AMELIA’S POVThe moment Richard handed me the check, a surge of exhilaration washed over me. "Thank you…thank you so much. I don't know how to ever repay you for this kindness," I said, my voice rich with an emotion that was part gratitude, part performance.Richard, I can’t tell you what this means to me,” I said, my voice quivering with feigned emotion. “You’re a lifesaver.”In truth, we only needed five million dollars to pay off the loan. As a matter of fact, we did not spend a dime out of the loan we got from Mr Kingsley. Grandma and I had signed an agreement to return the money to Mr Kingsley with an extra five million dollars as interest. This was not supposed to cause even the slightest worry for us, as we had expected the gates of riches to spread their arms before us when we wonwin the bid at the auction.But unfortunately, Richard and the others outbid us. Our move not only got us embarrassingly soaked in shamesoaked shame, but also abruptly got us into a desperate strugg

RICHARD'S POVThe elevator doors slid open with a hush, ushering me into the sterile calm of the corporate floor. My steps echoed slightly as I made my way to the office, the weight of betrayal still a fresh wound. Jenny was already there, poised as ever, but her smile faltered when she saw my face. "Morning, Richard. Everything alright?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. "Not particularly, Jenny," I sighed, dropping my briefcase on the desk with more force than intended. "Have a seat. There's something you need to know." Jenny perched on the edge of the chair, her notepad ready. I leaned back, the leather of the chair cold against my shirt. "Yesterday, I found out that Amelia and her grandmother have been lying to us," I began, the bitterness in my voice sharper than I intended. "They claimed they were on the brink of bankruptcy, needed $35 million to cover their debts. Turns out, it was all a performance." Jenny's pen paused mid-air. "You mean they weren't bankrupt?"

RICHARD'S POVA prickling sensation crept up my spine, like the eerie feeling of being watched. Instinctively, I glanced around, my senses on high alert. There was something off about the atmosphere, a tension hanging in the air like a thick fog. As I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle with unease, I knew I had to act fast. Jenny needed to know where I was. At least someone who cared about me, needed to know. Whatever was happening, I needed backup, and fast.My hand automatically went to my pocket, where my phone rested. Without hesitation, I tapped out a quick message to Jenny, my fingers flying over the screen as I relayed my location and the urgent need for security. I knew I needed extra set of eyes, maybe a way out, but time was a luxury I no longer had. Before she could reply, the Line went dead, swallowed by a sudden, ominous silence that enveloped me. No sooner had I slipped the phone back into my pocket than four hulking figures emerged from their hiding spots. E

RICHARD'S POVAs Jenny and I walked to the waiting car, the police handling the cleanup behind us, I knew I had every reason to be very grateful. Not just because of the danger I'd escaped, but because of what had been sparked between Jenny and me under the most harrowing of circumstances. Tonight, I'd faced betrayal and death, but I'd also found an unexpected chance at something new. We entered the car together, hand in hand, the night’s earlier terror slowly fading like it was merely a bad dream. But the warmth of her hand in mine was real, solid, promising.The drive back to my house was a blur—a mixture of adrenaline and relief coursing through my veins. As soon as I arrived, I dialed the number of a private security firm. Within the hour, two stern-looking men in dark suits were stationed at my gates. Their presence was a cold reminder of the danger that had brushed so closely against my life. I was sitting in my study, trying to process the events, when the doorbell rang. Peer

RICHARD’S POVThe courthouse was a theater of justice, its walls echoing the footsteps of those seeking redemption or damnation. Today, it was James's turn in the spotlight, and I, Richard SmithThorne, was there in the front row, an unmissable witness. Across from me, separated by the cold, impersonal space that the Law demands, sat James. His presence was a stark reminder of a chapter in my Life I wished remained closed- the day I caught him with Amelia.James now looked a wreck, his suit two sizes too big, his face gaunt, It was a stark contrast to the confident, calculating business man I once knew. Beside him, his lawyer, a nervous young man named Carter who was clearly outmatched, his suit rumpled, his tie askew. The suit he wore seemed to swallow him whole, and he fumbled with his notes more than once, casting brief, desperate glances towards James who sat with his head bowed, defeated.Carter repeatedly shuffled papers with trembling hands, his eyes darting around the room Like