LOGINMarried for three years and still a virgin, Anastasia’s life shattered the night her husband drugged her and she ended up losing her virginity to a mysterious man. Disowned, betrayed and divorced, Anastasia lost everything and was thrown on the street. What was worse? She was framed for a crime she didn’t commit. Seven years later, she returned with a new identity, a slightly different face and a plan to ruin those who had made her life miserable in the past. One by one, those who betrayed her will pay. Especially the man who was once her husband. Her weapon? A powerful billionaire with ice in his veins and secrets of his own.
View MoreAnastasia’s POV
I stand at the back of the conference room, my heart bubbling with excitement as I watch other employees gather in the room. Today is the day every one of us has been anticipating, but for me, it is special. The soft hum of whispers fills the room, rumours swirling about the incoming announcement. Felicity, my colleague and best friend walks towards me. “Are you anxious?” She asks, her eyes beaming with joy. I shake my head, my lips curling into a small smile. “I’m not.” My tone is barely above a whisper. She tugs at my hand, her tone reassuring. “Don’t be surprised to hear your name being announced as the new Chief Technology Officer. It has to be you, Ana, you’ve worked so hard for it.” “Thanks, Felicity. I appreciate your support.” I say calmly, knowing that the position is mine. Apart from the fact that I’d worked hard for the position, Liam, my husband and the CEO of the company had assured me that the position was mine. I am more than ready to take on the responsibilities of the Chief Technology Officer, hoping that Liam will begin to see our marriage in a new direction after getting the position. “Who knows if this will change everything in my marriage for good,” I say inwardly, shrugging my shoulders. “Alright, everyone.” A voice crackles over the intercom, followed by the clicking sound of heels against the floor. The CEO and my husband, Liam Thompson, step to the front of the room with a tight smile, his suit perfectly hugging his frame, but his eyes betraying a hint of uncertainty. And behind him? Marian, his first love, the third person in our marriage, follows with a proud smile crossing over her features. A cold shudder crawls down my spine. What’s she doing here? My gaze flickers towards Liam, my mind a whirlwind of questions. Our eyes connect and the way he snaps his gaze away from mine makes my heart skip a beat. My brows knit together as Liam clears his throat, his tone firm and confident. “Thank you all for being here. As you all know, we are all gathered here to meet the new Chief Technology Officer who is going to lead the next chapter of Thompson Technology's evolution. I’m pleased to announce that…” He pauses dramatically, his eyes scanning the room until they lock on mine. A flicker of something I can’t decipher passes over his features before the name slips from his lips. “Marian Wilson.” I freeze, the name sending a chill down my spine. My breath catches in my throat and my heart pounds so hard against my chest that I think it might burst. The conference room falls into stunned silence. My expression is a mixture of confusion and disbelief. I feel as if the air has been sucked out of the room. “What?!” Felicity whispers beside me, her face contorted with rage. Marian Wilson! The one person who had my husband wrapped around her fingers. The one who had made my marriage to Liam miserable for three long years. My heart sinks. How can Liam do this to me? How can he bring Marian into my world like this? For a split second, Marian’s sharp eyes meet mine. There is no sense of nervousness or shame in those ocean-blue eyes. She is calm— too calm, as though she is always meant to be in charge. “We are excited to have Marian on board,” Liam continues, snapping me out of my thoughts. “She has a great vision for the future of our company. I would like you all to cooperate with her, please.” My pulse quickens and I feel a sharp pain in my chest. My legs feel weak beneath me and my heart bleeds like an open wound under the weight of this betrayal. It wasn't enough that Marian had taken my place in my husband’s heart. Now my position is being given to her, just like that? The room erupts into applause, but all I feel in my heart is numbness. My fingers curl into tight fists as I fight back my tears. Felicity squeezes my hands gently, prying my fingers open. “Don’t let others notice it, Anastasia. You are stronger than this.” She whispers, offering her support. I force a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes as I watch Liam and Marian walk out of the conference room— side by side after the announcement. As we all return to our positions and offices, whispers float around me, each one piercing into my heart like a thorn. “Did you hear that our new Chief Technology Officer is the CEO’s wife?” The words hit me like a slap. No one knew about my marriage to Liam, except Felicity. He insisted that we keep the marriage a secret after we got married. I hadn't minded at first, but over time, I realized he wasn't protecting us. He was ashamed of being called my husband. “No wonder the CEO appointed her instead of Anastasia. I feel so bad for Anastasia, we all know she deserved to get the position, given how intelligent she is and her hard work towards the growth of the company.” I storm into my office, anger bubbling in my chest, not knowing what to do amidst this chaos. No matter how much I try to focus on work, my thoughts keep drifting back to Liam, Marian and the gut-wrenching betrayal I feel. Marian's appointment as the CTO means change not just for the company, but for my marriage. I can’t just sit and watch my hard work and dedication of three years towards the company being taken away from me by a woman who did nothing all through the years. I storm out of my office, my feet approaching Liam’s office. I need an explanation as to why he didn’t fulfil the promise he made to me. He had said that once I got the position, things would change between us; he’d no longer keep our marriage a secret, and I believed him despite knowing that he was still in love with Marian. That’s why I worked so hard to build his company with my intelligence. I wanted him to love me, to prove my parents wrong, that I could make this marriage work out. Just as I get close to his door, I hear moans fill the air and my blood runs cold. My breath catches in my throat. A shiver runs down my spine, and the emotions I have bottled up threaten to spill. A part of me wants to run, not wanting to face the cruel fact of what might be happening in my husband’s office, but my legs don't move. I feel like my legs are rooted to the spot. I crack the door open just enough for me to see and my heart shatters into a million pieces at the scene before me. Liam is thrusting so hard into Marian, while she moans and screams his name like it's the only word she's ever known. Tears stream down my cheeks, and my hands tremble, not from fear but from rage— pure, blinding rage. Despite being married to Liam for three years, I’m still a virgin because he has never touched me. But here he is, giving everything to her.Marian's POVI watch Anna Brooks walk away, her hand protectively on the little girl's shoulder— Felicity's daughter, not hers— and feel the knot in my chest slowly begin to unwind.Breathe, Marian. Just breathe.The mall's air conditioning is too cold suddenly, making goosebumps rise on my arms despite my long sleeves. Or maybe it's not the temperature at all. Maybe it's the adrenaline finally draining from my system, leaving me shaky and weak.I cast a glance at Liam. A reminder of the future I'm building. The life I've earned. The man that's finally, finally mine after years of being second choice, second best, always waiting in the shadows while Anastasia Campbell held everything I wanted.But Anastasia is dead. Has been dead for seven years. So why does Anna Brooks make my skin crawl with recognition?"That was interesting," Liam says beside me, his voice low and thoughtful.I turn to look at my husband. He's staring after Anna and her group, his expression troubled. His crystal
Anastasia's POV Now they're really fishing. Trying to piece together Anna Brooks' history, looking for any connection to Anastasia Campbell."I've lived in several places— Seattle, Portland, briefly in San Francisco. I move where the work takes me." I keep my answers vague but confident. "Though I have to say, Los Angeles has been the best fit so far. For both of us." I glance down at Mia with genuine affection."Portland," Marian repeats, and something flickers in her eyes. "When were you in Portland?"Before I can answer, Felicity speaks up, her voice warm and natural. "Oh, we should really get going, Anna. We still need to pick up Mia's prescription before the pharmacy closes."Perfect timing. Bless Felicity for the save."You're right." I nod gratefully, then turn back to Liam and Marian with a polite smile. "It was nice seeing you both. I'm sure we'll see each other some other time."I start to guide Mia away, Felicity falling into step beside us. But Marian's voice stops us."W
Anastasia's POVTime slows to a crawl. Everything around me— the noise of the mall, the movement of shoppers, Felicity's hand on my arm— fades into background static. All I can focus on is Liam's eyes locked on mine.His expression shifts through a series of emotions I can read too easily after three years of marriage. Confusion first, then that sharp, calculating look that used to precede his cruelest moments. He's not surprised to see me— Anna Brooks, Alexander's fiancée. He's surprised to see me here, in this context, caught off guard without Alexander as a buffer.But I don't let any of my internal panic show on my face. Instead, I straighten my shoulders and meet his gaze with the cool confidence of Anna Brooks— a woman who has nothing to hide, nothing to fear."Well, well," Liam says, his voice carrying that familiar blend of charm and menace. "Anna Brooks. What a coincidence."Beside him, Marian's sharp green eyes sweep over me with that false warmth she's perfected over the ye
Anastasia's POV Mia emerges from the dressing room in her new jacket, cutting off our conversation. She spins around, the jacket flaring out. "What do you think?""I think you look perfect," I tell her, forcing brightness into my voice.After we pay for our purchases, we head to the food court for lunch. Mia gets pizza, Felicity gets a salad, and I get pasta that I mostly just push around on my plate."Mom, you're not eating," Mia observes."I'm just not very hungry, sweetheart.""Are you sick?""No, I'm fine. Just distracted."She seems to accept this and returns to her pizza. But Felicity gives me a knowing look that says we'll be talking about this later.After lunch, we wander through more stores. I'm in the middle of browsing a rack of scarves when I feel it— that prickling sensation of being watched. I turn slowly, scanning the crowd.And then I see them.Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. My parents. The people who raised me for twenty-three years and then threw me away like garbage.They
Liam's POV I can't stop staring at the photo. It's from yesterday's lunch— a shot the restaurant's security camera caught as we were leaving. Alexander and Anna walking out together, his hand on her back, her head tilted slightly toward him in conversation.But it's her face that holds my attentio
Anastasia's POV Felicity studies my face, and I wonder what she sees there. The woman I used to be, or the one I've become?"Okay," she finally says. "Then let's talk about strategy. You said you want to approach Alexander Grayson?""Yes," I confirm, moving to sit on the white couch. "You said he
Anastasia's POV Pain rips through me in the early hours of the morning, sharp and unrelenting. I grip the edge of my bunk, biting down on my lip to keep from screaming. This isn't like the false alarms I've had before. This is real."Jade," I gasp, my voice strained. "It's time."She's awake insta
Anastasia's POV Mr. Robert visits less frequently than I'd like, but when he does come, he's always honest with me— brutally so."The trial has been pushed back again," he tells me in my sixth month. "The prosecution is still building their case, and the judge granted them an extension.""How long
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