Mag-log inGloria walked around the crowd, as she looked around to find her daughter, but she couldn't find her.
“Annabel visited her grandma a lot. And as little as she is, she knows her way around the mansion very well. She couldn't have gotten lost, and besides, the security guards were with her. Gloria thought. She kept searching for her daughter, room after room, until she felt her phone vibrating from inside the purse. She quickly brought it out and checked the caller. "What does he want now?" Gloria mumbled as she answered the call. "What do you want now?" Gloria asked impatiently. "I'm still searching for Annabel, don't bother me." "Searching for our daughter?" Victor asked in a mocking tone. "Well, she is with me. We are already at home. Come over to our house." "You bastard! Why did you leave here with Annabel without telling me? Fine, don't go anywhere, wait for me, I'm coming to take my daughter." Gloria ended the call before he could say another word. "Bastard, now I have to meet him in that house again. Only God knows what he's planning to do to me now," Gloria cursed under her breath. She rushed out and flagged down a taxi. "Oh God, please keep my daughter safe." Gloria told the taxi driver to wait for her outside Victor's mansion. She braced herself and walked inside the house. Gloria took a deep breath as she grabbed the door handle and opened it. The house was still the way she left it yesterday, except for a blue-black dress and undies that were carelessly tossed on the ground. She remembered the black dress; it was the same dress Victor's secretary had worn to the banquet. "Did Victor actually bring his mistress to the house with Annabel present?" Gloria muttered. Victor was lying on the bed, his trousers on his knees as his secretary bounced up and down his cock. Gloria's chest tightened as pain shot through her chest. Tears were threatening to fall from her eyes. She quickly turned around and wiped her tears with the back of her hand before knocking on the door to get their attention. Victor looked at her and flashed her a smile. She knew he wanted her to see him having sex with his secretary; that's his way of trying to break her spirit. He thought she would break down and start crying the way she normally does. So he ignored her and held the waist of his secretary, telling her to go faster. Gloria knocked on the door again. This time, the secretary turned back to look at her with a smirk on her face. "Are you blind? Can't you see we are busy? Go away from here and stop interrupting us," the secretary said smugly. "Alright, baby, let me talk to her, then we can continue from where we stopped." "Fine, but make it quick." His secretary said as she climbed down from Victor's body. She glared at Gloria before walking out of the room. "Why are you standing still like that? Come in and talk with me. I won't bite," Victor said, lighting up a cigarette. "Can you put on your trousers, please?" Gloria said, still refusing to enter the room. "Oh, come on, Gloria Anderson, it's not like you haven't seen me naked before. Alright, fine, I'm clothed now. You can come inside and stop standing outside the door like that." Gloria walked inside the room. "Where's Annabel?" She asked, going straight to the point. She wanted to leave the room as soon as possible and wasn't interested in making small talk with Victor. "Annabel is in her room. She's waiting for you, but I need to talk to you right now, or else I won't let you take her," Victor replied, knowing well that Annabel was Gloria's weakness. "Come here, come and sit beside me. Let's talk for a moment before you leave." Gloria advanced a few steps into the bedroom but dared not get close to Victor. She knew he could easily overpower her. "Come on, sweetheart. Close the door." "No, why should I close the door? I don't know what you're going to do if I close the door," Gloria said. Victor laughed as if he had just heard a funny joke. "Gloria, why would you think that? You know that I've fucked many women more beautiful than you. You're nothing compared to them, especially after you aged and got pregnant with Annabel. And besides, you saw how my secretary was just bouncing on my cock right now? What makes you think I will touch you with your saggy boobs and skin? Look at yourself in the mirror. You are fat and ugly." Gloria clenched her fist again. Victor had already said the same thing to her a lot of times in the past, but it still triggered her so much. Those kinds of words only made her question her self-worth. And right now, Victor just wants to hurt her with his words. "I don't have your time for your nonsense right now. I just want to get my daughter and leave this place," Gloria said. "But we are not done talking, Gloria. And why are you so keen on running away from our bedroom? Do you still remember how I used to fuck you on this bed every day before you became pregnant and lost your shape?" Victor said smugly. "Victor, if you're holding me here just to say bullshit like this, then save it. You have said the same words to me countless times in the past nine years, and I don't care anymore." "Oh, come on, I'm just reminiscing about the past. Have you forgotten who you were before you married me? You were the one who begged me to marry you. I saved you and your family from poverty. I paid off your mother's debt, and if not for me, your sister would have been married to an old man. And you know my mother never liked you. She wanted me to marry a girl from a rich family just like me, but I disobeyed her just to marry you. You should be grateful. In fact, you should be worshipping the ground I stepped on!" Victor said, raising his voice as he stood up from the bed and walked over to the corner where Gloria was standing. "I own you, Gloria! You belong to me!" Gloria quickly took a step back, ensuring that Victor couldn't reach her. "Step back, Victor, or I will scream, and your mistress will come here." "You want to scream? Alright, go ahead and scream as much as you want. This is my house. Let me see who's coming to save you." Victor said, laughing like a madman. "I'm being patient enough with you, Gloria! Tell me what you want, and I will get it, so you can stop all this little stunt you are pulling right now!" Victor said as the smile vanished from his face. Gloria knew he was losing his patience. "Victor, my decision is final," Gloria said, putting on a brave face, though she was scared for her life at the moment. "I don't want to be with you anymore, not after you have ruined my life and our marriage. I'm not going to cling onto you now. I am simply done with you! I just want to move on with my life and forget that I was ever married to you." Victor looked at the small woman he had just cornered. He didn't understand how a submissive woman like Gloria could become so erratic and stubborn. She used to be so accepting and tolerant of his cheating habit. She never complained. Victor sighed. Since she's bent on leaving, he might as well allow her to learn the hard way. Victor thought as he raised an eyebrow. "Fine, Gloria, since you want to leave so badly, then I won't stop you. But once you step out of this house, my secretary will replace you as my new wife. She will take your place as the new Mrs. Anderson." "Good luck to her. And congratulations to you two in advance," Gloria said, smiling. Her calm demeanor unsettled Victor. How is she still calm even when I threatened her with another woman? Victor thought. "Can I go now?" "Sure, go ahead. Make sure Annabel is well fed, understand? Otherwise, you can always go back to me for money," Victor said, looking down at Gloria. "This is the last warning, Gloria! Don't think there won't be any consequences after you turn away from me! And if you stay and apologize to me like an obedient wife, then I might just forgive you for these silly stunts." "To hell with you and your forgiveness, and I don't need your money. I can take care of my daughter on my own," Gloria said before walking out of the room. As she closed the door behind her, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally, free." Annabel was already sleeping. She packed her clothes and her toys into a large bag and lifted Annabel to her shoulder while dragging the bag with her free hand. "Finally, bitch. You know your place. Now Victor is mine. A fat, ugly bitch like you don't deserve him," Victor's secretary cursed at Gloria as she walked out of the mansion.Gloria knew there was no point in feeling sorry for herself. Lukas had only hired her to work as a maid. She should not let emotions get in the way. Instead, she needed to work hard, save money, and leave for another state with Annabel as soon as possible.Her heart felt very heavy right now. But Gloria pushed her feelings aside and finished her duties as a maid before heading downstairs. First, she checked on Annabel. After making sure her little girl was sleeping peacefully, Gloria went back to her own small bedroom. She sat in front of the vanity mirror for a long time, staring at her reflection.Gloria was already very thin. Her cheekbones and collarbones stuck out sharply. This was a big change from her body just one year ago. But she had achieved this thin figure through a tough and unhealthy diet. It had given her a serious eating disorder over time.Even so, Victor kept calling her a fat bitch. He said it no matter how fast she lost weight in an unhealthy way. Because of his w
You can go downstairs and take a bath by yourself, right?" Gloria asked with a gentle smile."Yes, Mommy! Annabel is... smart and independent!" Annabel declared proudly. Gloria chuckled softly in response. She knew her little girl had just learned the word "independent" at school about three days ago. Annabel loved using it because she thought it sounded really cool. She wanted to prove to her mommy that she was a big, cool, and independent girl who could do things on her own.Gloria was busy washing Annabel's large plate in the kitchen sink. Annabel had eaten a whole banana cream pie all by herself, and now the plate was empty and dirty. As Gloria scrubbed it carefully, she suddenly heard a click from Lukas's bedroom door. She turned around instinctively to see what was happening.Lukas stepped out of his bedroom. He carried a large empty plate that had held banana cream pie and an empty glass in his hands. He walked straight to the kitchen. When he got there, he saw his sister-in-la
This is what you get for daring to lower your guard. You pathetic bastard! The self-directed curse echoed viciously in Lukas's mind, a sharp whip cracking against his fragile peace. The banana cream pie, once a vessel of nostalgic bliss, now sat half-eaten on the carpet before him, its allure dimmed by the bitter aftertaste of rejection. He wasn't in the mood to bask in this forced family charade anymore though the primal urge to devour the rest of the pie alone gnawed at him insistently. He craved solitude, the sanctuary where he could rage unchecked or simply stew in silence.Part of him itched to summon the anger, to let it blaze and consume the hurt. But no allowing Gloria's fleeting look of disgust to unravel him this deeply? That would make him even more pathetic, a grown man undone by a spoonful of cream and a hurried exit. Get a grip, he snarled inwardly. With deliberate resolve, Lukas snatched up his large plate still mounded with creamy goodness—and the glass of water, risin
Lukas leaned back slightly on the plush carpet, his eyelids fluttering shut as the inaugural bite of Gloria's homemade banana cream pie danced across his palate. The texture was divine velvety whipped cream yielding to tender slices of fresh banana, all cradled in a golden, flaky crust that shattered with the perfect crunch. Each flavor layer unfolded like a symphony: the subtle tang of vanilla, the ripe tropical sweetness of bananas kissed by just the right amount of caramelization, and the rich, buttery undertones that lingered long after the swallow. For a fleeting moment, the high-powered CEO of Apex Innovations—a 25-year-old titan whose company shares had skyrocketed 300% in the last year, whose chiseled features and brooding charisma made him a tabloid heartthrob and red-carpet staple felt utterly transported.Yet, beneath the indulgence, a flicker of irritation simmered. Gloria still treated him like the scrawny kid who'd raid the fridge at midnight, not the man who commanded b
Vernon paused mid-argument, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward the soft voice that had just cut through the chaos. "Lukas, did Annabel do something wrong?" Gloria asked, her tone gentle but firm, stepping into the spacious penthouse kitchen with a warm smile that seemed to diffuse the tension like sunlight breaking through clouds.Lukas and Annabel froze in their heated exchange, both whipping their heads around to face Gloria simultaneously. The little girl, Annabel, with her wild curls bouncing and cheeks flushed from the excitement of the bickering, was the first to pipe up, her voice a dramatic wail laced with righteous indignation. "Mommy! Uncle Lukas wants to rob my banana cream pie! He said he would eat Mommy if I didn't give him my pie! He's being a big meanie!"Lukas's face turned a shade of red, not from embarrassment but from sheer exasperation. "What the rob?! That's ridiculous! I was just trying to claim my rightful pie!" he protested vehemently, crossing his arms ove
Lukas returned to his sleek, high-rise office in the heart of the city, his mood as black as a storm cloud. He was seething, pissed beyond measure because he'd been forced to overhaul his meticulously laid plans for toppling his older brother. What he'd envisioned as a swift, surgical strike a quick but devastating blow to Victor's empire had morphed into a protracted chess game, demanding strategy, restraint, and endless recalculations. Patience had never been Lukas's strong suit; he was a man of decisive action. If he craved something, he seized it with ruthless efficiency, leveraging every ounce of his power, wealth, and cunning. If vengeance called, he delivered nightmares tailored to shatter souls. Lukas was primed to unleash his fury on anyone who crossed his path—fortunately, Isaiah, his sharp-witted assistant, was nowhere in sight. Isaiah had been dispatched earlier to liaise with art vendors across the city, a direct consequence of Lukas's earlier rampage: he'd demolished ha
"Oh! Good morning, Mrs. Anderson. Are you here to talk about Annabel's problem with her classmates?" the old Mrs. Andrew said with a kind but tired smile. She had already expected Gloria to come discuss the bullying issue that Annabel was facing at school. "Please come in, Mrs. Anderson. I've been
Mmmhh... Ah!” Gloria jolted as Lukas latched onto the same spot on her neck, sucking hard like he was devouring a sweet, ripe mango. Her skin tingled, a mix of pain and pleasure making her gasp.He kept at it for a full thirty seconds, then pulled back with a satisfied click of his tongue. He admir
Gloria spent the entire afternoon keeping herself busy, moving from one task to another as if stopping even for a second would allow her thoughts to swallow her wholeShe stripped the bed, washed the sheets, cleaned every trace left behind in Lukas’s room, her movements steady but her mind anything
Gloria shot him a cold, furious glare. Her fingers trembled slightly at her sides.“You’re a bastard, Lukas,” she said through clenched teeth. “Just like your brother.”Without waiting for his response, she turned sharply and walked out of the CEO’s office. Her old heels struck the marble floor lou







