CHAPTER 061

ANNA'S POV I turned around and walked back to where I stood, my slides crunching lightly against the gravel beneath my feet. Just as I thought — if he truly needed me, if he was really desperate, then he would do anything to beg me. Men like James always folded when their backs were pressed against the wall. And I was more than ready to take advantage of that. It was a good thing I brought my phone with me. Anything and everything he did now would become a weapon in my hands later. Every word, every movement, every ounce of humiliation he subjected himself to would be a huge downfall for him in the near future, right when I finally decided to attack. He thought this moment was about apology and forgiveness, but for me, it was about leverage. “Last chance,” I said, my voice cold and controlled as I folded my arms. “Are you serious about begging, or are you just here to make mouth?” He swallowed hard, the sound almost audible even through the thick iron bars separating us. He let o

Last Updated : 2026-01-05

CHAPTER 062

JAMES’ POV“Why are you celebrating?”Her voice cut me out of the little celebration I was having in my head. It came sharp and sudden, making me pause mid-thought. I cleared my throat quickly and forced my expression back into something calm, something composed, like I hadn’t just been riding a wave of excitement.“I know some people might see probation as a bad thing,” I said, taking a step closer to her, careful not to push my luck, “but personally, I think anything is better than a no. Including probation.”It was true. More than true. When Mom forced me to come here today, I had been against it. I’d argued that it was better to approach Anna at public events — galas, ceremonies, business launches, places where she couldn’t easily dismiss me. I never imagined I’d end up standing at the gates of her family estate, watching her record me while I knelt on the ground.And yet… here I was.Not thrown out.Not rejected outright.On probation.That alone felt like a victory.I never imag

Last Updated : 2026-01-05

CHAPTER 063

ISABEL'S POV “Ms.Isabel, a very good day to you.” A man’s voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts as he walked up to the table where I sat at the café, my fingers lazily flipping through my phone while I waited for my guest. I paused and slowly lifted my head, my brows knitting together in confusion. Ms. Isabel I looked around over my shoulders first, instinctively checking to see if he had mistaken me for someone else sitting nearby. The café wasn’t crowded, but there were still a few tables occupied, and for a brief second, I honestly thought he had to be addressing someone behind me. But no. When I turned back, his gaze was still fixed on me. “Do I know you?” I asked, my eyes scanning him from head to toe without any attempt to hide my scrutiny. He looked ordinary. The kind of man I would never notice twice on the street, not to talk of knowing personally. “No you don’t,” he replied calmly, unfazed by my stare, “but I certainly know you, and I’m glad that you decided.” D

Last Updated : 2026-01-06

CHAPTER 064

ISABEL'S POV Whatever happens now, it’s basically because she was too stubborn to hear a single warning of mine. I gave her enough chances, enough silent signals to back off, but she chose to ignore all of them. She was too engulfed in the attention she was receiving from both my parents, soaking it all in like she had earned it, like she deserved every single ounce of love they were pouring on her. With the several plans I was about to put into action, Anna would regret ever stepping foot into this family. They think she’s perfect just because she’s their biological daughter, and I’m not. As if blood alone suddenly erases years of upbringing, loyalty, and presence. As if being born into something automatically makes you worthy of it. But I’m going to show them that no one is perfect. I’m going to peel back that innocent image they’ve wrapped her in and expose how evil and conniving their so-called biological daughter really is. Now obviously, I can’t just sit back and wait for An

Last Updated : 2026-01-06

CHAPTER 065

ISABEL'S POV And that was just one of the many plans I had installed for her. A small one, really. More like a test run before I finally set my real plan into motion. Anna had no idea what was coming for her, no idea how carefully I was moving my pieces across the board. People like her always believed things would keep working in their favor just because they were loved, just because they were wanted. But love was fragile. Trust even more so. The waiter finally brought my coffee and set it gently on the table in front of me after what felt like an unnecessary wait. “Took you long enough,” I said without looking up, my fingers already curling around the porcelain cup. “I’m sorry for the delay, ma’am,” he replied politely. “Would this be all?” “I’m waiting for someone, so no,” I said, taking a small sip of the coffee. It was warm, just how I liked it, bitter with no sugar. Perfect. He nodded and was about to walk away when the bell above the café door chimed softly. Right on t

Last Updated : 2026-01-07

CHAPTER 066

ANNA'S POV“Shameless girl.”The woman’s voice cut through the air, sharp and full of disgust. It was deep, commanding, and painfully familiar.I turned my head, my eyes darting around in panic as I tried to locate where the voice was coming from. Everywhere looked distorted, like I was trapped behind a thick glass wall. Shapes blended together, faces were unclear, and the air itself felt heavy.“How dare you embarrass my son in front of his colleagues?” the voice came again, louder this time. “Don’t you have any dignity?”My heart dropped.I knew that voice.I knew it far too well.I tried to step back, to say something, anything, but my body refused to respond. My limbs felt weighed down, as if I was sinking into the ground. I struggled, but the more I tried to move, the heavier I became.Then I heard it.A child crying.The sound was faint at first, almost like an echo, but within seconds it grew louder, more desperate. The cry pierced straight through my chest, filling me with a s