Novel-novel oleh Vicky Kwin

Chapter 80: The Choice That Awaits.The next morning arrived with an unsettling calm. Clara woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside her window, the early light streaming through the curtains and painting the room in soft hues of gold. She turned over in bed, her mind clouded with the weight of everything that had been happening lately. The emotional rollercoaster with Alex, the growing distance between them, and the constant pull of Maddox’s words—it was all so much to handle.She lay there for a moment, eyes closed, allowing the silence to wash over her. But soon, the reality of the situation crept back in. The unease she’d felt for days hadn’t gone away. In fact, it had only deepened.Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. She reached over to grab it, her heart skipping when she saw the name on the screen. It was Alex.---The Message:"Clara, I need to see you. We need to talk. Can you meet me for lunch today? I want to fix things."---Clara stared at the message

Chapter 79: The Tension Beneath the Surface.The morning sun crept through the large windows of the penthouse, casting long beams of light across the plush furniture and sleek lines of the modern living room. Clara stood by the window, coffee cup in hand, her eyes tracing the skyline as her thoughts swirled. The city beneath her was buzzing, alive with the energy of a new day, but Clara felt an unease she couldn’t shake. Her mind kept returning to the conversation she had with Maddox the day before. His words lingered, like a shadow in the back of her mind, refusing to fade.She didn’t want to admit it, but his words had gotten under her skin.Was Alex really as committed as he seemed?Clara had always trusted him—had always believed in their bond—but after hearing Maddox speak so convincingly, she found herself questioning things she never thought to question before. Maybe it was the way Maddox had spoken to her, so calmly, so assuredly. He’d known just what to say to plant that seed

Chapter 78: The Unraveling GameThe city below stretched out in a tapestry of glittering lights, the night sky obscured by the towering buildings that seemed to touch the heavens. Inside the sleek, modern office, the cold glow from the windows cast long shadows on the polished floor. Maddox leaned back in his chair, the quiet hum of the air conditioning the only sound in the otherwise silent room. His eyes were fixed on the files spread out before him, each one representing another calculated move in a game that had been years in the making.Maddox had always prided himself on his ability to stay three steps ahead of his competitors. His rise in the business world had been relentless, driven by an insatiable hunger for power and control. But there was one thing—one person—that had always eluded him: Alex Banks. The man who had everything, the empire that seemed untouchable, and the woman who had stirred something in Maddox’s heart that he thought was long buried. Clara.He could almos

Chapter 77: New BeginningsThe morning after their tentative reconciliation was nothing like Clara had expected. She woke up to the sound of rain tapping against the windows, soft and steady, as though the world outside was breathing in sync with her own conflicted heart.She had expected the night to weigh heavily on her mind, but instead, there was a strange sense of calm. Alex’s words, his touch, his promise—everything lingered in the quiet of the room, a soft warmth that eased the tension that had built up between them over the past weeks.As she sat up in bed, her gaze wandered to the half-empty space beside her. Alex was gone, but it wasn’t the absence she feared. It was the quiet certainty that he was still there, in the sense that he hadn’t left her, and that, despite everything, she hadn’t left him either.She rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock. It was still early, too early for business, too early for anyone to be stirring in the office. But there was something about t

Chapter 76: Unraveling TensionsThe moonlit night had barely settled when Clara entered the penthouse, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. The sounds of the gala still echoed in her ears—the laughter, the clinking of glasses, the hum of conversations. But as she closed the door behind her, the buzz of the outside world seemed to vanish. Inside, everything was still. Everything was charged.Alex sat on the edge of the leather couch, his sharp silhouette outlined by the dim glow from the chandelier. His jacket was discarded, the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up to his elbows, exposing the tension in his posture. He looked like a man at war with himself. But Clara wasn’t sure if it was with her or with something deeper.Her gaze flickered toward the empty space beside him on the couch. “You’re here,” she said quietly, her voice more unsure than she intended.Alex didn’t answer right away. He was staring at his hands, his fingers moving as if he were mentally organiz

Chapter 75 — The Gala: Unmasking the ShadowsThe grand ballroom was a spectacle of shimmering lights and glimmering elegance, a stark contrast to the dark thoughts that plagued Clara's mind. The night of the gala had finally arrived, and despite Alex’s reassurances, she couldn’t shake the unease that clung to her. She had seen it in his eyes—his quiet determination that he was shielding her from something, but tonight, she was all too aware that the world around them was watching.She and Alex had arrived earlier in the evening, gliding through the crowd, their presence magnetic. Every eye turned when they entered—Clara in her silver gown that caught the light with every movement, Alex in his sharp black tuxedo, a man of power and control. Together, they were a force, a perfect picture of wealth and status.But despite the beauty surrounding her, Clara’s mind kept wandering back to the small, almost imperceptible gestures she had picked up over the past few days. Alex’s phone calls th