ONE MONTH LATERLena sat in her office, staring at the framed award on her desk. The golden plaque gleamed under the soft light, reflecting the name she had worked so hard to build, Carter’s Enterprises: Most Influential Company of the Year.She traced her fingers over the engraved letters, still in disbelief. A few months ago, she had only hoped to make it to the Top 100 companies in the country. Now, Carter’s Enterprises was in the Top 20. It felt unreal, but the numbers didn’t lie. Their sales had skyrocketed, their influence had spread, and investors were eager to work with them.They had made it.The collaboration with Blackwood Empire had been a turning point. Working alongside Grayson and his company had not only boosted their reputation but had also made them stronger in the industry. The success of their joint launch had been beyond anyone’s expectations. Because of that, they had won multiple awards:* Most Influential Company of the Year* Most Influential Collaboration (Bl
Lena sat on the couch for a long time, staring at the empty plate in front of her. She had eaten, she had rested, but she still felt heavy inside. Maybe it was the silence. Maybe it was the weight of everything that had happened.She let out a deep breath and stood up, stretching her arms above her head. Staying indoors all day wasn’t helping. She needed to clear her mind.A walk. Yes, that’s what she needed.Lena grabbed her black pants and pulled them on before slipping into a white hoodie. It was simple, comfortable. She tied her hair into a loose ponytail and checked herself in the mirror. Her eyes still looked tired, but at least the fresh air might help.She picked up her phone and sent a quick message to Grayson.Lena: Going for a walk. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything stressful.She didn’t wait for his reply before slipping her phone into her pocket and heading out.The moment she stepped outside, a cool breeze brushed against her skin. The city was busy as usual, cars honking
The morning light streamed through the curtains, painting the room in soft gold. Lena stirred in bed, blinking slowly as the memories of last night rushed back in. Her chest tightened. The pain wasn’t as painful as before, but it was still there, sitting heavy in her heart.Grayson sat beside her on the edge of the bed, already dressed for work. His hand rested on her belly, his thumb moving in slow, gentle circles."You sure you'll be okay?" he asked, searching her face.Lena forced a small smile. "I’ll be fine. You should go."He didn’t look convinced."I mean it," she added, squeezing his hand. "Don't worry about me. Just focus on work."Grayson sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I just don’t want you stressing yourself.""I won’t," she promised.Still, he hesitated before finally leaning down to kiss her forehead. "I’ll be back early," he murmured. "Call me if you need anything."She nodded, watching as he grabbed his keys and headed for the door. The moment it closed behin
Lena’s eyes fluttered open, the harsh hospital lights making her squint. A dull ache sat at the back of her head, her body felt heavy, and for a moment, she struggled to remember where she was.Then it all came rushing back, Ayla, the fire, Kael’s broken voice, the moment everything had shattered.She swallowed hard, her throat dry. As she shifted slightly, she felt warmth against her hand. Turning her head, she found Grayson sitting beside her, his head resting on his arm. His fingers were curled gently around hers, as if afraid to let go.His suit was wrinkled, his tie loose, dark circles beneath his eyes showing just how long he’d been there.She tried to move her fingers, and immediately, he stirred. His eyes blinked open, slightly unfocused, before locking onto her face.“You’re awake,” he breathed, sitting up quickly. Relief washed over his tired features.Lena swallowed, trying to push past the lump in her throat. “How long have I been out?”Grayson reached for a cup of water o
HALLWAYLena wiped at her swollen eyes, her face pale and streaked with tears. She hugged herself, her body trembling. Kael, on the other hand, looked like a shadow of himself, hollow, detached, his gaze unfocused as he stared at the ground.His phone buzzed in his pocket.Kael ignored it at first, the vibration barely registering in his fogged mind. But it persisted, relentless. With a tired sigh, he fished the phone out, glancing at the screen. It was his secretary.He almost declined the call, but something in his gut told him not to.“This is Kael,” he answered, voice rough and broken.“Sir,” his secretary’s voice trembled on the other end. “I’m sorry to call you like this... but I thought you should know right away.”Kael rubbed his temple, his head pounding. “What is it?” he muttered, his patience fraying.“It’s your brother,” she said, her voice laced with caution. “He was in a serious accident tonight. A collision. He’s in a coma.”Kael stiffened, the words slamming into him l
Lena rubbed her eyes as she packed up her things. It had been a long day at work, but her mind kept drifting to Ayla. It had been a while since they hung out, and she wanted to check in on her friend.She smiled as she grabbed her phone and dialed Ayla’s number.The phone rang and rang, but no one picked up.“That’s weird,” Lena mumbled, biting her lip. She tried again.This time, someone answered, but the voice on the other end wasn’t Ayla’s.“This is Kael.” His voice was rough, laced with tension.Lena frowned, her heart beating faster. “Kael? Where’s Ayla?”“I... I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice low and broken. “She’s not here. I thought maybe she was with you.”Lena’s stomach twisted. “She’s not. I... I haven’t seen her today.”There was silence, and then a shaky breath. “She left a note,” Kael whispered. “I checked her room. It just said... ‘I’m sorry, Kael. I couldn’t take it anymore.’”Lena’s blood ran cold. She grabbed her bag and rushed out of her office, her hands tremb