**ALEX POV**“How much is the budget for the project?” I asked Melina, my secretary, who stood confidently at the head of the conference table, presenting our next automobile project analysis.“Sir, according to our estimates, it will cost around three hundred thousand dollars to kick-start the project,” she replied, her voice steady.I leaned back in my chair, scanning the faces of the shareholders seated around the long, polished table in the conference room. All well-dressed, attentive, and ready for a decision.“What do we think about this?” I asked, letting my voice carry authority. “Let’s vote. Those in favor, raise your hands.”Hands went up across the room—every single one of them. I caught Adrian’s eye as he sat beside me, his hand raised too, flashing a quick smirk.Adrian,the son of the well known Backwood family. His family ran one of the top electronics companies in this region. Apart from being my closest friend, he was also my trusted business partner. The only one I co
Miss Maya,” he said softly, his eyes grave, “could we speak in private?”My gaze darted past him.And there she was.Mum—so still, so pale. A mask covered her nose and mouth. Machines beeped beside her like a countdown to some unseen end. Her chest rose and fell, but it wasn’t enough. Not when she didn’t stir. Not when she didn’t know I was there.My knees buckled. I barely nodded before following the doctor into his office, my heart pounding like a war drum in my chest.“She’s stable now,” he began gently as I sank numbly into the chair across from him.I exhaled a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Thank God… but what happened? Why is she like this?”He hesitated.And that hesitation alone nearly shattered me.“Your mother was injected with an unusually high dose of scopolamine,” he said carefully. “It’s a powerful drug. In such large amounts, it can mimic Alzheimer’s symptoms. It blocks receptors in the brain—affecting memory, perception, and cognition.”I stared at him. His
A wave of dread washed over me. I sprinted closer, seeing Mom standing outside the door, tears streaming down her face. “What’s happening?” I cried, gripping the arm of a doctor sprinting by.“There’s no time to explain,” he said tersely before disappearing into the room.I rushed to Mom, kneeling beside her. “Mom, talk to me! What happened?” I shook her gently, but her expression was frozen, tears falling without a word.“Mom, please! What’s going on?” My voice trembled with fear, the tightness in my chest growing unbearable.“Maya—” Christi said, returning with takeout in her hands, her face paling at the sight of Mom’s distress.“Christi, I don’t know what’s happening! I just came back and saw Mom outside. The doctors are with Dad, and nobody will tell me what’s going on!” I sobbed, my heart racing.She dropped the food, moving closer to me. “It’s okay, Maya,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around me.“Mom, what happened? I thought Dad was fine just moments ago!” I pleaded, but
I decided to check the news, and a headline caught my attention: “Face of Queenk.” Clicking on it made my heart race, and I was shocked by the image that appeared. Wait, isn’t this the same girl who led me to the pool? My thoughts raced—so Alex was right; she was involved and had been sent by Isabella. But how did they know I couldn’t swim? Aside from my family and Maimai, I hadn’t told anyone. How could they possibly have found out?A flurry of questions filled my mind, but I set them aside, resolved to uncover the truth. I would be reaching out to Isabella soon. I made the decision to call Maimai.“Maya, you had me worried!” she exclaimed as soon as I answered the call. I had to pull the phone away from my ear, bracing myself for the intensity of her concern.“Sorry, I’m caught up in all this,” I responded, feeling a wave of regret.She sighed, relief evident in her voice. “I’m just glad you’re okay. How is Dad?” “He’s stable. I just spoke with the doctor; the surgery is scheduled
**Alex's POV**Damn, I cursed under my breath as I watched the car drive away. That was too close, I pulled the hoodie from my head, trying to catch a glimpse of her face as the vehicle disappeared into the distance. My heart pounded in my chest as I stepped out of the car. I had planned to stay hidden, to watch from afar but the urge to see her overwhelmed me. Disguising myself was a pitiful attempt to avoid recognition and before I knew it, I was walking in her direction but lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed her until we collided.Time froze for a moment. My breath hitched as our eyes met—hers were wide with surprise and I was instantly transported back to every memory we shared. Seeing her again was supposed to bring clarity but instead, it muddled everything further. I wanted to reach out, to embrace her and whisper everything I hadn’t said, but the words caught in my throat.She looked fragile, as if the world was pressing down on her. My heart ached at the sight. What could
“Christi, you’re back,” I said softly, stepping closer. She turned her head toward me and managed a small smile. “Yeah. I couldn’t stay away for long.” At least she looked better than when I first saw her. I let out a breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding. Mom was sitting near the window, slowly eating from a small bowl. That was a relief. She hadn’t eaten much since we got to the hospital, and I’d been worried. “Mom, you should eat more,” I said, pulling up a chair beside her. She gave me a tired smile. “I’m fine, Maya.” Christi got up and walked over to the table where a food flask sat. She opened it, served some porridge onto plate, and handed it to me. “Here, eat,” she said. I hesitated for a moment before taking it. “Thanks, Christi.” We sat in silence as we ate, the only sounds being the occasional scrape of the spoon against the plate. Every now and then, my eyes drifted