MasukMelissa’s POVIn the quiet comfort of my living room, the muted television screen above the fireplace played the same repeating news loop: "E&H CEO Hazel Sinclair Suspended Amid $5 Million Embezzlement Scandal."I swirled the deep red wine in my crystal glass, a slow, triumphant smile spreading across my lips.For months, Hazel had stood in my way—acting untouchable, hiding behind her family name, and blocking every move we made. But watching these clips of her walking out of ENH headquarters under the watchful eyes of security guards? It almost felt unreal. The great and powerful Hazel Sinclair, brought down by her own signature and a clever little paperwork swap."To hard work," I murmured to the empty room, raising my glass toward the TV screen before taking a slow, delicious sip.A sharp ding at the private elevator doors interrupted my thoughts.A moment later, Clara walked into the penthouse, looking sharp and composed in a tailored charcoal suit. Rosar
Kai’s POVOutside the heavy glass windows of the mansion, the night was completely silent, but inside my chest, a cold, violent anger was burning.I leaned back in my leather chair, resting my chin on my hand as I stared at the three computer monitors glowing in front of me.Hazel was upstairs asleep. She had come home exhausted, her eyes heavy with stress after standing her ground against E&H’s lawyers for hours. They had treated her like a suspect in her own family’s company. Just thinking about those suits trying to corner her made my blood boil."Boss, I've run the scrub command three times," Leo, my assistant head of security and intelligence, said softly from across the desk. He adjusted his glasses, rubbing his bloodshot eyes. "Whoever wiped Arthur Pendelton’s office server knew exactly what they were doing.""Show me again," I commanded, my voice flat and dangerous.Leo tapped a few keys on his laptop, throwing a long stream of green and red code onto
Hazel’s POVMy heels clicked sharply against the polished marble floor of the ENH lobby, the sound echoing through the wide atrium like gunfire.The security guards stationed by the front doors straightened up instantly as I walked through. Two days ago, those exact same guards had been ordered to escort me off the property. Today, when our eyes met, they looked down at their boots, uncomfortable and unsure of how to face me. The heavy glass doors swung shut behind me as I stepped back inside the building that bore my family's name.ENH wasn't just a corporate logo or a collection of glass towers. It was the Sinclair legacy. Generations of my family had poured their sweat, sacrifices, and vision into these foundation stones, carving out a place for our family name at the very top. My grandfather had fought for this company. My grandmother had protected it through market crashes and hostile takeovers. And now, some backroom coward thought they could use a stolen folder and a forged sec
**Sophia’s POV** I was at the main prep station wiping down the stainless steel counter and going over the ingredient list for tomorrow’s menu trial. The lunch rush had finished, and the kitchen was settling into the quieter rhythm that always came after service. A few of the chefs were still working at their stations, finishing up prep for the evening. “Marcus, how are we looking on the dry-aged ribeye for the trial?” I called over to him. He looked up from the cutting board. “We’ve got enough for the portions we planned. I already portioned most of it. Just need to confirm the final count with the list.” I nodded and checked the clipboard again. “Good. Make sure the black garlic paste is measured exactly. Last time it was a little heavy and it threw off the balance. And tell Luis to double-check the thyme. We need the stems fresh, not the ones that have been sitting too long.” Luis, one of the junior chefs, raised his hand from the far end of the line. “Already on it, Chef. I’l
Hazel’s POVI couldn't sleep much that night, but waking up in Kai's arms made the morning a little easier to face. After Kai left for his study to coordinate with his security team, I poured myself a cup of tea and sat near the large windows in the living room.Before I could even take a third sip, the heavy front doors of the mansion creaked open, followed by fast, heavy footsteps echo down the hallway."Hazel!"It was Adrian. He didn't even wait for the house manager to announce him. He stormed into the living room, wearing a dark coat with his tie slightly loosened, holding a paper bag from my favorite bakery in one hand and a folder in the other.He looked completely furious. His face was flushed, and his jaw was clenched tight."Adrian, what are you—"Before I could finish saying his name, my cousin dropped the bag on the coffee table, wrapped his arms around me, and pulled me into a tight, fierce hug."I came as fast as I could," Adrian said into my hair, his voice rough with e
My hands were shaking so badly I could barely keep the car between the lines on the way back to the mansion.By the time I pulled into the long driveway, the headlights cutting through the darkening dusk, the heavy lump in my throat felt like it was suffocating me. I turned off the engine and sat in the dark interior of the car. The quiet was deafening.Suspended.The word kept repeating in my head, loud and cruel. Security guards stepping on either side of me. The quiet gasps of my staff as I walked past their cubicles. The way the elevator doors closed on all those staring eyes.A sob tore out of my chest before I could stop it. I slammed my hands against the steering wheel, hot tears finally spilling over my eyelashes and burning down my cheeks.I couldn't hold it together anymore. I had acted brave in front of my grandmother, but sitting alone in the car, I felt completely destroyed. They had taken my company. They had called me a thief.I wiped my face with the back of my sleeve,
I had the divorce papers ready by evening.I called my lawyer, Mr Hartley, someone who didn't ask too many questions. I told him exactly what I wanted-a clean break. No alimony. No fighting over assets. I just wanted my freedom and my dignity, what little I had left of both.He prepared the papers q
The emergency room was chaos.Doctors and nurses rushed past us in a blur of white coats and urgent voices. Melissa was already being taken deeper into the hospital, away from us, and Damon was following her, his hand on her shoulder, his expression a mixture of rage and desperation.I came through
I stood at the top of the stairs, completely frozen, unable to move, unable to process what had just happened."No," I whispered. "No, no, no. Melissa!"I hadn't pushed her.I hadn't meant for this to happen.It was an accident.But she was lying at the bottom of the stairs, not moving, and Miss Mia
Damon left early in the morning.He didn't tell me where he was going or when he would be back. He just kissed Melissa goodbye at the kitchen table while I was making breakfast, and then he was gone. Gone to handle the Moretti family business. Gone to do whatever it was that men like him did when th







