Sunlight speared through the gaps in the curtains, dragging Flora from a restless sleep. It casted a warm glow over the interior of the penthouse suite.
She stirred from her slumber, her mind still hazy with the remnants of dream and desire. As she blinked away the last of her sleep, the events of the previous night played on repeat in her mind – the raw vulnerability she’d shared with Damien, the intoxicating of alcohol and attraction and the stolen moment of connection before reality intruded.Disappointment gnawed at her. A part of her had been hoping to wake up to Damien by the window, the city skyline a backdrop to their newfound alliance. But the plush armchair was empty, the only evidence of his presence a single white orchid lying on the bedside table, its delicate petals mirroring the fragile hope blooming in Flora’s chest.Beside the orchid lay a folded piece of paper. With trembling hands, she reached for it. Flora’s heart hammered against herAs Flora walked into the lawyer’s office – Henry’s lawyer’s office – she felt a sense of assurance wash over her. This was it, the final step in ending her marriage. She was ready for this to happen, prepared. The lawyer, a kind-faced woman named Sarah, greeted her warmly and led her to a conference room. She’d met Sarah several times during office holiday parties and when the woman had come to drop off some urgent paper work for Henry. She was comforted by the sympathy in the woman’s eyes.“Are you ready to do this?” Sarah asked gently.Flora nodded, taking a deep breath. “Yes, let's get this over with.”Just then, the door opened, and her husband, Henry, walked in, followed by Olivia. Flora felt a surge of anger and betrayal, but tried to keep her emotions in check.Olivia smiled sweetly at her, but there was a hint of hostility in her eyes. She had inherited her mother’s beady thin eyes and mean disposition. It was a no surprise. “Hel
Nerves fluttering in her stomach, she made her way towards him, each step bringing her closer to the mysterious man who had become an unexpected ally in her quest for revenge.“Damien,” she greeted him, her voice tinged with excitement and something else she could not quite place.“Flora,” he replied, his smile widening as he enveloped her in a welcoming embrace. “You look divine.”He led her to the elevator, punching in the number that would take them to the penthouse suite.“Do you always keep a suite available in each of your hotels?” she teased, grinning at him. Now that she was in his presence, her heart felt lighter than it had earlier this morning.Damien winked at her as the doors opened, leading her towards the stunning room. “Now why would I reveal all my secrets?”Flora stared out the oval window, appreciating the beauty of the room. Her mind raced with possibilities. She had come here with a purpose – to devise a plan
As Flora stood in front of the vanity mirror in Eva’s room, she barely recognized the reflection staring back at her. The past few years had taken a toll on her, and it showed. She looked like a shell of the vibrant woman she once was, but since leaving Damien's hotel this afternoon, she’d taken steps to bring that girl back. She needed her old self for the mission tonight.To begin preparing, she’d taken a trip to the salon, where Eva had booked an appointment with her favorite stylist – a man she’d praised to high heaven. As Flora had flipped through hair magazines, the stylist worked his magic, transforming her hair into tight, springy curls that cascaded down her shoulders.As she made her way back to Eva’s apartment, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. Once at Eva’s apartment, the real fun had begun. Eva had curated a selection of stunning outfits, each one more breathtaking than the last. They spent hours trying on dresses, laughing an
Just as she and Damien were indulging in a chocolate lava cake, the sound of camera shutters filled the air, drawing Flora’s attention to the commotion outside. She glanced out the window, spotting a group of paparazzi gathering on the sidewalk below, their cameras trained on the restaurant. “They’re here,” she said, voice filled with wonder. Damien smiled knowingly. His eyes locked onto hers, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, as if to say, ‘I told you it would work’. “Well, why don’t we give them what they came for?”As they exited the restaurant, Damien took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers in a gentle yet possessive gesture. The paparazzi swarmed around them, snapping photos and shouting questions. Flora felt exposed, vulnerable, as if her carefully constructed look was crumbling before her very eyes.As she stole a glance at Damien, she couldn’t help but wonder if he felt the same way. Before she could voice her concerns, Da
The sun hung low in the sky as Flora stood before the imposing structure of the mansion she had once shared with Henry, a house that was now hers alone. The sight of it filled her with a mixture of emotions – nostalgia, sadness. A twinge of bitterness also lingered beneath the surface. This had been their home once, a place filled with laughter and love but now it stood as a silent testament to everything that had gone wrong between them.As she stepped through the front door, the air inside felt heavy and suffocating. The room echoed with the ghosts of the past. But despite the bittersweetness of the moment, Flora knew that this was a necessary step in moving forward with her life. With a determined sigh, Flora set to work unpacking her belongings, the sound of her footsteps resounding in the through the empty halls. Whether out of spite or consideration, Henry had dismissed all the servants on the grounds, leaving the house well and truly empty.As
Flora spent the next few days getting rid of all of Henry’s belongings that remained in the mansion. As she went through the closets and his study, she found several items of his, seemingly forgotten – his favorite football club jersey, a branded watch Flora had given him on their six-month anniversary and even a treasured set of office pens with his initials scripted on them he’d proudly displayed on a bookshelf in his study.It might look as if he’d merely been careless but Flora knew it had been deliberate. Once, when her relationship with Henry had still been new, she and Henry had gotten into a big fight because Henry had forgotten Flora’s birthday even though she’d reminded him just the week before. He’d refused to apologize even when she’d told him unhappy it had made her and in anger, Flora had told him to get out of her studio apartment and that they were breaking up.Henry had packed his things in a hurry and stormed out, swearing they were over
Damien had said he’d pick her up by eight, and by seven-thirty, he’d already arrived in his sleek, navy sedan. The soft purr of the engine signaled the beginning of their evening together. Flora emerged from her house, smiling softly as she approached the waiting car. She’d chosen the jade dress Eva had suggested in the car as they’d driven away from the boutique. It was knee-length and ruffled at the arms, hugging her curves. She’d paired it with silver earrings shaped like tear drops and a single diamond bracelet. Damien grinned appreciatively as he held open her door for her. Desire gleamed in his eyes. “You look radiant tonight, darling,” he said, a hint of male appreciation in his tone as she slid into the plus leather seats. There was no driver tonight, which meant Damien wanted to be absolutely alone with Flora tonight. It thrilled her like nothing else.A flush of pleasure spread across her cheeks at the compliment. “You look pretty dashing yours
Damien pulled the car to a stop in front of Flora’s grand Victorian house. The lamps lining the driveway cast an ethereal glow on the intricate gingerbread trim. “It isn’t my first time seeing it,” Damien said, taking in the impressive architecture. “But this place is massive.”“It is a bit much,” Flora admitted. “Though there are perks to having all this space. I’d planned to sell it at first after my divorce was finalized but now, I’m not so sure.” On a sudden whim, she blurted out, “Would you like a tour?”Damien raised an eyebrow, surprised by the invitation. “Are you sure? It’s late.”Flora shrugged, masking her nervousness. “Just a quick one then. Besides, I haven’t even properly thanked you for this evening.”Intrigued, Damien followed her inside.The house was a labyrinth of high-ceilinged rooms and winding staircases. As they walked, Flora pointed out hidden nooks and curiosities she’d collected over the years. With eac
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 .