On her way back from the hospital, Ava caught a glimpse of a familiar car parked crookedly by a narrow alley.It was Alexander’s.Her heart lurched.The windows were shattered—glass glittered across the asphalt like scattered ice.Without thinking, she grabbed her phone and dialed his number. No answer.Panic rising, she called Jonathan. His voice was tense."Mr. Vanderbilt insisted on driving back to the hotel alone tonight."Ava didn’t hesitate. She swung her car to the curb and got out, her heels crunching against broken glass. After a beat of hesitation, she stepped into the alley, guided by instinct more than logic.The deeper she went, the colder and damper it became. The flickering streetlights above buzzed weakly, casting fractured shadows on the cracked pavement.Then she saw them—several men sprawled on the ground, unmoving, blood pooling beneath them in dark, glistening puddles.Her stomach twisted. Her knees nearly gave out.And then—crack!A bullet zipped past her, so clo
Dear Gentle Readers, This author would like to share that from beginning of the month up until yesterday, this author made US$64.19 and this author will not get his monthly bonus unless he hits one hundred in a month. He is not asking for you to chime more money but he wants your help to leave comments and reviews on this book so that the editor and GN team will promote this story. This author will continue to work hard and give you more chapters (and of course, free chapters as token of gratitude for your continuous support) Grazie a mille, E. C. ---When Serena returned to Le Châteauesque Manor, the silence of the house pressed in around her like fog. She sank into the plush velvet couch, her posture languid, gaze unfocused. Her hand rested in her lap, its skin still flushed and tender—a faint red imprint blooming across the pale surface. She had always bruised easily; even the slightest blow lingered in color.For a long while, she didn’t move, just sat there staring into the d
By noon the following day, Alexander was finally wheeled out of surgery.Dr. Mikhail Malik, the lead neurosurgeon, looked drained—his scrubs damp with sweat, the creases in his brow deeper than ever. Still, when he met Cornelius Vanderbilt in the hallway, he straightened his shoulders and tried to compose himself, forcing professionalism into his posture and voice.“Mr. Vanderbilt, the injury to Alexander’s brain is severe,” he began carefully. “He already had lingering aftereffects from the previous trauma… and this time, it may be worse.”He didn’t need to elaborate. The unsaid hung in the air, heavy and oppressive: if the Vanderbilt Group’s CEO suffered any cognitive impairment, the future of the entire empire would be thrown into chaos.Cornelius’s expression sharpened. A storm of thought crossed his face before he turned slightly to Rita, who had been standing nearby, pale with worry.“Rita,” he said calmly, “head back to the company and inform everyone that Alexander needs compl
Ava had other matters to attend to that day—pressing ones. She made her way to the Morales family company headquarters, where the atmosphere buzzed with quiet tension.There, she spotted Wes waiting for her near the front office. He looked noticeably better than the last time they’d met—his color had returned, and his posture had straightened—but there was still a shadow in his eyes, the kind that lingered after trauma. The memory of being forcibly taken by Anita still haunted him.“Ava,” he greeted, his voice lighter than she expected. “I’ve been waiting a while. I wanted to recommend a director for your project. Have you heard of Ray Rossi?”Her brow arched slightly. “The one who directed The Gentleman?”Wes nodded. “Yeah. That show has been a cult classic for a decade now. But two years ago, Ray was accused of sexual harassment. His reputation was destroyed overnight. His wife took the kids and left him. Ava, I met him at a bar recently. He’s… in a really dark place, but I still bel
At five in the morning, Ava awoke precisely on time.The sky outside remained a velvet shade of pre-dawn blue. Quietly, she slipped out of bed, her bare feet brushing against the cool floorboards. After washing her face with icy water and taming her hair into a neat twist, she carefully reviewed the materials she had prepared the night before.By six, she made her way to the door of the master bedroom and gave it a light knock."Mr. Vanderbilt, it’s time to get up."A muffled groan answered her. Inside, Alexander rolled over, brow furrowed in irritation as he pulled the covers over his head like a disgruntled child.Unfazed, Ava reached over to the bedside table and pressed the alarm clock. The sudden burst of noise made Alexander jolt upright, his drowsiness evaporating in an instant.His robe had fallen open in the night, the silk fabric pooling at his waist and exposing the sculpted definition of his torso—hard muscle, defined abs, and the kind of nonchalant beauty that could stop
After Alexander left, Jonathan arrived as promised—but he didn’t enter the lounge. Instead, he waited quietly outside until Ava stepped out, her steps light but steady.Jonathan offered a small nod and began explaining the schedule in his usual calm, methodical manner. “In the morning, you’ll need to wake Mr. Vanderbilt, accompany him to social events, manage his business relationships, and act as his driver when needed.”Ava mentally jotted everything down, her expression unreadable.“If you have any questions, just call me,” he added with a faint smile. “I’ll be stationed at the Vanderbilt Group for now. I won’t be shadowing him anymore.”There was a brief pause before Jonathan added, almost as an afterthought, “If Mr. Vanderbilt gets angry… don’t confront him directly. Say something soft—he cools down faster that way.”Ava nodded, absorbing the advice without argument. She gathered her notes and went to reorganize the day's plans. But the moment she stepped into the top-floor offic