Nathan's warning was still audible to Anita, but she refused to ignore it. As she learnt more about his business, she realised how entwined their lives were in a web of lies, treachery, and power conflicts. She was unable to simply watch what was taking place. Not any more.Days went by, and although Nathan had begun to relax, just a little, the tension between her and him remained high. There were times when he would ask her opinion on something or give a brief overview of his work, and their interactions seemed nearly normal. However, such times were infrequent, and each one left her yearning for more. She was beginning to long for a more profound relationship with him, one that went beyond their transactional, icy relationship.Anita had a new perspective on him one evening when they went to a gala together. A force of nature, Nathan was a stoic billionaire. The visitors around him seemed to pay close attention to whatever he said because of his captivating charisma. Anita
The ensuing days were a jumble of frigid silences and fleeting meetings. The tension between Anita and Nathan was obvious, heavy as a storm about to break. Each time their paths met, the weight of unspoken words hung heavy between them, and Anita's need for more—more from him, more from their marriage—grew stronger, chewing away. She had attempted to understand and adapt to his world, but now there was a sense of dread that made it difficult to breathe.But she wasn't only concerned about Nathan. Anita's thoughts concerning Harry got increasingly uncomfortable. He was a continuous thorn in her side, mocking her with innuendos and unrelenting attempts to influence her. He had made it apparent that he did not consider her a true member of the family, and the way he tried to irritate her put her on edge. What was his endgame?A week after the event, the first indication of anything very alarming appeared. Anita sat in her own study, reviewing some documents Nathan had given her c
As Nathan approached the door, his shadow against the hallway light, Anita stood in the darkened living room, breathing heavily. Her heart pounded more loudly, thumping with uncertainty, but the harsh sound of the doorbell continued to reverberate in her mind. Who might it be? There had been a delicate quiet between them, and who ventured to break it? However, Nathan seemed unsurprised. He wore a strained expression and clenched his jaw in a rigid line. He arched his shoulders slightly, as if he was bracing for something dreadful. Anita felt a flutter of worry that she couldn't identify. Perhaps it was because he hadn't appeared this stiff in a long time. It's probable she was aware of the instability in their relationship. With his back to her, Nathan whispered, "Stay here," and went for the door. His voice bore the weight of an unstated order despite being clipped, just above a whisper. He grabbed the door doorknob and yanked it open before Anita could react. She had hoped she wi
Once Harry was gone, the room was a stifling hush. His sarcastic words kept echoing in Anita's ears, progressively poisoning her thoughts with each phrase. Nathan stood there, his jaw so hard, his hands balled into fists, and she could feel the muscles beneath his skin tensing up. He hadn't moved much since Harry left, but Anita sensed the storm brewing within of him. She should have become accustomed to the hushed words that lingered and the icy tension between them. But this night was different. Harry had started something tonight that neither of them had expected.Anita's throat was dry as she swallowed. What did he mean, Nathan? How much does he know about my dad? With a harsh, inscrutable look, Nathan's eyes met hers. She briefly believed that he would not respond and would continue to keep her in the dark, as he always did. Then, though, his eyes softened a little. Nathan said in a calm, low voice, "I don't know how much he's found out." However, it indicates that H
As Anita's automobile raced through the streets, her head aflutter with a flurry of ideas, the city lights became blurry. Harry's words clung to her like unbreakable chains, reverberating in her mind like a menacing whisper. "I want you to help me take Nathan down." Her fingers whitened as she gripped the driving wheel more tightly. He had skilfully set up his trap, dangling the one thing she had been frantically seeking—answers regarding her father. However, the amount he asked for was excessive. Betray Nathan.The notion ought to have been absurd. She wasn't a blindly loyal wife to a husband who hardly gave her a second thought. Their marriage was based on a commercial agreement, a contract, and feelings had no place there. Nevertheless, the idea of siding with Harry made her stomach turn. Nathan had been cold, aloof, and cunning. However, he had also shielded her from harm—from Eleanor's humiliation to Stacy's attempts to discredit her and Harry's mockery of her backgrou
Anita woke up the following morning with a strong feeling of dread. She had been replaying Nathan's comments in her head for the whole of the night. "We play the game better than him." The game did not frighten her. No more. She was aware, however, that Harry wasn't playing by himself. Harry had allies, but Nathan had the authority. She also needed to know exactly who she was up against if she wanted to live. It was not long before she received a response.It was a tense breakfast. Anita hardly touched her lunch while the housekeeping crew walked in silence, setting dishes in front of them and refilling cups. With an enigmatic expression, Nathan sat across from her, browsing through his phone. Then the room was filled with the sound of a gentle chime. Nathan put the phone down after taking a quick look at his screen. He said in a casual tone, "Tonight, Eleanor is hosting a private event." "She anticipates our presence." Anita froze. Eleanor. In the confusion caused by
Silence shrouded the ride home from Eleanor's celebration. Anita's imagination reenacted every exchange, every subliminal threat from Harry, and every cautionary look from Eleanor as she gazed out the car window, the city lights flickering by. Nathan sat next to her, his presence like a building storm. She sensed the strain in his shoulders and the weight in his eyes. She knew it was coming even though he hadn't yet pressed her for answers. Nathan eventually spoke as soon as they entered the mansion. "What was said to you by Harry?"Anita let out a breath and carefully took off her earrings while turning to look at him. "What makes it important?" Nathan clenched his jaw. "Because his goal was to enter your mind." You also allowed him to She laughed resentfully. "Oh, you're concerned now?" Nathan's face became gloomy. "Don't begin that, Anita." "No, we should discuss it." She looked directly into his eyes while crossing her arms. "You avoid me when it's convenient for
Anita sat stiffly in the grand living room, her mind racing, while Nathan stood near the fireplace, talking softly with his head of security; Anita could feel the storm. The aftermath of the night's events had hardly been cleared up when Nathan's security team began patrolling the grounds for any signs of an intruder, but the note—Harry's ominous warning—remained like a black cloud over the mansion, and Anita couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.While Nathan stood by the hearth, speaking softly with his head of security, Anita sat rigidly in the large living room, her thoughts racing; she could feel the storm. When Nathan's security team started searching the grounds for any indications of an intruder, the aftermath of the previous night had barely been cleared away, but Harry's menacing warning in the form of the note hung over the mansion like a black cloud, and Anita couldn't get rid of the feeling that this was just the beginning.With a clipped tone, Nath
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