***SASHA’S POV*** I sat on the plush chair in my living room, staring at Ben with a mischievous grin. He paced back and forth, clearly anxious about what I had just told him. Finally, he stopped and faced me, his eyes wide with concern. "What do you mean you're going to jump from her office window?" he asked angrily. "You'd fall to your death!" he exclaimed. I laughed heartily, shaking my head. "Of course, I won't fall," I said, trying to ease his worries. "You have to come at the right time with them. You must get there at the perfect time." He looked at me, still unsure. "Sasha, this sounds dangerous. Why would you even think of doing something like this?" I leaned forward, my eyes sparkling with excitement. "Ben, it's not what you think. I'm not actually going to jump. It's part of the plan to get Adeline agitated. If we do this right, she'll be so flustered she won't know what to do, and then you bring in the reporters. They need to see her at her worst, and we'll catch ev
ADELINE’S POV***"Sasha, please get back inside," I pleaded, my voice trembling. "It's not safe."She didn’t seem to hear me. Instead, she leaned out further, her head and shoulders now outside the window."Sasha!" I cried out, panic rising in my chest. "Please, come back in! You're going to fall!"She laughed again, completely ignoring my pleas. "Relax, Adeline. I’m just having a little fun."My hands were shaking as I took a step towards her. "Sasha, please. This isn’t funny. You could get hurt."But she continued to lean out further, her whole upper body now outside the window. My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes."Sasha, stop it! Please!" I begged, my voice cracking."I’m scared for you. Please, come back inside."Still, she didn’t listen. She was almost completely outside the window now, and I felt a wave of terror wash over me.I rushed towards her, my hands reaching out to grab her and pull her back in. "Sasha, no!"Just as my fing
***XANDER’S POV*** I hadn't gone home since Adeline came to live with us. There was no time to argue or fight with my mom, so I stayed in my private home. Every day felt longer, and the minutes dragged by. My thoughts were always on Adeline. I hadn't seen her since she left my house, and like her usual self, she wasn't calling either. I wanted to know what she was doing about the whole situation since the news about her seemed to still be spreading even more. That morning, I sat in my office, staring at my computer screen. Papers were scattered across my desk, but I couldn't focus. My mind was filled with thoughts of Adeline. What was she doing? How was she handling everything? I couldn't stop thinking about her. "Mr. Devon, you have a meeting at ten," my assistant reminded me, standing at the doorway. "Cancel it," I said, not looking up. "But it's with Mr. Thompson," she insisted. "I don't care. Cancel everything for today," I replied, still absent-minded. The office was qui
***SASHA ‘S POV***I went to the police station and gave my statement. It took hours as I tried to recount everything and make it so dramatic. I felt relieved when it was finally over.The police were nice. They believed me. They said they would take care of everything and Adeline was already in custody. When I left, I felt a bit lighter and smiled brightly since her life would be ruined and she’d get out of my business forever.When I got home, Xander's mom, Mrs. Devon, rushed to me. She hugged me tight and led me slowly to sit on the couch."Sasha, what happened to you?" she asked, her voice full of concern.I sniffed, tears welling up in my eyes. "It was horrible," I began, my voice shaking. "Adeline... Adeline tried to kill me."Mrs. Devon's eyes widened in shock. She hugged me tighter. "Oh, Sasha, I'm so sorry. Tell me everything. I saw the news. I couldn’t even believe she’d go this far to hurt you."I took a deep breath. "It happened in my office. Adeline came in. She looked so
MATT’S POV***I woke up to the buzzing of my phone. Groggy, I reached over and squinted at the screen. It was Jess, my buddy from the TV station. She was always in the know about everything, good or bad."Matt, turn on the TV. You won't believe what's going on," she said urgently.I rubbed my eyes and stumbled out of bed, switching on the TV in the living room. The news anchor's voice filled the air, reporting something that made my heart sink."Adeline Thompson, socialite and entrepreneur, has been arrested under house arrest after allegedly attempting to kill Sasha Thompson, her sister."I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Adeline, arrested? Attempting to kill Sasha? It made no sense.My mind raced back to when Adeline had come to me, pleading for understanding after the sugar baby scandal broke out. She wanted me to stay calm, not be angry with her. I had refused, upset and confused because she won’t date me.Now, seeing her in this new scandal, I felt a pang of guilt.I grabbed
ADELINE’S POV***For three days, I had been under house arrest. No visitors, no calls. I didn't want anyone around me. I was tired and scared.My once beautiful mansion felt like a cage. The curtains were drawn, blocking out the sunlight. I felt trapped in my own home, the walls closing in on me. The silence was heavy, suffocating.The only person I allowed to see me was Clarissa. But even she was becoming too much."Adeline," Clarissa sobbed for what felt like the hundredth time. "I don't know how this happened. How did it come to this?"I sighed, pressing my fingers to my temples. Her crying was getting on my nerves. I loved Clarissa, but I couldn't take much more of this."Clarissa, please," I said, my voice sharp. "Stop crying. I can't think with you crying all the time."She looked at me with red, swollen eyes. "I'm sorry, Adeline. I just can't believe this is happening.""Neither can I," I replied, my voice softer now. "But we need to stay strong. Crying won't solve anything."S
ADELINE’S POVFIVE YEARS AGOI had just signed the divorce papers and It felt like my heart was being ripped out. I stood in the middle of my bedroom, staring at the open suitcase on my bed. Clothes were scattered everywhere, and I couldn't focus on packing.My hands trembled as I picked up a dress and folded it, placing it carefully in the suitcase.Xander and I were over. There was no going back. He had left a blank cheque for me, asking me to write any amount I wanted as compensation. I hadn't even touched it. The thought of taking his money made me sick.I was leaving for Europe. I had decided to book a one-way flight to London. I needed to get away, far away where they would never find me or hurt me again.I had nothing in America anymore. Not a family, and not a husband. I took a deep breath and continued packing. My fingers brushed over a picture frame on the nightstand. It was a photo of Xander and me, taken on our wedding day. I looked so happy and he looked aloof.I coul
AdelineI set the table for two, even though I knew better. The clock on the wall ticked steadily, its sound echoing in the silent kitchen. The aroma of roasted chicken filled the room, a blend of herbs and spices that I’d hoped would be enticing enough to lure Xander home for dinner. But I knew it wouldn’t work. It hadn’t in years. “Why do you bother, Adeline?” I muttered to myself, shaking my head. “He’s not going to walk through that door.” I took a seat at the table, staring at the empty chair across from me. I could almost see him there, his tall frame and stern expression, but it was just a trick of the mind, a ghost of what never really was. Xander had always been indifferent to me in our marriage. He barely acknowledged my presence, his attention constantly absorbed by work or his own thoughts. In the beginning, I had tried to reach out, to break through the wall he had built around himself, but over time, I realized my efforts were in vain. He didn't love me. He never had.