LOGINAmber POVBefore I could properly enjoy the absolute horror on the associates’ faces, the elevator doors behind us opened.And my grandfather walked out.The entire lobby straightened instantly.Executives who moments earlier had barely acknowledged me now looked one step away from cardiac arrest.My grandfather, however, seemed entirely unbothered by the tension surrounding him.The moment his eyes landed on me, his severe expression softened visibly.“Amber.”Not Ms. Asher.Not granddaughter.Amber.That alone sent another visible wave of shock through the lobby staff.He walked directly toward me, ignoring everyone else entirely before briefly squeezing my shoulder.“Come,” he said calmly. “The board is waiting.”Adrian looked deeply entertained by the chaos unfolding around us.The elevator ride to the executive floors passed in silence.Mostly because the board members inside looked terrified to breathe incorrectly near my grandfather.The moment we entered the conference room, e
Amber POVMy grandfather called me the morning after we finalized the Sum travel arrangements.Not as my grandfather.As Chairman Asher.“Come to the company tomorrow.”No greeting.No buildup.Straight to business.I leaned back against the kitchen counter while watching Jason argue with Alex over whether “tactical backpacks” were appropriate for a family trip.“I already manage Phoenix Ashes,” I reminded him carefully.“And you manage it well,” my grandfather replied immediately. “But Phoenix Ashes is still only one part of the Asher influence.”A pause.“As my granddaughter and heir, you will eventually be expected to help manage Asher Corp directly.”That made me go quiet.Because despite everything that had happened recently…Despite the investigations, the Vincents, the Beckers, the White family—There was still an empire waiting behind my grandfather’s name.And one day…It would become mine.“I’ve allowed you freedom because I knew you needed to build something of your own,” h
Amber POVJason was angry.Not loud.Not explosive.Which somehow felt far worse.He paced through the fairy house command center like a man preparing for war, tension radiating from every movement while his eyes constantly flickered toward security feeds and perimeter alerts.Twice, I caught him looking over his shoulder when absolutely nothing had moved.That alone worried me more than he realized.Because Jason did not scare easily.And Gabriel Vincent’s call had affected him deeply.We informed Emory and Mr. Stait immediately after settling the children upstairs for the night.The secure video call connected within minutes.The moment Gabriel Vincent’s name left my mouth, both men went completely still.“He’s in the country?” Emory asked sharply.Mr. Stait looked equally surprised.“We had no notification of a Vincent family arrival,” he admitted grimly.Jason laughed humorlessly from beside me.“Well,” he said coldly, “now you do.”The room fell silent for a moment afterward.Emo
Jason POVI leaned back slowly against the seat, replaying the conversation inside my head.Every pause.Every carefully chosen word.“I’ve heard wonderful things about Alex and Alice.”Not from the school.From surveillance.“I was hoping to secure business with your corporation.”Not a request.An acknowledgment.Gabriel Vincent knew exactly how much power Cronos actually held.And if he knew that—Then the Vincents likely had far deeper intelligence networks inside the country than we originally believed.Amber crossed her arms slowly.“He wasn’t introducing himself.”A pause.“He was letting us know he already sees the board.”The board.The game.The pieces.And somehow, that realization disturbed me more than the direct threat itself.Because people like Gabriel Vincent did not speak casually.Every sentence carried intention.Every implication was measured.Which meant the real message hidden beneath the call was simple.I know who you are.I know where your children are.And n
Jason POVThe moment my assistant mentioned the Vincent family, the atmosphere inside the car shifted completely.Cold.Focused.Dangerous.I glanced briefly toward the screen still connected to Amber’s kitchen.“Patch it through,” I said calmly.The line connected almost instantly.“Mr. Sun.”The voice was smooth. Cultured.The kind of voice that belonged to old money and dangerous men raised to hide threats beneath manners.“Gabriel Vincent,” the man introduced himself pleasantly. “I apologize for contacting you unexpectedly.”I leaned back slightly against the leather seat.“Mr. Vincent.”A soft chuckle echoed through the speaker.“I’m currently in town handling several investment opportunities,” he explained smoothly. “And I hoped we might discuss securing some business deals between our corporations.”Of course he did.“Cronos has been attracting impressive attention lately,” Gabriel continued. “And I believe cooperation between our enterprises could prove… mutually beneficial.”
Amber POVThe moment we got inside the car, the children exploded into conversation.All at once.“We escaped.”“Alice almost overacted.”“I did NOT.”“You fake-coughed three times.”“That was commitment.”I pinched the bridge of my nose while driving away from the school through the alternate exit route the principal had requested.The same route conveniently far from the arriving Vincent vehicles.Too close.We had been entirely too close.I glanced briefly toward the rearview mirror.Iris was quiet again, though her shoulders had finally relaxed slightly now that we were moving farther away from the school.Rose sat beside her holding one of Alice’s glitter-covered stress toys while Alex looked immensely satisfied with himself.“How exactly,” I asked carefully, “did all of you coordinate this in less than ten minutes?”Alex immediately sat straighter.“I contacted them.”“Yes, I gathered that,” I replied dryly. “How?”Alex lifted his wrist proudly, showing the small smartwatch Jaso
Adrian left the office, but not before stopping at the door. “You will regret ever standing in my way, Amber.” His voice was low. Controlled. Promising. Then he walked out. I remained standing in front of Grandfather’s desk, the Zoom meeting still active behind me. The screen displayed a gri
By the time Jason returned with the doctor, Madam Sun and I had already reached an understanding. Not friendship. Not trust. A truce. The terms were clear. The online rumors surrounding me would be handled by the Sun family’s media division immediately. The slander from the White Group would n
My feet moved before my mind could catch up. In two strides, I reached them. My hand shot out, gripping the woman’s forearm mid-motion. “Just what do you think you’re doing?” She stiffened. Slowly, she turned her head and gave me a once-over—from my heels to my face—clearly unimpressed.
I didn’t cry. I didn’t shake. I didn’t look back, or mourned the life and the years i will never get back, lost forever. I just went home, time to pack and say goodbye to my old life. The penthouse doors opened with biometric recognition the moment I stepped inside. Floor-to-ceiling glass. Marb







