Bentley leaned down slightly to whisper into Nova’s ear, his voice low and smooth. “I’ll be right back, okay? I just need to talk to my mother for a moment.”Nova looked up, her fork pausing mid-air. “Is everything alright?”“Yeah,” he assured her, offering one of his easy smiles. “It won’t take long.”"Okay baby."Bentley stood and turned toward the kitchen, where Olivia was already making her way. His steps were unhurried, calm as ever, but his brow creased just slightly—enough to betray a sliver of curiosity.When he entered the kitchen, Olivia was standing near the marble counter, her back to him as she steadied herself with both hands. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator.“Mom?” Bentley said softly, approaching her. “What’s going on?”Olivia turned to face him, her emerald earrings catching the light. Her usual composed expression was replaced with something Bentley couldn’t quite place—hesitation, perhaps, or even guilt.“There’s something I need to te
Bentley arrived at Nova’s house right on time, his car pulling up to the curb. Nova had been pacing her living room for the past twenty minutes, her nerves twisting her stomach into tight knots. She smoothed her dress for the hundredth time, hoping it struck the right balance between elegance and modesty. Bentley had assured her there was no reason to be nervous, but that did little to calm her. Meeting his parents—Charles and Olivia Sterling—felt monumental.A soft knock at the door broke Nova’s anxious pacing. She froze for a second before letting out a shaky breath and heading over. When she opened it, Bentley stood there, dressed simply in a crisp, dark sweater and well-fitted slacks that somehow made him look effortlessly put together. He held a bouquet of white roses in one hand, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips.“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep pacing like that,” he teased, handing her the flowers.Nova rolled her eyes, though her face flushed sl
Savannah couldn’t explain it—an unshakable feeling of unease settled over her as she stood in her brother’s living room. She glanced at the muted TV, the images blending into meaningless static as her thoughts spun in circles. It didn’t make sense. Everything was in place, her plans perfectly aligned, yet something in the air felt wrong."I don't know why I feel like something is not right. They are just too..." She shook her head, forcing herself to let it go. "Whatever," she muttered under her breath, waving the thought off like an annoying fly. Turning, she focused on Keon, who sat hunched over at his desk, his gaming rig illuminating his face in a kaleidoscope of colors.“Keon, you’ve been unusually quiet since I got here,” Savannah said, walking closer. “What’s going on with you, really?”Keon didn’t turn right away, his fingers clicking the mouse rapidly as he adjusted something on-screen. Finally, he sighed and swiveled his chair to face her. His expression was guarded.“I’ve b
The café door swung shut behind Chelsea, the soft chime of its bell barely registering as she stepped out. She was done with her conversation with Chloe, and she already left before her.She walked into the dimly lit parking lot. The evening air was crisp, and the faint sounds of the city hummed in the distance. She clutched her purse tightly, her senses on high alert. That was because she noticed something.A shadowy figure lingering at the edge of her peripheral vision.Someone was following her.Chelsea didn’t quicken her pace. She refused to let fear show, but her mind raced. With every step, the sound of steady footsteps grew closer. Her car was just ahead. She fished her keys from her bag and pressed the unlock button. The faint beep echoed through the quiet lot.She reached her car, opened the driver’s door, and was about to slide in when a large hand slammed it shut with unsettling calmness. Her heart jumped as she spun around slowly, her wide eyes locking onto a man dressed
Charles sat in his private office, the soft hum of the air conditioning punctuated by the faint tap of his finger on the desk. His mind raced through the conversation he had just had with Olivia. He picked up his phone, dialed a number, and waited. The call rang once before it was answered."Charles," a low, gravelly voice answered."I need you to do something for me," Charles said, his tone cool and measured. "Find out everything you can on Savannah, my niece. I want every detail, no matter how insignificant it might seem. Leave no stone unturned. She's making moves, and I want to know exactly what she's planning."There was a pause on the other end before the voice responded. "Consider it done. I'll report back as soon as I have something.""Good," Charles said, before hanging up without another word. He sat back in his chair, his fingers steepling in thought. His niece might think she had the upper hand, but she had no idea what kind of man she was dealing with.Meanwhile, Victori
Olivia Sterling sat at the sprawling dining table, a plate of perfectly arranged croissants, fresh fruit, and scrambled eggs before her. Yet, she hadn’t taken a single bite. Her fork hovered absently over the food as she traced invisible patterns on her plate, her thoughts far removed from the room. Across the table, Charles Sterling, her husband, watched her. His sharp gaze softened with concern as he noted the pallor in her usually composed face, the distant look in her eyes. He placed his spoon down carefully. "Olivia," he said, his deep voice breaking the silence, "you’ve been like this for over a week now. Something’s bothering you."Her hand froze mid-motion, the fork slipping from her fingers and clattering softly onto the plate. She glanced at him, startled, but didn’t speak.Charles leaned forward slightly, his brow furrowed. "Talk to me. What’s going on?"Olivia inhaled deeply, gathering her thoughts, and then let out a slow, measured breath. "You’re right," she began, her