~~~ASHLEY'S POV~~~The aura in the air was already screaming that there was something serious she wanted to say to me. And the way her arms were crossed and her lips were pressed together in that tight line I hated, proved my right. Mom called me earlier this morning saying she wanted to see me but I was busy, so I showed up now and the way she was looking at me told me this conversation wasn’t going to go well.“How long, Ashley,” she said after a moment of silence.“How long what?”“How long will you keep living like this?”“Living like what, Mom? I'm totally living my best life.” She let out a long sigh and shook her head like I was some hopeless child who didn’t understand the world. “This isn't your best life, neither is it the kind of life I wanted for you. I thought you're smarter than these but you keep disappointing me. Look at yourself, Ashley. You have no job and no money and nothing to your name except being Kingsley Bane’s girlfriend. Is that all you want to be? A gir
When I arrived at Ambrosia Hall, my heart was beating so fast that I felt like it would burst st any moment. A waiter led me to a private room, and when the door opened, I froze on sight.The room was dim, and a single beam of light illuminated a beautifully set table. There was a bouquet of roses in the center and the sight was so romantic that I felt tears prick my eyes.But as I stood there, I couldn’t stop the small voice in my head. “You worked hard for this. Every humiliation, every pain, every tear…you really deserve this.” And then I saw him—Kingsley, standing tall in a black tuxedo suit with his hair perfectly styled. He looked so handsome that I couldn’t help but stare, my heart racing with every step he took toward me. “You’re here.”“Yeah,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady even though I was trembling inside. “I came as fast as I could. Your message sounded urgent.”“Thanks,” he said, his lips curling into a warm smile. “And you look beautiful tonight.”I could f
~~~MAYA'S POV~~~A smile tucked at the corner of my lips as I pictured Ashley’s entire expression. When she entered at first, she had no idea that she wasn't the only one here, as everywhere was dark, with light only focused on the table, which was set for Kingsley and Lysol, and also on the piano.I watched her as she played the piano well, pouring all her soul into it, and even the tone moved me. But when there was a loud burst of confetti and she snapped her eyes open, I could not help but burst into laughter when she first saw the proposal banner with Lysol's name on it.Poor Ashley.She had truly believed he was going to propose to her and had held onto that belief so tightly, probably imagining herself in a white dress, standing beside him in front of a crowd.Like, I really couldn’t deny that seeing her crushed expression gave me some satisfaction. Well, after everything she had done, after all the pain she had caused me, wasn’t it fair that she got a taste of her own medicine?
Walking toward Betsy, she gave me a disdainful look. “You know you’re such a bad person, Ariel.”“Am I?”“Like… How could you not tell me about this beforehand? Do you know how shocked I was? I nearly fainted!”I laughed, shaking my head as I finally got what she was saying. “Oh, sweetheart, I'm really sorry. I wanted to, but I don't really think it's such a big deal.”Betsy sighed dramatically before shaking her head. “You really have no idea what you made me do. I literally blew up all his lines with messages and insults when you went missing after the ruined wedding day. I was so mad at him that I thought he was the one taking you for granted.”I raised a brow, curious. “What did you say to him?”She bit her lip before groaning. “Let’s just say I gave him a piece of my mind.”That’s not good.But looking at Kingsley, I don't really think he still remembers that.“I’m sure he didn’t take it to heart.”She pouted. “I still feel bad, though.”I waved my hand dismissively before taking
~~~LANCE'S POV~~~ “We’ve been sitting here for six damn hours,” Bryan muttered, rubbing his temple. “Not a single damn fly has walked out of that place. I think it’s time we give up and try another method.” I didn’t look at him. My eyes stayed on the entrance of The Haven Lounge. “No, I'm sure this is the best way to catch him. If we go in there, he’ll see us coming and slip out before we even know where to look.”Bryan groaned, sinking further into his seat. “I get that, but I actually have real work to do. Unlike you, I can’t afford to waste my whole day on a wild goose chase.” I turned my head slightly, catching the frustration etched all over his face. His jaw was clenched, brows drawn together and his fingers were tapping impatiently against the steering wheel. I could clearly see that he’s at his limit. “Relax, I’m damn sure he’s in there and my gut is telling me that he’ll show his face soon. So just chill. And besides, aren’t lawyers supposed to fight for justice? I got in
~~~MAYA'S POV~~~I run through the hospital doors like a madwoman. The shoes I am wearing feel a little uncomfortable, which means I must be wearing them wrong, but I don't really care.Right now, I am not in my right mind. No mother would be.When Lance was rushed here last time, I had prayed to never experience this again—to never have someone I love lying in a hospital bed.But it has happened again. And to Bella.We were celebrating Betsy’s success, as she had successfully opened her resort, when Lance's call came in. In fact, right now, I'm managing to stay upright as I am still under the influence of alcohol."Bella… where is Bella?" I demanded as soon as we reached the reception. My voice was shaking, my breath uneven, as I really can't even imagine the condition my poor baby is in.Mia, Betsy, and I stood there, eagerly waiting for the nurse to say something—anything.“The patient?” she asked.“No, a fucking goat! Do you treat those here?” I snapped, frustration and fear twist
As the words left my mouth, time seemed to stop for a moment. Lance didn’t move nor blink. He just had his eyes locked onto mine, and I saw them filled with emotions I couldn’t name. Was it anger? Or shock? Or maybe disbelief?I didn’t really know. His lips parted slightly, and a small, shaky breath escaped. “What?”“ So you will donate. And I own you one and nothing more.”His lips trembled like he wanted to say something, like he wanted to yell or ask questions. But no words came out of his mouth. Was he too shocked or maybe he was holding them back?I looked away because I couldn’t take it anymore.Lance didn’t say another word to me. He just turned to the doctor. “Where do I donate?” His actions surprised me as I expected him to explode or to question me about how it is possible as he even had a DNA done or even get angry that I had kept this from him. But I was a little surprised as I had imagined this moment so many times but in every version, Lance never reacted like this.Wa
~~~LANCE'S POV~~~I stood from my seat and gently pulled the bedsheet up, tucking it around Bella’s small frame. She looked so small on the hospital bed with a thick bandage wrapped around her head.I should have been more careful. If I had been, she wouldn’t be lying here like this.As she lay there, her face was pale but peaceful, and I could see the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.It was good to see her getting better, but she had just not woken up yet. The doctor just left and said she's now much better and that we should be expecting her to wake up soon.But I was a little tense. How would I even begin to explain myself when she woke up? What words could possibly justify the years I had not been by her side? No matter what I said, no matter how I tried to rationalize it, the truth remained the same; I had failed her.I lowered myself back onto the chair beside her bed, my heart aching as I gazed at her. After all these months of knowing I had a child, I had no
“What?!” My mind couldn’t process it. “No—maybe she was just following her dad’s orders.”But Maya just laughed again, that same bitter, empty laugh. “No, she wasn’t. She was the one behind it all and I was blind, Lance. I thought she was the kindest out of all of them. I actually believed she was helping me. But that bitch… she was just using me.”She turned to me, tears running down her face. “She used me to save her father from going to jail. No wonder why she knew that you were after someone when Bella got into an accident. I should have thought harder back then.”“I don’t get it.”“It’s simple and I was just too dumb to see it earlier. Back when I left everything and went to Ohio, If her father had taken over and me and my dad were kicked out, Carlos would have been the one arrested for the crime they blamed my father for. Sophia planned everything. She only did all that to protect her father, not to stop him from ruining the empire.”I exhaled sharply, trying to make sense of i
~~~LANCE'S POV~~~I hold Maya close as her sobs slowly die down but she still grips my shirt like she’s scared I’ll disappear. Every tear soaking through my skin felt like a knife straight to my heart.I should’ve been faster. No—I should’ve followed her the moment she rushed out of the boardroom. But I was too busy pretending like there was nothing between us just so I could keep earning Carlos’ trust.I had no idea he was cruel enough to do this. I’ve seen different sides of him, sides I didn’t even know existed, and I kept thinking maybe we were wrong. That maybe he wasn’t the one behind this. Apart from his obsession with taking over Maya’s father’s empire, I never saw him do anything truly awful.But now, I know he’s just been hiding it all along.And I swear, he’s not getting away with this. He’s going to pay.When Maya finally calms down, I help her sit on the bench. Her eyes stay locked on the unconscious kidnapper like she wants to rip him apart, but mine stay on her, trying
"Lucas is the most qualified person in this room," I continue. "And consider this: by supporting Lucas, we're setting a precedent. For the first time since the establishment of this empire, we're saying that the leadership of this company isn’t limited to only the Roderigo family. This means that any one of you here could potentially lead this empire one day, based on merit rather than bloodline."It was as if I had dropped a lottery card as the atmosphere in the room shifted immediately. I could see people coming to their senses, their expressions changing. Happiness filled their eyes as the realization of possibility, the potential and for some, the greed of leading this empire one day all came crashing onto them."So instead of helping others climb up, why not pave the way for your own future?"Carlos must see that the directors are now wavering in their decision. His face turned even darker."You can't—" he begins, but Aunt Melissa cuts him off."Maya is right. There is no legal b
It's finally the day of the board meeting. I have gotten more courage than I should have. Lance and I still haven't met each other, other than communicating on the phone. He's with Carlos twenty-four seven, meeting with other board members, trying to win them over to his side.Lance already told me that most of the directors were now on Carlos' side and that winning them over to my side would be a little difficult, especially within the short amount of time.This was exactly why we have come to make another decision, and I have already gotten permission from my father to do this.But the mystery part that we have been trying to solve and investigate was how the cops found the ledger that Lance presented the other day in my father's office.I clearly checked every single place in his office when he was arrested, leaving no stone unturned. So how did it miraculously get in there? The surprising part was that a week ago, when Mom was hospitalized and I was in the hospital with her, two h
As everyone settled into their seats and Mr. Williams opened his mouth to speak those words I already knew he wanted to say but I cut him off and stood up."It is with my deepest pain that I inform you all of the predicament of the leader of this great empire.""Now she informs us after a lot of damage has already been done," Alexander said mockingly.I remembered that they weren’t even supposed to be here. They had already promised not to set foot here again unless summoned.But now was not the time to address that.I continued, "My father, the leader of this great empire, has fallen into a trap set by his enemies—the same enemies he made while trying to protect this empire and drive it forward.My father has been leading this empire for a solid thirty-five years, ever since it was handed to him when he was just twenty-two years old. Despite his young age back then, he led us well—well enough for us to become number one across the globe.He’s not the kind of man who gives up on his p
~~~MAYA'S POV~~~I picked up a pair of red high heels from the shoe rack, slipping them on carefully. Stepping in front of the full-length mirror, I smoothed down my sleek black dress, the fabric hugging my figure in all the right places. But something still felt incomplete.Then my gaze shifted to my reflection and landed on my loose waves cascading over my shoulders. I suddenly didn’t feel like letting my hair fall freely this morning. So I gathered it up and twisted the strands into a smooth, doughnut bun.Now satisfied with my look, I grabbed my phone and then grabbed my bag before heading outside my room. As I climbed down the stairs with my heels clicking harder, my eyes glued to my phone. My hand hovered on the chain on my neck as I read Lance's two-old message for the hundredth time:"I love you, Maya. Remember that. I would never do anything to hurt you."He had sent this message to me and also sent the necklace. Those two things has been something that has been cheering me
~~~LANCE'S POV~~~It's been like four days now since Maya's father was arrested, and everything has spiraled into chaos faster than I could have imagined.For days now, Maya's family has been turned upside down. The reporters are even chasing her around, asking if she was aware of her father's activities.The media circus isn't helping either. Every time I turn on the TV or check my phone, there's another headline about A&R and Maya's father. The company's stock is in freefall and Maya's mother... God, she couldn't handle it all. She's in this same hospital now, three floors below and her body was giving in to the stress of watching her world crumble.No matter what anyone says, Maya still solely believes that her father is innocent. Unfortunately, belief alone cannot save him. They need more evidence which we still didn't have.My heart aches every time I think about Maya. She's been practically living at the police station, working tirelessly with their lawyers to secure her father'
"Dad!" I ran toward him.But one of the cops stepped in front of me, blocking me from getting in contact with my father. "Ma’am, please stay back.""Step aside this right now!" I shouted, my fury boiling over. "Do you have any idea of what you’re doing!""We have a warrant for his arrest and any interference on your part could be considered as an obstruction of justice. So I will advise you to step aside, ma'am.” the cop stated firmly but I didn’t care.I still tried to move past him. "This is ridiculous! Show me the evidence that he actually did all these!" But the officer blocked my path again.Then another cop who seemed to be in a higher rank than those in front of me, approached me. He introduced himself as Thomas and gave me a paper.I glared at him angrily before snatching the paper from his grip. My hand trembled as I scanned the accusations written in it. I just couldn't believe any of it. My father would do no such.I shook my head.” This is all bullshit. He’ll not do some
Biting my fingers like that would somehow erase all the memories that have haunting me since I woke up, I stared blankly out of the window.I could not believe that I cried like a kid. Talked too loudly right in front of everyone. And—God—I even spoke to a freaking shopping cart.Can you believe that?“Why would you even do something so embarrassing?” I muttered through clenched teeth, my face burning at the thought.I hadn’t been able to look directly at Lance's face since morning. In fact I have been avoiding him.And now, we are back on a plane heading back to Los Angeles as Bella had accidentally let it slip this morning that there was some kind of father’s contest happening today.She wasn't going to tell us if not for how she had let it slip out. I knew she found it difficult to talk about it before she knew we were her parents but what about after?I thought we have been bonding together for days now, so why didn't she say it? That they are having some activities at school an