Chapter 11: Diana Woods Diana paced restlessly in her opulent bedroom, her mind consumed by the aftermath of the party. Social media had erupted with criticism, painting her as the villain while glorifying Melissa as the courageous heroine who had come to the rescue of the poor waiter. Normally, Diana wouldn't care about such trivial matters, but the fact that Melissa had stood up to her in front of everyone wounded her pride deeply. She was determined to make Melissa pay for daring to challenge her. With that in mind, she had already enlisted the help of a private investigator to dig up personal information about her nemesis. Diana knew she had to be cautious, as she didn't want to unknowingly provoke someone of higher status than herself. Imagine her shock when she discovered that Melissa was a mere nobody. Just a 26-year-old girl from a middle-class background, who had grown up in Brooklyn and moved to New York after her release from prison last year. Diana couldn't hel

Melissa arrived at Sasha Art Studios unusually early, determined to dive into her graphic design work. As she approached her workspace and opened her laptop, she heard her name being called. Surprisingly, it was Queenie Parker, her self-proclaimed rival, wearing an unfamiliar smile that made Melissa uneasy. "Good morning, Melissa," Queenie greeted, beaming at her. Melissa couldn't help but feel suspicious. Queenie rarely engaged in friendly conversations, so this unexpected encounter seemed peculiar. Something was definitely amiss. "Good morning, Queenie. Do you need any help with something?" Melissa asked, her curiosity piqued. She wanted to understand the motive behind Queenie's sudden friendliness. "Oh no, I absolutely don't need any help. I just came to give you this," Queenie said, handing Melissa a letter. Melissa examined the envelope, a sense of unease settling within her. "What's this?" Melissa inquired, her eyes fixed on the letter. "Why don't you open it and find out,"

Melissa's gaze was irresistibly drawn to the imposing figure standing next to her car. The perfectly tailored black suit accentuated his muscular physique, and her eyes trailed down his straight, powerful legs, leading to a pair of exquisite Italian black leather shoes. A glimpse of a GMT Master Ice Rolex caught her attention as it adorned his wrist. "Damn," she thought, momentarily captivated by his striking appearance. His chiseled face and alluring lips, coupled with his impeccable fashion sense, could easily enchant any woman. However, Melissa was determined not to let his good looks distract her. She wondered what he was doing in such an unlikely place. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and walked purposefully toward her car. The distance between them seemed longer than it actually was, for his unwavering gaze made her feel unexpectedly nervous. Melissa's heart skipped a beat, causing her to stumble precariously. Just as she teetered on the verge of an embarrassing fal

Melissa gripped the steering wheel tightly, feeling torn between heading home and facing Nicky and Sam's barrage of questions, or seeking solace elsewhere. The weight of her thoughts pushed her towards the latter, prompting her to consider stopping at a bar for a drink. She yearned for a moment of respite, a chance to clear her mind. Three years of incarceration should have made her strong and resilient, impervious to pain. Yet, the truth was that she still felt fragile, vulnerable, and easily wounded by life's challenges. She had toiled tirelessly to rebuild everything, only to see it crumble because of one person. Memories of her past, when her life had been shattered by a single individual, flooded her mind, and tears welled up, blurring her vision. Melissa had to pull over, her tears demanding attention. After taking a deep breath, she resolved to visit a nearby bar and indulge in a couple of drinks. Drinking wasn't her usual remedy, but today felt like an exception—a moment to t

"I think I'm going to be sick," Melissa managed to utter, her hands clutching her mouth tightly in a desperate attempt to hold back the impending wave of nausea. Jeremy's face contorted with a mixture of dread and concern. "What? Can't you hold it?" he asked, fearing the worst. "No, I can't..." Melissa's words trailed off as she succumbed to a fit of vomiting, the contents spilling onto both the car's interior and Jeremy's pants. He let out an exasperated sigh, his frustration mingled with sympathy for Melissa's discomfort. "Oh God..." Jeremy muttered, his voice filled with resignation. "Sir, should I stop the car?" Lucas inquired, his eyes reflecting a mix of concern and disgust. "No, keep driving. Drive even faster," Jeremy commanded, urgency lacing his voice. Lucas accelerated the car, the engine roaring as they raced toward Jeremy's estate. As they arrived at Jeremy's grand estate, he swiftly exited the vehicle and extended a helping hand to Melissa, who struggled to maintai