Briana POVThe Night of the Party.“You look stunning as always, Briana.” Martina, my assistant, commented. She was the only person from my work group that I invited to come along with me to Redwood City.She came by the house to help me prepare for the party tonight.I smiled my thanks.When she left, I studied my face in the mirror. I checked whether my make-up was all right or that no strand of hair escaped my braid. I made sure that I would wow everyone when they saw me tonight.I am sure that most of the attendees to the party Matt Bryant is hosting will be the same people I knew while married to Noah.I presume some of them even witnessed my humiliation when I was thrown out of Hunter Enterprises five years ago.I had to make sure I looked my best. I don’t want people to see any trace of the old Briana."I am no longer Briana Johnson Hunter. I am Briana Ford. I am a force to reckon with." I repeated this mantra over and over in my head while I took deep breaths to calm my n

Briana POVI was shivering in restrained anger.If Marcus was not quick to defend me, I don't know what I would have done to Matt Bryant.That man deserves a slap for implying I was a gold-digger. All my life Matt Bryant had looked down on me, constantly harping about Marsha and Danny's benevolence. He says without it, I would be nothing. Yes, I owe Marsha and Danny, but I repaid their generosity by working my ass off on their hotel. Their son Noah left for college. He rebelled and refused to take the reins of the business, but I stayed behind to learn the ropes.Every day after class, I worked as part of the cleaning staff. I took every job to pay for my college tuition. Marsha and Danny could have paid my college fees, but I owed them too much to ask for more. When I finished college, Danny thought it was time for me to assume other jobs. I started as a concierge and worked my way up to various positions. I even handled marketing for the company.When Noah returned, they tr

Briana POVI was stumped.I did not know how Noah and I ended up kissing each other fiercely. Hanna was staring at me, but I could not meet her gaze. I also kept silent because, frankly, right now, I was still shaken by what happened. It was so sudden. So unexpected. I wanted to blame it all on Noah.I hated him. I knew that. But why did I respond to his kiss?More importantly, why did it feel right? Gosh! The man has a fiancée. He loves someone else and has been in love with her for years. I wanted to bang my head on the mirror to knock some sense into me. I am not a relationship wrecker. Britney White does not deserve it.If Noah did not stop, would it end with just a kiss? I stared at my reddening face in the mirror when Hanna's gasp interrupted my musings. "Oh, my gee! You are still in love with him!"My heart started to pound double in my chest. Five years! "No. I don't." I denied hotly and fumbled to do something to avoid meeting Hanna's gaze from our reflection in the

Noah POV“So, what happened was just an unfortunate accident.” I mused to myself while at the same time, I felt regret filled me with shame.I let hate consume me for something that was not even there.And what’s worse?I shook my head for the years lost.“Not really,” Brent murmured on the other end.There was something in his voice that I picked up.“What do you mean?” I said dully.I couldn’t undo the years passed, but I could not stop myself from feeling an immense sense of loss.I did not only lose my parents. I also lost my wife.Brent cleared his throat. I could feel the hesitation in the prolonged silence.“Out with it, Brent. You know I can take it.” I hissed in impatience.“Someone tampered with your car. The police could not find any suspect except your wife because she purportedly has the motive.”“You said she was having an affair, and the police picked that up.”I sighed. “Before the accident, Uncle Matt showed me pictures of Briana in suggestive shots with the same m

Noah POVI felt like a stalker watching the black SUV cruise down the highway. At the next stoplight, it turned left and stopped outside a huge house. The house looked brand new. It is a two-story modern mansion that looks majestic from afar. The lamps outside cast a muted color of gold that looked breathtaking in the moonlight.The green backdrop of trees and mossy green grass emphasized simplicity, neatness, and understated opulence.Looking at this house was like looking at Briana herself. She used to be simple, but her beauty radiates from within.“Bye, Daddy M.” They cried in unison as they clambered out of the car, ducking their father’s tall figure.I looked at the sight with envy and a dull ache in my chest.“It’s Mr. Ford. I did not know he had children.” The driver’s voice pulled me out of my trance.“He’s in the limelight because of his work. He must have done it to protect his family.” It was Chris explaining.I sighed.“Let’s go,” I told the driver, and we left the are