Years of mourning. Years of being erased Watching them laugh, drink wine, and pass stories around the table—stories built on lies, sealed with the blood of her father. They buried the truth. They buried her name. But they would not bury her again. Rachel wasn’t here to cry. She was here to finish what they started. “Please excuse me,” she said, pushing her chair back, her voice calm but taut. “Could I use your bathroom?” “Upstairs. To the left,” Lisa replied casually, dabbing the corners of her mouth with her napkin. Rachel rose slowly, her heels clicking softly against the marble as she walked away from the table. But inside, every step echoed like thunder. The murmurs of conversation behind her blurred into static. Her pulse raced as the shadows of the hallway wrapped around her like smoke. She passed the bathroom. Didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. The path pulled her in—an invisible thread leading her straight to the backyard. The garden. She stepped out a
Just then, there was a knock on the door. “Are you ready?” Daisy asked. “Yes,” Rachel replied as Daisy unlocked it. “Oh my—” Daisy gasped. “You look stunning.” Her skin glowed beneath the soft lighting, the black dress hugging her curves with effortless grace. Before Rachel could respond, Austin appeared at the end of the hallway. His eyes lingered too long on her figure. Rachel stiffened. She couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze—not with the weight of her secret pressing so heavily on her chest. What if he saw through her? What if he recognized all she’d fought so hard to bury? But tonight wasn’t about guilt. It was about purpose. She had one goal. To search the Daniels mansion. To find something—anything—that could serve as evidence. Something that would finally crack this family wide open. “Come on, let’s go!” John called from downstairs. They descended in silence, heading toward the black SUV. The drive felt endless. Memories clawed at her mind like restless ghos
“Let’s go home,” Austin said quietly, his voice heavier than usual. “We’ve done enough these past few days. And I know this wasn’t what you signed up for. So please… don’t argue.”Rachel didn’t. She was too tired to speak, and too tangled in her thoughts to argue. She picked up her bag and walked beside him in silence.------Amanda stormed down the corridor of the company like a woman possessed. Her heels struck the polished tiles with angry precision. She had been walking aimlessly, pretending to check in on departments—but in truth, she was spiraling.Since the incident… Austin hadn’t called. Hadn’t looked at her twice.Her reflection in the mirror earlier had been flawless. Her outfit, deliberate. Her perfume, chosen for him.And yet—nothing.The girl. That sweet- so called cousin. She was always near him now. Hovering like a shadow he didn't want to shake off.Amanda clenched her jaw.She needed to do something. Something unforgettable. Something unmistakably annoying, flirtatiou
“You’re not supposed to let her work so hard,” Daisy said firmly, arms crossed in the doorway of Austin’s room. Austin rubbed the back of his neck, exhausted. “We had a lot to do... and I’m really tired. Sorry, but I need to rest.” He dropped onto the bed with a sigh. “Goodnight.” Daisy left and she opened Rachel's door a little wider—only to find Rachel sitting on her bed. “Goodnight,” Daisy said, her voice clipped. Rachel blinked, barely turning. “Goodnight,” she replied softly. As Daisy disappeared down the hall, Rachel sat on the edge of her bed, heart pounding. So many lies.So many layers. Who among the Daniels family could she trust? No one. Not yet. Not until she had evidence. Not until she knew the truth behind her parents’ deaths. “I need to find something,” she whispered, trying to steady herself. She lay back, eyes tracing the cracks on the ceiling. But her mind refused rest. Eventually, sleep found her. --- Meanwhile… Tony sat alone in the
Austin finally let go when he felt her breathing steady. “I’ve got you,” he murmured — low, rough, just loud enough for Racheal to hear. She didn’t respond. She simply rested her head against his chest, melting into his warmth. The steady thump of his heartbeat… the faint trace of his cologne… it wrapped around her like a drug. She told herself it was comfort. But it wasn’t. It was something deeper. Something dangerous. The longer she stayed there, the more aware she became — of every inch of him. His firm chest. His arm curled protectively around her waist. The quiet strength humming beneath his control. And he noticed it too. Her chest pressed lightly against his. His breath caught — just enough to betray him. His jaw tightened. His arm flexed. The hunger he’d buried for weeks… snapped awake. He drew in a slow breath. Then stepped back — fast. Racheal blinked, startled, like she wasn’t ready to let go. But he had to. Because if he didn’t now, he wouldn’t b
The tension in the room lingered longer than the silence. Austin’s voice was different — deeper, heavier — as he worked on the document laid out on the table. “What was that about?” he asked without looking up. Rachel stood stiffly. “What do you mean?” He rose slowly, each step deliberate. His shoes struck the tiled floor with sharp finality, like he was carving the moment in stone. Then, without warning, his hand landed on her shoulder — firm and unrelenting. The world paused. Something about being that close to Austin stirred feelings Rachel didn’t want to name — feelings she wasn’t supposed to have. She turned to leave. But he didn’t let her. His grip tightened — not painful, but commanding. Possessive. “I’ve never seen you like this before,” he murmured. “I thought you didn’t care that I was marrying Amanda.” Rachel’s breath caught. “I never said I was fine with it. I just said… I wouldn’t stop you.” “Then what’s this?” He stepped closer. “I’m not worked up,” she said