Novels by ilechukwuhenry08

~ELENA’S POV~The welcome party of Mom finally began to thin out as the night deepened. Laughter drifted away with departing guests, heels clicked less against marble floors, and the villa slowly reclaimed its familiar calm. The staff moved quietly, clearing glasses and folding away the last traces of celebration, leaving behind only the soft echo of what had been—a night of success, admiration, and pride.Max watched it all from the balcony doors, one hand tucked into his pocket and the other clutching his cane. His thoughts were far removed from the congratulations and applause.I stood near the grand staircase, thanking the last guest with a gracious smile, my posture elegant, but my shoulders subtly tired. The night had been big—bigger than I ever imagined—and it showed in the way I finally exhaled once the door closed behind the last guest.Max approached slowly. “Come with me,” he said quietly.I looked up, surprised. “Now?”He nodded, offering his hand. “There is somewhere I wa

~ELENA’S POV~I burst through the glass doors leading to the garden, my breath uneven, my heart pounding furiously against my chest. My phone clutched slightly in my hand. I didn't slow down as my heels crushed the stone path, I didn't even care that a strand of hair had escaped my neat style. My eyes were bright—too bright for ordinary excitement. This was something else. Something life-changing.The morning sun poured gently over the villa garden, catching on dew-kissed roses and the marble edges of the fountain. Birds flitted between hedges trimmed into elegant curves.At the far end of the garden, near the koi pond, Max sat at a wrought-iron table with his laptop open, a cup of coffee cooling forgotten at his side. He was reviewing documents, but his attention lifted instantly when he heard my footsteps approaching.“Elena?” He called, rising to his feet.I stopped a few steps away from him, my chest heaving, eyes shining like I might cry or laugh—or both.“Max,” I said, voice tre

~MAX’S POV~I woke up to a text from my father, demanding a meet-up at Longview Park—my childhood favorite park. After everything that happened in the boardroom, he hasn't been himself. Clearly, he needs someone to talk to. I'm surprised he chose me.The iron swings at the far end of the park creaked softly as they swayed in the late-afternoon breeze, though no child sat on them. Leaves rustled overhead, sunlight filtering through tall oak trees that had stood there long before I was born.I sat on a wooden bench worn smooth by time. My hands were clasped loosely in front of me, my gaze fixed on the familiar dirt path that curved past the old playground. This place had been my refuge growing up—my escape when the mansion felt too big, too cold, too empty.Footsteps approached behind me, but I didn't turn immediately. Because I knew who it was.Dad stopped a few feet away, uncertainty evident in his stance. The powerful chairman, the man who commanded boardrooms and corporations with e

~MAX’S POV~Clint swung open the double doors of the executive boardroom without warning. Conversations died mid-sentence. And every head turned.I stepped inside, moving with a measured calmness; the echoes of my cane tapping against the floor filled the room, and my expression was unreadable. The faint limp I still carried from years past did nothing to dull the authority radiating from me. My grandfather walked behind me majestically.For a moment, I think everyone was astounded at the sight of Grandpa.For the record, Grandpa rarely attended board meetings anymore, even as the highest shareholder in the company. I guess because he was retired, though.Ryder froze halfway through his presentation, the remote still in his hands.Yes, Ryder is back in the company, but I wasn't aware of his sudden return, and that's more reason for me to think that something is off about this gathering. Firstly, I wasn't informed about this meeting. Secondly, I didn't know what the meeting was all ab

~MAX’S POV~His eyes widened. “No…” he whispered. “That's not—”The footage showed a dimly lit room. Four men dressed in black suits and dark stood behind a terrified family—Luke’s wife, his two children, and his elderly mother. One of the men pressed a gun to his wife's temple.Luke's face drained of color. He was shocked. Obviously he wasn't expecting to find himself in such a situation over some issue that happened over three years ago. Of which Ryder promised him the case was closed and never to be opened again before he vanished.“They're waiting for my signal,” I said calmly. “If you lie to me, they pull the trigger.”Luke's voice cracked, filled with agitation. “Please! Don't hurt them!”“They are not mine to hurt,” I replied coldly. “They're yours to save.”I asked the men to untie him. The man on the left side quickly pulled a fancy dagger and cut the ropes off Luke's hands and legs. He flexed both hands and legs after being loose.“I didn't have a choice,” Luke cried. “I swe

~MAX’S POV~“Sir, I have a strong feeling that Luke Carson is the key to revealing the truth behind all of this scenario," Clint said while we discussed.“Yeah. I know," I said, rubbing my temples. “Do you have any new updates?”“Yes, sir,” Clint replied. “I figured Luke received a huge amount of money from an offshore account before he went missing. I traced it back to the Dickson Enterprise.”“How much?” I asked.“Six figures," Clint answered I narrowed my brows and stood abruptly and walked towards the study's window. “And this happened during Ryder's tenure,"“Yes, boss,” he said, then hesitated before he continued. “But, sir, that's not all.”I turned slightly toward Clint. “Okay, go on. I'm all ears.” I said.Clint cleared his throat and passed a document on the desk. “I found Luke’s family, but it seemed he wasn't staying with his family after he went into hiding. He has been coming to visit them from time to time.”“So, I hired a private investigator to trace him back to his