Novel-novel oleh Kaleki Grayse

The smell of coffee drifted through the estate's kitchen as Luna cracked eggs into a ceramic bowl. She'd been awake since five, unable to sleep after everything that had happened. The FBI charges against Grayson. Victoria's arrest. The strange energy device that seemed to hum whenever she touched it."You're up early." Helena's voice made her jump.Luna turned to find her half-sister standing in the doorway, dark circles under her eyes. Helena looked smaller somehow, wearing one of Eleanor's old sweaters that hung loose on her frame."Couldn't sleep," Luna admitted, whisking the eggs. "Want some breakfast?"Helena hesitated. "I can make my own.""I'm already cooking." Luna poured the eggs into the heated pan. "Scrambled okay?""Yeah." Helena sat at the kitchen island, her fingers wrapped around a mug of coffee. "Luna, I need to say something.""If it's another apology—""It's not." Helena's voice was firm. "I mean, it is, but it's more than that. I've been thinking all night about wha

The drive to Eleanor's mysterious property took them through winding back roads Luna had never seen before, despite living in New York her entire life. The city lights faded behind them until only darkness stretched ahead, broken occasionally by the glow of their headlights catching road signs she couldn't quite read. Grayson sat beside her in the backseat of Marcus's SUV, his hand finding hers in the darkness. Neither of them spoke, but she could feel the tension radiating from him. The FBI warrant was probably being processed right now. By morning, his face would be on every news channel in the country. Helena and Grace rode in the second vehicle with Eleanor, following close behind. Luna kept glancing back to make sure they were still there, as if the shadows might swallow them whole. "Turn here," Eleanor's voice crackled through the radio. "There's a gate about a mile up." Marcus slowed the SUV as they approached what looked like an abandoned entrance, overgrown with ivy and

The boardroom emptied slowly, whispers trailing behind departing members like smoke. Luna remained in her chair, staring at the polished table where Victoria's final threat still seemed to echo. The Meridian Foundation. Another shadow from Richard Vaughn's past, another web of corruption waiting to ensnare them."Luna." Grayson's voice was gentle. "We should go."She looked up to find him watching her with concern. Around them, Helena gathered the scattered documents while Grace leaned against the wall, pale but determined. Eleanor had disappeared as quickly as she'd arrived, leaving only the faint scent of her perfume and more questions than answers."The Meridian Foundation," Luna said. "Do you know what she meant?"Grayson's jaw tightened. "I've heard the name. My father mentioned it occasionally, but I never paid attention. I thought it was just another charity front for tax breaks.""Nothing was ever just anything with Richard," Helena said, sliding a folder across the table. "I

The boardroom at Vaughn Industries hummed with tension as members filed in for the emergency meeting. Luna sat beside Grayson at the polished mahogany table, her hands folded carefully in her lap to hide their trembling. Across the room, she spotted Victoria Kross entering with her legal team, dressed in an impeccable navy suit that screamed confidence. Victoria's eyes found Luna's and she smiled—a cold, triumphant expression that made Luna's skin crawl. Helena had played her part perfectly that morning, reporting that Luna was devastated by the leaked documents and questioning her loyalty to Grayson. Victoria believed she had won before the meeting even began. "Ladies and gentlemen," Chairman Morrison began, "we're here to address serious allegations regarding the foundation of Vaughn Industries and the legitimacy of several patents that form the backbone of our technology division." Grayson's jaw tightened, but he remained composed. "I welcome this discussion. Transparency has a

The next morning, Luna stood before the imposing marble facade of First National Bank, clutching the power of attorney documents that would unlock twenty years of buried secrets. Helena walked beside her, both women silent as they climbed the steps into the building. "Are you ready for this?" Luna asked as they approached the safety deposit box area. Helena nodded, though her hands trembled slightly. "I need to know the truth about my father. All of it." The bank employee, Mrs. Rodriguez, verified Luna's documents with meticulous care before leading them into the private viewing room. Box 742 was larger than Luna had expected, and heavier. When Mrs. Rodriguez left them alone, Luna took a deep breath and lifted the lid. Inside lay stacks of documents, photographs, and several small recording devices that looked ancient by today's standards. Helena picked up a photograph from the top—a younger Elise and Victoria, arms around each other, smiling at the camera. "They really we

Luna sat in the passenger seat of Grayson's car, watching the city blur past through tear-stained windows. The joy of seeing her mother awake still pulsed through her heart, but Helena's threat cast a dark shadow over everything. She pressed her phone against her palm, the weight of unspoken truths heavy in her chest. "The board meeting is in three hours," Grayson said, his knuckles white against the steering wheel. "Marcus says the leaked documents are already trending on financial news sites. Twenty years of my father's deals are being dissected." Luna turned to study his profile. Even in crisis, he maintained that controlled exterior she'd first fallen for. But she could see the tension in his jaw, the way his shoulders carried the burden of an empire built on stolen dreams. "Grayson," she began, then stopped. How could she tell him that Helena—her newly discovered half-sister—was part of the orchestrated attack? That she'd been given an ultimatum that could destroy everyth

Chapter 142: The Watson mansion was fully alive. Streamers hung cascading off of everything they could, balloons bounced merrily around various corners, and the air swam thick with the tantalizing smell of BBQ on the back porch. Today was, after all, Ave's party – but it was more than that; today was the day Lily and James had chosen to once again pledge themselves to one another.Lily stood before the full-length mirror, straightening out her simple white sundress. At seven months, she was radiant—a perfect arc the curve of her belly was, below the flowing fabric.From the doorway, the sound of a voice declared, "You look beautiful." Lily turned to see her cousin Maggie smile at her."Thanks." Lily smoothed the dress. "I feel like a beached whale, but James insists I'm glowing."Maggie burst out laughing. "He's right, you know. You look like you're about to light up his world or something." She walked over and hugged Lily. "I can't believe how far we've come since that one crazy nig

Chapter 141: Lily woke up off. She couldn't explain it, but something just seemed… off. And when she rolled over to check the time, a wave of nausea hit her. She groaned and buried her face in her pillow."Alright?" James mumbled, still half asleep."Yeah, I just feel a little queasy," Lily replied. "Probably just something I ate."James sat up concerned. "You want me to get you something?"Lily shook her head. "No, I'll be fine. We should get up anyway; Ave has that school play today, remember?"They climbed out of bed and busied themselves getting ready for the day. James went into the bedroom to awaken Ave while Lily projectile-vomited into the toilet.James had, by this time, somehow managed to dress Ave in her costume: a huge, puffy frog outfit in bright green made for the school dress rehearsal of "The Frog Prince.""Mommy!" Ave squealed as she clumped down the stairs. "Do I look like a real frog?"Lily laughed, pushing aside her queasiness. "Why, yes, my child, the fairest fr

Chapter 140: Giggles consumed the room, and James stirred awake. He opened an eye to find a little face at the end of the bed staring in at him."Daddy! Wake up!" little Ave chirped in at him.Stepping over the landmines that were on the bed, James ran his hand through the small amount of her running down her back and picked her up, digging fingers into her tummy."Morning, princess," he said by way of splaying a kiss on her forehead.Ave giggled and squirmed. "Mommy said breakfast was ready!""Oh, yeah?" said James, sitting up but not letting go of the squirming Ave. "Am I to take it that's why Mommy sent you in here to wake me up?"Ave nodded, her bouncing brown curls saying more than she could. "Yep! She said tell you there's coffee."James laughed, and if Lily knew him at all well, it was all for her benefit. "Well then, I guess we'd better not have Mommy waiting, huh?"He climbed out of bed, Ave still in his arms, and rolled out of the room. The smell of bacon and coffee wafted

Chapter 139James lay on his back on the pristine white sand beach and took a pounding from the burning Maldivian sun. His hand reached up behind him for the coconut cocktail, tasting sweetness in his mouth as the gentle lapping of waves broke almost ten meters away from shore. It was the first time he had really been allowed to relax, barring a three-month period, since they had released the secrets of the Shadow Council onto the world."Penny for your thoughts?" The sound of Lily's voice broke through his reverie. She settled herself down on the lounger beside him. Her skin was golden against the sun.He smiled, squeezing her hand, saying, "Just thinking how surreal this all is. A year ago, I was knee-deep in conspiracies and shadow organizations. Now I'm sipping cocktails on a private island."Lily chortled; that sound always hit James in exactly the right place in his heart."Life's funny that way, isn't it?" she said, turning her head to look at him with her chin resting on her a

Chapter 138: James was pacing his living room relentlessly. Elena was with Rachel. It was all over. Well yah, anyway that was supposed to mean.Lilly squinted at him from the couch. "James, honey, you're going to wear a hole in the carpet. Come sit down."He sucked in a deep breath and sat down beside her. "I'm sorry; I just… I just can't help but feel this is too easy. After everything we've been through, this is just too easy."Lily squeezed his hand reassuringly. "James, I hardly think that anything about this has been easy. But maybe, this is the way it ends. Not really with a bang, but with a whimper."There was a pounding on the door. The teenager was on his feet before James could even open his mouth. His heart pounded in his chest. This was it.The door was thrown open. To find Rachel standing there—grimy, dirty, and obviously completely exhausted but still with the fires of determination burning behind her eyes. And past her."Hello, James," came the soft-spoken voice of Ele

Chapter 137: Rachel's hands trembled on the wheel. She drove the car towards the lighthouse. It was a full moon drooping low into a mess, ever drooping across the sky to the west, throwing a queer, sickly light over the whole demesne. She could not believe the fact that she was actually doing this, meeting secretly with her mother, Elena.She couldn't bat the feeling away that this time—this time—things were different. There was no hand in the place that could have been straightened just then, and scarcely a hand for him to take.Beside the lighthouse was her mother's car. Ray closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, and felt her hand shake again, then brought it quickly up to her chest and gripped hard. "You can do this," she whispered to herself.She scrambled out of the car and up the serpentine path to the lighthouse, where waves dashed to the rocks and her feet crunched over gravel.One figure stood at the top by the railing, looking out at the water: Elena. His mother.Rachel's hea