The midday sun beat down on her, as Elena exited the apartment she lived in and walked to her car. She settled into the driver’s seat, feeling the intensity of the heat radiating from the sidewalk outside. She adjusted her sunglasses and took a slow, calming breath, enjoying the cool blast of air conditioning as it began to ease the uncomfortable warmth.Then she inserted the key in the ignition. Turning the key she fully expected the engine to roar to life. But instead, it gave a weak sputter and fell silent. “Oh, come on!” she muttered, frustration in her voice and in her tone as she tried again. This time, the engine barely sputtered before quitting completely, leaving an uneasy silence around her. “This can't be happening right now.” She mumbled, pushing herself back against the car seat as she pulled a strand of hair from her face.She glanced around, almost embarrassed, as if someone might witness her struggle with the aging car. It felt like a cruel reminder of everything she’d
Nathan was seated down, contemplating what he had done, when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen before bringing it to his ear. The voice on the other end was chilling and unemotional.“It’s done,” the man reported, his tone carrying a finality that made Nathan feel like something had twisted deep inside him, “We took care of her, just like you wanted.”Nathan didn’t respond immediately. His gaze drifted to the dull, worn-down walls of the small apartment, the silence around him feeling suddenly oppressive. He’d thought this would bring him relief, some sense of satisfaction. But instead, his chest felt nothing but heartache, guit, sadness, a sick ache building as he gripped the phone tighter.He swallowed, his expression cold and voice barely above a whisper as he replied. “Are you sure?” he asked, he was feeling bad. Nonetheless he was still hoping that they had truly done their job and took care of Elena, “You made certain she couldn’t survive?”
Liam hurried through the hospital's automatic doors, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the air. His facial expression was a mask of worry. Beside him were Cara, Luke, and Megan, each of them having insisted on accompanying him after hearing about Elena’s accident. But their reasons were different. They weren’t there for Elena, they were there for him in this tough time. Cara and Luke didn’t know Elena at all to care, and Megan, though concerned, had no real affection for Elena due to her cunning and manipulative ways. The only reason Megan might feel a hint of worry now was because Elena was carrying Liam’s child, the baby that was family to her.Nonetheless, their presence was a comfort to Liam, though it did little to ease the anxiety within him. The doctor hadn’t been very clear on Elena’s condition over the phone, and Liam couldn’t get rid of the fear that something terrible had happened. He didn’t want to lose his child, especially not before he’d even had the chance to me
Liam turned to look at Nathan. Their expressions were unreadable as the two men stared at each other. From the hostility in each other's eyes, it was clear they were enemies.Liam turned back around with a sigh. Although he disliked Nathan’s presence intensely, he decided to tolerate it for now. There were more pressing matters at hand than their mutual disdain.Nathan stepped further into the room, closing the door quietly behind him. His gaze lingered on Elena. And a storm of frustration was boiling beneath his calm facade. ‘How the fuck is she still alive?’ he thought bitterly. ‘Those bastards. Useless idiots. I should have done this myself instead of hiring some incompetent fools.’ The sight of Elena still breathing, although shallowly, was infuriating Nathan. All his carefully planned plans, the money he had spent, the risks taken now felt like it was a waste.But the wasted money was the least of Nathan's concerns right now.He feared that if Elena woke up, there was a very rea
Slipping into the room, Nathan’s eyes were fixed on Elena with a cold, predatory intensity. Not even seeing her in the state that she was in, made him feel bad for her. It was a testament of how much hatred he had built up for her, ever since the betrayal.The door clicked shut softly behind him. As he approached the bed, his footsteps were slow and deliberate. His gaze roamed over her pale face. He stood by the bed, glaring down at her unconscious body. At first, his facial expression was casual, as if he were merely observing something boring. But then, suddenly, his demeanor shifted. His eyes softened, and his brow furrowed in an almost sorrowful way. The rapid change in his emotions was unusual and unsettling. It was as though two opposing emotions: cold detachment and remorse battled within him, each fighting for dominance. Well, Elena was someone whom he used to consider family, and loved so of course he was going to be feeling bad and guilty, but at the same time he hated h
At the same time, Irene and Alvin Danvers arrived outside the hospital room, accompanied by Doctor Grant.The doctor Grant was telling them about Elena's health and the risks she could face on her way to recovery. He spoke calmly, his tone professional yet reassuring. “So far, there have been no complications. She should recover well.”Alvin Danvers voice was composed as usual, but laced with concern as he enquired“And the pregnancy? Is the baby going to be okay?”“Yes, we believe so,” Doctor Grant replied, nodding his head. “But even with all indications being positive, we can’t be completely sure there won’t be complications. It’s something we’ll need to monitor closely.”"That's such a relief, that she is better," Irene Danvers sighed, her tension slightly easing. As much as she and the Danvers family didn't like Elena, they were worried about her, because she was carrying, potentially the future heir to the Danvers empire. Irenes brows furrowed again as she asked, “What other ris
Liam stood frozen in the doorway, his breath caught in his throat as his gaze darted from the panick stricken doctors to Elena. She was lying on the bed, looking still and lifeless.The beeping of the heart monitor echoed in his ears, sharp and irregular. He had been gone for only a few minutes, but it felt like a lifetime. Something was terribly wrong already. What happened when he was gone? He didn't know, but he was very worried for Elena and his baby."Is she going to be okay?" Liam asked, his voice was barely above a whisper as he asked the doctors. His eyes searched their faces for an answer, but no one seemed willing to give. They were too focused on Elena.Doctor Grant, focused and calm despite the chaos, didn't look up as he adjusted the machines. "We're doing everything we can, Mr Danvers. I suggest you go outside sir."Liam's stomach twisted with anxiety. He felt like he shouldn't leave Elena and the baby’s side, but he knew the doctors needed space to work. Reluctantly, h
Nathan was just as nervous, if not more than brad. "Hold on," he said, reaching for his phone, panic creeping into his voice. "Let me try and call for help."His fingers moved quickly, dialing a number with speed. The phone rang only once before someone answered."Hi, Mr Simpson, it's Nathan," he said, his voice tight with growing anxiety. As he began to realize what a dangerous situation he was in, panic began to set in. "I’m being chased. Need backup, now."After a brief exchange on the other end with Mr Simpson, Nathan hung up and leaned back in his seat, his eyes locked on the rearview mirror, watching the Danvers security vehicles closing in fast. Brad glanced at him nervously. "Are they going to be able to help? We’re running out of time."Nathan didn’t answer immediately, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the road ahead. "Yes. Just give them a few minutes. Simpson's men are close by."Some time later, they were still being pursued by Danvers security, unable to shake them. B
Did he have feelings for Rachel? Where did that question even come from? Liam was even more surprised now, he didn't think she would be asking him this question at all. Liam paused, thinking about her question. If he was being honest with himself, he actually liked Rachel, by a lot. The feelings were complicated, though, hard to pin down. He knew he liked Rachel, however he didn't want to describe that as having feelings for her, yet. “Uhm, no…” he replied, but even as the words left his mouth, he wasn’t sure he believed them. Maybe he had feelings for Rachel, or maybe not. Ever since his breakup with Karen, Rachel was the only person he had felt attracted to. Still, his mind wasn’t giving him any clear answers yet.Aretha kept her eyes locked on Liam after he said he didn’t have feelings for Rachel. A sense of relief washed over her. She smiled weakly, mischievously.“That's a relief to hear!” She muttered in a whisper. He didn’t have feelings for her sister, which meant she had a
Sometime later, after the lawyers arrived, Liam and the others were in the conference room. Rachel, Ethan and Mr Danvers were seated around the table looking over a copy of the documents Ethan had unknowingly signed.The low hum of the fluorescent lights filled the silence, broken only by the occasional rustling of papers.Liam stood by the coffee machine, leaning against the counter as the rich aroma filled the air. He poured himself a cup, letting the warmth of the coffee cup seep into his fingers. Taking a slow sip, his mind wandered yo everything happening in his life. Elena. The baby. Nathan. And then he had to deal with Selena allegations, although he felt like that was already a winnable case.His greatest worry now was Nathan. Nathan wasn’t going to stop until he got what he wanted. Liam knew that all too well. The problem was convincing Elena of it. She’d never believe him if he told her her own brother wanted her dead. Not unless it was already too late.His jaw tightened a
“Hey, are you alright?” Liam asked as Rachel hugged into him, he didn't know what was wrong with her, she had never been like this before. “You’ve been helping our family ever since we met, even though you didn’t have to. I don’t know how we’d get through this without you.” Rachel murmured, her voice soft but filled with emotion.“Uh, you're welcome.” For a moment, Liam froze not knowing how to react. He didn't expect her to hug him. But he didn't mind that at all. He relaxed, the faint, sweet scent of her perfume reached him, something flowery and delicate, completely in tune with her. It was distracting, yet calming at the same time.He hesitated, then gently rested his hands on her back, his touch light but reassuring. “I’m just doing what I can,” he said quietly, his voice slightly lower. “We’ll figure this out together. I promise.”Aretha frowned, her eyes narrowing as she watched Rachel embrace Liam. And what was this? He was actually reciprocating the hug?Though it seemed lik
“He already got what he wanted. I don’t think there’s anything you can do to get everything back,” Rachel said, her voice tinged with hopelessness.She appreciated Liam’s willingness to help, but even with his massive wealth and influence, she didn’t think he could undo something that had already been signed off. Now the Harringtons had to live with the harsh reality that they only owned a small portion of the company that they had founded and put so much into it.Even that was uncertain now. Since Blackthorn was the majority shareholder, he could easily acquire the rest of the company, just like he had with the other 80 percent.“How are we going to tell Dad that his lifelong work doesn’t belong to him anymore? He dedicated most of his life to founding this company and bringing it to where it is,” Ethan’s voice trembled with frustration as his hands clenched into fists. “This is all my fault. I let it happen. I should’ve read through those documents before signing them.”“Blaming you
Fast forward almost an hour later, Liam, his dad and Aretha and Rachel rushed inside an opulent building. Harrington Enterprises, the heart of the Harrington's family’s vast empire, was a modern fortress of glass and steel. Inside, the polished floors shined under the fluorescent lights as Liam and the others walked down. When they entered the receptionist area, they were all surprised to see that it was filled with people dressed in black suits. “What’s going on here?” Rachel murmured, her brows furrowed in confusion as she scanned the room. The men in black suits stationed throughout the reception area stood out immediately. They weren’t part of the company’s regular security team, that much was obvious from their attire and demeanor. “They look like mafia,” she muttered to Liam, uneasily. “The same kind of people that tycoon Blackthorn has been sending to harass my family.” Liam nodded, recalling the first time he had met Rachel and her father. The memory solidified his suspic
“Wait, can they even do that?” Rachel muttered, her voice unsure as she glanced at Alvin. “Just ask for the hearing to be moved to another day because they’re not prepared? That’s not legal, right?”Alvin frowned. “Sadly, they can, if the judge agrees.” Liam’s gaze hardened, his usual calm replaced by a hint of irritation. Even he could sense that Selena and her lawyer were playing dirty. Postponing the hearing at the last minute felt like a deliberate tactic to stall and regroup. It wasn’t just unprofessional, it was desperate.Liam worried what tactics Selena and her lawyer might use to try and secure victory, after all Selena was not honest at all, and she would do anything to win at this stage. Liam looked at the judge, waiting for his answer.After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his voice authoritative. “The defense’s request for additional time is unusual at this stage,” he began his words seriously. “However, given the seriousness of the accusations and the impl
“I don't like this, why are you letting her beat you like that?” Selena asked, frustrated. This wasn't how she had pictured this going, she had pictured Liam and his lawyer being the ones losing. Liam sat back, his posture relaxed, seemingly unaffected by the serious charges against him. He didn’t feel the need to worry. Why should he? Sonia was clearly dominating the courtroom, and it wasn’t even close. Gibson had been backed into a corner so much that he was stumbling over his words, his arguments weak compared to Sonia’s sharp, calculated questioning. Sonia gave off a calm confidence, effortlessly outclassing the defense at every turn. Unlike lawyer Gibson who might’ve shown signs of panic, Sonia was composed, professional in every move she made. The contrast between the two attorneys was glaring, and Liam felt secure in the knowledge that, no matter how hard Gibson tried, he was always one step behind. "Your Honor, I’d like to call our next witness," Sonia said, her voice
Though anger burned inside of him, Liam kept a calm demeanor. Ever the manipulator, Selena continued to play the victim, throwing taunts his way with no hint of remorse. Her shamelessness got on his nerves all the time, but he refused to give her the satisfaction of an outburst. The press was watching, waiting for him to snap, but Liam stayed composed, knowing he couldn't let her win. Sometime later after Liam and Sonia had taken their seats, the judge entered the courtroom The atmosphere in the courtroom was filled with tension as the judge banged his gavel, bringing the room to order. The sound of the gavel echoed, silencing the murmurs and shifting the focus entirely to the front. The judge, man in his fifties with dark and grey hair and a composed demeanor, surveyed the room with an air of authority. His sharp eyes scanned the packed courtroom, briefly pausing on the defense and prosecution tables before he addressed everyone. “This court is now in session. Let us proce
Liam’s expression darkened at the mention of Selena’s ongoing scheming. It was all she ever did, constantly weaving webs of lies. This whole case was nothing more than a tactic to ruin him, and it irked him to no end. It only made him what to see her lose even more.If only he could fast-forward to the moment he’d win this case, put an end to her false accusations, and make sure she faced the consequences of her actions. The idea of seeing her locked up for what she’d done; falsely accusing him and tarnishing his name was the one thing that kept him going through the grueling ordeal. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, trying to suppress the rising anger. “Of course they are. I’ll be there soon.”Arriving at the courthouse half an hour later, Liam was greeted by a swarm of media and paparazzi. They immediately rushed toward the convoy of cars, bombarding them with questions. However, security was quick to step in, preventing anyone from getting close to either Liam or Mr. Dan