It felt like a lightning bolt had cracked straight through Cordelia’s skull.She stared down at the pregnancy test in her hand—two unmistakable pink lines glaring back at her like a slap across the face.Her heart pounded.That wretched woman!Serena had the gall to defy them—to defy her—and go crawling back into Alexander’s bed?Cordelia’s grip tightened on the test as rage surged through her like wildfire. Hadn’t she warned Serena? Hadn’t she made it crystal clear that any delusions about staying in the Vanderbilt family would be crushed?Yet here she was, not only staying—but carrying what might be Alexander’s child.Cordelia took a sharp breath and quickly fished her phone out of her purse. Her fingers, trembling with adrenaline, flew across the screen as she dialed Alexander’s number.But it wasn’t him who picked up—it was Jonathan."Ms. Cordelia," Jonathan greeted calmly, his tone clipped and professional."Jonathan," she snapped, "hand the phone to Alexander. I need to ask him
Alexander sat on the sleek leather couch, the city lights from the window casting faint reflections across the polished floor. He opened his laptop with one hand, the soft click of the keyboard keys quickly filling the room as he began pulling up documents. The screen glowed coldly in the dimness of his penthouse.There had been turbulence with one of the Vanderbilt Group’s overseas branches, and it required his direct intervention. He was likely flying out within the next forty-eight hours—another transatlantic trip, another round of negotiations. Time was tight, and the pressure mounting.He worked silently, laser-focused, until his phone buzzed. Victoria's name lit up the screen.He hesitated a moment before answering.On the other end, Victoria’s voice trembled with suppressed emotion. She hesitated, trying to mask her panic with composure, but the waver in her tone betrayed her.Just that morning, she had paraded her so-called victory with pride, telling him how easily she'd conq
After Victoria left, Alexander remained seated at his desk, the soft glow from the monitor casting stark shadows across his face. The data on the screen blurred before his eyes as his fingers stilled on the keyboard.No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't focus.He hadn’t slept a wink the night before. Every time he closed his eyes, that same image flashed behind his eyelids—Serena’s pale skin and the dark, unmistakable mark on her neck. He had told himself over and over that it didn’t matter, that she was just a woman. Disposable. Replaceable. Nothing special.But that lie was beginning to crack.He leaned back in his chair, pinched the bridge of his nose, and exhaled through his teeth. The room was silent, save for the soft hum of the central air and the distant ticking of the antique clock in the corner. The silence should have been soothing. Instead, it grated on him.His thoughts drifted again—to her.Why hadn’t she messaged? Not a call, not even a meaningless emoji. Nothing.W
At dawn, with the sky still painted in shades of pale blue and gray, Serena arrived at Alexei’s company. It was only 7 a.m., but she moved with the sharp precision of someone who had been awake for hours—her resolve unwavering.In the quiet of a sleek conference room, she signed an agreement with Alexei—her last ace in the hand she was about to play.Once it was done, she opened her laptop, logged into the secure trading platform, and sent a direct message to the Richter Group.“I have a 35% stake. I'm willing to sell.”The response came quickly. On the other end, the acquisition team at Richter Group—already knee-deep in the covert buyout of Pinturas Grande—froze.A 35% stake?Until now, they'd only managed to purchase 16%. With this additional chunk, their ownership would leap past the 51% threshold—enough to take full control of the Morales family company. It was the kind of offer that could change the tide of a battle—and they could hardly believe their luck.What they didn’t know
After leaving the Morales company building, Serena drove straight to the Morales family villa. The sky had already turned the color of fading embers, and a chill clung to the air as dusk settled over the city. Her steps felt heavy as she approached the house, the weight of the day pressing down on her shoulders.She couldn’t—wouldn’t—apologize to Victoria. That was out of the question.But the news that the board had betrayed her and the looming threat of an acquisition left her boxed into a corner. Fighting alone wasn’t just foolish—it was dangerous. Yet surrendering the company her father had built with his bare hands was something she couldn’t accept.She stood quietly outside Alfonso’s room for a moment, her knuckles brushing the door. Then she lifted her hand and knocked gently.A bout of coughing answered from inside.The sound cut through her like a blade.Guilt coiled in her chest. She had promised to make things better—to carry the Morales family legacy forward. Now, her defi
Dear Gentle Readers, Thank you for your support & understanding. This author will publish 2 chapters every day (1 paying & 1 freebie) this month for quick readers — as the chapter will all turned to paying by the end of the month Jun 30 or else this author will have to face an angry editor. Grazie mille. yours, ECAt the rooftop bar of 230 Fifth, the city lights sprawled like a glittering blanket below, but inside, the energy buzzed from something else entirely—gossip.Hugo slammed his palm on the wooden table, nearly tipping over a few glasses. "You guys should’ve seen it! She pointed right at Victoria’s nose and called her a mistress. Madam Vanderbilt was so furious she fainted on the spot. First lawsuit of her life, and she’s almost seventy!" he said with unrestrained glee.The circle around him burst into laughter. Most of them hadn’t attended the Laurent family's gathering and were now hanging on Hugo’s every word, sipping their cocktails with widened eyes.Hugo swirled the a