Chapter 103The days following the dinner at the Garcia mansion passed like a cold, relentless fog for Vanessa—draining her slowly, quietly, milking her of her once-happy memories.Something inside her had shifted. Like a virus in her mind, doubt began to spread—infecting her thoughts, reshaping her emotions. The girl who used to believe and trust now questioned everything. She couldn’t tell if there was ever a time when happiness had truly existed in her life. Every time it seemed like she was getting what she wished for, things got more twisted. And now, she didn’t feel like holding onto hope at all. She carefully prepared her mind for whatever the outcome of her relationship would be.But you could never be fully prepared.She hadn’t spoken much to him since that night—not the way she used to. His messages came, his calls, his gestures, his advances—but she barely responded. And if she did, her replies were clipped, cautious. She still sat beside him in the car, still answered his
Chapter 102Vanessa's POV:If I could’ve vanished into thin air when Andre said we were going to his family dinner, I would’ve. He didn’t ask. He told.“We’re going to my father’s house tonight,” he said that morning, as casually as someone asking for coffee. “Be ready by six. Wear something decent.”That was it. No explanation, no warning, no chance to back out.He had insisted—no, forced me—to come with him. Something about introducing me to the family. Something about them needing to know that his decision to be with me would never change. I should’ve said no when I had the chance.But I didn’t.Because a part of me wanted to be acknowledged. I wanted to assurance that he was serious about me.I dressed carefully. Not fancy, not cheap. A simple navy dress that hugged my shape and didn’t scream for attention. My fingers trembled a little while putting on makeup—not too much, just enough to not look tired. I kept reminding myself to breathe. In and out. In and out.The ride to Andre’
Chapter 101Vanessa's POV:I don’t know what was worse—the whispers or the silence.Everywhere I turned that morning, there were hushed voices, curious glances, and subtle smiles, as though they all knew something I didn’t. As if the whole building was in on a secret.By noon, I heard it. The rumor."Did you hear? Mr. Garcia is going to propose.""To who?""No one knows. But he’s been planning it. The ring is ready.""How did you know that?""I helped Stanley carry a bunch of stuff this morning, and I saw a velvet ring box. Oh my god, it was so dreamy. It had a diamond ring."My heart didn’t just skip a beat. It stumbled and crashed.Suddenly, I couldn’t focus. My hands trembled slightly as I tried to hold my coffee, the heat of the mug grounding me—barely. The thought of Andre proposing wasn’t what hurt the most. It was the terrifying idea that I might not be the one he was proposing to.I didn’t want to be that girl—the one who snoops, assumes, panics. But I had seen Alisha at his h
Chapter 100Andre's POV:°°° Flashback °°°Monday night started like any other night out with the guys.An old friend was throwing a small party at a high-end lounge downtown. I wasn’t planning to stay long—I had meetings with the new investors in the morning, and I’d probably feel drained if I attended this party. But sometimes, showing your face matters more than the fun itself. I figured I’d have one drink, chat a bit, then leave early.But fate had other plans.I didn’t even see her at first. Not until I was halfway through my first glass, and then—there she was.Alisha.Of all people. Of all nights.She stood across the room, leaning against the bar like she owned the place. The lighting hit her just right—of course it did. She looked confident, flirtatious, like trouble with red lipstick.I looked away instantly, pretending I hadn’t noticed her. But I could feel her sharp gaze, cutting through the crowd and slicing its way to me. I kept my cool, made conversation with some peopl
Chapter 99Vanessa's POV:I never expected that evening to turn the way it did. The day had gone by like a warm breeze—peaceful, quiet, just how I loved it when I was with Andre. We were supposed to spend the night watching an old romance movie curled up on the couch in the little safe space we'd created for ourselves. But fate had other plans.I was in the kitchen, barefoot, making dinner. The smell of melted butter and garlic filled the air, my fingers working deftly on the chopping board. Andre was upstairs in the bedroom, adjusting the lights. The soft golden glow already spilled down the hallway, making everything feel warm and cozy. I smiled to myself, soaking in the silence.That was when the doorbell rang.I frowned, brows knitted together in confusion as I wondered if he was expecting someone and didn’t tell me, considering the circumstances surrounding our relationship. I didn’t want anyone to see us together, atleast not for now.I hesitated. Something about the sound felt
Chapter 98Vanessa's POV:Some time in October...The last two months had been the sweetest paradox of my life—terrifying and beautiful all at once. I had my family finally finding stable ground, my mother making slow but steady progress at the hospital, and my brother—the same brother who once swore to "confront my boss for torturing me"—had accepted Andre with surprising ease. Well, after the obligatory big-brother speech about breaking my heart, of course.Claire's business was flourishing beyond our modest expectations. And my relationship with Andre? It existed in two parallel universes: the professional distance we maintained at work, and the intimate world we'd created when alone. He played his part so well that some of the employees were beginning to think our relationship was nothing but a misunderstanding. We were clean—except Stanley, of course, the stoic guy who you could barely guess what's in his mind.I learnt a lot more about him from spending the weekends at his home.
Chapter 97Andre's POV:I’ve never believed that silence can be louder than words—not when it came to dealing with my family. Not Louisa.I sat in my car outside the mansion for a while, engine still humming. The air was thick with tension. I clenched the steering wheel and stared at the gates, trying to calm the storm that brewed in my chest. Louisa had crossed a line. And I couldn’t ignore it any longer.I walked into the house, footsteps echoing in the marble-floored hallway. The chandeliers above did nothing to brighten my mood. Leila waved at me from the corner, but I didn’t respond. I didn’t have the energy to fake calmness today.Louisa was in the living room, perched on the edge of the cream sofa, swirling a glass of wine. Her eyes flicked to mine and narrowed, but she smiled. That smug, practiced smile that always made me wonder how we shared the same blood. Next to her was my stepmother, Elizabeth."Brother," Louisa purred. "You came back? Hit a wall you couldn’t charm your
Chapter 96Vanessa's POV:After we hugged and I cried into his shirt while he held me like I was his whole world, something finally settled in my chest—like I could breathe again after drowning for days."I want to show you something," I said softly, fingers trembling as I pulled my phone from my bag. I opened the folder I'd hidden from even myself—of what had been haunting me. What had started as blackmail had transformed into something more sinister: torture.Andre took the phone, his brows drawing together as he studied the screen, eyes scanning the threatening messages. "What's this?""Threats," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I think someone's following us, considering how they know our locations." He scrolled through the pictures. Yes, pictures. They had so many pictures of us, from places we'd been together."I know who'd do this." Andre muttered, his jaw tightening as recognition dawned in his eyes. He looked at me with a strange mixture of guilt and fury. "Louisa."I n
Chapter 95Andre's POVFor the next few days, I didn't call or text—just hoped to glimpse her at work, to know she was okay. She showed up, but she never looked okay.I struggled with hiding how much I cared, giving her nothing but cold shoulders and averted gazes. I made sure she never entered my office alone so I wouldn't give in to temptation. I didn't even look her way when we crossed paths.If I had, I would've folded like paper in the rain.Instead, I used Grace and Stanley as human shields between us.I took them on business meetings outside the company instead of her, passed messages to them while she was closed by."Grace, tell her the reports should be in by three. You'll be the one to submit it," I said the moment she stepped in with Grace. She didn't speak, just turned and left with her head bowed.Another time: "Grace, let Vanessa know the board meeting's moved to tomorrow. She should be early; I won't take excuses." My voice, a sharp warning. She left again."She's late