LOGINMARCUSInstead of answering my questions, Mr Bennett took a slow step to the side, looking around the room as if he owned it.“You think she stayed with Ryan for ten years by accident?” he asked, looking mighty pleased with himself.My stomach dropped slightly, but I didn’t let it show.“She survived him,” I replied.“Or,” he said calmly. “She learned how to live with him.” A pause. “And she learned from him. Learned Things she’s using against you right now.”My jaw tightened. “That’s enough,” I snapped.But he didn’t stop.“You think she didn’t benefit from what happened between you and Ryan at your wedding?” he continued. “You think she just walked into your life without a plan or a motive?”“Get out of my house,” I said, my voice rising now.He turned back to me and for the first time, his calm cracked just a little.“You’ve let her in too much,” he said. “You’re protecting her because you think you need her. Because you think you love her.” A beat. “But it’s all a lie. Monique is
MARCUSI shut the book closed slowly, my fingers lingering on the cover for a second longer, thinking if I should stay there… or go.Deciding it was better to finish this, I stood up and started walking toward the sitting room, each footstep heavier than the last. And it wasn’t because I was scared of him. It was because the truth was.... I was afraid of what he wanted.From everything I had learned about him, from all the times I had investigated him, I knew he was ruthless. But I also knew something else. He was protective.... Fiercely protective of his family.Not me, of course. His real family.... His son, his daughter, and his wife.And that was what scared me. Not him, but his words. What they could do. What they could destroy.When I reached the door, I saw him sitting there like he belonged. Relaxed and composed, like nothing in his life had ever collapsed. Like he hadn’t built things just to tear them down.His eyes lifted the moment I stepped in.“Marcus,” he said. Same ton
MARCUSWhen Henry called me and told me that Mr Bennett had gone to the Wind Corporation, I could have laughed or gotten angry. I didn’t even know which one came first.I didn’t know why he was there but I knew he knew I wasn’t there. So at first, I just thought… he had something to say to Monique. Something about Ryan. That’s what I assumed.Ryan was dead, yes. And as much as I hated admitting it… my father loved his son Ryan. He loved him a lot. So I thought maybe he had gone there to make her feel bad. To blame her. To push her until she broke.That was my first thought And I wanted to rush there. I really did, but Nadia stopped me. If it hadn’t been for her, stopping me from going to the company, reminding me there were professionals there, security there, Henry at the front door....I probably would’ve gone.Nadia reminded me that Henry wouldn’t let anything happen. That he would notice. That he would react. And then she said something that stayed with me..... That Monique would w
MONIQUEI picked it up. “Hey, baby.”“Hello, precious,” he answered, his voice warm, familiar. “How is your day going?”“It’s going great.”“Yeah?”“Yes,” I said. “I highly doubt it, because Jason told me Mr Bennett was there. What did he want?”I nearly rolled my eyes. I can’t believe Jason went to tell.“It’s nothing of importance,” I said. “I’ll tell you everything when I come home later.”“Are you sure you’re not upset?” he asked. “You sound… different.”“I’m okay,” I said softly. “It’s just...you know how Mr Bennett can be.”There was a small pause.“I know,” he said exhaling.“I’m coming home early today.” A small smile touched my lips as I said it “I love hearing that,” he said. “And I hope you’re resting,” I added.“I am.”“Did you take your meds?”“Yes.”“Everything okay?”Another small pause.“Yes,” he said. “I just miss you.”Something in my chest softened.“Thank you,” I said quietly.“For what?”“For trusting me.”I could almost hear him smile.“If I can’t trust my wi
MONIQUEHis voice turned almost mocking.“Meanwhile, the other woman had two healthy children. Made Ryan a father and me a grandfather.”A pause. “And guess what happens to Marcus's empire when the two of you are gone?”His eyes locked onto mine.“Ryan’s children....the Bennetts....inherit everything.”Silence. And then, I couldn’t help it. A laugh slipped out of me. The sound surprised even me. A soft laugh at first… then a little louder.Mr Bennett frowned, clearly not expecting that reaction. B“You think that’s funny?” he asked, his tone sharpening.I shook my head, still smiling, though there was nothing amused in my eyes.“No,” I said. “I think it’s pathetic.”His expression darkened.“All of this,” I gestured between us, “this entire speech, this whole… performance. You came in here thinking you had something..... Something that would shake me, something that would make me fall apart.”I took a step closer “And that’s what you chose?” I asked quietly. “My womb?”His jaw tighten
MONIQUEI didn’t respond. I didn’t need to.The air between us grew heavy, thick with tension. I could feel something like danger coming off Mr Bennett. He looked pretty damn serious and confident about whatever this was.Mr Bennett kept watching me before he suddenly burst out laughing. But I didn’t even blink. I just kept watching him, a blank expression settling on my face.“You’re going to be the destruction of the Bennetts, aren’t you?” he said. “Your anger isn’t just about Ryan. It’s about all the Bennetts. And you’re determined to make us fall.”He stepped closer.“You’re here to bring back your father’s empire. I can see it in your face.”I said nothing.“You don’t love Marcus,” he went on. “You never did. You have always loved Ryan. I watched you, running after him, the way you would look at him as if the sun rose and fell from his ass.”His voice hardened.“And you can’t tell me that a love like that would just die in a single night just because you found out something fooli
MONIQUERyan gives me a bright, blinding smile.“All in due time,” he replies smoothly. “If you do what you have to do, I’ll let you and your aunt go.”I swallow hard, nodding.“Good,” he says again, glancing at his watch. “Now, I have to go. Be a good girl.”And then he leaves. I stand there in fr
MONIQUEWe move again to the music room, then the space I had once planned to turn into a gaming room for the kids.“Such a big house for such big dreams,” Mrs Bennett muses. “You thought of everything...fun, laughter, a life together. You built this place for your family.”We finally reach the gla
MONIQUEFor a second, I felt like I had been put on the spot. I could feel Ryan’s gaze on me, burning with warning, but I could also see the officer’s eyes waiting.... expectant, patient for what I would say."......... I....." I began, but I couldn’t finish. My voice cracked.I so badly wanted to
MONIQUEMrs. Bennett finally left, but thankfully, Ryan didn’t come back into the bedroom.I was fortunate enough not to see him the next day either. The day after that, I woke up to the same silence that had started to feel like a trap. It felt like the calm before the storm. My days were just day







