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 shadows around me felt colder, and the festive lights from the window painted mocking streaks on the ground.Pulling myself together, I knocked on the door, my heart a drumbeat of contained fury and betrayal. The music dipped into silence as the door swung open, revealing Amelia, her smile faltering into confusion at my grim expression."Richard! What a surprise! We were just—" she started, her words trailing off under my cold gaze."Having a party, I see. Celebrating bankruptcy or something else?" The words were out before I could coat them in any civility. "What are you doing here, Richard?" Amelia's voice trembled slightly as she spoke. Ignoring her question, I strode over to a side table where an array of wines and spirits were artfully displayed. I picked up a bottle of their finest red—a Château Margaux, no less—and poured myself a generous glass. The rich aroma of the wine filled my nostrils as I took a slow, deliberate sip, letting the silence stretch uncomf
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 POVAs Jonathan and William stormed out of my office, the door slammed with a reverberating thud that echoed the tumult in my mind.The conversation had not only gone south—it had plummeted. Their faces had been clouded with anger, disappointment etched deeply into their expressions. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret. Had I been too harsh? No, I reassured myself, they needed to hear it.I leaned back in my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Why? Just why can't things be straightforward for once?" I muttered to myself, staring blankly at the cityscape that sprawled beyond my window. I had assumed that Amelia was being honest with me, even considered for a moment that she had changed. Well, I guess it was too early to judge her. But I couldn’t understand my brother’s involvement with the situation and the reason for their reaction. But I take a wild guess.Their anger, their accusations—it all boiled down to one thing: the money. The damned money. How did they
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 POVThe revelation hit me like a freight train. Him of all people. It was almost laughable, the absurdity of it all. He stood there, a smug smile curling his lips, clearly enjoying the shock plastered across my face. "Well, Richard, never thought the mighty could look so... fragile," James taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.My heart pounded in my chest as I stared, dumbfounded, at James, the last person I ever expected to be my nemesis. He was my ex-wife Amelia's recent fling, hardly someone I thought had the nerve to pull off something so audacious. I squared my shoulders, trying to mask the turmoil inside. "James, you're the last person I expected to see orchestrating my demise. What's this all about?" James caught the shock on my face and Let out a Low, menacing chuckle. "Surprised, Richard? That was your first mistake—underestimating me." I struggled to find my voice, the ground beneath me feeling unsteady. "James, why are you doing this? What have I done to y
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 fluorescent lights hummed overhead as I walked down the sterile, echoing corridor of the county jail. My footsteps, though quiet, seemed to announce my presence with an authority I wasn't sure I possessed. At the end of the hallway, a guard waited by a heavy metal door, his expression unreadable. He checked my ID, then buzzed me through. The visiting room was stark, the kind of place that seemed designed to remind you of the bleakness of your circumstances. I took a seat at one of the tables, the cold metal chair barely moving on the polished floor. James was brought in a minute later. His orange jumpsuit was a stark contrast to the drab surroundings, and his hands were shackled in front of him. The guard led him to the table opposite me and then retreated to the back of the room, his eyes never leaving James. As soon as James saw me, his face crumpled. He stumbled forward, nearly tripping over his own feet, and collapsed onto his knees in front of me. His shackle