seven

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 Rachel and let this whole mess be over. I can help you figure out a way to do it.”

Matthew’s smile faded slightly, a flicker of resolve hardening his features. “I’ve already arranged the money with my boss’s help,” he replied, his voice firm. “But I’m not going to pay her off that easily.”

Before Yvonne could respond, Matthew’s phone buzzed again. This time, it was a call from his new housekeeper, informing him that someone was waiting for him at his newly purchased villa. Matthew’s eyes narrowed as he listened to the details, his hand tightening around the phone.

“I have to go,” he said abruptly, turning away from Yvonne. “I’ll deal with Rachel and her demands in my own way.”

Yvonne watched him leave, a mixture of admiration and concern in her gaze. She knew Matthew was hiding something, but she also knew better than to press him for answers. Whatever he was planning, she trusted that he had a reason.

When Matthew arrived at his new villa, he found Rachel and her brother, Kevin, waiting for him at the front door. Rachel’s expression was smug, while Kevin looked as though he had just won the lottery.

“Well, well,” Rachel sneered as she saw Matthew approaching. “I heard you bought this house. Now that you have it, you’ll have to give it to me as compensation.”

Matthew’s eyes darkened as he glared at them. “I’ve already paid more than enough for your greedy demands,” he said coldly. “And after buying this house, I don’t have any money left to give you compensation. I spent everything I had on this.”

Rachel’s expression twisted into one of fury as she stepped closer, her voice low and venomous. “You think you can get away with this? You owe me, Matthew. You’ll pay, one way or another.”

Kevin, emboldened by his sister’s words, shoved Matthew aside, his tone dripping with arrogance. “You heard her, Donovan. Get out. This house belongs to us now. You can’t pay, so we’ll take it as compensation.”

Just as Matthew steadied himself, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the driveway. The guards, dressed in crisp uniforms, quickly surrounded the scene, their presence commanding and authoritative.

Kevin smirked, convinced that the guards were there to enforce their claim. “Looks like the guards are here to kick you out, Donovan. Better leave now while you still can.”

But to Kevin’s shock, the guards didn’t move to remove Matthew. Instead, they stood firmly by his side, their expressions stern as they faced Rachel and Kevin.

“Is there a problem here, Mr. Donovan?” one of the guards asked, his voice respectful.

Matthew looked at Rachel and Kevin, his gaze unwavering. “These two were just leaving,” he said calmly.

The guard nodded and stepped forward, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You heard him. It’s time for you to go.”Rachel's protests grew louder as the guards began to usher her and Kevin off the property. Her voice was shrill with desperation and disbelief. "You can't do this! This house belongs to us! We have a right to it!"

Matthew remained calm, his gaze steady as he watched the scene unfold. He had anticipated this confrontation, and now that it was happening, he felt a strange sense of detachment. The emotions that had once plagued him—anger, humiliation, hurt—seemed to dissipate, leaving behind only a resolute determination to stand his ground.

Kevin, still clutching Rachel's arm, tried to regain some control over the situation. "You think you can just throw us out? We'll take you to court! We'll ruin you, Donovan!"

Matthew took a slow step forward, his presence commanding as he spoke. "You can try, Kevin. But know this—I have no intention of backing down. I've already paid my dues, and I'm done being your scapegoat. This house is mine, legally and rightfully. You have no claim here."

Rachel, her eyes wide with shock and fury, tried to break free from the guards' grip. "You can't do this, Matthew! You owe me! After everything we've been through, you owe me!"

Matthew shook his head slowly, his voice calm but firm. "No, Rachel. I don't owe you anything anymore. I've given more than enough, and you repaid me with lies and betrayal. It's time for you to face the consequences of your actions."

Kevin attempted one last desperate move, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You think this is over, Donovan? You haven't seen the last of us. We'll make sure you pay for this!"

But before he could say anything more, the guards tightened their hold on him, forcing him to back down. Rachel, still seething, was pulled away, her protests growing fainter as they were escorted off the property.

As the guards closed the gate behind them, Matthew let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. The confrontation had been draining, but he felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had stood his ground, refused to be bullied, and now, finally, he was free of Rachel and Kevin's toxic influence.

The head guard approached Matthew, his demeanor respectful. "Is there anything else you need, Mr. Donovan?"

Matthew shook his head. "No, thank you. I appreciate your help."

The guard nodded and gestured to the other guards, who dispersed to resume their posts. Matthew watched them for a moment before turning back to his villa, the realization settling in that this place—this grand, luxurious house—was now truly his. It symbolized a fresh start, a new chapter in his life where he could focus on himself, free from the shadows of his past.

As he walked through the front door, the weight of the day's events seemed to lift from his shoulders. The villa was quiet, peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded just moments ago. He allowed himself a moment to take it all in—the elegant furnishings, the spacious rooms, the view that stretched out to the horizon. This was his sanctuary, his safe haven.

But as he moved deeper into the house, a thought struck him. This victory, as sweet as it was, also came with new responsibilities. He couldn't afford to let his guard down. There were still people who would try to bring him down, to take what he had worked so hard to achieve.

Determined, Matthew walked over to the large windows that overlooked the expansive garden. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden light over the landscape. It was a reminder that, despite the trials he had faced, there was always the promise of a new day—a new beginning.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him from his thoughts. It was a message from Yvonne, checking in to see if everything was okay. Matthew smiled as he typed out a quick response, assuring her that things had been handled and that he was looking forward to their dinner later.

As he sent the message, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. He had come a long way from the man who had been belittled and underestimated. Now, he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, confident in his ability to rise above them.

This was his time, his chance to redefine his life on his own terms. And he wasn't going to let anyone take that away from him.