Chapter: Chapter 39Ravenna and Soren made their way back inside, the tension between them palpable. As they entered the living room, Astrid's eyes lit up."Ravenna! Come sit by me," Astrid called, patting the spot next to her on the sofa. "I want to hear all about your business ventures."Grateful for the distraction, Ravenna settled next to Astrid. "Well, what would you like to know?"As the two women chatted, their conversation flowed easily from business to fashion to travel. Ravenna found herself genuinely enjoying Astrid's company, her wit and intelligence a refreshing change from the usual socialite crowd."You know," Astrid said, lowering her voice conspiratorially, "I haven't seen Soren this engaged with someone in years. You must be pretty special."Ravenna felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Oh, I don't know about that. We're just business partners."Astrid raised an eyebrow. "Mhmm. Sure you are."Across the room, Mara and Lyra were deep in conversation, their eyes occasionally darting to Ra
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-09-17
Chapter: Chapter 38 Ravenna pushed open the front door of her family home, the familiar scent of her mother's cooking enveloping her immediately. She followed the aroma to the kitchen, where she found her mother, Mara, bustling about in a frenzy of culinary activity."Mom?" Ravenna called out, eyeing the array of dishes spread across the countertops. "What's going on? Are we feeding an army?"Mara turned, her face flushed from the heat of the kitchen. "Oh, Ravenna! Perfect timing. We're having guests for dinner tonight."Ravenna raised an eyebrow. "Guests? Who?""The Blackthorn family," her mother replied, turning back to stir a simmering pot. "Soren Blackthorn and his parents and sister."Ravenna felt as if the ground had suddenly shifted beneath her feet. "Soren Blackthorn? As in... my business associate, Soren Blackthorn?""The very same," her father's voice came from behind her. Ravenna turned to see him entering the kitchen, a warm smile on his face. "I recently played golf with his father, Cedric.
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-09-16
Chapter: Chapter 37Ravenna stifled a yawn as she left the office, the weight of the day's meetings and strategic planning settling heavily on her shoulders. The sun was already setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. As she walked to her car, she remembered her nearly empty fridge and decided to make a quick stop at the supermarket.The fluorescent lights of the store were a stark contrast to the fading daylight outside. Ravenna grabbed a basket and began wandering the aisles, her mind still partially occupied with thoughts of Rylan, Soren, and the intricate web she was weaving.As she turned into the produce section, her attention elsewhere, she collided with someone. Apples tumbled to the floor, rolling in every direction."Watch where you're going!" a sharp voice snapped.Ravenna looked up, an apology on her lips, but it died as she recognized the young woman before her. With striking red hair and piercing green eyes, there was no mistaking Quinn, one of Lilith's twin sisters.Quickly c
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-09-16
Chapter: Chapter 36Ravenna's heels clicked against the pavement as she hurried to meet Soren at their usual spot, a discreet café tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. Her mind raced with the events of the past few days – the confrontation with Lilith, her calculated confession to Rylan. Everything was falling into place, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking a razor's edge.As she entered the café, she spotted Soren immediately, his tall frame unmistakable even in the dimly lit space. He looked up as she approached, his face an unreadable mask."Ravenna," he greeted her, gesturing to the seat across from him. "Right on time, as always."She slid into the chair, eyeing him warily. "Well, when you say you have important information, I tend to take it seriously."Soren nodded, pushing a steaming cup of coffee towards her – black, no sugar, just how she liked it. The gesture, small as it was, reminded Ravenna of how well he'd come to know her over these past months."So," she said, t
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-09-16
Chapter: Chapter 35Ravenna's heels clicked against the polished marble floor as she strode through the lobby of Rylan's office building. Her heart raced, but she kept her expression calm and confident. As she approached the security desk, she plastered on her most charming smile."Good afternoon," she greeted the guard. "I'm Ravenna Thorn, here to see Rylan Matthews."The guard checked his list and nodded. "Of course, Ms. Thorn. Mr. Matthews is expecting you. Please take the elevator to the 30th floor."As the elevator ascended, Ravenna took deep breaths, steadying her nerves. The doors opened, revealing a sleek, modern reception area. Rylan's assistant, a petite blonde woman, looked up with a bright smile."Ms. Thorn, welcome. Mr. Matthews is just finishing up a call. Please, go right in."Ravenna nodded her thanks and pushed open the heavy oak door to Rylan's office. The room was impressive – floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city, while tasteful artwork adorned the walls. Rylan
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-09-16
Chapter: Chapter 34The morning sun cast long shadows as Ravenna crouched behind a parked car, her eyes fixed on Rylan's office building. She'd been there for hours, hoping to catch a glimpse of something—anything—that might give her an edge. But so far, all she'd seen was the usual parade of suited executives and harried assistants.Just as she was about to call it quits, a flicker of movement caught her eye. A man dressed in black, his face obscured by dark sunglasses, slipped out of an alley across the street. There was something off about him—the way he moved, the constant scanning of his surroundings. Ravenna's instincts screamed danger.Heart racing, she ducked out from behind the car and began walking briskly in the opposite direction. She could feel the man's eyes on her back, hear his footsteps echoing her own. Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she forced it down. She wasn't some helpless victim—not anymore.Spotting a busy coffee shop ahead, Ravenna ducked inside and wove through the crowd
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-09-16
Chapter: ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 46: ᴛᴜʀɴs ᴏᴜᴛ, ᴍʏ ʙʀᴀɪɴ'ꜱ ᴀ ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄ ʙʀᴏᴀᴅᴄᴀsᴛ“Well, well, well,” came a familiar voice from behind her. “Look at Ms. Corporate America.”Deja spun around to find her Guardian Angel lounging in one of the conference chairs, looking exactly as it had during their first meeting—glowing, ethereal, and slightly smug.“You!” Deja practically yelped, forgetting to even sip her coffee like a normal human being. “Where have you been? I thought you were supposed to check in monthly! It’s been like, weeks, and I’ve been out here making power moves, keeping my family together, and generally being fabulous while you’ve been ghosting me!”The angel waved a dismissive hand. “Time works differently for celestial beings, darling. Also, you were doing so well on your own, I didn’t want to interrupt the show.”“Show?” Deja crossed her arms. “Is that what this has been to you? Entertainment?”“More like... a fascinating case study in expectations versus reality,” the angel said, examining its perfect nails. “You’ve completely rewritten the narrativ
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-08-13
Chapter: ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 45: ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀ ᴄʀᴀsʜ ɪ sᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴇᴅ (ᴜɴʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʀɪɢɪɴᴀʟ ᴍᴇ, ʙʟᴇss ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ).Without thinking—or maybe thinking too much—she took off after the car, her wet hair plastered to her face, her designer dress clinging to her like it was one of those clingy exes who can’t take a hint. The rain soaked through her clothes within seconds, but Deja couldn’t care less. That evidence folder in Dominique’s perfectly manicured hands? Worth more than any outfit.“DEJA!” Ren’s voice echoed behind her. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”“WINNING!” she shouted back, not breaking stride.Behind her, she could hear the commotion of her family and the SEC agents pouring out of the building. Deja’s mind raced with a thousand thoughts, none of them particularly ladylike.Seriously, if I get my hands on her, I’m gonna take her wig, her soul, and her dignity—all in one swoop.Inside the building, Ren winced at Deja’s particularly vivid mental image before running after her.Dominique’s car screeched to a halt at a red light two blocks down. Deja, seeing her opportunity, charged forward like an Oly
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-08-13
Chapter: ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 44: ʟɪɢʜᴛs, ᴄᴀᴍᴇʀᴀ, ᴇᴍʙᴇᴢᴢʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ!Saturday night arrived with the kind of perfect weather rich people seemed to order for special occasions. The Moreau-Zuo Joint Charity Gala was being held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a venue that practically screamed “old money” and “security cameras everywhere”—the latter being a crucial element of their plan.The dress—or “dress,” if you wanted to be polite—was nothing short of a chaotic masterpiece. The bodice was a structured silver mess of geometric cutouts that somehow made her look like an art installation, and the full skirt? Electric blue and fuchsia gradients, with strategically placed LED lights that subtly pulsed as she moved, like her body was a rave. The back was mostly open, criss-crossed with silver chains, and she was rocking holographic platform boots that added five inches of height, which—let’s be honest—she desperately needed. Her hair was styled in a towering updo with streaks of blue, as if she’d asked the stylist, “Can you make me look like I got electr
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-08-13
Chapter: ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 43: ᴍʏ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ'ꜱ ᴀ ᴍᴇss, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ ᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴜɢsʜᴏᴛs ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ Deja’s heels clicked against the marble floor of Moreau Enterprises’ lobby like a ticking time bomb. Her blazer dress hugged her curves in all the right places, a power move that said “I’m about to end someone’s whole career” without her having to say a word. Behind her, Ren and Nico matched her pace, looking equally ready for war.“So let me get this straight,” Deja said through gritted teeth as they neared the elevators. “The plan is to strut in, lie through our gorgeously white teeth, and then hope no one arrests us before lunch?”“That’s a plan?” Nico snorted. “That’s a wish and a prayer, sis.”“It’s a stalling tactic,” Ren corrected, pressing the elevator button. “Five minutes. That’s all we need.”The elevator doors opened with a soft ping that felt inappropriately cheerful for the occasion. As they stepped inside, Deja caught sight of their reflection in the mirrored walls—three people who looked way too attractive to be this stressed.If I get hauled off to prison today, at le
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-08-13
Chapter: ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 42: ᴀɪɴ'ᴛ ɴᴏ ᴡᴀʏThe bathroom door suddenly rattled with a knock.“Deja? Are you in there?” Ren’s voice called through the door.All three siblings froze in panic. Oh shoot oh shoot oh shoot, Deja thought frantically.“One second!” she called out, her voice unnaturally high.“What do we do?” Trevor whispered.“Hide the evidence!” Nico hissed.“WHAT evidence?” Deja whispered back. “Earl ate it!”The little dog barked cheerfully at the sound of his name. “Deja?” Ren called again. “Is Earl in there with you? I heard him bark.”Deja looked at her brothers, who both gestured for her to handle it. Traitors, she thought.She cracked open the door just enough to peek out. Ren stood there looking unfairly gorgeous in his tuxedo, concern etched across his features. “Hey there,” she said casually, as if hiding in a bathroom with her brothers and a destructive dog was perfectly normal behavior. “Fancy meeting you here.”“Is Earl with you?” Ren asked. “He ran off as soon as we arrived, and I’ve been looking everyw
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-08-13
Chapter: ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 41: ᴍɪssɪᴏɴ: ᴇxᴘᴏsᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴ. sɪᴅᴇ ǫᴜᴇsᴛ: ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ꜰᴀʟʟ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪᴀɴᴄᴇ́.Deja stared at the message like it was trying to seduce her. She paused dramatically—because why not—and typed back:Deja: Rain check? Family stuff came up.Ren: Everything okay?Deja: Fine, just sibling bonding time. Very important.Ren: Of course. Tomorrow, then?Deja: We’ll see.She tucked her phone away, feeling oddly guilty. Here she was, about to flirt with James to uncover a financial conspiracy, while Ren was trying to be... whatever he was trying to be. Sweet? Romantic? A decent fiancé?“Focus on the mission,” she reminded herself. “Fifty million dollars and not dying in a car accident. That’s the goal.”But as she walked back to her office, her brain was already off the rails.What if there’s room for one more goal on that list?Maybe something to do with the way her heart turned into a bouncy ball whenever Ren looked at her.Ugh, stop it,she ordered herself. “I am not falling for the K-drama CEO with a face that could launch a thousand ships. Not in the plan.”Then again, none
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-08-13
Masuk
