SophiaThe moment the countdown stopped, the air in the warehouse shifted. Silence stretched, thick and unyielding, as if the universe itself had paused, waiting to see what would happen next.Nathan stood motionless, his smirk still lingering, but something flickered in his eyes—something close to frustration. He hadn’t planned for this. He hadn’t expected me to win.For the first time in this game we'd played, I saw the cracks in his perfect control.Alex still had the gun pressed to Nathan's temple, his breath steady, his grip tight. I could see the math in his eyes—whether killing Nathan here, now, would subtract from or add to our problems.I already knew the answer.It wouldn't be enough.It had taken Nathan years to construct his empire, ringing the city with his power like an impenetrable fist. Assassinating him would only make him a martyr to the citizens who still remained faithful to him.We had to dismantle him piece by piece.Destroy him in a way he could never recover fr
SophiaCity lights streaked across the car window, neon smudges against the black ink of night. The hum of the engine filled the silence between us, thick with all we had not said and tension that refused to disperse.Nathan had lost.But why did it seem like we were still caught up in his game?I curled my fingers around the detonator, its smooth edges cold in my hand. Its power should have been satisfying. The way Nathan's smirk had faltered, the way his shoulders had stiffened when he'd realized I'd outmaneuvered him.But his parting words gave me hesitation."You think you've won?"Alex was beside me, his form coiled in repressed anger, his amber eyes fixed ahead. His knuckles were white on his knee, his fingers twitching as though he was struggling not to pull a gun on the air itself.I exhaled slowly. "Say it."His head moved slightly, his jaw tight. "Say what?""That you think I should have let you kill him."Alex's mouth opened, then closed again. He inhaled through his nostri
SophiaI barely slept.Chloe's voice lingered in my mind like a dirge. Not the threat, but the words. Not the implication—that it was going to happen. But the finality of it."Tyler's going to steal something from you. This time, it's personal."She'd smiled when she spoke. Not with menace—but at last.And that frightened me.I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers tapping a restless rhythm against my knee. The city outside the hotel window was already awake, the skyline burning with streaks of early morning light.Alex remained sleeping on the couch, his shirt unlatched at the collar, his face serene in a way that did not usually happen when he was awake. He had remained sitting with me for the majority of the night, observing, waiting—aware I would never reveal to him what was really bothering me.Because I had no idea how to tell him.For the first time since this war began, I wasn't sure I was prepared for what lay ahead.Nathan's always played a game of power, a game of dominati
SophiaThe orphanage retained the scent of smoke. It clung to the walls, to the furniture, to the air that I inhaled, like a reminder of what had happened.I stood in the remains of what had been the children's library, my fists clenched at my hips. The bookshelves were burnt half-way, some scattered on the floor, their cracked and blackened spines gleaming. Ash swirled in the sun through the shattered windows, coating the desecrated remains of the world I'd built for them.For them.And Nathan had laid waste to it.I gasped hard through my nose, trying to suppress the anger raging hotter than the fire that had nearly consumed this structure.Behind me, Mrs. Peterson crossed her arms, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. "They could have died, Sophia. If we hadn't smelled the smoke in time..." Her voice broke. She took a shuddering breath, fighting to continue. "Whoever did this wanted to make a point. And we both know who that is."I already did.I turned around, my face c
SophiaI stood in the doorway of my office, looking out over the city I had fought so long to reclaim. The skyline burned gold in the early evening light, the glass towers creating the illusion of tranquility. But inside me, inside this war I was waging, it was anything but peaceful.Nathan had begun it, setting fire to the orphanage, and I had retaliated. A move for a move. A game of burn and destroy.But now we were past retaliating.This was no longer a battle.It was a reckoning.A gentle knock at the door snapped me out of my trance. Bellion entered, his face as serene as ever, but his eyes sharp. "It's done."I turned to face him, my fists curled around the edge of my desk. "And?"Bellion gave me a black leather folder. "The case is airtight. Offshore accounts. Illegal arms dealings. Bribes. This—" He tapped the folder. "—is what takes Nathan Carter down."I exhaled slowly, heart rate consistent. "Then we run it."Bellion hesitated, and that was so out of character that I notice
SophiaI leaned against the city skyline from the penthouse window, my hand clenched around the stem of a wine glass. The amber liquid inside didn't much ripple, but my mind was far from still. The battle between Nathan and me had grown more powerful than business, more powerful than revenge. It was personal now.Bellion's voice echoed in my head. "Chloe's been exposed. Nathan hasn't moved yet."That was the problem.Nathan never remained still.I looked over at Alex, who was sitting on the couch, watching me. His suit jacket draped over the arm of the couch, his white shirt sleeves rolled up as he sipped a drink. He was just as tired as I was."He's plotting something," I said finally.Alex sighed. "Of course, he is."I set my glass on the table and folded my arms. "Then why do I get the feeling that we're still one step behind?"Alex stared at me with all seriousness. "Because Nathan is most dangerous when he is quiet. He is letting the world destroy Chloe first before he moves."I
SophiaThe sound of Chloe’s ragged breathing filled the back seat of Alex’s car as we sped through the empty streets. She was barely holding herself together, her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress like she could ground herself through sheer force of will. She had been quiet since we left Nathan’s mansion, too quiet. But I wasn’t in the mood to coax words out of her.She had made her choices. And now, she was facing the consequences.Alex glanced at me from the driver’s seat, his expression unreadable. “She needs medical attention,” he said, voice low but firm.“She needs to start talking,” I countered, turning in my seat to face her. “Why did Nathan take you?”Chloe swallowed hard, staring at the passing streetlights like they held the answers. “He said I was a liability,” she whispered. “That I was an unfinished problem that needed to be taken care of.”A sharp pulse of satisfaction ran through me. So, Nathan wasn’t invincible after all. If he was eliminating liabilities, i
SophiaThe car ride back to Bellion’s safe house was suffocating. Not because of the space, but because of Chloe. She sat there, shoulders hunched, eyes downcast, the weight of her own betrayal pressing against her like chains. She wasn’t speaking, and for once, I didn’t feel the need to pull words from her.Because I didn’t trust a damn thing she had to say.Alex drove with calculated ease, his hands tight on the steering wheel, his golden-brown eyes flicking toward the rearview mirror every few seconds to check for a tail. We all knew Nathan wouldn’t just let this go. He never did.“We should have killed him,” Alex muttered, breaking the silence.Bellion, who had been silent beside me, tilted his head slightly. “It’s never that simple with men like Nathan.”I exhaled sharply. “It will be. Because I’m going to make sure of it.”Chloe shifted beside me, flinching slightly, as if she had something to say but was too afraid to speak it.Good.She should be afraid.Because if she thought
Sophia’s POVThe morning of the press conference arrived, and my nerves were a live wire beneath my skin. The media had been relentless since Nathan’s paternity claim went public, dissecting my past, my relationship with Alex, even my pregnancy. Every headline felt like a fresh wound. Alex stood beside me in front of the floor-length mirror in our bedroom, adjusting his tie. His reflection was all sharp angles and barely contained fury, but when his eyes met mine, they softened. “You ready?” he asked, voice low. I inhaled deeply, smoothing my hands over the sleek black dress I’d chosen—elegant, professional, unshakable. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” His fingers brushed my waist, grounding me. “Remember, we control this. Not him.” I nodded, but the weight of what we were about to do pressed down on me. This wasn’t just about refuting Nathan’s lies. It was about exposing him—and Chloe—for the manipulators they were. And Julian had given us the ammunition to do it. **********
Sophia’s POVThe dining room was suffocating. Crystal chandeliers cast a cold, glittering light over the long mahogany table, the same one where I’d endured countless silent meals as a child. The air smelled of roasted lamb and expensive wine, but beneath it all lingered something bitter—resentment, lies, and the unspoken war between us. Nathan sat directly across from me, his sharp jaw clenched, his fingers drumming impatiently against the tablecloth. His dark eyes flicked to mine, and for a second, I saw the same cold calculation that had haunted me since we divorced . Chloe, seated beside him, looked like the cat who got the cream, her lips curled in a smirk as she sipped her wine. My mother, ever the gracious host, gestured for the servers to begin plating the first course. “So,” she began, her voice too bright, “how have things been with the two of you?” I forced a smile, gripping my fork a little too tightly. “Busy, but good.” Alex’s hand found my knee under the tabl
Sophia’s povNathan’s words hung in the air like a blade poised to drop. My breath hitched, my fingers instinctively curling into fists at my sides. Beside me, Alex went rigid, his grip on my waist tightening protectively. "What the hell did you just say?" Alex’s voice was low, dangerous. Nathan didn’t flinch. His dark eyes remained locked on mine, cold and calculating. "You heard me." He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "Is it mine?" The accusation was like a slap. My pulse roared in my ears, my stomach twisting with fury. How dare he?I didn’t even think—my hand flew out, the sharp crack of my palm against his cheek echoing in the night air. Nathan barely staggered, but his head snapped to the side, a red mark blooming on his skin. "You disgusting bastard," I hissed. Nathan slowly turned back to face me, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "That’s not an answer." Alex moved before I could, shoving Nathan back hard enough that he stumbl
Sophia’s POVThe dining room was suffocating. Crystal chandeliers cast a cold, glittering light over the long mahogany table, the same one where I’d endured countless silent meals as a child. The air smelled of roasted lamb and expensive wine, but beneath it all lingered something bitter—resentment, lies, and the unspoken war between us. Nathan sat directly across from me, his sharp jaw clenched, his fingers drumming impatiently against the tablecloth. His dark eyes flicked to mine, and for a second, I saw the same cold calculation that had haunted me since we divorced . Chloe, seated beside him, looked like the cat who got the cream, her lips curled in a smirk as she sipped her wine. My mother, ever the gracious host, gestured for the servers to begin plating the first course. “So,” she began, her voice too bright, “how have things been with the two of you?” I forced a smile, gripping my fork a little too tightly. “Busy, but good.” Alex’s hand found my knee under the tabl
Sophia’s pov“That lying ass bastard!” I said with my voice coated with anger. “Hey, calm down.”I turned to see Alex with a glass of vodka and he stood near Julian as he worked.“Why not get this to the police? Nathan and Chleo would have been able to manipulate the board.” I told myself, as I tried to calm down.“And you think they don't have the resources to actually manipulate the police also?” Alex eyebrows went up.“Not with the letter and evidence we have.” Alex said and my phone rang.I picked it up from the table to see Chole’s name on the screen. My heart clenched, hard.“Who is it?” I lookeded to Alex waiting for a response, “Chole.”“Well, what are you waiting for? Pick it up before she suspects something.”I exhaled and then pressed on the green button, bringing the phone close to my ears.“Hello.” I said, my voice was filled with hate.“Ah, sister, that's one way to end the day.” I could hear the sarcasm in her voice.I rolled my eyes, not in the mood to play any stup
SophiaThe morning was too still.Like the air was holding its breath.I was perched on the clinic bed, IV line still leaking cool liquid into my arm. My head ached... not sharp, just dull and constant, like a warning hum before something bigger.I watched the door instead of the clock. I did not know what I was waiting for, maybe a sign that the world was ready to stop spinning. Maybe just for Alex to come in and not look like he was trying to carry everything on his shoulders.He was in the doorway a moment later.Hood pulled back, shirt untucked, eyes bloodshot.He didn't speak for a moment. Just leaned back against the frame like he wasn't sure he should come in or give me space. "Coffee?" he asked finally, raising a metal thermos."God, yes."He came over with it.I took it from him with both hands and had a sip. It was awful. Burnt. Too strong. But it was warm. It was real.Alex pulled the chair close, but didn't sit right away. His fingers drummed on the back. "You good to m
SophiaThe morning was too still.Like the air was holding its breath.I was perched on the clinic bed, IV line still leaking cool liquid into my arm. My head ached... not sharp, just dull and constant, like a warning hum before something bigger.I watched the door instead of the clock. I did not know what I was waiting for, maybe a sign that the world was ready to stop spinning. Maybe just for Alex to come in and not look like he was trying to carry everything on his shoulders.He was in the doorway a moment later.Hood pulled back, shirt untucked, eyes bloodshot.He didn't speak for a moment. Just leaned back against the frame like he wasn't sure he should come in or give me space. "Coffee?" he asked finally, raising a metal thermos."God, yes."He came over with it.I took it from him with both hands and had a sip. It was awful. Burnt. Too strong. But it was warm. It was real.Alex pulled the chair close, but didn't sit right away. His fingers drummed on the back. "You good to m
SophiaThe next day after the clinic was like being on the edge of a cliff.Alex was quiet. Still present, but at arm's length. His hands helped with the equipment, his voice came out when needed, but the warmth I'd depended on had gone away.Not vanished.But in suspension.Waiting for something, I didn't know.Maybe for the truth to catch up. Or maybe for something to burst wide open.We left the orchard just after sunrise. Lina was sleeping against my chest, no longer restless. The clinic had given us more than results, it had given us two days of peace.And I didn't know how hungry I was for quiet until it was time to leave it behind."Where now?" I asked.Alex did not look at me when he answered. "Julian says the eastern ridge has a blind spot in Nathan's surveillance net. If we camp there, we can see board activity in real time."I nodded. "Then we camp."The trail was steep. My legs ached before we'd even reached the halfway point, and my breathing was choppy than I'd have pref
SophiaWe sat beside the fire hours after it went out.It was now mere embers, burning softly, as silently as the anger I'd yet to shed.Lina was tightly swaddled under Alex's jacket, breathing even but shallowly, as if she listened in her sleep. Alex remained beside her, a guarding hand on the small of her back. He did not talk. He had not said much since Chloe's smile lit the headlines like a spent sun.I could not tell if it was pressure or peace.Either likely.I rested my elbows on the earth, steadying myself as the pre-dawn chill crept across the clearing. Less than twenty-four hours. Less than twenty-four hours since I'd put my sister's destruction in front of every viewer in the country.And already, I could feel the shift.Not victory.Not yet.But momentum.Julian sent word last night—coded, in a phony headline about crop futures. "Shareholder momentum is shifting. Carter board breaks. Keep pressure."I didn't reply.I couldn't.Because while the world was finally seeing Nat