please bear with me. This was a bit rushed. Remember to like and drop a comment on what you think of the chapter hehehe 😁
AUTHOR'S POVThe study was dim, lit only by the late sun bleeding through the curtains. Mr. Harper stood by the tall window, his back rigid, the weight of a single document in his trembling hand. His eyes lingered on the words he had read over and over:“Madison DNA profile. Paternal match: 99.999%.”The truth cut deeper than any wound.Suddenly the door burst open. Eleanor stumbled in, gasping for breath as though she had been running.“Honey,” she cried, rushing toward him. “There is a huge problem in the company.”Mr. Harper turned slowly, his expression unreadable. “What is it?”“At the shareholders’ meeting,Levi came back.” She sneered, her lips curling. “And he brought so-called proof that your father had given all his shares to Madison.” She scoffed bitterly. “And do you know what that girl said? She plans to hand the company to some management specialist because she doesn’t even want it!” Her voice rose with fury. “Ha! How dare she speak of your position like that?”But Mr. Ha
AUTHOR'S POVThe room was dead silent as Levi’s voice thundered, commanding the air itself.Eleanor’s painted smile faltered, her hands tightening on the podium as if to keep herself standing. “Levi…how?” she whispered, her voice almost breaking.But Levi wasn’t looking at her. His gaze swept across the room, toward the sea of stunned shareholders, Madison, and Clare. Then, slowly, he turned back to Eleanor,vengeance burning in his eyes.“You thought you buried me in the dark, Eleanor. But here I am.”Gasps spread like wildfire. Reporters scrambled to scribble notes. The board members leaned forward, whispering furiously among themselves.Levi raised a hand, his tone calm but heavy with authority. “Before I speak further, let me tell you all something. When I disappeared… it wasn’t by choice.”FLASHBACKA dim warehouse. Levi sat bound to a chair, the shadows of Eleanor’s men looming. Days blurred, hunger gnawed at him, and he knew death was only a whisper away.Then just last night,
AUTHOR'S POV The evening was heavy with silence, the only sound the faint hum of cicadas in the distance. Eleanor’s car stopped in a desolate stretch of road, far from the city lights. When the door opened, Charles stepped out, his gaze sweeping the emptiness with a smirk.“Well,” he drawled, “look at you. Taking me to a place where no living soul breathes just to talk.”Eleanor’s eyes narrowed. “Consider this a warning, Charles. Don’t you dare come near my home again.”He raised a brow, feigning innocence. “Relax. I didn’t come for trouble. Someone came to see me when I got out of jail asking about the fire.”At once, Eleanor stiffened. “Who?” she asked sharply. “What did they want?”Charles’s grin widened, though his tone held a mocking edge. “They wanted to know if you were the mastermind behind the fire. Honestly, Eleanor, you should have covered your tracks better.”Her temper ignited. “You fool! Don’t blame me. You’re the one who botched the job!” Her voice cut like glass. “Out
AUTHOR'S POV Madison pushed the door open, her shoulders sagging under the weight of the day. The moment she stepped inside, Richard looked up from the couch where he had been waiting. His lips curved into a playful smile.“You’re home late,” he teased lightly, leaning back against the cushions. “Don’t you know this husband has been missing his wife?”Madison didn’t answer. Instead, she dropped her bag by the door and crossed the room in a few hurried steps. Before Richard could say another word, her arms wrapped tightly around him, burying her face against his chest.The smile slipped from his face. Richard froze only for a second before his arms came around her, strong and steady, pulling her close. He could feel the tension in her body, the way her breath trembled as if holding back unspoken words.He didn’t ask. He didn’t press. He just held her tighter, one hand gently stroking the back of her head, waiting,silently and patiently for her to speak when she was ready.The clock ti
AUTHOR'S POVThe warm scent of roasted coffee beans filled the air as Madison sat stiffly on a stool inside the cooking studio. Her eyes wandered, settling on the familiar painting hanging on the wall,the very one she had gifted Madam Clare months ago. It looked so ordinary, yet today it felt heavy, like a bridge between them that Madison didn’t quite understand.Clare set down two steaming cups of coffee, her movements calm, graceful. “Go on, take one,” she said, sliding the porcelain toward Madison with a smile.Madison wrapped her hands around the cup but didn’t drink. “I heard you own a lot of stock in Harper’s Hotels.”Clare sipped delicately from hers before placing it back down. “Oh, that? I’m fairly good at investing.”“It’s not exactly a promising company,” Madison countered, her voice low. “With all their issues lately, the prices dropped.”A soft laugh escaped Clare. She placed her cup aside and looked directly at Madison. “I think I know why you came to see me.”Madison bl
AUTHOR'S POVThe morning sun spilled soft gold across the driveway, the air fresh with the promise of a new day. Richard stood tall in a charcoal blazer and fitted navy pants, his polished shoes clicking lightly against the pavement as Madison walked beside him, her hand brushing against his arm as though reluctant to let go.At the sleek black car waiting for him, he turned to her. “So,” he asked, his tone casual but curious, “what will you be doing today?”Madison smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ll be going through the shareholder list. Ava and Greg worked hard last night…I want to make the most of it.”Richard smirked, shaking his head. “So busy already.”She gave him a playful look. “Says the man dressed like that. Aren’t you supposed to start at KINGS Group next week?”“Yes,” Richard admitted, a small smile tugging at his lips. “But there’s something I need to sort out first.”They reached his car. Richard leaned down and pressed a quick kiss against her cheek