Chapter: 94. The Weight of it AllAlexa's POVI didn't stay long enough to hear his reply, after all, there was nothing he could say that would matter. My purpose was to unleash my rage, to make him feel a fraction of the pain he'd inflicted. And I had done just that.But the confrontation, instead of bringing me relief, had only left me feeling hollowed out, drained. The raw fury that had propelled me there now morphed into a bitter cocktail of exhaustion and a deep, gnawing disappointment.I stumbled out of the club, ignoring the curious glances of the staff. The cool night air hit me, a sharp slap of reality. The drive back to the hospital, to my mother's side, felt endless. Each streetlamp seemed to mock me with its indifferent glow.My hands clenched the steering wheel, knuckles white. My eyes burned, not just from unshed tears but from sheer weariness. The weight of everything was pressing down on me: the years of silent suffering, the calculated revenge, the devastating realization about my mother, and now, thi
Last Updated: 2025-06-18
Chapter: 93. Despair and DesperationAlexa's POVThe chilling sight of my mother's blank eyes, the utter lack of recognition, replayed in my mind like a cruel, broken film. She was gone. The vibrant, loving woman who had been my world, reduced to a fragile shell that didn't even know her own daughter.The grief, held at bay by vengeance and ambition, surged forward, overwhelming and relentless. It consumed me, clawing at my throat, burning behind my eyes. A choked sob escaped me, then another, and another, until they became ragged, uncontrollable gasps. The tears came then, hot and stinging, a torrent I couldn't stop. I sank to my knees on the cold marble floor, the elegant silence of the hospital shattered by my raw, deep cries. I buried my face in my hands, trembling, rocking back and forth as pure, unadulterated despair washed over me.I cried my eyes out. For my mother, for the life she had lost, for the memories that were now trapped somewhere she couldn't reach. For the little girl who just wanted her mom back.A s
Last Updated: 2025-06-18
Chapter: 92. Unwavering ResolveDon Antonio's POVThe news of Donald Bavarish's investment firm crumbling, hot on the heels of the logistics hub inferno, filled me with a cold, deep satisfaction. The public humiliation, the financial bleeding—it was all unfolding precisely as intended. The power brokers at The Sovereign's Club were still buzzing with the spectacle, their faces a mix of shock and grudging admiration for the swiftness of Donald's downfall.Yet, a question still lingered from my conversation with Xavier. The fire. Was it his meticulous planning, or simply a convenient twist of fate? He had given me his usual veiled answer, a master of plausible deniability.Later that day, I sat in my study, the city lights beginning to twinkle outside. I held a glass of my finest scotch, swirling the amber liquid, its warmth a stark contrast to the ice in my veins. The question of the fire's true origin, however, ceased to matter.I looked down at my hand, then clenched my fist. My own recent brush with death had only
Last Updated: 2025-06-17
Chapter: 91. Cruel MessageAlexa's POVElsie's chilling threat, claiming I had killed her mother, still gnawed at me. It was a vicious, confusing accusation that ripped through the fragile calm I'd found in my design work. But as the initial shock faded, a cold certainty settled in. Elsie was a pawn. Her anger, misguided as it was, stemmed from the rot that was my father's creation. And in a twisted way, her desperate message only confirmed one thing: his world was truly falling apart.He was bleeding, financially and publicly. The fear in Elsie's voice was proof that my father was hurting. This wasn't a time for doubt or sentimentality. This was the moment to press the attack.I pushed my design sketches aside, the colorful fabrics and flowing lines suddenly seeming trivial in the face of the escalating war. I found my father's contact in my phone, the name that had once represented safety, then betrayal, and now, pure hatred. I stared at it for a long moment, picturing his face, the smug arrogance that was no
Last Updated: 2025-06-17
Chapter: 90. Falling DominoesAlexa's POVThe brief, artificial calm of my shopping trip with Sarah had worn off by the time I returned to my godfather's mansion. The real world, with its heavy scent of vengeance and lingering grief, pressed in on me again. Don Antonio's words from the morning, dismissing my dream and demanding my unwavering resolve, still echoed in my ears. He was right, of course. Sentimentality had no place in this war.The next morning, I found myself drawn to the large, sleek television screen in the main lounge. It was usually tuned to international news, a constant stream of global events. But today, the local news was on, and the image that greeted me was stark and familiar.It was my father's face, grim and strained, plastered next to a headline: "Bavarish Investments Plummets After Market Panic."The screen flashed to a chaotic scene on the stock exchange floor, then to a graph showing a dizzying, vertical drop in stock value. Billions. Just gone. Like smoke.A few weeks ago, even a few
Last Updated: 2025-06-16
Chapter: 89. The Serpent's NestDon Antonio's POVThe air in the exclusive, mahogany-paneled meeting room of "The Sovereign's Club" was thick with the scent of aged whiskey and old money. This was where the city's true power brokers gathered, a place of quiet deals and unspoken threats. I sat at the head of the polished table, flanked by a few trusted allies, including my ever-present shadow, Xavier. My chest still ached slightly, a reminder of my recent brush with death, but my mind was sharper than ever. News of Donald Bavarish's crumbling empire had spread like wildfire, and I was here to watch the tremors ripple through the elite.The meeting had been mostly predictable: discussions of investments, political maneuvering, the usual veiled power plays. But I knew Donald would show his face eventually. He was too proud, too arrogant, to hide. He'd want to project an image of control, even as his world imploded.And then, the heavy oak doors swung open, and there he was. Donald Bavarish.His entrance was typically d
Last Updated: 2025-06-16
Chapter: 29. Icy WelcomeAvery's POVMy mind replayed the events in Switzerland over and over during the plane ride back home. Caspian's passionate kiss, Debby's shocked face, his terrifyingly calm confrontation with her. My heart still throbbed with a confusing mix of lingering desire and raw anxiety. He had assured me everything would be fine, but how could it be? Debby's hostile gaze was branded into my memory.I braced myself for the inevitable storm as our car pulled up to the familiar, imposing gates of the Woods' estate. The manicured lawns and grand architecture usually felt comforting, but today, they seemed to mock me, a gilded cage.The front door swung open just as I stepped out of the car. Standing there, framed by the opulent doorway, was Juliet. Her face was a mask, carefully composed, but her eyes… her eyes were like chips of ice. There was no welcoming smile, no polite inquiry about my trip. Just a cold, calculating stare that seemed to strip me bare."Avery," she said, her voice devoid of wa
Last Updated: 2025-06-19
Chapter: 28. Calculated RiskCaspian’s POVDebby's hasty retreat and the click of the restroom door didn't bring relief; they brought a new, sharper kind of tension. Avery was crumbling in front of me, her face pale, her hands trembling as she gripped the sink. Her panic was raw, unmasked."Oh my god," she whimpered, "She... she caught us. Red-handed."I watched her, a knot tightening in my chest. Her fear for what Hector would do, her distress over Debby's animosity, it was all laid bare. The thought of Hector using this against her, twisting her life even further, ignited a cold, hard fury within me. This wasn't just a kink in my plan; this was a direct assault on someone I was beginning to… care about. The thought was still unsettling, but undeniable.I moved closer, gently taking her hands from the sink, my fingers wrapping around her cold ones. Her worry was palpable, a wave of anxiety radiating from her. Her eyes, usually so vibrant, were wide and clouded with dread."Avery," I said, my voice low and steady
Last Updated: 2025-06-19
Chapter: 27. InterruptedAvery's POVCaspian's kiss was a whirlwind, pulling me under, erasing everything but the scorching heat and desperate longing. My hands were tangled in his hair, his arms tight around my waist, and the world outside the small restroom had ceased to exist. All the confusion, the pain, the betrayal – it all melted away in the intensity of that moment.Then, a sudden click.The restroom door swung open, shattering the fragile bubble we were in. Caspian and I froze, still locked in our embrace, but the world rushed back in with a deafening crash. My eyes flew open, wide with shock and mortification.Standing in the doorway, a startled expression on her face, was Debby. Hector’s second assistant. Her eyes, usually darting and nervous, were now wide, fixed on Caspian and me, her mouth slightly agape. Her perfectly coiffed blonde hair seemed to wilt in the sudden, awkward silence.My cheeks flushed crimson, a wave of hot shame washing over me. Debby of all people. The very thought of her run
Last Updated: 2025-06-17
Chapter: 26. Conflicted SparklesAvery’s POVI was going to fight for what was mine and get out of this toxic marriage. But even with that newfound determination, a heavy knot of dread lingered in my stomach. Tonight was the celebratory dinner with the investors, and I'd have to face Caspian again, knowing what I now knew about him, and about my own unsettling feelings.I pulled out the dress I'd packed for the dinner, a silk emerald green gown that I'd bought on a whim months ago and never had a chance to wear. As I held it up, the fabric shimmered, catching the light from the large window of my room. It was elegant, with a subtle drape that hugged my curves just right, and a tasteful slit up one side.I had thought about wearing something more understated, something to blend in. But then, a flash of my new resolve hit me. Why should I hide? Hector had tried to humiliate me, Juliet had threatened me, and the world was spinning with secrets. But tonight, I wouldn't be the cowering victim. I would be Avery.Stepping i
Last Updated: 2025-06-17
Chapter: 25. A Lonely NightCaspian’s POVThe investors were gone, the meeting was a success. We'd secured the funding and pushed the next phase of the acquisition through. Yet, the usual rush of triumph was dulled. My mind kept replaying Avery's face as she showed me that picture, Hector's despicable act. And then, her haunted eyes as I revealed Sophia's name.The team had dispersed to their "emergency rooms," leaving Avery and me in the vast suite. The silence, now that the business chatter was gone, felt heavier, more intimate. She was on the other side of the room, still looking pale, probably trying to process everything.I walked over to the mini-bar, poured myself a shot of something strong, and swallowed it quickly. It barely touched the frustration simmering inside me.I looked at the two large beds, perfectly made. The original plan had been for us to share this suite, just the two of us. A strategic opportunity, I'd told myself. A chance to observe her, to understand her connection to Hector, to perha
Last Updated: 2025-06-16
Chapter: 24. A Quiet ConfrontationAvery’s POVThe meeting with the investors finally wrapped up. They left, all polite smiles and firm handshakes, and I tried to mirror their composure, but inside, I was a coiled spring. The image of that silly engagement ring still burned in my mind, a fresh wound. I wonder who the stupid bitch was. And then there was Sophia, the mystery woman who held the key to Caspian's rage. My resolve to fight Hector had solidified, but the path ahead still felt daunting.I was gathering my notes, eager for a moment of quiet, when Caspian’s voice, low and firm, cut through the residual hum of the meeting. "Avery, I want to have a word with you."My breath hitched. Shock rippled through me. Had he noticed my distraction? Was he going to fire me right here, in Switzerland, after all the chaos? My head snapped up, and my eyes locked onto his.He was standing a few feet away, by the large window overlooking the snow-dusted town. The evening light, soft and diffused, caught the angles of his face, hi
Last Updated: 2025-06-16
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