Who do you think planned everything that happened to Gianna? Who wants her dead?
Lucas Isla’s body trembled. Her own father had just accused her of seducing me. Something was seriously off with my family tonight, and I hated it. Whatever the Fosters said to my mom had blown things way out of proportion, turning what should’ve been a pleasant evening into a total mess. Despite her hurt, Isla clearly didn’t want to cause me further embarrassment in front of my family and the other guests. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she fought to maintain her dignity. “P-please, excuse me for a moment,” Isla managed as she lowered her gaze. Without waiting for a reply, she stepped away from the table and walked off. Mom’s frown deepened as she watched Isla leave. “Isla!” I called after her, ready to go after her, but Nora grabbed my arm. “Lucas.” Her voice was tight, urgent. She leaned closer, lowering her voice so only I could hear. “I announced earlier that you were dating Ms. Foster because that’s what I heard from Dr. Castillo and Dr. Sinclair. But while
My eyes met Lucas Westwood’s, and I swallowed hard as he stopped just inches before me. Before I could process what was happening, his arms encircled my waist and lifted me effortlessly. My hands found his shoulders instinctively, seeking balance, just as his mouth claimed mine in a kiss that made the world disappear. A sudden chime echoed through the penthouse, cutting through the moment and forcing our lips to part. “Damn! Perfect timing,” he muttered, clearly annoyed by the interruption. “That’s probably the stylist and his team,” Lucas said, setting me down as we stepped into the living space. He checked the security system and buzzed them in. “Would you mind greeting them?” He turned back to me, his expression softening. “This is your home now, Isla. I want you to feel comfortable here with everything, including the people who come and go.” I nodded, moved by the weight behind his words. Lucas disappeared into his bedroom while I waited for the guests to arrive. Geez, I si
Isla “Ready to go?” Lucas asked. I nodded, unable to trust my voice. I couldn’t bear the thought of my mother’s spirit wandering restlessly, the way I had been these past weeks. That’s why Lucas and I made this solemn journey to the columbarium when I finally gathered the courage to leave our apartment. Here, we could lay her to rest properly. He didn’t have to come, but he did. For that, I was quietly grateful. With trembling hands, I placed the urn gently inside the marble niche. As the bronze cover slid into place, sealing her remains behind polished granite, a fresh wave of grief washed over me. But even as her body found its resting place, I wasn’t ready to release her memory. Silent tears streamed down my cheeks. Lucas said nothing; he placed an arm around me and guided me back to his vehicle. We were already inside when I finally found the words. “Thank you for everything, Lucas. I’ll pay you back in a few months.” I was thinking about the sixty percent shares I was set
Gazelle had been quiet for some time as we sat in the car. Our meeting with the Fosters hadn’t gone well. She kept her gaze fixed outside the window, lost in thought. The silence started to feel heavy, so I decided to break it. “I-I’m sorry if I lost control back there,” I said, breaking the tension. “I shouldn’t have let Elara get under my skin like that.” She finally turned to me and let out a quiet sigh. “It’s okay. I’m sorry, too, for going silent. My head’s just all over the place; thinking about the Foster Corporation, the wedding, my baby twinkle…” Relief washed over me. At least the silence hadn’t been about my outburst. “About the issues you’re investigating,” I said carefully, “the engineers we spoke with earlier seemed unaware of what’s happening.” “They are,” Gazelle replied. “The refineries are overseas, so they outsourced manpower outside of Foster Corporation. That’s where the contract went wrong. I only discovered the third-party involvement during my audit. I not
Gazelle smiled and gave my arm a reassuring tap. “Relax… I know what you mean. I’m not judging you, Isla, if you’re worried about that.” “Thank you…” The knot in my chest loosened. It was clear how determined Gazelle was to succeed in this agreement with the Fosters. But the moment we stepped into the meeting room, my relief vanished. Sitting at the table was someone I hoped I wouldn’t run into today. Elara. Dad handed her this project as if it were a favor. “Isla?” Her eyes widened at the sight of me standing beside Gazelle. I didn’t respond. Engaging with her was the last thing I wanted, especially not in front of my new boss. “She’s my executive assistant,” Gazelle said evenly. “Really?” Elara muttered, masking her irritation with a forced smile. I kept my expression neutral. Her team started filing in, responding one by one to Gazelle’s questions. Most of them were veteran engineers who’d been working with Sinclair Enterprise for years. Without wasting time, G
Like the first time we kissed, Lucas’s lips sent a rush through my entire being, blurring every emotion crowding my head. They washed away the doubts I had buried deep, until all that remained was the heady mix of our breaths in that passionate moment. He inhaled sharply as we pulled apart, only to let his lips trail down to my neck, hot and unrelenting. At twenty-five, I had never felt lips against my throat, had never known how such a simple touch could brand itself into memory. A moan climbed up my throat, but I bit my lip to stop it from spilling out. Then, without glancing at the untouched five-star meal on the table, he scooped me into his arms. He carried me to the couch, my hair fanning out against the cushions, and his mouth found mine again, hungry and consuming. Lucas’s kisses were hard to put into words. They were intense, like they carried both flavor and fire, as if he were trying to memorize the taste of me. And I kissed him back with the same urgency, giving in c