Semua Bab Game Of Chess With My Ex-Husband's Uncle : Bab 21 - Bab 30

~ Vivienne's POVThe next day, at work. I couldn't focus. My mind kept drifting back to the restaurant, to Lorenzo's words echoing in my head like a broken record."It was because of you."He'd waited five years. For me. He'd put his entire revenge plan on hold because he wanted me to be part of it."Vivienne? Are you listening?"I snapped back to reality to find Vincent staring at me with concern. We were in the lab, supposedly reviewing test results, but I had no idea what he'd just said."Sorry, Vincent. What were you saying?"He smiled patiently. "I was asking about the compound ratios for the next trial. Are you feeling alright? You seem distracted today.""I'm fine. Just... thinking about some things.""Must be important things," he observed, that small hiccup punctuating his sentence. "You've been staring at the same page for ten minutes."'Has it really been that long?'Hannah looked up from her notes. "Maybe you should take a break, Dr. Duarte. You've been working really har

~ Lorenzo's POVI knew exactly what Vivienne was trying to do.She thought she was being clever, using her attraction to me—and mine to her—to manipulate me into helping with her revenge. She probably spent hours planning what to say, how to act, how to maintain control of the situation.It was adorable, really.What she didn't realize was that I didn't care. She could use me all she wanted. I was getting what I wanted too—time with her, closeness, the chance to break down those walls she'd built around herself."You're in a good mood," Eric observed the next morning as I walked into my office. "The date went well?""It wasn't a date.""Right. Just like the first dinner wasn't a date." He handed me a folder. "The information you requested on Marco's investments.""You're getting cheeky." I remarked, turning my attention to the folder. I flipped through it, satisfaction settling in my chest. Marco's portfolio was even worse than I'd thought. Several bad deals, some questionable partne

If anyone asked Marco to describe his current situation and mental state in detail, he would not be able to find the words. In other words, it was a mess. He sat at the large mahogany desk in his study, Belinda beside him in a bathrobe, glaring down at the butler who had barged in to deliver some absurd news. She had her eyes fixed on the butler like he was the person at fault.Marco's eyes were bloodshot, his ears ringing with static. His hands were folded into fists and his knuckles had turned white. Uncle Lorenzo. That was the name hovering in his mind like a bird of prey eyeing him for the hunt. Since his uncle had shown up at his engagement along with Vivienne, Marco had been feeling a storm of different emotions since then. He saw Vivienne, she was so beautiful and elegant that he wondered what in the world had made him divorce her. Five years away had only made her look more ripe and mature for Marco's eyes. He wanted her back. He wanted to make her his. But, the problem

The boardroom meeting was a gathering of the upper echelons of the Blackwell Group. It usually involved those who had positions in the company and those who were the major shareholders. There were some people who only attended the board meetings to make sure that their shares were in the right hands. Especially today when there was news about a new CEO being chosen to replace the chairman. The room was quite filled. Marco's parents were also at the meeting. Clara sat beside her husband, Liam. Her lavish dressing being a bit too sparkly for this sort of gathering, but she paid no mind to anyone's opinions. Her jewellery twinkled and clinked with every subtle movement she made. Meanwhile, her husband Liam, just occupied his seat with a nonchalant expression on his face, like he didn't want to be bothered enough to be at the table. Marco had briefly scanned the room, his mind relaxing quite a bit when he saw his mother at the table. He knew she would support him if things went wrong.

"But I'm not done yet..""Huh?!"In that moment, Marco wanted nothing more than to leap over the table and strangle Lorenzo's neck. Marco was now certain of one thing; Lorenzo was the one who had sabotaged him. He had already succeeded in removing him from his rightful position that he had always been made for. He had also disgraced him by insulting him in the front of the entire board.So what else was Lorenzo trying to do?"There's something else I want to show to the board..." Lorenzo spoke, his eyes dancing with malice and spite for his nephew. "Enough!" A voice yelled out. Marco looked at his mom, she was on her feet again, her jewellery shaking vigorously with clinking sounds as she bent over and struck her palm loud on the table. Her face was red hot from anger and shame.Lorenzo glanced at her with indifference. "That is enough, Lorenzo!" Clara spat, her eyes bloodshot from the second-hand embarrassment. Since the day that the chairman had agreed to make Marco the CEO, Mar