Molly's POV
A young little boy, looking exactly like my husband, ran to his side. Gasps erupted around the room, and I could feel the stunned silence enveloping us like a thick fog. Guests exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions morphing from curiosity to disbelief.
Who was this kid? And why was he calling Wesley daddy?!
Not only that, the mansion my husband claimed to build for me had pictures of himself and a woman displayed everywhere. Intimate photos that caused the gazes of these strangers to pin on me.
I had endured a lot of shame in my life but this? I wanted to dig a hole and bury myself in it, the disgrace, causing my knees to wobble.
A cold realization hit me. I was the one who came between them. We got married after two months of dating, so I knew Wesley for two years and two months, whereas he had a son who was over three.
I did not get the chance to stabilize myself when I heard him mention the familiar name once more. "Kitty, what are you doing here, and why did you put those pictures on the wall?”
I snapped my head to see who this Kitty was, and there I saw the woman who was not only Wesley’s mistress but also my kid sister.
Rage surged inside of me. I could feel my blood boil.
Kiara, whom I had not seen for over three years, was my husband’s mistress.
The cheating, lying bastrd took me for a fool, saying he didn’t know what I was talking about when I mentioned Kitty.
"It's about time she knows. You said you were going to divorce her after the mansion was ready, so here you are. I prepared everything for you," Kiara said without a hint of guilt in her eyes, presenting some documents to him.
I partly guessed they were the divorce papers, as she lifted her son in her arms, giving her to a woman I assumed to be a nanny.
Four years ago, my singing career was at its peak. Only one night later my life was destroyed, and I fell from grace to grass.
I woke up in an empty hotel room with a heavy hangover from last night’s celebration banquet. I didn’t know how I ended up there, but when I left the room , intimate pictures of me and my producer were circulated all over the internet and magazines, framing me for being a homewrecker.
No one would believe me when I said I knew nothing about it. I felt no different that morning, meaning nothing had happened between us but an impression formed was too hard to erase.
Don’t ask me how I managed to dodge waves of angry fans who raged like they wanted to eat me whole. My producer wanted nothing to do with me, and he used the worst way to cut ties with me, signing my sister. She accepted the offers quickly and happily, not caring about my feelings at all.
Painful as it was for me, all my unreleased songs were sung by Kiara after, aiding her quick rise. I had no idea how she laid hands on the songs I worked so hard on.
Kiara’s fame was rising so fast, coupled with the fact that she spearheaded the spread of the scandal, gaining the attention and favor of my producers and fans. The more I fell, the greater she rose.
As my fiancé at the time, Wesley still decided to marry me despite my scandal, and that truly saved me from the darkest hellhole. His perfect act of love blinded me so much that I trusted him so fast and now this.
"Wesley, how could you do this to me? You knew about the scandal yet, you let this happen again."
Everything collapsed around me, making my eyes blurry. I felt weak and alone in the midst of wolves with no one to comfort me, just like it happened four years ago.
"I'm sorry, everyone, but the party's over. Security, see them out," I heard Wesley announce in a heavy voice. He waited for his guests to leave before responding to my heart-breaking accusation.
"Look, I tried, but I don't feel attracted to you. This might be Kitty’s idea, but I wanted to end things with you too. I just couldn’t find the right time to do so.”
I didn't realize it when my lips stretched. It was a smile, but it was filled with so much bitterness that it made me want to puke.
Even though I have been preparing myself for the possibility that my husband has been cheating on me, when the truth is revealed, it still hits hard.
My life was ruined the second time. Kiara won again. I don’t understand why she always wants to build her success on destroying my life, but I don’t care anymore. This time, I was going to take my life in my own hand.
I would face my fears including the slander and make my life better because I still had the company.
The company my parents poured their heart and soul into. They encouraged me to co-manage the company when I ceased my singing career, but I wasn’t too confident in doing so at that time due to the situation at hand, so Wesley took that position from me and helped the company escape the predicament caused by my scandal and grow bigger.
I was once very grateful for him taking care of it like his own business, but the thoughts turned sour when his parents constantly accused me of living an easy life by not helping with the company. As if Wesley would give me a chance when I asked for it. He said running a company was too complicated.
Since my parents passed away, the company became my only link to them, and I won’t give it away to some despicable cheater and his cunning mistress.
"Okay. I will sign the divorce papers, but I need my company back." I removed the ring from my finger, throwing it at him.
Wesley's expression changed at the demand, no longer remorseful like before. "That is not possible. You know how much I have invested in and sacrificed for this company when it’s experiencing the downturn. It’s already a completely different company from what it was at the start.”
I was completely shocked. “Are you stealing the company from me? You said you were just helping!”
“You signed everything over to me. Let’s not forget that."
"You lured me. You told me you couldn’t secure new contracts with investors knowing that the company belonged to me because of the scandal,” I reminded him, rage bubbling in my heart.
I had been a fool the whole time. My parents passed away after we got married. I had no one to help me but him, the perfect angel, unknown that he was a demon.
"Come on, sis, I'm equally entitled to everything because Dad left it for both of us," Kiara's grating voice sounded close to me. A smug smile lifted the corner of her lips.
"You were never there for us when dad was ill. They left everything for me," I reminded her.
As soon as I was kicked out of the entertainment industry by producers, Kiara's fame rose beyond limits. We were nothing to her, and she never recognized our parents nor respected them for anything since she started to get fame. Even when I called to inform her about our parents' funeral, she told me to let the dead bury their dead.
I wanted to do the right thing, so I called her again when the will was being read, but she rubbed it in my face, saying she wasn't interested in peanuts.
Then as fast as she rose, her fame died because none of the songs she wrote ever sold. She had run out of the stolen songs, and she did not have the creativity to create more.
With her doing this, I believed she went bankrupt along the way.
"Molly, why are you so dumb? Do you think the will is still legal when you are not my parents' biological daughter?”
What? The shock was enough to get me back on my feet. "That isn't true."
"I have all the DNA tests to prove, including these pictures. Turns out my parents found you when your parents' car had an accident and adopted you."
I stared at the pictures and documents she stuffed into my hands with blurry eyes, wondering why I was still alive and not dead.
This was too much for me to take, as Kiara continued to hit me where it hurts most. "So why should an adopted child get everything a legitimate child wouldn't?"
I never knew about this but if it were indeed true, then why did my adopted parents still will everything to me?
"If they knew about my parentage before giving me everything, then how is that my fault? You were just a shameless brat who never made them proud."
Oh, I must have said too much because my face burnt from the sting of Kiara’s slap. My ears buzzed and my head spinned. I met her menacing glare with my own and raised my hand, only to be stopped by my own husband.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you hit her." I quickly pulled my hand away and stared at him with disgust.
"Don't ever touch me again."
Kiara always had her way with everything since we were kids, and the only time I got something was my parents' will, and yet, she still stole everything from me again and again.
"Shut it, Molly. I always thought everything belonged to you and have been very gentle towards you, but turns out, you are just a shameless rag like my parents said."
That was Wesley, but his words no longer mattered to me, though it hurts how I have been a fool to desire him so much, thinking he was mine.
Kiara had a victorious smile on her face, wrapping her arms around Wesley’s neck and kissing him on the lips.
Wesley welcomed her and after pulling away, she faced me with their arms wrapped around each other.
"I already prepared everything for you, Molly. Sign the papers and get the heck out. And stop trying to get your hands on the company. It belongs to those who truly deserve it, not to say I lawfully own it now. Don’t make things ugly for yourself.”
I was shaking from boiling rage. "I still have the will, the lawyers, and all to attest that everything belongs to me. My parents left them for me."
"They aren't your parents, and I already gave you proof. Out of here before I get the guards to throw you out. If you like, you could be my maid," she sniggered.
Now I understand. Every single one of those I once considered family, Wesley, Kiara, and very likely Wesley’s parents, was conspiring together behind my back to steal everything from me and my parents. How could I have been so blind not to see through all this, and allow my life to fall apart into millions of pieces?
"You,” I looked at both of them, “will regret this one day." It wasn't a threat. I was willing to work my head off to get the money to hire the best attorneys. This was not going to end here.
"Oh, poor thing. You couldn't even get pregnant. Who knows? You might just be barren, and this is what you deserve. I hate you with my soul, Molly. You got the voice and talent I always dreamed of and all the love of my parents. Sign the divorce papers and get out," she reminded me.
I always loved her and treated her like a sister would, but today, she declared exactly what she always harbored in her heart.
I didn't believe that my parents adopted me. I felt she was saying that to cover up something, but I needed time to claim back all that belonged to me.
With that thought, I summoned my last bit of confidence and said,
“I’ll sign the papers, just send them to my email. I need to let my attorney go through them first.”
Kiara wanted to protest, but Wesley stopped her.
“Sure thing. But you can’t run away from me, Molly,” Wesley said with a cold smile, “wherever you go, I will find you, but the next time I see you, I won’t be as nice. So think twice and be smart.”
I ignored him and left the mansion. I couldn’t stay with them for another second.
I had no one, nowhere to go. So, I decided to check my bank account. I still had my purse with the card I had before marriage but no cash.
I was just realizing that I had been kept at home without seeing the outside world for all these years. My mother-in-law bought everything we needed at home, and I cooked and cleaned every day.
Wesley and Kiara played me so well. There was just 2k in my bank account, but I had no idea where to start. Was there even a motel close by? This area was foreign to me, and I could not trust anyone for guidance.
I don't know how long I walked, but it grew dark, and I continued walking aimlessly, not caring who looked at me until I saw a lot of cars.
Girls with skimpy clothes were walking in. This was one of the places I met with other celebrities during my time of fame.
It was a club, so I figured I'd just get a drink to numb my sorrow, even if it were just for a night. It was over four years since I was kicked out of the music industry so no one would recognize me but how wrong I was for entering there? I soon regretted it.
Roger’s POVCongratulations to our youngest graduate and Valedictorian, Roger Dawson," the MC announced as the sound of applause filled the air. I walked to the stage to collect my certificate.My schooling was different from most children my age as I received a lot of home tuition and skipped grades due to my exceptionally high IQ and my early interest in creating wealth.When I entered college at the age of twelve, I told my dad that I would graduate by fourteen, and he believed in me. My battle skills were strong, but so was my dedication to education and my career.My dad taught me that the quickest way to make money without physically going to an office was through hacking, but he was unsure if I could balance it with my studies.Driven by my determination to achieve financial success independently, I seized the opportunity at the age of five. By the time I was seven, I had gained a reputation in the cyber market, with my true identity concealed.My code name is 'Terror D2.' I ch
Octavia’s POVMy biggest mistake was rejecting Hank, and although I didn't intentionally send the assassin after Nora, I was saddened to lose Hank to her.Cage mistreated me, but I felt I deserved it. Everything was wrong from the start, but I blindly trusted him and felt relieved when Vanni had him killed.Hank had just gotten engaged, so I believed I still had a chance to win him back by showing him that our past connection was not over.To be close to Hank, I needed to be near Nora. If I stayed with her, I would have the opportunity to see Hank and make my move.Nora was thrilled to be engaged to Hank, and I understood why. Hank wouldn't have looked back if I had intentionally tried to harm her, but now all I wanted was him.Nora made a revealing statement, "I live with Hank, but if he agrees, I don't mind." I knew Hank wouldn't allow me to stay at his place.Perhaps it was the aftermath of the assassin's attack that led Hank to invite Nora to live with him. I needed to be near him
Nora’s POv“Molly, I'm done with Hank. He proposed last night, and we made out, but as soon as Octavia called, he left me," a tear slid down my cheek as I spoke to Molly on the phone.The emotions swirling through me were overwhelming because I had witnessed how Octavia stood by Cage and said hurtful things to Hank, so why would he still care about her?"Nora, you have to trust your man," Molly said calmly. I informed her, "I want to see you.""Okay, I'm home, but Gianni is going out, so I will have a driver pick you up."I didn't refuse the offer since I didn't have any of Hank's car keys. As soon as I reached Molly's mansion, I told her everything the moment I saw her, and she was excited."You are engaged, that's wonderful, but I think it's the reason Gianni left too. He never left me alone after that incident at the hospital," she said. My heart warmed at the fact that Hank was not alone with Octavia.I stayed with Molly and fell asleep until she received news from Gio that they w
Hank’s POVGio, please allow them to answer the question," I said, my voice trembling. Octavia responded, "I don’t know her identity because the assassin would not reveal it to me."It made sense that Octavia wouldn't intentionally target Nora, but I still needed to confirm my suspicions.Cage grinned. "They came for you, but do you think they would still save you if they knew the girl in question?"My heart sank. No wonder Carter didn't know their identities. That was how the transaction was meant to be.Cage likely provided the contract, and Octavia, wanting to keep her identity hidden, offered a better deal for the same target. Carter, in turn, would not disclose the target's identity because she hid it to protect herself.They orchestrated it this way to avoid being traced, even if Carter failed and got caught."Who is she?" I asked again. Cage smiled. "It's Nora, and this woman confessed that the job was done because the assassin told her he was already with her. He never misses
Hank’s POVI desired Nora so much that when she expressed a desire for intimacy, I took the opportunity to propose to her, and she accepted.My joy was overwhelming, and as we spent the night together, I couldn't help but envision her in a wedding gown. I was eager to solidify our relationship quickly, but I didn't want to appear desperate, so I decided to wait a week or two before discussing marriage.Having Nora in my life made everything worthwhile, even leaving my lucrative job. It allowed us the freedom to spend time together whenever we pleased. I looked forward to supporting her business and seeing it flourish beyond her dreams.However, our peaceful morning was unexpectedly disrupted by Octavia."Hank, Vanni has blacklisted me, and I'm in trouble. Cage and his gang are after me. He deceived me. I'm hiding in my basement because I'm injured. He nearly killed me, Hank," Octavia pleaded as I reassured her, "Stay put, I'm on my way."I could track Octavia using her GPS as long as
Nora’s POVThere was nothing creepier than watching Hank take down Carter. I had thought Carter would put up a fight, but it turns out he's only good at harming fragile women like me.Even after it was all over, I found it hard to accept that I had almost died.What if Hank hadn't received my message and tried to call me? I had resisted when he first asked me to move in with him or find another apartment, but not anymore.Clearly, experiences like this were why Molly had toughened up so much. One can't always rely on a savior, so I need to toughen up if I want to be with a man like Hank.No matter what, there would always be dangers surrounding him. When I reached his house, I showered again out of anxiety, hoping the water would wash away my fears.It helped, but seeing Hank in just shorts, his chest exposed and his damp hair, as if he had just showered, a different kind of anxiety took hold of me.Men often walked around shirtless, and it was clear that Hank was the type to sleep in
Hank’s POVAfter Nora refused to vacate her apartment, I discreetly kept an eye on her ever since I spotted Carter in the elevator.Despite the events at Molly and Gio’s wedding, where I respected Nora’s desire to take things slow, I refrained from inviting her to my place and instead ensured her safety in her own apartment.I had been monitoring Carter and confirmed his departure on the day we went to the Island, causing my surveillance on Nora to lapse.As I neared my house, I almost ignored the message beep from my phone but a strong feeling compelled me to check, suspecting it was Nora.However, the call abruptly ended after two rings, signaling a problem.Instinctively, I made a U-turn, realizing that Carter’s sudden presence and the phone going dead were red flags.I didn’t anticipate Carter causing trouble without a contract, ruling out the possibility of him being hired to target Nora. It dawned on me that his actions might be driven by his feelings for her.Upon reaching Nora
Nora’s POVGio, were they responsible for the threatening note?" Hank inquired. Gio nodded. "Yes, they targeted Molly and Roger. When they couldn't reach her due to the tight security, they exploited her health condition."He smiled bitterly and continued, "During our first antenatal visit after our honeymoon, Molly mentioned seeing this boy, but I dismissed it as a hallucination. They have been monitoring her for a long time without success."Now everything made sense, but why did they use Wade? "What about the boy? Why send him?" I asked, and Gio looked saddened."They manipulated him, poisoning his mind. Before I killed Wesley's father for murdering his wife, he hinted that there were more threats coming. I suspect his other two children," he explained.If this young boy could have murderous intentions towards Roger, then his siblings could be even more dangerous. They needed to be located.Gio gazed at Wade with concern evident in his eyes and voice. "I assure you, we will protect
Nora’s POVAfter the wedding, I finally understood why Molly loved Roger so much. He was disciplined, intelligent, and resilient.Inspired by him, I started training alongside himself and Hank every morning until Molly and Gio returned from their honey mon.Roger's dedication to learning also improved my relationship with Hank.For the first time, I felt like a mother figure, caring for a child who was independent and mature beyond his years.Molly then suggested another concert, and I eagerly agreed, putting my business on hold.The final day of the concert took a somber turn when Molly collapsed, but I stepped in to handle the situation, inadvertently gaining some unwanted attention.Despite the incident, Molly's connection with her fans deepened as they showed their support by gathering outside the hospital. Gio, as I now referred to him, helped manage the situation and dispersed the crowd.Although it felt strange to call him Gio, I knew I would eventually get used to it.Each day,