MAX POVThe officer froze, his expression darkening. “Hand it over.”I shook my head, clutching the papers tightly. “It’s personal. You wouldn’t understand.”His jaw tightened. “If it’s personal, then why are you acting so suspicious?”“I’m not giving it to you, it's a Will that my grandmother left for me and it's a secret. ” I lied as I insisted, taking a step back.'' oh my goodness, your grandmother just died? So sorry about that and I also lost my grandmother two days ago. She's such a sweet soul. '' The police officer said in a cracked voice as if he wanted to cry.The officer’s eyes burned with suspicion, and I knew I was running out of time.From the corner of my eye, I saw Mr. Kenneth’s eyelids flutter slightly. My heart skipped a beat. Was he waking up?“Fine,” the officer said suddenly, his tone cold. “ You can go. ''I nodded then left with the contract in my hands as I couldn't believe that he believed such a simple lie.Without saying anything further, I started walking t
NADIA'S POVI closed my eyes and could see it so clearly, Richard standing at the altar, waiting for me. The white flowers around us shimmered in the soft light, their fragrance intoxicating.I was there, in a gown so perfect it felt like it was made just for me. The delicate lace clung to my figure, and the long train flowed behind me like a river of dreams.In my mind, Richard’s eyes met mine, and the world seemed to stand still. He smiled, that charming, disarming smile that had once made me believe in love.I imagined myself walking down the aisle toward him, every step a declaration that he was mine, not Tammie’s.When I reached him, he took my hand, his touch warm and steady. His voice echoed in my mind, deep and tender. “I’ve always loved you, Nadia.”And then, we kissed. A kiss so passionate, so full of promise, that it felt like the culmination of everything I’d ever wanted. The crowd around us faded into the background; it was just us, together, as it should’ve been from the
NADIA POVPressing the call button, I listened to the dial tone, tapping my fingers impatiently on the armrest.“Hello?” a gruff voice answered.“It’s Nadia,” I said sharply. “Just calling to remind you about tomorrow.”“Oh, I remember,” he said confidently. “Don’t worry, I’m ready.”“You better be,” I replied, my tone stern. “Because without you, the whole thing falls apart. This has to be seamless.”“It will be,” he assured me. “I’ve got everything lined up on my end. You just tell me where and when, and I’ll be there.”“Good,” I said, a slight edge of satisfaction creeping into my voice. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll send you the exact coordinates. Just make sure you’re ready.”“You’ve got it, Nadia,” he said, his voice firm. “I’ve been waiting for this day. Everything’s going to go as planned.”“You’d better hope so,” I said, my voice low and full of warning.As I hung up, a sense of unease ran through me. Everything was set, yet the stakes felt higher than ever. My phone sat heavy in m
NADIA'S POV“Nadia? Are you okay?” Stanley’s voice broke through my thoughts.I blinked, forcing a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I said quickly, turning my attention back to my brother.But curiosity got the better of me, and I glanced back toward where Mr. Jacob had been standing.He was gone.My stomach churned uneasily as I scanned the area. It was as if he had vanished into thin air. Had I imagined it? Or was he really here, watching us?I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought, but a gnawing feeling of unease rests in my chest.Something wasn’t right, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that Mr. Jacob’s presence…or absence…was no coincidence.Finally when we were at the dining table eating and drinking till the sudden question came up.'' Kid sister, I can see a ring on your engagement finger. '' My elder brother asked with a smiling face as he waited eagerly to hear my response.As usual I know my mother very well as she waited for me to explain to my father and elder brother that
NADIA POV.“I don’t understand why you’re so eager to hear Dad’s decision,” Stanley said, his voice heavy with frustration as he leaned back in his chair. “It’s not like he ever agrees to go to anything.”I shot him a sharp look. “Because it’s important, Stanley. I need him there…it’s not just about me.” only God knew the new plan I had in my heart.If my dad could be present at the party…I will make sure I cause chaos between my family and that of Mr Johnson's families, or do my dad think I don't know that there's a big beef between my dad and Mr Johnson?He may fool my mother and brother but not me. I remembered ever since we were little my father always tells my brother and I to stay away from the Johnson's families and any time my brother and I asked why…he always flipped into anger.Stanley sighed, shrugging. “If it’s not about you, then who?”I paused, my hands clenched into fists under the table. My heart raced as I glanced at our father, Mr. Morales, who sat silently, lost in
JACOB POV“Dad, why do you look so tense?” Daniel asked, sitting beside me in the car. His voice was calm, but his eyes held concern.Actually I had gone to the mansion of the Morales not just me but with my son, the letter i had seen in the email box when I had gone to collect my emails from my box that was placed in front of my house.I couldn't stop thinking about who had written the letter by telling me that it was one of the Morales families that had placed the exact necklace we had at the spot where my son had stayed on the rooftop.I leaned back in the driver’s seat, staring at the dusty windshield. “Tense? No, Daniel, I’m thinking. There’s a difference,” I replied, my tone sharp. I didn’t mean to snap, but my mind was swirling with too many questions, too many possibilities.He didn’t respond immediately. I glanced at him and saw his jaw tighten, his fists clenched. I sighed, softening my voice.“Daniel, tell me something. Did you see anyone near the spot where you left your g
JACOB POV“Let’s find out,” I said, answering the call. “This is Jacob.”“Mr. Jacob,” a voice said, smooth and confident. “I’ve got the contract file you requested.”I froze, my mind racing. The contract file. The missing piece. The one thing that could tie everything together.“Where is the contract file?” I demanded.The voice chuckled. “Let’s just say it wasn't easy to sneak the file out of the office but I did it. You’ll get the file soon enough. Consider it… a Christmas gift.”The line went dead.I stared at the phone, a slow, wicked smile spreading across my face. “Well, well,” I murmured. “It seems the game just got a lot more interesting.”Daniel looked at me, confused. “What happened? Who was it?”“One of my men who knows more than they’re letting on,” I said, slipping the phone back into my pocket. “But don’t worry, Daniel. We’ll figure this out. And when we do…”I didn’t finish the sentence. I didn’t have to. The look in my eyes said it all.The Morales family thought they
MAX POV"Max," the voice on the other end said, a note of urgency in his tone. "We’ve got a problem. Mr. Jacob got his hands on another copy of the contract file."My stomach tightened, but I kept my voice steady. "Don’t worry about it," I said. "I already signed the contract and collected the money. Jacob’s too late.""Are you sure about this?""Positive," I replied, a smirk forming on my lips. "I made my move before he even knew what was happening."As I ended the call, I couldn’t help but smile to myself. "Outsmarted you again, Jacob," I muttered.I walked back into the living room, my confidence radiating. My mother and Anya looked at me expectantly, their curiosity still burning.I didn’t say a word, letting the happiness of the moment hang in the air.Inside, though, my mind was already racing. If Jacob had another copy of the contract, things could get complicated when he tries to get the money and find out that it is all gone.NADIA'S POINT OF VIEWIt was already in the early
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