EpilogueThe prison cafeteria reeked of overcooked beans and the dried sweat of the inmates. Metal trays clattered through the room as inmates filed through the line.Kai sat at the far end of a long, scratched table, his hair now looked very rough and unkempt and his eyes hollow.Prison had stripped him of everything… hihis its, his money but more of all his pride. All that remained was a man clinging to the scraps of who he used to be.“Hey, pretty boy,” a sneering voice cut through the din.Kai looked up to see three bulky inmates approaching, their tattoos crawling up their necks, their knuckles already tightening. He tried to look away, to focus on his food, but one of them slammed a fist onto the table, rattling his tray.“You think you’re better than us, huh?” another spat.Kai opened his mouth to retort, that old arrogance sparking for a second.. but the words never came.What could he say? After all he was no better than any one of them.Then, from nowhere, the first punch la
Our journey recapThe silence was awkward for a beat. Raina sat in the chair near his bed, her hands knotted in her lap. She hadn’t the room all night, even after the doctors reassured her he’d be fine, her and Margeret both.He could still feel her fingers trembling against his during the worst of the pain.“You should go home. Rest,” Aaron said quietly, not looking at her.“I’m not tired.”“Your eyes say otherwise.”She offered a weak smile. “And yours say you’re a terrible patient.”Aaron chuckled softly, then winced and pressed a hand gently to his side. Raina moved without thinking, sitting forward, her hand brushing against his arm instinctively.“You shouldn't joke yet,” she murmured, her eyes searching his face. “You could’ve died, Aaron.”His gaze dropped to where her fingers lingered on his wrist. There was a pause, something unspoken in the air.“You were worried about me,” he said, lifting his head slowly.Raina frowned, about to deny it—but the words caught in her throat
The morning sun slipped through the tall curtains, casting a warm into Raina’s room.She stirred awake slowly, her mind still wrapped around the memory of last night… the kiss. Aaron’s kiss.The warmth of it still lingered on her lips, so vivid, so alive, as though it had happened just a breath ago.She lay there for a long moment, staring at the ceiling, her heart betraying her with how it fluttered at the memory. It felt so perfect. So right. And for the first time in a long time, the war inside her chest had gone quiet.But she couldn’t let herself drown in the emotions of it, not again.She had to be careful, even if every part of her screamed to trust him.With a sharp exhale, she pushed herself upright, brushing a hand through her hair. Focus, Raina.She reached for her phone on the nightstand, and swiped it open.A few notifications blinked across the screen… emails, messages, headlines. She scrolled idly, until one headline caught her breath in her throat.“Businessman Kai Ash
The crowd in the hall hushed in anticipation, all eyes fixed on Mr. Kingston, all waiting for him to say who the heir to the Kingston empire would be.Aaron felt his chest tighten, his hands trembling slightly, although he didn't let it show.Even if he always behaved sometimes like he didn't want it, or didn't care, it has always been his goal, to be head of the empire.On the other end of the hall, Lucas stood, his expression remained unreadable still, masking the pressure boiling up within.Mr. Kingston’s gaze swept over the audience, his voice deep and commanding, resonating through the entire hall.“And so,” he continued, pausing long enough to let the silence stretch taut, “I have made my decision.For too long, the rivalry between my sons has threatened not only their bond but the stability of what we’ve built. Yet recently, I’ve seen a change… an undeniable shift.I've seen a willingness to work together, to find strength not in division but in unity.”He lifted his glass, the
The celebration was in full swing when Aaron led Raina through the grand hall. Music drifted softly from a live ensemble, and the air carried the scent of expensive wine and fresh orchids.Aaron, ever the gentleman, guided Raina to a quieter corner before excusing himself to fetch drinks. “I’ll be right back,” he said with a reassuring smile, his hand lingering against hers for a second longer than necessary. Then he disappeared into the crowd.Left on her own, Raina inhaled slowly, steadying herself. The grandeur of the Kingston Estate brought back memories of her time here.When Aaron left here in a filth of rage and almost lost his life, when she first met Lucas and Elise.She was still absorbing it all when a familiar presence approached.“Raina.”The voice was soft yet firm and it belonged to Margaret Kingston.She was dressed in an elegant gown of deep emerald, she carried herself with the grace of a woman who knew her influence was absolute.Her expression, however, was not ste
Aaron sat behind the broad mahogany desk in his study, the late afternoon light spilling through his tall windows and casting warm feel into the room.He had been buried in paperwork from his company.He had spent so much time attending to the drama around him, he lost track of some major happenings at his company.His mind only half on the documents in front of him, when a discreet knock broke the silence.“Come in,” Aaron said, looking up.One of the household staff stepped inside, carrying a silver tray. Upon it lay a single sealed envelop. The servant approached and bowed slightly.“A letter, sir. Delivered directly from the Kingston estate.”Aaron raised a brow, curiosity softening his expression. He set aside his pen and took the envelope, recognizing the insignia of his father’s house pressed in wax. With careful fingers, he broke the seal and unfolded the parchment.It was an invitation from his father.He squinted his eyes, going through the letter word for word.The triumph