Dear Gentle Readers, soon everything will unravel and justice will prevail... pls check out today’s freebie if you have time. Grazie.
The following morning, Serena returned to the hospital, her steps light but purposeful. The building’s cold sterility wrapped around her, but she kept moving, eyes scanning every corridor. Once she was certain Araminta and Valentina weren’t lurking nearby, she quietly slipped into Josh’s room.Her gaze immediately landed on the table where she had left the voice recorder disguised as a pen. It was gone.Her heart sank a little. Araminta and Valentina had been so consumed with their own drama yesterday, they probably hadn’t even noticed the device. It must’ve been picked up by a nurse. Serena asked around, trying to stay calm, but every nurse she spoke to simply shook their head. No one had seen it.As she walked past Alfonso’s room, lost in thought, she accidentally bumped into him. He was stepping out, looking weaker than ever, clutching his cane tightly. They exchanged a tense glance before she moved on, unwilling to stir up a scene.Inside the room, Araminta had been watching Alfon
As soon as Serena stepped through the doors of her quiet penthouse on the Upper West Side, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Alfonso.Alfonso: Serena, I'm sorry. I was wrong.Alfonso: I’ve taken back the shares from Araminta. Tonight, I’ll review the contract with PW Group. I won’t let you suffer anymore.Her breath caught in her throat.Serena stared at the screen, the words blurring as her vision clouded. Back at the hospital, she hadn’t shed a single tear—not when she was insulted, not when she was hit, not even when the truth unraveled. But here, in the silence of her own space, with the city lights blinking outside her windows, her heart cracked.She sank onto the velvet sofa and let the tears fall. Alfonso… he had once been her hero. Her anchor. If he had always treated her coldly, maybe this wouldn’t hurt so much. But he hadn’t. He had once carried her on his shoulders, told her bedtime stories, made her feel like the most cherished girl in the world.And that version of h
Serena arrived at exactly seven o’clock, dressed to stun.The restaurant’s entrance gleamed with crystal lights and golden accents, a favorite among New York’s elite. It was the kind of place where whispers of billion-dollar deals floated over champagne flutes and polished silverware.Alexei’s luxury sedan pulled up just moments after she arrived. The car hadn’t even come to a complete stop when his eyes locked on her—and widened.Serena, usually understated and fresh-faced, had taken a different approach tonight. Her makeup was light but refined, enhancing the elegant sharpness of her features. She wore a tailored, dark-toned women’s suit that hugged her frame with a sculpted precision—polished, powerful, and stunning.Alexei, no stranger to beautiful women, nearly forgot how to breathe. He jumped out of the car and strode toward her like a moth to flame.Serena offered a graceful smile as he approached. “Alexei.”He gave her a slow, appreciative once-over, then let out a dramatic sig
Alexei, sensing the atmosphere starting to thicken with tension, quickly tossed a few playful jabs Quinton’s way to ease the mood. The snark-laced banter between him and Alexander had started to turn razor-sharp—too sharp for Ava’s comfort.She felt the invisible rope tightening around her, pulling her into their unspoken power play. Not wanting to become collateral damage, she quietly slipped out of the room under the guise of needing the restroom.But instead of heading there, she veered into the hallway, drawing in a deep breath of cooler, quieter air.To her surprise, Liam was standing nearby, lingering with the nervous energy of someone who didn’t quite belong but was doing his best to stay invisible.When he saw her, he perked up and walked over, holding out a tall glass of lemon water.“Here,” he said with an awkward smile. “Might help clear your head a bit?”Ava hadn’t had much to drink—just a single glass of wine back in the private room—but the gesture was appreciated. She a
Hugo raised a brow, watching Alexander carefully. The fact that Alexander didn’t deny it told him everything he needed to know.“Did you get her?” Hugo asked, half-teasing, half-curious.Alexander barely lifted his gaze from his hand of cards. He flicked one onto the table with a casual flick of his fingers. “Just a kiss.”Hugo let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “Man… never thought I’d live to see the untouchable Alexander Vanderbilt fall for a married woman.”At that, Alexander’s hand hesitated for a beat, his brow tightening in the dim light. His voice was cold, but the edge of warning wasn’t sharp enough.“Don’t talk nonsense.”But Hugo wasn’t finished. He smirked, leaning back in his seat, swirling the liquor in his glass. “It’s the truth, though. Sure, she’s beautiful—but can you really stomach sharing her with another man? I mean… she kisses her husband, then turns around and kisses you. Doesn’t that turn your stomach a little?”The mental image made Alexander’s stomach kn
Serena made her way down to the underground garage, her heels clicking against the cool concrete. The dim lighting reflected off the sleek cars lined up in perfect rows, the soft hum of engines echoing in the still air.She was just about to unlock her car when she noticed something strange — the window of the car parked right next to hers was rolled down.Then, out of the shadows, Ryan Kuzmin’s pudgy, smug face appeared.His bloated features barely fit through the window, and without even the decency to veil his intentions, he shoved a glossy black card toward her.“One billion for a hundred times. If you’re game, get in.”His voice was thick with arrogance, a disgusting blend of money, power, and entitlement.Serena’s stomach turned. She felt physically ill.But Ryan, clearly full of himself, just grinned wider.“Kyrill used to talk about you,” he leered. “Said you were a real stunner. I saw your photo back then, but in person?” His beady eyes swept over her like she was something o
When Serena arrived back at the Morales family villa, she froze at the sight that greeted her.Alfonso was home.For a moment, she thought she was imagining it. But there he was — seated at the long dining table, a thick stack of documents spread out before him. His once-dark hair had turned almost entirely grey, his posture slouched, his face lined and weary. He looked like a man who had aged ten years in the span of a week.He must have discharged himself without a word. The hospital had clearly tried to keep him, but they’d also kept something else from him — his terminal liver cancer. They probably thought it would be cruel to tell a man in his state the truth.Serena’s heart ached at the sight of him.Alfonso now wore a pair of reading glasses, squinting down at the contract in front of him, coughing every few minutes as his frail body struggled to keep up. Each shallow breath, each racking cough, felt heavier in the silence of the room.She watched as he slowly turned page after
When Alexander ignored her call, Serena had no choice left. Gritting her teeth, she drove straight to Vanderbilt Headquarters.Though it was already past 7 p.m., the towering glass building gleamed against the night sky, every window lit up like a constellation. Power never slept here — and neither did those who served it.She made her way to the top floor, her heels clicking softly against polished marble. At the reception desk, Jonathan looked up, momentarily surprised to see her at such an hour.Serena forced a faint, polite smile.“I’m here to see Mr. Vanderbilt.”Jonathan hesitated.“President Vanderbilt has an overseas meeting tonight — he just entered the conference room. It’ll be about two hours.”Serena had waited before. She knew how long Alexander’s meetings could drag. Quietly, she took a seat nearby, feeling the sterile quietness of the office press in around her.B
Colton barely spared a glance at the chaos unraveling behind him. With a cool indifference that only years of elite breeding could cultivate, he stepped around Ava Alvarez, still on the ground, and disappeared into the nearby private room as if she were nothing more than a misplaced handbag.Ava knelt slowly, her trembling hands reaching for the scattered items Rachel had so carelessly stuffed into the gift box. The embarrassment crept up her spine like ice. She hadn’t even unwrapped the gift, let alone imagined its contents tumbling across polished marble for the world to see.Just as she reached for one of the smaller items—a sleek, suggestively shaped accessory—she heard Alexander Vanderbilt’s voice, cold and commanding.“Hugo, go inside.”Hugo’s chuckle was low and teasing as he passed them. “Oh boy, someone’s in for it now.”Now only Ava and Alexander remained in the corridor, the air heavy with unsaid words. One of the items had landed near Alexander's polished leather shoe, and
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