Clara sighed again holding the phone in her tightly. Mabel who was driving threw a glance at her. She looked really worried and she rested her head on the window.She couldn't stop thinking about Alex Banks,he was becoming more distant from her. She wanted to know badly what he was hiding,why he couldn't look straight into her eyes and to answer her questions about the attack. Of course, she was already developing feelings for him but she wasn't sure if she could trust him anymore. She had almost died because of Alex and he still could tell her."Clara, Clara!!" Mabel called her, raising her voice."What are you thinking about so deeply?" Mabel asked."It's nothing" Clara said, regaining her composure."Don't tell me that, I can tell by the look on your face that something is really bothering you " Mabel said."I'm fine so just focus on driving" *********"Why did you let Don free?" Kevin asked. He was really upset that he let him go just like that , after what he did,he wasn't supp
She picked up the phone,"Hi Avi, what's up with you?" Clara greeted."I'm in the hospital right now Clara " Avi said,her voice sounding like she had been crying."What happened to you ,why are you in the hospital? " Clara asked. Mabel heard Clara mention hospital,so she strained her ear trying to listen to their conversation. It wasn't hard for her to hear what they were saying because she was a good at eavesdropping."It's not me, I'm perfectly fine. It's Kevin,he was in a car accident and I've been trying to call Alex Banks but he isn't picking up" Avi said."How did he get into an accident?" Clara asked. "They investigated and checked the car, someone had ripped out the brakes of the car" Avi said."Why would someone try to kill Kevin?" Clara asked."They weren't trying to kill Kevin but Alex. The car belonged to your boyfriend" Avi said."I'll come to the hospital now" Clara said."You don't need to come,he only sustained minor injuries. He'll be discharged tomorrow and it's alr
The morning sunlight filtered softly through Clara’s window, casting warm golden streaks across the hardwood floor. She stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the collar of her blouse for the third time. Pale blue—professional, calming, confident. She exhaled slowly, trying to settle the nerves churning in her stomach.Behind her, Mabel leaned against the doorframe with a mug of coffee in hand. “You look like you’re about to walk into a Vogue cover shoot.”Clara cracked a smile. “Thanks, but I feel like I’m about to walk into a firing squad.”Mabel straightened up, walking over to clasp Clara’s shoulders. “You’ve got this. You’re smart, you’re talented, and you’ve got more grit than most people I know. Just be yourself."They left the villa, the city already humming with Monday morning energy. Mabel dropped her off at the entrance of the company, one of the most prestigious independent publishing houses in the city.Clara took in the sleek glass façade, the crisp signage, the bustle
“She tried to bribe me. Said I could have the job if I told her where Jeremy is.”Mabel stared at her, horrified. “She did what?”“I walked out.” Clara’s voice trembled. “I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t.”Mabel’s expression softened instantly. “Good. You did the right thing.”“Clara, I’m proud of you. Vivian’s a snake. If you’d accepted, she would’ve found a new way to twist the knife. You chose yourself. That matters.”Clara exhaled, some of the pressure easing from her chest. “I feel like I’ll never catch a break.”“You will,” Mabel said firmly. “And when you do, it’ll be on your terms.”***********ClaraThe silence in the penthouse was suffocating.Clara sat on the edge of the bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. The screen displayed the same thing it had for the past two days: Call ended. Twenty-three missed calls. Three unread messages—short, uncertain, all unsent drafts she’d stared at for hours before deleting. She hadn’t heard a word from Alex since that night.Since he d
Alex’s expression changed. “What?”“Yeah. They weren’t faulty. They were cut. And the footage from the garage was wiped. A clean two-hour gap. Only someone from inside could’ve done that.”Alex’s hands clenched. “Are you okay?”“I’m fine. A fractured arm and a few bruised ribs. But if I was driving your car that day…”“Maya,” Alex said quietly.Kevin’s head tilted. “You think so too?”“She’s the only one smart enough and ruthless enough.”“What the hell does she want?”“Control,” Alex muttered. “And I just gave her a reason.”Kevin stared. “What do you mean?”Alex didn’t answer. Instead, he shifted back into CEO mode, tossing Kevin a document. “We need to finalize the Decker merger. Handle the press. I’ll give you a few days off. You’ve earned it.”Kevin wanted to press further. He wanted answers. But something in Alex’s expression warned him to back off. The man was crumbling, piece by piece, and Kevin wasn’t sure if he was going to make it out whole.---ClaraIt was well past midni
He slammed the bathroom counter with both fists, pain shooting up his arm.Coward.That’s what he was.Because it wasn’t just the act—it was the way it had changed everything inside him. The guilt made it impossible to look Clara in the face without seeing her heartbreak. So he didn’t.He walked out into the bedroom. She wasn’t there.For a moment, he thought she had left.He almost hoped she did.But then he saw her curled on the couch, arms around her knees like a child, silent tears glistening in the dim light.Something inside him cracked.He moved toward her, then stopped.He didn’t deserve to comfort her.ClaraShe felt him approach before she saw him.Clara looked up slowly, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. Alex stood there, looking lost. Like he wanted to speak—but couldn’t.“Why are you doing this?” she asked softly.He didn’t answer.“Did I do something wrong?”“No,” he said finally, his voice hoarse.“Then why are you shutting me out again?”“Because I’m not the
Kevin continued, “She tried to kill you, man. This isn’t about jealousy anymore. It’s about control.”Alex finally turned. “Do whatever it takes. Find proof. And keep this quiet.”Kevin narrowed his eyes. “What about Clara? Are you going to keep treating her like a stranger too?”Alex flinched.Kevin sighed. “She’s not the enemy, Alex. But if you keep pushing her away, she will be gone. For good.”Before Alex could reply, the receptionist buzzed in.“Ms. Quinn Stark is here for you.”Alex stared at the intercom, a muscle in his jaw tightening.“Send her in.”Clara stood frozen in the middle of the living room, the sound of the door slamming behind Alex still echoing in her ears. His words—“It’s none of your business”—hung in the air like a dagger suspended over her chest. It wasn’t just what he said, but the way he said it. Cold. Detached. Like she was a stranger asking too much of a man who owed her nothing.She sat down slowly, the silence closing in like a storm cloud. Her fingers
Meanwhile, Quinn watched the video again from her hotel suite, smirking. She could practically feel Alex unraveling already. Just one leak, and everything he’d built would burn.She picked up her phone and dialed.“Release the clip to Clara if he doesn’t do what I ask,” she told her contact. “He’ll come crawling.”Just then, the door clicked behind her.Quinn turned, expecting her assistant.Instead, she found herself staring into Maya Stark’s icy eyes.“Oh,” Quinn said with a smirk, “to what do I owe the pleasure?”Maya walked in, slow and deliberate. “You think you’re clever, don’t you?”Quinn’s eyes narrowed. “I know I am.”Maya tilted her head. “I came to make you an offer.”“Go on.”“We work together. You keep Alex occupied. I take care of Clara.”Quinn raised a brow. “And what do I get?”Maya’s smile was razor-sharp. “Everything you want—Alex, money, revenge. I just want the girl gone.”Quinn laughed softly. “You’re insane.”“Perhaps,” Maya said, “but I always get what I want.”
Chapter 80: The Choice That Awaits.The next morning arrived with an unsettling calm. Clara woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside her window, the early light streaming through the curtains and painting the room in soft hues of gold. She turned over in bed, her mind clouded with the weight of everything that had been happening lately. The emotional rollercoaster with Alex, the growing distance between them, and the constant pull of Maddox’s words—it was all so much to handle.She lay there for a moment, eyes closed, allowing the silence to wash over her. But soon, the reality of the situation crept back in. The unease she’d felt for days hadn’t gone away. In fact, it had only deepened.Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. She reached over to grab it, her heart skipping when she saw the name on the screen. It was Alex.---The Message:"Clara, I need to see you. We need to talk. Can you meet me for lunch today? I want to fix things."---Clara stared at the message
Chapter 79: The Tension Beneath the Surface.The morning sun crept through the large windows of the penthouse, casting long beams of light across the plush furniture and sleek lines of the modern living room. Clara stood by the window, coffee cup in hand, her eyes tracing the skyline as her thoughts swirled. The city beneath her was buzzing, alive with the energy of a new day, but Clara felt an unease she couldn’t shake. Her mind kept returning to the conversation she had with Maddox the day before. His words lingered, like a shadow in the back of her mind, refusing to fade.She didn’t want to admit it, but his words had gotten under her skin.Was Alex really as committed as he seemed?Clara had always trusted him—had always believed in their bond—but after hearing Maddox speak so convincingly, she found herself questioning things she never thought to question before. Maybe it was the way Maddox had spoken to her, so calmly, so assuredly. He’d known just what to say to plant that seed
Chapter 78: The Unraveling GameThe city below stretched out in a tapestry of glittering lights, the night sky obscured by the towering buildings that seemed to touch the heavens. Inside the sleek, modern office, the cold glow from the windows cast long shadows on the polished floor. Maddox leaned back in his chair, the quiet hum of the air conditioning the only sound in the otherwise silent room. His eyes were fixed on the files spread out before him, each one representing another calculated move in a game that had been years in the making.Maddox had always prided himself on his ability to stay three steps ahead of his competitors. His rise in the business world had been relentless, driven by an insatiable hunger for power and control. But there was one thing—one person—that had always eluded him: Alex Banks. The man who had everything, the empire that seemed untouchable, and the woman who had stirred something in Maddox’s heart that he thought was long buried. Clara.He could almos
Chapter 77: New BeginningsThe morning after their tentative reconciliation was nothing like Clara had expected. She woke up to the sound of rain tapping against the windows, soft and steady, as though the world outside was breathing in sync with her own conflicted heart.She had expected the night to weigh heavily on her mind, but instead, there was a strange sense of calm. Alex’s words, his touch, his promise—everything lingered in the quiet of the room, a soft warmth that eased the tension that had built up between them over the past weeks.As she sat up in bed, her gaze wandered to the half-empty space beside her. Alex was gone, but it wasn’t the absence she feared. It was the quiet certainty that he was still there, in the sense that he hadn’t left her, and that, despite everything, she hadn’t left him either.She rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock. It was still early, too early for business, too early for anyone to be stirring in the office. But there was something about t
Chapter 76: Unraveling TensionsThe moonlit night had barely settled when Clara entered the penthouse, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. The sounds of the gala still echoed in her ears—the laughter, the clinking of glasses, the hum of conversations. But as she closed the door behind her, the buzz of the outside world seemed to vanish. Inside, everything was still. Everything was charged.Alex sat on the edge of the leather couch, his sharp silhouette outlined by the dim glow from the chandelier. His jacket was discarded, the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up to his elbows, exposing the tension in his posture. He looked like a man at war with himself. But Clara wasn’t sure if it was with her or with something deeper.Her gaze flickered toward the empty space beside him on the couch. “You’re here,” she said quietly, her voice more unsure than she intended.Alex didn’t answer right away. He was staring at his hands, his fingers moving as if he were mentally organiz
Chapter 75 — The Gala: Unmasking the ShadowsThe grand ballroom was a spectacle of shimmering lights and glimmering elegance, a stark contrast to the dark thoughts that plagued Clara's mind. The night of the gala had finally arrived, and despite Alex’s reassurances, she couldn’t shake the unease that clung to her. She had seen it in his eyes—his quiet determination that he was shielding her from something, but tonight, she was all too aware that the world around them was watching.She and Alex had arrived earlier in the evening, gliding through the crowd, their presence magnetic. Every eye turned when they entered—Clara in her silver gown that caught the light with every movement, Alex in his sharp black tuxedo, a man of power and control. Together, they were a force, a perfect picture of wealth and status.But despite the beauty surrounding her, Clara’s mind kept wandering back to the small, almost imperceptible gestures she had picked up over the past few days. Alex’s phone calls th
Chapter 74 — Shifting SandsThe night was quiet, an eerie calm that felt almost unnatural after the whirlwind of the past few weeks. Inside the penthouse, the gentle hum of the city below seemed to fade, leaving only the low, rhythmic sound of Alex's breathing as he lay in bed beside Clara.Clara’s fingers traced slow circles on his chest, her mind wandering despite the quiet peace between them. The gala loomed just days away, but tonight felt like a moment to pause, to let the world slip away for just a few hours.Alex's hand found hers, intertwining their fingers, as if sensing the shift in her mood. His touch was warm, reassuring. "You’re thinking too much," he murmured.Clara smiled softly, but there was an edge of something darker in her expression. "I just... I’m wondering how we got here."Alex raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a small, knowing smile. "You mean to say, how you ended up in bed with a billionaire who has a penchant for being overprotective?"Clara laughed,
Chapter 73 — A Whisper in the CrowdThe soft melody of jazz floated through the upscale boutique as Clara ran her fingers lightly over the racks of shimmering dresses.The gala was only days away, and despite Ivy’s enthusiastic insistence that she would find something perfect, Clara still felt a little out of place surrounded by the glittering fabrics and luxury labels.Ivy trailed after her, arms full of selections she deemed "absolutely necessary to try on.""Come on, Miss Vale," Ivy teased, holding up a deep green gown that looked like it belonged on the red carpet. "You’ll be the most beautiful woman there."Clara laughed lightly, but her heart warmed at Ivy’s earnestness."I think you’re a little biased," Clara said, taking the gown and heading for the dressing room.As she disappeared behind the heavy velvet curtain, Ivy lingered near the mirrors, flipping absently through her phone.The boutique’s front door chimed softly.Two sharply dressed men entered — neither looked like t
Chapter 71 — Shadows from the PastThe morning sun flooded through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, casting golden light over the world Alex Banks and Clara Vale were slowly rebuilding. The scent of fresh coffee drifted through the air, and soft music played in the background — the quiet, beautiful rhythm of a life Clara never thought she’d have.She stood by the kitchen island, still in her silk robe, stirring her coffee absently. Her mind was elsewhere — half on the chapter she was writing, half on the way Alex had seemed... distracted lately.Nothing overt. Nothing she could accuse him of.But Clara could feel it — the slight pauses, the way his eyes sometimes drifted toward the window like he was searching for something unseen.“Hey, dreamer,” Alex said, walking in, crisp and magnetic in his dark grey suit. He kissed her cheek, lingering for a second longer than usual, like grounding himself.“You’re late,” Clara teased, nudging him playfully.Alex chuckled lowly. “I