Brenda’s POVTwo days now.It had been two days since my life flipped completely upside down.Two days since I had run from my past—again.Two days of solitude, fear, and endless thoughts gnawing at my sanity.I sat on the edge of the hotel bed, my arms wrapped tightly around my knees, staring blankly at the beige-colored walls. The room was nothing special—just another generic hotel suite with an uncomfortable bed, dull wallpaper, and a television that I had barely glanced at.But it was safe.At least, for now.I exhaled shakily and rubbed my temples, my head throbbing from exhaustion. Sleep had been a stranger to me these past two nights. How could I sleep when my world was crumbling beneath my feet?I had some cash on me when I fled the company—enough to check into this hotel under a false name. But I knew it wouldn’t last forever.And I had nowhere else to go.Mrs. Elizabeth had always been my safe haven, but I couldn't risk going to her now. If the police were truly after me, th
Brenda’s POVThe moment my eyes locked onto Ralph’s, every muscle in my body tensed.I stood frozen, my breath coming in shallow bursts as a whirlwind of emotions crashed over me—anger, confusion, disbelief.He was the anonymous caller?The man who had warned me, saved me from being arrested?I wanted to turn around and walk away, but my feet refused to move.His expression was unreadable at first, but then his lips parted, and he took a cautious step forward."Brenda—""Stay the hell away from me," I spat, my hands clenching into fists at my sides.I couldn’t believe this.The man who had hurt me in more ways than I could count. The man who had shattered my trust, humiliated me, and set me up with that scandalous kiss—he was the one who had been watching over me?"Listen, I know you’re angry—""Angry?" A bitter laugh bubbled out of me. "I loathe you, Ralph. After everything you did, you still have the nerve to show up and act like some kind of savior?"He flinched, guilt flickering a
Brenda’s POVMy entire body tensed as Ralph's words echoed in my mind."It might interest you to know that Vanessa was the one who tried to murder Inspector Smith's daughter and framed you for the attempted murder instead."I felt my breath hitch, my stomach knotting as if I'd been punched. My lips parted, but no words came out. My brain struggled to process what I'd just heard.Vanessa.She had been the one behind it all.I should have known. I should have realized that her cruelty had no limits. But this? This was beyond anything I could have imagined.Before I could fully grasp the weight of that revelation, Ralph delivered another blow."That same Inspector Smith… is my biological father. And the girl Vanessa put in a coma… she's my junior sister."I gawked at him, completely blindsided. A thousand questions stormed my mind, but none of them could take shape."Your—what?" My voice was barely above a whisper.Ralph exhaled heavily, rubbing his face as if bracing himself for somethi
Brenda's POV “I have evidence that could exonerate you, Brenda”I gasped, my heart pounding in my chest as Ralph's words sank in. Evidence that could exonerate me?I felt my breath hitch as a powerful wave of relief and disbelief washed over me. Could this be real? Could I finally clear my name?"Ralph," I whispered, my voice trembling, "what do you mean? What kind of evidence?"He exhaled, running a hand through his hair, his expression serious. "I found a private investigator," he said. "The same one Vivian hired."That caught me off guard. Vivian? My brows furrowed. "Vivian? What does she have to do with this?""She was already looking into Vanessa," Ralph explained. "I don't know all the details, but I know she had suspicions about her. The investigator had already started gathering proof, but I needed something solid, something undeniable. So I paid him—almost all the money Vanessa gave me—so he could finish the job and get the real evidence we needed. Evidence that proves you'r
Lucian's POV For three days, Brenda had been missing. Three days since she had disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind a storm of accusations and shattered trust.And for three days, I had tried—unsuccessfully—to convince myself that I didn’t care.But no matter how much I told myself otherwise, the truth gnawed at me.I didn’t know what to think anymore.Betrayal had a bitter taste, and hers had burned like poison in my veins. I had trusted her—more than I had trusted anyone in a long time—and she had thrown it back in my face. She had kept me in the dark, manipulated me, stayed with me just for shelter. And now, she had the audacity to disappear?I should have been furious. I should have wanted nothing more than to wash my hands of her completely.But then why the hell couldn’t I focus on anything else?For the first time in years, I had been unable to function at work. Yesterday and the day before, I had forced myself to go in, pretending everything was fine, but my mind had
Brenda’s POVThe hospital loomed ahead like an inevitable judgment day.Ralph and I walked in silence, our footsteps echoing against the sterile white tiles of the hallway. The air smelled of antiseptic, a cold reminder of pain and suffering. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure Ralph could hear it.We had agreed—this was the only way. Running was no longer an option. If we wanted a chance at clearing my name, we had to face the truth, no matter how terrifying it was.For Ralph, it was about reuniting with his family after years of estrangement. For me, it was about standing before the very man who wanted to see me behind bars and proving my innocence.A man who, as of this moment, still saw me as nothing more than a criminal.I swallowed hard as a nurse guided us through the corridors toward the ward. My legs felt like jelly, my stomach churning with unease.“Are you sure about this?” I asked Ralph under my breath, my fingers gripping the strap of my bag to stop them from shaking.R
Lucian’s POVTime was slipping through my fingers like grains of sand. Every second counted.By the time I reached the company, my gaze darted across the parking lot, searching for the woman I had seen on the television—Mrs. Elizabeth.Then, I spotted her.She was already making her way toward a waiting cab, but she wasn’t alone. Another woman was with her, gripping her arm firmly, trying to pull her away.My heart lurched. At first, I thought it was one of those relentless reporters who wouldn’t stop hounding her for a headline. But something about the woman’s body language made me pause. She wasn’t shoving a microphone in Mrs. Elizabeth’s face or pestering her with questions. Instead, she looked…intent, almost desperate.I picked up my pace, weaving between parked cars, my pulse pounding as I closed the distance. My father’s men could be watching, lurking in the shadows, ready to make their move.I had to act fast.When I reached them, Mrs. Elizabeth was struggling, trying to pull a
Vanessa’s POVThe sound of my heels clicking against the marble floors filled the grand hallway as I walked into our mansion, shopping bags in hand. I had barely set them down when the front doors burst open with a violent force.A wave of officers in uniform flooded into the house."What the hell is going on?" I demanded, stepping back in shock.Before I could process what was happening, they swarmed the living room, guns drawn, voices firm. My pulse spiked. The air in the room felt suffocating."Vanessa Grayson, you are under arrest for attempted murder," one of them said, stepping forward with handcuffs in his grip.My mind went blank.“What?” I breathed.Before I could react, cold steel clamped around my wrists. The sensation was sharp, intrusive—completely unreal.My mother, who had been lounging on the couch, shot to her feet, panic flashing in her eyes.“Wait! This must be a misunderstanding!” she cried, rushing toward me. “There has to be some mistake! We can settle whatever t
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