Flora stared at the glittering cityscape outside the window, her reflection distorted in the glass like a funhouse mirror. The vibrant lights held no allure for her today. The revelation of the paternity test hung heavy in the air, a storm cloud threatening to unleash a torrent of emotions she wasn't sure she could handle.
As the conference room confrontation receded into the background, Flora found herself adrift in a sea of troubling thoughts. Thoughts of the paternity test clause gnawed at her, casting a shadow over her childhood memories. She couldn’t help but wonder if her father had always harbored suspicions about her birth mother’s fidelity. Maybe that was why he allowed Alice to treat her so poorly. The idea that the man who had raised her might not be her biological father left her feeling unmoored and vulnerable.She tried to keep an upbeat attitude for Eva’s sake, brushing off her friend’s concerned questions with practiced ease. Each time Eva glanced her way, aFlora stared at him, a flicker of hope battling the despair that had threatened to consume her. Damien's words, his unwavering belief in her, felt like a lifeline thrown across a churning sea. She clutched at it with the desperation of a hungry hound.As if in agreement, Whiskerton let out a loud meow and then purred contentedly against Damien. Flora couldn’t help but smile at the sight. “Thank you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. ”I needed to hear that.”Damien reached out, as if to touch the screen separating them. The gesture, though impossible, held a tenderness that made Flora's heart skip a beat. "Always, love," he said, his gaze holding hers. “Remember, you’re not alone in this. I’m here for you, no matter what.”They spoke for a little while longer, Damien updating her on his day, his voice a soothing balm on her frayed nerves. As the conversation wound down, a peculiar thought snuck into Flora's mind, one both scary and enticing.Several hours later
After breakfast with Eva, Flora tried to occupy herself with reading the documents of her father's company, particularly those pertaining to succession. She found the details meticulous and comprehensive, yet with each page she turned, her frustration grew. However, the more she read, the angrier she became. As she delved into the intricate succession clauses, her ire creeped higher. Every sentence, every paragraph, seemed like a cruel reminder of the precariousness of her situation. The possibility of the paternity test unraveling her entire claim, of being rendered an outsider in her own inheritance, gnawed at her like a relentless rodent. Was there even a point in fighting? Was there a point in flying back all the way to her home city, battling Alice, and clawing her way through the legal system, only to have a single blood test render her efforts totally useless? The thought that all her struggles might be in vain left her feeling hollow and despondent.
It was no secret that Alice, always the epitome of image-conscious, would relish the opportunity to rid herself of her ailing husband, even if it meant splurging on a deluxe hospital room. The cost wouldn't matter to her as long as it maintained a semblance of decorum. Charles remained silent, his eyes forward, as Anne parked the car. Stepping out of the car, Flora felt a strange mix of trepidation and a morbid curiosity. She straightened her skirt and took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever awaited her within those sterile walls. Though this was a different place entirely, it unfortunately reminded her of her time spent recovering from Esther's plans and Tilly Goodman s assault, bringing that luckless period to the forefront of her mind. Funny enough, it had not been that long ago. This place reminded her of blood and pain and fear. Flora took a deep breath and smoothed out her blazer as she walked through the entrance. Inside, the
A gasp escaped Flora's lips as strong arms wrapped around her waist, catching her before she could hit the floor. A smoky musk surrounded her. She looked up, startled, into a pair of apologetic brown eyes framed by thick black glasses. "Oh my God, are you alright?" a male voice exclaimed, his voice laced with concern. The man holding her steadied her and then stepped back, his hands still lingering on her waist. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." As Flora opened the door to leave her father's hospital room, she bumped into a hard chest. The collision sent her off balance, and before she could process what was happening, a pair of strong hands caught her mid-fall by the waist, straightening her back up. Flora blinked, slightly disoriented. The sudden contact had knocked the wind out of her. "It's fine. I'm fine. Really. But, um... your hands?" The man looked down and realized his hands were still on her. He flinched slightly, a
"In the bath!" Flora replied, her voice carrying across the bathroom and into the room.The bathroom door creaked open and Eva peeked in. Her usually bright eyes were shadowed with fatigue. She looked utterly exhausted ."Long day?" Flora asked sympathetically."You could say that," Eva sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Hey, Flora. How was the hospital?"Flora smiled weakly. "I'll be out in a few minutes so you can shower and rest. You look like you need it. We can grab some takeout for dinner when you wake up."Eva waved her off. "Take your time. I'll nap first and shower when I wake up. But tell me, how did it go?"Flora sighed, leaning her head back against the edge of the tub. "Alice excluded my name from the list of close family members, so I had to pretend to be Olivia to get in. My father looks so frail... it was hard to see him like that."Eva frowned in sympathy. "I'm sorry, Flora. That must have been tough.""It was," Flora admitted. "I'm kin
Her eyes narrowed at the sudden shift in conversation. One moment they were discussing a company takeover, the next he was asking her out. It was disarming, to say the least."Coffee?" she repeated, a hint of incredulousness creeping into her voice. "Isn't that a little… unconventional? Considering we just met, and you have no idea if I'm even qualified for the company, let alone qualified for a date?"He chuckled throatily. "Fair point," he conceded. "But then again, who says business can't be a little delightful?"Flora couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his playful tone. This man was a walking contradiction – an awkward geek with the confidence of a seasoned businessman and the flirtatiousness of a charming rogue. "Mr. Blackwell," she started, emphasizing his last name, "I appreciate the offer, but I'm a taken woman. Furthermore, my focus right now is solely on my father and the upcoming paternity test.”A flicker of disappointment crossed Cyprus's face, t
The days leading up to the testing were nerve-wracking for Flora. She tried to focus on work, read, and distract herself with anything that came to mind, but the looming test hung over her like a storm cloud. Each day felt heavier than the last. On the morning of the test, she dressed somberly in a dark blue blouse and black slacks, the colors reflecting her mood. Eva accompanied her, sensing the gravity of the situation. When Flora stepped out of her room and into the car, she noticed that Charles and Anna were even quieter than usual. Their usual polite small talk was absent, replaced by a solemn silence that matched Flora's internal turmoil. Charles mumbled 'good luck, ma'am' as they got into the car, his usually jovial demeanor subdued. Anna, ever the quiet observer, cast a sympathetic glance in Flora's direction. The tense atmosphere spoke volumes – the silence was more eloquent than any words. The court had directed that the testing be done at a federal ho
There was a beat of silence, then Mr. Henderson, sensing her need for a moment of solitude, simply nodded and ushered Eva towards the hospital entrance. Alone for the first time that day, Flora took a deep breath, the weight of the situation settling upon her shoulders. She pulled out her phone, a single name on her mind. He picked up on the first ring. "Hello, you. Today’s the day of the paternity testing, isn’t it?" he asked, his voice calm and reassuring. She could hear the concern in his voice, and for a moment, she wanted nothing more than to crumble and let it all out. "Yes. I'm scared of what the results will say." She released a shaky breath. "I'm terrified, actually. What if… what if the results say…" she trailed off, unable to voice the fear that ate at her. “Sometimes I think it might have been better to stay in the dark.” Damien’s voice was soothing. "You know Alice would never let you live in peace. Whatever the test results say,
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 .