Chapter 100 Sharon didn't see it coming, but deep down, she knew the truth. She liked him. She caught herself thinking about him more than she cared to admit. The flutter in her chest when he smiled, the way her heart raced when they were together, how could she deny it any longer? The connection between them was undeniable, and yet, the uncertainty only crawled to her chest. Was it too soon? Was he even interested? It wasn’t until they were sitting on the couch together that she finally acknowledged the feelings she tried to suppress throughout the drive in the car. She took a deep breath, then turned to him with a hesitant smile. “Matthew, I... I’ve realized something,” she started, her voice softer than usual. Matthew raised an eyebrow, looking at her eyes. One part of him was hoping she'd say she accepted to love him, but then he just listened in curiosity. “What’s on your mind, Sharon?” “I like you,” she blurted out, her face turning a little pink. “I’ve liked you for a whil
Chapter 101 “He really likes you, it's so clear. I've never seen him so smitten like this before.” Tara commented on the light acts of Matthew and Sharon knew she was right. But she kept it to herself. If only Tara knew how smitten she was too, she would only tease her. “He's probably just in a good mood. I'm not so sure he's in love with me.” She tried to clear the air. “And he asked you to come sleep in his room? I don't think so. You both are going to spend the night together! Think about it” She went on mumbling and rambling, while Sharon just listened and was smiling. Tara opened the door and sat down with her bag. “I never really thought you knew what size I use” She said after pulling out the shoes in the bag and trying it on. Her legs looked different with the authencity of the shoes, she knew the worth and she just had to smile and give Sharon a hug again. “It was Matthew’s idea.” She said, shockingly Tara looked up at her. “That's a joke, right?” Her eyes gave a hint o
Chapter 102 Andrew sat at his desk, his hands gripping the edge as though it might somehow steady him. The papers in front of him were a blur, too many failed contracts, too many debts, too many reminders that his company was on the brink of collapse. The weight of it was unbearable, and yet, there he was, trying to hold it all together. He had spent the last few days running from one company to the next, desperate for help. The faces he trusted, the ones who swore they’d stand by him, were all backing away. The debts were stacking up, and no matter how many calls he made, no matter how many meetings he scheduled, nothing was working. His once-thriving business was slipping through his fingers, and he couldn’t stop it. The thought of bankruptcy loomed like a dark cloud over him. His office felt suffocating, and as he walked from one corner to another, trying to gather his thoughts, his mind kept racing. His pulse hammered in his ears, each passing moment a reminder of the mess he w
Chapter 103 For the past few weeks, Andrew had been sending her money on a regular basis, but when she checked her account, there was nothing. She stared at her phone, refreshing the screen, hoping for something to change. But it didn’t. No transfer, no notification, nothing. Confusion quickly turned into irritation. Why hadn’t he transferred anything today? She hadn’t asked for much, just enough to keep her going, for shopping, for the things she felt entitled to. After all, he had been supporting her, hadn’t he? So why stop now? Without thinking it through, she grabbed her things and stormed out of the house. She was going to find him. He didn’t have the right to stop sending money without explanation. She knew where his office was, and that’s where she was headed. When Aria arrived at Andrew's office, she tried to push past the receptionist with urgency, but the woman stopped her. “He’s not here right now,” the receptionist explained, sounding apologetic. "Not here?" Aria echoe
Chapter 104 The anger inside Aria just increased as she stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind her. The words Andrew had thrown at her echoed in her mind, each one more cutting than the last. "Get a life, Aria. Stop clinging to me. You're so lame." His words felt like daggers, but she knew what it was. He was trying to make her the problem and she promised to get back at him. She couldn't let Andrew's words haunt her for longer. She would go about her day, put on a mask, and try to push through. But the moment she stepped outside, the anger was back, and it hit her like a brick. Back at college, she walked through the halls, her mind clouded with thoughts of what had happened. She tried to ignore the world around her, but one of her friends, Tasha, spotted her from across the room. Tasha l made her way toward Aria with a curious look on her face. “Damn, girl, did a cat bite you or something?” Tasha’s voice was teasing, but there was no mistaking the concern in her eyes.
Chapter 105 Aria’s resentment bubbled up in a way she hadn’t expected. Everywhere she looked, it felt like everything in her life was slipping away while Matthew’s world continued to bloom. What other way would Sharon have so much money in her account? The business he had worked so hard to build was flourishing, and Sharon, the one who had everything she wished for, was being pampered and cared for like royalty. Aria couldn’t stand it anymore. She found herself watching Sharon, and every time she saw her with Matthew, her insides churned. It was as if she was feeding off Andrew’s leftovers, constantly scraping for attention and affection, while Matthew and Sharon seemed to glide effortlessly through life, untouched and ignorant of the struggles that haunted Aria. Maybe she could have that too. Maybe if she played her cards right, she could take Matthew for herself. She wasn’t going to let Sharon have everything, she deserved a piece of that world, didn’t she? If Matthew could care
Chapter 106 Aria’s anger was a constant ache in her chest, a burning reminder of her failure. Watching Matthew and Sharon together, seeing how perfect they seemed, how in love they were, it was like a dagger to her heart. Every time she thought about them, the jealousy clawed at her insides, eating away her resolve. Matthew had been hers once, or so she had convinced herself. But now, Sharon had him, and it felt like she had taken everything she had ever wanted. It wasn’t just about Matthew. It was about Sharon, about how everything seemed so easy for her, how she was effortlessly perfect in Matthew’s eyes. Aria hated the way Sharon smiled, the way she held herself with such confidence. Aria wasn’t like that. She wasn’t as pretty, as charming, or as perfect. And she hated Sharon for it. She hated Sharon for taking everything she wanted. The frustration boiled over inside of her, threatening to spill out. She had been playing this game for so long, but she was losing. Losing to some
Chapter 107 “Since there was no one else to contact, your friend’s call was the one that came through. We had to call her to let her know you were here.” Aria blinked in confusion, her thoughts struggling to catch up. Tasha? The mention of her friend’s name felt absurd, almost irrelevant compared to the pain that had consumed her life lately. But Tasha? She was genuinely concerned, Aria could tell. For a brief moment, guilt weakened her chest, but it was quickly pushed aside by the familiar feeling of resentment. Tasha had no idea what Aria was really dealing with. All she knew was that Aria had been acting distant and avoiding everyone, including her. She was worried for her, but Aria couldn’t ease the anger bubbling inside her. The last thing she needed was Tasha pitying her. Aria let out a small, inaudible sigh as she waited for the doctor to leave, wanting to retreat into her own thoughts and away from the concern of others. She didn’t care about Tasha's concern. She only cared
Chapter 141Matthew watched Sharon for a long moment, his eyes searching hers. He could feel a strange mix of emotions swirling inside him, but the overwhelming one was relief. She didn't push him away, not like he expected.She didn't yell, didn't accuse him. She was only calm, almost too calm, like she had accepted whatever it was that had happened between them. It was both comforting and unsettling at the same time.He took a deep breath, pushing aside his emotions for the moment. He could already feel the weight of his decision pressing on his chest. "I’ll be leaving soon," he said quietly, standing up from the chair beside her bed. "But before I go…"He pulled a cheque from his jacket pocket, the crisp paper a stark reminder of the distance between them, both literal and emotional. "I want you to take this," he said, his tone firm yet softer than usual. "It’s $50,000. It’s not much, but it’s something."Sharon looked at the cheque, her brow furrowing. She shook her head, her voi
Chapter 140 Sharon’s vision blurred as she leaned back against the passenger seat, pain pulsing through her body with every jolt of the car. Ella drove like a woman possessed, her hands gripping the wheel tightly, her foot pressing hard on the accelerator. She didn’t even seem to notice how fast they were going, speeding past streetlights and weaving through traffic. Nothing mattered to her but getting Sharon to the hospital. "Hold on, Sharon," Ella urged, her voice tight with fear. "We’re almost there." Sharon could barely respond. Her head was spinning, and her stomach felt like it was on fire. The pain from Sophie’s blow had only worsened, and she could feel a warmth trickling down her body, blood. Panic set in, but she fought it down, focusing on Ella’s words, trying to stay conscious. The hospital loomed ahead, and Ella barely slowed as she pulled into the parking lot. She rushed out of the car, barely waiting for the nurse to help them before she was ushered into the
Chapter 139Sharon and Ella walked out of the office. She had signed the correct documents, sent them out, and everything had been approved.The project was moving forward, and Sharon was preparing herself for the hard work ahead. This was her chance to take back the company, and she knew she couldn’t afford to relent. The thoughts of what she was about to do made her heart beat faster. She had to keep going. She had to stay strong. But just as they were walking down the sidewalk, Sharon suddenly stopped, her footsteps faltering.Ella noticed immediately, glancing over to her. “What’s wrong?”She didn’t expect it to hit her like this. She touched her belly instinctively, feeling the tightening sensation. The longing, anger, frustration, and that deep yearning. A desire to be near him, even though he was the last person she should be thinking about right now.Ella caught the movement and immediately understood. Her face softened with concern as she stepped closer to Sharon. “Don’t le
Chapter 138Sharon sat back in her chair, her hands steady as she signed the last of the documents that had been sitting on her desk for days. It was a simple task, yet one that had felt like it was looming over her, as if the weight of her recent troubles would stop her from getting it done. But now, she was finally on track. Her signature was swift, confident, and with it, she sent the documents off to their partners.She leaned back, a satisfied smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. The email confirmation came in almost immediately, the message saying it had been approved. Her success was undeniable, and she could already feel the wave of praise building in the air. Not just from her team, but from the shareholders. They had always been watching, and now, they were congratulating her for the success she brought to the company. "Good work, Sharon," came a voice from the doorway. A colleague had stepped in, offering a smile. "Your efforts are paying off.""Thanks," Sharon sai
Chapter 137Aria’s heart pounded as she ran through the streets, clutching her bag tightly to her side. She didn’t know why she was running, or why the fear that gripped her chest was growing with each step. But it was there, clawing at her insides, and she couldn’t stop running.Her mind raced as she replayed the events over and over in her head, Sharon’s collapse, her own actions that led to it, and now the crushing weight of uncertainty bearing down on her. She had never been afraid of consequences before. But now, something was different. She couldn’t stop herself from running.By the time she arrived back home, she was out of breath, her chest rising and falling with each heavy inhale. She slammed the door behind her, locking it with trembling hands. Her entire body felt stiff, as if she were trapped in a nightmare that she couldn’t escape. She leaned against the door for a moment, gathering herself, trying to steady the shaking of her limbs. She had to think. She had to make a
Chapter 136The next morning, Aria walked into the office, her mind was already prepared for the chaos she expected to unfold. She’d set everything up the night before, knowing that the humiliation of Sharon was only a matter of time. She had made sure the photoshopped images of Sharon would circulate, ensuring that her reputation would take a hit. The plan was perfect, or so she thought. Everything would be done once she got to find a dramatic scene. She had anticipated a dramatic confrontation, the kind of scene where Sharon would be caught off guard and fall into the trap. Instead, what greeted her was far from what she imagined.As she stepped into the office, she found Sharon laughing, a wide, genuine smile stretched across her face as she engaged with her project partners. The usual tension that Aria had hoped for was nowhere to be found. Instead, Sharon seemed completely at ease, surrounded by people who seemed to enjoy her company. Her laughter rang through the room, and Ar
Chapter 135Aria's grip tightened on the steering wheel as she glanced in the rearview mirror. Matthew’s car was still there, trailing her down the road like a persistent shadow. The thought of him following her made her blood boil, but she didn’t let it show. She wasn’t about to let him get the best of her, not now, not when she had more important things to take care of.Without hesitating, she veered her car off the main road and onto a side street, taking a sharp turn that led her to a nearby church. It was quiet there, peaceful even, and most importantly, away from Matthew's prying eyes. If he wanted to follow her, let him. She wasn’t going to let him ruin her plans.The old stone church loomed ahead as she parked, locking her car behind her as she stepped out. She made sure to keep her pace slow, not wanting to give away the fact that she was intentionally trying to lose him. Her heels clicked against the cobblestone walkway as she walked toward the entrance, the cool night air b
Chapter 134Leo sat quietly across from Matthew, his gaze fixed to his friend, who seemed lost in his thoughts. They had just finished a rather tense phone call with Sharon. Matthew dialed her number, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for her to pick up. When she finally did, her voice was soft, distant. He was able to hear her voice and that was all he wanted to hear, just a reassurance that she was okay. But despite the calmness in her voice, he knew that it wasn't real.Leo watched the entire interaction in silence, his concern for his friend growing. As Matthew ended the call, Leo couldn’t hold back any longer.“You’ve got to step up your game, Matt,” Leo said, his tone laced with frustration. “I can’t keep watching you like this. You need to do something if you want her back.”Matthew sighed, rubbing his temples as if trying to push away the weight of the conversation. “I know. But I’m not going to rush in blind. I need to figure out what’s going on with her. What’
Chapter 133Sharon watched Tilly leave after handing her lunch, and for a moment, she let her thoughts drift. The office was quiet, save for the occasional shuffle of papers or a soft murmur of conversation. She thought she could finally get some peace, but then a small nagging voice reminded her of something. She hadn’t dropped off the project file on her colleague’s desk yet.“Wait,” Sharon called out, stopping Tilly before she could leave. Tilly turned back, waiting for Sharon to speak. “The file,” Sharon said, her voice calm but with a hint of urgency. “You didn’t leave it on my desk.”Tilly hesitated for a moment, then replied, “I haven’t finished it yet, Sharon. I was just getting your lunch and… I’ll finish the file now.”Sharon nodded, appreciating the quick response but still feeling a slight tension building up in her chest. “Make sure you finish it quickly. I need it on my desk soon.”With that, Tilly nodded hurriedly and excused herself, leaving Sharon alone with her thou