Sarah pov
I pulled into the driveway, the tires of the car crunching against the gravel as I made my way to the parking lot. My hands were clenched tight around the steering wheel, fingers gripping it like I could strangle the truth out of it. I was shaking, not with fear, but with something else – a slow burn that felt too much like satisfaction. The horn blasted once, loud and sharp, echoing into the night. I didn't care. The security guard would come when he was ready. I pressed my foot down, more forceful now, my eyes burning with the anger and satisfaction that had bubbled up since I'd walked out of Evelyn. Her smugness, her little lies, it was all so... transparent. I had been waiting for the right moment to show her what it felt like to be caught in the act. When the gate finally creaked open, I slid past it quickly, pulling into the parking spot nearest the door. I sat there for a moment, breathing heavily, my phone buzzing insistently in my lap. The screen flashed with messages, but I didn't bother looking at them. I wasn’t interested in the noise right now. Not when I had something far more interesting to deal with. Evelyn, the perfect wife. Hah. I sighed, a laugh catching in my throat, and then yanked the keys from the ignition. My hand brushed the leather bag on the passenger seat, the crinkle of the grocery bags inside a sharp reminder of what I had been out doing. But first, I needed to deliver the real news. I swung the door open and stepped out of the car, my heels clicking against the pavement as I grabbed the bags from the passenger side. The air was cool, but it didn’t matter. I was already heated enough to make up for it. The sound of the front door opening startled me for a second, but it was just the familiar voice of my mother calling out from inside. “Sarah, dinner’s almost ready! Come on in!” I didn’t answer her immediately. Instead, I turned and started walking toward the kitchen, the weight of the bags heavy in my hands, the anticipation of what I was about to do making my heart race a little faster. “Sarah!” my mom called again, this time a little more impatiently, but I kept walking. I pushed open the kitchen door, the scent of garlic and onions filling my nose as I set the bags down on the counter. I didn’t even glance at the food. The dinner could wait. I heard my mother’s footsteps approaching, but I didn’t look up. I was too busy sorting through the groceries, organizing everything just right. The vegetables went in the fridge, the bread on the counter. I was moving, but my mind was a storm, swirling and crashing with thoughts of what had just happened – what I had seen. “Sarah, come on, don’t make me come get you,” my mother called again, more exasperated now. When I finally reached the bottom of the stairs, the table was set. My brother, Micheal, was sitting at the head of the table, his eyes glued to his phone. He was texting, no doubt, because his brow was furrowed in concern. Evelyn hadn’t answered her phone all evening. Not surprising. I slid into my seat with a soft clink of silverware. Everyone else was already at the table. There was a faint tension in the air, the kind you feel when something unspoken lingers between people. Michael glanced up, looking frazzled, and then immediately returned his attention to his phone. His face was tense, his thumb moving quickly over the screen. I could see the worry etched on his face. “Evelyn’s still not answering,” he muttered, his voice tight. “She’s been MIA all day. I’ve called her a hundred times.” I smiled to myself. It was almost too easy. Mom shot him a look, her brow furrowed. “Maybe she doesn't want to pick up, Micheal. Don’t make a big deal out of it.” I poked at my food for a moment, my fingers wrapped tightly around my fork. The silence was thick. My gaze flickered to Jason, and then to my mother, who was trying to force a smile. I was playing with my food, pretending not to notice the tension. Finally, Micheal sighed. “She wouldn’t just ignore me like this. Something’s wrong. I—” He stopped short as if realizing he was spiraling. I watched him, my expression unreadable. He was so blind, but I wasn’t going to keep that from him much longer. “I saw her,” I said, my voice casual, too casual, like I was talking about the weather. I could feel the heat in my chest as I dropped the bomb, but I kept my face neutral. Michael's eyes flickered up from his phone. “What?” “I saw Evelyn,” I said again, letting the words land, just as heavy as I wanted them to be. I couldn’t help the thrill that shot through me, the satisfaction of knowing I was the one who had all the answers. His face paled. “Where? What do you mean you saw her?” I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. "I saw her this afternoon, Micheal. With another man. At the mall, she even has the guts to lie about her identity.” His eyes narrowed, confusion flickering before the realization hit. “No,” he said quietly, shaking his head. “No, you’re lying.” “I’m not lying,” I said, my voice firm. “You want me to prove it?” I didn’t need to say more. The silence at the table stretched long and thick as Michael's face contorted into a mask of disbelief, then frustration. His hand tightened around his phone. “Who was he?” My mom asked, her voice soft, almost cautious. “Some guy,” I said, shrugging. “Does it matter? She’s out there doing God knows what while you’re sitting here worried about her. You deserve better than that, Micheal” His lips parted, and for a moment, it seemed like he didn’t know what to say. The weight of the truth was settling on his shoulders like a storm cloud. Mom spoke up, trying to calm the situation. “This is just gossip, Sarah. You’re jumping to conclusions.” “I’m telling you, Micheal, I saw it with my own eyes. You’re just too blinded by sudden love to see it,” I said. His phone buzzed again. This time, he didn’t check it. He just stared at the screen, staring at the reality he wasn’t ready for. “I need some air,” he muttered, standing up abruptly, knocking his chair back. But he didn’t leave. Not yet. He stood at the edge of the table, fighting something – grief, rage, disbelief. The hurt was already there, raw and unfiltered, and I could feel it in every breath he took. The silence was deafening, and I didn’t need to say anything more. The truth was already there, hanging in the air between us.Michael's POVI stormed back into the house, my mind racing, and heart pounding. Every inch of me felt like a kettle ready to explode. I had trusted Evelyn, loved her, and now… now this. My hands were trembling with a mixture of anger and disbelief. Sarah's words echoed in my mind like a hammer on metal, each one hammering harder than the last.I walked straight into the living room, my eyes searching for Sarah. She was sitting on the couch, looking nonchalant, as if she hadn’t just dropped a bomb on my entire life. Her eyes met mine for a moment, cold and calculating."Where did you see her, Sarah?" I growled, not bothering to soften my tone. There was no more room for pleasantries. The truth had been laid out, and now I needed answers. "Tell me where. Now."Her lips curled into a half-smile, the satisfaction on her face unmistakable. She didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she leaned back, crossing her legs, and let the silence stretch between us, making me wait.“You know, I don’t
Evelyn povThe air in the room felt suffocating as Lucas watched me, his eyes darting nervously between me and the door. My heart pounded relentlessly against my ribs, and despite his calm words, every inch of me trembled. I could hear my breath, shallow and erratic, but his piercing gaze seemed to demand something I wasn’t ready to give."You can’t just keep hiding in here, Evelyn," Lucas said, his voice softer than usual, but no less firm. "You need to eat. It's not good for you to stay locked up like this."I shook my head, instinctively pulling the blanket tighter around me as if it could shield me from the world outside. But I knew it couldn’t protect me from what was coming."I’m not hungry," I muttered, my voice barely audible, betraying the lie.Lucas didn’t move immediately. His gaze held mine, searching for some glimmer of the person I used to be. Maybe he thought if he just tried hard enough, he could find it again. But the truth was that part of me had already died."You'r
Michael slammed his hand on the desk, his knuckles white as he resisted the urge to throw the damn papers across the room. His eyes were burning, but not from the endless work Cassie had dropped on his desk. No, it was the storm inside him, the guilt, the anger, the confusion. He couldn’t stop thinking about the one person who mattered—the woman he had left behind.Cassie’s heels clicked on the polished floor as she stepped closer, holding the file in her hands. He didn’t look at her. Not even once. He could feel her presence, though. It lingered, thick and suffocating, like perfume that wasn’t just lingering—it was clinging.“I can’t believe you’re still ignoring me, Michael,” she said, her voice smooth and sultry, but there was an edge to it. He could hear the frustration, the possessiveness, the challenge. “I thought we had something real. Don’t you miss me?”His jaw clenched, and he exhaled sharply. He didn’t even want to dignify that with a response. He wanted to scream, to tell
Lucas’s POVThe air in the room crackled with tension, a thick, electric atmosphere that demanded a decisive action. My fingers gripped the stack of papers on my desk, their sharp edges digging into my skin, a fitting reminder of the treacherous path I was on. “Drop the file, Hannah,” I commanded, my voice steady but firm, imbued with a finality that left no room for argument.Hannah hesitated, a flicker of defiance in her eyes. I recognized that look—it was the one she wore whenever I delivered news she preferred to ignore. Her gaze darted between the file in her hands and my unyielding demeanor, her expression tightening as if bracing for impact. The weight of our family business loomed over us, heavier than usual, yet this conflict was about more than just business; it was personal.I had reached my limit. I couldn’t pretend any longer, especially not with Evelyn in the picture. She wasn’t family—not yet, and maybe she never would be. The more I pushed Hannah to understand this cri
Evelyn's POVThe sizzling sound of pancakes on the griddle filled the air, marking the morning routine I had confidently claimed as my own. Hannah had developed a taste for pancakes, and today was no exception. The aroma of butter and sugar permeated the kitchen, a comforting presence in a world that often felt chaotic.As I flipped the pancake with precision, my phone beeped from the living room, the sound cutting sharply through the warmth of the kitchen."Hannah!" I called out, my voice strong and clear. "I have one request for you!"From the balcony, a soft snicker reached my ears before her voice came back, teasing yet affectionate. "What’s the request, my lady?" Her tone, laced with mischief, was the perfect touch for our playful banter.I smirked, something familiar and warm stirring within me. "Could you please bring me my phone? I left it on the table."There was a moment of silence, then the unmistakable sound of bubble gum popping, followed by her sarcastic quip. "Hug the s
Hannah POVThe silence stretched between us as Lucas blinked, still trying to adjust to the light and the tension. He didn’t move for a few seconds like he was considering something, his duvet tangled around him as though he’d been woken from a deep sleep. He sat up slowly, the soft rustle of the covers the only sound as he sighed.“I—” he began but didn’t seem to know how to finish his sentence. He looked at me, and I could see the unease in his eyes, the wariness of someone who didn’t want to say too much, yet knew I wouldn’t leave without an answer.“You were so angry with her, Lucas. You’ve never hung up on Evelyn like that before. What happened?” I could feel the words tumbling out of me, desperate to understand.He hesitated again, rubbing his face as if trying to erase the frustration that had been building up all evening. Then he sighed, shoulders slumping as he sank back into the bed. “It’s not what you think, Hannah. It’s…”His voice trailed off. I could see the weight of wh
Involving people like Lucas and his sister in our marital issues shows a lack of maturity, Evelyn. I expected better from you. You need to step up as a partner. I sighed heavily into the phone, my frustration palpable as I twirled in my chair. The silence on the other end was deafening, punctuated by her quiet sobs. She might have been trying to break up minor arguments, but I wasn't even arguing.I won’t press charges, but make no mistake—I will if you're still living under their roof, because I haven’t signed off on any of this. I said it plainly, flipping through the pages of a magazine on my desk with my fingertips.Leaning back in my chair, I felt the cold leather biting into my back. My fingers drummed out an impatient rhythm on the desk, the sound echoing in the empty room. Evelyn's silence felt like a heavy weight, a storm of unspoken words crashing over us.I knew she was crying. It was painfully obvious. Her soft, shuddering breaths betrayed her attempts to hold it together.
Evelyn's heart surged with determination as she faced her father, her voice steady but tinged with undeniable anger. She stood in the center of their once-cozy living room, now a frigid, suffocating space that felt more like a prison than home. Her father's indifference was palpable, his eyes glued to his phone as if she were invisible, her words nothing more than background noise."Dad," she declared, a sharp laugh escaping her lips, "stop pretending my situation doesn’t bother you. You’ve always been more concerned about the company's growth than about me. Here I am, forced to stand on my own."Every word she spoke was heavy with the weight of betrayal, anger, and disappointment. He remained fixated on his screen, completely disconnected from the storm of emotions swirling around them.Evelyn inhaled deeply, gathering her strength. "You sold me out to Michael's father, and now he treats me like I'm worthless. You choose to remain silent, refusing to even engage with me. It’s as if m
Cassie’s POVI was still tied up. The ropes dug into my skin, biting painfully into my wrists. Every shift, every small movement, made the pressure worse, and the dull ache in my arms was constant—gnawing, relentless. I tried to scream, but the gag in my mouth made it impossible to produce more than muffled, frantic sounds. The tightness in my chest only grew with each desperate attempt.I flexed my fingers, trying to ignore the cold burn creeping up my arms. My legs were tied too, but not as tightly. I could still move them slightly, still feel some sense of control over them. So, I tried to use my feet to move the small piece of wood that lay just out of reach. My toes strained against the floor, dragging it toward me inch by inch. My heart raced with hope. If I could just get a hold of it, I could use it to break the ropes or maybe…The sound of footsteps outside the door snapped me out of my focus. My heart skipped a beat, panic setting in. Was someone coming? My breath caught in
Evelyn's POVThe look on Hannah's face was hard to miss. I stood there, frozen in the doorway, eyeing both of them carefully. The tension in the room was so thick I could feel it pressing down on my chest, suffocating me. My mind raced, trying to piece together what had just happened, what was happening.Lucas looked like he’d just seen a ghost, and Hannah? Her eyes were swollen from crying. I swallowed hard, the knot in my throat growing tighter by the second."What’s going on here, Lucas?" I asked, my voice steady, but my mind was all over the place. I needed answers, and I needed them now.Hannah’s gaze flicked toward me, but she didn’t say anything. It wasn’t the first time I’d walked into an uncomfortable situation, but this one? This one felt different. It felt like I had stepped into something far deeper than I was prepared for.Lucas finally broke the silence, his hand still on the doorframe, looking like he wanted to say something, but the words weren’t coming easily.“You’re
Lucas's POVAfter hanging up the phone with Evelyn, the silence in the room felt like it was choking me. My fingers instinctively reached for the pack of cigarettes on the kitchen counter, but I paused before I even touched them. The weight of the call still hung in the air like a thick fog, and I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that was slowly gnawing at me. Something wasn’t right, and the knowledge that Evelyn was going to chase down whatever secret I had kept from her felt like a burden I was barely able to carry.Hannah was sitting by the kitchen table, her body hunched over, her hands trembling slightly as they rested on her lap. She was always so strong, so composed, but now? She looked lost, fragile. Her tears ran freely down her face, a sight I never imagined seeing. The guilt surged in my chest, sharp and bitter. She had trusted me, and here I was, about to drag her into a mess I had created. The weight of my actions was suffocating.I walked over to her slowly, each step m
Evelyn's POVI was perched on the old blue ladder chair in the corner of the room, my gaze unfocused as my fingers absentmindedly traced the worn edge of the chair’s armrest. The sharp chime of my phone cut through the silence, pulling my attention away from the haze of my thoughts. It was a message from Hannah—Aunty Hannah, to be exact. I wasn't in the mood for her endless advice, so I let the phone rest on the chair, nudging it aside with the tips of my fingers.My eyes drifted to the wall calendar hanging just above the desk. The dates were marked in red—each one a glaring stain against the otherwise dull pages. A sense of unease settled in my chest. The marks weren’t just random—there was purpose in them, something deliberate. But what did they mean? Why did they stand out so clearly? I couldn’t remember marking those dates myself.Just as I was about to lean in for a closer inspection, Sarah’s voice sliced through the quiet room, sharp and impatient.“What are you staring at, Eve
Hannah's povI stumbled backward, my head spinning, my entire body trembling. The room felt suffocating. The tension thickened, cloying at my throat. My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears that I could barely hear myself think. I had to get out of here, had to talk to someone—Evelyn would know what to do, she’d understand.My feet were already moving before my mind could process anything else. I turned quickly, eyes darting to the stairs as I bolted for them, but the sound of my brother’s voice stopped me cold.“Hannah, don’t do it.”I didn’t even look back. My hand was already reaching for the doorknob, the cold metal a promise of escape. But then, Lucas’ hand grabbed my wrist with an unexpected force, pulling me away from the door. I gasped, trying to yank myself free, but his grip tightened.“Let go of me!” I snarled, pulling harder, my skin burning where he touched me. His voice was low, a dangerous growl that made my pulse race.“Don’t you dare call Evelyn,” Lucas warned, his
Hannah pov I stepped into my brother’s apartment, the soft, melodic hum of a woman’s voice drifting through the air like a whisper. My brow furrowed instantly. This wasn’t right. Lucas wasn’t the type to bring random women over, especially not for something as... casual as this. I paused for a second, listening, the melody growing louder and more frantic.Who is humming like that? I asked myself, stepping into the dim light of the apartment. My steps were slow, deliberate, each one tinged with suspicion. The voice was like an unsettling echo in my mind, making my skin prickle.Something felt off.I quickly moved toward the stairs, the soft humming still filtering through the air, carrying with it a sense of urgency—like something was wrong. Why would someone be singing, trapped like that? Was someone hurt? My instincts kicked in, telling me to hurry.I climbed the stairs fast, taking them two at a time, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn’t stop thinking about what I might find a
Lucas' POV"Shut the hell up, Cassie, you talk too much," I growled, irritation rising in my chest.She huffed, rolling her eyes as if I’d just told her something completely ridiculous. "No, I don't. You ask so many questions, so what do you expect me to do? Keep shut? Oh, come on," she shot back, the words tumbling out of her mouth like a river that wouldn't stop.It was maddening. She had such a wide mouth—always talking, always going on about the same damn thing. I had been kind enough to let her stay under my roof, but now, her constant chatter was suffocating me. She kept repeating herself, always going back to this ridiculous idea that Evelyn was trying to steal Michael from her. The same words, the same damn rant. Over and over again. It was absurd, honestly.Her eyes flashed with the kind of intensity that made me want to roll my eyes, but I couldn't tear my gaze away. "You really think Evelyn is trying to steal Michael?" I said it sarcastically, barely able to hide my disd
Michael’s POVI could barely think straight. The sound of the reporters' questions assaulted my senses, each one feeling like an accusation, a finger pointed directly at me. “Mr. Michael, can you give a brief explanation of why you were last seen with Cassie, your secretary, before she went missing?” one reporter asked, their voice too sharp, too insistent. I froze, unable to respond, my mind reeling.What the hell were they even doing here? How did they get in?Before I could process, another reporter’s voice interrupted, “No, let him answer mine first—sorry, Mr. Michael, but I would—”It was like a wall of sound, all those cameras flashing, those questions being thrown at me as if they were already convinced of something that wasn’t true. I couldn’t breathe.Then, as if fate itself was conspiring to make things worse, I heard the sound of high heels clicking on the pavement. My mom emerged from the building, her expression a perfect storm of fury and frustration. She didn’t even loo
Evelyn povI stared at Elizabeth, still standing in the doorway, her cold, steely expression unwavering. The shattered cake on the floor was a mess, but at this point, it didn’t even matter. What mattered was what had just happened, and I was going to make sure I got some kind of answer."Why did you even break the cake?" I asked again, my voice sharper now, disbelief creeping in. "What the hell is your problem?"Her lips tightened, her gaze flicking between Michael and me before she spoke, her voice colder than the air in the room. "It’s not about the cake, Evelyn," she snapped. "You’re both too caught up in this little anniversary to see what’s actually happening."Confusion washed over me, and I looked to Michael, who had been standing quietly beside me, his eyes narrowed at his mother. "What do you mean, Mom?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with tension. "What’s going on?"Elizabeth inhaled sharply, as if trying to control her anger. "Cassie’s gone, Michael. She’s been kidna