LOGINShane excused himself to use the restroom, then sent his assistant a voice message."Have someone follow her. Keep her in sight at all times." His voice was low and firm. "Report anything unusual immediately. And find out exactly who she's hired."He put his phone away and stared at his grim reflection in the restroom mirror.He knew Jessica well. Beneath her gentle manner, she was stubborn, and once she decided on something, talking her out of it was nearly impossible.She was determined to go into the Southreach interior to find Amelia and Christopher. But she didn't seem to understand that she could be walking straight into a trap.Early the next morning, the staging area on the outskirts of Southreach stirred to life as dawn broke.Jessica stood beside an SUV outfitted for the snow, checking her gear. Heavy winter clothing protected her from the cold, and goggles covered her eyes.More than a dozen armed men in camouflage waited behind her. They were an imposing group, t
"You're wrong," Christopher said quietly. "You and I have never been alike."He never wanted unchecked power or a business that dominated the world. He wanted to keep Amelia safe, uncover the truth about the past, and help Zephyr Group grow without sacrificing its principles.Lincoln's expression darkened. "You're turning me down?""Yes," Christopher said. "I won't work with you."Lincoln stared at him, searching his face for any sign of doubt. Finally, he gave a cold smile. "Alright. You've got guts. I'll give you that."He retrieved his cigar from the nightstand and turned it between his fingers without lighting it. For a moment, he simply studied Christopher, his stare hard and unrelenting."If you want to make things difficult for yourself, go ahead. Let's see where that gets you." His voice went cold. "I hope you don't regret it."He turned and walked out. Once the door closed, Christopher shut his eyes and slumped against the headboard.His chest wound ached again, bu
Shortly after Samantha left, the door quietly opened again. Lincoln strolled in without his bodyguards, wearing a tailored black trench coat with the collar open.He held an unlit cigar between his fingers and looked faintly amused. Crossing to the window, he turned his back on Christopher."Samantha's offer doesn't sound so bad." His low, slightly raspy voice broke the silence. "An engagement, a wedding, a move overseas. Leave all this behind and start over."Christopher rested against the headboard, his face still pale. He watched Lincoln coldly."You didn't come here to help her convince me."Their alliance was a matter of convenience. Lincoln and Samantha each wanted something from the other, and neither had any reason to be loyal.Lincoln chuckled and turned, appraising Christopher as though he were something valuable he hoped to acquire.He settled into the chair beside the bed and set his cigar on the nightstand. His fingers tapped steadily against the armrest, an irrit
Lincoln surveyed the room, looking amused. When he turned to Samantha, there was a hint of admiration in his voice. "You're even more ruthless than I am."He gave her a few slow claps, as if applauding a performance. "The Zephyr fortune and Christopher himself. You really do want everything."Samantha faced him. "That's only the beginning. I'm taking back everything the Bloom family lost, piece by piece."Lincoln raised an eyebrow. "And when he recovers? Aren't you worried he'll come after you? Because if he does, you're finished."Samantha glanced at Christopher and smiled, her gaze lingering on him with possessive intensity."You think that scares me?" she asked quietly. "It hasn't for a long time."She studied his pale face. "As long as he stays with me, as long as I don't have to share him, I don't care what happens to me. I'd go to hell for that."Christopher looked at Amelia, unable to hide his guilt and anguish. He opened his mouth, but no words came.Giving in would
Christopher went pale as he stared at Amelia. He struggled to his feet, and fresh blood seeped through the gauze on his chest as the movement strained his wound.At the sight of her injuries, his composure fell apart. Anguish and fury crossed his face, followed by a helplessness he couldn't hide."Christopher." Samantha smiled as she lifted the whip, taking her time. "Look at her. The woman you love, completely at my mercy."She spoke lightly, knowing how much it would hurt him. "I decide what happens to her. To both of you."Christopher clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms until they bled. His expression hardened as he turned to Samantha."What do you want?""It's simple." She stepped closer, watching him with an intensity that made her obsession plain. "End things with Amelia. Get engaged to me and come back to my family as my future husband. Agree, and I'll let her go right now. I won't touch her again."She paused, a cruel smile spreading across her face.
Samantha swung before she finished speaking. The whip whistled through the air and struck Amelia across the back with a sharp crack.It tore through her thin hospital gown, and pain seared across her back. Amelia jerked, sweat breaking out over her skin, but she clenched her teeth and held back a cry.She couldn't control the way her body tensed, though. Every movement sent fresh pain through her back, and Samantha took obvious pleasure in watching her struggle to stay silent.She swung again and again, growing more vicious with each blow. Bloody welts spread across Amelia's back, arms, and legs."Beg me to stop!" Samantha shouted, her eyes bloodshot. "Ask me to spare you! Ask me to spare Christopher! Come on, let me hear it, and I'll stop!"Amelia struggled to stay conscious. Her vision dimmed, and she could barely think through the pain.Still, she kept her teeth clenched, biting her lip until it bled. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely audible. "In...your dreams."
"Was that Nicole?" Jasper guessed from the look on Amelia's face."Yeah," Amelia answered him as she kept her phone away. She explained sardonically, "She called to gloat about her two new partners and asked us to join their celebration dinner tonight.""Hah…" Jasper chuckled. "She might be capabl
Amelia stood up, fully prepared to leave.Just then, Evelyn walked in with a glass of water and some medicine."Mom, Great-grandma told me to bring him some medicine. She wants you to take it and get some sleep. You don't need to go downstairs and eat with everyone else. The servants will bring up
Jasper smiled helplessly as he reminded Winona, "Alright now, don't give her any more pressure."He then turned to look tenderly at Amelia, "Just do your best. Winning the competition is just icing on the cake. Even if we lose, we wouldn't lose anything."All the more Amelia had to relax before th
Dorothy carried Evelyn all the way into Whitmore Manor.The servants were shaping the dough and preparing the toppings. Most of the work had been done yesterday.It was still early, just past nine in the morning."Evelyn, you want to try shaping the pastries too, right?"Evelyn nodded and immedi







