MEREDITH: I didn't anticipate feeling heartbroken or sad if I ever escaped Miles's grasp. But when I heard him say, “you're fired,” my heart twisted, and my stomach knotted. I had the feeling of wanting to purge everything I'd eaten, the urge threatening to overwhelm me. Yet, he didn't even acknowledge my distress. How was I being blamed for something we both played a role in? It wasn't technically my fault. None of it was. Getting laid off was cruel, especially when I was struggling to make ends meet and hoping he would eventually start paying me. I guess I'll have to find another job. That might be better. Being around him was hazardous enough. The man was toxic, always nagging and never smiling. But before I go, I'll give him a piece of my mind. What else do I have to lose? Another lawsuit? “I don't exactly understand why I'm getting fired, sir,” I blurted out after moments of consideration. Miles shifted in his seat, turned, and glared at me. With the deepest, meanest voice I'd
MEREDITH: As the thought of ending my life crossed my mind, my nerves trembled. Many would argue it was against their religion or label me as selfish. But was living in such agony righteous and selfless? You don't truly understand someone's pain until you've walked in their shoes. As the burning clothes turned to ashes, I scoured my tiny apartment for anything that could aid my plan. I stumbled upon a rope, though I doubted it could support my weight. Still, I set everything up, forming a loop with the rope. It was ready, my path to freedom. For a moment, I stared at it, questioning if this was what my brother Christian would want for me. Was this truly my only option? Giving up so easily felt wrong, like taking the easy way out. Suddenly, my gaze fell on the empty ice cream cup on my kitchen island, which I had forgotten to clear out. It reminded me that I still had a box of vanilla and chocolate ice cream with some pizza in the fridge. My mouth began to salivate. Eat then kill mys
MILES: I stormed into the house, barely waiting for Brandon to properly park the car. "Did she call me a selfish prick?" I shouted, unbuttoning my shirt in frustration. Her level of confidence always got to me. Why didn't she use the same to defend herself against her ex, who talked down on her? The only person she didn't fear was me. Yet, every other person feared me. "I'm not interested," I barked at one of the staff members who tried to talk to me, not bothering to see who it was. I marched straight to my study, and as if the telephone heard me, it began to ring. What now? "Mr. Pierce, I've been trying to get a hold of you," my assistant Neymar Kane said. Neymar Kane handled most things in the company in my absence and had proven competent compared to the recent nuisance Grenada swayed me into employing. "What is it, Mr. Kane?" I asked. "I'm sorry to bother you, sir. But, the annual cancer and kids fund donation needs your approval. Also, the new shelter project has run out of
MILES: The flight was smooth and swift. We landed on the helipad of a penthouse I'd rented, situated close to where Meredith was. I came with additional security personnel, complementing the hotel's provided details. Since the entire area was swarming with crowds, taking extra safety precautions was prudent. From the helipad, we rode the elevator down to the first floor, heading straight for the car. Truthfully, my emotions were numbed. I simply yearned to reach her. Throughout the flight, I had been fervently praying she wouldn't end up doing anything reckless or unwarranted. The mere thought of her harming herself caused my heart to ache violently. I wanted her safe and away from that bridge. How this emotion had stirred within me, I hadn't the faintest idea. What had caused me to feel such profound concern for her eluded me. All that occupied my mind was ensuring Meredith Tate's safety. Navigating through the throng that had barricaded the avenue leading to her was an ordeal. Th
MILES: We drove to the hotel, and I maneuvered to the elevator, using my jacket to discreetly cover Meredith's face as I led the way. Punching the penthouse number into the VIP elevator to avoid running into others, Meredith began leaning against me. “It's hot,” she cried, fanning herself with her long, slender fingers. I briefly chuckled before regaining my composure. Restlessly, she moved around the elevator, trying to find a cooler spot. Meredith returned to lean on my body. “Your body is cooler,” she said with satisfaction. Her proximity was tempting, but I restrained myself. Her lips were looking up at my mouth, and I couldn't help but swallow hard. I was so tempted to kiss them but restrained myself. Finally, the elevator chimed and we got out. It was difficult walking with her as she tried to lie on the floor. By the time we got to the room, Meredith had practically roughened my hair and clothing. I looked as drunk as her with my appearance. Just as the door slammed shut
MEREDITH: The warm hues of the sun caressed my face, prompting me to shield my eyes and turn away. Ah, much better, I thought, finding comfort in the dimmer side of the room. Beneath me, the sheets felt luxuriously soft, like silk, and the air carried a pleasant, relaxing scent. This was a level of peace and serenity I had never experienced in my apartment before. Was I dreaming? I almost wished I was, as waking up to this bliss every morning would be a dream come true. Well, almost. Did I finally give up the ghost? Because, hell yes! I'd give a kidney to wake up to this every morning. Just kidding, though. But, I'd genuinely be grateful to wake up in an environment like this. But my moment of tranquility was abruptly shattered when someone decided to draw up the blinds, flooding the room with blinding sunlight. "It's too bright," I protested, futilely attempting to block out the rays of the sun with a pillow. The damage was already done. Gradually, I stretched. Trying to open my e
MILES: I had considered sleeping on the sofa. But, hell no! This bed was large enough to accommodate the two of us without our bodies touching. So I thought. In the middle of the night, I somehow ended up cuddling Meredith. It felt possessive, yet oddly familiar, like I had missed doing that for a long while. Surprisingly, it eased my stress and made me feel better. I enjoyed it. Let me tell you one thing about myself. First, I never cuddle anybody because it makes me feel suffocated. Second, I never sleep in the same bed with anyone. Why didn't being in the same room and bed with this woman feel inconvenient? I moved closer to wrap her whole body, inhaling the scent of her hair, and she snuggled into me like a joey would in its mother's pouch. I stayed put, trying to fall back asleep. She began to whimper and let out small cries. “Don't hurt me,” she repeatedly said. She was having a bad dream. I got up and knelt, gently shaking her. “Hey, you're safe,” I ran my hand through her h
MEREDITH: As Miles left the room, I collapsed onto the bed, shrieking at the thick mattress. My voice was muffled, and only some of my screams got out. I was anxious, perplexed, and relieved. Whatever angel spoke to him, I was grateful to that angel. The bill for my brothers had been taken care of, I had shelter now where I would get food and a job that could stabilize me while I looked for something permanent. I didn't want to tire myself out by overthinking any of this. I got up and, for the first time, appreciated the room. This man had great taste and knew how to spend his money. No wonder I thought for a second it was heaven. The real puzzle was, I saw only one massive bed, which was the one I had woken up from. Where did he sleep last night? Apart from kissing and mentioning Christian's name, what else did I do? "Fucking Brandon," he cursed when he got out. I couldn't contain my laughter at his outfit. "This isn't usually your style," I chuckled. "What happened?" My question
Nine months later… MILES:Given another chance, I'd choose Meredith. It's just unfair no one shared the pregnancy manuscript or advised waiting. Our incredible honeymoon across seven countries resulted in Meredith unexpectedly getting pregnant. I'd planned to enjoy ourselves a bit longer before diving into parenthood, but life had other plans. The journey became a whirlwind and a battleground. I actively participated in our pregnancy, cherishing the moments. Yet, Meredith's emotions were a rollercoaster. She craved only the company of Brandon, Zara, and Sarah. Unless she sought intimacy, I was on the sidelines. Sex became frequent, anywhere she desired. She ate and cried excessively. I urged her to rest, avoiding work to focus on herself. Bored, she picked up new hobbies like painting and knitting. Habits changed; she turned into a neat freak and often scolded me, but I didn't mind. Overall, she blossomed, with fuller breasts and curvier hips. Mrs. Pierce became my constant fantasy.
MEREDITH: Miles, true to his word, made sure I didn't do anything at all at the wedding. My greatest contributions were "yes" or "no." He had everything and everyone over. He also "fired" me, saying that he wanted me to glow at my wedding and that working would stress me. Zara, Grenada, Sarah, Lucinda, and even Brandon were actively involved. I received so much love and gifts that I had to convert one of the vacant rooms into a gift room. Miles began renovating the house to suit my taste, even though I protested that I was okay with the old layout of the house. He disagreed, changing colors, bringing new furniture, and adding feminine touches to certain parts of the house. The long-awaited day finally came. In all honesty, the days went by quickly. We decided on a private wedding close to a beach in Fiji. It was our best decision. We had the day decorated in gold and black. There were chairs for just a hundred guests, arranged in rows of fifty on each side, overlooking the altar, wh
MILES: "Come." I took her hand through the back door to our balcony. As soon as we were outside, I was on my knee again. "Marry me. Again. Meredith Tate, soon to be Meredith Pierce." This time, I had the ring with me. "Yes. Yes. Yes!" I slipped it on her finger, and we kissed. "Oh, my. It is beautiful. Everything is." I had roses all over the balcony, a bottle of champagne and two glasses in an ice bucket waiting, and a gigantic picture of Christian. "Sorry, I sent you to the kitchen. I was asking him for permission," I pointed at Christian's picture. "He said he wouldn't have allowed you to be with anyone else but me," I boasted. I wish he were here. I would have loved to have had a younger brother too. Meredith was already sobbing. I could tell she was grateful for my thoughtfulness. She hugged and kissed the picture of her brother. I held her close to me as we stared out from the balcony, sipping our champagne. Once more, she glanced at her ring. "Thank you, Miles. Thank you. I
MEREDITH: After disappearing from Miles's life months ago, I felt empty. To occupy myself, I worked as a volunteer on various projects in the place I relocated to, with the most prominent and peaceful one being animal rescue. During that time, I regained myself and rediscovered that he was my happiness, and I wanted to be with him for as long as we lasted. Two days ago, at the last minute, my lovely boss gathered me and the team to inform us that we had received a VIP invitation to a children's charity program in California. After hearing all the details, I couldn't resist attending. Believe me, the idea was to slip in and out without encountering him. I wasn't ready for that interaction, or truthfully, I feared facing him. I should have known something was up when my boss handed over clothes, shoes, and jewelry, claiming that every member of the team got the same package. I should have known a hot billionaire had a hand in it. Upon our arrival, as I listened to his speech and heard
Four months later... MILES: Despite my efforts to locate her, Meredith managed to elude me. She did an excellent job of hiding, but I was even more determined. My sources eventually tracked her down to a remote island in Africa where she had flown to. I had no intention of disrespecting her wishes, nor did I want to leave her alone. From a distance, I kept a close watch on her, deploying my men strategically and occasionally flying down myself to observe her activities. She volunteered at a local zoo, dedicated to wildlife conservation. It was evident she hadn't forgotten about me, as she often drunkenly confessed how much she missed me and our intimacy. On such nights, I would escort her back to her apartment. I admit, I even observed her in private moments, finding myself mirroring her actions. However, despite the satisfaction, I grew weary of this distant observation. I longed to be close to her, to have her by my side. Meanwhile, Steele sold the stadium to me, with the conditi
MILES: Her words melted my heart. I leaned in and kissed her passionately, savoring every moment as our tongues danced together. Going back to my seat, I told her everything that had happened in her absence and how Neymar and Britney were involved. "We can never truly know anyone, I guess." She also told me everything that had happened when Alan took her and how she was able to escape. We spent an hour talking, interspersed by moments of light laughter and occasional sobs from her. I was surprised that we both had the energy to converse after our lovemaking. Though I had her, though she had forgiven me, though everything was over, I still felt guilt. I felt a heavy burden of guilt because I believed I could have saved Christian. "Meredith, I have something to tell you." She moved onto her side to face me. "Go ahead," she said, beaming with a smile. "I think I might be responsible for Christian's death," I confessed. She shot upright. "How so?" I sat up too and narrated the whol
MILES: “Fuck me. Hard,” were the words Meredith spoke after killing Louis. As tempting as it sounded, she wasn't in her right frame of mind when she made that request. She needed comfort and therapy later on. It's never easy to take the life of another person. “Baby, you need to allow me to take you home, so you can rest.” Her eyes gave me a warning glare before she reached up and kissed me. Those darkened irises were telling me, 'fuck me, or I will jump on you in front of the boys.' I've learned never to doubt her capacity for implementing things over time. If she asked for that, then I would give it to her. Brandon was at our side, then he cleared his throat, worry plastered over his hard face. “Miss Tate, are you alright?” With a silent reply, “yes.” No. She wasn't. She was fighting to be strong, holding onto every bit of herself not to fall apart. Such a strong girl. My woman saved me; if not, Louis would have blown my brains out. How could I have given her up so easily? A gir
MEREDITH: This selfish-murderous clown hurled me to an abandoned warehouse where he chained me to a septic tank, only feeding me once a day. Other than crates, there was nothing useful in the warehouse. He said it was going to be one of his production sites once the manufacturing started. On the second day, he made me do an interview where I admitted his innocence and announced that we were back together. He neither gave me extra clothing to cover myself during cold nights or allow me to freshen up. I wore the same clothes for three days, only getting thirty minutes to take care of business whenever he found it convenient. At night, he disappeared, probably for his own comfort, leaving me with just a dimly lit lantern. It was scary, lonely, and overwhelming. I was left with just my thoughts, thinking about numerous things. Would Christian have been happy with the breakthrough of what he believed so much in? Would I still have met Miles? Would Christian have loved and approved of Mil
MILES: “I swear to God, if you move, I will order them to shoot you,” Louis warned me, signaling the hefty guys who drew their guns and closed in on me. “Drop your phone!” She ordered. There was no way in hell I was going to take an order from her. Not happening. Squinting and maintaining eye contact, I tried to punch my emergency trigger button on the lock screen, so Brandon could get the alert. But, Louis snatched a gun from one of her goons and shot it into the air, showing me that she meant business. Instantly, I tossed the phone to the floor. “Good boy. You do not have nine lives, so don't test my patience.” She shot the phone numerous times until nothing was left of it. “I must say that I am excited. Here, I was, wondering how to get to you. But, you fell right into our hands. How did you know of this place?” Seconds passed without an answer. She shook her head and said, “It doesn't make sense. You only made things easier for us.” The guys were now at my side; two to the left