not be able to handle the pain of this truth.But she wasn’t going to stop asking.Her panicked eyes searched mine, pleading for an answer I didn’t want to give. The desperation in her voice clawed at my heart.So I did the only thing I could.I stepped closer, lowering myself beside her hospital bed.Her breath hitched as she looked up at me, hope flickering in her gaze, waiting for me to say that everything was fine—that Miller was alive and well, waiting somewhere for her.But I couldn’t give her that.I swallowed hard, my throat tight with emotion, and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.I didn’t say a word.I didn’t have to.The moment my fingers squeezed lightly, the warmth of my touch mea
Brenda's POVThe hospital room erupted into chaos.A mix of confusion, disbelief, and an overwhelming sense of unease swept over me as I tried to process what had just happened. My heart pounded so loudly in my chest that it almost drowned out the voices around me.I turned sharply to Lucian, my mind racing. “How—” The words barely left my lips before Officer Smith stepped forward, cutting me off with a firm but curious tone.“How did you know that name?” Officer Smith asked Lucian, his eyes narrowing. “How did you know Miller George was her husband?”Lucian exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face as if deciding how best to explain what he knew. His expression was serious—more serious than I had ever seen it.“I overheard it,” Lucian admitted. “Back when Grayson and his father were arguing. They mentioned his name.”My breath hitched. “What?”Lucian nodded, his eyes flickering to me before returning to Officer Smith. “I didn’t think much of it at the time,” he continued, “but from what
Brenda’s POVAs Lucian turned the knob and swung the door open, the sight of Officer Smith standing there sent a ripple of surprise through the room.A thick silence settled as everyone took in his unexpected presence. Mrs. Elizabeth shifted slightly in her seat, her expression puzzled. I could sense Lucian stiffen beside me, his sharp eyes scanning the officer as if trying to gauge the reason behind his visit."Good evening," Officer Smith greeted, his voice even but carrying an air of urgency. His gaze flickered over everyone before finally settling on me. "Ms. Brenda, Mr. Lucian, I see I’ve come at the right time."A tight knot formed in my stomach. Why was he here? How did he even find us? My fingers clenched slightly at my sides as my mind raced with possible reasons. Was it about the investigation? Had something happened? Was it bad news?"If you’re wondering how I found you," he continued as if reading the unspoken questions in our eyes, "I went to your house first, Ms. Brenda.
Brenda's POVMrs. Elizabeth’s tears flowed freely, her shoulders quivering slightly as the weight of her words settled over us like a thick, suffocating fog. I sat frozen, trying to grasp the depth of what she had just revealed. She had been pregnant… with twin girls.Twin girls.My heart pounded in my chest. I could barely breathe as she continued speaking through her sobs."I had no choice but to leave my husband," she murmured, her voice raw with pain. "I was terrified. I thought I was protecting him… protecting myself. I didn’t even tell him I was carrying his children."Lucian sat motionless beside me, his usually sharp and composed features softened by an emotion I couldn’t quite place. His hand curled into a tight fist against his thigh, his knuckles turning white."I gave birth alone," Mrs. Elizabeth went on, her gaze distant, as if she was reliving those painful memories. "Two beautiful girls… my little angels. I raised them myself. It wasn’t easy, but I tried. I did everythi