Hades POV


I went back to my office. It was the first time I was there since I left prison.

The building looked the same, but inside, things felt different.

The air was cold. The workers looked tired. The walls looked dull.


I walked into my office and sat down. I looked at the files on my desk. The numbers were bad. Very bad.

Sales were low. Clients had left. Money wasn't coming in like before.


I called the assistant director. He was the one I trusted when I left.

When he walked in, I looked at him. He looked scared already.

I asked, 'What have you done while I was gone? Why is the company like this?"

He couldn't answer. He stammered. He kept looking down.

I waited, but he had nothing good to say. Not even one good result.

I became angry. I stood up.

'You had one job," I said. 'And you failed."

I told him to leave. I fired him right there.

After he left, I called a meeting with my workers.

They all came into the boardroom. Some looked tired. Some looked worried.

I stood in front of them and said, 'We are going to build this company again. Stronger. Bigger. Better. This time, we will shake the world."

They clapped slowly, not sure what to expect.

One of the executives raised his hand and spoke.

'Sir," he said, 'we can't do this alone. We need big partners. Big contracts. We need help. Jane Grande's company is the strongest now."

I raised my hand to stop him.

'Don't worry," I said. 'We will build strong again. I have my own plans. My strategy is ready."

They nodded. Some looked hopeful.

The meeting ended. Everyone left.

I sat back in my chair. The room was quiet again.

I looked out the window. The sky was cloudy.

My mind went back to Jane.

She never replied to my letter.

She never called.

She didn't visit again.

I missed her. I missed her voice. Her strength. Her eyes.

And I thought of the baby.

Our child.

I wondered if it was a boy or a girl.

I wanted to know.

I wanted to hold the baby.

I wanted to be there.

My love for Jane was stronger now.

It was real. Pure. Deep.

But I knew she might never forgive me.

Still, I couldn't stop thinking about her.

And I promised myself…

One day, she would know how much I truly love her.


Emily's POV

I was tired of hiding.

I had been staying in a small room outside the city.

No friends. No job. No peace.

Every night, I cried. Every morning, I woke up feeling empty.

I could not take it anymore.

I told myself, 'This is not life. I will rather go to prison than live like this."

I was ready to face Jane.

If she wanted to lock me up, I would go.

I just wanted to see her, tell her I was sorry, and ask for forgiveness.

I took a bath and wore clean clothes.

I used the last money I had to travel to the city.

I went straight to Jane's house.

My stomach growled loudly as I walked down the street. I felt weak. My legs were tired, and my head felt heavy. I haven't eaten since yesterday. I didn't even have tea this morning.

I planned to go straight to Jane's house, but now I can't. I need food first. If I show up at her place like this shaky and tired she would notice something is wrong. I didn't want her to ask too many questions. So I decided to stop somewhere and eat.

I looked around, and just ahead, I saw a small restaurant by the roadside. It was not fancy, but the smell coming out was so good. Fried meat, rice, and pepper. My mouth fills with water. I walked inside quietly.

There were a few people eating and chatting. I walked to a table in the corner and sat down slowly. A young man in an apron walked to me.

'Good afternoon," he said.

'Good afternoon," I reply, trying to smile.

'What would you like to eat?" he asked.

I look up at the board on the wall. I didn'y want anything too expensive.

'Just a plate of jollof rice and one piece of chicken," I say.

'Alright," he nods. 'Water or drink?"

'Just water, please."

He walked away, and I placed my bag on my lap. I opened it and started checking the money I have. I counted it once. Then twice. My heart dropped. It was not enough. I was short by at least five hundred naira. I thought I had more. Maybe I used some last night and forgot.

I sat still for a moment, confused. I didn't want to get up and walk away. I was too hungry to leave without eating. The waiter returns with my plate of food and a bottle of water. The smell makes me even more desperate.

I stood up and walked to the counter. The man behind it looked up. He must be the owner.

'Good afternoon, sir," I said, trying to sound calm.

'Afternoon," he replied.

'Please, the money I have is not enough," I say gently. 'Can I eat now and bring the balance later? I promised I would come back to pay. I am just very hungry."

He raised one eyebrow and folded his arms. 'No credit here," he said firmly. 'If you don't have full payment, you can't eat. That's the rule."

I felt my chest tightened. I looked back at the food on the table. I couldn't leave it. My legs were shaking. People near the counter were now staring at me.

I didn't know what to do. I stepped back and stood near the table. I looked at the food again. I tried to think. Then my hand went to the chain on my neck. It was gold. Real gold. A gift from someone who used to love me.

I hesitated. But hunger won.

I removed the chain carefully and walked back to the counter. I held it out with both hands.

'Please, sir," I said 'This chain is gold. I can leave it with you. Let me eat. I will come back for it and pay you fully."

He looked at me, then at the chain. He didn't say anything for a while. Then he reached out and took it from my hand. He examined it under the light.

'Okay," he finally said. 'Eat your food. But don't forget your promise."

'Thank you, sir," I say, almost crying.

I rushed back to my seat and picked up the spoon. I ate fast, but my hands were shaking. The food was hot and spicy, but I didn't care. It tasted like heaven. Each bite gave me a little more strength. I finished everything and drank the water. My belly was full now, and I felt a bit stronger.

Before I left, I walked back to the counter and said again, 'I will come back, I promised."

The man only nodded, then turned to another customer.

I walked out of the restaurant and continued my journey to Jane's house. I didn't know how I would pay back yet, but I knew I had to. That chain meant something to me. But for now, my stomach was no longer empty, and I could face Jane without fainting.


My hands were shaking when I knocked at the gate.

The security man looked at me, asked who I was.

I said, 'Please… I need to see Jane. It's very important."

He looked at me for a while, then opened the gate.

I walked in slowly.

When Jane opened the door and saw me, her face changed.

Her eyes turned cold.

'What are you doing in my house?" she shouted.

Before I could speak, she got angry.

She turned to the security man and screamed, 'You opened my gate for this woman? For my enemy?"

The man looked scared.

Jane shouted, 'You are fired! Get out of my house now!"

I quickly stepped forward.

'Please, Jane," I said. 'It's not his fault. Please don't blame him. Blame me. I forced him. I came here on my own. Lock me up if you want. Just don't blame him."

But Jane didn't listen.

She called two other security men and told them, 'Throw her out!"

I begged again.

'Please, Jane. Please. I just want to talk. Just give me five minutes."

She didn't say another word.

The guards pulled me outside and closed the gate.

I sat down on the ground.

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

But I didn't leave.

I said to myself, 'I will stay here. I will sleep here. I won't go until she forgives me or until justice takes me."

I didn't care if it rained or if the sun burned me.

I was not going to run again.

This time, I was ready to suffer.