NADIA'S POVMy hands shook as I gripped my phone, my vision blurring with unshed tears.“Max, I…” I started again, but I couldn’t finish. What was there to say? I had been caught.The realization hit me like a freight train. There was no way out of this. Max knew, the restaurant patrons knew, everyone knew.And Max? He just sat there, watching me, waiting for me to admit the truth.I looked back down at the photo, my chest tightening with shame. The caption felt like a slap in the face, mocking me.I had been so careful…or at least, I thought I had been. But now, it was all crumbling around me.“Max,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.He didn’t respond. He didn’t need to.Because at that moment, I knew there was no escaping this.The truth was out.And there was no denying it anymore."Why did you post the video, Max?" I slammed my hands on the table, my voice shaking with anger. My heart raced as I stared at him. The smug look on his face only fueled my rage. "You already knew I
NADIA'S POVAnd then he leaned closer, his next words hanging heavy in the air: "But first, there’s something you need to know."My heart stopped, the weight of his words settling over me like a storm."What is it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Max smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement and something darker. "I think it’s time I told you the truth," he said, his voice soft but full of menace.And with that, he cleared his throat again, his lips parting as if to speak.But the words never came."Are you ready to cause more chaos between Richard and Tammie?" Max asked, leaning back on the couch, his smug smile practically begging me to slap it off his face.I rolled my eyes, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Max, I’ve already done enough to stir things up between them. What more do you want from me?""Teamwork, Nadia," Max replied smoothly, his tone laced with a certain edge that made my skin crawl. "If we work hand in hand, we can destroy them completely."There was somet
NADIA'S POV"Dennis’s man found out you were there to collect a phone," Max said, his voice quieter now, almost conspiratorial. "Apparently, one of my men had repaired it for you."I clenched my fists, trying to keep my expression neutral, but I knew Max could see right through me."And then," Max went on, "Dennis saw you talking to the young man who fixed the phone you stole from me, that reminds me you were the one who posted that video by the way let's leave that one and come to the present.He was just being polite, wasn’t he? A kind, unsuspecting soul. But you…oh, you had other plans, didn’t you?""Shut up, Max," I hissed, my voice barely above a whisper."Oh, I’m not done yet," Max said, raising a hand dramatically. "You see, the moment Dennis described the scene to me, I knew I had to act fast. I told him to start recording immediately. You never know when something interesting might happen, right?"My breathing quickened. My mind raced back to that day, piecing together the de
CHAPTER 48NADIA POVMax raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying how desperate I sounded. “Eager, aren’t we? I like that. But patience, Nadia. All in good time.”“No,” I snapped, my anger flaring again. “We start now. There’s no time to waste. Mr. Kenneth is out of his coma, and I don’t want him interfering.”Max’s expression froze, his smirk vanishing in an instant. “What did you just say?”“You heard me,” I said, feeling a small sense of satisfaction at the shock on his face. “Mr. Kenneth woke up. He’s out of the coma.”Max’s eyes widened, and for the first time, he looked genuinely rattled. His confidence faltered, and I could see his mind racing, trying to process the new information.“What do you mean he’s awake?” he demanded, his voice sharper now, almost panicked.“That’s exactly what I said,” I replied, crossing my arms. “And that changes everything, doesn’t it?”Max didn’t respond immediately. He was too busy grappling with the implications of what I’d just told him. For once, t
NADIA'S POVI just couldn't stop thinking about what Max had told me earlier in the restaurant. I remembered those statements as it kept echoing in my head."You can’t seriously expect me to agree to that, Max!" I hissed, slamming my hand down on the table.My voice came out louder than I intended, earning a few curious glances from nearby diners. But I didn’t care. I was too furious to keep my composure.Max leaned back in his chair, his smug smile making my blood boil. "Why not? It’s a fair deal, Nadia. You want something from me, and I’m simply stating my terms. Take it or leave it."I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to reach across the table and wipe that arrogant grin off his face. "Fair? You call this fair? You’re blackmailing me, Max!"He shrugged as if my outburst was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. "Call it what you want, sweetheart. I prefer to think of it as... strategic negotiations."I remembered how I had wished to stand up from the chair that I was seated i
NADIA'S POV“Just drive,” I snapped at the old man, telling him to mind his business as I was in my car and not his. One of my other hands clenched into fists on my lap. My throat burned from holding back tears.By the time we pulled up to my house, my fury hadn’t subsided. If anything, it had gotten worse. I threw a couple of bills at the driver without waiting for my change and stormed up the porch steps.As I shoved the door open, I felt a sudden chill. The living room was eerily quiet, and my mother, Mrs. Morales, was seated stiffly on the couch. Her hands were folded, her phone resting on the table, but the tension in the room was unmistakable.Before I could open my mouth to complain about my ruined night, her hand came out of nowhere. It was a SLAP! Wait a minutes, she just slapped me.“MOM! What the hell was that for?!” I yelled, holding my burning cheek.Her face was flushed with anger, and her hands trembled, not from regret, but from the fury she was struggling to contain.
NADIA'S POVBut as I stared at the floor, my jaw set with hatred towards Max, he was the cause of all this. If my mother thought she could send me away and fix everything, she was wrong. I wasn’t going to let this be the end.No matter what it took, I was going to find a way to stay.I stormed into my room, slamming the door behind me with more force than necessary.“Stupid, stupid, stupid!” I muttered, throwing my bag onto the bed. The problems of the day were crushing me, and I needed a release. Stamping my foot against the floor, I let out a frustrated groan.“Why does she always have to control my life?” I muttered to myself. My thoughts were racing, wild and untamed. “She can’t just send me away like I’m some rebellious teenager who doesn’t know right from wrong!”I paced the room, chewing on my thumbnail, my mind churning for answers. “I’m not going to let her win,” I said aloud, my voice firm. “I’ll find a way to convince her that I’m innocent.”Even as the words left my mouth,
NADIA'S POVMom’s expression didn’t soften. She raised an eyebrow, her posture stiff. “Nadia, what is this about?”I clasped my hands together, bowing my head. “I know I’ve messed up,” I said, my voice thick with desperation. “I know I’ve done things I shouldn’t have, but please… give me one more chance. I’ll change. I promise!”Her silence was unbearable. I risked a glance up at her, but her expression remained unreadable.“I’ll stay away from Richard and Tammie!” I blurted out, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I won’t cause any more trouble for them. I swear!”Mom let out a heavy sigh, but she still didn’t speak. Her lack of response only made my panic grow.“Mom, please,” I begged, tears streaming down my cheeks. “I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll be better. I just… I just need one last chance.”Her eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, I thought she might actually listen to me. But then her lips pressed into a thin line, and my heart sank.“I know I’ve disappointed you,” I sai
NADIA'S POV.I gripped the steering wheel tighter as I drove away from the secluded spot, my mind racing with thoughts of Max and his twisted games.The wedding invitation card sat on the passenger seat, mocking me with its gold-embossed letters. Nadia and Max. It was written so elegantly, so perfectly, as if this was a love story meant to be.I scoffed, the bitter taste of anger lingering on my tongue. Love story? What a joke. Max didn’t love me. He didn’t even know the meaning of the word. This was about power, control, and, most of all, wealth.I knew exactly why Max had shown me that card. He was sending me a message, a warning. He was stylishly telling me to hasten up my plans to destroy Tammie and Richard’s marriage.And if I didn’t do it soon, if I was too slow or too careful, then I’d have no choice but to marry him.I gritted my teeth, the reality of his manipulation sinking in. Max was trying to corner me, to pressure me into speeding up my plans. He knew I didn’t love him.
NADIA'S POV.I paced back and forth in my room, my fingers tightening around my phone as I dialed Alisha’s number. The nerve of that girl…thinking she could play games with me.She had one job: to break up that wedding, and she failed miserably. Worse, she thought she could switch sides, working for Max behind my back. Pathetic.The phone rang twice before she picked up.“Nadia?” Her voice was uncertain, almost shaky. Good. She was already scared.I didn’t waste time on pleasantries.“You really thought you were smart, huh?” I spat, my voice dripping with contempt. “Working for Max while pretending to be on my side? Do you take me for a fool?”“Nadia, I…”“Shut up.” I cut her off, my patience wearing thin.“You failed me. You failed miserably, and now you think you can just disappear? Do you have any idea who you’re messing with?”She was silent on the other end, probably shaking in her boots. I could picture her now, all that fake confidence crumbling.“I own this game,” I continued,
RICHARD POV.It had been a week since Alisha left. A week since I found that note in her room, neatly placed on her pillow as if she’d planned her exit down to the last detail.Thank you for all you’ve done for me, but have it in mind that I have regained my memory and chose to leave your house without you knowing. Don’t look for me.I read that note at least a dozen times, trying to decipher what was real and what was just Alisha being... Alisha.Had she truly remembered everything? Did she remember the accident? The reason she was staying under my roof in the first place? Or was this another one of her games?The memory of finding that note still sat heavy in my chest, a weight I couldn’t quite shake off. And the strangest part was, I wasn’t sure why it bothered me so much.Alisha had been nothing but trouble since the day she entered my life…manipulative, secretive, and too good at playing the victim.I should’ve been glad to see her go. Relieved, even. But that’s not what I felt.
ALISHA POV.The door opened, and my heart skipped a beat as I turned to see who it was.My eyes widened in shock as Mrs. Garrison walked in, her head held high, her presence commanding the room the moment she stepped inside.I didn’t expect it to be her. Of all people, I never imagined Richard’s mother would show up tonight.She was dressed elegantly, as always, in a tailored suit that screamed wealth and power.Her hair was perfectly styled, not a strand out of place, and her lips were painted in that signature red that made her look even more intimidating.Her sharp eyes scanned the room, landing first on Tammie. Her face softened instantly, a warm smile spreading across her lips as she hurried towards her.“Oh, my dear!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with affection.“Tammie, my beautiful daughter-in-law!”I watched, my chest tightening as Mrs. Garrison wrapped her arms around Tammie, pulling her into a tight embrace.Tammie laughed softly, returning the hug, her eyes shining with
ALISHA'S POV.My phone rang, slicing through the suffocating silence of my room. I jumped, my heart hammering in my chest as I saw the name flashing on the screen.Nadia.I swallowed hard, my throat tightening as dread pooled in my stomach. I knew this call was coming…I just didn’t expect it so soon.My hands trembled as I picked up the phone, pressing it to my ear, forcing myself to sound calm.“Hello?”There was a pause, a tense, heavy silence that made my skin crawl. Then her voice came through, cold and sharp, cutting straight to the bone.“You think you’re clever, don’t you?”My heart stopped. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. I felt like a deer caught in headlights, frozen, helpless, knowing the impact was coming but unable to move out of the way.Nadia’s laugh was low, bitter, dripping with contempt.“All this time, pretending to work for me, pretending to be loyal... and all along, you were working for Max.”I felt the blood drain from my face, my knees buck
ALISHA'S POV.I stared at my reflection in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman who looked back at me.Her eyes were hollow, haunted, dark circles forming beneath them from too many sleepless nights.Her face was pale, drawn tight with guilt and worry. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, the weight of her secrets pulling them down.I turned away, unable to face myself any longer. How did I get here? How did I become this person…someone who betrays the very person who trusted me the most?Nadia.My stomach twisted just thinking about her, remembering the way she had looked at me when she offered me this job. There was no doubt in her eyes, no suspicion.She trusted me, believed in me, gave me this position to watch Tammy and Richard, to report back to her, to help her carry out her plans.But I’d betrayed her.The guilt was suffocating, wrapping itself around my chest and squeezing until I could barely breathe. I pressed a hand to my heart, trying to steady its frantic beat. It
TAMMIE POV.I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. All I could feel was him…his lips on mine, his hands on my body, his warmth surrounding me.I was lost in him, drowning in his touch, his scent, his taste. I didn’t want to stop. I didn’t want to let him go.My hands moved on their own, gliding over his shoulders, down his chest, feeling every muscle, every line. His body was firm, strong, and I wanted to feel more of him.I wanted to be closer to him. I pulled him closer, pressing myself against him, feeling his heart racing against mine.His lips moved against mine, desperate, hungry, as if he couldn’t get enough of me. And I couldn’t get enough of him.I matched his urgency, my fingers tangling in his hair, my body arching into his touch. I felt his hands slide down my waist, gripping me tighter, pulling me closer.I was losing myself in him.I didn’t even realize when he started to unbutton his shirt. I didn’t realize when his clothes fell to the floor.All I knew was his skin agai
RICHARD POV.I didn’t realize how heavy my breathing was until I heard it echoing through the hallway.My chest felt tight, each breath a struggle as I cradled Tammie in my arms, her body limp, her face pale.I tightened my hold on her, my heart kept beating loud as I made my way to her room, my footsteps quick and steady. I couldn’t let go. Not yet. Not when she looked so fragile, so broken.I should’ve been there sooner. I should’ve protected her. If I hadn’t been so stupid…so consumed by my own pride and anger…I would’ve never let her walk out alone.I knew something was off when she left the house without a word, her face blank, her shoulders tense even though she must be mad at me for hugging Alisha or probably thinking I have something to do with Alisha.Or was she trying to do something stupid? That’s why I followed her.That’s why I trailed her car all the way to that damn parking lot, hiding in the distance, watching her every move. I didn’t know who she was meeting. I didn’t
MAX'S POV.I watched Tammie’s back as she stormed off, her shoulders rigid with anger, her head held high. She was mad…really mad.But she didn’t understand. She didn’t get that everything I was doing, every word I’d said, was for her. For us.I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I watched her march across the parking lot, weaving through the maze of cars.My heart raced, my chest tightening with frustration. I had done everything I could to show her how much she meant to me. I even offered to cancel my wedding for her.For her! How could she not see how serious I was? How much I was willing to sacrifice just to have her back?My eyes fell to the spot where the promise ring had rolled to a stop, its silver band glinting under the sun. She’d slapped it out of my hand like it was trash.Like it meant nothing. My jaw clenched. How could she be so cruel? So heartless?The wedding invitation felt heavy in my hand, my knuckles whitening as I gripped it tighter.I’d played