Chapter twenty-one: Make her unrecognizable
“She tried to kill you?” another woman asked, incredulous.
“Yes! I was in a coma for five years!” Cindy spread her fingers to emphasize the number of years. “Due to that accident, I lost my baby too; it was three months old. I didn't even tell anyone at that time except her. I was too naive to think she would have been envious of me to the point of trying to kill me.”
“What a bitch!” one of the women spat, her entire being vibrating with anger.
“That vixen deserves to die brutally,” another added, her jaw ticking.
Watching their reactions made Cindy very happy. She continued the drama, shaking her shoulders in a sob. “Now she’s with a new man for his money. I bet she would try to get ri
Chapter twenty six: You miss her “Rophine,” Alissa said as they walked down the hallway, her heels echoing confidently against the tiled floor, “have a general meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. sharp. I want a breakdown of every department’s budget, performance report, and employee list. Sorted by usefulness.” “Yes, ma’am,” Rophine replied, scribbling quickly on her tablet. “Should I prepare the files in digital or hard copy?” “Both. And send a copy to my grandfather as well. He should know what I walked into.” They entered the executive lounge, which smelled like old leather and forgotten smoke. Alissa wrinkled her nose in distaste.
Chapter Twenty-Five: Fired The Golden Palace Hotel was in chaos. Staff rushed left and right, bumping into one another as they attempted to put things in place before the new owner arrived. Despite their usual laziness, they were determined to make a good first impression. Alissa arrived in a sleek, brand-new Maybach—a congratulatory gift from her grandfather for her first official day on the job. She stepped out gracefully, dressed in an elegant skirt suit. Her jacket was perfectly tailored, and her long hair flowed down her back. The aura she exuded was commanding—sharp, sophisticated, and intimidating. She walked with her head held high, her heels clicking authoritatively against the concrete. The staff had lined up at the hotel’s entrance to welcome her.
Chapter Twenty-Four: She's gone The next morning, when the anesthesia began to wear off, Shane stirred awake. He groaned softly from the pain radiating through his back, forced to sleep on his stomach because of the burns. As his heavy eyes blinked open, he noticed someone lying beside the bed. "Alissa?" he rasped, his voice hoarse and patchy. The figure didn’t move. "Alissa," he called again, struggling to lift his head. "Hmm?" the woman stirred, stretching her arms as she let out a long yawn. Shane blinked in surprise. "Cindy?" His voice cracked with disbelief as he stared at the wrong woman. He could’ve sworn it was Alissa who brought him to the hospital. Cindy had been nowhere to be found. "You’ve just woken up, and the first name on your lips is your ex-wife?" Cindy scoffed, scrunching her nose in disapproval. "Why would she be here? Do you still want her instead of me?" "No," Shane replied weakly, still confused. "I thought she was her
Chapter Twenty-Three After the chaos that had unfolded, Cindy decided to leave the party to save face. If those women saw her again, they might hurt her—for real this time. It was better to run. But just as she turned the corner, she bumped into someone, causing his phone to fall to the floor. "Can't you—" she began, her words cutting short as her eyes met his. It was the handsome stranger she'd seen in Shane's building. "Goddess," he said sweetly, a wide smile spreading across his lips. "Mr. Handsome," Cindy replied with a sly smirk. Her eyes traveled over his outfit—it was sleek, expensive, and effortless. If he's at this party, she thought, then he was invited. Which means... he's actually somebody. "Going h
Chapter Twenty-Two “Let’s see if any man will want you with a man-face,” one of the women sneered as she raised the broken perfume bottle—switched with acid—and hurled it toward Alissa. But before the liquid could touch her, someone stepped in front of her. A sharp hiss cut through the air. The acid splashed across the back of his suit, sizzling as it burned through the fabric and into the skin beneath. He bit his lower lip hard to stifle a cry of pain. Alissa’s eyes widened in shock. “Shane...?” The women who had attacked her gasped, their faces draining of color as they recognized the man who’d int
Chapter 20: This Is the Girl You Choose? "Where is Louis Rodrigo? Isn’t he supposed to be here by now?" Cindy asked, her sharp eyes scanning the crowded gallery, impatience evident in her tone. Shane, who had been lost in thought, finally responded, “He’ll be here. Just a bit delayed.” Cindy smiled and wrapped her arm around his. "Is this really going to be his last opening?" she gushed, ignoring the coolness in Shane’s voice since their squabble on the plane. “Too bad, though. He’s really a talented fellow. The world can’t lose a gem like him.” Tonight marked Louis Rodrigo's final gallery opening in France before his retirement. The guest list was capped at two hundred, while those left outside crowded