CHAPTER 6-
The office was buzzing with tension as Henderson, still trying to comprehend the events that had just transpired, looked at his boss with a mix of desperation and confusion. “What did I do wrong?” Henderson asked, his voice shaking slightly. “I thought the card that paid for the house belonged to Mr. Donovan, but he’s just some low-life who couldn’t even scrape together enough money for his ex-girlfriend’s compensation. How could he have bought that villa? It doesn’t make any sense!” His boss, clearly frustrated and still reeling from the realization, shot Henderson a sharp glare. “You’re not listening, Henderson! The problem wasn’t with the payment—it was with who made it. You’ve been barking up the wrong tree this whole time. The payment didn’t come from Rachel’s boyfriend, Michael—it came from Matthew Donovan.” Henderson’s face paled as the truth began to dawn on him. “But… but that’s impossible! It was Rachel’s boyfriend, not Donovan! There’s no way he could afford something like that!” The tension in the room continued to build as the secretary, who had been handling the transaction, stepped forward to clarify the situation. She held the payment confirmation in her hands, her expression somber and serious. “I’ve checked and double-checked the details,” the secretary began, her voice calm but firm. “The payment for the villa was indeed made by Mr. Matthew Donovan, not by Mr. Michael. The funds were transferred directly from Mr. Donovan’s account.” A stunned silence fell over the room as everyone turned their attention to Rachel, who stood frozen in disbelief. Her mind raced, trying to comprehend how Matthew—the man she had so thoroughly humiliated—could have possibly bought such an expensive property. “But how…?” Rachel muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible. “How could he buy something like that when he couldn’t even give me the betrothal gift I wanted?” Michael, sensing the rising tension and the imminent exposure of his lies, tried to slip away quietly, hoping to avoid further embarrassment. But Rachel’s voice, sharp and accusatory, cut through the silence like a knife. “Liar!” she screamed, pointing an accusing finger at Michael. “You lied to me! You’re nothing but a cheater! You pretended to be something you’re not, and now everyone knows the truth!” Michael’s face twisted in anger and desperation as he turned to face Rachel. “Shut up, Rachel!” he snapped, his voice filled with venom. “This is your fault! You were the one who faked everything and boasted about what you didn’t have! I’m done with you!” Without another word, Michael grabbed Rachel by the wrist and yanked her toward the door. She stumbled, trying to keep up with his pace as he dragged her away, her protests falling on deaf ears. The office was left in stunned silence as the two of them disappeared from sight, leaving behind a room full of shocked faces. Henderson, now fully aware of the magnitude of his mistake, turned to Matthew, his pride shattered. “Mr. Donovan,” he began, his voice trembling with genuine remorse, “I deeply apologize for the way I treated you. I misjudged you, and I’m ashamed of my behavior. Please, forgive me.” Matthew regarded Henderson with a calm, measured gaze. The power dynamics in the room had shifted entirely in his favor, but he remained composed. “There’s no need for forgiveness,” Matthew said quietly, his voice carrying a weight that silenced any lingering doubts. “But understand this: you made assumptions based on appearances, and that was your mistake. Your punishment is learning the hard way that not everything is as it seems.” Henderson nodded, swallowing hard as he realized just how much he had underestimated the man before him. “Yes, sir. I understand. I’ll never make that mistake again.” At that moment, the head of the company stepped forward, his demeanor one of both respect and relief. “Mr. Donovan,” he said, his voice filled with gratitude, “I can’t thank you enough for your decision to buy the villa. It’s an honor to have you as our client. Please know that we will do everything in our power to ensure your satisfaction.” Matthew gave a small nod, accepting the gratitude with quiet dignity. “I appreciate that,” he replied. “Let’s make sure this serves as a lesson for everyone involved.” The head of the company bowed his head in acknowledgment, deeply humbled by the entire ordeal. Henderson, still standing beside him, looked like a man who had just survived a close brush with disaster. As the tension in the room began to dissipate, Matthew turned and made his way toward the exit, his mind already moving beyond the events of the day. He had proven his point, and now it was time to focus on the future—one that was filled with possibilities he had never imagined. As he stepped out into the cool evening air, his phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Yvonne, asking if they could meet for dinner. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he replied. “Dinner sounds great. I’ll see you soon.” With that, Matthew slipped his phone back into his pocket and walked off into the night, ready to embrace whatever came next. He had been underestimated for too long, but those days were over. The world would soon know just what Matthew Donovan was truly capable of.As Matthew stepped out of the office, Yvonne quickly followed him, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern. “Matthew,” she called out, catching up to him, “how could you afford such an expensive house? Where did you get the money?”Matthew paused, taking a deep breath before turning to face her. He knew he couldn’t reveal the truth just yet, not when so much was at stake. “It wasn’t me,” he lied smoothly, his voice steady. “It was my boss. He bought the house and used my card to make the purchase. He sent me to buy it on his behalf.”Yvonne’s eyes widened in surprise, relief washing over her face. “Oh, thank goodness. I was so worried about you. Thank you for saving me from the boss. You didn’t have to do that.”Matthew gave her a reassuring smile. “You don’t need to thank me. I couldn’t just stand by and let him treat you that way.”Yvonne nodded, her expression softening as she looked at him with genuine gratitude. “Matthew, maybe it’s better if you pay off the compensation to Ra
chapter 8- The tension in the air was palpable as Matthew Donovan stood at the entrance of his newly acquired villa, watching the confrontation between the guards and the intruders—Rachel, his ex-girlfriend, and Kevin, her brother. The guards, who had been a silent but imposing presence until now, suddenly moved with purpose, catching Kevin by the arm and firmly blocking Rachel’s path.“Let go of me!” Kevin barked, struggling against the iron grip of the guard. Rachel, her face a mix of shock and fury, tried to yank her arm free from another guard's hold.“This house doesn’t belong to you,” the lead guard said, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable authority. “It belongs to Mr. Donovan. You have no right to be here, and if you don’t leave immediately, you won’t have legs to walk out on.”Rachel’s eyes widened in disbelief, and Kevin’s expression darkened with a mix of fear and anger. “You think you can scare us?” Kevin spat. “I’ll call up the security head of this locality! He’
CHAPTER 9- The next morning, Matthew woke up to the sound of his phone buzzing incessantly on his bedside table. Groggily, he reached for it, squinting at the screen as he saw the name of his assistant, Lexi, flashing across it. He answered the call, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.“Good morning, Mr. Donovan,” Lexi’s voice came through, professional yet warm. “I hope I didn’t wake you too early, but I wanted to inform you that everything is set for tonight’s party. It will be the official announcement that your family’s exile is over, and the beginning of your journey to build your business empire.”Matthew’s heart quickened at the news. He had been preparing for this moment, but now that it was finally here, the reality of it all was sinking in. The Donovan name, once revered and respected, was about to be restored to its former glory. And he, Matthew Donovan, would be the one to lead it into the future.“Thank you, Lexi,” he replied, his voice steady. “I’ll be there tonight.”As t
**Chapter 10** The aftermath of the explosion had left the grand ballroom in ruins. The once opulent space, adorned with chandeliers and intricate décor, was now unrecognizable, covered in debris and the remnants of shattered glass. The pungent smell of smoke lingered in the air, mixing with the acrid scent of fear that clung to the guests. Emergency responders had arrived swiftly, their flashing lights casting an eerie glow over the devastation. The lively chatter and music that once filled the room were replaced by the sounds of sirens, the cries of the injured, and the hushed whispers of those trying to make sense of the chaos. Matthew Donovan and Yvonne had managed to escape the immediate danger, but the night was far from over. They had sought refuge in a nearby alley, away from the scene of destruction. The narrow passageway was dimly lit, the shadows stretching ominously across the brick walls. The night air was crisp, and the adrenaline was still coursing through Matthew’s ve
**Chapter 11**The city’s skyline loomed in the distance as Matthew, Yvonne, and Lexi drove through the night, their breaths visible in the chill of early morning. The tension inside the car was palpable, each of them lost in their own thoughts about what awaited them. Victor Marlowe’s name was a dark cloud hanging over their mission, and the stakes had never been higher.As they approached Marlowe’s office building—a sleek, modern structure towering over the surrounding buildings—Matthew’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. He could feel the weight of the night’s events pressing on him, but his resolve remained unwavering. This confrontation could reveal the mastermind behind the attack and bring him one step closer to reclaiming his life and business.They parked and exited the car, their footsteps echoing in the empty street as they made their way to the building’s entrance. The grandeur of the lobby was a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind, its polished floors and
**Chapter 12**The morning light was harsh against the polished surfaces of Matthew's office, illuminating the exhaustion etched into his features. The weight of the previous night’s encounter with Victor Marlowe had settled heavily on him, amplifying his sense of urgency. With Marlowe's threat looming, Matthew had no choice but to confront the chaos head-on.Yvonne and Lexi were already there, their faces mirroring the same determination that fueled Matthew. The three of them were about to delve deeper into Marlowe's plans, and the stakes had never been higher. Lexi had been tirelessly searching through Marlowe’s financial records, while Yvonne focused on gathering information from her network of contacts.“I’ve got something,” Lexi announced, her voice trembling slightly from both fatigue and adrenaline. She handed Matthew a thick folder filled with printed documents. “These are Marlowe’s recent transactions. I think they could lead us to his next move.”Matthew flipped through the
**Chapter 13**Matthew’s phone call with Lucas Marlowe was terse and loaded with tension. Lucas had requested a meeting to discuss “unfinished business,” hinting at insider knowledge that could be crucial for Matthew’s plans. Reluctantly, Matthew agreed, knowing the encounter could provide vital clues or unravel another layer of the conspiracy.The rendezvous was set for an upscale café known for its discreet ambiance. As Matthew and Yvonne arrived, the city buzzed around them, oblivious to the high-stakes game unfolding in their midst. Lucas was already seated at a corner table, his demeanor casual but his eyes sharp with a hidden agenda.“Matthew,” Lucas greeted, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’m glad you could make it.”Matthew took a seat opposite Lucas, his gaze unwavering. “What do you want, Lucas? I’m not in the mood for games.”Lucas leaned back, examining his polished nails with feigned disinterest. “Straight to the point, I see. Well, let’s just say I have a few things that
**Chapter 14**The café’s ambient hum was drowned out by Matthew’s thoughts racing through the implications of Lucas’s revelations. He leaned in, his voice low but filled with steely determination. “What’s Derek’s real role in this?”Lucas took a deliberate sip of his espresso, clearly enjoying the dramatic tension. “Derek has been more than just a puppet in Rachel’s game. He’s been feeding her information, leveraging his connections to undermine your efforts. But there’s more.”Matthew’s pulse quickened. “More? What else is there?”Lucas’s eyes gleamed with calculated coldness. “Derek has been working with a syndicate of corrupt executives. They’re plotting to make it look like you’re failing spectacularly. The plan is to create enough chaos and doubt so that they can swoop in and take over your business empire.”Yvonne’s face hardened with anger. “And Rachel? What’s her endgame?”“Rachel’s role is even more insidious,” Lucas said. “She’s been manipulating public perception, using he