MasukAndre let out a wry, humorless laugh that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “When they announced you as the sole heir,” he said to Lila, “I lost my footing. I was furious. I had spent years building my reputation, trying to prove myself worthy of the Winters name. And then, out of nowhere, the daughter of a woman I didn’t even know existed became the
There was a pause. “But I’m not,” he said finally. “I have Aaron. I have Winnie. I can’t just abandon them.” He shook his head slightly, as though the very idea was absurd. “I won’t.”A beat passed before he added, more firmly now, “And don’t even think about suggesting I leave them with you.”“They’re my responsibility,” Dominic continued, his tone firm, brooking no argument. “And you’ve already done more than enough for this me and the kids.”For a moment, silence stretched between them again, until Marcus spoke. “I have something to say,” he said, his voice measured, careful. “And you’re probably not going to like it.”Dominic closed his eyes briefly, exhaling through his nose before giving a small, almost imperceptible nod. He didn’t turn around. “Go on.”Marcus took a step closer. “What you saw in Lila,” he began slowly, choosing his words with deliberate care, “what you thought was determination…might have been fear.”Dominic’s brow furrowed slightly, though he said nothing.“Th
The steady rhythm of Dominic’s knife against the chopping board filled the kitchen, each downward motion enough to keep his hands busy but not so fast that it required much thought. The carrots were already half-diced, their bright orange pieces gathering in a neat pile beneath his blade. Behind him, the cheerful noise of Winnie and Aaron’s cartoon drifted in from the living room, with the occasional burst of laughter coming from the children themselves.It should have felt normal, even comforting. Instead, it only made the quiet in his chest more apparent. The front door opened with a familiar click, followed by the soft thud of it closing again. Dominic’s grip on the knife tightened. A second later, the quiet was shattered.“Unkee Marcus!” That came from Winnie. The delighted shrieks of his children rang through the house, full of excitement. Dominic could practically hear the thud of small feet rushing across the floor, the scuffle of bodies colliding as they threw themselves at th
She shrugged. It was a small motion but it carried a resignation she couldn’t quite mask. “The money from the Winters contract will keep things running for now,” she said, her voice measured. Her lips pressed together faintly before she added, almost as an afterthought, “I just don’t know how long that’s going to last.”Annabelle huffed softly, a faint, self-deprecating sound as she leaned back slightly against the headboard. “Maybe I should start updating my résumé,” she added, attempting a joke, though it came out flatter than she intended.Lila didn’t laugh. Her expression shifted into something more contemplative. Her fingers lifted, tapping lightly against the rim of her cup in a slow, rhythmic motion as she considered Annabelle’s words.“It’s not fair,” Lila said after a moment. “Your father and James make this mess, and somehow it’s you sitting here worrying about how to fix it.”Annabelle’s lips curved into a faint smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Life’s not fair,” she re
The thought made her stomach twist. She drew in a slow breath. There would never be a perfect moment, only now, before doubt crept in and rooted her to the spot. Before she lost her nerve.Annabelle cleared her throat and Lila’s gaze lifted immediately, her brows knitting together slightly as she studied Annabelle’s expression. “What is it?”Annabelle hesitated for only a fraction of a second, then squared her shoulders despite the lingering discomfort in her body.“I need to talk to you about something,” she said, her voice more controlled now.Lila lowered her cup slowly. “Alright…”Annabelle held her gaze, refusing to look away even as a knot tightened in her chest. “I had a one-night stand with Andre.”The words landed between them and for a moment, there was no reaction. Then Lila’s eyes widened, shock blooming across her face so vividly it was almost jarring. Her lips parted, forming a near-perfect ‘o’ as she stared at Annabelle, clearly caught off guard.Annabelle’s heart thudd
Annabelle stirred with a low groan, her brow furrowing as consciousness dragged her back to the surface. The first thing that reached her was the warm and unmistakable scent of ginger tea. It curled through the air in soft waves, soothing and intrusive all at once. She winced, her eyes fluttering open as the light filtering through the curtains stabbed at her senses.“God,” she muttered under her breath, her voice rough, her throat dry.She pushed herself upright, immediately regretting the decision as her head throbbed in protest. The world tilted slightly, and she squeezed her eyes shut again, pressing her fingers to her temples as if she could physically hold her skull together. Her body felt stiff, her neck protesting as she rolled it slightly. She had fallen asleep in a position that could only be described as unfortunate—half-curled, half-collapsed.When she finally forced her eyes open again, she took in her surroundings more carefully. The arrangement of furniture was unfamili
As soon as the passenger door shut, Annabelle peeled away from the curb, her composure thinning with every passing block. She didn’t stop to think, or breathe, or collect herself. Rage simmered beneath her skin, pressing against her ribs, making it hard to breathe. She had never felt quite like this before. Not even during the company’s worst scandals, or during those humiliating public affairs that her father had brushed under the rug with money and connections. This was different.This was personal. Her father had been lying to her. To all of them. If what Andre said was true, then everything she thought she knew about the company’s stability, about their legacy, was a façade.Her hands gripped the wheel so tightly her knuckles ached, and still she couldn’t loosen her hold. Her spine was rigid. It was as her body had locke
The room was thick with silence as Annabelle let James mentally digest the words she had spoken. HE stood frozen, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. It was as if he was searching for words that would not come. His face was pale, as he stuttered incoherently, his words stumbling over
Annabelle pushed herself harder, ignoring the ache in her limbs and the sweat dripping down her back. She had been at the gym for nearly two hours now, punishing her body in an attempt to escape her thoughts. But no matter how fast she ran, no matter how hard she punched the bag, the truth remained
When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost a whisper. “Who the hell is this?” He turned to Rachel, eyes dark with heartbreak. “Who is this man, Rachel?”Rachel opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her eyes darted frantically between James and Annabelle, he
Annabelle nodded placidly, her gaze sharp as it swept over the room. She ignored the pang of irritation at James’s obliviousness and focused on her next move. “Where’s Rachel?” she asked, her voice calm but carrying an undertone of steel.James blinked at the shift







