Novel-novel oleh Fiery pen

Her hands trembled slightly. She was staring out the window of her office at the academy but her mind was somewhere else entirely. She had been transported back in time to the fateful day two weeks ago when the doctor had made the announcement with a wide grin on her face. "Congratulations, Miss Vivian. You're ten weeks pregnant." She had said, flashing Vivian a genuine smile that reached her crinkling eyes. At that moment, a cold sweat had broken out on Vivian’s forehead as the doctor’s words hit her like a bomb. The words had been so unprecedented, so out of left field that it took her a long time to understand the gravity of the doctor’s pronouncement. When she had finally digested her words, fear caused a knot to form in her stomach."The baby is in perfect condition." The doctor had said and Vivian had smiled at her, happy but at the same time, uncertain. "Your husband must be so proud." She had said. But would he? Nate had been so vehemently against a child and even though

VIVIANI opened my eyes. But I was in an unfamiliar place. The darkness that surrounded me was not only palpable, it was suffocating. I tried to breathe but my lungs seemed to be constricted with something. I stretched forth my hands to guide my path but something seemed to be on my way. I tore at the barrier but it only grew thicker. It was the darkness. Was there any way out of here? How could I fight something I could not even see? I opened my mouth to scream but no sound would come out. I was stuck in this deep, dark pit with nowhere to go but down. Below me, it seemed like there was quicksand and if I did not find a way to get out of here quickly, I would be swallowed whole. I clawed at the space in front of me, beside me and above me but the darkness was too dense, too restricting. Where was help when I needed it the most? My determination had started to wane. My resolve which I thought was stronger than steel bars had become considerably weakened the more it dawned on me t

NATEI felt overwhelmed. I had not felt this way in the longest of times, not even when dealing with Richard's stupidity. Why were things going haywire all of a sudden just when I thought the dust had settled down? I could not pretend not to know why. Gran's announcement yesterday had triggered a lot of suppressed resentment and I just had to deal tactfully with it or everything I held dear would be taken away right before my eyes. I had been called to the company the day before because Aston was making trouble. Word had spread that he had gone around contacting all the members of the board and having a secret meeting with them. I was not sure what the meeting had been about but I could guess. "Let's hurry." I said to my driver as I looked through Vivian's mail for the umpteenth time. I was about to send a message thanking her for her hard work when my phone started to vibrate. It was a call from my personal assistant. "They are holding an emergency extraordinary meeting of the

VIVIANI typed away feverishly. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins, fueling my fingers and propelling me to think. What had this not occurred to me before? Why had I glossed over Emily's statement back then like it was nothing at all. Had I been too overwhelmed at the time that I had been unable to put two and two together? Unable to see what was right in front of me? Emily had said three companies. Three companies, but only two were behind bars. So what happened to the last one? It was a question I should have been asking for sometime now. Would I be able to find a connection that would reveal which company was the third? Would I find enough proof? I started by digging into the two companies. Their CEOs had been well known in the business world for taking over small companies after leading them into debt. There were many comments online laying complaints against them and a third name kept popping up. Could it be?... I changed the direction of my research. It w

VIVIAN It all felt awkward. Gran had made the announcement of the century and the room was thrown into chaos. Aston looked like he could combust in anger at any time and stormed off. Gran was unwilling to listen to Nate's protests and Nate's mother just looked surprised. I, on the other hand was unsure how I was supposed to react. I was not very surprised, considering how much affinity Gran held for Nate, I was only a bit skeptical about the timing. But what did I care? I was no longer a part of the family. I was practically a stranger who happened to witness the Stuart family going at each other and it didn't matter what my thoughts were. I just wanted to escape before anyone looked in my direction and thought to rope me into it. Gran shuffled out of the room, leaning slightly on his cane and I saw my chance. Nate was still looking around, confused as ever and there was just a general tension in the air that I was sure no one would notice my silent disappearance. It felt good n

NATEI swore internally. How had Ashton found out? But then again, the same idiot that had the temerity to give out company information had probably babbled again. Vivian looked stricken standing there, staring numbly from Ashton to my mother to Gran. She tried to say something but it seemed like the words would not come out. I wanted to hold her and calm her down like I did yesterday in the hospital but this was not the place or time and I was pretty sure she would push me away. Guilt weighed down on me heavily. This was all my fault. I had brought this situation on her and I wanted to fix it badly but I felt control slipping out of my hands. Ashton was pushing, tearing down the walls of support around me, trying to strip me of my confidence and painting Vivian as the black sheep. I could not understand for the life of me why he had suddenly turned bad. Or perhaps he had always been this way, lurking silently in the shadows, waiting for this chance to ruin me. "Vivian did nothin

NATALIE’S POV My palm stung and his cheek was already swelling, a red bloom spreading across skin I had once kissed.Lucas laughed some more. It was low, cruel, unrecognizable. A twisted echo of the boyish chuckle I used to love.“You know,” he said, wiping blood from his lip with the back of his hand, “that was a vicious hit. Who taught you that? Malcolm?”I didn’t respond. I was too busy convincing myself not to throw another one.Screw this.I turned my back and moved toward the boxes, the remainder of my life in pieces, waiting for me to carry it out of this goddamn nightmare.But then—his voice echoed again, casual and smug.“I did it.”I stopped. My brain was already glitching over the fact that I was still paying him an ounce of my attention when I had less than 3 hours left.He stepped closer and I felt him behind me before I heard him. His cologne hit me,sharp, expensive, familiar but tainted by the stench of his poisonous persona.“I’m the one who froze your assets,” he

NATALIE’S POV I closed my eyes and stepped closer, barely processing Lucas’s snarling words. Whatever tantrum he was throwing—I didn’t have the energy. Not after today. Not after everything. I just needed to pack and leave.“Natalie!” he barked, storming toward me as I brushed past him towards where a new suitcase laid on our former bed.I ignored him. My hands trembled as I shoved clothes into the half-zipped suitcase. Becks was outside waiting in her car for me, I didn’t have time for this chaos.He grabbed my arm without warning and spun me around.“What the hell is wrong with you?!” I snapped, ripping free. My chest heaved, rage and exhaustion colliding.“I should be asking you that!” he shouted, wild-eyed, hair a mess, shirt half-untucked like he’d been pacing in circles, unraveling. A direct contrast on how I had left him a few hours ago.“You humiliate me in front of my family and suddenly you’re packing like a thief in the night? You think you can just run off without explai

NATALIE’S POVMy eyes were wide in panic as I re-read the same words over and over again.[ Receipt for Mrs Davis hospital settlement paid by Anonymous. Signed by St.Luis.]“Anonymous?” The word echoed in my mind, the weight of it sinking in. Who would do this? I couldn’t make sense of it.My fingers trembled as I zoomed in on the receipt. I should’ve been relieved, it meant Mrs. Davis was taken care of but instead, a sickening knot twisted in my stomach. The only people who knew about her were Lucas, me… and Malcolm.I exhaled shakily trying not to believe what my mind screamed. Why would Malcolm pay for her treatment without consulting me? I’d been the one handling the payments, year after year. But now? Now it suddenly occurred to him to pay!? It felt like he’d crossed a line.A cold fury burned through me and without thinking, I dialed his number, the rage bubbling up. But before I could press the call, another email notification popped up and this time My heart stalled.New email

NATALIE’S POVThe message had dropped like a bomb in my lap on our way to Lucas’ grandmother’s birthday party.A message that prompted the truth about my relationship with Lucas coming to light. A message that called for my immediate attention.Now I was here, breathless with my heart thundering.And facing Malcolm.He looked like a man completely unfazed by chaos. Cool, Composed but his eyes sparkled—like he was enjoying something only he understood.I controlled my breathing and a frown settled on my face as I folded my arms across my breasts.“I could ask you the same thing,” he said, his voice low and unbothered.A nurse walked over, carrying a folded blanket. “Mr. Onyx? Mrs. Davis’ duvet, as you instructed.”W–What?My mouth parted ,confusion thick on my tongue as he took it with a simple nod.I blinked.That’s not possible.No fucking way.That had to be a coincidence, after all “Mrs. Davis” wasn’t exactly an uncommon name. It wasn’t possible for it to be my Mrs. Davis.I turned

NATALIE’S POVThis time, the room wasn’t silent. It was charged, guests whispering viciously in hushed tones, their eyes darting like hungry wolves on a bloodhunt. The tension rose and fell like my erratic breathing, heavy and strong.Malcolm had stepped in, positioning himself between Lucas and me like some kind of immovable force. But why?My brows drew together in confusion as Malcolm moved forward, each step deliberate, his gaze dark and ice-cold. Lucas flinched as though he had been burned, backing up like he’d been ordered to retreat.“Onyx has always stood for integrity and power. There’s a reason for that—one you clearly haven’t grasped. Should I teach you?” Malcolm’s voice was heavy and sharp as steel.Lucas’s eyes widened, fear flickering in them as he swallowed hard.“N–No, sir,” he muttered, his voice cracking. My brows shot up in surprise to witness Lucas, a man of pride have his shoulders curling inward.My eyes moved to Malcolm as he slid his hands into his pockets, de

NATALIEMy heart drummed loudly in my ears as a dozen eyes settled on me and Vanessa.Suddenly Vanessa’s hands shot out, snatching the envelope from Malcolm’s grasp.“Let me see that,” she snapped, her hands tearing at the envelop with terrifying speed even though her fingers shook slightly.Malcolm gave a soft growl and my eyes immediately focused on him. His demeanor had changed and I tried to meet his eyes but his gaze on Vanessa was unwavering. A wicked smirk stretched the corner of his lips.What this some kind of a joke? There was no way that Gravestone would stop working with Caldwell and then single me out of the company. It had never happened before because doing so would cause too much problems. It could even sever business alliances!I shook my head. Malcom was just being his usual "cruel and mischievous" self.I turned my gaze back to Vanessa and my brows shot up in surprise. What the..Vanessa was hunched over, her eyes dancing across the words as her iron grip on the pa