Jane A strange tightness gripped my chest as I sat by the window in my bedroom, looking out at the neatly trimmed gardens below. I haven't been able to think clearly since last night. Madam Cornell manipulated me in the past, and I couldn't believe I was still falling for it now under Madam Olsen's influence. It left a bitter taste in my mouth. I hate Sarah as much as I love her. A sudden knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. Quickly, I wiped my eyes with a lace-edged handkerchief, trying to hide any trace of tears. Taking a deep breath to compose myself, I walked over and opened the door. Shock and fear must have been written all over my face. "Sarah…" The butler cleared his throat. "Miss Jane, Madam Sarah wishes to speak with you. Were you available at that moment?" My first instinct was to refuse, to slam the door and retreat into my solitude. But I knew I had no right to deny her this conversation. Sarah deserved answers, and it was my chance to voice the doubts that
Sarah Four years later... At the Serenity Pines library, I am holding an invitation from my father for his sixtieth birthday. Over the past four years, we had only met at a few business events, each one formal and filled with unspoken feelings. This gathering felt different. There were rumors that Father might announce the transfer of TerraTraxx Automotive's chairmanship to Amir, which would change the company's future. "Mommy!" I heard Rowan cry out. I went to the door to see what the commotion was about. As I opened it, I found my son with tears streaming down his chubby cheeks, his tiny body shaking with each sob. "Mommy, Iris ate my favorite snack. She finished all the cheese headstrings that were for me!" He cried even harder. Kneeling, I wiped his tears away with my thumb while my thoughts were consumed with the implications—Iris's tendency to overeat frequently led to stomachaches, causing me concern. Holding Rowan's small, warm hand in mine, I called out, "Iris!" T
Jane Seeking my brother Philip's advice, I came to Highland Hills, desperate for his support during this difficult time. For four years, I managed the modeling agency, a sub-company of Luminary Productions in London and Paris. Alongside my career, I continued therapy to address my past traumas. The weekly sessions, though often painful, have gradually cleared my mind. To atone for what I did to Sarah, I devoted myself to my work. My marriage to Brody Martin has been nothing more than a well-orchestrated charade—a typically arranged marriage designed to benefit our families rather than our hearts. He owns a chemical empire and is a cousin of the brothers Bronn and Jakob. Philip spoke after hearing my story. "You mean to say, after you returned from Paris, you found your husband in the apartment at The Strata with his secretary? And at that moment, you decided to end your four-year marriage? Now you're here, asking me to break the news to Dad that your marriage with Brody didn't wor
Sarah As Jane exited Philip's room, I was at a loss for how to react. There was something different about her that I couldn't quite pinpoint, but it left me feeling unsettled. Seeking a moment to process my thoughts, I moved to the large floor-to-ceiling window. I left Philip with the children, still feeling uneasy from my brief interaction with Jane. Jane had always held a special place in my heart, and realizing we had grown distant over the past four years disturbed me deeply. "Here's a coloring book for each of you. Whoever does the best job coloring gets a special prize from Daddy. How does that sound?" I heard Philip say. Iris's voice piped up eagerly, "Me, me! I'm definitely going to win! I'm way better at coloring than Brother Rowan!" "No way, Iris! Your coloring is always messy and all over the place!" Rowan immediately retorted. "Okay, we'll see about that later!" Philip responded. It wasn't until I felt Philip's warm embrace from behind that I snapped back to real
Jane A deep sadness filled my chest as I joined Sarah's team at Emily and Bronn's cozy home. The smell of Emily's barbecue was in the air, but it did little to lift my mood. I wandered to a quiet spot in their garden, away from the lively conversations. I sat quietly in the garden, drinking beer alone while reflecting on the four years of my life that Brody had taken over. The sound of grass rustling signaled Sarah's approach. Once comforting and familiar, her presence now brought a mix of longing and nervousness. "Can I talk to you?" she asked. I nodded. Part of me wanted to know if she still resented me, but another part feared the answer. Sarah began speaking while staring off into the distance. "Did you know I deliberately ensured our paths wouldn't cross for four years? I... I didn't know how to face you." I pressed my lips together, absorbing her words. A moment of clarity hit me. Why was I still afraid of Sarah's judgment when I was the one who had destroyed the beautif
Jane Before I got into the yellow taxi, Brody managed to catch up with me, wearing house slippers as he followed me. "Jane!" He grabbed my arm, his fingers trembling slightly. "Please, don't go," he panted, his green eyes wide with panic. "I can't take this anymore, Brody! I've ignored the office rumors, the glances, and your 'work dinners' with Sonia. But finding her in our home, wearing my clothes? This is too much!" I shouted angrily. He glanced around at the people staring at us, clearly uncomfortable with the public scene. "Jane, please, let's not create a scene. We can talk about this at home," he said, which further fueled my anger. "If you don't want a scene, return to the penthouse and leave me alone!" I snapped. Brody ran a hand through his hair, leaving it even more tousled. "Sonia needed a safe place to stay tonight, so she's here at the apartment. Her boyfriend hurt her, and she needs to hide. Our apartment was the only place I could think of where she'd be safe
Jane My heart pounded as the weight of an arm draped across my body. "Ahhhh!" I screamed, instinctively recoiling from the unexpected touch. Beside me, Brody jolted upright, eyes wide with alarm. "What the hell, Jane?!" he exclaimed, his voice hoarse from sleep. A rush of memories from our last encounter flooded my mind. I pointed an accusatory finger at him, confused about why he was there with me. "W-what the hell are you doing here?" I stopped short, taking in the unfamiliar room. It was spacious and elegantly furnished, with large windows framing an unknown view. "Shit! W-where am I?" A serene landscape greeted me outside the window, with lush green leaves and colorful flowers swaying gently in the breeze. "Calm down, alright? You're at my place in Henderson," he said, his tone calm and reassuring. "Your place? How?" I could hardly believe it. I'd met Brody in Europe, and we'd been together there for four years. He never mentioned owning a home in Nevada. It wouldn't
Jane For three more days, I focused on work at Luminary Productions in Highland Hills. Despite the familiar surroundings, I found little comfort as I prepared to return to London next week. Brody kept calling me several times, and Sonia also kept sending me messages. Sonia's texts grew increasingly venomous: Sonia: 'Jane, don't think that Brody loves you. He's struggling to keep his good public image and manage office politics. Your separation would ruin his company. Face it—the only reason he's staying in this sham of a marriage is because of your Cornell surname.' Her next message dripped with hostility: Sonia: 'Stop being a bitch! You're making things hard for Brody. Because of you, there are problems here at the office.' I swiftly reported her number as a scammer and blocked her. Why does it seem like I'm the one at fault? Seriously! With trembling hands, I fired off a text to Brody: 'Tell your mistress to stop disturbing me, or else she'll face my lawyer!' The constant