Chapter 29By the time it was afternoon, Olivia could no longer contain the chaos that was raging in her head. She needed someone to unload her worries on. She picked up her phone to call Ruth. “Hey, babes. Are you at home right now?" she asked.“Right now?" Yes, I am. You coming over?" Ruth asked over the phone.“Yes. I’ll be there in a while”, Olivia replied, before hanging up her phone. She quickly picked up a modest outfit and put it on, grabbed her car keys and drove off to Ruth’s house.As Olivia drove to Ruth’s house, her mind spiraled. The weight of Christian’s distrust clung to her like a heavy cloak, suffocating her every thought. How could he think she’d ever harm Eunice? The very idea was absurd, and yet… here she was, driving away from the mansion because she couldn’t take the tension anymore.When she pulled into Ruth’s driveway, her stomach churned with unease. Ruth greeted her at the door with a bright smile, but it quickly faded as she noticed a strain in Olivia’s exp
Chapter 30Olivia stared blankly at Christian, trying to comprehend his question. “Olivia, I’m asking you a question here. Who is Marcus Hart? The security company says that you know him, he’s someone from your past”.Olivia looked into the space as if she was reminiscing about something. All of a sudden, she let out a gasp. “Marcus? He was my co-worker. More specifically, he used to be my supervisor when I was working at Rock Asset Management company. What is it about him?”Christian sighed and rubbed his hands together. “They found out that he’s most likely the one who hired a private investigator on you and planned the kidnapping of Eunice to blackmail you. Is there anything you have that he could blackmail you with?”Olivia’s heart thumped as she looked around looking for a possible answer. Then she remembered. Her voice trembled as she spoke. “There was a time when Marcus asked me out… several times, actually. I wasn’t interested, so I turned him down. After that, he became hosti
Chapter 31Christian stood by the window of his office, watching Olivia. She sat quietly in the garden staring into space while Eunice ran around chasing some butterflies. The tension between them had been palpable since the incident of Eunice’s attempted kidnapping, and he knew he had been harsh. Too harsh. He wasn’t used to feeling this… uncertain.Eunice’s birthday was approaching, and Christian realized that if they didn’t make an effort to appear united, Eunice would sense the discord. For all the turmoil in his personal and professional life, Eunice remained his anchor. And Olivia, whether he liked to admit it or not, was now an essential part of that equation.A while later, he went into the garden to meet them. “Uncle Christian”, Eunice’s voice pierced the air and brought Olivia’s attention back.“What are you doing here?" Are you here to play with Olivia and I?" she asked, her curiosity peaking.“Yes. I’m here to play with you and Olivia”, he said with a small smile on his fa
Chapter 32Olivia’s eyes widened in horror as Christian ripped off the disguise, revealing Marcus' twisted face. The same man who had haunted her past now stands in her present, fueling her worst nightmares.“How did he get in?” Olivia demanded, her voice shaking.Christian’s expression was grim. “I don’t know. But he’s not going anywhere.”The security guards tightened their grip on Marcus, who sneered at Olivia. “You think you’re safe with him? You think he can protect you?”Olivia felt a chill run down her spine. “What do you want, Marcus?”Marcus' eyes blazed with resentment. “You! You owe me! And now you’re married to him? You’re just a tease, Olivia. Always have been. If you wanted to sleep your way to prominence, you should have just started with me. You gave what was mine to another man."Christian stepped forward, his fists clenched. “That’s enough.”Marcus' laughter sent shivers down Olivia’s spine. “You don’t know what she’s capable of, Christian. You don’t know what she di
Chapter 33The laughter and shouts of children began to fade as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm orange hue over the remains of the birthday party. Most of the guests had left, with only a few lingering at the tables, chatting quietly as the day drew to a close. Christian stood near the edge of the makeshift beach, his hands in his pockets, watching Olivia from a distance.She was kneeling by the sandcastle they had built with Eunice, smoothing out the walls with her fingers, her face soft and focused. Christian’s gaze lingered on her longer than he intended. She looked different to him now—more than just Eunice’s nanny, more than the woman he’d married out of necessity. There was something about her, something that pulled him despite the tension between them.Marcus’s words echoed in his mind, biting and venomous: “She’s a tease. You don’t know what she did."Christian clenched his jaw, pushing the thought aside. Marcus was a liar, a manipulator, and yet his presence t
Chapter 34After his call, Christian looked somewhat distraught. He looked over at Olivia, then Ruth and Josh with panic in his eyes. Olivia quickly understood him, so she turned to Eunice.“Sweetheart, why don’t you go and play in your toy room while I discuss something with your Uncle?”“Is there something you still have to discuss? I thought you had kissed and made up”, Eunice asked with sheer disappointment in her face.“We did already. We just want to discuss some adult things. We’ll be done very soon. After our discussion, your uncle and I will read you bedtime stories together”, Olivia promised the pouting girl.Eunice nodded and ran upstairs towards her toy room. “Be fast with your discussions”.As soon as they heard the door click upstairs, the tension in the room thickened. Christian’s jaw was tight, and the small calm he’d worn earlier had vanished. Olivia, Ruth, and Josh immediately turned to him, concern mirrored in their eyes.“What’s happening?” Olivia asked, her voice
Olivia saw the headline and read the first few lines before her mind started spiraling. This is really bad for her and Christian, especially for his company. She wanted to cry at that moment, but she looked towards Eunice and didn’t want to confuse her, so she held up her emotions.She picked up her phone again, and went through the call logs, looking to call Christian and explain herself when Ruth’s call came through. She picked it up immediately.“Liv, have you seen the news and what they’ve been saying about you? I just opened my phone to read some entertainment news when I saw that. What are you going to do now? Has Christian seen it?" She rambled on without giving Olivia the opportunity to answer any of her questions.“I don’t know why this is happening again suddenly. I think this is Marcus' doing, and I’m not about to take it easy on him. I’ll call Christian and see what opinion he has about this. I’m just really hoping his company doesn’t get affected”, Olivia answered, soundi
Chapter 36Christian’s face remained the same but his eyes hardened even more. The secretary seeing the situation at hand, subtly faked a cough to call the attention of the employees. The four of them turned back to find Christian looking as angry as they had ever seen him.“Secretary Pitcher, inform them to go to the financial department and collect their salaries for the month. Since they have something else to do, they don’t need to come back to work tomorrow”, he said coldly before turning to leave.“Please sir. Please excuse our behavior”, one of them said as he ran after Christian. Secretary Pitcher held him back in time and faced the remaining three.“Please proceed as Mr. Mason had instructed, and submit your employee cards to the administrative department when you’re leaving”, he said as he turned back to go to the elevator.“Secretary Pitcher!" they called him as he went.Olivia paced around the living room, her mind racing with the events of the day. The air felt thick, hea
Epilogue Nine months later. The sun streamed gently through the tall windows of the new Matt & Rose Foundation building, casting a warm glow over rows of seated attendees—executives, students, members of the press, and friends. The air held something rare: hope. Christian stood at the podium in a tailored navy suit, a small white ribbon pinned to his lapel. His gaze swept across the audience, lingering on the front row, where Olivia sat beside Ruth. Ruth wore a floral midi dress and a guarded smile. Next to her sat Roosevelt Lee—a former college buddy of Christian’s, and for the past month, Ruth’s quiet comfort. Eunice sat on Olivia’s lap, her legs swinging under her dress shoes, proudly sporting a glittery badge that read Junior Ambassador. She waved when Christian looked her way. He winked, then returned his attention to the microphone. “Today,” Christian began, his voice carrying with ease, “we honour two people whose kindness shaped who I am. My brother and sister-in-law
Chapter 120 Another four months had passed since Josh’s first court appearance. Today was judgment day.The courtroom felt colder this time—not from the air, but from the finality clinging to the walls like frost. The trial had dragged on for weeks—meticulous testimonies, irrefutable digital evidence, and the haunting voices of those Josh had manipulated or destroyed. Ruth had testified. So had Olivia. And Christian had taken the stand with quiet resolve, walking the court through every calculated step Josh had taken in the shadows.Now, there were no whispers. Just silence. The sentencing.Christian sat in the front row once again, between Ruth and Olivia. His hands rested on his knees, spine straight, jaw tight. Behind them, rows of strangers watched history unfold.Olivia wore a black blouse and slacks, her eyes fixed forward, unreadable. Ruth had opted for navy this time—a subtle, steady colour that matched the calm she was trying to summon.Josh was brought in, flanked by office
Chapter 119 Four Months LaterThe car ride to the courthouse was silent and tense. Christian drove, while Ruth and Olivia sat quietly in the back.The Massachusetts Criminal Courthouse loomed ahead, grim beneath a brooding sky. The winter air cut through even the thickest coats. News vans lined the perimeter like vultures, antennas raised like mechanical spines. Cameramen and reporters crowded the steps, lenses trained on the entrance, waiting for the man at the center of a storm no one had seen coming.Inside, the courtroom buzzed with restrained energy. Whispered conversations rose and fell like waves. Every seat was filled—press, family members, curious onlookers. The case of State vs. Joshua Smith had gripped the city: betrayal, murder, power, secrets.Christian sat at the front beside Olivia and Ruth, his expression carved from stone, but his eyes— his eyes burned. He hadn’t slept well in days, not since the indictment was finalised. The time between discovery and justice had fe
Chapter 118 Detective Harris shone his flashlight into the dark cavity beneath the floorboards, brushing aside layers of dust and cobwebs. “There’s definitely something down here.”Christian knelt beside the hole, squinting into the shadows. “What do you see?”“Some kind of box.” Harris reached down carefully and pulled out a dusty metal tin, about the size of a shoebox. It clanked faintly as he set it beside him. “It was wedged under one of the boards.”Detective Fisher stepped forward, gloved hands steady, and popped the lid. Everyone leaned in.Inside, nestled between scraps of old cloth, were two flash drives, a sealed plastic sleeve containing a small memory card—and, folded neatly at the bottom—a shirt.Fisher’s brow furrowed as he lifted the drives. “Bag these,” he instructed, handing them to another officer. “Handle with care. They could be encrypted.”Christian’s gaze narrowed. “What kind of shirt is that?”Fisher gently unfolded the fabric. It was a large-sized, worn men’s
Chapter 117 Olivia grabbed his arm before he could finish.“Christian.”He stopped and sank into the nearest sofa, the tension radiating from his frame.“Sweetheart,” he said gently, “come here. Let Uncle ask you something.”Eunice nodded and skipped forward. Christian crouched in front of her, his hands resting lightly on her small shoulders. His expression was calm, but there was an intensity in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.“Eunice,” he said softly, “what do you mean by a secret room?”Eunice beamed, clearly delighted to finally share her secret.“The one behind the big bookshelf in the living room! Daddy and Uncle Josh used to go there all the time. I saw them!” She puffed out her chest proudly. “They thought I didn’t know, but I did.”Christian’s grip tightened slightly. Olivia noticed the tick in his jaw.“When did you see them, sweetheart?” she asked gently, kneeling beside them. “Was it a long time ago?”Eunice nodded, her little hands tugging at the hem of Olivia’s
Chapter 116 The Mason mansion was quiet that night—the kind of stillness that carries the weight of things unsaid.Ruth sat curled on the plush living room couch, a blanket draped around her shoulders. But the warmth did nothing to ease the chill in her chest. The day’s events played on a loop in her mind— every word, every lie, every trace of Josh’s deception. She had spent months loving a man who never truly existed. Now all that remained was the rubble of a future that had never been real.Olivia sat beside her, close enough to offer support, but not suffocating.“Are you sure you don’t want to go upstairs and try to sleep?” she asked gently.Ruth let out a scoff and shook her head. “Sleep? Not a chance. Every time I close my eyes, I hear his voice. I see that smug smile he gave me—like he still had me wrapped around his finger.” Her voice cracked, raw with disbelief. “God, he really believed I was still his.”Olivia reached over and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “He’
Chapter 115 Ruth tightened her grip on the steering wheel as she pulled into the detention center's parking lot. The morning sun glared off the pavement, but its warmth couldn’t touch the cold knot twisting in her stomach. She exhaled slowly, bracing herself. This wasn’t a visit for closure. It wasn’t to ask for explanations.She needed to see the manipulative monster Josh truly was—again.For the past twenty-four hours, she had replayed every moment: every conversation, every touch, every whispered promise. All lies. Carefully crafted. Skilfully delivered. And she had believed them —believed him—because she thought he loved her the way she had loved him.She stepped out of the car, her heels clicking sharply against the asphalt as she walked toward the entrance. The moment she passed through security, the weight of the situation settled squarely on her shoulders. Cold fluorescent lights hummed overhead as officers led her down sterile hallways. And then, at last, she was there—facin
Chapter 114 The rhythmic clicking of Christian’s pen against his desk was the only sound in the vast office as he sat, deep in thought. The morning had started like any other, with reports to review and meetings to prepare for, but the weight of last night’s revelation pressed down on him like a storm cloud.Josh.He had spent quite some time going over every detail from the journal Ruth had found. The words scrawled across the pages painted a picture of a man who had been living a double life—outwardly charming, supportive, and loyal, yet seething with resentment beneath the surface.A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. “Come in,” he called.The door opened, and Secretary Pitcher stepped inside, his expression neutral but professional. “Detective Fisher is here to see you, sir.”Christian straightened, nodding. “Send him in.”A moment later, Detective Fisher strode into the office. He was a middle-aged man with graying temples, sharp eyes that missed nothing, and an air
Chapter 113 "Make sure you have all these files assessed by the necessary departments and submitted to me by noon tomorrow," Christian said in a commanding tone."Yes, sir," Pitcher replied."As for what I told you about, continue directing them and see what they have to do about it. Also, reschedule my appointment with Mr. Manchester—I have to go pick up Eunice from sch—"Christian was interrupted by the buzzing phone on his desk. He quickly picked up the call as soon as he saw the caller ID.Olivia’s voice had been tight with urgency when she told him to come home. The undercurrent of alarm in her tone was enough to send his pulse spiking.By the time he strode into the Mason mansion, Olivia and Ruth were waiting for him in the living room, their faces pale.He was surprised to see Ruth with Olivia. Hadn't they just had a huge argument days before? Before he could ask anything, he noticed the thick, black journal sitting on the coffee table between them."What’s going on?" Christia