EMMA POVI sat outside Mom's hospital room, lost in the serene landscape beyond the window. The gentle rustle of leaves and chirping birds offered a fleeting escape from the weight of her illness. Suddenly, a familiar voice broke the tranquility."Emma."I turned to see Natalie standing behind me, her eyes tinged with a mix of guilt and hesitation."Hey, still here?" I replied softly, my curiosity piqued.Natalie's gaze darted around the hospital corridor before settling on me. "I'm heading home, but I wanted to just stop buy before leaving and apologise for...everything." Her voice trembled.I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's going on, Natalie? You're being really cryptic, you did nothing wrong."Natalie took a step closer, her eyes locking onto mine. "I know I shouldn't have said such a thing that day. I was stressed, and I took it out on you. I'm so sorry."My expression softened. "It's nothing, Natalie. Friends fight, and we settle." I offered a reassuring smile.Natalie's f
EMMA'S POVI nodded understandingly, I knew the nurses wouldn't want to tell me anything, its their work and it's their right to keep everyone's matters private but how on earth would I know what she came to do.“Emma” A voice called out to me, I looked back only to see a tall, rich man behind me.Robert.I gasped and stepped back, I never knew we could meet one on one in a place like this, I touched my big belly.“Robert?” I said my voice barely above a whisper, he could see the shock in my eyes.Robert stood there, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and suspicion. His question hung in the air like an invisible weight, pressing on me. “Are you pregnant?” His voice was sharp but not loud, filled with urgency that made my chest tighten.I froze. My mind raced, caught between truths and lies. I could feel my heartbeat drumming in my ears, drowning out the sterile hum of the hospital.Slowly, I dropped my hand from my stomach, the subconscious gesture that must have betrayed me. With
ROBERT POVI froze there, shocked with what I saw, why would Emma be pregnant? And why was she in the hospital? These thoughts lingered in my heads for a while then I saw Daniel. “Daniel” I called out to him and he stopped in his tracks Daniel stood in the hallway, his arms casually crossed over his chest, a friendly smile on his face.“Uncle,” he said, his voice calm, almost too polite, as if he was holding something back.I forced a smirk, though unease prickled under my skin. “Thought you’d left already, I was about to leave since you wouldnt meet your uncle” I replied, my tone sharper than I intended.He nodded, his gaze briefly flickering toward the hospital room down the corridor. “I should have. But I wanted to make sure everything’s running smoothly. She is my mother-in-law, after all. I have to make sure she’s comfortable.”The words landed with a weight I wasn’t expecting. Mother-in-law? I blinked, barely managing a neutral nod.“Take me to see her,it wouldn't be nice if I
The penthouse was silent, save for the faint hum of the city outside. Robert stared at the city skyline, his whiskey glass empty on the counter beside him. His head was spinning, but not from the alcohol, Emma’s sudden betrayal to him was a knife that kept twisting deeper. His nephew. His own blood. And Emma, the woman he had been chasing all his life around, had chosen him.His phone buzzed again. He ignored it, pushing the glass away. He needed air. The penthouse, though vast, felt suffocating tonight. Grabbing his coat, he headed to the one place he knew could distract him: The Velvet Room.---The nightclub was pulsing with life. The bass thumped through the floor, the room dimly lit with streaks of neon. Robert slipped past the crowd, heading for a private booth. He wasn’t in the mood for company, but the anonymity of the club gave him a reprieve from the weight crushing his chest.A waitress approached him, her tray balanced perfectly as she smiled. "Your usual, Mr. Robert?"He
Robert pulled into the driveway, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. The weight of the previous night lingered heavily on his shoulders—Rebecca’s sudden reappearance, Emma’s betrayal, Natalie’s cryptic warnings. It was all too much.Stepping out of the car, the cool morning air did little to calm him. He pushed open the door to his house, half-hoping for silence, but instead, he was greeted by a voice that made his stomach twist.“Well, look who finally decided to come home,” Carolyn said, lounging on the couch as if she owned the place.Robert froze in the doorway, his jaw tightening. “You’re still here?” he asked, his tone clipped.Carolyn stood, smoothing down the silk robe she wore—a robe that wasn’t hers, he noted bitterly. She had a way of making herself at home in places she didn’t belong.“I was thinking of leaving when you got back,” she said, feigning sweetness. “No need to be so harsh, Robert.”His eyes narrowed. He’d heard this tone before—too many times to count. Sh
Maya adjusted her dress as she stepped out of her sleek car, her pulse quickening. The towering gates of Robert’s estate stood before her, a symbol of everything opulent yet unattainable in her life. She hesitated for a moment, clutching her purse tightly. She knew this wasn’t just about fun anymore. It hadn’t been for a while. But as much as she tried to convince herself otherwise, the flutter in her chest every time she saw Robert was undeniable.The driveway stretched endlessly, lined with pristine hedges and marble statues that whispered wealth and power. Maya had been here before—many times—but tonight, something felt different. She wasn’t sure if it was the way Robert had sounded on the phone earlier, his voice rich with amusement, or the way her heart seemed to race without reason.When the butler opened the door, she stepped inside with a practiced smile, smoothing her hair. “Evening, Charles.”The older man gave a polite nod. “Good evening, Ms. Hayes. Mr. Robert is expecting
The boardroom was nothing short of spectacular. Polished marble floors gleamed under the soft glow of recessed lighting, and the walls were lined with sleek black panels that radiated authority. The centerpiece of the room was an imposing oval table, surrounded by high-backed leather chairs that seemed to demand respect from anyone who sat in them.Maya adjusted her blazer as she entered, the sharp heels of her nude Louboutins clicking against the floor. Her tailored navy suit fit her perfectly, accentuating her poised yet confident demeanor. Her dark hair was swept back into a low chignon, and her makeup was subtle but flawless,a touch of blush, nude lips, and eyes lined with precision. She looked every bit the part of someone who belonged here.As she stepped into the room, all eyes turned to her. She felt their gazes, some curious, others skeptical, but she held her head high, her back straight. This wasn't the Maya who had cried in her car outside Robert’s mansion years ago. This
—The late afternoon light filtered through the tall windows of the penthouse, casting a soft glow on the sleek, minimalist furniture. The city buzzed below, oblivious to the quiet tension that filled the room. Robert gently leaned against the polished wooden bar in his lavish mansion, swirling the contents of his whiskey glass, his thoughts as dark as the amber liquid in his hand.It had been a week since Maya had walked out of his office, her words hanging in the air like an unanswered question. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was no longer the same woman he'd once known. The confident, business-savvy woman who had walked into that boardroom with a purpose had left him questioning his own decisions—had he underestimated her all along?But that wasn’t why he was here tonight. No, tonight, he had more pressing matters to deal with.His phone buzzed on the bar, the familiar name lighting up the screen. Emma.She had been avoiding him for days, unsure of how to face him after eve
The air in the car was thick with an unspoken tension, one that had grown since Alexander and Mia had received the call earlier that day. They had been in the midst of their normal routines when Robert, with a steady voice, had informed them that it was time. Time to visit their mother. Time to hear the truth.The truth.Both of them had lived with the quiet discomfort of knowing something wasn’t quite right for years, but they had never dared to look closer. Now, the call had come, and there was no turning back. They were going to face their mother, and they knew—on some level—that this visit would shatter whatever image they had left of her.Alexander, the eldest daughter, sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window. His eyes were tired, his face drawn, and though he was only in his early twenties, the weight of the last few months had aged him. Mia, the middle daughter, sat in the back, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She was fifteen, but there was a maturity to her
The sound of Emma's breath was ragged, shallow, as she struggled against the ropes that bound her wrists. Her mind was racing, frantic with the knowledge that she had been trapped once again. The tightness in her chest had nothing to do with the rope, but everything to do with the realization that she had been caught in a web so tangled, so insidious, she had no idea how to escape.It had started as a day like any other. After hearing the news of Natalie’s death, Emma had tried to move on. Tried to believe that the worst was behind her, that the nightmare of manipulation, lies, and fear was finally over. But in a twisted turn of fate, the very thing she had hoped for had become her worst fear.She had thought they were free. But they were far from it.The sound of footsteps echoed through the empty warehouse, and Emma's heart skipped a beat. She barely had time to react before the door to the room opened. Standing there was James, his eyes cold, calculating."So, we meet again," he sa
The morning light filtered softly through the curtains of Ava's apartment, casting a golden hue on the empty space. It should have been peaceful—a quiet, calm morning. But for Ava, it felt anything but. The air was thick with the weight of the news that had reached her just before dawn.She sat in front of the TV, her eyes glued to the screen as the anchor’s voice filled the room, the words she never thought she would hear reverberating in her mind.“...police have confirmed the death of Natalie Carmichael, 32, found in her apartment under suspicious circumstances. Sources say her death appears to be the result of foul play, and the investigation is ongoing.”The words barely reached her as Ava's gaze flickered to the coffee table where her phone lay, still buzzing with missed calls. The message was clear, but Ava couldn't quite absorb it. Natalie—dead. Ava felt a numbness settle over her, like someone had placed a heavy blanket over her chest. She closed her eyes, trying to make sens
The low hum of the city beyond Natalie’s window did nothing to calm her nerves. The pale glow of her desk lamp cast long shadows across the room, but they did little to chase away the tension that had been building in her chest all day. She had been expecting this. She had known it would come to this. But still, as she stared at the laptop in front of her, a sinking feeling twisted in her stomach.The truth was, she had always known the day would come when her little game would be exposed. She had built it carefully, piece by piece, all the while knowing the stakes were high. The laptop, with all of Carolyn’s secrets in her hands, was her lifeline. Every file, every detail, was carefully documented. Carolyn’s darkest fears, her hidden truths—they were all there. And Natalie had been holding onto them, knowing they would give her leverage when the time came.But now, she wasn’t so sure. Now, she felt more like a prisoner than a player in this twisted game. And that fear was growing wit
The dim light of the café flickered slightly as Carolyn sat at a corner booth, her fingers nervously tapping on the edge of her coffee cup. She had arrived early, more out of habit than necessity. She needed time to think, time to prepare. Her mind was still reeling from the conversation she’d overheard between Emma and Ava. There was something off about Ava—something dark beneath the surface. Carolyn couldn't shake the feeling that Ava had known more than she was letting on. And that unsettling thought had led her here, to this meeting with Natalie.It had taken Carolyn days to arrange it. The plan was simple: give Natalie the money she had promised, ask her what she knew, and—if the time came—take the steps necessary to protect herself. But even as she sat there, waiting, she wasn’t sure which version of herself would show up in the end. The woman who was still clinging to the hope of a happy, intact family, or the one who had begun to realize how deep the betrayal ran.Carolyn glan
The soft light of dusk filtered through the curtains, casting a pale glow over the room. Emma sat on the edge of her bed, her knees drawn up to her chest, arms wrapped around them as though trying to hold herself together. The silence of the house felt suffocating, like a heavy blanket that pressed against her chest, making it hard to breathe. The words the doctor had said kept echoing in her mind, each syllable a sharp reminder of the pain that had settled deep inside her, the loss that she couldn’t yet process, let alone accept.The doctor’s voice had been gentle, kind even, but the truth was still there, unspoken, hanging in the air between them. She would never be able to carry another child. The miscarriage had left scars deeper than she could explain, but it was the doctor’s words that had truly shattered her—words that spoke of a future that now seemed barren and empty. She would never experience the joy of a new life growing inside her, the miracle of childbirth. The thought h
The silence that followed Robert’s departure seemed to hang in the air, thick and suffocating. Alexander could hear the sound of her own breath, shallow and uneven, as though the weight of the moment was slowly crushing her from the inside out. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. Robert, her father, had turned away from her. He hadn’t even tried to understand. Instead, he had dismissed her, as if her words meant nothing, as if all the suspicion and doubt she felt were just the ramblings of an overreacting child.Carolyn stood beside her, a steady presence in the storm of emotions swirling in the room. Her mother’s touch on her shoulder was comforting, but it couldn’t quell the gnawing feeling of betrayal that had settled deep within her.“He’s not listening, Mom,” Alexander whispered, her voice barely audible. She felt the tears prickling at the edges of her eyes but refused to let them fall. She had no room for weakness right now. “He doesn’t believe me.”Carolyn said nothin
The house was quiet, too quiet. The air in the living room felt heavy, thick with the tension that had followed Ava’s abrupt exit. The muffled sound of footsteps moving from one room to another only served to amplify the silence, until Alexander was sure she could hear the sound of her own heartbeat. Carolyn sat across from her, still looking as though she were processing the events of the last few minutes. The room felt like it was closing in on her, the weight of suspicion and the terrifying unknown pressing in from all sides.She couldn’t shake the image of Ava’s face when she had asked her the question. The way Ava had looked at her, that brief flicker of panic, that brief hesitation, followed by the hard, impenetrable defense. It had all felt wrong, as if Ava were hiding something—no, concealing something. The more Alexander thought about it, the more it made sense. Ava’s insistence that she hadn’t done anything, the way she had tried to brush off Alexander’s accusations as if th
___The walls of the room felt impossibly close, pressing in around Alexander like a vise. Her heart raced, her mind spiraling, as the weight of what she had witnessed in the kitchen gnawed at her relentlessly. She wasn’t crazy. She wasn’t imagining things. She knew what she saw. Ava had done something—something that had caused Emma’s miscarriage. She could feel it in her bones, a deep, unsettling certainty that wouldn’t let go.But now, sitting across from Ava, she wasn’t so sure anymore. Ava had denied everything when she asked, had brushed off her questions with a calmness that only made Alexander more suspicious. Ava’s voice was smooth, too smooth, as if she were trying to convince herself as much as Alexander. The words that tumbled from her mouth were rehearsed, practiced—nothing but smoke and mirrors."I didn’t do anything, Alex," Ava said again, her voice soft but firm. "I’m not sure what you think you saw, but there was nothing in that chicken. I just added a little rosemary,