LOGINAt exactly nine o'clock in the morning, my luxury black car glided smoothly through the towering wrought-iron gates of Blackmoore Enterprises, followed closely by a sleek, orderly convoy of high-end vehicles carrying our international business partners, VIP investors, and regional directors. The morning sun reflected sharply off the towering, tinted glass facade of the headquarters, where a massive, elegant banner welcomed our visiting stakeholders with corporate polish.
The deep, dreamless slumber of exhaustion finally began to shift, pulling Mannie into a bizarre, vivid landscape. In her dream, she wasn't a junior marketing assistant or a hardworking mother; she was a small, fluffy white rabbit hopping through an endless field of crisp green grass. A massive, perfectly ripe carrot materialized in front of her, and she happily began to crunch down on it, her twitching nose catching the earthy, sweet scent of the garden.Suddenly, a massive shadow loomed over her. A pair of large, warm hands reached down and scooped her up effortlessly into the air.
When Mannie finally arrived home that evening, the heavy front door barely had time to click shut before her eight children swarmed her like a pack of enthusiastic puppies. They grabbed her hands, pulled her toward the living room, and showered her with loud, unreserved compliments."Mom! You're going to look amazing," Nate, her eldest, declared proudly, his sharp, stormy eyes reflecting total confidence. "Nobody is going to be able to take their eyes off you. You're the coolest dancer in the whole wide world!"
Unable to convince Mannie over the phone, Beth decided that talking was no longer enough. She grabbed her car keys, drove straight to the Xia family home, and marched through the front door determined to recruit the ultimate backup: Mannie’s eight children.The afternoon sunlight streamed through the living room windows, illuminating a house that was usually a whirlwind of chaotic energy. Mannie’s mother was sitting in her favorite armchair, loudly complaining about some minor household grievance, while the children were scattered around the room playing quietly.
Mannie's Point of ViewThe studio speakers vibrated with a heavy, pulsating bass, shaking the polished wooden floorboards beneath my sneakers as I executed the final, razor-sharp counts of the choreography. My chest heaved with the heavy, satisfying burn of exertion, and sweat trickled down the back of my neck. In exactly one week, Dominic’s Group would host its legendary annual visitor day. President Dominic himself, accompanied by an entourage
Mannie's Point of View Outside on the dim, quiet patio, I didn't move. I stood perfectly still, my breathing shallow, listening to the muffled thump of the bass from the reception hall vibrating against the thick glass.Slowly, I raised my right hand and opened my tightly clenched fist. Resting perfectly in the center of my pale palm was a single, long strand of dark black hair.
The flash of the camera lit up the walk-in closet.Again.And again.I held the pose—one hand resting lightly on the glass shelf, the other gently touching the gold zipper on my branded dress. My lips curved in a soft pout, my eyes narrowed just enough. I tilted my chin slightly and leaned closer t
The sound of my boots echoed on the marble floors as I stepped into the house.No—her house.Or at least the one I gave her.Zarah Twain.The woman who was supposed to be mine. The woman everyone swore was the same one from five years ago. The one my people brought home because she wore the right w
rd Pov
I woke up with a scream caught in my throat.My body jerked forward, drenched in cold sweat, my heart pounding like it wanted to break free from my chest. The hotel room was dark, the only light coming from the city glow slipping through the blinds. My legs trembled as I pushed myself up from the







