I called Harry as soon as I got into the car. He ignored me once or twice, but by the third attempt, he finally answered."What the hell?! I'm busy!" he snapped."I pray to God you're busy being interrogated by the IRS," I shot back sharply.He feigned shock. "What are you talking about?"I snickered, my doubt clear. "You set me up, Harry fucking Jones. Time for your comeuppance.""How dare you swear at your own father's name like that, you bitch?!" he raged, grasping at straws."Fuck you! You've never treated me like a daughter, and you've never hesitated to hurl abuse at me! Calling you an asshole is an insult to anuses worldwide!""Can it, bitch! I raised you!""Well, as thanks for raising me, I've prepared a gift you've been dying for. Where are you?"Harry was quiet for a moment. He was likely cautious, but in the end, his desire to see me at my most pathetic probably won out. Or maybe he was thirsty for more chances to insult me.Either way, he relented. "Nation Trade C
"I'm not leaving! I want to be here to see her at her worst! I was on my knees begging her to save Maddison, but she didn't care, did she?!" Cameron growled. "So now, I want her groveling in tears, or she'll be in jail!"I shoved the door open with a shrill snicker. "Groveling in tears? You mean like when someone dies in a movie and someone else falls to their knees, crying? Ooh, you really miss Maddison already!"They jumped at the noise.Cameron's expression twisted when she saw it was me. "You! You just can't stop cursing everyone else to die, can you?!""Just reading between the lines, ma'am."She couldn't find the right retort, so she resorted to an attempt to slap my face. I caught her wrist and swung her aside."I come here bearing gifts, and this is how you people welcome me?" I questioned sharply."Stop your mad antics already, Cameron! Let's listen to what she has to say!" Harry called out.Cameron gritted her teeth, made a spitting sound, and returned to the couch.
I nodded and took the documents, then addressed the rest of the room, "Okay, enough already. Settle down!"I raised the document in the air. "You wanted proof, right? Here's—"Before I could finish, Harry snatched the papers, barely glancing at them, still fueled by the anger he'd stirred up while shouting at his old partners.Without hesitation, he tore the papers into pieces, shouting, "I don't know what the fuck these are supposed to be, but I know I ain't done nothing wrong, and none of you can slander me!"I shrugged, took another copy from Megyn, and handed it to him. "Here. There's more where that came from. Go ahead and tear this one to pieces again. When you're finally tired and satisfied, we'll talk about the details."Harry glared at me, his cheeks quivering. "How dare you do this to your own father, you ungrateful bitch?!"I raised an eyebrow. "You make me sound so heartless, Harry. But am I? I'm not the one discussing how to kill their daughter to make her company th
I pointed at my petulant asshole of a father. "Arrest Harry Jones, officers! He has committed multiple white-collar crimes, including contract fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, and more! Here's some of the proof…"I would also like to clarify to the IRS that this man, Harry Jones, is the true culprit behind Harbringer Inc.'s tax evasion schemes. I have ample evidence to prove he committed fraud and shifted his legal responsibilities onto others!"I handed over every important document and financial report. It was more than enough to prove my innocence.The agents recognized me. "Ah, it's you again, Miss Jones! This is impressive… You've managed to solve the case within a day!"I smiled. "Why, of course! This concerns my innocence and reputation, after all."The office fell quiet as the police and IRS agents skimmed through the documents. Then, suddenly, Harry shoved everyone around him and made a run for the door."Don't even think about it!" a police officer yelled, tackling
The officers wisely chose to ignore him and turned to me instead. "Miss Jones, please follow us back to the station to record a statement.""Of course," I replied.After all, I was the one who had reported them!As Harry was led away in handcuffs, the workers at his new company watched in stunned silence. These poor folks would now have to find new jobs, with the company on the brink of collapse.-By the time I left the station, it was already late evening.Watching the dazzling lights from a distance, I suddenly realized how much I missed my grandmother.I drove to her house for dinner, eager to share everything.I told my grandmother and aunt all about my revenge, much to their delight.My grandmother even helped herself to a second helping of dinner!"They've finally been punished for their crimes after evading justice for years! They didn't deserve that time at all," my grandmother remarked. "I feel sad, though, remembering that your mom never got to see this day.""Oh!
I got into my car, put him on loudspeaker, and buckled up. "Well, I reported my deadbeat sperm donor, and now he's going to jail. Thought I should tell Mom the good news."Soren chuckled. "You're efficient.""Of course! I'm not going to be his scapegoat!" I grinned. "I'm not going to jail in his place, that's for sure!""Honestly, you've impressed me again.""Thanks, but let's get back on track. Why are you calling me?" I asked, steering the conversation back to its course."Nothing much. I just wanted to know if your injury's healed."I suddenly remembered it. I'd been so busy that I had completely forgotten. I rolled up my sleeves and glanced at it."It's healing up nicely! No pain or itching anymore. Thanks for asking.""My pleasure."Just like that, the conversation seemed to stall. There was an awkward pause, but also something oddly interesting in the air.I cleared my throat. Just as I was about to speak, he started, "You're driving, aren't you? I shouldn't distract yo
"In fact, bust out the self-hypnosis! Taylor, you and Soren are just friends going out for a meal together! This is all very normal!" I muttered.-Half an hour later, I arrived at the Oriole.The manager recognized me and greeted me with a polite nod. "Miss Jones, your guests have already arrived. They're waiting in the Pride Room.""Thank you."My heart thumped with excitement. I even paced a little as I made my way to the Pride Room. As the waiter opened the door for me, I called out, "So—"Then I saw her. A young woman sat beside him."—leil?! You're here too?" I exclaimed in pleasant surprise.Soleil smiled sweetly. "Is that supposed to be a rebuke, Tay-Tay? Am I interrupting your moment?"Heat rushed to my cheeks as I shot a quick look at Soren's expression."No! Of course not! I'd love to have you here!"Ignore the "your moment" implication, Taylor! You did not hear that!Soren poured me a cup of black tea.I smiled. "Thanks.""She was at my office when I was about
I sincerely admired Soren. I just wanted his life to keep improving. I didn't want anyone or anything to stain it—including myself.That was why I needed this ambiguity. As long as I could tell myself we were "just friends," I could live with it.Soren and Soleil had already started eating."So, how's the family issue?" Soren asked."It's all settled. My deadbeat dad was arrested after I presented a mountain of irrefutable evidence. I consulted a lawyer too, so I knew he'd be in jail for years," I replied.If the IRS decided to punish him severely for his tax evasion, he'd be in debt for the rest of his life. There was no coming back from that."Your mental fortitude is astounding," Soren said. "Your own father was plotting against you, yet instead of throwing a tantrum, you calmly countered and destroyed him in such a short amount of time.""There was no point in throwing tantrums. He divorced my mom when I was a kid—that was when I first saw him for who he really was," I repli
"So what? It's always couples' intimacy hour everywhere," Soren replied with a grin, leaning in for a kiss.I turned away. "You reek of alcohol!"He sniffed himself, clearly thinking he smelled bad, too. I expected him to ignore it and keep going, but instead, he pulled me upright. "Let's go. To the showers!"I guessed he was worried that our first time after two years would be ruined by bad breath and stench.He tried to lift me into his arms, but I was concerned he might be too tipsy. We had a playful struggle before he finally scooped me up in a bridal carry."I told you. I'm not drunk!" he insisted.I realized there was no escaping him today, so I reminded him, "Our son is still at the hospital, Soren. With Aunt Sarah.""Mm-hmm. Once his mommy and daddy love each other very much, he'll see us.""Soren! Be serious!""Loving my wife is the most serious thing there is."-Two months later, my grandmother passed away peacefully in her sleep. Soren and I had only just woken u
I got up and shot Soren a glance. "You guys must have been worried about him over these two years. Thank you for taking care of him.""Why, you're welcome," Richard replied with exaggerated pomp. "He didn't torment us, actually. He took it out on his subordinates. He worked like a machine, and everyone under him had to do the same. You should really thank his employees the most!"A pang shot through me as I looked at Soren. I'd heard about this from Jean, but hearing it again from his close friends only deepened that painful regret.I thought I'd been kind, but it was likely the cruelest thing I'd ever done to him. And yet, he held no blame against me and still loved me.It moved me. I filled both our glasses to the brim.Soren looked baffled. "What are you doing? They didn't specifically want to make you drink—""A toast to our relationship, my love," I said, passing him his glass.Soren froze, clearly not expecting this from me.The crowd, though, had already erupted into che
Being with Soren felt like a walk in the sunniest, coolest spring. He told me he loved me, and that made me his equal.Know what? It made me feel confident all of a sudden.We locked eyes for a long time before I pulled away."I… I'm basically unemployed right now," I muttered.I was about to launch a new business, but my grandmother's illness and my son's age forced me to set everything aside again."It wasn't easy raising a child alone, Tay, so don't put so much pressure on yourself. Besides, with your skills, it's only a matter of time before your career takes off again."I beamed. "You really think so? That's a lot of confidence, dude.""Of course I do." He held my hands. "Starting a business takes time and energy, so how about you move in with me? I'll raise our son while you focus on what you want to do."I laughed. "Oh God, was that the whole point of this talk from the start?"Soren laughed as well, his handsome face relaxing. "Well, now that we're getting married, whe
Soren smiled. "No need to doubt. That was one of my ulterior motives."So he wanted me to agree to our marriage because he wanted sex?!I stared at him, unmoving."Come on, I'm sending you both up," he said, his driver's presence making things awkward.Soren took the baby from my arms and strode inside.In the elevator, he stared at me without blinking.I grew self-conscious. "What?""Nothing. I just wanted to look at you, not missing a single detail," Soren replied matter-of-factly. "I hadn't dared do that before we started talking again because I was afraid you might be upset."I felt even more embarrassed.He set Silas in the cot, then turned to me and walked away.It was too late. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into his chest. I saw his face loom over mine and cried out, "Don't do this, Soren! This is Amanda's place!"His reason and restraint were still functioning, turning his kiss into a brief peck."When will you move to my villa?" he breathed."N
I knew what had happened to me. I knew what two years had done to my face. A woman aged much faster when she had a child, after all.Celebrities looked the way they did because they didn't bear the weight of child-rearing. They had the money to pamper their faces and dedicate themselves to rigorous exercise routines.I had raised my son on my own. I had help when I needed it most, but most of the time, it was just me."So, you don't think I've grown older and uglier?" I muttered.Soren laughed."Oh, I do!" he teased. "But you're the mother of my son.""What does that mean?! And you said you weren't pitying me!"He laughed again—this time, affectionately. "I was joking. I don't think you're any less than who you were back then. I actually wish you'd grow older, too. That way, only I remain by your side."I couldn't come up with a response to something so ridiculous."Do you need me to throw a grand, elaborate proposal to finally convince you I'm serious about wanting to spend t
"It's the way he looks at you. His eyes look suspicious!"Suspicious, my ass. Jamie was so far away from him by now that there was no way Soren could see anything in Jamie's "eyes."I sneered. "Don't be daft. He's got a girlfriend now." "Oh, really?""Yes, really. Can we go now?"My old colleagues had been staring at us, and I really didn't want to become the subject of their gossip. I just wanted to leave.Soren finally told the driver to go.Silas had probably exhausted himself from crying. It didn't take long for him to fall asleep in my arms.Soren stretched his arms out. "Let me.""I'm fine. It's okay for him to sleep like this. My arms are fine," I replied.I didn't want to give him an excuse to enter Amanda's residence with me again. I was only here temporarily, and I certainly didn't want things to get... steamy and intimate at her place. Besides, I didn't want to be steamy with him, period.Soren withdrew his arms sheepishly and snickered to himself.Annoyed, and
"Hello?""When are you coming back?" Soren asked in a low voice.I stood and left the lively private room. "I'm having lunch with some old colleagues. What's up?""Wow. So while I was trying to handle our son, you went out to have fun," he whined.Please. He wanted Silas with him—he was just being dramatic.The wine gave me enough courage to respond, "Weren't you the one complaining about missing out on your son's childhood? I'm just being considerate.""Fine. Where are you? I'll bring Silas to you. He wants his mom now—no one here can calm him down," he replied.Just as I had expected.I figured lunch was nearing its end anyway, so I gave him the address. "Call me when you arrive. I'll meet you at the entrance.""Got it."I returned to the room and quietly told Amanda, "I have to leave soon. You guys go ahead."She checked her phone. "Nah, we should all start packing up. We still have to work this afternoon!""Oh, right."I paid for our meal while the others chatted.Whe
The company had seen some new hires, but many were familiar faces.Case in point: Cherry Birkin. Now Amanda's assistant and principal secretary, she was ecstatic to see me."Tay-Tay! You're back!" she cried, rushing over to grab my arms. "It really is you! I'm so glad you came to see us. After disappearing for two years, I honestly thought you'd never come back!"Amanda, who had been the one to welcome me, stood beside me, smiling. "See? Your old colleagues have been complaining about you being heartless.""Aww, I'm sorry for being gone so long! How about this? Lunch is on me! Cherry, gather the old crew and invite them over!""You got it!" she replied eagerly.I stepped into Amanda's office—the same one where I used to work.A lot had changed in the interior, but everything felt warm and welcoming. The company was thriving under her and Jamie's leadership.There was a knock at the door. I turned to see the man himself."So, you really are back, Taylor," he said with a grin. "
I was irritated. If I were being generous, I'd say Soren was being proactive. If I were being honest, though, I'd call it disrespectful—he was undermining my agency!"I haven't even agreed to this yet!" I snapped, straightening my back and glaring at him as the seniors watched. "Who gave you the right to make decisions for me?!"Soren barely reacted. "You overthink everything. You hesitate more than you need to, so I thought... why not just ask your grandmother and aunt?"Turning to Sarah, he added, "What do you think, Aunt Sarah? Do you approve of us being together?"Sarah blinked, stunned, then shot a quick glance at my grandmother. My grandmother raised her hand, as though she had something to say. I leaned in immediately. "I'm listening, Grandma..."She took a deep breath, grasped my hand, and said, her voice raspy, "I can tell… Ren really loves you… You have a child now… It's good for you two to just get married."She paused, then added, "That way, I… can finally let go...