When Anita saw the headline, her breath seized in her throat. SCANDAL: BILLIONAIRE'S WIFE Caught In A Web of Lies—Was It Always About the Money? Her photo was all over the screen, one from their wedding and another from that fateful night in the hotel room with Nathan. The grainy image was purposefully picked to make her appear guilty and enticing, as if she had engineered the entire situation to trap him. Her stomach twisted.Harry had moved fast, and worse—he had done it publicly. Nathan’s grip on the phone was so tight, she swore he might crush it. His jaw was clenched, his expression unreadable, but Anita knew this wasn’t just an attack on her. It was an attack on him. On his power, his name, his company. And that made Harry’s actions unforgivable. Gregor cursed under his breath as he read through the article on his own phone. “They’re twisting everything,” he muttered. “They’re painting you as a social climber, someone who seduced Nathan for wealth and influence.” Anita’s thr
It was oppressively quiet in Nathan's office. Every action now mattered since the video release had rocked the cornerstone of his empire. With his fingertips tapping the gleaming wood of his enormous desk, Nathan sat behind it. Even though Anita couldn't read his face, she could sense the tempest building inside. Gregor was seated opposite him, his face tense with worry. Sophia folded her arms and leaned against the bookshelf, appearing somewhat amused as though the drama amused her.However, Eleanor was furious. She spat, "This is not acceptable." "You're just sitting here while Harry plays dirty?" Nathan looked at her abruptly, icily. I'm not a sitter, Eleanor. I plan things out. Eleanor laughed. "While the reputation of your wife is being tarnished?" Her eyes were full of contempt as she turned to face Anita. "Did I not warn you? When you introduce outsiders into our world, this is what occurs. Despite clenching her fists, Anita maintained a composed demeanour. She
As Anita stood in the corridor outside Nathan's office, her mind spinning with the information they had just found, the mansion felt colder than normal, the walls closing in on her. On a scale that made her heart race, betrayal was getting closer. As far as she could see, Nathan's universe was devoid of innocent people. Now that the people he had trusted had started to show their actual selves, the only thing separating Nathan from total devastation was the alliance they had formed.When Nathan had declared his intent to take the war to Harry and his covert allies, the weight of their shared determination had lit a fire in her. But with the pieces of the puzzle falling into place, Anita couldn’t help but feel a growing unease. They were no longer just fighting for control over Nathan’s empire—they were fighting for survival. A sharp knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. “Nathan, it’s time,” Gregor’s voice sounded muffled through the thick oak. Nathan’s voice was calm but laye
Tension pervaded the night air, the kind that persisted long after the storm had passed. Tonight, however, the storm was building inside the magnificent walls of the Kingston Estate, as New York's elite assembled for what was ostensibly a masquerade party. Betrayals danced in the shadows, friendships changed, and secrets hid beneath the glittering masks and flowing champagne.Anita Grant watched the sleek black automobile come up the marble driveway, adjusting the tiny black mask that covered half of her face. Like its occupants, the estate was imposing and towering, resembling an ancient beast. Anita, however, was not the innocent young woman who had formerly shied away from this world. She had learnt to play their game, to survive. She wasn't here tonight to plead for approval, either. She had come to ruin them.Nathan Grant, wearing a well-tailored black tuxedo, stood next to her and radiated sheer authority. Anita was aware that his angular features were unreadable and fri
With crystal chandeliers illuminating the sea of affluent visitors in a golden colour, the enormous ballroom glistened with luxury. The air was filled with whispered discussions and laughter, but beneath the elegance, there was a lot of stress. Every look was a covert threat, and every smile concealed a hidden agenda. Anita walked elegantly next to Nathan, her hand lightly grazing the material of his fitted suit. She had long learnt to hide her fragility, but she felt the weight of the eyes, the whispers, the judgement that followed her. She was more than just Nathan Grant's wife tonight. In this perverse game of deceit and power, she was his accomplice.With practiced ease, their target sipped whisky while standing close to the marble bar. Adrian Walker. The man who drew strings from the shadows and flourished in the dark. More sly than Eleanor and more dangerous than Harry, he was the real puppeteer of the Walker family. And Anita was prepared to confront him tonight. Bef
Long, menacing shadows were cast across the well-kept gardens by the imposing estate, which loomed in the darkness. Tension permeated the air inside. With her fingers tucked around a glass of wine she hadn't touched, Anita sat in the darkened study. Her thoughts were elsewhere, on the message Harry had just given Nathan, even though the illumination of the city skyline flickered through the enormous windows. Is Nathan Grant Withholding More Information Than Just His Wife's Identity? Will Harry Walker Reveal a Secret Family Scandal?That was a loaded query. What's the response? The danger lay in that. Beneath his fitted shirt, Nathan stood close to the hearth, his broad shoulders strained. Since they got back from the charity gala, he had been silent, his jaw so tightened that she could hear his teeth grinding. An eerie chill had taken the place of the warmth that had been restored by their passion earlier in the evening. Finally, with a kind yet steely edge, Anita murmured,
The city lights cast a golden haze over the bedroom, but the warmth was fleeting. Anita sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her phone screen, while Nathan stood by the window, his broad shoulders rigid as he browsed through the most current reports, his jaw tensed and his grasp increasing with each second. The world outside was rife with whispers, each more deadly than the last, and Harry was plotting his next move.Nathan turned to Anita, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Harry claims to have proof of a secret from my past—something damaging enough to bring me down." Anita shivered. "What kind of secret?" Nathan exhaled, raking a hand through his hair. "He hasn't revealed it yet. He's baiting us, making us sweat." His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "But he won't win."Anita’s gaze met his, searching for any trace of hesitancy. However, there was none. Nathan Grant was not the type to buckle under pressure. Still, she realised this was more than simply a corporate rivalry—
The bedroom air became oppressive. Nathan's visage hardened like stone, and Anita sensed the change in the atmosphere. They had been deceived by someone. Someone around. She stepped closer to him, her heart racing. "Who is it?" Nathan paused and gripped his phone more tightly. There was nothing he could have said that was as terrible as his silence. "Nathan," she insisted. "Tell me." He tightened his jaw. "At this time, we lack proof." Anita felt sick to her stomach. It wasn't a no. It was a suspicion. "Who do you believe it to be?" She hardly raised her voice above a whisper.She felt the flare of wrath and betrayal when Nathan finally looked her in the eye. "There's someone in this house," he remarked somberly. "Someone who is aware of everything we do." Like a noose tightening around her throat, the weight of his words descended upon her. Inside, someone. Someone they had faith in. Eleanor. Anita's thoughts were racing. Eleanor had never wanted her in the fa
Shortly after midnight, the storm broke out. Rain battered the penthouse windows as lightning illuminated the skyline and thunder cracked over the metropolis. Everything was moving in Nathan's battle room, which used to be his office. Anita leaned over a computer table showing the activities of shareholders, Gregor yelled orders into a secure queue, and Nathan Nathan observed her. Something about her had changed. Once standing unsurely at the edge of wolf-infested boardrooms, the woman now stood in the middle, unwavering. Making calculations. Sharp.While looking over the information on the encrypted server that Nathan had previously concealed from even his own legal advisor, Anita remarked, "We're going to need proof." "The board's plan cannot be overturned without concrete proof of wrongdoing or manipulation." "Misconduct always occurs," Gregor mumbled. "These men didn't reach the summit without stepping on people." "Then we discover the corpses," she answered in a firm
As Anita's remarks reverberated across the room, silence descended once more, this time more profoundly. It's time to invite those they never thought to invite. It's time to reverse the situation. At first, Nathan remained silent. He looked her, truly studied her, and his eyes narrowed, calculating. He was constantly aware of Anita's intelligence and fortitude. However, this? This was a very different matter. Instead of cowering in the shadows behind him, she was stepping into her own and daring to confront the machine that had moulded their world. "Who are they?" With care in his voice, Gregor asked in a low murmur. "We need details if we're going to take action. Right now.Anita averted her gaze from both of them and looked up at the glistening skyline. In addition to her face, the mirror in the glass depicted the woman she had grown into, one who had withstood manipulation, treachery, and a web of power struggles that would have destroyed anybody else. She whirled aro
The air was packed with unspoken words as they locked the doors of Nathan's private office. The slight bustle of the metropolis beyond the glass walls felt distant, replaced by an oppressive silence that hung between them. Nathan stood at the far end of the room, his back to her, hands clasped behind his neck, gazing out into the darkness. His figure was black against the lighted skyline, with the weight of leadership—and everything they had worked for—weighing heavily on him.Anita took a deep breath, feeling the chilly air on her skin as she stepped into the chamber, her shoes' heels clicking quietly on the polished marble floors. Despite the opulence of the setting and the vista, everything about this moment felt off. The tension between them was real, like an invisible thread about to snap. She had never seen him this remote, closed-off.She opened her mouth to speak, but the words died on her lips as Nathan turned around, his face determined. His gaze met hers, his face op
With the large estate in front of them softly lit by the moonlight, Nathan and Anita stood at the mansion's threshold during a tense night. Their brains were racing from the weight of what had just happened at the family meeting, and the air was heavy with unsaid words. After Nathan's audacious statement, the family-filled room had quieted down, but the situation was far from done. Now, as the night drew on, the uncertainty of what was ahead hung heavy."Do you think they’ll accept it?" Anita asked in a low voice that could hardly be heard above the gentle sound of leaves rustling in the breeze. She wasn't discussing the family. She wanted to know about the future Nathan had planned for them. the notion of restoring the family, dismantling Eleanor's poisonous authority, and forging something more resilient out of the ruins. It seemed like a huge undertaking that would call for more than simply assurances and words.As Nathan gazed off into the distance, his eyes darkened and h
After Eleanor left, the air had a strange feel to it, full with an almost tangible energy that Anita found difficult to comprehend. The family's long-standing barriers to control had crumbled, and the balance of power was changing in the silence that followed her departure. Everyone was trapped in the aftermath of what had just happened, and nobody appeared to move right away.For a few while, Anita remained motionless, her fingers still clasped together with Nathan's. Though it wasn't as strong as it once was, she could still feel the heat of his touch. She felt more confident since he now had a strength and a resolve that she had not seen before. She came to the realisation that this win was only the beginning, though, when the dust settled. There was still so much to discover. Nathan responded, "She’s gone," in a cool but slightly ferocious tone. "But that doesn’t mean this is over."Slowly, Anita nodded, her mind racing. There was still so much to accomplish, more to reve
NoAfter Gregor entered the room, the stillness felt oppressive. Eleanor, suddenly exposed, stood trembling, her poise broken. Years of manipulation, deception, and control had finally caught up with her, and she was at a loss for words.Anita froze, her heart pounding. For so long, she had dreamed of the day she would be able to reveal Eleanor for the monster she was. Now that it had arrived, however, the air felt oppressive and heavy, as though the entire planet was holding its breath in anticipation of the last blow.Eleanor's gaze shifted from Nathan to Anita and back to Gregor. Her eyes suddenly had a raw, frantic quality that had not been there before. The strong matriarch who had always had everyone enamoured with her was no longer her. For the first time, she felt defenceless as a woman standing in the ruins of her own empire. Eleanor remarked, her voice trembling but still tinged with indignation, "You're making a terrible mistake." "You believe that a few words can d
As Anita and Nathan were ready to face Eleanor, the sun was just beginning to peep over the horizon, creating lengthy shadows over the expansive estate. Once a representation of money and power, the home now felt like a prison—a chilly, inhospitable testament to all that had been done in the name of dishonesty and control. Anita gazed out over the great expanse of the estate as she stood by their bedroom's large windows, her hand against the cool glass. The weight of what was ahead weighed heavily on her. Eleanor was unaware of what was going to happen to her. Anita was prepared to finally put an end to all that had transpired, including the manipulation and falsehoods.Behind her, Nathan was a solid and comforting presence. As she gazed out at the world moulded by those who had long kept her in the dark, his gaze never left her. Though it was obvious he was standing his ground, he asked softly, "You’re sure about this?" in a worried tone. "This is going to be… brutal." With
Thick and oppressive, the words hung in the air like smoke. Anita gazed at Nathan, her thoughts rushing as though everything had stopped. Each beat of her heart was louder than the last, and it slammed in her chest with misery. She parted her lips, but nothing came out. She wasn't sure if the magnitude of what Nathan had just spoken could be processed by her body. Her voice was scarcely heard as she muttered, "Eleanor... is my mother?" With the weight of his words bearing down on him, Nathan's eyes locked with hers. With regret in his eyes, he nodded slowly. "Anita, I didn't want to tell you this. You deserve to know, but I didn't want you to bear that weight. Everything she did was done to keep you under control. to maintain your order. Anita retreated a step, her legs shaky, as though the earth had been torn from under her. However—how? Why was I not informed?Nathan's voice was thick with the realisation of the reality he had discovered during the last few days as he
As Anita and Gregor raced through the city, the silver SUV buzzing beneath them like a coiled beast ready to strike, the outside world was soaked in darkness. With every bump on the road, the cold metal of the flash drive dug into Anita's palm as her fingers gripped it. Though her thoughts were vivid, the city lights were blurry beyond the window. She had always thought of herself as only a pawn in someone else's game, but today she was taking the board. Like a guy who had nothing left to lose, Gregor drove. "First, we'll visit the media division of Walker Holdings," he stated. "Your grandfather used to keep digital backups on the servers there in a safe place. We can upload the file if it's still there. data to all major networks at once.”With a forceful voice, Anita nodded. "No more hiding. The world ought to witness his actions. What Eleanor continues to attempt to safeguard Gregor's jaw tightened as he added, "And Harry." I didn't realise how deadly he was. Eleanor's