LOGINThe office door opened slowly, and three men stepped inside with uneven, limping strides. Their faces were bruised, one of them with a split lip. Another held his ribs, struggling to hide the pain every time he breathed. None of them dared lift their heads too high.The spacious, dark-toned room sud
The car cut through the increasingly quiet streets of the night. City lights flashed past the windows, but Naomi didn’t see any of it. Curled up in the back seat, she wrapped both arms around herself, still trembling from head to toe. Every few breaths caught in her throat before breaking into stifl
Naomi stumbled back against the wall, gasping for breath, able only to stare with wide eyes.The man who had slapped her seized her again, yanking her close as a shield. “Don’t come any closer!”Liu looked at him without blinking. “Let her go.”“Or what?”Liu moved so fast Naomi barely saw it.In on
BANG! BANG! BANG!The pounding on the apartment door felt like a hammer striking directly against Naomi’s chest. Her fingers trembled as she held the phone to her ear, waiting for the call to connect. But before anyone could answer, she heard the sound of metal being forced from the outside. The doo
Naomi said nothing more. She walked to her unit, pushed open the apartment door, and stepped inside. Before closing it, she noticed Liu still standing in the hallway, watching until the door was fully shut and locked.The room was small, cramped, and far from comfortable, yet tonight it felt like th
“Thank you,” Naomi said, bowing her head slightly to Liu, who had escorted her home that night. Her voice was soft, nearly swallowed by the whisper of the night wind slipping through the corridor of the old apartment building where she lived. The hallway lights glowed dimly, casting long shadows acr
But before he could demand answers to all the questions racing through his mind, there was something more important he needed to know.“Althea... if I’m not misreading your story, Daven doesn’t know Josh is his son, does he?”“For now, I believe that’s true,” Althea said quietly. “But I have a feeli
“Want me to pour us some vodka?” Chase offered, raising a brow with an easy grin.Althea blinked at him, surprised but not displeased. “I don’t think you have any bad intentions with vodka.”“Glad to hear it.” He smirked. “Besides, a little vodka might just help clear that tangled mind of yours.”Ch
“Welcome back, Mrs. Vanessa! How does it feel to return from Paris with such a prestigious award?” a voice called out.“Absolutely incredible,” Vanessa answered with her signature professional smile. “Paris taught me so many new things. The sponsors were incredibly supportive, and the guest list—wel
Was that request respected? Of course not.Kate wasted no time turning to Lena. “Open it,” she ordered flatly.Felicia and Kalina were already waiting, all too eager to carry out their mother’s command. Lena, who had spent the morning helping Althea tidy the room and bring down her luggage, hesitate







