Novel-novel oleh Shalltell.O. Uyofor

Chapter 46 “Don’t go.” He repeated, his voice low but steady, but the steadiness was forced.Jenny took a sharp breath, her fingers tightening around the handle of her bag until her knuckles turned white.“I’m sorry,” He said again, this time barely above a whisper.She heard it, the sniffles he tried to suppress, the crack in his voice, the quiet surrender of a man who had finally run out of pride to hide behind.Jenny turned slowly.His eyes were red not just teary, but raw, like someone who had been fighting himself for hours. For a brief second, neither of them spoke. The silence felt loud, heavy, as if even the air was waiting.She could almost hear their heartbeats.His hands were shaking.Who would have thought someone of his status, someone so composed, so guarded could look this fragile?“I shouldn’t have said those things,” He admitted. “I was cruel. I was unfair. All you ever tried to do was fix what I refused to face.”Tears slipped down Jenny’s cheeks, silent and unsto

Chapter 45 “Good morning, sir,” Hailey greeted as she stood face to face with Alex. Alex nodded in response and decided, within himself, to leave the kitchen. Truthfully, he didn’t want to face anyone, least of all his personal assistant. He moved past her, his fist clenched tightly around his coffee mug, when all of a sudden she called his name, prompting him to unconsciously stop. “Alex…” Hailey swallowed. She was not pleased with her boss’s behavior toward Jenny the night before. She had made up her mind to confront him, but seeing him this morning at that very moment, she almost kicked against the idea. Yet her stubborn brain, her mouth couldn’t help it. 'Gosh.' She muttered inwardly. "What you did last night was..." Alex’s mouth opened before he even realized what his body was doing. “I don’t want to talk about it. Forget about it,” he replied, his voice cold and nonchalant, as though he hadn’t hurt Jenny the night before or as though he didn’t care. Alex was shocked at

Chapter 44 “Violet,” Selena called again, but there was still no reply.The entire room remained silent as everyone watched the scene unfold.“Vio, we spoke about this, okay? I would never steer you wrong. Alex...”“Mom, stop.” Violet finally spoke, shoving her mother’s hand off her shoulder.Her heart pounded hard against her chest. This was a sour topic, yet her mother wouldn’t let it go.“Alex is my past. I don’t know what your fixation with Alex is, but I’m not interested in it,” Violet said, stepping backwards.“Violet, listen to me. You can’t just let go of people in the past who cared for you or were there for you. I have no fixation on Alex, just that he is a good man, and he doesn’t deserve the hate you’re showing.”Sean swallowed. “Selena, enough,” he said sharply. “This isn’t the time or place for this. And if this man is so honourable, then why on earth isn’t he here proving that to Violet?”His thoughts flashed to the moment he had been with Alex.“I don’t know but… but.

Chapter 43 Sean sat on his bed, staring into the darkness as if waiting for morning would somehow bring him answers. Sleep had abandoned him hours ago. "Why can’t she just leave things as they are?" He muttered, running a hand through his hair. Selena… always fixated on things she couldn’t fix. Always trying to set the world right, even when it wasn’t hers to mend. He gritted his teeth. He hadn’t slept a wink because of the thought of that proof. The evidence she believed could change everything. He rose from the bed, pulled on his slippers, and moved to the window draped in rich milk-colored curtains, edged with gold. He pulled them aside and stared at the morning light. "She won’t stop. She’ll do exactly what she did years ago. And I can’t let her have her way this time." *** The breakfast room was unusually empty. Riele moved quietly, plating her meal as she muttered under her breath, “What the hell is going on?” Selena entered, scanning the room. Only Riele sat at the tab

Chapter 42 Alex stepped out of the car as he arrived home, his face holding the calm, controlled expression he had mastered over the years, even though a storm was burning within him.He was frustrated, annoyed, and overwhelmed by emotions he desperately needed time to process.He needed to be alone.He stepped into the mansion, his expression blank as usual, his fists clenched, pupils slightly darker than normal, and an aura sharp enough to slice through the air.Hailey rose from the sofa the moment he walked in.“You’re back,” she muttered.Alex didn’t respond. He walked past her without acknowledging her presence. If he let himself break loose, it would be hell. He would say things he didn’t mean.So he walked away.He climbed the staircase, guilt and self-blame pounding in his chest.'If you had taken accountability earlier… if you had acted sooner, you would have met Selena during the period she was free.'At least he could have found a way to see her when the media and reporter

CHAPTER 41Sean walked into the mansion, tense and restless. He had left moments after Alex walked out of the company. From Sean’s expression alone, one could tell he was rattled.'Why the hell did he have to show up?'Alex’s presence had ruined the rest of Sean’s day. He couldn’t spend another second in that company after seeing him. 'And what would happen when Violet finally decided to step into the CEO position, and the two of them met again?'Sean shook his head in dismay, trying to get rid of the thought.He dipped his hand into his right trouser pocket, brought out his phone, and tapped the call option.“Sir,” Riele’s voice came through quietly.“I won’t be coming in. Postpone any meetings I have this afternoon.”“Yes, sir.”The call ended with a soft beep.Sean made his way further into the mansion. “Where the hell is everyone?” he muttered as he climbed the stairs toward his room.He was halfway down the hall when he heard voices coming from two rooms before his. He wanted to

Chapter 54Author’s POVThe night after Sisi caught the shadow of a man lurking in her house, she couldn’t sleep. She sat upright, staring at the faint outline of Ryan curled up peacefully on the couch. Her heart was heavy, tangled between suspicion and fear. But as the morning sun crept through the curtains, the man was gone leaving behind nothing but the cold reminder that she wasn’t safe.Determined to distract herself, Sisi decided to take Ryan shopping the next day. Maybe, she thought, the mall would drown her mind in noise and colour.Ryan was the first to brighten the moment. Holding Sisi’s hand, he tilted his head and smiled softly.“Don’t worry, mum,” he said in his innocent voice. “Even if bad people come, I’ll always protect you. You and aunt Camila… you’re my family.”Her heart ached. She pulled him close and kissed his forehead.“You’re just a child my little boy,” she whispered. “You shouldn’t have to protect anyone. It’s me who should protect you.”Ryan shook his head w

Chapter 53Camila’s POVThe numbers circled in my head like vultures around dying prey. Eight million. It wasn’t small—not the kind of sum I could ever pull together without questions being asked, without sacrifices that would shine a blinding spotlight on me.I sat at the corner of my room, knees pulled to my chest, the moonlight slashing across my face. The demand replayed in my mind again and again. Whoever those people were faceless, terrifying they were serious. And if I didn’t act, someone else would pay.My first thought had been Roderick. His name always split me in two—anger on one side, longing on the other. He had the money, the power, the means. But what would I tell him? That strangers were threatening me? That I needed millions overnight? He’d never give it quietly. He’d question, investigate, drag the whole house into the storm.No. I couldn’t risk it.My mind shifted. Adrian.Adrian wasn’t perfect—he could be cold, distant, a man who carried his emotions like armor. Bu

Chapter 52 Author’s POV The Clastu mansion had grown unusually quiet since the parents left two days ago. But in the silence, darkness brewed. Precillia and Aria had been meeting old friend and dangerous connection in hushed tones, their faces pale with malice, their whispers laced with venom. Ryan’s existence had become the center of their twisted plan. “We’ll end it,” precillia muttered one night, her eyes cold. “We’ll end him… and she will take the blame.” Aria leaned closer, her voice low and steady. “Yes. Camila will suffer, not just lose her name, but her soul. No one will believe her again after this, and Roderick, Roderick will be all mine. The fact am willing to do anything for that handsome man and his wealth shows how much am in love with him.” Aria said with a self prasing tone and a smile on her face. Their plan was precise, heartless. Before striking Ryan, they needed bait—someone who could drag Camila right into their trap. For a while, that have been keeping a ver

Chapter 51Author’s POVThe Clastu family’s convoy of black cars pulled up to the quiet street, their polished exteriors reflecting the late afternoon sun. It was supposed to be a visit of comfort, of unity or at least that was how Aria had painted it when she suggested the idea. But beneath her sweet expression, a darker satisfaction bloomed.From the backseat of one of the cars, Aria’s sharp eyes caught sight of a figure storming out of Roderick’s house.It was Sisi.Her face was pale but streaked with redness from tears, her expression twisted in pain and fury. She clutched Ryan’s small hand tightly, the boy trailing beside her, his little face confused and tear-stained. Sisi walked fast, her shoulders stiff, her free hand gripping her car keys as if they were the only thing tethering her to the present moment.Aria tilted her head slightly, lips curving into a sly smile. Precillia, sitting beside her, also noticed.“That’s her,” Aria whispered under her breath. “The one Camila cal

Chapter 50Author’s POVAria sat on the edge of her bed in the Clastu mansion, phone in hand, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. She dialed a number, clearing her throat before speaking in a calm, measured voice, perfectly imitating Camila.“Hello… it’s me Camila." She said. The voice on the other hand replied triled to her from her. "Wow Camila. It's been a while. How're you doing." She asked. "I'm really sorry for not reaching out lately but We need to meet, it's really urgent” Aria said softly, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. “Somewhere private. I’ll text you the address.”"Well ok. If it's really that important, I'll be there ok. I'll be expecting the address but I have to go now. See you later Camila." She hung up. A small smile curling on Aria's lips. One step closer. Few minutes later, she walked into the sitting room where the Clastu family except Adrian was gathered. She scanned the environment and saw how everyone was glued with either their phone or documents.

Chapter 49Camila’s POVRoderick’s voice was low, but it cut straight through me. “The last time I saw her like this,” he said, his gaze fixed on the door as though Sisi might appear any second, “was when she was about to jump. That same look… like she’s holding the weight of the world in one hand and a blade in the other.”A chill slid down my spine. I folded my arms across my chest, bracing against the thought.“You mean… she’s dangerous?”He turned, eyes sharp. “Yes. And when Sisi’s in this state, she’s dangerous to herself—and to everyone she thinks has betrayed her.”That last word hung between us like smoke—thick, suffocating, impossible to ignore.The next morning, I found her in the sunroom, the one place in the house too bright for shadows. She sat in the corner chair, staring out the tall windows, a coffee mug in her hand, untouched.I moved toward her slowly, each step feeling like it might set off a mine.“Sisi,” I began, voice softer than I meant it to be, “I just… I want