CHAPTER 2.
OLIVIA'S POV. Samantha's eyes crinkled into a radiant smile for a moment, but as soon as she noticed my gaze, her expression shifted to a sharp frown. She gently helped me off the floor, and I settled onto the bed while she caressed my back softly. “It’s okay, sis. Daddy is just angry that your naked pictures are all over the internet,” she said solemnly. I paused my crying and took a deep breath. “How did my pictures get out into the world? That’s my privacy, Sam.” Samantha cradled my head, rubbing my back gently. “Daddy is just upset. Maybe you should see him later while I help you talk to Lucas.” “He seems to be very disappointed in you,” she added. “How did this even happen, sis? You should have been more careful. If you wanted to be with someone else, you could have told me, and I would have looked out for you.” I turned to her, taking her hands in mine and fixing my tear-filled eyes on her. “Please help me tell Lucas it isn’t true. Everything he saw online is a lie. I’m being set up by someone.” Samantha shook her head. “I understand, sis. You know I always have your back. Lucas is angry and has refused to talk to anyone, but I’ll try to tell him the truth.” “You don’t need to worry about him. All you need to do now is take a shower; you smell a mess,” she added before leaving. I nodded, feeling grateful that Samantha was willing to help me. I wasn’t sure I could face Lucas right now. Throughout our years of dating, I had never seen him with another woman or heard rumors of him cheating. He had always been faithful and loyal to our love. In most relationships, it’s usually the man who ends up cheating, but it felt shameful that I was the one who had betrayed my fiancé. Cheating was one thing, but not knowing when or with whom I had cheated was another entirely. Once Samantha left, I let my tears roll down my cheeks as my chest tightened with pain. Someone was trying to set me up, but my father didn’t seem to see it. I couldn’t really blame him for being disappointed,I knew he had invested his heart and soul into building this empire, and now his daughter’s naked pictures were all over the internet. Minutes later, the stranger walked out of the bathroom fully dressed. Fortunately, he didn't bother to speak to me,he just walked out as if he hadn’t just sabotaged my entire career and family reputation. I sat still, sobbing, unable to ask how he had gotten into my room. My room was always locked, and the only person with a spare key was Lucas. Later that day, I took a bath and sat alone in my room, refusing to go outside. I wasn't ready to face the public scrutiny that came with being famous for my nudes. I clenched my teeth, trying to endure the pain that gripped my chest. I tossed my phone aside, fully aware that I didn’t want to see what the news had to say. After a while, I realized that sitting idle wouldn’t do me any favors, so I decided to go to Lucas myself. Maybe Samantha hadn’t been able to convince him of my innocence, so I would go directly. About ten minutes later, I arrived at his room using the elevator, hoping to avoid being seen. Not wanting to make a sound, I skipped the doorbell and used his passcode instead. As soon as I entered, my brows raised in curiosity at the sight of a pink stiletto by the door. Does he have company? I thought, pulling off my slippers to join them. I hesitated at the sight of feminine clothing strewn across his couch—a cropped pink top and a blue blazer. My brows knitted together as I recognized the familiar clothes; those were what Samantha had been wearing earlier when she walked into my room with Dad. I knew Samantha was supposed to be here, but why were her clothes scattered on the floor? Was she…? I shoved the thoughts aside, my heart racing as I made my way toward the bedroom. Part of my brain analyzed the situation, but I chose to ignore my instincts. I wanted to believe that Samantha had come to help me convince my fiancé that everything he saw online was pure rubbish. Maybe something had happened to her dress, or perhaps she needed to change or use the bathroom. But deep down, I knew she had her own room, and if she needed anything, she should have come to me, not Lucas. As I got closer, I heard Samantha's laughter drifting through the half-open bedroom door. “Oh my God, Lucas, you need to hear her begging our father that she’s innocent!” “Sam sam,please please explain to Lucas that somebody is trying to set me up.” Samantha continued, mimicking my cracked voice. Just as I expected, Lucas joined in the laughter, and my chest tightened. “She is so naive. I can't deal with her. Did you see how quickly she drank that drugged drink?” Lucas said, and my whole world crumbled down at my feet. I stumbled back, clutching the wall for support. Hearing those words from them was one thing, but knowing that Samantha had come in there and pretended not to know anything was even worse. Seeing them naked and entwined with each other shattered what was left of my heart. My breath caught in my throat as the realization hit me: all those times I asked Samantha to look after my fiancé, she was betraying me and fucking him. They had drugged me and taken pictures of me. The sting of betrayal cut deep. Tears blurred my vision as I backed away, racing to confront my father. I couldn’t let them get away with this. But when I reached the door, I couldn’t believe my card was declined. The officers escorted me out, and I fought back tears as I packed my bags. I hated when people felt pity for me, so I tried my best to hold it together. I had less than thirty minutes to vacate the hotel room meant for the Brown family. This meant only one thing: I had been disowned. I was no longer part of the Brown family. My father wouldn’t even listen to me or hear how my supposed fiancé and sister had betrayed me. Now, I was sure they were happily watching as I was kicked out of the family. Minutes later, I finished packing my bags. When I opened the door, I was met by two hefty guards standing ready to escort me outside, like an outcast being thrown from her kingdom. A tight feeling clutched at my chest, but I kept my chin up as we stepped into the elevator. Inside, I heard the host announce, “Welcome to the stage, the new heiress of the Brown Group… Samantha Brown!” At that moment, I allowed myself to break down, embracing the grief that accompanies loss. I had lost everything—my family, my fiancé, and now my position. Samantha had taken it all from me. I cried openly in the elevator, not caring that the guards stood beside me. I had prepared my whole life for that role, and now Lucas and Samantha had snatched it away as if I had never worked for it. Once outside, I turned the ignition of my car, contemplating where to go. I couldn’t return home,I knew I would also be banned from there, too. I wanted to avoid anything that reminded me of them, including my father. I drove on, tears blurring my vision, until I collided with another vehicle. The screeching of tires and the sickening thud snapped me back to reality. My car swerved violently, and before I could hit the brakes, it crashed into the Audi Q8 in front of me.CHAPTER 3 Five Years Later. It's been exactly five years since I walked out of my family home and flew down to Italy with a man I barely knew and a child I knew wasn't his. But look how time flies! It's been five years now, and I can't believe that I'm back in New York with my son, Jaden. Five years ago, I didn't just leave home,I left my hometown entirely and everything it had given me over the years. Now, I was going back—not because I had any desire to confront my past or to see my ex-fiancé or my father, but because it was time to chase my dreams, and I also wanted to show Jaden my family when the time is due.He deserves something real, especially since his whole existence has been a lie regarding who he thinks is his father. “Mommy, !” I push the cart around the mall as I watch my four-year-old son cheer me on. I just smile and caress his head as we continue while he squeals in delight. “Okay, Jaden, we are done here for today,” I said, and he kicked and wiggled as I pushed
CHAPTER 4 OLIVIA'S POV Another loud horn blared from across the street. I was already at the window, pulling the curtains aside to check if the delivery man had arrived. I wasn't just excited because my son wanted it; I was more excited to get it back after I lost it five years ago in that hotel room that ruined my life that night. Yet again, he wasn’t here. I sighed and returned to the plush couch, settling in comfortably. I picked up my phone and continued browsing about the Brown family. I wanted to see how the company was doing, and as expected, that jerk Lucas was now the CEO, with Samantha as his assistant. My dad is now retired. They’ve really tried to keep the legacy intact, but it’s sad that I’m here to undermine everything they’ve worked for—and I don’t even feel guilty about it. This would be the first Christmas Eve I won't be spending with my husband, Alessandro. How time flies.When I was heavily pregnant, I feared that Andro wouldn’t make a good father because he was
CHAPTER 5 OLIVIA POV I'm sure he's one of their lap dogs, doing whatever he's told the moment they bark orders at him. I can't risk it. I can't risk him coming back here with Samantha or Lucas, knowing I have a child. They'd do the math in the blink of an eye. That would only let Alessandro learn about the part of my life he doesn't know, and I pray he never finds out. A few minutes later, Jaden and his nanny, Jane, returned, and he quickly rushed over to me. “Mommy?” he called out sweetly. “I bought you this.” He stretched out his hand and handed me one of his chocolates. I couldn't help but smile as I gently cradled his head. I watched him happily jog back to Jane while I continued my apartment hunt. I swiped through pictures, looking for the best place—one with a playground where Jaden could play. Once I found it, I quickly emailed the realtor, who sent me photos of the apartment I wanted. Without hesitation, I made the payment and began packing. When I entered Jaden’s room
CHAPTER 6 WILLIAMS’S POV I could hear her ragged heartbeat as I came closer to her, and that was when I knew I still had a hold on her. Yes, I still had a hold on the one woman I hadn't been able to stop loving after that night. She narrowed her eyes and said in a scratching tone, “I just said I don't know you, and I don't think we are that close for you to be speaking to me like that. Shouldn't that be considered sexual harassment?” My lips curled into a smile. “No, dear. Shouldn't you be trying to convince me to sign and accept your request to be an intern here?” I asked, a little amused by how quickly she showed her temper. “Well, my CV is solid enough to get me the job!” she pointed out confidently. “I don't need to use my body or allow some cheap misogynistic jokes to pass.” I couldn't help but smile. Olivia Brown is now very different from the one I had slept with five years ago. The woman I had been with that night was young and naive. She was an emotional mess back then,
CHAPTER 6 OLIVIA POV. “I can't promise that for sure,” he said. “I mean, I haven't seen you in ages, and you expect me to be professional?” “Come on, Livie,” he urged in a low tone, but once he looked at my face and noticed I wasn't feeling his jokes, he sat up. “Okay, fine. I promise I will try my best to be very, very professional,” he said. I nodded and released a sigh. That was all I wanted to hear. I just needed to know that he wouldn't try to ruin this internship for me. This is my career, and even Alessandro doesn't know about it. I didn't bother to tell him that he has a lot on his plate already. “Is that all you want?” Williams asked out of the blue, and I nodded. Yes, that was all I wanted from him. I needed him to stay far away from me, and I hoped he would be able to keep this very professional so people wouldn't start to talk. In this line of work, it's easier to tear down than to build up. Any little link-up, and I'm sure everyone will attribute my hard work to h
CHAPTER 8 OLIVIA'S POV. I froze in my steps and wished I had never walked down here to get something to drink. I could have just made a few calls, and the hotel attendant would have brought it to my room number for me. Right now, I wish I could just drift back and hide. I wanted to roll back into a coil and hide away from Samantha, but before I could even take a step backward, she had seen me. Once she saw me, her face lit up with a warm, pretentious smile. “Oh my goooood!” she screamed excitedly. She rushed forward, leaving the room she was about to book, and quickly pulled me into a tight hug. “You never told us you came back home, sis!” she said, twirling me around, her voice laced with a hint of concern that I knew was fake as hell. But I just stood there with a straight face. “Are you coming from home?” she asked excitedly. “Have Daddy seen you? Have Mummy seen you? They’ve missed you so much!” Her eyes swept over me, and she sighed. “Oh, it seems you’re lodged in here?”
CHAPTER 9 OLIVIA'S POV For a moment, I chose to believe she didn’t just ask me that. Coming back to the company? I couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly at the question. They now have everything they ever wanted, so I wondered why they suddenly cared about me coming back. I was still trying to understand why they were suddenly over the moon about my return. “Sam,” I called out to her with a straight face, “I’m not coming back to the company. Y’all can have it, dear. I check the news, and I see you’re really doing a fantastic job as the CEO. Keep it up, sis,” I said in a sarcastic tone. And she smiled. “Thank you, sis, but…” “No buts, Samantha,” I interjected. “I have somewhere I really need to be right now. I don’t have time to continue this conversation.” “Sis, I understand you might be in a hurry, but can’t we fix a date and catch up? Sisters do catch up, right?” I flashed her a small smile. “Of course, sis. We will catch up some other time, dear. Keep up the good work.” Samant
CHAPTER 10 OLIVIA I shook my head. “Yes, I am. Is there any problem?” “No, there is not,” he confirmed calmly. “Your intern desk is in Mr. Williams' office. He will be your coaching attorney. Congratulations!” I blinked rapidly, trying to process what he had just said. Williams Jerkin would be my coaching attorney?? That is not just crazy; it is also ridiculous! Why would he want to do something like that when he could have just picked one of the top attorneys in his firm? I'm sure he has good attorneys apart from himself. His law firm is at the top because of their collective efforts. Well, for Williams, he is a top attorney. For the past five years, I’ve heard he hasn't been to any courtroom. A lot of people say he has retired, while some others say he hasn't, but just gave space for his other attorneys to shine. Well, he left a lasting legacy that no one has broken. He did a clean twelve-case sweep in a calendar year, and no other attorney has done something like that. Throu
CHAPTER 24 OLIVIA I stood frozen in one spot, slowly averting my gaze from his intense stare.Dammit, Olivia! You should have known he might be a little freaky, but he is a disciplined businessman. Only that could have made him the best candidate to rule his family conglomerate at such a young age.“I'm really sorry, Williams. I just had—”He cut me off sternly. “Just an apology? You think an apology will suffice for that? People lose millions for doing less than what you just did, and you expect me to let you off the hook?”Just like that, huh? Every muscle in my body tensed up. Is he about to cut the deal?I shoved those thoughts away. He can't do that for this silly mistake, right?“Do you know how much damage you have caused by coming in this late?” I arched my brows. Damage? Just for two hours of lateness? That sounds ridiculous, even if I can't voice my opinion. Voicing it now would be a wrong move.“I apologize. What damage was done? I might be able to make up for that,” I
CHAPTER 23 OLIVIA I can't believe I'm two freaking hours late! I quickly moved to the bathroom to take a bath so I could head to work. There's a part of me that keeps praying Williams won’t scold me or ask unnecessary questions.If he does, I have no answers. I can't tell him I came to work late because I was trying to move from my house into a hotel, hoping that one of these days he doesn’t show up out of nowhere to come see me or even Jayden.A couple of minutes later, I was done. I didn’t care to put on any makeup; I didn’t have money for that. I quickly tucked my hair back, picked up my keys, and rushed out.My mind raced with thoughts as I headed to the company. I can't believe I'm about to screw this up. What if I get in there and he fires me?Coming two hours late is a viable reason to fire someone, so I wouldn’t hold it against him if he does.Finally, I pulled into the company driveway and parked my car. Picking up my bag and phone, I slammed my door and increased my pace t
CHAPTER 22 OLIVIA."Hello, ma'am? Good afternoon. I got your number from your website. I'm calling to ask if you have any empty apartments to rent out," I said once the call connected while I continued driving."I need an apartment that is available immediately. Something I can move into first thing tomorrow morning."The lady acknowledged that they had some apartments she would love me to come see this evening, and I was more than happy that I was getting an apartment so quickly. When Alessandro comes next, I’ll lie to him about it being far from my workplace at Jerkins Headquarters.As I hung up and returned my focus to driving, Jayden piped up. "Mommy, why are we moving again?""Oh, baby, it has to do with my work. Staying here will be so stressful for Mommy to always go to work, okay?"From the rearview mirror, I saw him give a shaky nod. I knew he wasn't happy that we were moving again, but I had no choice but to find somewhere Williams wouldn't easily find me.Somewhere to star
CHAPTER 21WILLIAMSI looked down at him and gulped, my mouth dry as I swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. I never expected him to ask me to play with him—at least, not so quickly.“Jayden, not today. Uncle is a bit busy, so maybe some other time.” Olivia tried to brush him away from me, but I bent down and took his hands into mine.I smiled. “Yeah, I will play with you. Let's go have some fun while Mommy is busy on her phone.”His lips curled into a smile, and his face lit up with happiness. He turned, and his steps became jerky; he seemed excited that I wanted to play with him. Just being able to hold his hands gave me a satisfaction I hadn't felt in years.Knowing he is my son made it even more appealing to me. I might hate the fact that I can't tell him that I'm his father, but I know that will happen soon when I get Olivia back into my life, and then we will live like a happy family.When we finally got to the playground, there were just a few kids left.“I want the swings!”
CHAPTER 20OLIVIA I leaned back against the leather seat of my car, holding my head in my hands as I let out a deep sigh. I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing now. What if Andro is stalking around or has one of his boys trailing me wherever I go? I mean, that’s something he could do.But at this point, I seem to be out of choices. I already signed those documents, and there was no going back from here. As I sat back in my car, my mind buzzed with the events of the day and the decisions I had made. I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was happening so fast; now I'm working with Williams, and he is about to see his son? It all seems to be moving at a crazy speed. I sat there lost in thought, my fingers clasped together, until one of Williams's boys knocked on my window.I jolted back to reality and turned my engine on. Gripping the steering wheel, I shifted gears and hit the streets, with Williams's car trailing right behind mine. As I drove, I con
CHAPTER 19OLIVIAI sat up in my chair and weighed my options. Giving him access to his child sounded crazy.But then again, now knowing he is Williams Jerkins, one of the richest and craziest bachelors in this city, there’s a huge chance he will track me down and take his son, even if I decide to run away from all of this.I contemplated my options, finding the best one that suits my interests. I can't let Alessandro find out that Jayden isn't his biological son, and I can't let him ever meet Williams Jerkins. On the other hand, I must not let Williams know that I am also married, and he must never meet Alessandro. If they ever meet each other, then I think I'm a dead woman.It felt like I was playing two powerhouse men, but what choices do I have?Run away with Alessandro? That seems almost impossible since he’s also hell-bent on helping me deal with my family for what they did to me years ago. Most of the time, he acts like he has some
CHAPTER 18WILLIAMS.I bit my lower lip, unable to contain the grin that stretched across my face.Seeing Olivia Brown sitting right in front of me felt like a late Christmas gift, but I didn't care; I would accept it either way.I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that she came here willingly. Once my janitor told me he saw her, I couldn't resist. I had to send her in despite her having an official meeting with her sister, Samantha Brown.Anything in this world can wait until I'm done speaking with Olivia Brown.She shifted her gaze from the table to her clothes while fidgeting with them, trying to avoid eye contact with me.“How did you know it was me coming in here?” she asked. I chuckled as I looked at her; I couldn't help smiling; I was clearly amused by her reaction."Don't you think it's obvious?" I said. "I have cameras all over here, and I’ve had my boys looking for you all over the city for the past five years. They’ve registered your face in their minds and would
CHAPTER 17My eyes swept from her feet to her head, and I let out a resigned sigh.It was Samantha, but I didn't have time to deal with her right now. I was more focused on meeting the CEO of the Jerkins family.She glared at me as she settled down right next to me. “Hello, sis. What brings you here?”I rolled my eyes and let out a disappointed sigh. I had woken up this morning in high spirits, and I didn’t want to engage in conversation with someone who radiated negativity. So, I decided to stay silent.“This is the Jerkins company. Don’t tell me you came here looking for a job,” she said, a hint of mockery in her voice.She tucked her hair behind her ear and sighed. “Come on, sis. You can come back to the company. I’ll add you to the managerial staff. Dad is retired, so we don’t need his permission anymore. Working for the Jerkins?” She shook her head and leaned in closer, her voice softening. “Sis, you’re still a Brown. I don’t want you running around searching for some dead-end jo
CHAPTER 16.OLIVIA.I still can't believe I didn't care to tuck my baby to sleep because I was fucking Andro.A wave of embarrassment washed over me as I forced my way out of bed.When I woke up, I didn't see Alessandro on his side of the bed; I didn't bother. I know exactly where he will be by this time of the morning… Leon's room.It's barely seven in the morning, but I'm sure they'll either be drinking, smoking, or discussing Italy right now. They never catch a break.I stretched and yawned as the ordeal of last night began to rush back to my mind. I hate to admit that Alessandro just knows the exact way to pleasure me and make me feel so fucking good. I couldn't help but smile, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction fill my stomach.That was the best Christmas gift ever. He knew how to push my buttons and how to make me feel like I was the only woman in the world. Walking into the bathroom, I flipped the lights on and gazed at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a tangled mess,