ANMELDENThe wind outside howled like a restless spirit as Nathan sat behind his office desk, staring blankly at the wall clock.The once-golden Mills Corp was now a shadow of its former glory.Three years later, the company’s name which once echoed across the nation like a royal anthem; now, it had become a whisper, fading with every passing day.Contracts had dried up. Loyal investors had fled like frightened birds. Some had run straight into the open arms of Golden Aura — Charlotte’s company, the very empire he once thought would never match his.The irony burned deep inside him.The office door opened quietly. Marcel entered, his usual cheerful self dimmed by the heavy atmosphere. “Boss,” he called softly, walking toward the desk. “You’ve been staring at that wall for almost ten minutes. You’ll make a hole soon.”Nathan blinked, realizing he hadn’t even noticed Marcel enter. “Do you ever think about how quickly things change?” he asked, his voice low. “Yesterday we were kings. Today, we’re
The morning sun was still shy, painting the clouds gold when Caleb’s car rolled to a gentle stop in front of Charlotte’s gate. The hum of the engine faded, replaced by the sound of soft birdsong from the nearby trees. He turned to her, his face glowing with contentment.“Thank you for making last night the best I ever had,” he said, his voice low, sincere, almost boyish.Charlotte smiled faintly, her hand resting on the car door. She could still feel the warmth of his body from the night before, the comfort of their closeness lingering around her heart. “You’re welcome,” she said softly. “You deserve it.”He chuckled softly. “If you keep talking like that, I’ll kidnap you and never let you go.”She laughed and shook her head slowly. “You’re not serious.”Caleb leaned slightly closer, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “Try me.”Charlotte pressed her lips briefly against his. “Bye, darling. I need to go get ready for work.”He exhaled deeply as though letting her go physically pained h
They reached his bedroom, laughter still dancing between them. Caleb pushed the door open, and Charlotte paused for a moment, her eyes sweeping across the large, elegant room. The white curtains swayed lightly to the rhythm of the air conditioner, and the scent of fresh lavender filled the space. Everything looked calm — intimate, too calm that her heart fluttered nervously.Caleb dropped her gently on the floor, smiling as he turned to lock the door. “Home, sweet home,” he said softly, brushing her hair aside.Charlotte chuckled, looking around. “You really live like a prince.”He shrugged. “Well, a prince just found his queen.”She hit him lightly on the arm, and they both laughed again.Caleb walked to the wardrobe and brought out two neatly folded night wears. “Here,” he said, handing one to her. “It’s new. I bought it the other day, hoping someday you’d need it.”Charlotte blinked. “You bought this for me?”He nodded. “A man can dream, right?”She smiled shyly, taking it from h
Megan sat cross-legged on the couch beside her elder sister, her phone in her hand as she replayed the videos of Charlotte’s engagement party. The television screen was also tuned to one of the popular entertainment channels still replaying the same scene from the night before. She laughed excitedly, pointing at the screen. “Look at your face here, Charlotte! See how you were just crying and smiling like a baby!”Charlotte smiled shyly, shaking her head. “You and this your video addiction,” she said softly. “You’ve watched this same thing since morning.”Megan ignored her completely, tapping on the screen again. “See how Caleb Briggs knelt down, ah! This part, this part!” she squealed excitedly, replaying the moment Caleb brought out the ring. “You were just standing like statue before you finally said yes. I almost shouted from the hall that night!”Charlotte rolled her eyes and rested her chin lazily on her palm. “You’ve said that a hundred times today,” she muttered, though the s
Marcel stood just by the door, breathing fast, his face pale like someone who had just rushed up a staircase. “Boss,” he said, still catching his breath, “have you not heard about your wife—”He paused immediately and corrected himself, realizing how that would sound. “Sorry, I mean Charlotte’s engagement with Caleb.”Nathan’s lips curved into something that looked like a smile, but it was empty, painful to even look at. He turned his face slowly toward the television still playing the clip of Charlotte and Caleb from last night.He pointed at the screen, his voice low and cold. “Oh, you mean this?”Marcel turned and saw the broadcast. “Oh,” he said, nodding awkwardly, “you’ve seen it.”Nathan just gave a dry laugh, the kind that carried no joy, only bitterness. Marcel scratched his head, stepping closer. “Look, Boss,” he said carefully, “I know it’s… hard. But maybe you should just be happy for her.”Nathan turned sharply, his eyes burning. “Happy? Why should I be happy for her? Why
The next morning, the internet was on fire. Every major news channel, blog, and gossip page had only one headline — “The Union of Two Titans: Charlotte Dean Engaged to Caleb Cooper.”The videos from last night’s event were everywhere. The clip of Caleb kneeling before Charlotte, the diamond ring sparkling, and Charlotte’s tearful “yes” was being replayed on every TV screen across the country.It was as though the whole world was celebrating a love story that had been long in the making. But for one man, the same story felt like a sharp blade piercing deep into his chest.Inside his office at Mills Corp, Nathan sat at his desk, the morning sunlight spilling across the table. Two men in black suits sat opposite him, presenting their reports on an ongoing project.Nathan was nodding faintly to their words, pretending to listen, but his mind was far away.Then, the television mounted on the wall suddenly switched from the financial news to the breaking headline.His attention caught it i
Minutes later, minutes that stretched and warped into something that felt like eternity, the night exploded with sound.Ambulances screeched to a halt. Police vehicles surrounded the wreckage, their red and blue lights flashing violently against the trees, the broken road, the twisted metal. Siren
Nathan ripped the chain bracelet off Charlotte’s wrist with brutal force.The sharp tug sent a fresh wave of pain through her arm, and she cried out softly, collapsing fully onto the cold floor. Her fingers curled weakly as she gasped for air, her chest rising and falling unevenly. Blood smeared h
Her eyes met Nathan’s as she was dragged down the hallway.They locked onto his face with raw desperation, tears flooding them, spilling freely as she struggled weakly against the guards’ grip. Her lips trembled, forming silent pleas she could no longer voice properly. If he looked closely, he wou
Dr. Harrison turned back to face Nathan, his steps slow, his brows drawn together in concern. The atmosphere in the room had shifted completely. What had started as a tense conversation now felt like a ticking bomb. He could sense it clearly, the way everyone’s breathing had changed, the way Mega







