เข้าสู่ระบบHELEN barely settled into the large cream couch when she crossed one leg over the other, adjusting the silk scarf on her shoulder like the queen of the house she believed herself to be.Daisy sat beside her, restless, scrolling through her phone with a frown that hadn’t left her face since morning.Damien’s mansion was unusually chaotic that morning. The shrill cries of the baby coming from upstairs caused that.Vanessa was with the baby, getting ready to come downstairs.Damien had stepped out briefly to handle a work call, leaving his mother and sister alone in the living room.Helen glanced around with satisfaction.“At least this house finally feels complete,” she said, smoothing her dress. “A crying baby changes everything. It gives a home life.”Daisy forced a weak smile.“Yes, Mom.”Helen turned sharply.“What is that face? You look like someone attending a funeral.”Before Daisy could answer, her phone pinged.She glanced at the screen casually… and froze.Her entire body stif
THE dream was strange, just too strange.Raven stood under flashing stage lights, the deafening roar of thousands of fans rising around her like thunder. Her glittering microphone was in her hand, diamonds sparkling under the spotlight, her silver heels clicking against the stage floor.But in the midst of all these, something was wrong.The crowd had no faces, they were just shadows. Dark figures screaming her name.“Raven!”“Raven!”“Raven Lux!”At first, it sounded like fans. Then it changed, the voices became deeper and colder. They sounded mocking.“Raven…”“You always come back…”“You never really leave…”Her chest tightened. The microphone slipped from her fingers.She turned sharply, trying to find where the voice was coming from, but the stage had changed.It wasn’t a stage anymore, it was now a dark room. Dark, cold and silent room. The faint smell of smoke and expensive whiskey filled it. And there, seated lazily in the shadows, was a man she never wanted to remember.A dan
THE usual light dinner of the Laurents had come and gone.The laughter from the dining table had faded, the relatives who still stayed behind after another handful had left were either in the guest lounge or already retired to their rooms, and the mansion had settled into that quiet, expensive peace only old wealth seemed to carry.Outside, the garden glowed softly under the security lights.The night breeze moved lazily through the hedges, brushing against the flowers and carrying the scent of jasmine and white roses through the air.Alessia sat alone on one of the garden lounge chairs, her legs crossed elegantly, her hands resting on her lap.For once, she wasn’t scrolling aimlessly through her phone. She wasn’t thinking about Damien. Or Vanessa. Or divorce papers. Or betrayal.She was thinking nothing.Just peace, real absolute peace. The kind she had forgotten existed.She tilted her head back slightly, letting the cool evening air kiss her milk skin, and closed her eyes for a mom
HE was back home and standing at the doorway, tall and calm as always, beautifully dressed. He had one hand still resting on the door, looking exactly like the kind of man women ruined their lives for.Raven’s breath caught.Ziva’s voice echoed faintly from the phone.“Raven? Hello? Raven?”But Raven wasn’t listening, she was staring, she was lost, utterly lost in this man's aura. Everytime meeting Carl was always like this, she couldn't control her reactions.Then the door had barely clicked shut behind him when Raven moved. Fast like she always did.The juice glass landed carelessly on the table with a soft clink, and the next second she was already rushing toward him.“Carl!”She threw herself at him without hesitation, arms wrapping around his neck as she laughed.“Oh my God, finally! Where have you been? Do you know how long I have been waiting? I missed you!”She hugged him too tightly, but Carl didn’t move, didn’t hug her back, didn’t even lift a hand. He just stood there by th
CARL stared at the phone for a second. The screen kept lighting up, ringing. The caller persistent. Alessia stood beside him in the hallway, watching quietly, but not asking questions, not leaning in, not trying to see the name. She simply smiled faintly and tilted her head. “Aren’t you going to take that?” Carl glanced at her, then calmly pressed his phone silent, ignoring the call. The ringing sound stopped, but the phone kept buzzing. “No,” he said easily. “Nothing important.” Alessia raised a brow. “Nothing important?” He nodded, hands sliding into his pockets. “Nothing as important as standing here talking to you.” She let out a soft laugh. “That sounds suspiciously smooth, Mr. Orion.” “I am a very smooth man.” “Debatable.” He placed a hand dramatically on his chest. “You wound me.” She laughed again, shaking her head. “But seriously,” she said, “what if it’s work? Something from any of your company?” Carl sighed like a man carrying the world.
MAISON stood by the door, tall and commanding, his presence alone enough to silence the room. His deep voice had cut through the warmth between mother and daughter like a blade.“I knew he was going to treat you that way.”Silence fell, heavy and tensed.Alessia slowly turned from where she stood beside her mother, her eyes faintly red from tears, confusion written all over her face.Her lips parted.“Dad? You… knew?”Sarah turned too, her brows pulling together.“Maison… what do you mean you knew?”Maison sighed heavily and walked further into the room, his sturdy frame carrying the kind of authority only years of power could build. In that suit of his, he looked like a man who ruled boardrooms with a single glance.He sat down slowly on the couch opposite them.“Yes,” he said. “I knew.”Alessia stared at him.“How?”Maison looked at her for a long moment before speaking.“Because I knew Damien’s father.”That made her freeze.Sarah folded her arms.“Cross?”Maison nodded once.“Yes.







