Diana stood gracefully, and Alexander, ever the gentleman, escorted her to the exclusive elevator. Just as the doors slid open, Diana paused, as if recalling something important. "Alexander, now that Raphael's issue is settled, perhaps it's time to think about yourself. We’ve barely seen the Morales family’s daughter. Since Grandpa is so fond of her, she must have some redeeming qualities. Why not try getting along with her?"Alexander's jaw tightened, his tone firm. "Aunt Di, there’s nothing between us, and there never will be."Diana knew how stubborn her nephew could be, but she decided not to push further. Adjusting her sunglasses, she added, "At least take care of your health. Stop skipping meals. Your stomach problems are bad enough as it is."A flicker of exasperation crossed Alexander’s face. "Got it."After bidding Diana farewell, he returned to his office, his mood visibly darker. Jonathan entered moments later with a fresh cup of coffee, immediately noticing Alexander’s col
Twenty minutes later, Serena arrived at Westchester Manor with a heavy heart, her mind clouded by lingering worries. As she approached the entrance, a maid opened the door, her expression less than welcoming. "Miss Morales, what are you here for again? Madam is not in," she said, her tone sharp.Serena’s eyes swept over the hall. Apart from a few cleaning staff, the place was eerily quiet. She was about to ask if Alexander had been around when she noticed the maid turning away, already bored with her presence.Well, that attitude wasn’t surprising. Every time she came here, Cordelia’s staff treated her coldly. Everyone in the household knew her position was tenuous at best. Why bother with politeness when she was bound to be replaced?"Who’s here?"A voice rang out from the garden, light and cheerful. Serena turned toward the source and saw a young girl stepping inside, her expression curious and playful. "Is it the new maid? She looks quite pretty," the girl said with a genuine innoc
Rita still carried the innocence of youth. Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and her chatter flowed with unfiltered joy. She talked more than necessary, her excitement spilling over in waves.Perhaps because Serena was used to dealing with difficult people, being around Rita felt like a reprieve. There was no need to be guarded. As Serena silently studied Rita’s drawing, she felt unusually at ease.Rita sighed dramatically, twirling a pen between her fingers. She didn’t expect much; maybe a polite compliment or two. But when Serena suddenly picked up the pen and made a few swift changes to the sketch, the once flat and lifeless image transformed. The colors harmonized, the composition flowed, and the entire piece seemed to radiate energy.Rita’s eyes widened in disbelief. She blinked, as if to confirm she wasn’t imagining it.“You... you just adjusted the color, right?” Rita stammered, leaning closer to examine the sketch. Her voice rose with amazement. “Oh my God, it’s like a comple
Patty, however, did not think that the discussion was over. She slammed her hand on the table, her voice trembling with frustration. “Alright! If you’re bold enough to submit anonymously, then everyone should do it too! Let Alexander decide for himself. Who do you think you are?! We’ve all graduated from prestigious universities—what makes you so special?!”Serena remained seated, her tone calm and measured. “So, will you submit your designs?”Patty bristled with anger, her gaze darting to the others in the studio, hoping for support.In the quiet tension that followed, it became clear that no one wanted to step forward.Everyone in the studio was well aware of Serena’s ability. Her designs were innovative and sophisticated, consistently earning high praise from clients. This, in turn, boosted the studio’s reputation and opened doors for all of them.But competing against someone like Serena was a gamble few were willing to take.Submitting their designs alongside hers and having Alex
Alexander sat at his expansive desk on the top floor of the Vanderbilt building, his expression unreadable. His earlier trip to Westchester Manor had left a sour taste in his mouth. He had been stood up, which only cemented his already low opinion of the Morales family.Jonathan entered, balancing a stack of files in one hand. “Sir, I received a call from the doctor abroad. The old man has completed the procedures and will return to the country within the week.”Alexander leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. “That’s quicker than expected.”Jonathan waited for further instructions.“Draft a new contract,” Alexander said after a moment. “The Vanderbilt family will assist the Morales family with their second round of financing, but only if she—my so-called wife—plays her role convincingly.”He used the term “nominal wife” with a note of derision. He didn’t even know her full name. To him, she was merely Serena, as his grandfather always called her. Whether her name had two syll
Michael’s smirk deepened as he reached out to pinch Valentina’s chin, clearly enjoying her trembling fear.Valentina squeezed her eyes shut, her long lashes quivering as tears threatened to spill.“Take the little beauty away,” Michael instructed his bodyguards, his voice dripping with arrogance. Then he turned to Serena, gesturing toward the stairs. “As for you, come upstairs with me. I’ll show you something... exciting.”Serena understood Michael’s game. He wouldn’t dare hurt her, not in a place like 230 Fifth. This bar had a reputation for being fiercely guarded by its private security, who wouldn’t hesitate to intervene if she called for help. But the thought of causing a scene made her stomach churn. This was a playground for New York’s elite, her potential clients. If she ended up as gossip fodder, her professional reputation could be irreparably damaged.Feigning composure, she asked, “By ‘exciting,’ does Mr. Murray mean the casino upstairs?”Michael raised an eyebrow, his grin
Taking a deep breath, Michael was about to let the conversation drop when Alexander’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.“Deal.”The dealer, who had been waiting patiently, hesitated and looked at Serena. “Miss, it seems that you don’t have any chips…”In the casino, it was standard to exchange checks or cash for chips, and waiters were always nearby to assist. But Serena had been brought here on a whim and didn’t have any money prepared.Michael signaled for an assistant to exchange chips for him and turned to Serena, his tone dripping with contempt. “Since you’re married, why don’t you go home and take care of your child? Leave this seat for someone who knows what they’re doing.”His voice carried an edge of disdain, and his expression made his thoughts clear. Bringing her here was supposed to restore his dignity. Instead, she had turned the tables and embarrassed him. The more he looked at her, the more irritated he felt.She wasn’t suitable for anything—not as a mistress a
The atmosphere at the table grew increasingly tense, but Michael, having already embarrassed himself, decided not to engage further with Serena. Continuing his conversation with her would only make him angrier. He clenched his jaw and looked at the dealer. “Deal the cards.”The dealer nodded and quickly shuffled, dealing the first round. Around the table, curious spectators leaned closer, eager to witness the drama unfold.Serena’s presence had become the center of attention. Many were amused by her audacity, while others couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. The way she confidently promised to pay Hugo back double without even knowing the value of the chips—it was reckless, if not outright naive. Did she even realize she might owe him four billion? And now, sitting at an unlimited bet Texas Hold’em table as a novice, she seemed entirely out of her depth.Serena remained calm, her posture straight, even as the murmurs around her grew louder. The two players on her right had alrea
On the other side of the town, upon being kicked out by Serena a few times, Sergio, consumed with envy over his brother Alfonso’s wealth and frustrated by his own sons’ unemployment, confided in his mother, Martina, that he suspected Serena wasn’t Alfonso’s biological daughter due to her alluring looks. Driven by malice, he secretly conducted a paternity test using Serena’s hair, believing that if she wasn’t truly Alfonso’s child—especially now with Araminta and Valentina disgraced and Josh incapacitated—his own sons could rightfully claim the Morales family fortune. When the results arrived confirming no biological link between Alfonso and Serena, Sergio, Martina, and Ricardo, thrilled by the opportunity, immediately set out to confront the Morales family.---It was midday at the Morales family estate, and the aroma of freshly prepared dishes lingered through the marble-floored hallways. The dining room was elegantly set—linen napkins folded precisely, silverware gleaming, and steam
Ava Alvarez remained stranded on the top floor, her heels aching and her body weary. The elevator wouldn't budge without a keycard, and for privacy and security reasons, the stairwell doors were locked from the inside. Whoever designed this place clearly didn’t want anyone wandering up or down without clearance—and Alexander had clearly forgotten that detail when he left.She was quite literally forgotten there.With a resigned sigh, Ava pulled out her phone and tried calling Alexander. No answer. His phone had likely been on silent since he arrived at the rooftop lounge, drowning in the soft thrum of music, clinking glasses, and idle conversation.Hours passed.It wasn’t until nearly eleven, long after the event had ended, that Alexander finally checked his phone. Three missed calls. A single message.> [I don’t have a card…]There were no emojis, no exclamation marks—just plain text. But something about the simplicity made it worse. It read like quiet frustration. Like she had curle
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