LOGINThe silence between us lasted longer than I expected. Vincenzo had always been good at that. Making people squirm without saying a word. He knew when to speak, when to wait, and when someone was hiding something.I hated that about him. Because I’d spent years mastering it too.m, “I need your help,” I finally said.The words tasted bitter. I do not ask for help. I make arrangements. I control rooms. I forced outcomes, but Evelyn’s secrets had ruined all of that.Vincenzo set his glass down, “Now we are being honest.”“Do not mistake necessity for trust.” Clarissa said. A faint smile, “I would never.” He moved to the table where the documents waited, “Tell me everything.”I hesitated, giving him information felt like handing him a weapon. But I did not have a choice, “Evelyn left twelve secrets.” I saidHis face did not change, “The videos.” He said. “You know about them.” I asked. “I know enough.” Vincenzo said.My eyes narrowed. “How much is enough?” I asked. “Enough to know the
Clarissa’s Point of ViewThe world was supposed to hate Rachel Raphael, that had been the plan.For weeks, I had carefully moved every piece across the board. Every rumor, every leaked document, every carefully timed accusation.Rachel was supposed to become a symbol of betrayal, a woman born from a family built on secrets, a daughter carrying the sins of her mother. Someone the public could easily condemn, but instead… The opposite had happened.I stared at the television screen in silence, another news report played, another journalist defending Rachel, another headline painting her as a victim instead of a villain, “Rachel Kane continues to gain public support following the discovery of forged Raphael documents.”My fingers tightened around the glass in her hand. “Victim.” That word had become dangerous. Rachel was not supposed to be a victim, she was supposed to be alone, broken, and confused.Without anyone willing to stand beside her, but Matthew Kane had ruined everything again
Rachel’s Point of ViewLucas led me to one of the smaller sitting rooms near the east wing of the mansion. Unlike the operations room, this place was quiet, no screens, no security updates, no voices discussing threats and enemies. Just silence.A silence I suddenly found harder to handle, Lucas closed the door behind us but remained standing several feet away. For the first time since I had known him, he looked uncertain.Lucas Grant had always been confident, even when we were younger, he was the person who would smile during difficult moments and convince everyone that things would work out.But today, he looked like a man who had accepted that he might lose something important. And somehow, that hurt more, “Rachel…” I looked at him, “I’m sorry.” he said. My eyebrows pulled together, “For what?”“For putting you in this position.” he answered. I stayed quiet. He continued, “I shouldn’t have confessed when your life is already falling apart.”“Lucas…” i called “No, let me finish.
Rachel’s Point of ViewThe video began playing. For several seconds, the screen remained completely black, nobody moved, and nobody spoke. The entire operations room felt like it was holding its breath.Then a faint crackling sound filled the speakers, an image slowly appeared, the moment I saw her face, my entire world stopped. My mother, Evelyn Raphael.She sat in what looked like a small, unfamiliar room. The lighting was dim, almost as if she had recorded the message somewhere she didn’t want anyone to find.She looked older than the woman in my memories. There were shadows beneath her eyes, and her normally elegant appearance had been replaced by something simpler.But her expression, that was still my mother. Calm, and determined. Like she had already accepted whatever battle she was preparing for.My hand moved toward my mouth before I realized it, “Mom…” The word escaped quietly. Matthew glanced at me, I did not look at him, I could not. My eyes were fixed on the screen, afte
Rachel’s Point of ViewThe question lingered between us, “Would you have ever chosen me?”I stared at our joined hands, searching for an answer that refused to come. A few months ago, I probably would have answered without hesitation.Back then, my future had not been tangled in secrets, hidden tunnels, encrypted videos, and men willing to kill for whatever my mother had left behind.Back then, Matthew Kane had simply been the ruthless businessman I had been forced to marry. But nothing was that simple anymore, I slowly lifted my eyes to Lucas, “I do not know.”The words came out barely above a whisper. His shoulders dropped ever so slightly, but he did not let go of my hand, “I wish I could give you a better answer.”“I know,” he replied.“My life has changed.” I said. “I know.” He replied. “I have changed.” I said. That confession surprised me as much as it seemed to surprise him, because it was true. The woman I had been before this marriage felt like someone I barely recognized
Rachel’s Point of ViewThe mansion no longer felt like a home, it felt like a fortress.When I woke the following morning, I found two additional guards stationed outside my bedroom door. As I walked downstairs, I noticed more security officers patrolling the corridors than I had ever seen before. Every entrance was monitored, every visitor was searched twice before being allowed through the gates.The tiny tracker discovered beneath one of the convoy SUVs had changed everything.Someone had not just attacked us, someone had followed us, and worse they had known exactly where we were going. The thought lingered in the back of my mind as I entered the estate library, carrying a cup of untouched coffee.Matthew had already left before sunrise. Antonio had come for him shortly after dawn, informing him that the cybersecurity team had traced the tracker signal to multiple relay points scattered across the city.They were holding an emergency strategy meeting with the company’s intelligenc
Rachel’s POVThe moment I stepped out of Raphael Enterprises, I felt like invisible eyes were following every moment I made. Most employees had already gone home after the disastrous luncheon, but a few people still lingered outside the building pretending not to stare at me.The phone in my hand
Rachel’s POVThe moment I stepped into Racheal Enterprises, I knew something was wrong, the lobby was polished and luxurious, gleaming marble floors, crystal lighting hanging from the high ceilings. The employees moving through the building in tailored suits while soft instrumental music drifted th
Rachel’s POVThe morning sky above the Raphael mansion looked bruised, I barely slept, because every time I closed my eyes, I saw the anonymous messages again.- Danger follows people you love.The words followed me into my dreams, wrapping around my chest like invisible chains, I sat upright in be
Rachel's POVThe morning arrived quietly over the Raphael mansion, wrapped in gray skies and lingering rain. I opened my eyes slowly, exhaustion sitting heavily in my chest, I had barely slept. Every time I closed her eyes, I heard her father’s voice again. “You will marry Matthew Kane.”The words







