Seth's POV Veronica's voice trembled as she called out my name, her tone hesitant. I gazed down at her, my eyes narrowing, my voice low and edged with displeasure. "When did you become friends with Stella?"The question hung in the air, heavy with tension. Veronica's eyes darted between Stella and me, her expression anxious.I had always harbored a deep-seated dislike for Stella, her pretentiousness and pettiness grating on my nerves. Veronica's words spilled out in a rush, an attempt to placate me. "I came today because I have something very important to share."But before she could continue, Stella inserted herself, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. "Not only is today my birthday, but my mother also really likes Veronica. She wants to adopt Veronica as her goddaughter."The room plummeted into silence, as if the very air had been sucked out. The announcement hung like a challenge, a gauntlet thrown.Veronica's hand tightened around my arm, her grip almost desperate. I
Naomi's POV I stood frozen, my eyes wide with shock, as Stella's words hung in the air like a challenge. Adopt Veronica as her goddaughter? The very idea was preposterous.Just last night, Veronica had spoken of a friend with a tragic past, hoping I would consider taking her under my wing. I had assumed it was someone else, someone deserving of my compassion. Not Veronica.Memories of Evelyn's pain and betrayal flooded my thoughts. I had witnessed her devastation firsthand, had comforted her through the darkest moments. And now, Stella was rewarding Veronica's treachery with our family's acceptance?I couldn't stomach the thought. Veronica's actions had shown her true character – deceitful, manipulative, and cruel. She didn't deserve our family's love or protection.My gaze drifted to Evelyn, her face etched with anguish. My heart ached for her, for the wounds Veronica had inflicted.Alpha Damon's hand found mine, his gentle squeeze a silent question. I knew he shared my concerns, my
Evelyn's POV Veronica approached me with an air of nonchalance, her smile a thinly veiled attempt to conceal the triumph lurking beneath. I knew exactly what she was going to say, the words already etched in my mind like a cruel prophecy.“Evelyn, your parents just adopted me as their daughter,” she said, her voice loud enough for only me to hear. “I bet you're not too happy about that, huh?”The audacity of her statement took my breath away. Did she truly think I'd be oblivious to her manipulation?I gazed at her, my eyes burning with disdain. The false innocence plastered on her face made my stomach churn with disgust. How could she feign innocence after everything she'd done?“Stop with that innocent face,” I spat, my voice laced with venom. “It makes me sick.”Veronica's smile faltered for an instant, revealing a glimpse of the calculating person beneath. But she quickly regained her composure, her mask of innocence firmly back in place.“Evelyn, don't be like that,” she cooed, h
Evelyn's POV I stood in stunned silence, my eyes fixed on Veronica's writhing form, as the reality of her manipulation hit me like a tidal wave. Before anyone could process what had just transpired, a crowd swarmed around us, their faces a blur of curiosity and concern.Stella pushed her way to the front. “Sister, why did you push Veronica? She's pregnant with a baby!”“Could it be because you're jealous of her having a baby with Seth?” Stella's question dripped with malice, fueling the growing hysteria.A barrage of questions assaulted me, each one a razor-sharp dagger aimed at my heart.“Did you know Veronica was pregnant?”“Is that why you argued with her?”“Are you trying to hurt Seth's unborn child?”The voices blended. I tried to speak, to defend myself, but the words caught in my throat.I stood frozen, surrounded by a sea of accusatory faces. The crowd closed in, their whispers and pointed fingers forming a suffocating vortex around me.“Two-faced,” someone hissed.“Heartless
Evelyn's POV I stood resolute, my feet rooted to the spot, as the crowd's discontent erupted into a frenzy of criticism. The air was thick with venomous whispers, they pointed at me with disbelief.“Malicious,” someone spat, the word dripping with malice.“Unrepentant,” another voice chimed in, the accusation echoing through the hall.The crowd's hostility was obvious and the pain in my chest increased as the tension became palpable, a living, breathing entity that threatened to consume me. But I refused to yield.Alpha Damon's expression darkened, his eyes blazing with paternal authority. His face, once a picture of warmth and love, now seemed chiseled from granite.“Evelyn, as your father, I command you to apologize,” he thundered, his voice like a crack of lightning on a stormy night.The weight of his words pressed upon me, the gravity of his demand threatening to crush my resolve. But I remained unmoved, I knew the implications if I agreed. I had a feeling that this would still
Evelyn's POV I stood there, frozen in shock, as Dylan's unexpected arrival enveloped me in a sense of safety. His strong arms wrapped around me, holding me close, and I felt like a vulnerable child who had finally found solace.Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I whispered, “You finally came.”The words tumbled out, a heartfelt plea, as if I'd been waiting an eternity for his rescue. My body relaxed into his embrace, surrendering to the comfort he offered.His warmth seeped into my bones, chasing away the chill of Alpha Damon's rejection. But our intimate moment was short-lived.As Dylan's identity registered with the crowd, a collective gasp echoed through the hall. Whispers spread like wildfire, fueling the growing excitement.“He's here? At the birthday party? But that's the Alpha King!”The title hung in the air, commanding attention. Faces turned, eyes wide with awe, as the room's focus shifted to Dylan.“Could it be that he and Stella are close, and that's why he's her
Stella's POV There was a smile hidden behind my concerned expression. My plan had unfolded perfectly, like a meticulously crafted puzzle. Veronica and I had rehearsed our story, anticipating every possible question and reaction.As Alpha Dylan questioned Veronica, I watched with confidence, knowing our lies would go unchallenged. I had already bribed my friends and even those supporting Evelyn to testify against her. I knew this would help when push came to shove.I had covered every base, ensuring no evidence would betray our scheme. The restaurant management, persuaded by a substantial “donation,” had disabled the surveillance cameras during the incident. No footage existed to contradict our tale.My gaze swept the room, monitoring the crowd's reaction. Doubt and suspicion etched on their faces, they began to turn against Evelyn. Alpha Dylan's eyes narrowed, and his expression was intense. I had a feeling that he wouldn't easily let it go but if I continue with the lies, then he'd
Dylan's POV “And is that true?” I raised a brow then sighed tiredly. But my eyes bored into hers, searching for the truth. The room was thick with accusations, but I knew Evelyn's character. These baseless claims would only tarnish her reputation.Without concrete evidence, Stella's words were empty, malicious whispers.I turned to Stella and she held her breath. “Are you sure you saw my girlfriend push Veronica down the stairs?” I demanded.“If you're lying,” I warned, my tone dripping with menace, “I won't let you off.”Stella's trembling was almost imperceptible, but I saw it. Fear flickered in her eyes, and for a moment, I thought she might crack, but desperation drove her forward.“I swear I saw it with my own eyes,” she declared, her voice shaking. “If I'm lying, my family and I will live impoverished and disgraceful.”I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her boldness. She really had the guts to include her family into her mess. Whatever she thought she had, power, wisdom, proof a
Evelyn's POV As I bid farewell to Francis, he turned to me with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I'll be texting you once you're back home, Evelyn. Don't forget to reply, I know you're very busy."I laughed, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. "Thanks for helping me out, Francis. I owe you one."
Stella's POV I stood on the stage, my eyes fixed on the host, my mind reeling with shock and denial. "What...what are you talking about?" I stuttered, my voice trembling with rage.The host's expression was somber, his voice firm. "Stella, I'm afraid it's true. Your design has been found to be plagiarized. It's identical to one created six years ago by the world-renowned jewelry designer, Missy
Dylan's POV I stood in front of the hospital room, a bag of food in my hand, and a pang of regret in my heart. I had missed the chance to say goodbye to Evelyn, leaving her side to grab a bite to eat. When I returned, I found that she had already left, but not without leaving behind a small token of our encounter.On the bedside table, a rabbit-shaped hairpin lay waiting for me. I picked it up,
Dylan's POV I sat in my dimly lit room, my eyes glued to the computer screen as I watched Evelyn's design competition unfold online. The model wearing her stunning necklace, "Time", strutted confidently down the catwalk, and I couldn't help but notice something peculiar. The model's eyes seemed strikingly similar to those of my nephew, Lucy's son. I leaned in closer, my brow furrowed in concentration, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I didn't have any concrete evidence to confirm my suspicion, but the resemblance was uncanny.
Evelyn's pov I stood backstage, my heart racing with anticipation as the co-host announced the final two contestants of the jewelry design competition: Stella and me, Evelyn. The crowd erupted into applause as we made our way to the stage, where our models were waiting to showcase our designs.The competition had been grueling, with 100 designers from all over the world vying for the top spot.
Evelyn's POV I smiled as I answered the phone, hearing Francis's voice on the other end. "Hey, Evelyn. Just wanted to check in and make sure you got back to your hotel safely last night.""I'm okay, thanks for asking," I replied. "I reached my hotel without any issues."There was a moment of silence, and I wondered if Francis was busy. "Hey, are you busy?" I asked.But Francis quickly replied, "No, I'm free. I only have a show tonight, so I've got the day off."I thought for a moment, and then asked, "Want to grab lunch?"Francis agreed, and I sent him the location of a nearby restaurant. I quickly changed my clothes and headed out to meet him.As I arrived at the restaurant, I saw Francis already waiting for me outside. I felt a twinge of apology for keeping him waiting. "Sorry to keep you waiting," I said, smiling.But Francis just smiled back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I was already close by, and besides, I was only a minute early," he said.I laughed, feeling a sense of
Evelyn's POV They ran without looking back but I could still see in the darkness. A thug with yellow-dyed hair was with my purse. Another thug with dreadlocks was with the gun but I could tell that it wasn't a real gun, judging by how his hand trembled when pointed the gun at me. Without hesitation, I removed my high heels and began to chase after them. I swiftly kicked down the thug with yellow-dyed hair, my foot connecting with his stomach. He doubled over, gasping for breath.Next, I turned my attention to the dreadlocked thug, striking him with my shoe. He stumbled backward, momentarily stunned.Just as I was about to deliver another kick, a young man dressed in white lunged at the dreadlocked thug, pushing him down. I was caught off guard, and my kick went wide, causing me to twist my ankle. I winced in pain, momentarily off balance.The white-clad young man was no match for the thug, and he was quickly pinned down. But I wasn't about to let the thug get the upper hand. I quick
Evelyn's POV The door creaked open even though I tried my best to make it soundless as possible. As I stepped into the villa, the sense of familiarity came crashing down on me but I pushed back the feelings that brought a dull ache to my heart. steeling myself, I made my way upstairs and into my room. I turned on the light and the room came to life and I went to the closet. I slowly took off the clothes in it and put them into the luggages. Thankfully there weren't that many clothes in the closet so I was done within an hour."Where are you going?" The voice made me halt and the familiarity sent chills down my spine. I didn't have to turn around to know who it was behind me. What was he doing here and was he here all along?"I asked a question, Evelyn. Where are you going?" He asked again when he didn't get a response from me.Still acting ignorant, I continued throwing the clothes in my luggage until the last article of cloth and then I zipped the back, turning around to walk past
Evelyn's POV I fell into steps as she led me to a small but modest looking house. The outside had a plain colour to match that of the neighbours. The colour was meant to make the house blend although the structure of the house was like any normal buildings around the premises. "I'm sorry, If I had known that I'd be having visitors, I would have arranged the house to be more presentable. Or at least left the house in a more comfortable way," she joined trying to cut the tension in the air. I knew it was as awkward for her as it was for me. However, her plan worked and I couldn't help but chuckle, trying to look at the bright side of things even though we both knew the reason she hadn't been around.It was clearly because she was in prison for a crime she was wrongly accused of. Everything was self defence but she had been in prison for far too long just because Stella didn't want to help her. "Please, make yourself comfortable," her voice broke my reverie and I turned to look at her