I was feeling sleepy 😪 when I wrote this. Hope it feels right. ENJOY 😄
AUTHOR'S POV Night – Eleanor & Charles in the CarThe parking lot was deserted, the flickering streetlamp above casting long shadows across the hood of Eleanor’s sleek black sedan. She sat in the driver’s seat, fingers tapping impatiently on the steering wheel. A few moments later, the passenger door opened and Charles slid in, his face half-hidden in the gloom.“You’re late,” Eleanor said, her voice edged with irritation.Charles smirked, leaning back in the seat as if he owned it. “Traffic.”“Let’s get to the point. Did you do what I asked?”He shook his head. “Not yet. That’s why I’m here.” His tone was sharp, deliberate. “I want an advance.”Eleanor turned to him, genuinely surprised. “An advance? Why?”“Because,” Charles said, his gaze steady, “I don’t know if you’ll be able to pay me after everything blows up in your face. I’m not the kind of man who works for promises.”For a moment, Eleanor just stared…then a slow laugh spilled from her lips, soft and mocking. “You think I ca
AUTHOR'S POV Back at the restaurant Lucas leaned back, voice calm. “Yes. And that is precisely why you’ll need to be more careful. Madison and Richard think everything is under control. They’ll let their guard down…that’s when we strike.”Sophia frowned. “Strike? And what exactly do you expect me to do?”He leaned in, lowering his voice just enough to pull her attention. “Those few paintings you tucked away, the ones you planned to use for secret funds…sell them.”Her eyes widened. “You know about that?”Lucas smirked faintly. “I know everything worth knowing. Soon, you may lose your position as gallery director. At least make sure you walk away with some money. Besides…” He tapped the table lightly with his cane. “I’ll need funds to buy off certain board executives. Nothing moves without leverage.”Sophia exhaled slowly, hesitating. “I’ll… think about it.”Silence fell briefly before she leaned closer, her voice softer, almost pleading. “In the meantime, can I stay in one of the ro
AUTHOR'S POVLucas stormed into his room, slamming the door behind him. His face was dark with rage, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles whitened.“‘It’s not a must that the company should be run by family,’” he repeated mockingly, his voice dripping with scorn. He scoffed bitterly. “How dare she… That woman thinks she can walk in and rewrite the rules of this family?”His phone buzzed against the desk. He glanced at it—Sophia. His expression hardened. Without answering, he dropped the phone onto the table and sank into his chair, leaning back in frustration.Moments later, the device lit up again…this time with his assistant’s name. Lucas grabbed it with irritation.“Yes? What is it?”“Mr. Lucas,” the assistant said carefully, “I’ve looked into the activities of the subsidiary CEOs as you instructed. For now… their wives have acted first. They’ve already approached Madam Jane.”Lucas straightened. “They approached Mother?”“Yes.” Madam Jane’s office RoomThe office room was dre
AUTHOR'S POVEleanor’s heels clicked furiously across the polished floor of the luxury hotel. She slid her black card across the counter, chin held high, though her eyes betrayed the storm raging inside her.“Declined,” the receptionist said politely.Eleanor frowned. “Run it again.”Another swipe. Another shake of the head. One by one, she handed over her cards, her voice sharpening with each failed attempt. But every single one was declined.By the time the last card was returned, her cheeks burned with humiliation. With a curt, bitter laugh, she snatched the cards back and stormed out, the curious eyes of guests and staff following her.Once outside, she leaned against her car, trembling with anger. Her hands fumbled for her phone.“Charles,” she said when he picked up. “Give me the address where you’re staying.”The shabby motel reeked of stale smoke and damp carpets. Eleanor parked her car at the front, her eyes narrowing in disgust. She remained inside, waiting.Minutes later, t
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,