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
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,
Brenda's POVI sat in the cab and watched the cab driver speed up as I had instructed, my mind a swirling tempest of disappointment, rage, and fear.My eyes stung with the unshed tears I was making so much effort not to let out. I couldn't bring myself to bawl my eyes out and make the driver look at me as though I were a baby who just lost her candy. The more I tried to get Ralph's betrayal off my mind and focus on getting to Dad early, the more my mind drifted to that annoying scene. “Brenda, wait. It's not what you think.”Those were the words that came out of that bastard’s mouth when I grabbed my phone and stormed out of his room.To think he was bi-asexual in the first place and that he was still telling me that it wasn't what I thought despite what I saw, he must've taken me for a complete fool. There was absolutely no amount of explanation that would justify his action or make me disbelieve what I saw back there.My heart seemed to clench at the thought that I almost allowe
Brenda's POV I had just survived a ghastly car accident, though I couldn’t decide if it was a blessing or just life prolonging my torment. The driver, intoxicated and speeding, lost the cop chasing us, but the car tumbled twice. I escaped with minor scratches, but the two men in the car were covered in blood. I didn’t even check if they were alive—I couldn't afford the cop to catch up with me.I crawled out of the overturned car and sprinted into an alley, stopping only when I saw the gate of a mansion opening for a luxurious vehicle. Hearing the police siren growing louder, I slipped into the compound unnoticed behind the car.I hid in the shadows and watched as a man with an aura of authority stepped out. Suddenly, he turned in my direction and barked, “Step outside now!”Trembling, I emerged with my hands raised. His stern voice demanded, “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” At first, I didn't know where to start, but with another shout from him, I nervously explained
Brenda's POV The moment Vanessa stopped her dad from calling the police on me, albeit I felt a pang of relief, I knew she was up to something.“Are you sure you don't want me to report her to the police?” Mr. Grayson asked, his face mirroring the surprised look of his wife. “Yes father, I will teach her a lesson myself. Trust me to handle her.” Vanessa replied. Vanessa's smirk was enough to tell that she was trying to frame me for something I didn't do. But just as I had expected, her parents pretended they didn't see it. They were birds of the same feathers, after all, so I shouldn't expect less cruelty from them. Her mum looked unsatisfied. “And what penance do you intend to give to her which she won't get in the police custody?”“First, she can't leave this house until she pays for this expensive glass cup that she broke,’’ the spoiled brat answered.“I didn't didn't break that, you...” I tried to protest, but a sudden resounding slap across my face killed the last word left f
Lucian's POVWhen my gaze met Vanessa's, I didn't know what to make of the anger and jealousy that I saw in her eyes. For a moment, I wondered when Vanessa started getting jealous, seeing me with other women. I would have sworn that she was just up to her usual shenanigans, but I was flabbergasted at how that anger and jealousy in her eyes looked so real. After embracing the hell out of me earlier, she had left me briefly to say hello to another man who she must have known from somewhere else.Vanessa and I were just friends, so I didn't see anything wrong with that. I didn't even feel a pang of jealousy as she smiled before the man, who was also wearing a small mask. My parents had not only been pressuring me to get married soon. Like I was a fool who couldn't make decisions for himself, they had decided that I'd get married to Vanessa.I had always considered their resolve and determination a silly joke that was worth laughing over. First, I wasn't ready to get married. Second,
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
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 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 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
Lucian’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