LOGINElara's phone rang from the night stand making her groan. 'Allistar must have plugged it,' she said cleaning her eyes as the bright morning light stung her vision.She reached out with a shaky hand and grabbed the device from the nightstand. When she saw the name Ethan flashing on the caller ID, a genuine smile appeared on her face.She slid the bar to answer, but she didn't speak right away. She just held the phone to her ear, letting the quiet hum of the connection settle her nerves."Hello, Elara?" Ethan’s voice was always so warm and gentle.She let out a soft, intentional breath into the receiver so he would know she was on the line."Good morning, Lara," he said, and she could almost hear the smile in his voice. "I just wanted to inform you that I've landed in Vanguard City and I’m properly settled in. I actually called you several times last night, but you weren't reachable. I was getting a bit worried about you.""But wait—" Elara started to say, wanting to explain her absence
Alexander's blood was boiling. He smoothed Lyra’s hair. She was shuddering and shaking like a leaf. "Whose fatherless child put a hand on my boy?" Joseph Murano yelled. His voice was loud. You could hear it from inside the office. "Who touched you, Jamie?" Joseph asked his son. Jamie started sobbing hysterically. "It was Leo Vance, Daddy. He threatened me. He pushed me to the ground and yelled at me." "Vance? Who the fuck is that?" Joseph barked. "A vermin with an unrecognizable last name dared to touch my child. Do you know how much I've put into this school? I'm one of your biggest benefactors! I built your annex and science labs!" "I know sir, I completely understand. It's unacceptable," Josh pacified him. "I want them expelled immediately. If that's not done by the end of the day, your monthly payments stop immediately. I'll convince the other parents to do same. What's the point of the kick backs if you're going to be useless Milton!" The door swung open. Josh Milton,
Monday morning was a blur of spreadsheets and legal documents. Elara was so deep into her work that she didn't even notice her office door creak open. "Can I come in?" The voice was soft, elegant, and instantly recognizable. Elara looked up and froze. Standing there was Evelyn Sterling—Alexander’s mother. "Umm..." Elara stammered, her hands hovering over her keyboard. She didn't know what to say. "I heard my sweet girl was back," Evelyn said, walking into the room with a graceful smile. "I had to come and verify that information for myself." Looking at her, Elara felt a sharp pain in her chest. Back in college, Eve had been the closest thing to a mother she ever had. Evelyn had loved her like her own child, protecting her and cheering her on when Elara had no one. But as Elara looked into those kind eyes, her heart felt like it was bleeding. This woman was a Sterling. She was part of the family that had destroyed Elara's father and stolen their legacy. The guilt of what she wa
Elara arched a brow. "What threat, Alex? What are you talking about?" Her frustration grew with his silence. "What are you on about? Say something. I'm losing my patience." Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose. He sighed deeply. "Forget I said anything." "I'm not going to forget! You can't just—" She was cut off immediately. Lyra peeked her little head out of the car window. "Mummy, can we go now? Leo says he has a headache." Lyra looked at Alexander with wide, hopeful eyes. "Can our new daddy come?" "He's not your—" Elara stopped in her tracks. Lying to her kids was getting harder. Their father was standing right in front of them. She looked at Leo’s pale face and Lyra’s hopeful one. "Okay," she said, throwing her hands up in defeat. Alexander smiled. He cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure?" he asked playfully. "Get in before I change my mind!" Elara climbed into the back seat with the kids. She chucked the keys at him. "You’re our chauffeur for the da
Alexander's blood was boiling. He smoothed Lyra’s hair. She was shuddering and shaking like a leaf."Whose fatherless child put a hand on my boy?" Joseph Murano yelled. His voice was loud. You could hear it from inside the office."Who touched you, Jamie?" Joseph asked his son.Jamie started sobbing hysterically. "It was Leo Vance, Daddy. He threatened me. He pushed me to the ground and yelled at me.""Vance? Who the fuck is that?" Joseph barked. "A vermin with an unrecognizable last name dared to touch my child. Do you know how much I've put into this school? I'm one of your biggest benefactors! I built your annex and science labs!""I know sir, I completely understand. It's unacceptable," Josh pacified him."I want them expelled immediately. If that's not done by the end of the day, your monthly payments stop immediately. I'll convince the other parents to do same. What's the point of the kick backs if you're going to be useless Milton!"The door swung open. Josh Milton, the directo
Alexander's blood was boiling. He smoothed Lyra’s hair. She was shuddering and shaking like a leaf. "Whose fatherless child put a hand on my boy?" Joseph Murano yelled. His voice was loud. You could hear it from inside the office. "Who touched you, Jamie?" Joseph asked his son. Jamie started sobbing hysterically. "It was Leo Vance, Daddy. He threatened me. He pushed me to the ground and yelled at me." "Vance? Who the fuck is that?" Joseph barked. "A vermin with an unrecognizable last name dared to touch my child. Do you know how much I've put into this school? I'm one of your biggest benefactors! I built your annex and science labs!" "I know sir, I completely understand. It's unacceptable," Josh pacified him. "I want them expelled immediately. If that's not done by the end of the day, your monthly payments stop immediately. I'll convince the other parents to do same. What's the point of the kick backs if you're going to be useless Milton!" The door swung open. Josh Milton,







