MasukALEXA'S POV "What are you talking about?" "I received a message from someone who contacted my agent about the ledger." "Katey," Mom muttered. "The ledger is in danger, and so are all of you." "Where is the ledger?" I asked. Father Michael looked down. "I don't have it." "Wait, what?" I almost raised my voice. He sat down and cleared his throat. "Do you ever wonder why I hid myself all this while?" "Oh, yes, we do wonder," I replied. "We have a lot of questions." "Well, I'll answer them as much as I can, but we don't have much time. The people looking for the ledger are getting closer." He paused before continuing. "I hid myself to protect you all. Jeffrey gave the ledger to me years ago. He knew that if it remained with any member of his family, you would all be in danger. He trusted me to keep the evidence safe." I exchanged a look with Mom. "The Cardovas are more dangerous than you think. The conflict between both families started long before any of you were involve
JASON'S POV"Wait, she was with him because of money?" I asked loudly."Hush! She might hear you," Jace whispered, raising his voice just enough to make his warning useless."So, Lisa was born as a mistake?" Alexa asked. Her words sounded more like a statement than a question."Well, that's definitely what she'll think if she finds out," I replied."Oh, shit." Alexa sighed."I never liked Laura, so it's for the best," I added sternly.I was serious.I had never imagined that Dad could betray Mom like that. No matter how many times I thought about it, I couldn't wrap my head around it. Whatever problems my parents had faced in their marriage, I had never expected things to turn out this way."Well, she could be useful," Alexa said convincingly."We don't need her help," Jace countered."Oh, we definitely do. She's working with Mrs. Stones. She could help us deceive her and get what we want."She folded her arms, looking between us as though she expected us to understand her point immed
ALEXAI took a long, hot shower as soon as I got home.It wasn't just an ordinary shower. I needed to clear my thoughts.After getting out of the bathroom, I wrapped a towel around myself and sank onto the bed, feeling completely exhausted.I was glad we were getting closer to recovering the documents.I sighed in relief, hoping nothing else would complicate matters. The secrets, the mysteries, everything seemed to be getting closer to an end.Or at least, I hoped so.I heard footsteps.I sat up, wondering if it was Jason.A part of me was scared because I was carrying something the enemy wanted.The footsteps were slow, drawing closer with every passing second.I stopped breathing for a moment as I stared at the doorknob. My heart pounded so hard that I could hear it.The doorknob turned, and the door opened.Jason walked in.I immediately sighed in relief.“Oh my God! You scared the shit out of me!” I exclaimed, holding my chest.“Okay, how?” he asked, sitting beside me.“I thought
MR ANDERSON'S POV“Max, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to,” Laura pleaded.I had heard the recording.It wasn't much of a big deal. There was obviously nothing she could use against us. Her father was clearly the villain in the tape.But how could Laura have done this?“What does she have on you?” I asked sternly.Her lips trembled.“Max, you never told me anything. You kept everything a secret from your own wife!” she suddenly snapped, her eyes red-rimmed.“What are you talking about, Laura?” I yelled.She sobbed, her eyes fixed on me.“Why are you making yourself the victim here, Laura?”“You worked with the enemy!” I shouted.I struggled to control the rage building inside me. I could feel it spreading through my chest, making it difficult to think clearly.Streams of tears began rolling down her face.“She had something on me. Something from my past.” She sat down, covering her face with her hands.“And what is that?”She shook her h
ALEXAI walked into Steve's house, surprisingly calm.At least, I tried to look calm.I had my suspicions. I knew Mom was hiding something from me, and after everything we'd discovered at Father Michael's church, I wasn't leaving without answers.I found Steve's wife, Tina, sitting at the dining table with Mom, arranging the tablecloth.“Hey, Alexa!” Tina called, beaming.A smile immediately appeared on my face.It had been a while since I'd seen her.“Hey, Tina.”She stood up and walked toward me.We hugged.“How are you?”“I'm great.”“How was overseas? And work?”“All great, Lexa.”Before I could say anything else, Mom walked toward us.“Alexa, we were just making dinner.”She smiled.“Come join us.”“You cooked, Mom?”I rubbed the back of my neck nervously.“Of course I did. I've been taking tutorials. My food is actually good now.”“Okay, Mom.”I wasn't convinced.“Trust me. You'll love it.”She walked toward the table, obviously pleased with herself.I looked at Tina with a ques
ALEXAI held the photograph tightly in my hands.Four men stood together.Williams.My mother's father.Jeffrey.Susan's father.Richard Cardova.Katey's father.And standing beside them was Father Michael.I stared at the photograph again.Why were these four men together?What connected them?And why had Father Michael kept this photograph hidden?Jason stepped out of the office.I remained inside with Mrs. Jada, still staring at the photograph.A few seconds later, I heard Jason's voice from the hallway.“Who's there?”Silence.“Who's there?”I looked toward the door.Jason's footsteps grew louder as he walked back toward the office.Then an elderly woman appeared beside him.She walked slowly into the room.“Mrs. Helen?” Mrs. Jada called.The woman turned toward her.“Hi, Mrs. Jada.”“Hi, ma.”I greeted her respectfully, lowering my head slightly.Her eyes moved toward me and Jason.“Andersons?”“Yes,” Jason answered immediately.His voice was impatient.“What were you saying back
Alexa’s POV I dressed quickly and drove to the restaurant Jason and I had agreed on. My mind drifted briefly to my mother and whatever she had wanted to tell me earlier, but it was clear she wasn’t ready yet. I pushed the thought aside. The restaurant was already buzzing when I arrived. I scanned
SYDNEY’S POV“So, Mom, what exactly are you trying to do? And who is this man?” I asked sharply, irritation clear in my voice as my eyes settled on the stranger seated across from us.“Well,” my mother said calmly, “this man is helping me with Gresham’s documents.”I stared harder at him. The stran
“Have you carried out the investigation properly?” asked a woman whose face was hidden beneath a veil as she sat across from the spy in a nearly empty restaurant.“Yes, ma’am,” the spy replied. “They’re planning to build another hotel in Los Angeles, and their companies are expanding rapidly. Every
Jason’s POVWhen she entered the restaurant, I froze. Her hair—silky and perfect. Her eyes—captivating. Her lashes framed them like art, her lips were plump and tempting, her curves... flawless. Her smile was charming, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.I tried to push her out of my head at







