LOGINThe room was alive with tension, a storm of whispers and veiled insults. The Thornbrooks and Valecrests would not stop; their faces twisted with disbelief and fury, each word aimed to diminish me, to strip away any claim to the power I held.
“You expect us to believe that someone like you could have this much influence?” Mrs. Valecrest hissed, voice sharp and dripping with venom. “You, who just walked out of prison, sitting here as if you hold any sway o
The room was alive with tension, a storm of whispers and veiled insults. The Thornbrooks and Valecrests would not stop; their faces twisted with disbelief and fury, each word aimed to diminish me, to strip away any claim to the power I held.“You expect us to believe that someone like you could have this much influence?” Mrs. Valecrest hissed, voice sharp and dripping with venom. “You, who just walked out of prison, sitting here as if you hold any sway over the industry?”“Yes,” I said, my tone steady, almost serene. “I am more powerful than you think. Far more than you will ever comprehend.”They laughed, harsh and incredulous, faces contorted in mockery. “Powerful? You? Impossible. Tell us your true identity, then, if you have the courage,” Mrs. Thornbrook sneered.I turned toward Kastiel, my eyes locking with his. “I want to tell hi
The room was thick with tension, every eye on me, every whisper sharp as a blade. Sarafina’s face was a mask of innocence, but I knew better. I could see it in the twitch of her lip, the way she tried to bend her mother’s and Kyle’s eyes to her favor. She guilt-tripped everyone as though she alone had been wronged, playing the victim so perfectly I almost pitied those who couldn’t see through her act. Almost.“Alina,” Sarafina began, her voice trembling with false concern, “look at what you’ve done. You’ve stirred chaos. Everyone—your friends, the people who trusted you—they’re at risk now. You have to understand the gravity of your actions.” She stepped closer, her tone sugary and venomous at the same time. “Can’t you see? I’ve always been honest, I’ve cared for this family. And now you’re here, destroying everything in your path.”
The moment the doors swung open, I saw him. My breath caught, and I almost couldn’t speak. There he stood—alive, whole, and looking at the room with fire in his eyes. The boy Seraphina had hit years ago, the boy they had all thought dead, was here. My hands clenched into fists as I felt the familiar surge of triumph and vindication. He had survived because of me. Because I refused to let evil go unpunished. Because I had saved him when Seraphina tried to destroy everything, just as she had tried to destroy me.Seraphina’s face went white the instant her eyes fell on him. She froze. Recognition flashed across her features—shock, panic, fear—and I could see the truth clawing its way to the surface. “No… it can’t be,” she whispered, almost choking on her words.I stepped forward, letting the calm settle in my voice. “Seraphina, one more time,” I said firmly, making sure everyone
The air was thick with accusation, venom, and tension, each word from Mrs. Valecrest cutting through the hall like a sharpened blade. Her voice trembled with outrage, her eyes blazing as she looked at me. “Kastiel, what did you mean by that? Kael is your brother! How could you possibly send him to jail? How could you do this to your own blood?”I met her gaze steadily, my voice calm and deliberate, heavy with conviction. “I do not have a brother. I do not have a family. Not anymore. The only family I am about to have is Alina. That is the only bond that matters. Everything else, everything you call family, is nothing but betrayal, lies, and disappointment. If you cannot remember, let me remind you: I gave, and I was cast aside. I trusted, and I was betrayed. That ends today.”Her lips quivered, her composure fraying at the edges, but she wasn’t done yet. “Impossible… You are my son. Kael is your bro
The hall was tense, every whisper like a blade slicing through the air, and I could feel it all. The Thornbrooks’ sneers, Kael’s anger simmering under the surface, and the rigid postures of the board members, all eyes darting between us like hawks sizing up prey. My grip on Kastiel’s arm was steady, my calm the only anchor in the storm swirling around the venue.And then she entered. The girl who had once destroyed Kastiel’s life, the one who had been manipulated, threatened, and silenced all those years ago. She stepped in cautiously, her eyes darting to everyone, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind. Kael froze the instant he saw her, disbelief and fear mingling in his features.“What… how… what are you doing here?” he stammered, voice tight.
I watched the board members file into the hall, their polished shoes clicking against the marble floor, their eyes flicking nervously between Kastiel and Kael. The moment they arrived, Kael’s smug expression tightened as he leaned forward, voice sharp with accusation. “Gentlemen, I call this meeting of urgent priority because my brother—this man who just returned from prison—is attempting to seize control of the Valecrest Corporation through manipulation and bribery. He has gone to the venue, harassing its owners to intimidate us out of what we’ve already purchased with our money. He is not fit to lead.”A hush fell over the room as the board members shifted in their seats. Whispers ran like wildfire: “A convict… can he really run a corporation?” Some frowned, disappointment clouding their faces. A few exchanged uneasy glances. “Step down,” one of them muttered, echoing the sentiment of several o







