Flora stood in front of her wardrobe, staring blankly at the rows of blouses, skirts and trousers, her mind elsewhere. She absentmindedly selected a pale blue blouse and a pair of slacks, her thoughts circling around Janice and the deed she had found the previous night. The shocking discovery had shaken her deeply, and her sleep had been restless, plagued by unsettling dreams of her father trying to warn her about something. Even now, the images from her dream lingered in her mind like a cloud she couldn’t shake off.
She fumbled as she dressed, slipping into the blue blouse and her usual work slacks without much thought. Her hands trembled slightly as she buttoned the blouse, distracted by the enormity of what she’d uncovered. Despite everything, she couldn’t help but feel she was missing pieces of a larger puzzle, one that involved Janice, Alice, and her father.She slipped on her heels, then went to the kitchen, her mind still spinning with thoughts of Janice and the deed.“Uh-oh,” Eva said, her tone instantly serious. “What happened? Spill!”“I found a deed in my dad’s study,” Flora explained, rubbing her temples as she spoke. “It’s bad, Eva. Like, shockingly bad. It’s basically giving almost everything to Janice. Like, all of his major assets. I don’t understand how or why, but it’s real. It’s all official.”“Wait, hold on.” Eva’s voice grew sharper. “You’re telling me your dad is giving Janice everything? I thought Alice was the one calling the shots.”“That’s what I thought too,” Flora replied, frustration bubbling up inside her. “But this changes everything. I have no idea what kind of hold Janice has over him, but it must be big. I can’t let her get away with this, Eva. I have to figure out what’s really going on. This woman’s got her claws in deep.”“Are you sure it’s real? I mean, your dad would seriously give everything to her?”“I wish I was wrong. It’s all there in black and white. I don’t know what kind of hold she has
Her mind was racing with everything she had to do next—both at Defendwise Ventures and in dealing with Janice. As she chewed mechanically, her phone buzzed again, this time with a call from Damien. She smiled as she picked it up, a small surge of excitement washing over her. Anna popped a head into the kitchen, making a gesture as if to ask if Flora was ready to go. Flora shook her head slightly as she held her phone to her ear.“Hey, you,” she greeted softly, her voice dropping so Anna and Charles, who were nearby, wouldn’t hear too much of their conversation. Already, his call had lifted her mood.“Hey, beautiful,” Damien replied, his voice warm and teasing. “How’s your morning?”“Chaotic as usual,” she sighed. “But hearing your voice makes it a little better.”“Oh, I like that.”“What?”“That fact I can make your day a little brighter,” he said, a playful tone creeping into his voice. “You always do,” Flora said, her voice lowering. She glanced a
Flora was deeply immersed in her work when she heard the soft knock on her office door, followed by the familiar click of it opening. She didn’t bother looking up, knowing it was Sophie, her personal assistant. Sophie had been in and out of the office several times that day, and Flora had grown used to her presence, especially when she was running on empty and in need of a distraction from the endless stack of files in front of her.“Brought you something, boss,” Sophie chirped, her tone unusually bright.Flora’s focus was still on the spreadsheet in front of her, trying to make sense of the projections Planning Team 1 had sent over. She barely registered Sophie’s words until a tantalizing scent filled the room. The rich aroma of spices made her stomach twist, a sharp reminder that she hadn’t eaten since that quick bite of toast earlier in the morning.Finally pulling her gaze away from the screen, Flora saw Sophie placing a neatly wrapped Mediterranean food platter on h
Sophie reluctantly took the platter, her lips forming a pout. “Are you sure, Ms. Wicks? It’s such a waste if you don’t have any.” “I’m sure,” Flora replied firmly, though her stomach twisted at the smell of the food leaving with Sophie. “Could you get me a coffee and Chinese fried rice from the usual place instead?” Sophie looked defeated, but she nodded. “Of course,” she said before walking out with the platter, casting one last glance over her shoulder as if expecting Flora to change her mind. The door clicked shut behind Sophie, leaving Flora alone in her office once again. She exhaled slowly, leaning back in her chair and rubbing her temples. The gnawing hunger in her stomach had nothing to do with food anymore. It was the uncomfortable realization that Cyprus wasn’t going to give up anytime soon, and his persistence was starting to grate on her nerves. Flora glanced at her phone, her thoughts turning to Damien. Just the thought of him bro
Cyprus leaned closer, his smile turning indulgent, as if her words amused him rather than offended him. “I’ve always liked strict women,” he mused aloud, his tone filled with that familiar, unshakable arrogance. Flora sighed, feeling a surge of frustration. She glanced at her watch again, hoping the ride would end soon. She wasn’t in the mood for this game he seemed so intent on playing. He wasn’t listening to her at all, and it irritated her to no end. “You’re worse than a wild animal,” she muttered under her breath, though it was loud enough that she didn’t particularly care if he heard. Cyprus’s expression didn’t change. If anything, he seemed more amused. “You seem in a hurry,” he noted, his voice smooth as silk. “Do you have somewhere to be?” He took a step closer, and Flora instinctively stepped back, her irritation quickly turning to anger. She could feel the space between them shrinking, and she didn’t like it. Cyprus had a way of igno
Flora didn’t need to give Anna any address. It was clear that Damien had already coordinated everything. As the car pulled away from Defendwise Ventures, she felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over her. She sank into the plush leather seat and closed her eyes, willing herself to relax. For a fleeting moment, her thoughts wandered to Olivia. She hoped her dinner with Cyprus went well, despite the sinking feeling she had about him. She shook the thought away; it wasn’t her problem.Before she knew it, Flora found herself drifting in and out of sleep, the rhythmic hum of the car soothing her into a light slumber. She was more mentally drained than she had realized, the constant plotting, the lies, and the burdens of the day pulling her down. When Anna gently touched her shoulder, Flora blinked awake, momentarily disoriented.“We’re here, ma’am,” Anna said softly, slight concern on her face as she looked down on Flora.Flora straightened, smoothing down her work slacks as she l
As much as she loved being with him, she also longed to take a relaxing bath. The weight of the day’s tension still clung to her muscles.She turned away from the bed and quietly moved across the room, her eyes searching for the bathroom. The first door she opened revealed a walk-in closet, filled with tailored suits and shirts, all neatly arranged. She closed it quickly and moved to the next door, relieved to find that this one led to a spacious bathroom.The bathroom was a sanctuary in itself. Marble floors gleamed under soft, recessed lighting. A large, clawfoot bathtub sat in the center of the room, inviting her to sink into its depths. The counters were lined with expensive toiletries, each bottle meticulously arranged. Flora sighed in contentment as she turned on the tap, watching the hot water fill the tub. She added a generous amount of bath oil, inhaling the calming scent of almond as steam rose into the air.As she slipped into the bath, the hot water enveloped
Flora closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in the comfort that came with his words. She could always count on him, even when everything else felt uncertain. Being with Damien made everything feel lighter, more manageable. He had this way of making her forget all the drama surrounding her. As they sat there, heads bowed together, the moment stretched out, warm and peaceful."How about we get some fresh air?" Damien suggested, pulling back slightly to meet her gaze. "I’ll show you around the garden. It’s beautiful this time of day."Flora’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. She had been captivated by the mansion and its surroundings from the moment she arrived, and the idea of spending some quiet time with Damien, exploring the gardens, sounded perfect. "I’d love that," she replied, her smile widening.Damien swung his legs out of bed and stood, stretching his arms above his head. Flora took a moment to admire the sight of him—tall, strong, and effortlessly handsome, even
Hello everyone, Ena here! Phew, this has been quite a journey. I can hardly believe that we've reached the end of this story together. What started as a simple idea has grown into something so much more, and that’s all thanks to you readers and your support. Thank you for sticking with me and I'm grateful to every single one of you. Though we’re closing this chapter, I hope this isn’t goodbye. I have more stories to tell, and I’d love to share them with you. I'll be back soon with an even better book. Until next time 💛 All my love, Ena Starr.
Two Weeks Later The evening had settled into a comfortable warmth as Flora parked her car in the driveway of Damien’s estate. The sky was a gentle gradient of fading sunset hues, a perfect close to what had been a long but fulfilling day with Eva. They had been going over the offers from several publishing houses and TV studios, that wanted to monetize Flora's experience with Alice and Janice. It had been exhausting, but there was a sense of peace that came with knowing everything with Alice was truly over. Justice had been served, and Flora was finally free. With a content sigh, she gathered her things, pushing open the front door. The house was unusually quiet, save for the faint rustle of the breeze outside and the distant clinking of glass from the kitchen. A cozy warmth greeted her, the familiar scent of home wrapping her in comfort as she stepped inside. "Hello?" she called out softly, slipping off her shoes and setting
Flora’s breath caught in her throat, but she held her composure, her hands clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. She cast a glance across the courtroom and met Alice’s eyes. There was no fire in them, no anger or hatred. Only resignation. This was her fate, sealed and unchangeable. Alice would spend the rest of her life in jail. There would be no escape, no return to the life she once knew. She would die there, alone. The judge then turned her attention to Janice, who sat trembling in her seat. “As for Janice Holden,” the judge said, her tone unwavering, “for the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, and for the misuse of her professional authority as a nurse, resulting in the death of Vera Wicks, this court finds the defendant guilty.” Janice sobbed openly as the judge delivered her sentence: twenty-five years to life, with the possibility of parole only after serving the minimum term. But even with parole, Janice would never fully escape her crimes.
The next few days blurred together, filled with a whirlwind of action and emotion as Flora set the final stage for justice. Filing the formal report against Alice was both cathartic and devastating, but it was something Flora knew she had to do. This was the final step in a journey that had begun when her life was torn apart by betrayal, and now, she was finally fighting back. Alice was arrested almost immediately after Flora's report, and to everyone's surprise, she didn’t resist. For the first time in their long and painful history, she didn’t fight back. There were no screaming matches, no attempts to manipulate or twist the situation in her favor, no venomous remarks hurled in Flora’s direction. Instead, Alice turned herself over with an unsettling calm, submitting a written confession detailing her involvement in both the death of Flora’s mother and the accident that had left her father a prisoner in his own mind. Flora knew Alice’s cooperation wasn’t born
A chill ran down her spine, and she stammered out the first question that came to mind. “Olivia…are you—”Before she could finish, Olivia let out a bitter laugh, the sound filled with a weight of sorrow and exhaustion. It wasn’t a happy laugh, but one of disbelief at her own situation.“Yes, I’m pregnant,” Olivia confirmed softly, cutting off Flora’s stumbling attempt to find the right words. She rubbed her palm lightly over her stomach as if to comfort herself more than anything else. “And before you ask, it’s Cyprus’s.”Flora’s breath caught in her throat. Cyprus. Of course it was his. Her mind flew to that one disastrous night that Olivia had had with the arrogant vice president of Defendwise Ventures.“Olivia…” Flora whispered, her voice thick with disbelief. “What are you going to do?”The question hung in the air like a fragile thread, and for a moment, Olivia seemed lost, her gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the supermarket, beyond the immediate rea
Olivia’s face was puffy, her eyes rimmed red and swollen from crying. She looked utterly devastated, her usual composed demeanor shattered. Her bottom lip quivered as she attempted a smile, but it was weak, trembling at the edges. "Flora," Olivia whispered, her voice cracking. Flora stepped forward, unsure whether to close the distance between them or keep some space. She could see the exhaustion written across Olivia’s features, the turmoil swirling behind her eyes. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of what had brought them here pressing down on both of them. Olivia broke the silence first, her voice barely above a whisper. “I—I didn’t know.” She choked on the words, shaking her head as fresh tears welled in her eyes. “I didn’t know what my mother was capable of. I swear to you, Flora, I didn’t know any of it.” Flora stood still, absorbing Olivia’s words. She wanted to believe her. Desperately. But the betrayal of the past day,
The buzzing of Flora’s phone startled her out of her thoughts. It was Olivia. The message read:“Can you meet me in thirty minutes? There's a small 24-hour supermarket called "Pinegrove Market" not far from the estate. I’ll be there. Please, Flora, I really need to talk.”Flora’s pulse quickened as she read the message. Thirty minutes? She glanced at the clock. It was late, and while her body still ached with exhaustion, the urgency in Olivia’s words cut through any hesitation. Something in her gut told her this couldn’t wait. Without overthinking it, she typed a quick reply:“I’ll be there.”She stood up from the couch, assessing her loose pants and short-sleeved top. They would have to do for such an impromptu meeting. She padded quietly upstairs, not wanting to disturb the peaceful quiet of Damien’s home. He was fast asleep, one arm draped over his eyes, his breathing steady and calm. Flora felt a pang of guilt for slipping out, but she had to do this. Bending dow
Just as the words left Eva’s mouth, the kitchen door opened, and Damien stepped inside. He looked at Flora, his gaze soft and warm, and without a word, he crossed the room and kissed her gently on the temple. “Eva’s already started drafting the court papers,” he said, finishing Eva’s sentence. His voice was calm, matter-of-fact, as though they were discussing something far less monumental.Flora blinked, still processing everything. “Has Alice made a move since we left the estate?” she asked, her voice quiet but steady.Damien shook his head. “No,” he replied. “I think she knows this is the end for her.”The weight of his words settled over the room, and for a moment, there was nothing but the soft sound of the stew bubbling on the stove and Whiskerton’s contented purring. Flora exhaled slowly, a mixture of relief and exhaustion washing over her.That night, after dinner had been cleared away and Catarina and Eva had gone off to bed, Flora sat alone on the couch in t
Flora blinked, her eyes stinging with fresh tears. She knew who had orchestrated this—who had called Catarina and Eva, who had made sure that when Flora woke up, she wouldn’t be alone. It had to be Damien. He had seen how close she was to breaking, how much she needed the people around her now. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Flora looked between Catarina and Eva, her lips trembling with a bittersweet smile. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for coming.” Catarina patted her cheek affectionately. “You’re stuck with us now,” she said with a soft almost motherly smile, before turning back to the stove to finish serving the stew. “Now, sit down and eat before you collapse. I made your favorite.” Flora’s stomach growled again in response, and she let out a soft laugh. Their presence, combined with the savory aroma of the stew, filled the room with a sense of comfort that Flora hadn’t realised she'd been craving .