I am Michelle Harper, the CEO everyone fears—cold, ruthless, unyielding. But behind my iron facade lies a lifetime of heartbreak, loss, and the desperate struggle to survive in a world that never played fair. This is the story of how I became the woman everyone loves to hate, and the price I paid for power.
I was suffocating under the weight of my parents’ expectations, struggling to find my own identity while they dictated every aspect of my life. My mother’s harsh words echoed in my mind as I sought solace in the freedom outside their perfectly manicured world. It was a journey of self-discovery, rebellion, and ultimately, understanding what truly mattered in my life.
Everything seemed to be going well. Jake was an only child. His father had left the family long ago, but his stepfather loved him as his own. Jake’s stepfather and mother had no other children, so they devoted all their love, care, and attention to little Jake. Unfortunately, this love did not extend to Jake’s significant other. When Jake first brought Emily home to introduce her to his parents, his mother
