Raphael was already sprawled comfortably on the leather couch when Alexander walked in. A glossy black gift box sat beside him, and in his hand, he twirled a silver tie clip—something he’d picked up overseas, sleek and understated, the kind of gift that was meant to impress.Alexander didn’t even glance at it. He loosened his tie, unfastened his cufflinks, and tossed them into a small crystal dish on the table. His suit jacket followed, landing carelessly over the armrest as he sank into the seat opposite Raphael, the faint scent of cologne and rain still clinging to him.Raphael leaned forward, eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Alexander, are you really dating Chiara? Everyone’s talking about it.” He paused, gauging his cousin’s expression. “What about Penny?”Alexander’s gaze flicked toward him—sharp, unreadable. “Did she tell you that?” His tone carried a weight that made Raphael hesitate.By she, Alexander obviously meant Serena.Raphael shook his head quickly. “No, I just called Ava
The internet was on fire.Just when everyone thought Anita couldn’t sink any lower, Ruiz Star Entertainment dropped a bombshell—she had resigned.But the announcement only poured gasoline on the flames.[Resign? That’s it? She should be in jail!][We need a full investigation into Ruiz Star Entertainment! They’ve been shady for years!][Remember that scandal with E.A. Corporation? Serena was the one who exposed it! That whole company’s rotten to the core!][You can’t just “resign” your way out of criminal behavior. Something’s being covered up.]By noon, hashtags accusing Ruiz Star Entertainment of corruption and exploitation were trending across every platform.Yet, despite the public outrage, the company remained eerily quiet. Their only statement—“Anita has resigned due to personal reasons”—felt like a slap in the face.As hours passed, the situation escalated.Three small-time actors, shaking with courage, came forward on social media, revealing horrifying stories of being coerce
Chaos rippled through the entire building like a shockwave. Employees huddled around computer screens, their faces pale and tense as the flood of scandalous videos continued to surface online. The company’s group chats were exploding, and no one knew what to say—or how to contain the wildfire consuming their reputation.Anita Ruiz stood frozen for a moment before slamming her palm against her desk. “Get the PR department to fix this—now!” she barked, her voice sharp enough to slice through the panic-filled air.“Ms. Ruiz,” one trembling staff member stammered, “there are… too many videos. Even if we release a statement denying it’s you, no one’s going to believe it. And—” he swallowed hard, “—all the actors in those videos are from our company.”That was the dagger.Anita’s stomach dropped. Her head pounded, her temples throbbing with disbelief. Only an hour ago, she had been chatting smugly with Chiara, plotting how to destroy Serena Morales’s reputation. She had imagined herself sav
The truck rumbled to a halt before a sprawling villa, its headlights slicing through the pale mist that hung low over the grounds. The engine’s hum died, leaving only the faint rustle of leaves in the night breeze.Chiara stepped out first, her heels clicking smartly against the cobblestone driveway. A servant immediately emerged to take the crate containing Snowball—the great white wolf with eyes like shards of ice—and carried it carefully inside.Chiara’s gaze swept over to the sleek black car parked nearby. She recognized it instantly. With a faint smile, she walked toward it, her perfume drifting faintly through the cool air. When she reached the window, she knocked—softly, almost playfully.Serena sat still in the driver’s seat, her profile faintly illuminated by the dashboard lights. Her jaw was set, her hands motionless on the steering wheel. She didn’t roll down the window.Chiara tilted her head, observing her in the dim reflection. She had guessed it already—the wolf wasn’t
Chiara lounged on a velvet sofa, one leg crossed lazily over the other, a crystal bowl of grapes perched on her knee. The glow from her tablet screen reflected in her eyes as she scrolled through a flood of online comments, her lips curling into a delighted smile.“Dorian,” she said between laughs, popping another grape into her mouth, “why do people hate Serena so much? I mean, I get why everyone in the industry can’t stand her—but even strangers are tearing her apart. Honestly, I think she deserves every bit of it.”Dorian, seated beside her, silently washed more fruit at the marble counter. He was a tall man with sharp, disciplined movements—an assassin by trade, now her silent shadow. Lucca had assigned him to protect her years ago, but Dorian did far more than that.“If you don’t like her,” he said in a low, measured tone, “I can take care of it tonight. Permanently.”Chiara burst into laughter, her eyes glinting like polished glass. “If I wanted her dead, I would’ve sent you to N
The city lights shimmered across the windshield as Chiara slipped back into the car, the night air trailing behind her like a faint perfume of rain and perfume. Lucca sat behind the wheel, one hand gripping the steering column, his profile sharp in the glow of the dashboard lights. His brows were furrowed, his expression a mix of restraint and quiet disapproval.“You shouldn’t have come tonight,” he said at last, his voice low but edged with reproach.Chiara let out a small laugh, brushing an invisible speck from her dress. “Oh, come now, Lucca. Because I came, everyone’s talking about me and Alexander.” Her tone carried both satisfaction and defiance. “No one’s even mentioning Serena anymore. My background, my family, my connection to Alexander—it’s all far more dazzling than hers.” She tilted her chin slightly, the streetlight cutting a golden edge across her cheekbone. “If Serena ends up with him, people will just think she’s some Cinderella he picked up out of pity. And Alexander—h