Dear Gentle Readers, Apologies for missing an update. Life has been pretty hectic. please enjoy...---------Serena’s expression darkened. Her grandparents were from Charleston, yet during her recent visits there, she had deliberately avoided them.The reason was simple—after her mother gave birth to her, her grandparents had never approved of her.In Charleston, tradition dictated that a newlywed daughter-in-law was to live with her husband’s family for a period of time. But Alfonso, Serena’s father, was the eldest son, and the favoritism in their family had always leaned toward his younger brother. Since childhood, Alfonso had been overlooked, enduring years of unfair treatment.After he married Elena, things only worsened. The day after their wedding, Alfonso and Elena were assigned a dilapidated room. Their first meal as a married couple wasn’t even a proper one—there was no rice, and they had to borrow it.Serena’s grandparents had disliked Elena from the very beginning. They ha
In the grand hall of the Morales estate, tension thickened the air as Josh strode in. His presence alone made Araminta’s back stiffen, her usual commanding demeanor dampened by caution.Josh had been in an increasingly foul mood these past few days, and everyone in the household tread lightly around him. Araminta wasn’t an exception.Her voice was hushed, careful. “Josh, did you do it?”Josh let out a sneering chuckle, his lips curling cruelly as he lowered himself into an armchair, his fingers drumming against the carved wooden armrest. “If she dares to step into the Morales family’s world, she should be prepared to be destroyed by me.”Araminta’s hands clenched in her lap, worry knitting her brows. Serena was still under the protection of Mr. Vanderbilt Sr. If anything serious happened to her, the old man would investigate, and with his power, uncovering the truth wouldn’t take long. Once that happened, Josh wouldn’t be the only one facing retribution—he would drag the entire Morale
(From here, Ava will be referred to as Ava, as Tom recognizes her as “Ava Alvarez,” Rachel’s best friend.)Outside the dimly lit bar, Tom lingered near the entrance, his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his borrowed waitstaff uniform. His tall frame and practiced nonchalance made him blend seamlessly with the nightlife atmosphere, yet there was a sharp calculation in his gaze. He had just received a call from Rachel, informing him that she was suddenly called home due to an emergency.Tom exhaled slowly, weighing his options. He wasn’t about to risk getting involved in Ava’s mess—especially not when there was nothing to gain. Avoid unnecessary trouble when there’s already enough going on, he reminded himself. Without another glance back, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the alleyway beside the bar, leaving behind the muffled sounds of laughter and clinking glasses. ---Meanwhile, inside the private room, Ava struggled to stay upri
Ava refused to sit back and do nothing, so she took the initiative to call Rachel, asking her to investigate the two men who had attempted to assault her. With the Rowell family's influence, they could dig into their backgrounds and figure out who was behind it.Rachel was furious. "I can't believe something so vile happened! Don’t worry, Ava. I’ll send someone to look into it right away. You just focus on resting at the hospital!"After hanging up, Ava barely had a moment to gather her thoughts before Michelle pushed open the door.Dressed in her usual high-end attire, Michelle exuded arrogance, her arms crossed as she leaned against the doorway. Her lips curled into a mocking sneer. "My cousin's husband will be here soon. You better start thinking about how to apologize to her."Ava found it amusing. She tilted her head and let out a soft chuckle. "It seems like you have the memory of a goldfish. Have you already forgotten why you’re in the hospital?"Michelle's face darkened with hu
Ava was unusually irritable that morning. The weight of unanswered questions and lingering suspicions pressed heavily on her chest. Just as she was about to try distracting herself, her phone rang. It was Rachel.Rachel’s voice was low, almost hesitant. "Ava, I checked on those two men. They've already left the country. We can’t catch them now."Ava’s grip on her phone tightened. Without them, there would be no direct proof linking Victoria to the incident. The trail had gone cold.She exhaled slowly, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. The entire situation was infuriating. The bar had been seedy, dark, and conveniently lacking surveillance cameras—almost as if it had been chosen for that very reason. No cameras, no witnesses. Just her word against Victoria’s, and that wasn’t enough.Ava rubbed her temples, willing herself to push the thoughts away, but sleep wouldn’t come. She lay in bed, tossing and turning, the night stretching endlessly before her.Finally, she gave up and g
The hospital room door swung open just as Victoria stepped out, her eyes immediately catching the bouquet in Alexander’s hand. Her expression lit up, and she reached out to take them eagerly."Xander!" she said with delight, lowering her head to inhale the scent of the roses.Behind her, Michelle watched the exchange with barely concealed jealousy. She knew better than to let it show, though, and quickly signaled for someone to fetch a vase. Soon, the deep crimson blooms were placed neatly on the bedside table, their delicate petals bright against the stark white hospital linens.Victoria ran her fingers lightly over the velvety petals, her heart warming at the thought that Alexander had brought them for her. What she didn’t realize was that he had grabbed the bouquet from a random florist on his way over—an afterthought rather than a heartfelt gesture. He simply hadn’t wanted to show up empty-handed."Feeling any better?" Alexander asked, his tone polite but distant.With him firmly o
"Why did you hit Victoria?" Alexander’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, an unspoken demand for clarity.His grip on the steering wheel was loose yet controlled, the soft glow of the dashboard casting sharp angles across his face. He didn’t know Ava well enough to predict her every move, but she never struck him as someone prone to violence. Yet, the security footage had told a different story—Ava’s strike had been swift, deliberate, and unrelenting. A broken rib wasn’t something minor, and while Victoria had shown aggression first, her slap hadn’t even landed. Ava's retaliation, on the other hand, had been brutal.Sitting in the passenger seat, Ava shifted uncomfortably. The smooth leather was cool against her palms, but her skin felt oddly warm. The pain in her arm was a dull throb, a constant reminder of her own injuries. But what had truly set her off that night had nothing to do with Victoria alone—it was the weight of everything: the betrayal, the secrets, the presen
Dear Gentle Readers,apologies for delay, please enjoy...---------Back at the Upper West Side, Ava had no time to rest. She changed into a fresh outfit—an elegant but sharp beige blazer paired with fitted trousers—and headed straight for the Morales family’s company.As soon as she entered the sleek, marble-clad lobby, a low murmur spread among the employees. She ignored the curious glances and strode toward the reception desk, her heels clicking with purpose. The receptionist, a young woman with neatly pinned hair, gave her a hesitant smile before quickly picking up the phone.In the CEO’s office, Kenny sat in Alfonso’s chair, his fingers tapping idly against the dark oak desk. At the mention of Ava’s arrival, a flicker of amusement crossed his face, quickly replaced by a glint of malice.He had expected her.With Josh too preoccupied with his own troubles—his humiliating condition and his burning obsession with revenge—Kenny had smoothly taken the reins of the company. Araminta had
Meanwhile, Alexander had just touched down on foreign soil. The sleek wheels of the private jet had barely cooled before he was ushered into a waiting car—Victoria trailing a few steps behind.The sun was beginning to dip below the skyline, casting a golden hue over the glass buildings around them. But the warmth of the city didn’t seem to reach Victoria’s mood.The auction had been a disappointment.Those who had flown in from all over the world had come chasing one thing—a rumored masterpiece by the elusive Master Remington. The buzz had been relentless, the anticipation feverish. Collectors, curators, and connoisseurs all gathered under one roof, poised to outbid one another for a chance at owning a piece of immortality.But the pièce de résistance had never arrived.Instead, the organizers had presented a different set of paintings—fine works, certainly, but none carrying the master’s signature. Whispers swirled through the crowd: the Remington piece had already been given away. P
Ava had just stepped out of the shower, the steam still curling around her from the bathroom. Wrapped in soft pajamas and with her damp hair towel-dried and tousled, she was about to unwind for the evening when a message lit up her phone.It was from the property management office:“Dear resident, we’ve prepared a small gift for you. Please collect it in the underground garage.”It wasn’t unusual in this kind of upscale community. Services like this—holiday gifts, complimentary deliveries—were standard perks. She assumed it was another seasonal gesture and didn’t think much of it.She threw on a light cardigan over her pajamas and slipped into house slippers. There was no need to dress up just to walk through her own building. The community was secure, and the garage private—no one would bat an eye.The garage, however, was packed.Dimly lit rows of polished luxury vehicles stretched in every direction. She stepped carefully between them, the click of her slippers echoing softly. As s
Alexander sat at his sleek glass desk, a shaft of afternoon light slanting across the surface. His fingers moved with precision as he reviewed the final pages of a thick document. With a quiet finality, he pushed the folder forward.Jonathan, ever efficient, stepped forward to take it, bowing his head slightly in acknowledgment. As he turned to leave, the door opened and another figure appeared.Victoria.She stopped short, clearly startled to find Alexander at the office today—especially considering he had been at the hotel earlier. And it was Saturday.Recovering quickly, she walked in with her usual grace, her heels tapping softly against the polished floor."Alexander," she began, her tone casual but calculated, "news just came in from Spain. Master Remington’s painting is officially going up for auction. Everyone’s flying in for it this week—even Colton’s confirmed his attendance. When are you planning to leave?"She studied his face as she spoke, carefully watching for a flicker
Ava shot upright in bed, her heart thudding as her eyes scanned the breaking news headlines on her phone.Ryan Kuzmin Detained in International Crime Probe—PW Group Offices Raided.Details unfolded line by line like a script in a legal thriller. Ryan had been arrested on suspicion of overseas criminal activity. That morning, the authorities had swept through PW Group’s towering headquarters, raiding offices and seizing documents. The scandal was larger than anyone had anticipated.Further investigations revealed damning evidence: years of tax evasion, vast embezzlement schemes, and a tightly knit circle of executives siphoning company funds for personal gain.The outcome was swift—and brutal.PW Group had been slammed with devastating penalties. Their bank accounts frozen. Assets forcibly liquidated. Half their senior executives were already behind bars.And Ryan? He now faced the terrifying possibility of a twenty-year prison sentence.All of it—undeniably—was Alexander’s doing.With
Ava was completely drained. Every inch of her body ached as if she’d been taken apart and reassembled—twice.Alexander Vanderbilt, she thought bitterly, was not someone an ordinary woman could keep up with.She was still lying in bed, limbs heavy and muscles sore, when her phone lit up. The name Rachel flashed on the screen.Ava groaned internally but forced herself upright and answered the call."Ava! I brought something up for you—I’m downstairs and on my way up!" Rachel's cheerful voice burst through the speaker.Snapping out of her haze, Ava quickly sprang to her feet and checked her reflection in the bedroom mirror. She smoothed her dress, adjusted her hair, and ensured nothing about her appearance betrayed her disheveled morning. With a small breath of relief, she stepped back just as the doorbell rang.She hurried over and pulled open the door.Rachel stood there glowing in high-waisted designer jeans and a black camisole with delicate lace sleeves hugging her arms. Her outfit
Alexander rose from his chair and made his way toward the bedroom.The room was a blend of understated elegance and quiet opulence—decorated with muted colors, gilded moldings, and a custom-made European-style bed that looked as though it belonged in a palace. A long row of mahogany cabinets lined one wall, their polished surfaces gleaming under the soft light.An air of subtle luxury hung over everything, understated yet unmistakable.Alexander opened one of the cabinet doors. The scent of expensive wood polish and crisp linen filled the space. Neatly arranged inside were rows of impeccably pressed suits—his armor for the world outside.But tucked beneath them, nearly hidden among the shadows, sat a beautiful woman.Ava.She was curled up against the side of the closet, her knees drawn tightly to her chest, wrapped in nothing but his oversized white shirt. Her bare feet were tucked under her, her shoes hastily kicked somewhere under the bed in her rush to hide.For a long moment, nei
Alexander leaned in, brushing his lips against Ava’s earlobe—a whisper of a kiss, soft and lingering like a lover’s secret murmur.Ava stiffened slightly, unaccustomed to this kind of closeness.In truth, she had never been this intimately connected with anyone before. The sensation of his warm breath against her sensitive skin felt almost foreign, startling.Despite her naturally cool and reserved demeanor, her body betrayed her easily. A soft pink hue blossomed across her cheeks, spreading down her neck, making her look even more delicate under the sunlight.Without daring to meet his gaze, Ava slipped away, heading toward the bathroom, still dressed in his oversized white shirt.Alexander watched her go, his dark eyes trailing her graceful movements. He never would have imagined that his stiff, formal shirt could look so sinfully beautiful draped over a woman’s body.She was the very picture of effortless allure—elegant, yet undeniably tempting.Inside the bathroom, Ava quickly spo
Ava rushed out of the hospital, her heels clicking against the pavement as she hurried to her car. Once inside, she started the engine with shaking fingers and glanced at her phone. Her heart dropped. The roads were packed—an evening traffic jam clogging the city like a pulse grinding to a halt.Her fingers clenched the steering wheel, frustration bubbling up. She honked the horn more times than she could count, each one sharper than the last. A twenty-minute drive had now turned into a maddening forty-minute crawl.Alexander had given her exactly one hour.With every passing minute, her heart beat faster, the pressure building like a kettle about to boil over.And then—bang.Her car lurched forward. She’d been rear-ended. The sudden jolt slammed her head into the steering wheel, sending a flash of pain through her skull. Her eyes stung with tears, but she blinked them away, biting down on her panic. The driver behind her got out, waving his arms and pulling out his phone to call the
Alexander couldn't focus, his thoughts scattered and restless. As his phone rang with a call from a business partner, he seized the moment and stood up.“Grandpa, the business partner is calling. I need to go over the details of this morning’s meeting,” he said, already moving away.Grandpa let out a long, weary sigh. To him, it looked like Alexander was just eager to escape. “If you put that much effort into Serena,” he grumbled, “you two would have had a house full of kids by now. Go on, but no matter how busy work gets, don’t forget the wife waiting for you at home.”Alexander didn’t answer. He slipped into his car and glanced at the dashboard clock—8:00 PM. Ignoring the call still ringing on his screen, he turned the key and headed straight to the hotel.By the time he arrived, it was 8:30.His phone buzzed again. It was Jonathan, this time with more urgent news—Ryan had been arrested, and sensitive information about PW Group had been leaked. By morning, the media would be ablaze w